Academic Awards

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Each year at spring commencement, Wilkes University honors our graduates who have achieved academic distinction.

College of Arts & Sciences

Pi Sigma Alpha Outstanding Student in Political Science

Nicholas Antolick is a Political Science major with minors in International Relations, Policy Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies. His research includes work with Dr. Toll on evangelical political communication and public opinion. His capstone, an extension of this research, explores how evangelical elites communicate about immigration issues and how the evangelical masses respond to this communication. Nicholas is a member of the Midwest Political Science Association, the Pennsylvania Political Science Association, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. He worked in the Writing Center, the Learning Center, and as a research assistant to Dr. Toll. He has been accepted into and plans to attend the Ph.D. program in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Outstanding Graduate in Psychology

Elizabeth Frederick is a psychology major with minors in sociology and women's and gender studies. She was a member of Dr. Ellen Newell's research team and was involved in research studies investigating connections between discrimination, feminist identity, wellbeing, anger, and collective action among college women. Elizabeth will present this research at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues conference in June 2024. She also conducted research for the Colonels on Crime Podcast. Elizabeth held two internships with the Domestic Violence Service Center. She is a member of several honor societies including Psi Chi, the international psychology honors society, Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honors society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She is an active member of several clubs including the psychology club, sociology club, and the Green Bandana Society. After graduation, she will take a gap year, in which she hopes to travel, spend time with her family, work in the psychology field, and apply for acceptance into clinical and counseling psychology graduate programs.

Outstanding Graduate in Neuroscience Award

Jack Burch is a neuroscience major with minors in psychology and chemistry. He is also a member of the Wilkes Honors Program and the Guthrie Scholars Program. For his senior capstone project, Jack worked with physicians in the anesthesia department of Robert Packer Hospital to compare the postoperative effects of two drugs that reverse the paralytic effects of general anesthesia, sugammadex and neostigmine. He also conducted research examining biological markers of Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injuries in mice with Dr. Gregory Harms. He was an intern at the Wilkes University NeuroTraining and Research Center and spent a semester-in-residence at the Robert Packer Hospital. Twice he was the recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. S. M. Davenport Scholarship, an award given annually to one pre-health student. Jack was an active member of the Neuroscience club, serving as an officer for two years, one year as the secretary, and one year as president. In addition, he was on the intramural basketball team and was a weekly conversation partner with a Japanese student from the International Christian University in Japan. Jack also volunteered at UPMC Memorial Hospital assisting in a range of tasks from screening people for COVID-19 to helping patients in the ICU. He will begin medical school at Penn State College of Medicine this summer.

Jaroslav Moravec Award (Sociology)

Hope Ousey is a Criminology major with minors in Legal Studies and Sociology. For her senior capstone project, Hope studied the effect of having a close paternal-adolescent relationship on deterring juvenile delinquency. She is also completing another project which is an autoethnography on the medicalization of opioid addiction. Hope will be presenting both of these papers in the summer of 2024 at a conference held by the Society for the Study of Social Problems in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While completing her studies at Wilkes, Hope has received many academic accolades, including multiple semesters on the Dean's list, and being inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. She has also been a four-year member of the women's volleyball team where she has received a placement on the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team, Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll across multiple seasons, received Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll this past fall of 2023, and was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma this spring. Hope was also a teaching assistant for BIO 105, The Biological World. In the future, Hope plans on attending law school and pursuing criminal defense

Outstanding Research Student in Biology

The Outstanding Research Student in Biology award recognizes students who conduct excellent research at the genetic or cellular level. This year's winner is Esther Orlando of East Stroudsburg, PA. Esther's capstone research project was "Analyzing Drought Resistance and Dependence Effects of Ethanol on Industrial Hemp." She will present her research at the American Society of Plant Biologists annual meeting this June in Hawaii. Esther was a member of the Honors Program as well as Tri-Beta, the National Biological Honor Society, and graduates with honors in biology. Esther was also captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team. Esther will be continuing her education by pursuing a Master's program and applying for a Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad.

The Outstanding Research Student in Biology award recognizes students who conduct excellent research at the genetic or cellular level. This year's winner is Jocelyn Cussatt of Mountain Top, PA. Jocelyn's capstone project was "Improving microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation through cloning the carbon anhydrase gene." Jocelyn was a member of Tri-Beta, National Biological Honor Society, vice-president of the Animal Welfare Club, and was a teaching assistant for Microbiology. After Wilkes, Jocelyn will be attending the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.

Outstanding Scholar in Biology

The Outstanding Scholar in Biology award recognizes the biology or medical lab science student with the highest GPA. This year's winner is Marissa Kovaleski of Wyoming, PA. Marissa's capstone research project was "Honey, we Shrunk the Mice: Propolis' Effects on the Pathogenesis of Obesity." She will present her research at the American Society of Plant Biologists annual meeting this June in Hawaii. Esther was a member of the Honors Program as well as Tri-Beta, the National Biological Honor Society, and graduates with honors in biology. Esther was also captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team. Marissa is a member of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, as well as the Pre-Professional Health Society. She works part-time as a pharmacy technician for CVS and volunteers regularly with Geisinger Wyoming Valley's Hospital Elder Life Program. Marissa will be working as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine in the department of endocrinology. Marissa plans on entering medical school to become a physician.

Rosenthal Award for Research in Organismal Biology

The Rosenthal Award recognizes students for outstanding research in organismal biology and has been awarded to Brinda Del Cid Ramirez. Brenda is a native of Panama and majored in Environmental Science and minored in Geology. Her capstone project was "Surficial Geological Mapping of Hickory Run and Blakeslee, Pennsylvania." Brenda was a research assistant at the Long-term Ecological Research project in Tooklik, Alaska, where she studied the effects of fire and climate change on plant physiology. Brenda also served as a Student Ambassador at Wilkes University. Her future plans are to return to Alaska and work as a technician for the National Ecological Observation Network.

Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science

Morgan is earning a B.S. degree in Environmental Science, Earth concentration with a minor in geology. Her capstone senior research project with fellow student Hope Mullins and advisor Dr. Bobak Karimi explored the use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography surveying to identify fractures and sub-surface flow paths of groundwater underlying the channel of the Nanticoke Creek. The data generated from the project will be used to develop a stream channel restoration plan for the Nanticoke Creek, in an effort to restore the channel to a more ecologically and hydrologically functional state. Outside the classroom, Morgan has worked as an intern for the Clean Waters Program at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Post graduation, she intends to pursue graduate studies in the geosciences and a career focused on environmental conservation and protection of natural resources.

BESS Service Award

The BESS Service award recognizes students who volunteer their time and effort to the department. This year's winner is Maxine Bodari of Ephrata, PA. Maxine was a student committed to our outreach programs and was often the only student present at an elementary school's STEM event. Maxine was the president of Women Empowered By Science Club, treasurer of the Biology Club, and secretary of Tri-Beta, the National Biological Society. Maxine was a WEBS camp leader for two years, an e-mentor for three years, engineering chemistry teaching assistant, Reading Buddies Program volunteer, and Wilkes Adventure Education summer camp facilitator. After Wilkes, Maxi will be attending the Touro School of Dental Medicine.

Future Educator in Environmental Science

The Future Educator Award recognizes an outstanding student in the Biology and Earth Systems Science Department that is committed to becoming a teacher. This year's Future Educator award goes to Environmental Science major Alexa Boersma of Clark Summit, PA. Alexa's capstone project was "A Microgravity Study of the Nanticoke Creek Reclaimed Mine Land." Alexa was cross country, track and field (3 years), cheerleading club (3 years), representative of the senior class on student government (1 year), and residential assistant (3 years). After Wilkes, Alexa plans to be a middle school science teacher.

Future Educator in Biology

The Future Educator Award recognizes an outstanding student in the Biology and Earth Systems Science Department that is committed to becoming a teacher. This year's Future Educator award goes to Biology major Cassidy Greenman from Glen Gardner, New Jersey. Cassidy's capstone project was "Examining the Effect of Prescribed Burns on Tick Abundance in Northeastern PA." Cassidy was a member of Tri-Beta, the Biological Honor Society and was on the women's tennis team and served as captain for two years. assidy's plans are to finish her education degree here at Wilkes then teach at the high school level.

