Saint Rose Students Honored for Academic Achievement at Convocation

More than 100 students were honored for academic achievement at the annual Honors Convocation at The College of Saint Rose on March 24. Saint Rose President Carolyn J. Stefanco, as well as administrators and faculty members, celebrated the work of these outstanding students.

Academic Achievement Awards

This award is presented to the outstanding member of each class – first-year, sophomore, and junior – who has achieved the highest cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in his or her respective class.
Class of 2019: Tina Marie Ceriello, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Class of 2020: Abigail R. Pierce, Medical Technology
Class of 2021: Sarah Elizabeth Wright, Music

Saint Rose of Lima Awards:

These awards, given to a four-year student and a transfer student, are presented to graduating seniors in recognition of the highest academic achievement during study at the College.
Four-Year Students: Rohit Ahuja, Finance; Julian Paul Lipinski, Finance
Transfer Student: Sarah Hoffman, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Outstanding Senior Awards

Recipients of this award are chosen by department faculty among students in the senior class who typically have at least a 3.5 GPA and have distinguished themselves by their performance and other academic activities in their respective departments.

School of Arts and Humanities Outstanding Senior Awards
Graphic Design: Jacqueline Saucier
Law/History and Political Science: Erin Donovan
Studio Art: Siena Kay Phelps
Music (BA): Lucelly Orrego
Communications: Tiernan Foley
Music (BS)/Music Industry Concentration: Emily Mitchell, Sydney Schizzano
English: Meghan Kelley
Music Education: Megan Hali Vanacore
History: Claire Moylan
Political Science: Maria Henain

Huether School of Business Outstanding Senior Awards
Accounting: Eamon H. Murphy
Management: Dylan Mann
Business Economics: Michael Morris
Marketing: Christopher Gabryszewski
Finance: Rohit Ahuja, Julian Paul Lipinski
Sport Management: Patrick Ladouce
Financial Planning: Megan Sarah Madden

Thelma P. Lally School of Education Outstanding Senior Awards
Childhood Education/Special Education: Sharroia T. Armstead, Alexandra N. Zimmer
Social Studies Adolescence Education: Julianna M. Luciano
Communications Sciences and Disorders: Sarah Hoffman
Teacher Education/Early Childhood Education: Alyssa DeFini
Teacher Education/Childhood Education: Janelle Victoria Beck, Jacob M. Christian
Early Childhood Education/Special Education: Ida Rose Ainslie-Hamblin

School of Mathematics and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards
Biochemistry: Shannon V. Nesterowicz
Biology: Amanda Harrington
Mathematics: Marisa Amber Rakos
Mathematics: Adolescence Education: John Robert Graham, Evan Solosky
Criminal Justice, Behavior, and Law: Meghan Marie Hake, Tara Pedian
Forensic Psychology: Abigail Koller
Forensic Psychology, Legal Concentration: Amritraj Michael Dammar
Forensic Psychology, Clinical Concentration: Kristofer Shaun Kirkpatrick
Forensic Psychology, Clinical/Counseling Concentration: Marite Martinez
Psychology: Lisa Sabatino
Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration: Krystin Roberts
Psychology, Health Psychology Concentration: Madison Taylor
Psychology, Social/Personality Concentration: Carissa Clark
Social Work: Taylor Mantica, Abigail Emily Sevigny

Graduate Honors Awards

Departmental faculty select their outstanding graduating students in each of the respective programs of graduate study. Award criteria are determined by each of the departments.

School of Arts and Humanities Graduate Honors
Music (CAS): Giancarlo Sidoli

Huether School of Business Graduate Honors
Master of Business Administration/Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Jack Jones
Master of Science in Accounting: Rifat Mahjabeen
Master of Science in Accounting/Bachelor of Science in Accounting: Anthony Pokrentowski

