University Confers Record Number of Graduate Degrees at Ceremony

The University of Scranton conferred the most master’s and doctorate of physical therapy degrees in its history at its post-baccalaureate commencement on May 26 in the Byron Recreation Complex. The University of Scranton conferred 59 doctoral degrees in physical therapy and 762 master’s degrees, both of which are records for the University, at the commencement.

Graduates represented 41 states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Programs with the most graduates at Scranton were educational administration, curriculum and instruction, MBA and occupational therapy.

At the ceremony, the University awarded Morey Myers, Esq., an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, recognizing his passionate dedication to the rule of law and to social justice, as well as his intellect, vision and leadership. One of Pennsylvania’s most respected attorneys, Myers is well-known in the region for his leadership, scholarship, philanthropy and civic engagement.

Myers served with distinction in the public sector and as a leading private practice attorney. A partner in the Philadelphia-based firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal and Lewis, Myers become a founding partner of the Scranton law firm of Myers, Brier & Kelly. He also served as general counsel to the late Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey, and as general counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During the civil rights movement, Myers was among the few lawyers who traveled to the South as a volunteer to provide legal services for those engaged in civil disobedience, specifically in St. Augustine, Fla., in 1964 and in Mississippi in 1965.

For his service the community, Myers has received many awards including the Governor Robert P. Casey Medal and the B’Nai Brith Americanism Award.

After receiving the honorary degree, Myers provided the principal address to the graduates. Presiding over his first commencement at The University of Scranton, Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., president, also addressed the graduates and their guests.

In his address, Myers urged the University’s graduates to be more than respected professionals, but also active community leaders, ready to help the underserved of our nation.

“There is something to gain from higher education beyond just specialization and knowledge, and it doesn’t matter whether you are online students or traditional students.” Myers explained. “What is it that you are learning? Maybe you didn’t even realize it. You were learning to become a citizen. By that I mean a participatory citizen.”

Father Quinn concluded the ceremony offering his own thoughts and hopes to the nearly 4,000 people in attendance, especially the new University graduates.

“You were challenged to make Ignatius’ charge, to love and serve in all things, your own,” Father Quinn explained. “This is the value-added of a Scranton graduate education, and for this we are justly proud. Today, as we have been told, the University is awarding the largest number of DPT degrees and master’s degrees in our history. Dear graduates, I trust you will conduct your professional and personal lives not only with confidence, but with compassion. Remember, you are sons and daughters of The University of Scranton forever.”

Also at the ceremony, graduate students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their academic area. Outstanding Academic Awards were presented to Megan Anne Connelly of Mahopac, N.Y., physical therapy; Andrew George Witko of Gouldsboro, history; Hamad Mohammad Aleisa of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, international business; Marwah Mohammad H. Almasri of Orange, Conn., management information systems; Stephen Jack Aughenbaugh of Pottsville, marketing; Bryan Vincent Casey of Massapequa, N.Y., accounting; Sean Martin Clark of Dallas, enterprise resources planning; Joan Marie Gaffney of Tampa, Fla., marketing; Maryse A. Griffin of Palm Bay, Fla., healthcare management; Kihoon Kwon of New York, N.Y., finance; Jason Thomas Savino of Manalapan, N.J., general MBA; Janette Thomas of Cortland, N.Y., general MBA; Pamela Ann Koons of Palmerton, health administration; Zainab Abdullah Al Taleeb of Scranton, clinical chemistry; Zainab Mohammed Alumrani of Scranton, clinical chemistry; Kristina Nicole Amorese of Floral Park, N.Y., occupational therapy; Jennifer Lynn Battista of Bridgewater, N.J., educational administration; Roxanne Renee Bressett of East Stroudsburg, elementary education; Linette Joy Browning of Peckville            , early childhood education; Danielle Gina Frascella of Scranton, rehabilitation counseling; Anisa Jehan Gharbi of Salisbury, Md., community counseling; Lauren Elizabeth Godek of Moscow, English as a second language; Robert Ralph Hasselbach of Kresgeville, biochemistry; Kate Lynn Keglovits of Stroudsburg, school counseling; Robert Christopher King of Ashley software engineering; Michelle Ann Layland of Moscow, curriculum and instruction; Elke Miller of Milford, secondary education; Alexandra C. Parlamas of Oakhurst, N.Y., special education; Mollie Lauren Vita of Melville, N.Y., reading education; and Elaine Morrison of Scranton, adult health nursing.

The degrees were conferred by Father Quinn to candidates presented by W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

The list of graduates and program of speakers can be seen in the commencement program by clicking here.