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Outstanding Service Award

Daphne Shencavitz is a major in Biochemistry. Her research work in the department includes work with Dr. Youmans on the synthesis and catalytic studies of biomimetic models of sulfite oxidase. Her capstone explored the synthesis of inorganic complexes mimicking the active site of sulfite oxidase on a Schlenk line under air-free conditions and studying the catalytic properties of the model. Daphne was also very active outside the classroom. She was the president of the Chemistry Club for 2.5 years and is still an active member. Daphne was an e- Mentor for two years, helping first-year students transition into college. She also worked on campus as a teaching assistant for various chemistry labs. Daphne plans on taking a gap year and then applying to Ph.D. programs to continue her education in chemistry.

Alfred W. Bastress Award for Research Excellence

Ryley Kirk is a major in Chemistry. Her research work in the department includes work with Dr. Lauren Rossiter on the synthesis of 2-pyridone tethered ortho-substituted benzenes for para-[4+4] photocycloadditions. Her capstone explored the synthesis of a 2-pyridone coupling product, which then underwent photochemistry with UV light to yield varying photoadducts. Ryley was also very active outside the classroom. She was the president of the Wilkes University chapter of Morgan's Message, an organization focused on student athlete mental health awareness, as well as an active member of the Chemistry Club. While completing her degree, Ryley worked at The Home Depot to help pay for schooling, as well as working as a teaching assistant for the organic, pharmacy essentials of organic, and general chemistry labs. After graduation, she plans on going into industry, finding a job working in a lab specifically in the pharmaceutical industry, with the goal of going back to school for a master's in chemistry.

Communication Studies Outstanding Student Award

Cassidy Brumagin is a communication studies major with a concentration in strategic communications and a minor in political science. Within the department she has written for the life, arts, and entertainment section of the Beacon in addition to holding positions of assistant floor manager and teleprompter for the tv station, Wilkes Now! Last year, she completed a semester-long internship under Judge Gelb at the Luzerne County Courthouse. She has been on the Dean's List for the entirety of her Wilkes career. Outside of academics, she has been involved with the Ski and Snowboarding Club as an avid snowboarder. She also works part-time as a pharmacy technician at CVS Caremark. Cassidy has begun taking classes towards her Master of Business Administration here at Wilkes to be completed in the Spring of 2025.

Tom Bigler Scholar Award

Morgan Rich is a major in Communication Studies with concentrations in rhetorical studies, multimedia journalism, and strategic communication with minors in dance, English, and women's and gender studies. Her research work includes textual analyses on Taylor Swift's NYU Speech, sympathetic villains in film and literature, and the influence of gender and society in Victorian novels. She recently presented a poster and panel at the Eastern Communication Association's James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference on "Taylor Swift and Her Use of Conceptual Metaphors to Emphasize American Ideals," for which she received the first place poster award. She is a part of Lambda Pi Eta, and is the proud recipient of the Jane Lampe-Groh and Alfred Stuart Groh scholarship, which is awarded to a junior or senior student who demonstrates strong academic talent, leadership skills, and a determination to assist others. She also was a participant in the Disney College Program, where she worked merchandise at the Boardwalk Inn and Villas for the Walt Disney World Company her junior year. She has been a part of the Wilkes University dance department for the past year and a half, where she has taken numerous dance classes, participated in multiple dance concerts, performed with the Degnan Ballet Center, and choreographed her own piece. She is a part of the honors program where she has had the opportunity to hold a leadership position as the director of social events for the Honors Program Student Committee, attended numerous study abroad trips to Ireland, France, and Scotland, and will be a student leader on their upcoming trip to Give Kids the World Village. She has worked in the archives department on campus, the writing center, is the Editor-in-Chief for the Beacon, served as audio for Wilkes Now!, and is a member of the dance team. She plans to pursue M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English with a concentration in British Literature after graduation.

Etruscan Undergraduate Creative Writing Prize

Jazmin High is a Sophomore honors student majoring in Psychology and a member of the psychology honors society. She works as a stage manager for the Wilkes Chorus and is a resident assistant for Residence Life. She is also part of Manuscript, the Wilkes literary magazine, focusing on social media, and is a talented writer, skilled in many genres.

Annette Evans Humanities Award

This year's Annette Evans Humanities Award for outstanding scholarship in the humanities and work in cultural affairs goes to Olivia Wychock, who graduates with a major in English and minors in History and Women's and Gender Studies. Olivia earned a 4.0 across her English courses. She is the recipient of the Ruth A. Richards Endowed Scholarship, a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, and Vice President of the Wilkes Alpha Gamma Alpha chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society. Faculty have deemed Olivia "quietly exceptional," perhaps no better demonstrated than the forking paths of Olivia's excellence here at Wilkes: One tine is her senior-level essay, entitled "Word Choice in House of Leaves: Pieces vs. Pisces," exploring how Mark Danielewski's postmodern text employs a seeming accidental misspelling of "pieces" as "pisces" to evoke readerly terror and push the genre begun by Walpole's Castle of Otranto into the twenty-first century. Liv consulted with a practicing astrologer, treating her expertise with the same respect and curiosity as she does literary history. The other is her multiple years of work as a Career Peer Ambassador in the Wilkes Center for Career Development and Internships. In this role, she created newsletters, helped teach an FYF course, worked with student interns, and helped create a team of Career Peers and Ambassadors. Olivia is headed to Bucknell University's MA program in English in August.

Frank J. J. Davies Award

For the 2024 Frank J. J. Davies Award for excellence in English studies, English faculty voted unanimously for Vivan Novitski. Vivian graduates with a literature concentration in English. She has served in the Writing Center and Online Writing Center most of her time here at Wilkes, this last year as a Senior Consultant. Her memberships include Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, and the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society. Vivian's senior capstone examines Sherwood Anderson's concept of the grotesque in Southern Gothic authors Flannery O'Connor, C.D. Wright, William Faulkner; faculty also nominated her essay on the uncanny as this year's best 300-level English essay. After graduation, Vivian plans to continue her American literature studies in a master's program.

Phi Alpha Theta Award

Kaelin Hughes is a History and Political Science double-major, with a minor in Policy Studies. Her History capstone project, "Creatively Circulating the Cause: Suffragist Newspapers and the Fine Arts," examines how suffragist publications utilized poetry and political cartoons to advocate for their cause. She recently presented this project at the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Rowan University in April. Her Political Science capstone project, "Scroll Your Opinions Away: how does social media impact the polarization of United States citizen's beliefs?" delves into the relationship between social media and political polarization in the United States. For the 23-24 academic year, she received the Dr. James Rodechko Scholarship. During her time at Wilkes, Kaelin worked at the Harold Cox Archives, served as a Resident Assistant for three years, and has been active in the Honors Program and Student Government. Kaelin is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Alpha Lambda Delta, In the fall, she will attend Duquesne University where she will pursue an MA in History.

Outstanding Graduate in Spanish Award

John Hannaway is a Pharmacy and Spanish double-major with pharmacy concentrations in both Spanish and public health. In the School of Pharmacy he has done research on Spanish Translation and the effects of a language-barrier on the perceived risks of vaping. He presented this research at the 2024 American Pharmacist Association Conference in Orlando, Florida. He has used his Spanish proficiency in various aspects of pharmacy ranging from recommending over-the-counter products for Spanish-speaking patients through his community-based internship to translating counseling documents for fellow pharmacy students and faculty to use within their rotations and sites. On campus, he has served as the president of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity, president of Christian Pharmacist Fellowship International, and community chair of the National Community Pharmacist Association. He represents his pharmacy class as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Antiracism Chair through Pharmacy Senate, and is a Graduate Assistant through the Office of Academic Success and the Center for Career Development and Internships. He was recently initiated into Sigma Delta Pi, the National Hispanic Honor Society. John is also an active member of several musical groups on campus, playing trumpet in the pep band as well as oboe and English horn in the orchestra and civic band. Upon graduation, he hopes to obtain a community-based pharmacy PGY1 residency at a pharmacy situated within a Spanish-speaking community so that he can serve a wide range of patients.

