Penn State Wilkes-Barre students receive leadership, athletic awards

SGA awards slide

Penn State Wilkes-Barre held its annual Student Government Association Leadership and Athletic Awards virtually on May 7.

Credit: Penn State

LEHMAN, Pa. — Penn State Wilkes-Barre held its annual Student Government Association Leadership and Athletic Awards on May 7. This year’s celebration was held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic and can be viewed in its entirety here.

The awards honor students who show exceptional leadership both inside and outside the classroom through their participation in athletics, clubs and organizations, community service events and leadership programs.

“Each award recognizes a student who demonstrates the virtues of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship. These are students who positively influence their fellow students through their dedication, devotion and overall excellence,” said Director of Student Services and Engagement Wanda Ochei.

Special awards were presented as follows:

The Edward H. Kaminski Memorial Scholarship Award — This award is presented to a Penn State Wilkes-Barre student athlete based on academics, campus and athletic participation and positive qualities of leadership and character. This award was established by Betsy Hughes in memory of her late husband, who graduated from the Wilkes-Barre campus in 1974. This year’s recipient is Alaena Lloyd, a senior information sciences and technology major who played basketball at Penn State Wilkes-Barre for four years. She was named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic Team for two years and the Penn State University Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference for four years. She served as women’s basketball captain for two years and received the Coaches’ Award for two years. She also received the Fortinsky Scholarship and Reese Scholarship.

The Eric A. and Josephine Walker Award — This award recognizes a Commonwealth Campus student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole. The award is made annually, at or near the end of the spring term, to a full-time undergraduate student who is completing two full years of freshman-sophomore study at a Commonwealth Campus. This year’s recipient is Jason Kepner, a sophomore majoring in telecommunications. He was this year’s SGA president and served for two years as a member of Lion Ambassadors, Blue and White Club and Radio Club.

The John R. Murphy Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service — In honor of former Director of Student Affairs John R. Murphy, who served Penn State Wilkes-Barre from 1967 to 2004, this award was established to recognize a graduating senior whose outstanding qualities of leadership, service, scholarship, citizenship and character have been directed into programs and service on campus and/or the community that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of the Wilkes-Barre campus and the reputation of the University as a whole. This year’s winner is Courtney Snow, a senior majoring in business administration with a minor in game development.

The Martin U. Dougherty Emerging Leader Award — The Dougherty family established this award in remembrance of their husband and father, Martin, who served on the campus advisory board. His firm, The Architectural & Engineering Group Inc., designed the Carriage Room in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Commons. This award recognizes a junior who has at least a 3.0 grade point average and who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character. This year’s recipient is Joselyn Mondragon, a junior majoring in rehabilitation and human services.

The Florence C. Dougherty Pride of the Lion Award — The Pride of the Lion Award is awarded in honor of Florence C. Dougherty to a sophomore, junior or senior in recognition of exemplary qualities of personal character, campus and university spirit and Penn State pride through active involvement in campus and community activities aimed at promoting Penn State Wilkes-Barre and/or the University. This year’s winner is Connor R. Beyer, a sophomore majoring in health policy administration.

Additional awards presented included:

Intercollegiate Leadership — Each academic year, seven students from six local colleges and universities — Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University, King’s College, Luzerne County Community College, Misericordia University and Keystone College — are chosen to participate in the Intercollegiate Leadership Program sponsored by Leadership Wilkes-Barre. Penn State Wilkes-Barre students who completed the program this year are Derek Ptashinski, sophomore; Dillon Major, first-year student; Cassandra Swingle, sophomore; Joselyn Mondragon, junior; Robert Mastropole, sophomore; and Pablo Franco, junior.

Lessons on Leadership — This new leadership series was created to assist students in developing a core set of leadership skills, from understanding their personal leadership style and communication skills to how to influence others, and paying it forward through civic engagement. Students who completed this year’s program are Lynn Gunderman, sophomore; Jason Kepner, sophomore; Verena Lake, junior; Robert Mastropole, sophomore; Rachel Ricker, sophomore; Alixsandria Rovinski, sophomore; and Courtney Snow, senior.

Lion’s Pride Award — This award, which was presented for the first time at the 1990 Leadership Dinner, honors a member or members of the campus community, faculty, staff, students or community volunteers who have consistently worked to assist the Activities Office to help improve the quality of student life at Penn State Wilkes-Barre through their encouragement and coordination of and/or participation in cocurricular and extracurricular programming and events. This year’s winners are Luke Kepner, sophomore, and Jason Kepner, sophomore.

Senator recognition — SGA senators recognized for this year of service are Blake Leopold, first-year student; Chris Victor, first-year student; Lawrence Anthony Corridoni III, first-year student; Luke Kepner, sophomore; Patrick Nelson, first-year student; Rachel Ricker, sophomore; Robert Mastropole, sophomore; and Thomas Piatt, sophomore.

Outstanding Club of the Year Award — Members of the student body, the Student Government Association and Student Affairs select the winner of the Outstanding Club Award. This award recognizes the student organization that has done exceptional campus and community service, has represented the campus to the best of its ability and that has had the greatest positive impact on cocurricular life of students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. This year’s winner is the Surveying Society.