Thelma P. Lally School of Education Graduate Honors
Adolescence Education-Biology: Sara Fellehner-Endres, William Mars
College Student Services Administration: Laura Isabelle O. Zagada
Communications Sciences and Disorders: Alysa Christine Chartrand
Adolescence Education-English: Shannon Gethard, Derek Thomas Bushnell
Collaborative Support Teacher-Special Education/Adolescence Education: Daniel M. Donovan
Adolescence Education-Social Studies: Kendra Gross
Early Childhood Education: Christina Jean Harrington
Adolescence Education (CAS): Catherine Novaes
Educational Psychology: Faiza Nasery
Adolescence Education/Special Education: English (BA/MSED): Carolynn Magen Bruni
Literacy: Birth-Grade 6: Cassidy O’Connor
Adolescence Education/Special Education: Mathematics (BA/MSED): Rebecca Emily Moyer, Sarah Lynn Murin
Literacy: Grades 5-12: Lauren D’Annibale
Adolescence Education/Special Education (Generalist): Ethan Griswold
School Counseling: Erika Scully
School District Business Leadership: Maureen A. Long, Ed.D.
Childhood Education: Ashley N. Castellana
School District Business Leadership (CAS): Audrey Helen Wood
Childhood Education/Special Education (Grades 1-6): Sheyla V. Escoto, MaryBeth Grady
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Reem Ali Alharbi, Walter John Clark, Monica L. Raminger
Special Education/Adolescence Education: Julianna R. Gigliello, Cami Samuelson
Special Education Professional Program: Khadijah Algernas, Samantha L. Fox

School of Mathematics and Sciences Graduate Honors
Computer Information Systems: Bhavya Patel
Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Computer Information Systems: Brennan Hitchcock
Social Work: Erin Plonka

Special Awards

School of Arts and Humanities Special Awards

Artist Scholar Award: Ngan Ngoc Kim Le
The award is presented to a graduating senior in the art department. Equal emphasis is placed on artistic accomplishment and scholarly achievement.

Sister Rita Agnes Casey, CSJ, Endowed Musical Award: Francesca Rose Primeggia
The award is presented to a female senior music major who has demonstrated commitment to continuing music studies. It is given in honor of Sister Rita Agnes Casey, one of the College’s founders and chair of the music department from its inception in 1920 until 1957.

Jack Fragomeni Memorial Music Award: Paul M. Reepmeyer
The award recognizes a junior who plays guitar and shows the most improvement since their first year. Recipients are selected by the music faculty. The award is named in honor of the late Jack Fragomeni, a jazz guitarist and part-time Music Department faculty member for 25 years.

Sister Rosaleen Gilroy, CSJ, History-Political Science Award: Kaitlin C. Cavell
The award is presented to a graduating senior carrying the highest cumulative GPA in the history/political science major.

Hy Rosen Award for Excellence in Painting and Drawing: Johnathan DeSousa, Kayla Fincken
The award is named for the renowned political cartoonist for the Times Union for nearly half a century. His generosity has made it possible for the art department to create this award, which is presented to an outstanding art student who has demonstrated a high level of skills, understanding, innovation and insights in painting and drawing.

Senior Writing Award: Christiane Regina Rodrigues Lee
The honoree is selected from a group of candidates who submitted three anonymous writing samples to judges from outside the College’s community.

Inez and Nicholas Tarquin Artist Scholar Award: Noelle Herceg
This award is presented to a talented junior art major with a GPA of 3.5 or better and who has demonstrated artistic and academic talent. Karene Faul, former chair of the Art Department at The College of Saint Rose, established the award in memory of her mother and father.

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award: Sarah Dworjan
The recipient for this award is selected by the music faculty guided solely by consideration of excellence and merit. This award is an honor award and the student, in his/her senior year, is to be known as a Presser Scholar.

Professor S.R. Swaminathan Award: Danielle Epting
This award, established in memory of a distinguished member of the Saint Rose English department for 15 years, recognizes the academic achievement of a senior English major planning to attend graduate school. The award is based on academic achievement, and the recipient is selected by the English department.

J. Robert Sheehan Music Scholar Award: Victoria Karns
This award is presented to a sophomore or junior vocal or keyboard music student who has exhibited outstanding dedication to the department and exceptional progress and promise in music, from academic and applied performance perspectives. The award is made possible by friends and family of J. Robert Sheehan, former chair of the College’s music department, in recognition of his many years of service.

Sister Patricia Kane Writing Award in Journalism: Taylor Paige Farnsworth
This award, named for the founder of the journalism program at The College of Saint Rose, is presented by the Communications Department faculty based upon a review of submissions by students majoring in communications.

The Honorable Loretta A. Preska Endowed Award: Maria Henain
In celebration of Judge Preska’s 15th anniversary as U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, her law clerks established the award in fall 2007 as an expression of their admiration and gratitude for her “grace, wit and friendship” and in recognition of her loyalty to her undergraduate alma mater.

Michael D. Normandin Innovative Computing Technology Award: Tyler John Schmidt
The award recognizes a student who has used computer technology to create solutions within the world of music or business. It is named for Michael D. Normandin ’87, who has decades of real world computer technology leadership and experience.