Outstanding Achievement in Integrative Media, Art and Design

McKenna Dolan made the most of her Wilkes experience by combining her major in Digital Design & Media Arts with minors in Business Administration, Studio Art, and Art History. Beyond her academic pursuits, she was actively engaged as a work-study student at the Sordoni Art Gallery and within the Integrative Media Department. McKenna demonstrated her social media savvy by creating and frequently appearing on the Sordoni Gallery's TikTok page and contributed to their Instagram presence. She also extended her social media support beyond this Sordoni work to others such as CIEE. She received the Craig C. Piatt Memorial Scholarship and was awarded a Bierley Fellowship which provided her with the opportunity to study abroad in Paris. She immersed herself in the rich cultural landscape of France, visiting iconic sites such as Giverny and Versailles, and even engaging in hands-on experiences like making chocolate in Brussels. Her capstone project that showcased her proficiency in brand creation, photography, app design, and the comprehensive knowledge she acquired throughout her Digital Design and Media Arts degree resulting in graduating Magna Cum Laude in December. She is employed at VIVE Health & Fitness, where she utilizes her skills to design a range of promotional materials, redesign and maintain their website, and manage their social media presence on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Additionally, she is actively engaged in freelance work, contributing her expertise to various projects within the community.

Dylan Kofie is a Digital Design + Media Art major with a minor in Studio Art in pursuit of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His work at Wilkes has included positions in the Ceramics Department as a studio assistant, and the Sordoni Art Gallery as a student graphic designer. In his senior year he was awarded the position of Design Fellow at the Sordoni Art Gallery, working as project lead for a team of 4 other student designers. They produced a range of content for the gallery that was used internally and distributed externally for a range of purposes. Simultaneously, he completed an internship at Park Multimedia, working with local companies and non-profits. In 2020 he earned the Bass Award, a faculty juried award based on the high quality of his submitted drawings and paintings that reflect his advanced traditional studio art skills. Following graduation, he plans to work towards a Masters of Fine Arts focused on digital design.

Erika Tomes is a Digital Design and Media Arts (DDMA) Major with a Minor in Marketing, Art, and Studio Art. Throughtout her time at Wilkes, she has worked at the Sordoni Art Gallery and Wilkes University Creative Services. She completed her internship in Creative Services in the spring of 2023 and has continued on as a Work Study. She has commanded the use of the Wilkes brand to design an array of produced works from both of these opportunities. Through her time at the Sordoni Art Gallery, she has developed her skills in team collaboration and multi-tasking a large number of projects simultaneously. Along with the successes she has had outside the classroom, Erika has also made Dean's list for the majority of her semesters. After graduation, she wishes to pursue a career as a Marketing Graphic Designer.

Richard Fuller Excellence in the Arts Award

Paige Edwards is receiving a BFA in Digital Design & Media Art. Her main focus is illustration, and many of her projects reflect her ability to hand craft the content in a traditional and digital format. She received the faculty juried BASS Award in 2021 for her traditional artwork and has been on the Dean's list each semester. Paige is also very active in the community, volunteering much of her time with the Street Art Society of NEPA. Starting as an intern, she was recruited as a Board Member of the organization and was given the opportunity to create murals throughout the city, helping to beautify and improve our region. Paige worked as part of the Graphic Design team at the Sordoni Art Gallery, and Archives Work Study at the Farley Library, as well as an intern with Wilkes University Creative Services. She hopes to continue painting murals and plans to pursue a career in design with an illustration focus.

Outstanding Senior Award in Computer Science

David Greybosh graduated from Wilkes in Spring 2024 with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Computer Information Systems as a part of the Honors Program. In addition to excellent performance in his coursework (GPA 4.00), David worked as a system administrator for the Department of Math, Physics, and Computer Science, maintaining the departmental servers and labs for four years under Dr. Sullivan. During his sophomore and junior years, David worked with Dr. Chepushtanova and Dr. Lucent on summer research projects utilizing machine learning techniques and topological data analysis to predict drug-protein binding affinities using the WARLOC supercomputing cluster. This work resulted in a poster presented at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference in April 2024. David is a great example of a talented, high-achieving, responsible student and teammate, and our department is very proud of him. After graduation, David will be working at Motorola Solutions as a Software Engineer.

The Performing Arts Vocal Award

Raven Whitefawn will be graduating in May with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. The past four years at Wilkes, they have had the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the Performing Arts, and fine-tune their craft. Specifically, during this time, they have been seen singing on stages across the Wilkes University campus. On the Darte main stage, Raven has had singing roles such as, Juile Jordan in Carousel, Charity in Sweet Charity, and Marmee in Little Women; they have also sung with the Wilkes University Chorus, Wilkes' Chamber Singers, at Wilkes' Winterfest, at Wilkes' Commencement Ceremony, at the Wilkes Founders Gala, and at countless other events. Not only has Raven performed "on" stage, but she has taken on many roles behind the curtain. In their time at Wilkes, Raven has run lighting boards, sound boards, stage managed two Wilkes Productions, and assisted, each year, in the Dance Conservatory's annual production of Nutcracker. Raven's plans for the future are to continue performing and pursuing the arts. This summer, they will be working with the Missoula's Children Theatre, where they will be traveling across the country spreading word of her favorite art form, theatre. Raven's other plan for the future plans is to attend graduate school to earn an M.F.A. in the arts.

The Musical Theatre Award

Jahel Duran-Diaz will be graduating in May with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Some of Jahel's favorite roles include Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Laurie in Little Women the Musical, Oscar Lindquist in Sweet Charity, Professor Plum in Clue: On Stage, Flick in Violet, Amos Hart in Chicago, and Roy, Bobby & Jeremy in Fun Home. During his time at Wilkes, Jahel won the honor to represent Wilkes University Theatre at the South Eastern Theatre Conference in Nashville, TN,. At the conference, he got through the national prescreening auditions, and was then able to audition for over eighty professional theatre companies, earning multiple callbacks. Further, Jahel is excited in the fact that he will performing this summer in his first two professional productions: Beautiful, The Musical (at the Tent Theatre in Springfield, MO) and also Tarzan (at the Mountains Movers Company in Kentucky). Aside from his abundant talent, Jahel states that he owes this upcoming summers success to his auditions this past year at the annual United Professional Theatre Auditions in Tennessee, and that he is excited to continue to repeat this success, year after year, as a professional performing artist.

The Dance Program Award

Amanda Merrick-Tompkins is a native of Moosic, Pennsylvania. Her passion for dance started at the age of three and she has studied, and continues to, many different styles. She has continued this passion at Wilkes University where she is an Early Childhood Education major with a Certification in Special Education, and minors in Dance and Reading. Amanda is very passionate about being active within both the Education and Dance departments. She has completed her observations, Professional Development School hours, and Student Teaching at 7 different schools around the area within her four years at Wilkes. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the Wilkes Chapter of the International Education Honor Society. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, and recently attended a Student PSEA conference and convention in Lancaster. She met with other professionals and participated in volunteering to paint murals around an Elementary School. Recently, she has been awarded the 2024 Outstanding School of Education Award by the Wilkes Education Department, which is given to a senior who has demonstrated an outstanding work ethic and commitment to growing the community of young educators. Amanda was a part of the Wilkes Dance Team for three years and served as Captain for two years. She has taken many dance classes here on campus and is also a part of the Wilkes Conservatory. She has been a part of several shows here including The Nutcracker, Student Choreographer Concerts, Faculty Concerts, and the Musical Theater production Chicago. Amanda plans on continuing her love for Education and Dance after graduation to positively impact the lives of individuals with all capabilities.

The Music Program Award

Erin Dietrich is pursuing a double major in biology and neuroscience, along with minors in music and psychology. She is an engaged participant in the Honors Program, where she has served as the Director of Publicity on the Honors Program Student Committee (HPSC) for two years, collaborating closely with Jen McLaughlin and Dr. Jonathan Kuiken. In the Biology Department, Erin has worked with Dr. Michael Steele for two years on his research project analyzing the effects of behavioral types in Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern Gray Squirrel) on seed dispersal. Her research posits that bolder squirrels, which venture further into their fear landscape, play a significant role in seed dispersal and germination. Erin's academic excellence has earned her induction into the Biology Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta. Throughout her undergraduate career, Erin has been actively involved in the Chamber Orchestra, Pep Band, and Civic Band, participating every semester for four years playing flute and piccolo. She is a proud leader and Brother of the Honorary Band Fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi, where she has played a key role in winning several chapter awards, including a personal high academic award, and significantly contributing to the growth and transformation of her school's chapter over the past three years. Since her sophomore year, Erin has been a recipient of the Marilyn McQuestion-Kay Scholarship, which is awarded to students with a keen interest in arts and humanities. She has also served as a music librarian for two years, coached the Wilkes-Barre YMCA swim team, and worked as the Aquatics Coordinator at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA. After graduation, Erin plans to take a gap year to complete her physical therapy internships and prepare her applications for graduate school. Her ultimate ambition is to earn a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Additionally, she intends to continue her musical engagements, participating in the Orchestra and Civic Band at Wilkes as well as performing with other local bands in her spare time.

