2023 Commencement Medalists

The bestowal of medals for academic excellence and achievement occurred during various Hooding and Honors ceremonies on campus on Friday, May 19, 2023. Graduate and undergraduate students who have attained a notable level of academic excellence or have shown great leadership abilities were honored.

Medals (except doctoral medals) were awarded at the medalists’ respective Hooding and Honors Ceremonies on Friday, May 19, at various times/locations on Marywood’s campus. Doctoral medals will be awarded during the Marywood University Commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Get Hooding and Commencement Event Details

The 2023 Commencement Medalists, listed by college and level, include:

College of Health and Human Services

Graduate Medalists

Doctoral Level

The William G. McGowan Medal for Excellence in Doctoral Studies - Psy.D., awarded to Katelyn Vala. 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.

Master’s Level

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

The Haggerty Medal for Leadership and Academic Excellence in Counselor Education, awarded to Karen Andrea James. 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 Priya R. Patel. This medal was founded by Mrs. Mary Keenan Hecht in honor of her brother.

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

Undergraduate Medalists

Academic Medals

The Jenkins-Colis Gilroy Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Social Work, awarded to Sarah Gallagher; honorable mention to Julieanne Ocker. This medal was founded by BSW students, in memory of Brian Jenkins, Class of 1979, and Patricia Colis Gilroy, Class of 1976.

The Margaret T. Lunney Medal for Outstanding Performance in the Study of Communication Sciences and Disorders, awarded to Kelli Marie Moreno; honorable mention to Angela Grace Genter. This medal was founded by Miss Dorothy R. McNulty in honor of Miss Lunney.

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

The Medal for Excellence in Psychology, awarded to Elizabeth Buczek; honorable mention to Evan Christopher Cobb. 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 Shaffer Medal for Nutrition and Dietetics, awarded to Kelsey Marie Banfield. 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.

Insalaco College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Medalists

Academic Medals

The Barrett Medal for Outstanding Service and Scholarship in the Field of Legal Studies or Criminal Justice, awarded to Mathias Andrew Hummer; honorable mention to Arianna Costanzi. This medal was founded by Sigma Pi Mu in honor of Dr. John W. Barrett.

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

The Czachor Medal for Distinction in Religious Studies, awarded to Ivy D'Agostino; honorable mentions to Mathias Andrew Hummer and Karen Ann Rossmell. This medal was founded by the Czachor Family of Archbald, Pennsylvania.

Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie Medal for Excellence in Secondary Education, awarded to Kelsey Martin; honorable mention to. Caitlyn Nicole Tashman. This medal was founded by Elizabeth Young Arvad, M.D.

The Jordan Medal for Excellence in the Social Sciences, awarded to Tyler Hewett; honorable mention to Colby Anne Santillo. This medal was founded by the Misses Jordan, in memory of their brother, Reverend Richard D. Jordan, J.C.L.

The Kappa Gamma Pi Medal for General Excellence, awarded to Olivia F. Bloskey, Valedictorian. This medal is donated by the Scranton Chapter of Kappa Gamma Pi, National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society.

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

The Sister Davidica Kildea Medal for Excellence in Voice, awarded to Sarah Ounsworth. 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 Ashley DeAbreu. This medal was founded by Jemille A. Zaydon and Friends and Alumni.

The Lynett Medal for Academic Distinction in Communication Arts, awarded to Jacob Rasimovich. 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 Mackenzie Nicole Bennett. This medal was founded in memory of Sister Maria Laurence Maher, IHM, by her family.

The Sister M. Sylvia Morgan Medal for Pre-Medical Studies awarded to Mackenzie Nicole Bennett. The Morgan Medal was founded by Elizabeth Young Arvad, M.D.

The Philip E. Mulry Medal for Excellence in Chemistry awarded to Meaghan Elizabeth Mulvey. The Mulry Medal was founded by the Mulry family in memory of Philip E. Mulry, Sr.

The Dr. Wanda Persichetti Medal for Excellence in Foreign Language Study, awarded to Caitlyn Nicole Tashman; honorable mention to Arianna Costanzi. Friends of Dr. Persichetti in her honor founded this medal.

The Saint Luke Medal for Excellence in Art, awarded to Shannon Corr; honorable mention to Madison Rose Solano. This medal was founded by Miss Helen Leonard in memory of Miss Mary E. Barrett.

The Tama Medal for Excellence in Mathematical Studies, awarded to Angel M. Bieloski. This medal was founded by Mrs. Margaret Mary Tama Hovell and Dr. Judith Tama Page, in memory of their parents, John and Margaret Tama.

Student Life Medals

The Dolores M. Ackourey Medal for Excellence in Leadership and Human Relations, awarded to Austen W. Miller; honorable mention to Elizabeth Buczek. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Ackourey founded this medal, in memory of their daughter, Dolores.

The Judith Piznar Medal for Leadership and Service to Youth, awarded to D'Ambra Galvin; honorable mention to Meaghan Elizabeth Mulvey. 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 Meaghan Elizabeth Mulvey. This medal was founded by Catherine Quinnan, in memory of her husband Robert E. Quinnan.

Reap College of Professional Studies

Graduate Medalists

Doctoral Level

The William G. McGowan Medal for Excellence in Doctoral Studies - Ph.D. awarded to Charles Joseph Salvo and John Charles Volpe. 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.

Master’s Level

The Sister St. Agnes Medal for Excellence in Business, awarded to Quinton James Roma. This graduate medal was founded by Ms. Angela Moran in honor of Sister St. Agnes Moran.

The Walton Medal for Excellence in Public Administration, awarded to Ammie Lynn Kellam. This graduate medal was founded by Dr. Clarence C. and Elizabeth Walton.

Undergraduate Medalists

Academic Medals

The Sister Regina Barrett Medal for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, awarded to Amanda Sakulich; honorable mention to Julianna Grace Cotroneo. This medal was established in honor of Sister Regina Barrett, IHM, by Superintendent Patricia C. Leamy.

The Thomas and Norah Clarke Medal for Excellence in Business awarded to Het Patel; honorable mention to Darren Patrick Hyde. This medal was founded by The Clarke Family in memory of their parents, Thomas and Norah Clarke.

The Edward Gayeski Medal for Excellence in Design, awarded to Erin Nicole Bankert; honorable mention to Enzo Dennis Cicco. Mrs. Alba Gayeski, founded this medal in memory of her husband, Edward Gayeski.

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

The Margaret Ruddy Dougherty Medal for Academic Excellence in Special Education, awarded to Sarah J. Kinback; honorable mention to Hadley Grace Gilbert. This medal was founded by the estate of Margaret Ruddy Dougherty.

Student Life Medal

The Sister M. Margrete Kelley Medal for Distinction in Service awarded to Hadley Grace Gilbert; honorable mention to Aryana Patricia Smith. This medal was founded by Anna G. Kirby in memory of her sister, Sister M. Margrete Kelley, IHM.