Huether School of Business Special Awards

James J. Carr III Award for Business Beyond the Classroom: Myrdel Geffard, Peter J. Russo, Connor J. Schafer
This award honors students who have at least a 3.0 GPA and have distinguished themselves by outstanding performance in an internship, field study, or faculty-directed research. It was established in 2013 in the memory of James J. Carr III, a pioneer of the restaurant boom in downtown Albany.

William and Camille Ruggiero ’37 Endowed Honors Internship Award: Matthew D. Cerutti, Christopher Gabryszewski, Jennifer M. Galavotti, Myrdel Geffard, Jamie Herzfeld, Imani Nichols, Joel Salas, Mykha’el J. Wilson
This award supports tuition expenses for students participating in the honors internship program in the summer between their junior and senior years. It was established by Camille George Ruggiero, a History and Political Science major at Saint Rose who planned a gift from her estate to support student studies.

Thelma P. Lally School of Education Special Awards

Dr. Anne Toolan Rowley Endowed Award: Makayla Stone
This award recognizes a student who demonstrates outstanding scholarship and exemplary service to children and adults with communication needs in language and literacy, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Dr. Mark Ylvisaker Memorial Award: Madalyn Petrovich
This award recognizes a student who presents the compassion and scholarly dedication that Dr. Mark Ylvisaker, a longtime professor at Saint Rose until his passing in 2009, was known for.

Joyce Coon Memorial Award: Jennifer M. Harp
This award is presented to a graduate student in the communication sciences and disorders program who has demonstrated academic excellence in the area of adult neurogenic communication disorders and swallowing and, also, has demonstrated the personal qualities that were exemplified by Joyce Coon – compassion, caring, and collaboration with others. It was established in memory of Coon, who received her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Saint Rose in 2004 and who had been pursuing her graduate degree in that same program.

Sister Charleen Bloom, CSJ, Scholarship Award: Jocelyn Rose Strack
This award is given to a new graduate student who demonstrates high academic scholarship, leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to “serve thy dear neighbor.”

Dr. Huey C. Bogan Award for Creativity in Teaching: Luke Richard Horton
This award is given to a graduate student studying Childhood Education who is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an education honors society and is noted by the education faculty as demonstrating a passion for lifelong learning and creativity in teaching. It is named in honor of Huey C. Bogan, a Childhood Education professor at Saint Rose for 16 years who passed away in 2009.

Nick Birchak Strength of Character Scholarship Award: Emily Cabrera
This award is given to a student who is currently being treated for epilepsy and has plans to further his or her education.

School of Mathematics and Sciences Special Awards

American Institute of Chemists: Zain-ul Sulehri
This national program honors outstanding seniors majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering or biochemistry. The award is presented on the basis of “a demonstrated record of ability, leadership and professional promise.”

Sister Noel Marie Cronin Excellence in Mathematics Award: Jessica Emerich
This award is presented to a senior mathematics major who has met specific academic criteria and who has demonstrated originality, creativity, initiative, and integration of knowledge in course work.

Marie Chirico Bello ’48 Award: Jose Luis Cruz, Jr.
This award is presented to a full-time undergraduate science major who shares Marie Chirico Bello’s passion for science, demonstrated through high academic achievement in science. It was established in 2011 in honor of the 85th birthday of Marie Chirico Bello ’48, who majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry at Saint Rose.

Sister Theresa Wysolmerski, CSJ, Award for Excellence in Biology: Nia Sarah Brown
This award is presented to an outstanding full-time undergraduate Biology, Biology: Adolescence Education, Medical Technology, Biology/Cytotechnology or Childhood Education (Biology concentration) major who meets specific academic criteria and has demonstrated academic excellence, breadth of interest, and general social concern.

General Chemistry Award: Madison Hack, Marika Laurendeau, Charles Saez
This award is given to the best student in general chemistry at the College, based upon GPA, motivation, and interest in chemistry.

Donna L. Reittinger Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Psychological Research: Al Matt
This award is given to a senior majoring in Psychology who successfully completes Senior Seminar Research. The award was established in 2008 in celebration of Donna L. Reittinger and her more than 30 years in the Saint Rose Psychology Department.

Sally Fox Memorial Award in Microbiology: Amanda Lynn German
This award is presented to a junior or senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement in Biology, Biochemistry, or Medical Technology. It was established by Dr. Sally Fox, a professor of Microbiology at Saint Rose from 1967-1983, when she retired. When Fox passed away, her family and friends endowed the award in her memory.