Outstanding Graduate for the College of Arts & Sciences

David Greybosh is graduating from Wilkes with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Computer Information Systems as a part of the Honors Program. During his sophomore and junior years, David worked with Dr. Chepushtanova and Dr. Lucent on summer research projects utilizing machine learning techniques and topological data analysis to predict drug-protein binding affinities using the WARLOC supercomputing cluster. Dr. Lucent writes of David, "Both in research and in the classroom David is absolutely outstanding. It is very rare that a student inspires a professor to follow their passion. As a sophomore with little physics background, David excelled in my quantum computing course, even outperforming other truly gifted students...His success and enthusiasm has inspired me to continue to follow quantum computing in my teaching and research." David's work with Drs. Chepushtanova and Lucent resulted in a poster presented at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference in April 2024. In addition to excellent performance in his coursework, David worked as a system administrator for the Department of Math, Physics, and Computer Science, maintaining the departmental servers and labs for four years under Dr. Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan writes, "David stands out for many reasons. He has not shied away from taking the most difficult courses, and has consistently been the best student in those courses. In addition, David has been of great service to our department as a system manager. His problem solving skills are excellent and his work ethic is superb. His service has been essential in keeping our labs and servers running smoothly. Finally, his service as a lab assistant in lower level courses has been excellent. He has demonstrated amazing patience with struggling students in CS 125 and CS 246 labs and is perhaps the best assistant for those courses that I have ever had." David is a great example of a talented, high-achieving, responsible student, and is truly the embodiment of what it means to be the outstanding graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences. After graduation, David will be working at Motorola Solutions as a Software Engineer.

College of Business & Engineering

Outstanding Business Student for the College of Business and Engineering

Eli Gordon is a graduating senior with a major in Financial Investments and a minor in Economics. He has received Deans List Honors in every semester at Wilkes. He is a member of the Honors Program and the Future Business Leaders of America club where he has been a qualifier for their national tournament competition three times. He was also a four-year member of the Men's Soccer Team. In his years on the team he earned Academic Honor Roll every year while being placed on the Academic All-District Team this past year. He has been inducted into Colonel's Elite, Delta Mu Delta, and Chi Alpha Sigma. He also represented the soccer team on the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well as serving the school and community as a member of the Presidential Student Leaders group. Outside of Wilkes University involvement, Eli has had two successful finance internships. He worked with Raymond James in the summer of 2022, where he analyzed Mutual Funds and ETFs, helping the team he worked on to help better prepare their clients for their futures. In the summer of 2023, he worked at Chartwell Investment Partners where he conducted market research and wrote stock reports as well as meeting with investment teams weekly. This summer, Eli will be doing research with Dr. Mona Pearl, analyzing economic development in the global south and the global north, while also incorporating research on working withing Global Virtual Teams. In addition to that, he is planning on utilizing his degree and skills he acquired at Wilkes University to serve in the financial services industry. In addition to this, he has two semesters left to complete his Masters in Creative Writing with a focus in Poetry.

Outstanding Engineering Student for the College of Business and Engineering

Ellie Freiss is a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Physics. She has been a TA within the Mechanical Engineering department since the summer before her senior year. She has also volunteered at various open houses and engineering days for local high school students since her sophomore year. Additionally, she conducted research with Dr. Lucent during the summers after her freshman and sophomore years. She is the team leader in her senior project group that aims to create an affordable, noninvasive, ice thickness measuring robotic system. Her senior project group was accepted to present at the URSI AT-RASC 2024 conference based on the research conducted. Ellie has been heavily involved in extracurricular activities at Wilkes, including serving as a Wilkes Adventure Education (WAE) Facilitator, an e-Mentor for first-year students, ASME coordinator, and SWE secretary. Last summer, she interned with Procter & Gamble as a manufacturing engineer and has accepted a full time position upon graduation.

Daniel Whitman pursued a dual-degree in mechanical and electrical engineering with minors in mathematics and physics. He did research with Dr. Zhu and Dr. Whitman to create a wireless, untethered, modular snake robot with the purpose of capturing video and image data of the underground geometries of surface fractures leading into abandoned mines. He also did research with Dr. Sha and presented their Steady-State Thermal Modeling for Embedded Applications at the 2023 CSCI conference in Las Vegas. During his time in school, he completed two internships: one at CornellCookson as a design engineer intern and one at Talen Energy as a project management intern. Post-graduation, Daniel will attend graduate school to pursue research in the field of robotics with the goal of obtaining a Ph.D.

Environmental Engineering Leadership and Service Award

Jake is a passionate fisherman whose enthusiasm for this hobby motivated him to pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering to contribute to a field where restoring and protecting our natural resources is the goal. Jake has been recognized as a leader in the Environmental field as illustrated by his receipt of the 2023 Pennsylvania Environmental Council Emerging Environmental Leadership Award. His passion for the quality of the environment is consistently shared through his service. He is a founding member and president of the Wilkes University Fly Fishing Club. Partnering with the Stanley Cooper Trout Unlimited Chapter he has hosted dozens of Beginner Fly Tying classes to encourage all students to learn about fishing and in the process recognize the importance of serving as a steward of the environment. His service with the club also includes many streamside cleanups and riparian buffer plantings. He is a volunteer for the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Trout Unlimited, the Native Fish Coalition in addition to having served as an intern for Hanover Engineering, Inc. in Bethlehem. He accepted a position with the ARM Group, a nationally recognized engineering and science firm.

Civil Engineering Leadership and Service Award

Hayden Calaman is graduating with a major in Civil Engineering, the first of two students to receive this degree from Wilkes University. She has played shortstop for the Women's Softball team during her four years at Wilkes. Hayden is a student leader serving as the secretary for the Wilkes University Student Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society for Professional Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. Hayden has also been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for her four years at Wilkes and has also served on the Dean's Student Advisory Board for two years. She has accepted a position as an Associate Design Engineer at High Steel Structures in Lancaster, Pa.

Academic Achievement in Civil Engineering

Outstanding Achievement in Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Umid R. Nejib Award for Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering

Trent Szczecinski is an Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Computer Engineering. He has been awarded the Top Academic Performer and Outstanding Achievement awards. He has worked as a teaching assistant, a tutor for numerous electrical engineering, math, and physics courses, and has been a proud member/officer of IEEE during his time at Wilkes University. Trent Szczecinski will be working as an Electrical Engineer in the Pathways program for the defense contractor Northrop Grumman. His long-term goal is to earn his Masters in something he enjoys.

Mechanical Engineering Service Award

Electrical Engineering Service Award

Michael Nowak is an Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Computer Engineering. At Wilkes, Michael was a member of the Honors Program, where he was a Peer Mentor during his sophomore through senior years. He was also the president of Residence Hall Council during his junior year, and he became the Vice President of Student Government in his senior year. Furthermore, Michael was an ambassador for the Undergraduate Admissions Office, where he held the position of Lead Admissions Ambassador in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He has also been a TA/tutor for the Electrical Engineering Circuit courses from his sophomore to senior year. Finally, Michael was the IEEE Event Coordinator in his sophomore year, the IEEE Secretary position in his junior year, and the IEEE President in his senior year. After graduation, Michael will have a full-time position at Lockheed Martin in Archbald, PA, where he will be an Electrical Engineering Associate. He also wants to pursue a master's degree in the near future to study electromagnetics, RF systems, or power systems.

Top Academic Performer in Mechanical Engineering

Andrew Slusser is a Mechanical Engineering major. His independent research was focused on the feasibility of recycling tires into concrete, and he presented his work with two others at the Air and Waste Management Association's annual conference in 2022. Their paper was selected as an ACE 2022 Young Professional Best Paper Winner and was later published in the AWMA Young Professional Issue in January of 2023. Andrew was a recipient of the George F. and Ruth M. Swartwood scholarship this past year. He has tutored various subjects the past three years and has been a Teacher's Assistant for Dr. Anaya's Scientific Programming class the last two years. Andrew also plays on the soccer team where he was selected to the Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom team as a sophomore and was a team captain the past two years. Upon graduating, he will be working as a Junior Engineer at Martarano Engineering, Inc. in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Top Academic Performer in Electrical Engineering

Academic Achievement Award for Accounting

Rita Maria Osorio Atencio is a student from the country of Panama. She is pursuing a major in Accounting with a minor in Business Analytics, at the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University. Rita earned a scholarship from the Government of Panama to study for her bachelor's degree at Wilkes. While attending Wilkes, she has received Dean's List Honors in all of her semesters, which shows her dedication towards her studies. Rita was also a member of the Wilkes Dance Team. After graduation, Rita plans to find an employment opportunity within the field of accounting in the United States. She hopes to show all the knowledge and skills she has gained during her time at Wilkes University. One future goal that Rita hopes to eventually pursue is returning to Panama to give back to her country for the opportunity she was given and where she also plans on earning a master's degree in the accounting or auditing field.

