HAZLETON, Pa. — Penn State Hazleton recognized the leadership and academic excellence of more than 100 students during the campus’ annual Academic Achievement Awards on Thursday, May 4.
Chancellor Elizabeth J. Wright and Interim Director of Academic Affairs Albert Lozano-Nieto presented the awards during the ceremony in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium. Karen Stylianides, associate teaching professor of kinesiology and Faculty Senate president, served as faculty marshal.
In her remarks, Wright noted that students were much more than just outstanding scholars.
"Among our scholars this evening are students who have raised money to end pediatric cancer and to support the local animal shelter. We have students who planned significant community events. We have students who have spent countless hours introducing prospective students to this campus. Still others have worked multiple jobs, cared for family members or have dealt with significant health challenges of their own," she said. "I want to express my gratitude to you all for all that you did to make this campus such a vibrant place."
Awards and awardees
Campus Honors Program: The honors medal is presented to currently enrolled honors students who have met the requirements of the Penn State Hazleton Honors Program, which include grade-point average requirements and the completion of honors coursework each semester. Students are invited to join the program based on demonstrated academic achievement and potential for growth. They enroll in specially designed honors courses, complete honors independent studies projects, and have an opportunity to take part in enrichment activities.
This year’s recipients are: Vincent R. Andreuzzi, Drums; Destiny Eileen Angel, Pottsville; Julia Catherine Benjamin, Drums; Joshua Thomas Bircea, Drums; Kaitlyn Bolinsky, Bloomsburg; Joshua Brian Custard, Stroudsburg; Mia Starr Dailey, Albrightsville; Caleb R. Deckman, Mountain Top; Lauren Nicole Gombeda, Hazleton; Brody Jason Herness, Hazleton; Mary E. Holmes, Danville; Michael R. Houser, Hazleton; Ashley Verna James, Weatherly; Jared D. Karabinos, Bridgewater, New Jersey; Brett Krapf, Hazleton; Kevin Lowen, Jonestown; James Morrison, Sugarloaf; Matthew David Pehanich, Drums; Isabella Trifiro, Hazleton; Brett Wilson, Jonestown; and Logan J. Yaletchko, Nottingham.
Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award: This award recognizes students from Penn State Commonwealth Campuses 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 reputation of the University as a whole.
This year’s honoree is Matthew Janson, Bloomsburg.
The President Walker Award: 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 this award if they have fewer than 36 Penn State credits earned. During the presidency of Eric A. Walker (1956-1970), and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, the number of awards was increased in 1960. This award was renamed in honor of President Walker in 2021.
Recipients are: Lorna Bragg, Sugarloaf; Kaylynn Brumbaugh, Cabot; Sarah DeMonia, Oxford; Erin K. Field, Lewisburg; Svyatoslav Mykola Gudzovatyy, Stroudsburg; Ian M. Kramer, Drums; Morgan Lawson, Mountain Top; Jeff Lin, Berwick; Aniuska Montano Morejon, Drums; Andrew Nadler, Astoria, New York; Richard Ray, Weatherly; and Trevor John Ruggiero, Drums.
President Sparks Award: This award is presented annually to those undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded 59 total credits earned. The award is named for Penn State President Edwin Earle Sparks (1908-1920).
Earning the award this year are: Joshua Brian Custard, Stroudsburg; Matthew Janson, Bloomsburg; Brett Krapf, Hazleton; Kevin Lowen, Jonestown; Cierra Hart, Hazleton; and Michael James Makowiec, Freeland.
Evan Pugh Scholar Award: This award is named for Evan Pugh, Penn State’s first president (1859-1864). The Evan Pugh scholars are those juniors and seniors who are in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes and have completed at least 48 graded Penn State credits at the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible if they have been full-time undergraduate students for at least four semesters prior to selection.
This year’s winner is Clayton J. Kimsal, White Haven.
Lifetime Learning Award: This award is presented to a student whose persistence and dedication to lifelong learning is evidenced by a continued commitment to academic coursework at Penn State.
This year’s recipient is Brian Katchur, Beaver Meadows.
Scholar’s Lion Award – College: This award is presented to currently enrolled Penn State Hazleton full-time degree students who have earned the highest grade-point average (minimum 3.8) in their college and have completed at least 45 Penn State credits by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.
Recipients are: Business: Brett Krapf, Hazleton; and Michael James Makowiec, Freeland; Education: Ashley R. Nahay, McAdoo; Engineering: Joshua Brian Custard, Stroudsburg; Information Sciences and Technology: Joshua Thomas Bircea, Drums; Liberal Arts: Zoey Elizabeth Speaker, Bensalem; Science: Kevin Lowen, Jonestown; and in the Division of Undergraduate Studies: Antonio J. Perilli, Summit Hill.
Scholar’s Lion Award – Campus Baccalaureate Degree Program: This award is presented to currently enrolled Penn State Hazleton full-time or part-time degree students who have earned the highest grade-point average (minimum 3.8) in their program and have completed at least 104 Penn State credits by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.
This year’s recipient is: Information Technology: Lauren Nicole Gombeda, Hazleton.
Academic Achievement Award: This award is presented to currently enrolled Penn State Hazleton full-time or part-time students who have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7 or higher by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.
