Outstanding Graduates of Class of 2009 Recognized
Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence were presented to members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2009 with the highest G.P.A. in each of the three undergraduate colleges and the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students in the university’s College of Graduate and Continuing Education at a Class Night ceremony on May 29. From left: Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, O’Hara award recipients Megan Connelly, Coral Stredny, George Keiser, Jean Louise Unger, Thomas Lystash and Rev. Scott Pilarz, S.J., University of Scranton president.
The University of Scranton honored 64 outstanding members of its undergraduate Class of 2009 at Class Night on May 29. The awards were given for academic excellence and/or service.
Students with the highest G.P.A. in each of The University of Scranton’s three undergraduate colleges and the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students in the university’s College of Graduate and Continuing Education were given the Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, a memorial to the late administrator who served the university for 53 years.
This year’s O’Hara Award recipients were: Megan Connelly in the Panuska College of Professional Studies; Coral Stredny and George Keiser in the College of Arts and Sciences; Thomas Lystash in the Kania School of Management; and Jean Unger in the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.
In addition, students from The University of Scranton’s four academic divisions were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study.
The recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences academic excellence awards were: Jason Stankiewicz, Wilkes-Barre, and Coral Stredny, Dallas, co-recipients of the award for Excellence in Biochemistry; Thomas C. McAndrew, Scranton, Excellence in Biomathematics; Denise M. Hardisky, Nicholson, the Kathryn & Bernard Hyland Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology; Carmella Calabrese, Exeter, and Patrick E. Donnelly, Laflin, co-recipients of the award for Excellence in Chemistry; Sheri M. Flannery Wilkes-Barre Township, the Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication; Scott A. Yaninas, Mountain Top, Excellence in Computing Sciences; Meagan K. Moran, Hawthorne, N.Y., Excellence in Criminal Justice; Kaitlyn A. Thorne, Moscow, Excellence in Chemistry-Business; Amitkumar M. Patel, Scranton, the Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Electrical Engineering; Jennifer K. Lewis, Lake Ariel, the Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English; Theodore J. Zenzal, Jr., Clarks Summit, Excellence in Environmental Science; Sean J. Rist, Jessup, the Prof. Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages; Thomas A. Guiler, IV, Rochester, N.Y., the Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History; Colleen E. Kenney, Hicksville, N.Y., Excellence in International Studies; Jennifer Julissa Maldonado, Long Beach, N.Y., Excellence in Latin American Studies; Emmanuel Aja Wentum, Scranton, Excellence in Media Information Technology; Matthew J. Lecours, Weatogue, Conn., The Military Science Leadership Award; Sophia Norella, Old Forge, Excellence in Neuroscience; Jeffrey F. Musyt, Olyphant, Excellence in Philosophy; George R. Keiser, Wilkes-Barre, the Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics; Carl Cervi, Dublin, Ireland, and Michael P. DeRosa, Northport, N.Y., co-recipients of the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science; Eva A. Piatek, Philadelphia, Excellence in Psychology; Rebecca A. Guenther, Pittstown, N.J., the Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service & Achievement in Psychology; Rachel M. Tracewski, Clarks Summit, Excellence in Sociology; Heather N. Lucas, Old Forge, Excellence in Theatre; Karen H. Waldeck, Scranton, Excellence in Theology/Religious Studies; and Ashley E. Teatum, Staten Island, N.Y., Excellence in Women’s Studies and the J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism.
The recipients of the Kania School of Management academic excellence awards were: Kyle William Fox, Scranton, Excellence in Accounting; Breanne Noel Ross, Bethlehem, PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award; Michael Doyle Ritterbeck, Moosic, Excellence in Business Administration; Natalie Marie Kottke, Fogelsville, Excellence in Economics; Kathleen Marie Barone, Aston, Excellence in Economics; Amber Lynn Urban, Eynon, Excellence in Electronic Commerce; Lauren Anna Pascoe, Plymouth, and Thomas Lystash, Scranton, co-recipients of the award for Excellence in Finance; Christine Alicia Bracrella, Lansdale, Excellence in International Business; Daniel Joseph Digiovanni, Drexel Hill, Excellence in Management; Caitlin Marie Castle, Horseheads, N.Y., Excellence in Marketing; Kevin Kirkpatrick Gatens, Moscow, Excellence in Operations Management; and Colleen Laura Tuohy, Hillsdale, N.J., The Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award.
The recipients of the Panuska College of Professional Studies academic excellence awards were: Michelle Theresa Phillippy, Douglassville, Excellence in Community Health Education; Douglas Rand, Waymart, Excellence in Counseling & Human Services; Nicole Cacciabeve, Boonton Township, N.J., Excellence in Early Childhood Education; Melissa Kim Kaminski, Kingston, Excellence in Elementary Education; Daniel James Packer, Jr., Dalton, the Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education; Christina L. LaBounty, Cape May, N.J., Excellence in Special Education; Megan Anne Connelly, Mahopac, N.Y., Excellence in Exercise Science; Christina Mary Wright, Aldan, Excellence in Health Administration; Andrew Charles Brennan, Catonsville, Md., Excellence in Human Resource Studies; Michael Francis DeSarno, Clarks Summit, Excellence in Nursing; Justine Elizabeth Zoeller, Sherman, Conn., the Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing) Award; and Casey Danielle Holladay, Carlisle, Excellence in Occupational Therapy.
The recipients of academic excellence awards in the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students in the College of Graduate & Continuing Education were: Victoria A. Kocis, Scranton, Outstanding Associate Degree Award; Michele Lena Wrazien, Wyoming, Excellence in Nursing Award (L.P.N. to B.S.); and Jean Louise Unger, Gouldsboro, Excellence in Nursing Award (R.N. to B.S.).
Several prestigious fellowships and special awards were presented. The Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service was given to both Daniel J. Marx, Scranton, and Jaclyn T. Newns, Glenside. Karen H. Waldeck, Scranton, received the Alumni Loyalty and Service Award for the College of Graduate and Continuing Education and Michael Doyle Ritterbeck, Moosic, received the Alumni Loyalty and Service Award for undergraduates. Matthew P. Tirella, Holmdel, N.J., received the Spitzer Award.
Also recognized were: Cynthia David, Bronx, N.Y. for receiving the Gilman Scholarship and Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award; Amy Lee, Duryea, for receiving a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship in English to Macau and Coral Stredny, Dallas, for receiving a Goldwater Scholarship and USA TODAY’s All-USA College Academic Third Team placement for outstanding intellectual achievement and leadership.
