2022 Commencement Medalists

The bestowal of medals for academic excellence and achievement occurred during two Hooding and Honors ceremonies on campus. Graduate and undergraduate students who have attained a notable level of academic excellence or have shown great leadership abilities were honored. Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood University President, awarded the medals.

The Undergraduate Hooding and Honors Ceremony was at Noon, and the Graduate Hooding and Honors Ceremony was at 3 p.m. Both events were held in the Insalaco Arena at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on Marywood University’s campus.

The 2022 Graduate Medalists include:

The William G. McGowan Medal for Excellence in Doctoral Studies - Ph.D. awarded to Abigail Patricia Davis and Aleni Mackarey; Honorable Mention: Ann Teresa Romanosky. This medal was founded in honor of William G. McGowan, a founder of MCI Communications Corp., by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. The medal recognizes scholarship, integrity, discipline, creativity and human service.

The William G. McGowan Medal for Excellence in Doctoral Studies - Psy.D., awarded to Kelsey A. Allison. This medal was founded in honor of William G. McGowan, a founder of MCI Communications Corp., by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. The medal recognizes scholarship, integrity, discipline, creativity and human service.

The Sister St. Agnes Medal for Excellence in Business, awarded to Lori J. Nguyen & Lijun Zhu. This graduate medal was founded by Ms. Angela Moran in honor of Sister Agnes Moran.

The Sister M. Eva Connors Peace Medal, awarded to Ashley E. Dunning. This medal was founded in memory of Sister M. Eva Connors, IHM.

The Geffen Medal for Outstanding Performance in Practicum Education, awarded to Yasmine M. Soliman. Friends and co-workers, in memory of Albert Geffen founded this School of Social Work medal.

The Haggerty Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence in Counselor Education, awarded to Claire M. Valletta. This graduate medal was founded by Trustees of the estate of Loretta Haggerty.

The Thomas J. Keenan M.D. Medal of Excellence in the Physician Assistant Program, awarded to Ashley N. Wojciechowski. This medal was founded by Mrs. Mary Keenan Hecht in honor of her brother.

The Polizzi Medal for Scholarship and Community Service, awarded to Sarah R. Silverman. This School of Social Work medal was founded by the Student Association, School of Social Work, in memory of Anthony C. Polizzi.

The Walton Medal for Excellence in Public Administration, awarded to William I. Craven; Honorable Mention: Gregory B. Dupriest. This graduate medal was founded by Dr. Clarence C. and Elizabeth Walton.

The 2022 Undergraduate Medalists include:

The Kappa Gamma Pi Medal for General Excellence, awarded to Elizabeth Erin Deroba and Rachael Kathryn Lindeblad, valedictorians of the Class of 2022. This medal is donated by the Scranton Chapter of Kappa Gamma Pi, National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society.

The Dolores M. Ackourey Medal for Excellence in Leadership and Human Relations, awarded to Madison K. Howell; Honorable Mention: Emily Kate Holtsmaster. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Ackourey founded this medal, in memory of their daughter, Dolores.

The Barrett Medal for Outstanding Service and Scholarship in the Field of Legal Studies or Criminal Justice,awarded to Kimberly Ward. This medal was founded by Sigma Pi Mu in honor of Dr. John W. Barrett.

The Sister Regina Barrett Medal for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, awarded to Maria Francesca Nicastro. This medal was established in honor of Sister Regina Barrett, IHM, by Superintendent Patricia C. Leamy.

The J. Harold Brislin Medal for Distinction in Creative Writing, awarded to Lilli Margaret Millon. This medal was founded by the late Gene Brislin, in memory of her husband, J. Harold Brislin, a Pulitzer Prize Winner.

The Thomas and Norah Clarke Medal for Excellence in Business awarded to Katelyn Grace Stoppe; Honorable Mention: Tyler McAlpine. This medal was founded by The Clarke Family in memory of their parents, Thomas and Norah Clarke.

The Czachor Medal for Distinction in Religious Studies, awarded to Samantha Ann Humen; Honorable Mention: Allura Dixon. This medal was founded by the Czachor Family of Archbald, Pennsylvania.

The Margaret Ruddy Dougherty Medal for Academic Excellence in Special Education, awarded to Ashley Nicole Kempa. This medal was founded by the estate of Margaret Ruddy Dougherty.

The Edward Gayeski Medal for Excellence in Design, awarded to Kathryn Shea. Mrs. Alba Gayeski, founded this medal in memory of her husband, Edward Gayeski.

Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie Medal for Excellence in Secondary Education, awarded to Kaitlyn Savage. This medal was founded by Elizabeth Young Arvad, M.D.

The Jenkins-Colis Gilroy Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Social Work, awarded to Madison Mae Cairns; Honorable Mentions: Jordyn T. Miller and Ali Marie Stevens. This medal was founded by BSW students, in memory of Brian Jenkins, Class of 1979, and Patricia Colis Gilroy, Class of 1976.

The Jordan Medal for Excellence in the Social Sciences, awarded to Rebecca Lynne Bonham; Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Mary Balanovich. This medal was founded by the Misses Jordan, in memory of their brother, Reverend Richard D. Jordan, J.C.L.

The Rosemary Carroll Kazimer Medal for Excellence in Elementary Education, awarded to McKenzie Lynn VanWieren. This medal was founded by Dr. Mary Louise Keeney in honor of Mrs. Kazimer.

The Sister M. Clare Kelley Medal for Excellence in Music, awarded to Samantha Ann Humen. This medal was founded in memory of Sister M. Clare Kelley by her former music students.

The Sister M. Margrete Kelley Medal for Distinction in Service awarded to Noah Schock; Honorable Mention: Olivia J. Bressler. This medal was founded by Anna G. Kirby in memory of her sister, Sister M. Margrete Kelley, IHM.

The Sister Davidica Kildea Medal for Excellence in Voice, awarded to Katelyn VanLanen. This medal was founded in memory of Sister M. Davidica Kildea, IHM, by the Kildea Family.

The Sister M. Charitas Loftus Medal for Excellence in Poetry awarded to Gianna Maria Manzo. This medal was founded by Jemille A. Zaydon and Friends and Alumni.

The Saint Luke Medal for Excellence in Art, awarded to Katherine M. Bollinger; Honorable Mention: Victoria Lee Calzolari. This medal was founded by Miss Helen Leonard in memory of Miss Mary E. Barrett.

The Margaret T. Lunney Medal for Outstanding Performance in the Study of Communication Sciences and Disorders, awarded to Hannah Joy Longacre; Honorable Mentions: Nicole Elizabeth Koestler, Abigail Lynn Lovatt, Kristen Leigh Persico. This medal was founded by Miss Dorothy R. McNulty in honor of Miss Lunney.

The Lynett Medal for Academic Distinction in Communication Arts, awarded to Elizabeth Erin Deroba. This medal was founded by the late E. J. Lynett, in memory of his wife, Ellen Ruddy Lynett.

The Sister Maria Laurence Maher Medal for Excellence in Biological Studies, awarded to Siena Rainey. This medal was founded in memory of Sister Maria Laurence Maher, IHM, by her family.

The Medal for Excellence in Psychology, awarded to Julia Marie Polt; Honorable Mention: Rachael Kathryn Lindeblad. This medal was founded by the Psychology Club in honor of Sister M. St. Mary Orr, I.H.M., and Sister M. Bernardina McAndrew, I.H.M.

The Nemotko Medal for Distinction in Nursing, awarded to Brian Barnum. This medal was founded by Mrs. Anthony J. Nemotko, in memory of her husband, Anthony J. Nemotko.

The Mary Pace Medal for Excellence in Philosophy, awarded to Nadia Haroun Mahdavi; Honorable Mention: Mia Rae Kissinger. This medal was founded by Reverend William J. Pace, in memory of his mother, Mary Pace.

The Dr. Wanda Persichetti Medal for Excellence in Foreign Language Study, awarded to Elizabeth Ann Lowney. Friends of Dr. Persichetti in her honor founded this medal.

The Judith Piznar Medal for Leadership and Service to Youth, awarded to Thomas Flynn; Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Ann Lowney. This medal was founded in memory of Judy Piznar, Class of 1990.

The Robert E. Quinnan Medal for Distinguished Service in the Alphonsian and IHM Tradition, awarded to Angelina Marie Balestino. This medal was founded by Catherine Quinnan, in memory of her husband Robert E. Quinnan.

The Shaffer Medal for Nutrition and Dietetics, awarded to Erikah M. Groninger; Honorable Mention: Angelina Marie Balestino. This medal was founded by C. Norman Shaffer, LL.D., in memory of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Walsh, IHM, and Sister Margaret Mary Howley, IHM.

The Tama Medal for Excellence in Mathematical Studies, awarded to Kaitlyn Savage; Honorable Mention: Thomas Roland Niemiec. This medal was founded by Mrs. Margaret Mary Tama Hovell and Dr. Judith Tama Page, in memory of their parents, John and Margaret Tama.