Academic Achievement Award for Finance

Zachary Gula is a corporate finance major with a minor in accounting. His research work in the department includes work with Dr. Hughes on the application of blockchain technology. His capstone analyzed the Boeing Company, its market, industry, and future strategy. Zachary was also very active outside the classroom. He played varsity basketball and was a member of the Honor's Program for four years. He served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, as the secretary, and helped coordinate countless community service events. He was named to the Dean's List every semester he attended Wilkes, completed corporate finance internships, and worked as a tutor for business statistics and accounting. He has been accepted into and plans to attend the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.

Academic Achievement Award for Management

Brian Guzman will be graduating with a major in Business Management and a minor in Business Analytics. He has tried to stay active on campus for the time he has spent at Wilkes University. He served as Vice President of GSA, was a member on the dean's student advisor board for the College of Business and Engineering, was a first-year e-mentor for incoming students and was briefly a part of student government and programming board. Despite working and studying full-time, he has been able to maintain a work-school-life balance and sustain a good GPA. Brian had earned his spot on the Dean's list every semester, and has joined the international business honor society, Delta Mu Delta. He plans to continue his academic career by obtaining his MBA at Wilkes.

PICPA Award for Excellence in Accounting

Tim Vickrey earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting receiving Dean's list recognitions, The KPMG/John R. Miller Scholarship, and The Robert S. Capin Scholarship in Accounting. After working in a variety of the disciplines accounting has to offer, he has decided to pursue a tax focused career. Post graduation, Tim has gone on to work for Andersen as a Tax Associate in their Private Client Services (PCS) service line.

Professor Ted Engle Award for Excellence in Finance

Dean's Award for Excellence in Management

Julia Marino is a business management major with a minor in economics. During her time at Wilkes, she has served as a four year starter and three year captain of the women's basketball team. Through her good academic standing and participation in athletics, she was named to the CSC Academic All District team the past two years. Additionally, Julia was granted the colonel elite award in the Spring of 2023 and was just recently inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Chapter. Aside from her coursework and athletics, Julia serves as an economics tutor and is a member of both FBLA and the accounting and business club on campus. Over the past two summers, Julia has completed internships with VDA Elevator and Escalator Consulting and Enterprise Holdings. Following her graduation, Julia will be completing her MBA at Wilkes while also working full time for Equitable Advisors where she will serve as a financial advisor helping teachers and administrators with their retirement plans and offering financial assistance.

Academic Achievement Award for Hospitality Leadership

Briceida Frias was born in a small town in Los Santos province in Panama. After she completed her high school, she received a scholarship by the Panamanian government that gave her the opportunity to study in Wilkes University. She graduated from Wilkes in December 2023 with a Bachelor of science in Hospitality Leadership. Her journey at Wilkes was amazing, and she has to thank all of her professors for their constant support, especially Dr. HyeRyeon Lee, her advisor.

Academic Achievement Award for Sports Management

Christian Reino is a Senior at Wilkes. He was born and raised in Luzerne, PA. Christian has been an active member of the Sports Management Club since his freshman year, where he now holds the position of President. After graduation he plans to seek out a sports marketing position for a professional sports team.

Academic Achievement Award for Marketing

Stephanie Palovchak is a marketing major with a minor in entrepreneurship and recipient of a Wilkes Transfer Merit Scholarship and Koral's Fashion Endowed Scholarship. She has been a dean's list scholar since transferring to Wilkes and will graduate Summa Cum Laude. She has been a member of the COBE Dean's Student Advisory Board for her last year at Wilkes and was a presentation winner at the 2024 COBE Research & Teaching Symposium. During her time at Wilkes, Stephanie also completed two internships: the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World in Florida and the Hershey Hospitality Internship Program as a Guest Services Intern at The Hotel Hershey.

Dean's Award for Excellence in Hospitality Leadership

Ian Dewar was born and raised in Spain and is bilingual. For three years, he worked for the Office of Global Engagement where he helped international students with their IELT's. Along the way he made really close friends that he still talks to on a daily basis. Ian's time at Wilkes University offered abundant opportunities for both professional growth and academic enrichment. It gave him invaluable skills essential for his endeavors beyond college. He is now a Manager at the Louis Hotel in Wilson, Arkansas. The faculty and professors at Wilkes helped him along the way, especially Dr. Lee. She was a great mentor, that gave Ian great guidance and had unwavering patience with him. Ian is eager to see what the future holds.

Dean's Award for Excellence in Marketing

Alex Sias is from Flemington, New Jersey, and he is a double major in Marketing and Management, with minors in Business Analytics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship. After graduation, Alex is continuing his education in the Wilkes MBA 4+1 program, where he has accepted a position as the Graduate Assistant for the Integrated Management Experience course. Alex has played football the last four years, and will continue to play this upcoming season. He is a member of Delta Mu Delta and Chi Alpha Sigma. Alex has worked with many aspects of Wilkes University, including the former Kirby Center, and SAAC. After Wilkes and the MBA program, he will join his father (Wilkes 88') in their family construction business, as well as explore other entrepreneurial pursuits.

Dean's Award for Excellence in Sports Management

Trent Fisher is a Sports Management major. His hard work in the classroom with Dr. Lee over these past 4 years has allowed him to receive this award today. Whether it was taking his in-person classes or his online courses, he strove for excellence at all times. Trent was also very active outside of the classroom. He played men's basketball at Wilkes. While being a 4 year starter and a Co-captain of the team his senior year, he was able to gather some awards during his time which included Rookie of the Year, First team All-League twice and an All-Region 5 team. He is also the Co-host of one of the Sports Radio shows hosted on campus called the Breakfast Club on WCLH Radio. Trent also is a member of the Sports Management Club where they have had the opportunity to travel and see the behind-the-scenes of the Philadelphia Eagles stadium, and Madison Square Garden. He was also named to the National College Athletics Honor Society this past semester named Chi Alpha Sigma, worked two internships along the way and also won the Wilkes Ethics Case Study Competition. Trent's plans after graduation are to work in the sports management industry with a focus in golf and hope one day to work on the PGA tour.

MBA Academic Achievement Award

After obtaining a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in 2003, Rob chose to broaden his educational background by completing his MBA at Wilkes in 2023. Rob was initially employed as an environmental engineer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, involved in establishing and enforcing requirements related to air quality, water management, and waste management. In the course of this work, Rob also served as the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Rating Review Coordinator and was a recipient of the Regional Director's Award for Teamwork while performing these duties. Rob then joined the Susquehanna Nuclear Generating Station in Berwick, where he has progressed through the roles of Performance Improvement Process Leader, Nuclear Plant Operator, and is currently an Instrumentation and Control Technician. Rob now intends to use his combination of engineering and business backgrounds to further his career in the ever-evolving industry of carbon free electrical generation.

Mandy Henderson is obtaining her MBA in spring 2024. She pursued a certificate in Sustainability Management in line with her graduate degree. Mandy was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society this spring. Mandy received her undergraduate BA from Wilkes University majoring in Psychology with minors in Criminology and Neuroscience. She was the President of the Psi Chi Honor Society and a captain on the Women's Volleyball team. Mandy's career has been mainly focused on enterprise, biologic sales, and business solutions for large, organized health care systems. She took her career in a new direction recently with a new role in the public sector as a Senior Account Executive supporting enterprise government entities in Maryland and the District of Columbia for Amazon Business. In her free time, Mandy enjoys hiking, board games, and, attending concerts.

Donovan J. Klem is a graduating MBA student at Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, PA who completed his undergraduate degree at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA in 2018. Donovan currently resides in Avoca, Pennsylvania and works for a non-profit economic development organization in Pittston, PA as a loan officer supporting Pennsylvania small businesses with access to capital that result in economic and community development for the region. Donovan enjoys spending his free time outdoors with hobbies that include fishing, kayaking and attending sporting events.

