Saint Rose Students Honored for Academic Achievement at Convocation

Faculty, administrators, students, and other members of the Saint Rose community convened in the Massry Center for the Arts to celebrate the accomplishments of undergraduate and graduate students from all four Saint Rose schools.

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 class.
Class of 2020: Emily Marie Paolicelli, English Adolescence Education/Special Education (BA/MSED)
Class of 2021: Meghan Tompkins, Early Childhood and Childhood Education Birth –Grade 6
Class of 2022: Thomas Odell, Music Education K-12

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 student: Sarah Dworjan, Music Education K-12
Transfer student: Courtney Clasen, Public Health

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 departments.

School of Arts and Humanities Outstanding Senior Awards
Communications: Alexa Berry
English: Taylor Casey
Graphic design: Amy Katherine Bishop
History: Moriah Pickard
Music (B.S.), music industry concentration: Elena Lillian Karpoff
Music education: Sarah Dworjan
Philosophy: Cae L. Watson
Political science: Elizabeth Labun
Spanish: Nicholas Maginnis
Studio art: Noel R. Herceg

Huether School of Business Outstanding Senior Awards
Accounting: Tiyana Epperson
Business administration: Zoe Bousbouras
Business economics: Cassandra L. Newman
Finance: Joseph M. Cassidy
Management, leadership track: Skyler B. Santos
Marketing: Antigona Beshello
Sport management: Samantha Kubik

Thelma P. Lally School of Education Outstanding Senior Awards
Childhood education/special education: Logen Farrell, Taylor Foley, Hali Winch
Communication sciences and disorders: Alyssa Bové, Tina Marie Ceriello, Jenna Putnam
Adolescence education: English: Kristina Marie Golden
Adolescence education: social studies: Kaitlin C. Cavell
Early childhood education: Jordan Taylor Moses
Childhood education: Giana Ellen Anderson
Early childhood education and special education: Carrie Wasial

School of Mathematics and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards
Biology: adolescence education: Tristyn Koren
Biology, cell/molecular biology concentration: Liana T. Morales
Biology, ecology/environmental science concentration: Michael Jarvis
Chemistry: Lauren Zakrzewski
Computer science: Matt Parrella
Criminal justice, behavior & law: Megan Hardy, Rebecca Annemarie Velez
Forensic psychology: Raegan T. Woodcock
Forensic psychology, clinical concentration: Lauren Wemett
Forensic psychology, legal concentration: Mason W. Tallman
Forensic science: Catherine Marie Jankovic
Mathematics: Steven Wing
Mathematics: adolescence education: Lana Rose Torrens
Psychology: Mercedes Hutchings
Psychology, clinical concentration: Florentina O. Campion
Psychology, health psychology concentration: Stephanie Smith
Psychology, school psychology concentration: Amanda Famigletti
Social work: Antonia M. Colaneri

Graduate Honors

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

Huether School of Business Graduate Honors
Accounting: Jonathan B. Stein
Business administration: Tung Maltsev
Business analytics: Samantha Grenier
Master of science in accounting/bachelor of science in accounting: Jennifer Kihlmire
Master of business administration/bachelor of science in business administration: Jamie Herzfeld
Master of business administration/bachelor of science in finance: Tess Federation, Matt Cerutti
Master of business administration/bachelor of science in financial planning: Alexandrea D. Sharp

Thelma P. Lally School of Education Graduate Honors
Adolescence education: biology: Jessica Lynn Porter
Bachelor of arts/master of science in education, adolescence education/special education: social studies: Francis Xavier DeLuke
Bachelor of arts/master of science in education, adolescence education/special education: mathematics: Justin Campbell
Adolescence education/special education, generalist: Lisa M. Calabria, Devorah Sorbo
Childhood education: Paul J. Groff, Jr.
Childhood education/special education, grades 1-6: Kiersten A. Cosgrove, Kira Burachek Stabinski
Clinical mental health counseling: Ashley Carl, Alexandra C. von Kamecke
College student services administration: Lamara J. Burgess
Communication sciences and disorders: Trisha Hetko, Katherine Reilly
Curriculum and instruction: Vanessa M. Couse
Early childhood education: Emily Callman
Educational psychology: Brianna M. Mann
Literacy: birth-grade 6: Hannah Parker
Literacy: grades 5-12: Marina Isabella Ferreri
Professional special education: Mariah Jean Pasinski
Special education/early childhood education: Elizabeth Marie Senecal
School district business leader (CAS): Christine Burke, Valerie Lovelace
School counseling: Jolyn Rebecca Borst, Collette M. Jefferys, Monique Jenkinson, Catherine Murphy
School building leader (CAS): Nicole Mahoney, Thomas A. Yorke
Special education (CAS): Benjamin Greenstone

School of Mathematics and Sciences Graduate Honors
Computer information systems: Tianyu Guo
Social work: Alexandra Wheelock
Master of science in computer information systems/bachelor of science in computer science: Daniel Foote

Special Awards

School of Arts and Humanities Special Awards
Artist Scholar Award: Johnathan DeSousa
The award is presented to a graduating senior in the art department. Equal emphasis is placed on artistic accomplishment and scholarly achievement.

Jack Fragomeni Memorial Music Award: Maggie Roberts
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.

Hy Rosen Award for Excellence in Painting and Drawing: Sam Mills, Emily Prosper
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.

Inez and Nicholas Tarquin Artist Scholar Award: Raina Briggs
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.

Professor S.R. Swaminathan Award: Julia Elizabeth Porzio
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.

Sister Patricia Kane Writing Award in Journalism: Seriah Sargenton
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.

Sister Rita Agnes Casey, CSJ, Endowed Music Award: Elena Lillian Karpoff
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.

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

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

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award: Kerrigan B. Mahoney
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.

