Students who received awards during the Celebration of Academic Excellence are pictured here.
DALLAS, Pa.—Penn State Wilkes-Barre held its 35th annual Celebration of Academic Excellence on May 2, presenting academic college and program awards and other accolades to students who have excelled in their academic endeavors.
Welcoming remarks were provided by Lynda Goldstein, chancellor and chief academic officer. Campus faculty and administrators presented the academic achievement awards to students. A dessert reception in the Academic Commons lobby followed the program.
Award recipients were as follows:
President Sparks Award, received by Patrick Hughes. This award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.0 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year in which the award is given. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have fewer than 60 total credits earned. The award is named for Edwin Erle Sparks, who served as president of Penn State from 1908 to 1920.
President Walker Award, received by Amelia Anderson, John Bunting, Chloe Cain, Juneoire Fonte, Hunter Gmiter, Spencer Jennings, Natalie Klimek, Laura Peguero Sansur, Lucas Stachowiak and Atticus Warren-Minnick. This award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates and degree-seeking provisional students who have earned a 4.0 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least 12 graded Penn State credits completed during their first semester of admission. Candidates are eligible for the award if they have fewer than 36 Penn State credits. This award is named for Eric A. Walker, Penn State’s president from 1956 to 1970.
Samuel Valick Criminal Justice Award, received by Dealla Rasmus. This award is presented annually to an undergraduate degree candidate who has achieved the highest grade-point average in the program during their senior year. The award was created by Penn State alumni Edmund Lucy and Judith Valick Lucy in memory of Judith’s father, Samuel Valick, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper serving northeastern Pennsylvania.
Honors Program Award, presented to Haylie Brieling, Zara Bryant, JunJie Cao, Caleb Cornell, Elizabeth Derolf-Siene, Jacob Hovan, Justin Hovan, Rodney Huang, Spencer Jennings, Kieran Karlowicz, Lizzeth Lezama-Luna, Avry McManus, Mark Oldziejewski, Joanna Shaw, Kira Trout, Avalie Wolfe and Alivia Wright. The Honors Program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre is designed to empower students to become responsible stewards for a sustainable future. Honors scholars must maintain a 3.4 grade-point average, complete at least seven honors credits each academic year, complete a capstone experience, present at the Celebration of Scholarship research fair, and participate in service activities and enrichment experiences.
College Academic Achievement Awards are given to the top student in a college regardless of their major. Students must be in their last spring semester at Penn State Wilkes-Barre or have changed assignment in the previous summer or fall semester and must have a minimum of 24 credits completed and a minimum 3.33 cumulative GPA. Recipients were:
- College of Agricultural Sciences: Samantha Ochoa
- College of Earth and Mineral Sciences: Kaleah Moran
- College of Education: Zachary Pitcavage
- College of Engineering: Patrick Hughes
- College of the Liberal Arts: Jenna Vincenti
- Eberly College of Science: Conner Uter
- Smeal College of Business: Connor Emerick
Program Academic Excellence Awards are given to students with the highest grade-point average who are in their last semester of a college program or who have completed their degree requirements in the previous summer or fall semester. Students must have a minimum of 45 credits completed at the Wilkes-Barre campus for baccalaureate students or a minimum of 24 credits for associate degree students, and a minimum 3.33 cumulative GPA. Recipients were:
- College of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology (BS): Virginia Gugliotti
- College of Engineering, Surveying Engineering Technology (AS): Francesco Nocito
- College of Engineering, Surveying Engineering (BS): Verena Lake
- University College, Business (BS): Emma Sands
- University College, Criminal Justice (BS): Tinatin Guruli
- University College, English: Kyler Burke
- University College, Information Technology (BS): Cloe Mazzatosta
- University College, Project and Supply Chain Management (BS): Lesly Negrete
- University College, Rehabilitation and Human Services (BS): Brandon Jones
