Carlow University Honors Convocation 2026

Location and Time

Rosemary Heyl Theatre Antonian Hall
Friday, April 17, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.

Faculty Procession

Master of Ceremonies

Aimee Zellers, PhD
Associate Provost and Professor of Philosophy

Invocation

Allison DeLuca, PhD
Instructor of Chemistry

Welcome

Kathy W. Humphrey, PhD
President of Carlow University

Keynote Address

Allison DeLuca, PhD
Instructor of Chemistry
2025 Recipient of the Max and Esther Sestili award for Excellence in Teaching

Investiture of Faculty Emeritus

Emeritus status is an honor conferred by the university to show respect for a distinguished career. It says that having shown such merit, we will always recognize them as members of the Carlow Community. To be awarded emeritus status, a faculty member must be an Associate Professor or Professor, having served ten or more years at full-time status, and demonstrated their commitment to Carlow University’s mission and values

Stephen Borecky, PhD
Professor of Biology

Sigrid King, PhD
Professor of English

Howard Stern, PhD
Professor of Business Administration

Presentation of Awards

Kathy W. Humphrey, PhD
President of Carlow University

Keely Baronak, EdD
Dean and Professor, College of Education and Social Work

Matthew Gordley, PhD
Interim Provost, Dean and Professor, the College of Arts and Sciences

Rhonda Maneval, D.Ed., RN, ANEF, FAAN
Interim Provost, Dean and Professor, the College of Health and Wellness

Aimee Zellers, PhD
Interim Associate Provost
Associate Professor of Philosophy

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Art, Communication, and English

ART

The Artie Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts
Shawn Atkins, Ethan Baker, Danielle Carpenter, Sophia Geminetti, Alea Malloy, Heather McIntyre,
Emily Moore, Christopher Nanes, Tia Napper, Holly Necker, Kay Rickman, Kayla Robinson, Keila
Sanchez, Mayleigh Zrimsek

The Critical Point Award in Art
Kay Rickman

COMMUNICATION

Communication Award for Perseverance
Juliann Lucas, Jordan McClure, Jane Windsheimer

ENGLISH

Mother Catherine McAuley Award for Excellence in English
Grace Fritsch

English Program Award for Excellence in Creative Writing
Grace Fritsch

Marilyn P. Donnelly Award in Poetry
Grace Fritsch

Jane Candia Coleman Award in Fiction
Claire Stevens

Ellie Wymard Award in
Creative Nonfiction
Miles Stoops

The Critical Point Award in
Creative Writing
Claire Stevens

The Critical Point Award
in Critical Writing
Anna Love

WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES

Award for Excellence in Women’s & Gender Studies
Jane Windsheimer

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Mendelian Award for Excellence in Biology
Caiden S. Bathke, Kendall G. Bender, Talitha C. Brobst, Margaret J. Bronco, Ella G. Cloak, Kristine L. Dameron, Sara M. Graziani, Sage L. Harger, Sofia D. Hernandez, Elijah K. Hurl, Jeb D. Jordan, Madeline R. Klawikowski, Jamie L. Kurtz, Maci R. Lorigan, Lannie D. McAllister, Ian D. McGuinness, Jordan E. Moritz, Longxiang Pan, Nicholas R. Ray, Jenna G. Redding, Maryam A. Saleh, Emma C. Sekscinski, Jehnna M. Szelc, Anastasia N. Votilla, Peyton H. Wilkerson, Maura T. Woodrum, Michaela Woods

William A. Uricchio Award for Service to the Department of Biological Sciences
James L. Kurtz

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTING & ETHICS

ACCOUNTING

Business Management, Accounting, and Ethics Academic
Excellence in Accounting Award
Konner M. Sayre

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Business Management, Accounting, and Ethics Academic Excellence in Business Management Award
Julia M. Ogrodowski

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTATIONAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Sister M. Michael Rowland Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science
Rebecca Hess, Lylah Majernik

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING & CRIMINOLOGY

CRIMINOLOGY

Outstanding Student Award in Criminology
Desiree Bocian

MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Emerging Leader in Psychology Award
Tabitha Walker