Robert Sheehan Music Scholar Award: Sarah Elizabeth Wright
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.

Biagiotti-Burton Endowed Award: Aileen Kelly Burke

Huether School of Business Special Awards
James J. Carr III Award for Business Beyond the Classroom: Alexandrea D. Sharp
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: Meghan Divirgilio, Niv Fogel, Alonzo Gardner, Wari N. Isaac, Colin Andrew Lennox, Sammi Yuping Liao, Sonia Morreira, Emma Pinkowski
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: Kelsey Hulihan
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.

Joyce Coon Memorial Award: Alexa Rose Battista
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.

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

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

Sister Charleen Bloom, CSJ, Scholarship Award: Alyssa Bazzinotti
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.”

School of Mathematics and Sciences Special Awards
American Institute of Chemists: Amie Burnell
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.”

Marie Chirico Bello ’48 Award: Liana T. Morales
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.

General Chemistry Award: Ahmed T. Abdu, Emma Norcross, Matthew Seyfarth
This award is given to the best student in general chemistry at the College, based upon GPA, motivation, and interest in chemistry.

Sally Fox Memorial Award in Microbiology: Abigail Pierce
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.

Michael D. Normandin Innovative Computing Technology Award: Steven Wing
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.

Sister Noel Marie Cronin Excellence in Mathematics Award: Steven Wing
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.

Sister Theresa Wysolmerski, CSJ, Award for Excellence in Biology: Eric C. Szillus II
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.

Donna L. Reittinger Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Psychological Research: Mason W. Tallman
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.

The Honorable Loretta A. Preska Endowed Award: Megan Hardy, Rebecca Annemarie Velez
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.

The Senior Class Scholar-Athlete Award: Taylor Casey, Patrick LaDouce

Mary P. VanDerzee Memorial Award: Rachel McGrath
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.

Honor Societies 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 Delta Epsilon (international honor society in forensic science)
Catherine Jankovic

Delta Mu Delta (international honor society in business)
Zoe Bousbouras, Erin Calamari, Ellen Fitzgerald, Eric Kaminski, Tara Kirby, Savanna Liverio, Nicole McIntosh, Shawn Miller, Shannon Moore, Sonia Morreira, Ajah Ochoa, Emma Pinkowski, Nina Predanic, Phillip Proper, Colleen Quaglia, Olivia Rueda, Natalie Schrader, Alexandrea D. Sharp, Samuel Statham, Louis Greco, Danika Guerin, Marissa Isabella, Maddie Lander, Sammi Yuping Liao, Tung Maltsev, Jamie Martin, Brandon Mason, Kristian Quackenbush, Victor Goncalves, Cody Snyder, Alexa Toole, Evan Willsie, Jerry Witkop, Jr., Meghan DiVirgilio Sage LaMonica, Ryan Lozano, Patrick LaDouce, Ridina Shakya, Christopher Gabryszewski, Skyler B. Santos, Darius Ciccarone

Kappa Delta Pi (international honor society in education)
Darcy Dunn, Theresa Mulvey, Samantha Staley, Lana Rose Torrens, Victoria Stubbs, Hannah Feldman, Rachel McGrath, Emily Hall, Claire Hammond, Liana Frauenberger, Elizabeth Jones, Sarah Elizabeth Wright, Jennifer Forman, Emma Norcross, Danielle Blumberg, Ashley Walsh, Emily Callman, Julia Ciaccio, Elizabeth Tornatore, Richelle Way, Tonya Ellis, Justin Covell, Elizabeth Choinsky, Trevor Bowerman, Sarina Biski, Amanda Esposito, Erika Applebaum, Ashley Traider, Olivia Brooker, Lyndsay Hewitt, Tristyn Koren, David Di Maggio, Abigail Kennedy, Allison DiScanio, Kaitlin C. Cavell, Lindsay Thornton, Kristin Gordon, Lindsey McGowan, Madison Hempstead, Kellsey Rounds, Haylee Mello, Meghan Hackett, Ashley Richardson, Taylor Foley, Kels Jensen, Julianna Niles, Abigail Ferris, Jenna LeFevre, Kaitlyn Mailloux, Allison Hansen, Alyssa Barratt, Sidney Holmes, Victoria Hallett

Phi Alpha (international honor society in social work)
Grace Campion-Pratt, Jalissa Chaney, Victoria Dingley, Jenna Gregory, Anna Jodha, Kevin Keaveny, Brent Legenbauer, Grace Magee, Jasmine May, Marissa Morris, Lauren Rabideau, Elizabeth Slingerland, Jessica Sokol, Shannon Sullivan, Tina Turbiasz, Summyrrh Woodard, Lori Walker, Amy Carman, Alexandra Wheelock

Phi Alpha Delta (international fraternity and honor society in law)
Julia Vavrinec, Rubi-Dee Cooper, Jillian Khanai, Shannon Donahue, Nicalina Cappillino, Isabelle Rulison, Karamjeet Kaur, Ashley Peter, Julia Elizabeth Porzio, Sophie Pentecost

Pi Sigma Alpha (international honor society in political science)
Leanne Barnard, Yakaira Cabral-Flores, Maida Khan, Aileen Burke, Marys Christie, Elizabeth Labun, Tyler Bushey, Tionte Conner, Amnah Dhailia, Reed Chronis, Julia Vavrinec, Jeff Vick, Elizabeth Liu, Susej Mendoza

Psi Chi (international honor society in psychology)
Joshua Collins, Mason W. Tallman

Sigma Xi (scientific research honor society)
Ashley M. Bonocore, David Allen Judd, Snezhana Stavre, Amie M. Burnell, Caitlin Elizabeth Miller, Lauren A. Zakrzewski, Amanda German, Samantha Mumford