Alyssa Swiezak is a graduate student earning her Master's in Business Administration in the accelerated 4+1 MBA program. Outside of her studies, she proudly serves as the Graduate Assistant for the Wilkes University MBA program under Dr. Woojun Lee. Her academic perseverance allows her to hold a 4.0 in the MBA program, five-year Dean's List standing, and recent induction into the Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society. During her undergraduate courses at Wilkes she earned her Bachelor's in Psychology with three minors in Business Administration, Management, and Leadership Studies. She stayed involved on campus serving as the Vice President of the Psi Chi Honor Society in Psychology, an active member of the Wilkes Psychology Club, and participated on the Wilkes University Cheerleading team. As a senior, she completed a rewarding internship as the Marketing and Human Resources Intern at Andesa Services Inc. located in Allentown, PA. Upon completion of her studies, she will obtain a professional career in the Human Resources field applying her consolidated knowledge and experiences. Wilkes University has significantly contributed to her professional growth that she greatly values as she embarks on her future endeavors.

College of Health & Education

Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Academic Achievement Award

Hometown: Hanover, PA
Activities: LKS, President; Rho Chi, Vice President; PLS
Awards: Ethel J. Heath Scholarship Key, Ruth Davies Flaherty Award, Commendation for ambulatory care, internal medicine, and hematology/oncology APPEs
Career Plans: WellSpan York Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency in York, Pennsylvania

Hometown: Slatington, PA
Activities: Rho Chi, APPE Chair; Wilkes University Ski and Snowboard Club, Vice President; PPA; Rho Chi
Awards: Commendations for internal medicine and pediatric hematology/oncology APPEs
Career Plans: PGY1 Residency at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA

American Pharmacists Association Mortar and Pestle Professionalism Award

Hometown: Lansford, PA
Activities: APhA, President;. LKS, Secretary; Rho Chi, Secretary
Academics: Concentration in Public Health
Awards: Honors Program Community Leadership Award; Dr. Anne Lin Officer of Excellence Award (LKS); APhA National Patient Counseling Competition Local Champion
Career Plans: St. Luke's University Health Network (PGY-1) in Bethlehem, PA

VIATRIS™ Excellence in Pharmacy Award

Hometown: Lansford, PA
Activities: APhA, President;. LKS, Secretary; Rho Chi, Secretary
Academics: Concentration in Public Health
Awards: Honors Program Community Leadership Award; Dr. Anne Lin Officer of Excellence Award (LKS); APhA National Patient Counseling Competition Local Champion
Career Plans: St. Luke's University Health Network (PGY-1) in Bethlehem, PA

Wolters Kluwer Excellence in Clinical Communication Award

Hometown: Muncy, PA
Activities: Rho Chi; Women's Swim Team Captain Junior/Senior seasons; Assistant Coach of the Wilkes Men's and Women's Swim Teams
Academics: Minor in Psychology
Awards: Commendations for internal medicine, community, and ambulatory care APPEs
Career Plans: PGY1 Resident at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA

Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Dean's Outstanding Graduate Award

Hometown: Effort, PA
Activities: PPA, East Student Director and Member of the Board of Directors; Pharmacy Senate President and Executive Treasurer, Wilkes Adventure Ed Facilitator
Academics: Masters of Business Administration (MBA); Honors Program
Awards: Recipient of the Wilkes Alumni Scholarship
Career Plans: Officer and Pharmacist in the United States Air Force

Jurisprudence Scholar Award

Hometown: Cape May Court House, NJ
Activities: APhA, Communications VP; PPA, Membership Ambassador; Wilkes Dance Team, Captain; Rho Chi
Awards: Commendations for managed care and community APPEs
Career Plans: Residency at Geisinger Medical Center Danville, PA

Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Excellence in Clinical Practice Award

Hometown: Middleburg, PA
Activities: SSHP, President; Kappa Psi, Treasurer and Fundraising Coordinator; Presented research on barriers to wellness among uninsured adults at ASHP’s Midyear Conference
Academics: Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
Awards: Five commendations on APPEs, Bernie Graham Endowed Scholarship, Bernie Graham Award from Kappa Psi Delta Omicron
Career Plans: Residency at Geisinger Medical Center Danville, PA

Barbara L Nanstiel Pharmacy Information Award

Hometown: Slatington, PA
Activities: Rho Chi, APPE Chair; Wilkes University Ski and Snowboard Club, Vice President; PPA; Rho Chi
Awards: Commendations for internal medicine and pediatric hematology/oncology APPEs
Career Plans: PGY1 Residency at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA

Hometown: Orange, California
Activities: LKS, Treasurer; Presented research with Penn State Hershey Medical Center at ASHP Midyear; Participated in COVID vaccination clinics Academics: Honors Program
Awards: Top performer on the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) at the NSoP, Commendation for ambulatory care APPE
Career Plans: Allegheny General Hospital (PGY1 Residency in the Ambulatory Care Setting) Pittsburgh, PA

Department of Pharmacy Practice Research Award

Hometown: Laflin, PA
Activities: IPhO, President; APhA, Operation Substance Use Disorder Chair; Rho Chi, APPE Chair
Academics: Minor in Psychology
Awards: Dean's List; Commendation for pharmacovigilance APPE
Career Plans: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Global Safety Strategy & Risk Management Fellow in Horsham, PA

Hometown: Spencer, New York
Activities: APhA, Operation Substance Use Disorder Co-Chair; Pharmacy Senate, Executive Secretary; LKS; Rho Chi
Academics: Minor in Neuroscience
Awards: Commendations for veterinary, academia/ ambulatory care APPEs
Career Plans: Pursuing a career in hospital pharmacy

Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Community Service Award

Hometown: Downingtown, PA
Activities: Pharmacy Class President; IPhO, Director of Communications; APhA, Reproductive Health Chair
Awards: Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy USPHS Award, National CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Board
Career Plans: Novo Nordisk Portfolio Marketing Fellow in Plainsboro, New Jersey

Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists Award

Hometown: Middleburg, PA
Activities: SSHP, President; Kappa Psi, Treasurer and Fundraising Coordinator; Presented research on barriers to wellness among uninsured adults at ASHP's Midyear Conference
Academics: Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Awards: Five commendations on APPEs, Bernie Graham Endowed Scholarship, Bernie Graham Award from Kappa Psi Delta Omicron
Career Plans: Residency at Geisinger Medical Center Danville, PA

Pennsylvania Pharmacists Outstanding Pharmacy Student Award

Hometown: Effort, PA
Activities: PPA, East Student Director and Member of the Board of Directors; Pharmacy Senate President and Executive Treasurer, Wilkes Adventure Ed Facilitator
Academics: Masters of Business Administration (MBA); Honors Program Awards: Recipient of the Wilkes Alumni Scholarship Career
Plans: Officer and Pharmacist in the United States Air Force

Rules Sisters Pharmacy Award

Hometown: Downingtown, PA
Activities: Pharmacy Class President; IPhO, Director of Communications; APhA, Reproductive Health Chair
Awards: Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy USPHS Award, National CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Board Career
Plans: Novo Nordisk Portfolio Marketing Fellow in Plainsboro, New Jersey

Hometown: Lehighton, PA
Activities: Chair of the Academy of Managed Care National Student Pharmacist Committee; IPhO, Director of Social Media and Marketing; ASHP, Treasurer
Academics: Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
Awards: Commendation from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy APPE, Dr. Arthur H. Kibbe Endowed Scholarship in Pharmacy, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Northeast Affiliate Scholarship Career
Plans: U.S. Medical Affairs Fellowship with Sanofi Vaccines

Outstanding Elementary and Early Childhood Education Award

Kylee is an Early Childhood and Elementary Education major with a certification in special education. Kylee has been recognized on the Dean's list throughout her time at Wilkes University. She has received academic awards through athletics such ALL- Academic, Colonel Elite, and Chi Alpha Sigma. Kylee is a member of the cheer and golf team. She served as the president of the Education Club for two years and was elected as the Northeast region Vice President for Student PSEA. Upon graduation Kylee hopes to find a job in the Northeast PA region.

Genevieve is a senior Early Childhood / Elementary Education and Special Education Double Major with a minor in Reading. Genevieve has received the Dale and Louis Deronde Scholarship four years in a row and was last year's recipient of the Marla Hoise Memorial Award. Genevieve is extremely active in the Wilkes community serving as the Vice President of the Education Club. Genevieve consistently supports Open House Events, individual student visitations, and helps to support the Education Program and faculty daily. Genevieve completed her student teaching at Dana Street Elementary and continued her student teaching at The Graham Academy where she has been welcomed as an employee.

