Penn State Worthington Scranton Chancellor Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, Ph.D. presided at the campus' 47th commencement, the largest in the campus' history.
Dr. Alan Peslak, professor of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), served as faculty marshal for the ceremony.
"You have every reason to be immensely proud of your academic achievement. No matter where life takes you, you will not only meet other PSU alumni, but you will also sense a tremendous respect for the quality of the institution you now represent," Dr. Krogh-Jespersen said. "I have only the highest degree of confidence that each of you will add to the greatness of Penn State through your work and citizenship."
Kim Kingsley, Penn State Worthington Scranton and University alumnus, and COO of POLITICO, delivered the commencement address.
She told the graduates she had initially wanted to go directly to University Park, but was not accepted as a freshman and came to Penn State Worthington Scranton instead. Initially, she said, she thought it was the worst thing that could happen, but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to her and changed her life.
She credited the campus' faculty, in particular Paul Perrone, a senior instructor in English, for encouraging her to pursue journalism as a career path, a decision that got her to where she is today. She also told them that to be successful they would have to work hard, and "never forget where you came from."
Penn State Worthington Scranton granted baccalaureate degrees in Business; Criminal Justice; English; Human Development and Family Studies; Information Sciences and Technology; Letters, Arts and Sciences; Nursing; and Science.
Associate degrees were awarded in: Business Administration; Human Development and Family Studies; Information Sciences and Technology; Letters, Arts and Sciences; and Nursing.
Several students graduated with honors of distinction.
Graduating with Highest Distinction: Christine M. Byrd, Forest City; Allison F. Miller, Greentown; and Glenn R. Owens, Taylor.
Graduating with high distinction: Renee L. Deacon, Scranton; Travis J. Merrill, Lake Ariel; Kristy B. Snyder, Factoryville; and Angela M. Ucciferri, Mount Pocono.
Graduating with distinction: April A. Alexander, Simpson; Guntoro Gunawan, Scranton; Marcus A. Lemoncelli, Blakely; Lisa Misson, Wilkes-Barre; Bhavin S. Patel, Scranton; Sarah E. Snyder, Dunmore; and Courtney A. Washo, Scranton.
The following Penn State Worthington Scranton 2014 graduates, by Penn State college and degree earned are:
Associate in Science, Business Administration: Brian J. Nagy, Moscow; David A. Nothdurft, Clarks Summit; Shane Pope, Clifford Township; and Christopher J. Wright, Pittston.
Bachelor of Science, Business: Megan Andrews, Dunmore; Ryan Bauman, Pittston; Anthony P. Blondek, Moscow; Charles E. Bryant, Dunmore; Taisha M. Canada, Scranton; Christopher M. Charnogursky, South Abington Twp.; James M. Dicanio, Shohola; Craig M. Ellefsen, Dingmans Ferry; Victoria L. Engle, Scranton; Cheryl A. Evans, Scranton; Alyssa M. French, Scranton; Sriyog K. Gandhi, Scranton; Kyle Holland, Old Forge; Robert A. Jackson, Olyphant; Katelyn S. Jacobs, Springbrook Twp.; Brent M. Joyce, Pittston; Jason D. Jurosky, Dickson City; Leon R. Kneller, Olyphant; Jennifer A. Malinski, Jessup; Dominick Marion, Carbondale; Stefanie M. Marshalek, Throop; Maxwell M. Materazzi-Hatala, Old Forge; Kayla A. McLain, Spring Brook Twp.; Christopher J. Monahan, Archbald; Scott R. Obelinas, Clarks Summit; Glenn R. Owens, Taylor; Sagar N. Patel, Scranton; Vishal S. Patel, Scranton; Richard Rafalko, Throop; Audrey T. Rivera, Milford; Elaina E. Shorten, Jefferson Twp.; Greg Skoff, Dunmore; Mary Skurnowicz, Nicholson;
Leah Slusark, Olyphant; Colin P. Smith, Dunmore; Matthew M. Snyder, Scranton; Ian Specht, Jessup;
William L. Sweeney, Covington Twp.; Angela M. Ucciferri, Mount Pocono; Ryon J. Walker, Waverly; Casey J. Ware, Clarks Summit; Jordan M. Weissman, Clarks Summit; Anthony J. White, Scranton; Amanda L. Wilson, Newfoundland; Timothy J. Wolfe, Scranton; and Christopher J. Wright, Pittston.