Outstanding SGA Member of the Year Award — The Outstanding SGA Member of the Year is chosen for their sincere dedication, devotion and overall excellence toward their position as a senator, club representative or executive board member and as Penn State Wilkes-Barre student. The award was established by the 2000-01 SGA. Nominations are made by the executive board committee. Nominees must be an active senator, club representative or executive board member of SGA. This year’s winner is Lawrence Anthony Corridoni III, first-year student.

Hayfield Award — The faculty member selected for this award is recognized by SGA as an outstanding instructor for the academic year. The award is based on a combination of teaching excellence and contribution to the general welfare of students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. This year’s winner is Melisa Littleton, lecturer in rehabilitation and human services.

Lifelong Lion Award — This award was created by the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Alumni Society to recognize graduating students who exemplify what it means to be a Penn State student in spirit and truly “bleed blue and white.” This year’s winners are Courtney Snow, senior; Mahda Brewah, senior; and Alaena Lloyd, senior.

Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year Award — The Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year award is sponsored by the Luzerne County Council on Adult Higher Education (LCCAHE). LCCAHE includes Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Misericordia University, King’s College, Wilkes University and Luzerne County Community College. A recipient was chosen from each school. This year’s Penn State Wilkes-Barre winner is Dylan Fredricey, senior.

Outstanding Club Member Awards — Each year, the student clubs and organizations of Penn State Wilkes-Barre choose their Outstanding Club Member of the Year. This award is given to the one person the club feels has contributed the most to the welfare of the club, campus and community. Based on their outstanding leadership and devotion to their clubs and organizations, this year’s outstanding club members of the year are:

  • Blue and White, Cassandra Swingle, sophomore
  • Business Club, Rachel Ricker, sophomore
  • Four Seasons Club, Luke Kepner, sophomore
  • Just Amazing Musicians (JAM), Lawrence Anthony Corridoni III, first-year student
  • Lion Ambassadors, Cassandra Swingle, sophomore
  • Nerd Herd, Lynn Gunderman, sophomore
  • Radio Club, Stephane Blain, first-year student
  • Students For Justice, Robert Mastropole, sophomore
  • Surveying Society, David Neilson, junior
  • United Stance Society (USS), Joselyn Mondragon, junior
  • Veterans Support Club, Scott Carl Schival, sophomore
  • THON, Thomas Piatt, sophomore

Athletic awards were presented as follows:

John Fritz Sportsmanship Award — golf, Adam Borton, sophomore; soccer, Samantha Nay, sophomore; volleyball, Emily Brzozowski, sophomore; women’s basketball, Sheila Carr, sophomore; and men’s basketball, Donald Thomas, senior.

Coaches’ Award: — golf, Adam Borton, sophomore; soccer, David Kasper, first-year student, and Jack Miller, first-year student; volleyball, Joselyn Mondragon, junior; women’s basketball, Alaena Lloyd, senior, and Leeandra Ricks, senior; and men’s basketball, Justin Sutton, junior.

Team MVP — golf, Anthony Shaver, senior; soccer, Ricky Wooditch, sophomore; volleyball, Emily Brzozowski, sophomore; women’s basketball, Jessica Charles, first-year student; and men’s basketball, Kevin Silverberg, senior.

Individual awards — PSUAC East Rookie of the Year, Jessica Charles, first-year student, women’s basketball; and PSUAC All-Conference, Jessica Charles, first-year-student, women’s basketball, Khalil White, senior, men’s basketball, and Ricky Wooditch, sophomore, soccer.

PSUAC Academic All-Conference awards, for athletes who have maintained a 3.0 or higher grade point average while participating in a varsity sport:

Golf — Adam Borton, sophomore; Adam Detwiler, first-year student; Jakob Razvillas, first-year student; Anthony Shaver, senior; Mariah Tague, first-year student; Gerald Rusek, sophomore; and Tanner Smith, first-year student.

Volleyball — Alijah Chamberlain, sophomore; Aubrey Divler, first-year student; Brittney Ledgister, sophomore; Sierra Lopez, first-year student; and Joselyn Mondragon, junior;

Soccer — Adam Detwiler, first-year student; David Kasper, first-year student; Collin Masters, senior; Samantha Nay, sophomore; Carlos Novelo, junior; Umar Qaiser, sophomore; Juan Rojas, sophomore; Chris Stoodley, first-year student; and Ricky Wooditch, sophomore;

Women’s basketball — Danielle Bowman, sophomore; Alaena Lloyd, senior; and Leeandra Ricks, senior.

Men’s basketball — John Armstead, senior; Solomon Hall, junior; Dorian Haynes, first-year student; and Dominique Stevenson, senior.

USCAA All-American — Jessica Charles, first-year student, women’s basketball honorable mention, and Ricky Wooditch, sophomore, soccer.

USCAA National All-Academic Team, for athletes who have maintained a 3.5 or higher grade point average while participating in a varsity sport — Danielle Bowman, sophomore, women’s basketball; Adam Detwiler, first-year student, soccer and golf; Alaena Lloyd, senior, women’s basketball; Jakob Razvillas, golf; Leeandra Ricks, senior, women’s basketball; Juan Rojas, sophomore, soccer; Gerald Rusek, sophomore, golf; Dominique Stevenson, senior, men’s basketball; and Ricky Wooditch, sophomore, soccer.

School records — Alaena Lloyd, senior, women’s basketball, career assist leader with 238, and Jessica Charles, first-year student, women’s basketball, most points scored in a single season with 375.