Outstanding Elementary and Early Childhood Pathway Award

Julianne is an Early Childhood and Elementary Education major in the Pathway program at Wilkes University. Julianne is from Hanover, PA in South Central Pennsylvania where she has completed various field placements and observation hours in grades PreK-4 in York and Adams County. Prior to beginning her journey at Wilkes University as an adult learner, Julianne has worked as a camp counselor, a nanny, a lead school-age teacher at a local learning center, and a youth basketball coach and referee. She has also volunteered as a sorority advisor for undergraduate Membership Directors where she helped to guide young collegiate women in leadership opportunities on their campuses. Julianne began to further her educational journey at Wilkes University in August of 2021. During this time, Julianne also worked for South-Western School District as an 8th grade paraeducator primarily working with learning support students in science, social studies, and math. Her 8th grade students helped inspire a passion for the development of students throughout their educational journey. Throughout Juliane's time working in public schools and student teaching, she has had the opportunity to participate in various observation opportunities of other grade-levels, educational specialists, and administration. She also participated in professional development opportunities in professionalism, sparking creativity in the classroom, and emerging literacy strategies at the early childhood level to continue her education. Julianne student-taught in 2nd grade at Park Hills Elementary School in Hanover, PA in the spring of 2024 under the mentorship of Aimee Bechtel. Her student teaching experience and students sparked an even deeper passion, care, and love for the teaching profession. Because of her experiences and education at Wilkes University, she feels prepared, capable, and excited to teach for the years to come. Julianne is in the process of applying for Early Childhood and Elementary Education teaching positions in South Central Pennsylvania.

Outstanding Middle Level Education Award

Rosalinda is a Middle Level Education major with concentrations in both Math and Science. She is local to the area in which she attended Wilkes-Barre Area School District. During her time at Wilkes, she has been heavily involved with the Wilkes University Upward Bound Program. Rosalinda has served as a tutor and instructor throughout the school year and has been a Resident Assistant and Resident Director multiple times throughout the summer program (returning again, this summer) working with sophomores, juniors, and seniors. At Wilkes, she was also involved in the Honors Program and has taken multiple courses to enhance her education and career. Rosalinda completed her student teaching at G.A.R. Memorial Middle School and taught Math, Science, and STEM to 6th grade students. She is currently in the process of applying for local teaching positions in the middle school fields for Math and Science.

Outstanding Secondary Education Award

Lily is a junior Secondary Education and English double major with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. During her time at Wilkes, Lily has been the recipient of the Harry and Gloria Fierverker Scholarship and Wilkes University Alumni Association Scholarship. Lily is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society. She is also an active member of the Wilkes University chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society, of which she is president. Lily has completed hundreds of hours of classroom field experience within the Wyoming Valley West and Wilkes-Barre Area school districts. Besides her field experiences with Wilkes, she has also taught preschool and worked as a summer schoolteacher through the YMCA Power Scholars Program, a free program which promotes community literacy in elementary school aged students. In her own words, "What I value most about these teaching opportunities is that I am granted the opportunity to work directly with students to positively impact their futures as well as their relationships with the world around them. There is great value in enabling students to effectively communicate their ideas and discern the information around them, especially in an era of social media and misinformation. However, watching students form connections with unfamiliar experiences and viewpoints through reading is what I truly treasure about teaching English. Our students are the future, and teaching is an amazing opportunity to imbue that future with compassion." Lily facilitates positive educational outcomes on campus through her work as a Writing Center Peer Mentor and Wilkes University E-Mentor. She writes for Inkwell, a literary magazine published by the English department and enjoys spending time outdoors with Wilkes Adventure Education on the weekends. She looks forward to student teaching in the Spring of 2025.

Outstanding Special Education Award

Aimee is an Elementary and Early Childhood Education major with a concentration in Special Education and a minor in Reading. Aimee has been on the Dean's List since her freshman year of college and has been inducted into Kappa Delta Pi, the International Education Honor Society. Throughout her time at Wilkes, she has been a member of the University Chorus, Education Club, Reading Buddies Program, and the Green Bandana Project. She has had the opportunity to teach students in a variety of settings during her field experiences at Wilkes. Some of the schools she had the pleasure of visiting were Heights Murray Elementary School, G.A.R. Memorial Middle School, The Graham Academy, Illuminations Early Learning Center, and the Wyoming Area Primary Center. Aimee is currently student-teaching in a fourth-grade learning support classroom at the Wyoming Area Intermediate Center and had the opportunity to teach at the Wyoming Area Kindergarten Center earlier this year. In the future, Aimee hopes to pursue a teaching career in the Lehigh Valley where she grew up. Aimee is a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Special Education Award.

Sydney is an Early Childhood and Elementary Education major with a concentration in Special Education and a minor in Reading. Sydney has been on the Dean's list throughout her time at Wilkes University. Sydney has dreamed of being a teacher since she was a little girl. As Sydney completed her field experience at Wilkes University, her passion for education grew. Sydney has worked at Dallas School District as a substitute/classroom aide for the past 2 years. For the past two years, she has been a teacher in the summer Reading and Math Program within the Dallas School District. Sydney completed her student teaching at Dallas School District in second and fifth grade. Sydney's field experiences have occurred in regional school districts such as Wyoming Valley West, Wyoming Area, Wilkes Barre Area, and The Graham Academy. Sydney's education and experiences throughout her undergrad have taught her a wealth of information that will benefit her in her future of teaching.

Marla Hosie Memorial Award in Education

MaKena is a sophomore Early Childhood/Elementary Education and Special Education Double major with a minor in Reading. MaKena has had several field placements so far in her undergraduate career where she is getting hands-on experience and can apply what she learns in her coursework in the classroom. MaKena was an intern at one of the many Building Blocks Learning Center locations this semester and just recently got the opportunity to promote the new Building Blocks that just opened on Wilkes' campus. According to MaKena, Building Blocks Bridge the Gap Intern Program has truly helped enhance her education skills and grow as a future educator. She is so grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on each one of the children's lives and to be a part of their journey. MaKena is a member of the Education Club and has been on the Dean's List throughout her teaching career. MaKena was also recently inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi, the International Education Honors Society. Currently, MaKena works at the Wilkes Barre Family YMCA in their After School Care Program. She will work at her local daycare back home as a teacher's aide in the summer months.

Outstanding Graduate for the School of Education

Taylor is an Elementary and Early Childhood Education major with a minor in Reading, as well as a concentration in Special Education. During her time here at Wilkes, she has been inducted into Kappa Delta Pi - the International Education Honor Society, achieved Dean's List every semester and has been fairly active in the Education Club. Not only is she a student here at Wilkes, she is also an active member of the Softball Team along with helping with food banks, SAAC events, Suicide Awareness Walks, Alcohol Awareness Walks, etc. Within Taylor's softball career over the past four years, she has received a variety of awards and honors such as the Colonel Elite Award (2023), Academic All-District Team, NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete, Chi Alpha Sigma and MAC Academic Honor Roll. Throughout her education courses, she has completed tons of field experiences and professional development experiences. Taylor's field experiences and professional development opportunities have taken place in a variety of locations throughout Wilkes-Barre such as State Street Elementary, Heights-Murray Elementary, the Graham Academy, and Wyoming Valley West Middle School. These placements in both general and special education have served her well to prepare her for her future as an educator. She has developed a variety of engaging and interactive lessons during her student teaching experience during the spring 2024 semester and continues to create lessons and projects focusing on the importance of family engagement. Taylor is in the process of applying for Elementary teaching positions at school districts back in her hometown.

Amanda is a native of Moosic, Pennsylvania. Amanda's passion for the education field has continuously grown while at Wilkes University where she is an Early Childhood Education major with a Certification in Special Education, and minors in Dance and Reading. Amanda is very passionate about being active within both the Education and Dance departments. She has completed her observations, Professional Development School hours, and Student Teaching at 7 different schools around the area within her four years at Wilkes. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the Wilkes Chapter of the International Education Honor Society. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, and recently attended a Student PSEA conference and convention in Lancaster. She met with other professionals and participated in volunteering to paint murals around an Elementary School. Recently, she is thrilled to announce that she has been awarded the 2024 Dance Award by the Performing Arts Department here at Wilkes University. After graduation, Amanda plans on continuing her love for both Education and Dance to combine these two worlds. She plans to take advantage of this opportunity to create a unique and enriching experience for all of her future students, and to positively impact their lives with all different capabilities.