Students earning this award are: Nayrovi Abreu De La Cruz, Hazleton; Jabril Albane, Hazleton; Alberiluz Alcantara, Hazleton; Ashley Amigon, Wilkes-Barre; Jordan B. Baker, Bloomsburg; Jacob Paul Barto, Schnecksville; Justine Bernazeau, Trelissac, France; Joshua Thomas Bircea, Drums; Emily Bloom, Berwick; Kaitlyn Bolinsky, Bloomsburg; Lorna Bragg, Sugarloaf; Susan Brennan; Zion Grove; Kaylynn Brumbaugh, Cabot; Dylan Joseph Carney; Drums; Jared Anthony Carvajal, Fairview, New Jersey; Connor J. Ceci; Hagerstown, Maryland; Chinmye Shekar Chandrashekar, Wilkes-Barre; Evan Chen, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; John Cherko, Conyngham; Haylee M. Cieniawa, McAdoo; Caitlin E. Croke; Mountain Top; Joshua Brian Custard, Stroudsburg; Wilbel A. Delgado; Freeland; Sean R. Demczyszyn, Northampton; Sarah DeMonia, Oxford; Morgan T. Dwyer; Hazleton; Kevin Richard Fergel, Hazleton; Erin K. Field, Lewisburg; Hattie Flood; Blairs Mills; Jamie Lee Flores, Beaver Meadows; Jeremy Geisinger, Forty Fort; Lauren Nicole Gombeda, Hazleton; Cameron D. Goodyear, New Berlin; Elijah John Greybosh, Sugarloaf; Svyatoslav Mykola Gudzovatyy, Stroudsburg; Cierra Hart, Hazleton; Ryan Joseph Hastings; Freeland; Mary E. Holmes, Danville; Jadyn R. Hooper, Mountain Top; Hadley E. Hosler, Wausau, Wisconsin; Tina Huang, Effort; Ian Hudock, Beaver Meadows; Matthew Janson, Bloomsburg; Colin Wesley Johnson, Raleigh, North Carolina; Zara Kipness, Lodi, New Jersey; Jacob Koval, Drums; Ian M. Kramer, Drums; Brett Krapf, Hazleton; Morgan Lawson, Mountain Top; Patrick Lewicki, Hillsborough, New Jersey; Jeff Lin, Berwick; Kendall R. Lobb, Pen Argyl; Kevin Lowen, Jonestown; Madeline Magee, Shermans Dale; Michael James Makowiec, Freeland; Jadon J. Matriccino, Hazle Township; Andrew Meitzler, Brodheadsville; Hannah M. Michael, Watsontown; Aniuska Montano Morejon, Drums; Andrew Nadler, Astoria, New York; Ashley R. Nahay, McAdoo; Rebecca Marisol Negron, Saugus, Massachusetts; Nazareth Paniagua-Perez, Shenandoah; Astara E. Passante, Mountain Top; Kush Patel, West Hazleton; Antonio J. Perilli, Summit Hill; Gretchen Pucklavage, Tamaqua; Freilin J. Pujols, Hazleton; Richard Ray, Weatherly; Daniel J. Reed, Mahanoy City; Gianna Reynolds, Weatherly; Miguel Angel Romero Ramos, Hazleton; Eric D. Rose, Fort Lee, New Jersey; Jenna Rossell, McAdoo; Trevor John Ruggiero, Drums; Eugene Sosa, Hazleton; Zoey Elizabeth Speaker, Bensalem; Elizabeth Sterowski, Mountain Top; Courtney Stone, Mountain Top; Nicholas P. Surotchak, Coaldale; Matthew Swanton, Northampton; Garrett M. Timco, Coal Township; Alexander Torres-Acosta, Stroudsburg; Isabella Trifiro, Hazleton; Brian James Tylutke, Exeter; Julia Wadleigh, Easton; Zachary Taylor Walp, Drums; Riley F. Wehr, Summit Hill; D’Andre T. Wright, Hazleton; and Matthew Yanochko, Freeland.
Research Symposium Awards
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences:
First place: Randy Miller, “Effects of Colonialization on West African Male Culture” (Research adviser: Eileen Morgan, assistant teaching professor of English)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math:
First place: Brett Wilson, “Soluble Dioxazines for Organic Electronic Devices” (Research adviser: Dr. Dan Patel, assistant professor of chemistry)
Second place: Angelica Sofia Pares Alicea and Kevin Lowen, “Applications of Molecular Sequencing Analysis in Fisheries Ecology” (Research adviser: Dr. Megan Schall, assistant professor of biology)
Third place: Sidney Przybylski, Paul Kramer, and Logan Yaletchko, “Lake Nona Town Center Solar Generation and Storage” (Research adviser: Dr. Joseph Ranalli, associate professor of engineering)
University Libraries' Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy Award:
First place: Sidney Przybylski, Paul Kramer, and Logan Yaletchko, “Lake Nona Town Center Solar Generation and Storage” (Research adviser: Dr. Joseph Ranalli, associate professor of engineering)
Second place: Randy Miller, “Effects of Colonialization on West African Male Culture” (Research adviser: Eileen Morgan, assistant teaching professor of English).
Third place: Sarah DeMonia, “E-Bike Battery Failure” (Research adviser: Dr. William Yourey, associate professor of engineering)
Mathematics Olympiad Award: The Olympiad is open to all students, whereas students currently taking Math 140 or higher are strongly encouraged to participate. The group of interested students is given a set of 5 to 8 non-standard problems to work on over a period from 6 to 8 weeks. To facilitate the students' creativity, faculty involved with the Olympiad introduce the group to some methods/ideas that are not traditionally covered in pre-calculus/calculus courses. Submitted solutions are graded and winners are chosen.
This year's winner is Joshua Brian Custard, Stroudsburg.
M. Leonard Shaevel Award: This award is presented in memory of M. Leonard Shaevel, who taught physics at Penn State Hazleton from 1967 until his death in 1982. It consists of a cash award and is given to a student with a high grade-point average enrolled in science who best exemplifies Shaevel’s educational values, including strong work ethic, persistence, and a commitment to science and scientific inquiry.
The winner of this year’s award is Kevin Lowen, Jonestown.