DOCTORATE IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY

Doctoral Student of the Year
Laura E. Alcorn, MS, EdD, Dominic J. Quirk, MA

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Dr. Robert A. Reed Award for Counseling Excellence
Laura Nolen

Inspirational Change Agent: Professional Counseling Student of the Year Award
Laura Nolen

UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY

Emerging Scholar Award for Academic Excellence in Psychology
Briana Beach, Katie Glasser, Abby Lynch, Makyla Willinger

Sister Rita Flaherty Award for Excellence in Psychology
Rachel Levandowski, Melissa Perla

Psychology Outreach Award
Rachel Levandowski

Psychology Research Award
Kathering Valuska

College of Education and Social Work

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Leadership in Education Award
David Raymond Anater, Lillian Rebecca Herbert

Outstanding Service Award
Gianna Scipione, John Elder Wray

The Janet Simon, PhD ‘67, Woman of Spirit Scholarship Award
Tamara Marie Frazier

Mother Irenaeus Dougherty Excellence in Teaching Award
Taylor Nicole Eannace, Sean Ian McIntosh

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM

MSW Award for Academic Excellence
Rebecca D. Nance

MSW Award for Innovation in Practice
Carrie E. McHenry

MSW Award for Excellence in Field Placement
Christopher M. Flores

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM

BSW Award for Academic Excellence
Bianca M. Stashko

BSW Award for Field Excellence
Cashmier S. Strothers

College of Health and Wellness

School of Allied Health Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

DPT Academic Excellence Award
Connor Riisen; Jillian Richardson

DPT Clinical Excellence Award
Noelle Narvaez

Spirit of Mercy Peer Award
Yousef Tamimi

DPT Distinguished Grit Award
Brietta Patterson

DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Academic Excellence in Speech-Language Pathology Award
Ava Rose Meier

Clinical Excellence in Speech-Language Pathology Award
Karina Krygowski

Leadership in Speech-Language Pathology Award
Riley Doyle

Outstanding Team Collaborator in Speech-Language Pathology Award
Lauren Ashleigh Leoni

School of Nursing

GRADUATE NURSING

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE

Anne DeNardo McGowan DNP Leadership Award
Reshay D. Giles-Mitchell

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Sister Rose Curran MSN Leadership Award
Leslie Fryer

UNDERGRADUATE NURSING

TRADITIONAL BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Caritas Christi Award for Academic Excellence
Jenna Cukryzynski

Georgia Morello Decker Future Nurse Educator Scholarship Award
Marlena Battista, Marley Green, Lillian Hope, Nicole Miller, Tayah Swanson, Thomas Torcasio,
Morgan Trimbur

The Leadership in Nursing Award
Lillian Hope

LEADERSHIP IN NURSING

The School of Nursing Highest Academic Achievement Award
Morgan Trimbur

UNDERGRADUATE NURSING AT ST. VINCENT COLLEGE AWARDS

These awards will be presented at St. Vincent College on May 7, 2026

Highest Academic Achievement
Emily Pierce

Caritas Christi Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement
Kylee Cerminara

Leadership in Nursing
Anthony DeRienzo

UNDERGRADUATE RN TO BSN PROGRAM

The Caritas Christi Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement
Colby Conaway

The Anne Marie Emanuel Award for Educational Goals within their Community
Thomas Carney

The Sister M. Loyola Daugherty Award for Excellence in the Discipline
of Professional Nursing
Chelsey Comiskey

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

RESPIRATORY THERAPY

Academic Excellence in Respiratory Care
Leah Jaquay

Clinical Excellence in Respiratory Care
Sikcha Adhikari

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

Surgical Technology Program Academic Excellence Award
Amber N. Jones

Surgical Technology Program Clinical Excellence Award
Sierra N. Jones, Mary Grace Uy

Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Awards

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Business Management, Accounting and Ethics
Veronica Paz, Ph.D., CPA, CITP, CFF, CGMA

EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Art, Communication, and English
Lucia Riffel, MFA, Desiree Matia, MEd, Laurie Morency, MFA

Biological Sciences
Ronald A. Gross, DC, MEd

Business Management, Accounting and Ethics
Anthony D. Milan, CPA

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Education
Tanya L. Lewis, MEd

Department of Social Work
Sarah Armenti, MSW, LSW, HSV; Sarah Laite, LISW, GC-C, MSW

EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Education
Mary Esther Lancaster, MEd; Linda Zane, EdD

Department of Social Work
Jennifer M. Hedden, PhD; Sarah Laite, LISW, GC-C, MSW

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

School of Allied Heath

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Physical Therapy
Cole Cable, Tricia Patsilevas, PT, DPT, OCS, CMPT

Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Elizabeth G. Haley, Au.D., CCC-A

School of Nursing

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Graduate Nursing
Miranda Jones, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC

EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD

Department of Undergraduate Nursing

Public Health, Respiratory Therapy
Kathy Palombo, MSN, RN, RRT, M-CTTS, NCTTP

Undergraduate Nursing (BSN)
Hilary Yoho, MSN, RN, CHPN

Undergraduate Nursing (PN)
Gretchen Peske, MSN, RN

BSN at Saint Vincent College
These awards will be presented at St. Vincent College on May 7, 2026
Christy Drnjevich, MSN, RN; Gretchen Peske, MSN, RN

Faculty Promotion and Tenure for 2026-2027

PROFESSOR WITH TENURE

Dr. Kathryn Bonach
Department of Social Work

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WITH TENURE

Dr. Ashley Cole
Department of Undergraduate Nursing

Dr. Amanda Smith
Department of Speech-Language Pathology

Dr. Carrie Stott
Department of Social Work

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dr. Michael Kistler
Department of Business Management, Accounting, and Ethics

Dr. Angela Summer
Department of Undergraduate Nursing

TENURE

Dr. Esmaeil Esfandiary, Department of Art, Communication, and English

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Dr. Tessa Adams
Department of Art, Communication, and English

Ms. April Butchki
Department of Public Health

Ms. Meredith Eyer
Department of Biological Sciences

Ms. Valerie Piccini
Department of Education and Liberal Studies

Dorothy Weber Cochran ’43 Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship and Research

Jacqueline Gartner-Schmidt, PhD, CCC-SLP
Professor of Speech-Language Pathology

The Sisters of Mercy Award for Excellence in Advising

Sigrid King, PhD
Professor of English

The Max and Esther Sestili Award for Excellence in Teaching

Chelsey Wojcik-Larko, PT, DPT
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Mercy in Action Staff Award

Jenna Bosi, DSW
Director, Project Safe

Joseph G. Smith Award for Academic Achievement and Distinguished Service

Christian L. Rotundo

Award for Graduate Student Excellence

Yousef S. Tamimi

Recession of Faculty

Please join us for refreshments after the ceremony.

Honors Program Scholars 2026

Honors Scholars graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher, having completed all the requirements of the Carlow University Honors Program.

Talitha Corrin Brobst
Ella Grace Cloak
Jenna Nicole Cukrzynski
Taylor Nicole Eannace
Juliette Lucie Guillou

Sage Lyn Harger
Madeline Rae Klawikowski
Carly Briann Kriebel
Rachel Michelle Levandowski
Maci Ray Lorigan

Jordan Elizabeth Moritz
Holly Willowe Neckers
Morgan Paige Trimbur
Mayleigh Zara Zrimsek

CHAPTERS OF HONOR AND SERVICE SOCIETIES

Beta Beta Beta, Lambda Tau Chapter, Biological Sciences
Chi Sigma Iota, Chi Epsilon Mu Chapter, Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International
Delta Phi Tau, The National Physical Therapy Student Honor Society
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education.
Lambda Beta Society, National Honor Society for Respiratory Care
Nu Rho Psi, Neuroscience Honor Society
Psi Chi International Honor Society, Psychology
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Nu Theta Chapter, National English Honor Society
The Carlow University Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society