05/29 - University of Scranton Awards Outstanding Graduates of Class of 2002

The University of Scranton honored 69 outstanding members of its undergraduate Class of 2002 at Class Night on May 25. Thirty-nine of the award recipients, recognized for academic excellence and/or service, are from northeastern Pennsylvania.

Students with the highest G.P.A. in each of The University of Scranton's four undergraduate colleges were given the Frank J. O'Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, an award named in honor of the late administrator who served the university for 53 years.

This year's O'Hara Award recipients were, Gretchen Fritz, Honesdale, for the Kania School of Management; Mary Rowlands, Scranton, for College of Graduate and Continuing Education; Joylin Holladay, Idaho Falls, Idaho, for the Panuska College of Professional Studies; and co-recipients Jed D. Gonzalo, Kulpmont, and Christopher M. Geadrites, Binghamton, N.Y., for the College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition, students from The University of Scranton's four academic divisions were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study.

The recipients of the Kania School of Management academic excellence awards were, Ronald Madden, Lansdale, accounting; Douglas Yazinski, Archbald, economics; Gretchen Fritz, Honesdale, finance and the Wall Street Journal Award; Ian Patrick Walsh, Fairfield, Conn., international business; Michael Murphy Quinn, Springfield, management; Alison Chi-Yan Tsui, Hong Kong, marketing; Kelly Henry, Liverpool, N.Y., operations management; and Henry E. Chance, Carlisle, The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award.

The recipients of the academic excellence awards for College of Graduate and Continuing Education were Terry Lee Howell, Jr., Jessup, Outstanding Associate Degree Student; co-recipients Terry Andrew J. Hanusich, Scranton, and Sonya S. Zacker, Lake Ariel, computer information systems; Melissa M. Woelkers, Scranton, health administration; Barbara A. Pramick, Clarks Summit, history; Brenda A. Walsh, Scranton, human services; Mary Rowlands, Scranton, liberal studies; co-recipients Michael A. Koval, Swoyersville, and Nora Jean Rynkiewicz, Plymouth, nursing, RN; Anna E. Williams, Hawley, nursing, LPN; Edward Skutack, Waymart, operations management; Robert L. Smith, Clarks Summit, secondary education; and Gregory A. Reichlen, Friendsville, Second Baccalaureate Degree Award.

The recipients of the awards for academic excellence in the Panuska College of Professional Studies were Cathy O'Neil, Mayfield, early childhood education; co-recipients Jessica Rachel Stapfer, Springfield. N.J., and John Paul Swarts, Scranton, elementary education; Stephanie Lynn Jablonski, New Philadelphia, the Mary E. Quinn Award for Secondary Education and the Professor Joseph G. Brunner Award for Foreign Languages; co-recipients Jeni L. Curran, Miller Place, N.Y., and Kristopher Michael Grundy, Long Valley, N.J., special education; Maria Kathryn Jankoviak, Swoyersville, exercise science; Sara Arlene Cullen, Goodview, Va., health administration; corecipients Kelly Marie Bronson, Elbridge, N.Y., and Laura Ann Romanello, Manheim, health sciences; Christopher Thomas Washington, Wilkes-Barre, human services; Julie E. Robbins, Honesdale, nursing; Michelle Berkstresser, Bridgewater, N.J., the Sigma Theta Tau Award; and Jennifer Kelly Newsome, Tom's River, N.J., occupational therapy.

The recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences awards for academic excellence were Jeffrey A. Sedon, Hudson (Wilkes-Barre), biochemistry and the American Chemical Society Award; Ryan P. Kilker, Pleasant Mount, the American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award; Jed. D. Gonzalo, Kulpmont, Kathryn and the Bernard Hyland Memorial Award for Biology; Christine Salvatore, Greenfield Township, Chemistry and the American Institute of Chemists Award; April Azaravich, Hughstown, chemistry-business; Jennifer L. Staub, Warrington, the Professor Bernard J. McGurl Award for Communication; Robert D. Steffenauer, Bloomsburg, computer science; and Michael P. Kroiss, Yardley, computer information systems.

Also, Angela Hudacko, Scranton, criminal justice; Jason R. Collins, Lake Ariel, economics; Erin J. McCormack, Staten Island, N.Y., the Dr. A. J. Cawley Award for Electrical Engineering; Heather Theis, Warrington, the Professor Joseph B. Cullather Award for English and the Jesuit Community Service Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service; Kristin Kaeser, Maple Shade, N.J., environmental science; Christopher M. Geadrites, Binghamton, N.Y., philosophy and the Professor Joseph G. Brunner Award for Foreign Languages; and Rocco A. Schillaci, West Pittston, the Professor Frank C. Brown Award for history.

Also, Henry Yamplosky, Wilkes-Barre, international studies; Jennifer M. Martin, Pittston, the J. the Harold Brislin Memorial Award for journalism; April L. Puscavage, Avoca, mathematics, women's studies, and the Professor Joseph P. Harper Award for Physics; Kelly E. Sarti, medical technology; Joseph E. McCarthy, Oradell, N.J., the Military Science Leadership Award; Ryan C. Rusnok, Pittston, the Gen. Colin Powell Scholar Award; and Mark P. Fitzgerald, Clarks Summit, neuroscience, psychology, and the Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology.

Also, Nicole E. Negowetti, Edison, N.J., the Professor Timothy H. Scully Award for Political Science; Perriann Morgan, Pompton Lakes, N.J., sociology; co-recipients Michael M. Canaris, Swedesboro, N.J., and Elizabeth F. O'Rourke, Avon Lake, Ohio, theology and religious studies; and Elizabeth A. Scoblick, Archbald, Lackawanna Lawyers Auxiliary Award.

The Jesuit Community Service Award for Ignatian Spirituality was presented James Federick Miller, Shohola. Patricia A. Donaghy, Mohegan Lake, N.Y., and Bradley Joseph Troy, Archbald, were co-recipients of the Lawrence Mann Award, which recognizes service and leadership.

Christopher Jones, Peckville, and Patti Zaloga, Taylor, were co-recipeints of the The University of Scranton's Alumni Loyalty and Service Award. The Student Life Award for enhancing the quality of student life on campus was given Nicole V. Cestola, Mahwah, N.J.

The 2002 yearbook, The Windover, was dedicated to Catherine Fisch, Scranton, who has worked in the cafeteria at the university for over 10 years as food service employee of ARAMARK.

The University of Scranton conferred 827 bachelors and associate degrees to members of its undergraduate Class of 2002, which currently holds a 97 percent placement rate for medical school, more than double the national average.