Students honored at convocation

More than 50 students at Pitt-Bradford will be recognized for their academic achievements and contributions to campus life at the university’s annual Honors Convocation to be held Friday, April 13.

The convocation will take place at 11 a.m. in Bromeley Family Theater. The public is welcome to attend.

Before awards are given, Dr. Nancy McCabe, associate professor of writing, will give the keynote address.

Twenty-five students will be named University Scholars, an honor given to juniors, seniors and students from the previous year’s graduating class who are or were in the top 2 percent of their class.

Those named University Scholars who were 2011 graduates are Jenelle M. Elmquist, a social studies 7-12 graduate; Prashant Gabani, a biology graduate; Kathy M. Long, an elementary education graduate; Anne M. McDonough, a social studies education 7-12 graduate; Ashley R. Neal, a sports medicine graduate; Kathleen A. Plyler, a business management graduate; Samila Sosic, an interdisciplinary arts graduate; and Nicole J. Walter, an elementary education graduate.

Those seniors being named University Scholars are Kayla E. Branch, a human relations major from Olean, N.Y.; Brenda R. Brandon, an early childhood education major from Bradford; Kirby D. Craft, an athletic training major from Goodyear, Ariz.; Bryan Thomas Deloe, an applied mathematics major from Bradford; Olivia P. Fernandes, an athletic training major from Erie; Joshua W. Flowers, a chemistry and chemistry education 7-12 major from New Columbia; Kimberly Saline, an accounting major from St. Marys; Mary Jo Stuckey, a sociology major from Coudersport; Paul A. Wallace, an applied mathematics and mathematics education 7-12 graduate from Portville, N.Y., and Kaitlin M. Zapel, a human relations major from Bradford.

Juniors being named University Scholars are Barbara A. Allen, a biology education 7-12 major from Bradford; Alyse R. Bisbee, an accounting major from Union City; Kailey Fesenmyer, a broadcast communications major from Bradford; Alyssa M. McQuirns, a history-political science major from North Wales; Wesley Milliron, a computer information systems and technology major from Julian; Kelly A. Peterson, an early childhood education major from St. Marys; and Jacob S. Shepherd, an English major from Warren.

Dr. Stephen Hardin, vice president and dean of academic affairs, will present academic excellence awards to students with the highest academic performance in their classes: freshmen Michael T. Eiswerth, a chemical engineering major from Williamsport; Shannon M. Gatesman, a nursing major from Mechanicsburg; Jodi L. Irons, a nursing major from Bradford; Caitlin A. Smith, a nursing major from Stroudsburg;  and Jeffrey M. Warner, an engineering major from Bradford; sophomore Michelle Y. Campbell, a radiological science major from Galeton; juniors Morgan J. Emery, an English and social sciences major from Eldred; Jody Ann Randolph, a public relations major from Bradford, and Paul M. Woods, a biology major from Port Allegany; and graduating senior Kaitlin Marie Zapel.

Five seniors will receive Outstanding Achievement Awards, given by each academic division to the senior with the best academic performance: Janet McCauley Award for Behavioral and Social Sciences to Kaitlin Marie Zapel; Biological and Health Sciences to Mary Gross, a sports medicine major from Ford City; Communication and the Arts to Maria G. Costanza, a public relations major from Pittsburgh; Management and Education to Joshua W. Flowers; and Physical and Computational Sciences to Bryan Thomas Deloe.

Other awards will be presented to Scott R. Neil, an accounting major from St. Marys, IMA Outstanding Accounting Student Award; Thomas R. Taylor, a business management major from Bradford, David L. Blackmore Award for Excellence in Business; Kimberly Saline, PICPA Excellence in Accounting Award; Shea A. McKnight, an elementary education major from Ridgway, Education Student Award; Kaitlin Marie Zapel, Human Relations Award; Diane M. Baumgratz, a nursing major from St. Marys, ASN Student Nursing Award; Kristine Nicole Zubler, a nursing student from Churchville, BSN Student Nursing Award; Gregory P. Zielinski, an electrical engineering major from Jefferson Hills, Engineering Award; and Flowers, American Chemical Society Award;

Tyler J. Labesky, a business management major from Kane, the Robert C. Laing Creative Arts Award for Art; Carnell J. Lawson, a broadcast communications major from Trainer, the Laing Award for Music; Joshua R. Ellson, a radiological science major from Export, the Laing Award for Theater; Andrew M. Cauley, a writing major from Bradford, the Laing Award for Writing and the Vincent T. Kohler Prize in the Humanities; Jeremy S. Freer, a broadcast communications major from Cyclone, James D. Guelfi Award in Broadcast Communications; and Amanda Kleps, a public relations major from Bradford, the Guelfi Award in Public Relations.

Student affairs awards will be presented to Brian C. Roberts, an athletic training major from New Albany, and Amirah Sabir, a sports medicine major from Washington, D.C., the Student Life Award for Leadership, Scholarship, Character and Service to the University; and Maria G. Costanza and Alicia J. Hooks, a business management major from Washington, D.C., the Student Affairs Special Recognition Award.

For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at (814)362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.

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