Students Receive O’Hara Awards for Academic Excellence

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

Freshman, sophomore and junior students with the highest grade-point averages of their class, each representing one of The University of Scranton’s three colleges, recently received awards for academic excellence.

Recipients of the Frank O’Hara Awards, named in honor of the late administrator who served 53 years at The University of Scranton, were honored at a ceremony held Dec. 3 at the Weinberg Memorial Library. Awards were based on grades from the 2024-25 academic year.

Kania School of Management

Hailey Poskonka, of Dover, New Jersey, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her freshman year in the Kania School of Management. A member of the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program, she is currently in her sophomore year at Scranton, where she is pursuing a double major in accounting and business analytics. A dean’s list student, she is a student-athlete on Scranton’s softball team. She is a member of several campus organizations, including business club, Society of Accounting Students, Omega Sigma Beta, Kania Women in Business, the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Kindness for Chemo.

Jessieca Aguasin, of Honesdale, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her sophomore year in the Kania School of Management. A member of both the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Program, she is a junior at Scranton, where she is an accounting major. She is a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. She is a member of Kania Women in Business and the Commuter Students Association.

Dean Finan, of Malvern, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for his junior year in the Kania School of Management. A member of the Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program, he is in his senior year at Scranton and is pursuing a double major in finance and business analytics. He is a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. He is a member of the University’s men’s soccer team and its leadership council. He serves as the sector head for Consumer Staples and Industrials at PRISM, the University’s investment club, and as president of the Kania Student Advisory Board.

College of Arts and Sciences

Molly Grove, of Mountain Top, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her freshman year in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program and the undergraduate University Honors Program. She is in her sophomore year at Scranton and is pursuing a triple major in history, political science and philosophy. She is a dean’s list student and a recipient of the University’s Dean’s Scholarship and the 2025-26 Sabatino Scholarship for sophomores studying history. She also volunteers with animal shelters and is a contributor and editor for the University’s Esprit literary magazine.

Alexandra Beltre, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her sophomore year in the College of Arts and Sciences. A dean’s list student, she is in her sophomore year at Scranton and is pursuing an environmental science: ecology major on the pre-veterinary track. She is the events coordinator for the University’s gaming club, a member of the pre-vet club and a tutor for the Office of Student Support and Success.

Sheila Miller, of Milford, New Jersey, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her junior year in the College of Arts and Sciences. A dean’s list student, she is in her senior year at Scranton, where she is pursuing a double major in journalism and electronic media. She is the secretary of Rho Tau Elta, the Communication and Media Department’s honor society; the vice president of Mulberry Media; and a staff writer for The Aquinas newspaper. She is also a member of Scranton’s HerCampus chapter and a member of the Royal Harmony A Capella group.

Leahy College of Health Sciences

Nicole Schulingkamp, of Harleysville, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her freshman year in the Leahy College of Health Sciences. She is in her sophomore year at Scranton, where she is pursuing an occupational therapy major. She is a member of the University’s women’s soccer team and a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and an anatomy tutor.

Olivia Gallione, of Hewitt, New Jersey, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her sophomore year in the Leahy College of Health Sciences. A recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and Ignatian Award, she is in her junior year at Scranton, where she is pursuing an occupational therapy major. She is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and both the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association. She is also a teaching assistant and a tutor and volunteers with the Center for Service and Social Justice.

Claudia Campisciano, of Broomall, received the O’Hara Award for academic achievement for her junior year in the Leahy College of Health Sciences. She is in her senior year at Scranton and is pursuing a major in kinesiology with a guaranteed seat in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She is a peer health educator for the Center for Health Education and Wellness and is involved with HerCampus.

Marcus Smith '27, Schuylkill Haven, is an English and theatre double major at Scranton.