The Senior Class Scholar-Athlete Award:
Julian Paul Lipinski, Madison Taylor

Mary P. VanDerzee Memorial Award: Emily Cabrera, AnnaRose Fragale
This award, established in memory of the College’s former director of services to students with disabilities, recognizes a student with a disability who has excelled academically, successfully handling the challenge of his or her disability. Students with documented disabilities are nominated by the staff of the College’s Academic Support Center.

Recognition for Publication in The College of Saint Rose 2017 Journal of Undergraduate Research:

Sean Gunner, “Race in High Fashion: An Analysis of the Representation of People of Color”
Joshua Heller, “Bridging the Gap: Analyzing Twitter Interactions between Athletes and Fans”
Liana T. Morales, “Invertebrates in Fragmented Areas and Community Gardens in Albany, New York”
Jennifer Lynne O’Keefe, “A Place for Sympathy within the Law”
Logan Ripley, “It’s for You and Me: The Reality of Sports Mediated Viewing”

Honor Society Inductees

Honor Societies are national or international organizations who recognize students for academic excellence usually within a specific academic discipline. Each one has its own set of requirements for membership. Separate induction ceremonies are held by each of the individual Honor Societies.

Delta Mu Delta (International Honor Society in Business)
Joseph Cassidy, Tiyana Epperson, Shane Fuller, Jennifer Galavotti, Katarzyna Herdzik, Imani Nicholas, Taylor Solomon, Kimberly Wells, Shuirong Zhu

Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education)
Lindsey Albert, Rhina Allende, Megan Anderson, Janelle Beck, Vanessa Black, Alysse Breitenbach, Ashley Carsillo, Jessica Cartwright, Kennedy Connor, Maja De Garay, Chelsea DeOdene, Katherine DeWolf, Paul Groff, Renee Kochinski, Emily Lemieux, Erin Luke,
Elizabeth McGee, Nicolette Miciotta, Jordan Moses, Courtney Nardone, Gabrielle Pike, Megan Proper, Tiara Riebeling, Ashley Romand, Maria Savallo, Kayleigh Smith, Reanna Terano, Ashley Torda, Ashley Woods

Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Economics Honor Society)
Jordyn Jamal, Cassandra Newman, Michael Pilkington, Briana Ramgeet, John Rotando, Orel Taib, Alex Zhang

Phi Alpha (International Honor Society in Social Work)
Florentina Campion, Janine Countryman, Hunter Hitchcock, Stephanie Jennings, Rachel May, Heather Mowry, Ashley Peart

Phi Alpha Delta (International Fraternity and Honor Society in Law)
Amanda Alberti, Shanaya Baijnath, Yakaira Cabral Flores, Tyler Champine, Danielle Cooper, Rubi-Dee Cooper, Tiyana Epperson, Adriana Guerriero, Karamjeet Kaur, Jared Kossover, Erin LaValley, Nicola Leopold, Elizabeth Liu, Elenie Martinez, Molly Meyer, Katherine Miller, Christine Myers, Carla Nazaire, Lexie Paddon, Alyssa Parisi, Tara Pedian, Taylor Ramsey, Arianna St. John, Leeann Sukala, Mason Tallman, Blake Vaisey, John Van der Veer, Julia Vavrinec, Rebecca Velez, Christopher Vesic, Kimberly Walch, Yasmin Winston, Ariana Zamot

Psi Chi (The International Honor Society in Psychology)
Psychology: Anna Chevez, Carissa Clark, Amanda Famigletti, Mercedes Hutchings, Marite Martinez, Alana Zervos
Forensic Psychology: Amritraj Michael Dammar, Abigail Koller, Alexandra Mueller, Emina Stocevic, Zachary Tallarino

Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Honor Society)
Ann-Marie Berdar

Tau Sigma (The National Honor Society for Transfer Students)
Chloe Borasky, Kimberly Briglia, Aileen Burke, Abby Burkhard, Florentina Campion, Antonia Colaneri, Patrick Connor, Janine Countryman, Maxwell Dresser, Hannah Feldman, Tonya Finning, Daniel Foote, Christopher Gabryszewski, Hannah Jackson, Julianne Johnston, Shannen Kerin, Tristyn Koren, Sammi Liao, Hannah Liscomb, Allison Mock, Mercedes Mosher, Morgan Percy, Rosalia Perez, Shantal Plass, Jenna Putnam, Kelsey Reed, Ashley Richardson, Cheyenne Salisbury, Natalie Schrader, Snezhana Stavre, Tariek Thompson, Nicole Toney, Alison Warner, Lyndsi Weiss, Jessica Werner-Delong