University of Scranton Recognizes Top Students

Twelve undergraduate students at The University of Scranton were named recipients of Frank O’Hara Awards. The awards are presented to first, second and third-year students with the highest grade point average in each of the four colleges at Scranton, which are The Kania School of Management, The College of Arts and Sciences, The Panuska College of Professional Studies and The College of Graduate and Continuing Education. The award is named in honor of the late Frank O'Hara, who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions.

From left are Paul Perhach, assistant dean at The Kania School of Management, and O’Hara Award recipients Nicholas A. Caselli and Amanda S. Marcy. Kaytlin L. Roholt was absent from the photo.

Kania School of Management

The following students earned Frank O’Hara Awards in The Kania School of Management.

Nicholas A. Caselli, a resident of Peckville, is a sophomore pursuing a double major in finance and accounting with a minor in economics.  Caselli, the valedictorian of his graduating class at Valley View High School, received a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship to attend The University of Scranton. He is a dean’s list student and a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society. Caselli volunteers as a coach for a youth soccer league and works at the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence as a writing consultant.

Kaytlin L. Roholt, Tafton, is a junior pursuing a double major in finance and English with a minor in philosophy. Roholt was the salutatorian of her graduating class at Wallenpaupack Area High School. At Scranton, she is a member of Students for Life, JUSTICE Club and participates in Women’s Prayer Group and Praise and Worship. Roholt volunteers at the Lackawanna Pro Bono and tutors students in English and math at the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

Amanda S. Marcy, a resident of Kingsley, is a senior accounting student and a first year MBA specializing in accounting.  Marcy, who was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Mountain View High School, currently maintains a 4.0 grade point average in her major.  She is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society of Accounting Students, the Women’s Business Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society. Marcy worked as an accounting intern at F.S. Lopke Contracting, Apalachin, N.Y.

From left are Paul Fahey, Ph.D., acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, O’Hara Award recipients Allison E. Carey, Rosemary A. Shaver, Joanna M. Klimaski, Maria A. Gubbiotti, and William C. Woody.

College of Arts & Sciences

The following students earned Frank O’Hara Award in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Allison E. Carey, a resident of Olyphant, is a sophomore international language/business major with a history minor and a Latin American Studies concentration.  Carey graduated as co-valedictorian from Holy Cross High School Dunmore campus and was president of her high school’s National Honor Society. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Freshman Honor Society.  She is a member of Spanish Club, Business Club, International Business Club, Political Society- Mock UN and the copy editor for The Aquinas. Carey volunteers at the Leahy Community Health and Family Center as a Spanish translator.

Rosemary A. Shaver, a resident of Shavertown, is a sophomore pursuing a double major in history and political science. A graduate of Dallas Senior High School, she is the forum editor for The Aquinas, a member of the Political Society, the Royals Historical Society, and the College Republicans. She also served as an editory for the university’s Trinity Journal. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and is a a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society. Shaver volunteers at her church and as a candy striper at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. She also presented a local history project at the Back Mountain Harvet Festival. 

Joanna M. Klimaski, a resident of Dover, N.J., is a junior pursuing a double major in philosophy and Spanish, a minor in theology and a concentration in Latin American Studies. A member of Scranton’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honor Program, she is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society and Alpha Mu Gamma, the Foreign Language Honor Society. Klimaski volunteers at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania and at the Leahy Community Health and Family Center as a Spanish translator.

Maria Gubbiotti, a resident of Falls, is a junior biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major. Gubbiotti was valedictorian of her graduating class at Wyoming Area High School. At Scranton, she is a member of the Honors Program and co-authored a paper published in the journal, Neurochemical Research. She is a tutor in the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

William C. Woody, a resident of Bryn Mawr, is pursuing a double major in theology and philosophy, with a minor in French and a concentration in Catholic Studies. He is a member of Scranton’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the undergraduate Honors Program. Woody is  a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, Philadelphia. At Scranton, he is a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society, and past president of the Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society. He serves on the university’s Board of Governors and the University Review Board for Judicial Affairs.

From left are Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, and O’Hara Award recipients Christina F. Lennon, Mary Allison Mackell, Megan M. Walsh and Elizabeth J. Reedy

Panuska College of Professional Studies

The following students earned Frank O’Hara Awards in the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

Christina Lennon, a resident of Philadelphia, is a sophomore elementary/special education major.  Lennon is a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia.  She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society, volunteers at the End of the Year Drive on campus, and teaches CCD at Immaculate Conception Parish in Scranton. Lennon plans to spend the spring 2010 semester studying at The National University of Ireland, Galway.

Mary Allison Mackell, a resident of Gwynedd Valley, is a sophomore pursuing a degree in early childhood and elementary education. Mackell is a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Flourtown. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society, volunteers as a reading tutor at Marion Catholic Elementary School in Scranton and at a hospital in her hometown.

Megan M. Walsh, a resident of Laflin, is a junior nursing student. Walsh was the valedictorian of her graduating class at James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre. A member of Scranton’s undergraduate Honors Program, Walsh has maintained a 4.0 grade point average.  She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Freshman Honor Society, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Student Nurses Association and the Biology Club.  She is a peer tutor in the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. 

Elizabeth Reedy, a resident of Camillus N.Y., is a senior nursing student.  She graduated fifth in her class from West Genesee High School. Reedy currently is a member of the Student Nurses Association, Habitat for Humanity and Scranton’s cross-country team.

From left are Meg Cullen-Brown, assistant dean for student services and advising of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education, Regina Bennett, assistant dean for online and off-campus programming of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education, and O’Hara Award recipients Kara Dale, Thomas Gonczi and Lee. D. Ashlin.

College of Graduate and Continuing Education

The following students earned Frank O’Hara Awards in the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Kara Dale, Scranton, is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in human resources. She was inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, the National Adult Honor Society.  Dale is an active member of the Child Advocacy Center, Race for the Cure and the Humane Society.

Thomas Gonczi, Tyler Hill, is a critical care certified registered nurse, working in the intensive care unit at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale. Gonczi is a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda, National Adult Honor Society.  He is a Sabbath School Teacher at the Honesdale Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Lee D. Ashlin, Dunmore, is pursuing a degree in liberal studies. He studied previously at the University of Maryland College Park. Ashlin is a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Adult Honor Society.  He is a percussionist, active in the local music scene and has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.