University of Scranton Graduate Students Earn Awards

Feb 1, 2010
Nine graduate students at The University of Scranton received Frank O’Hara Awards in recognition of their academic achievement. 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 Anuar Ibrahim, Suhasini Sudhakara, Kristin A. Riley, Silke Reddington, Sarah M. Piccini, Allison Martino, and K. Elaine Morrison. Absent from the photo are O’Hara Award recipients Kevin Fancher and Amy Louise Schakat.
Nine graduate students at The University of Scranton received Frank O’Hara Awards in recognition of their academic achievement. 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 Anuar Ibrahim, Suhasini Sudhakara, Kristin A. Riley, Silke Reddington, Sarah M. Piccini, Allison Martino, and K. Elaine Morrison. Absent from the photo are O’Hara Award recipients Kevin Fancher and Amy Louise Schakat.

University of Scranton Graduate Students Earn Awards

     Nine graduate students at The University of Scranton were named recipients of Frank O’Hara Awards, which recognizes students with the highest grade point average at approximately the mid-point of their master’s degree programs in each of Scranton’s graduate programs. The award is named in honor of the late Frank O’Hara, who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions. 

     Kevin Fancher, a resident of Buffalo, N.Y. is entering his second year as a full-time online graduate student. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Niagra University.  He previously worked at Citigroup where he held positions in both their operations and finance departments. Fancher recently joined First Niagra Financial Group as a financial analyst in their accounting department. 

      Anuar Ibrahim, a native of Malaysia residing in Scranton, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in human resources administration. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with honors from the University of Kebangsaan, Malaysia. Most recently, he served as a superintendent in the Investigations Unity for the Royal Malaysian Customs. 

     Sarah Piccini of Greenfield Township is currently pursuing her master’s degree in history. A summa cum laude graduate of The University of Scranton, Piccini holds a bachelor’s degree in history and communications. Piccini currently serves as director of programs for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. She is a member of the board of directors for the Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Girl Scout Gold Award Committee, and the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic. 

     Suhasini Sudhakara, a native of Mysore, India, who resides in Scranton, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering. She is currently a teaching assistant for computer literacy at Scranton. She is actively involved in the International Students Association. 

     Kristin A. Riley, a resident of Scranton, graduated cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of Scranton. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in English. She volunteers at local elementary and middle schools and works as a full-time server at Cooper’s Seafood House, Scranton. 

     Amy Louise Schakat, a resident of Springfield, Ohio, is pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration. Schakat graduated from Cedarville University, Ohio with a degree in psychology and behavioral science and earned her intervention specialist licensure from Urbana University. She currently is a special education coordinator at Springfield Clark Career Technology Center. 

     Silke Reddington, a native of Germany who resides in Scranton, graduated from the physical therapist assistant program at Keystone College. Reddington is currently pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy. She is employed at SPRINT Physical Therapy in Scranton and is involved with fundraising organizations including “Toys for Tots,” the Children and Youth Angels program and the Catherine McAuley House.    

     K. Elaine Morrison, a native of Canada, who resides in Scranton, is pursuing her master’s degree in nursing in adult health with a forensic concentration. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Victoria. Morrison is an intensive care nurse at Mercy Hospital, Scranton. She has been inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau, the National Nursing Honor Society and has served as a volunteer sexual assault response team advocate, a crisis line counselor and a preceptor for student nurses. 

      Allison Martino, a resident of Kirkwood, N.Y. is a magna cum laude graduate from St. Bonaventure University with a degree in Spanish and double minors in psychology and sociology.  She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary school counseling.  Martino is president of Chi Delta Rho, the International Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society. She is part of the PACT program and Shoplifters Diversion Program.

Back to Top