Outstanding Graduate Award

Jacob is a first-generation nursing major at the Passan School of Nursing at Wilkes University. Since beginning his post-secondary education in the fall of 2020, Jacob has been consistently and enthusiastically involved in both the nursing school and the broader university community. Throughout his undergraduate career, Jacob has maintained a spot on the Dean's list every semester, a testament to his commitment to academic excellence. In addition to his studies, he has actively contributed to the nursing field through research and clinical practice. Jacob is a co-investigator and co-author of two published research studies: one related to improving clinical reasoning and professional identity in undergraduate nursing students and the other pertaining to strategies for teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jacob maintains membership in the Wilkes University honors society and the Wilkes Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, an esteemed international nursing honor society. Upon graduation, Jacob will begin his professional nursing career at St. Luke's Hospital - Anderson Campus, where he will be working in the progressive care unit. He also plans to continue his nursing education by pursuing a PhD. His ultimate career goal is to devote himself to nursing research and education, thereby contributing to the advancement of the field and inspiring the next generation of nurses.

DAISY Award - Clinical Excellence Award

Elizabeth has always had a passion for nursing and helping those of all ages. She completed an externship in the Telemetry unit at Regional Hospital and the NICU at Moses Taylor Hospital throughout nursing school. This the first award Elizabeth has received while in nursing school, and she is very honored to receive such a recognizable award. Elizabeth's plans after graduation are to start working in the Operating Room as a Registered Nurse at Geisinger Wyoming Valley.

Academic Excellence Award

Kaitlyn is a 4-year member of the women's tennis team, President of the Nursing Student Organization, worked part time with tutoring services through the Office of Academic Success, and had the opportunity to work as a camp nurse for the past 2 summers, all in addition to being a nursing student. She has been inducted into the Colonel's Elite Program, Chi Alpha Sigma National Student Athlete Honor Society, the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and was awarded the Senior Female Scholar Athlete award from our athletic department. Most recently, Kaitlyn was able to attend the National Student Nurses Association annual conference at Walt Disney World to present a qualitative research project that she completed this past summer with Dr. Angela Jones and 3 of my peers. Kaitlyn's future plan will be moving to Harrisburg to start a residency program on the Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit at Penn State Children's hospital.

Outstanding Leadership Award

Ashley is a graduating senior from the Passan School of Nursing at Wilkes University. She will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Minor in Psychology. Ashley has been in the Wilkes Honors Program since her freshman year. She has worked as a peer writing consultant at the Writing Center and as a Career Peer Ambassador for the Center for Career Development and Internships. Ashley has conducted research with her academic advisor and professor Dr. Victor and was a co-author of the published article "Strategies for Teaching Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Principles of Nursing" (July 2023). She presented this research and represented the Passan School of Nursing at the NSNA Annual Convention in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in April. Ashley was a founding member and first serving President of the NAMI on Campus Club at Wilkes University. Her senior capstone presentation was "In registered nurses, does active participation in mindfulness-based intervention compared to individual coping strategies decrease complaints of anxiety and burnout?". After graduation, she plans on working as a cardiac or oncology nurse near her hometown of Waynesville, Ohio.

PSON Faculty Recognition Award

Katie is a graduate of the Passan School of Nursing at Wilkes University. Throughout her time at Wilkes, Katie continued to work at a local hospital and raise two children (Laela and Makenna) with her husband Jeffrey. She has been the recipient of the Merritt W. and Marjory R. Sorber Scholarship from Wilkes University and the Susan M. Robel Nursing Scholarship from Geisinger. Katie's senior capstone project focused on the effects of nursing support programs on job satisfaction and reducing burnout rates for emergency room nurses. During the summer before her senior year, she completed the Nurse Externship at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. After graduation, she will begin work as a Registered Nurse in the emergency room at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.

Academic Excellence Award - December Cohort

As an ABSN student with previous degrees in Biology and Health Sciences with minors in Psychology and Chemistry, Marissa achieved awards such as Biology Student of the year and made the Dean's list. Ultimately, she found that her passion lies within nursing. During Marissa's short year at Wilkes, she gained valuable experience with different nurses in several different departments which have shaped her nursing practice today. Additionally, she made the Dean's list each semester. After graduation, Marissa accepted a position at Geisinger in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Academic Excellence Award - May Cohort

Monica is a graduate of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Wilkes University. She holds a prior bachelor's degree with high honors in Chemistry and Psychology from Geneva College. Monica found her passion for nursing while working as an Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant at a local county prison. During her time at Wilkes University, she has excelled academically and in the clinical setting. After graduation, she will serve her community in the ICU Stepdown unit of UPMC East in Monroeville before pursuing her master's degree.

Outstanding Graduate for the Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing - December Cohort

Emily is a December 2023 ABSN graduate. She graduated from Wilkes University in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education. In the years after college, Emily obtained her PA real estate license and raised two daughters with her husband, Nick. Ready for a career change and inspired by the need to help others, Emily decided to go back to Wilkes and pursue a second degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During her time in the challenging one-year ABSN program, Emily worked part time, volunteered as a cheerleading coach for her daughter, and was an active wife & mother, all while maintaining a 3.88 GPA. Since completing the program in December, Emily has successfully passed her NCLEX RN exam and has been working at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in the Medical/Surgical Department since January.

Outstanding Graduate for the Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing - May Cohort

Caroline is a graduate of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Wilkes University. She holds a prior bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. After teaching for over 10 years, she took some time off to focus on her youngest child who has Cerebral Palsy. Caroline grew to appreciate the nurses and therapists involved in his care to such a high degree she decided to go back to school (in her mid-30s). With 3 children at home, it seemed impossible until she found Wilkes. The ABSN program offered everything she needed to achieve her dreams. Caroline will be working for Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA on an orthopedic acute care unit. Her ultimate goal is to work in GMC's Emergency Department once she has the experience she needs to succeed.

Academic Awards

College of Arts & Sciences

Pi Sigma Alpha Outstanding Student in Political Science

Nicholas Antolick

Outstanding Graduate in Psychology

Elizabeth Frederick

Outstanding Graduate in Neuroscience Award

Jack Burch

Jaroslav Moravec Award (Sociology)

Hope Elizabeth Ousey

Outstanding Research Student in Biology

Esther Orlando

Jocelyn Cussatt

Outstanding Scholar in Biology

Marissa Kovaleski

Rosenthal Award for Research in Organismal Biology

Brenda Del Cid Ramirez

Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science

Morgan Romanowski

BESS Service Award

Maxine Bodnari

Future Educator in Environmental Science

Alexa Boersma

Future Educator in Biology

Cassidy Greenman

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Outstanding Service Award

Daphne Shencavitz

Alfred W. Bastress Award for Research Excellence

Ryley Kirk

Communication Studies Outstanding Student Award

Cassidy Brumagin

Tom Bigler Scholar Award

Morgan Rich

Etruscan Undergraduate Creative Writing Prize

Jazmin High

Annette Evans Humanities Award

Olivia Wychock

Frank J. J. Davies Award

Vivian Novitski

Phi Alpha Theta Award

Kaelin Hughes

Outstanding Graduate in Spanish Award

John Hannaway

Outstanding Achievement in Integrative Media, Art and Design

McKenna Dolan

Dylan Kofie

Erika Tomes

Richard Fuller Excellence in the Arts Award

Paige Edwards

Outstanding Senior Award in Computer Science

David Greybosh

The Performing Arts Vocal Award

Raven Whitefawn

The Musical Theatre Award

Jahel Duran-Diaz

The Dance Program Award

Amanda Merrick-Tompkins

The Music Program Award

Erin Dietrich

Outstanding Graduate for the College of Arts & Sciences

David Greybosh

College of Business & Engineering

Outstanding Business Student for the College of Business and Engineering

Eli Gordon

Outstanding Engineering Student for the College of Business and Engineering

Ellie Freiss

Daniel Whitman

Environmental Engineering Leadership and Service Award

Jacob Smith

Civil Engineering Leadership and Service Award

Hayden Calaman

Academic Achievement in Civil Engineering

Hayden Calaman

Outstanding Achievement in Mechanical Engineering

Ellie Freiss

Daniel Whitman

Dr. Umid R. Nejib Award for Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering

Trent Szczecinski

Daniel Whitman

Mechanical Engineering Service Award