Bachelor of Arts, English: Andrea D. Carrazana, Long Pond; Amanda N. Hanerfeld, Clifton Twp.; William L. Johns, Waymart; Melissa A. Klem, Eynon; Nathanael J. MacIntire, Hawley; Maria J. Mahon, Scranton;
Travis J. Merrill, Lake Ariel; Christian G. Oliveto, Mount Pocono; Jeffrey A. Thurston, Dalton; Michael W. Togher, Taylor; and Marlea D. Tsakonas, Scranton.
Associate in Science, Human Development and Family Studies: Kirby A. Howells, Scranton; Theresa Krulikowski, Olyphant; Katherine N. Larsen, Scranton; and Courtney M. Osborne, Hawley.
Bachelor of Science, Human Development and Family Studies: Dawn M. Acevedo, Moscow;
Alexandra V. Alpert, Dunmore; Angela M. Bartoli, Laflin; Candyce A. Brown, Eynon; Christine M. Byrd, Forest City; Morgan K. Casarin, Jessup; Brianna L. Cognetti, Scranton; Tahnee M. Colarusso, Pittston;
Ashley N. Cottrell, Taylor; Olivia M. DelVecchio, Scranton; Caitlin E. Farley, Scranton; Meghan E. Farr, Waymart; Michael W. Gallagher, Peckville; Julia M. Greenlaw, Lake Ariel; Sarah A. Halpin, Dunmore; Nicole D. Hanusich, Throop; Michael D. Holden, Scranton; Robert M. Hughes, Old Forge; Rachel M. Kevra, Scranton; Jessica L. Kilonsky, Scranton; Maura A. Klebauskas, Scranton; Kristopher K. Krahling, Dickson City; Nicole D. Krewson, Clarks Summit; Marcus A. Lemoncelli, Blakely; Tammy L. MacDonald, Olyphant; Ashley M. Maurer, Moosic; Brigid M. Mauro, Shickshinny; Kelly A. Miller, Avoca; Christina M. Moran, Scranton; Megan Murrin, Dunmore; Meghan K. Murtagh, Huntley; Colin F. Parker, Scranton; Kristin M. Parker, Weatherly; Abbey L. Richter, Honesdale; Anthony J. Salva, Jermyn; Breanna B. Santarsiero, Scranton; Jessica K. Segilia, Moosic; Marissa A. Selemba, Roaring Brook Twp; Suzanne Skurnowicz, Nicholson; Jennifer M. Smith, Dunmore; Sarah E. Snyder, Dunmore; Sean M. Sweeney, Avoca; Keri L. Tucker, Scranton; Courtney A. Washo, Scranton; Lasha V. Wyman, Scranton; and Kimberly E. Young, Moosic.
Associate in Science, Information Sciences and Technology: Mitchel J. Goben, Browndale; and Guntoro Gunawan, Scranton.
Bachelor of Science, Information Sciences and Technology: Nusrat Ullah Abdullahi Shanawa, Scranton; Ryan J. Bladek, Greentown; Jacob E. Blaut, Cresco; Anthony J. Cavallaro, Matamoras; Kala M. Cieciorka, Dunmore; David A. Dombroski, Plains; Michael C. Dorio, Scranton; Jody P. Fanning, South Abington Twp.;
Arvind R. Gupta, Mumbai; Whitney A. Higgins, Clarks Summit; Richard M. Lupia, Olyphant; William H. McDowell, Honesdale; Michael A. Opshinsky, Scranton; Tyler D. Osborne, Scranton; Bhavin S. Patel, Scranton; Zalak D. Patel, Scranton; Christina R. Polinsky, Roaring Brook Twp., Daniel W. Rivers Jr., Waymart; Jesse D. Rushin, Dunmore; Marielle E. Sminkey, Scranton; Kristy B. Snyder, Factoryville; Scott M. Swartz, Scranton; Maor Tel Tzur, Scranton; Abhishek R. Tiwari, Mumbai; and Joshua A. Torres, Greentown.
Associate in Arts, Letters, Arts and Sciences: Vania Hogben, Scranton; Michael J. Mahoney III, Milford; Pamela S. Strackbein, Throop; and Ciara Tierney, Scranton.
Bachelor of Arts, Letters, Arts and Sciences: Robert J. Burke, Dunmore; Natasha E. Butler, Jefferson Twp.; Michael Hamidian, Covington Twp.; Meredith A. Kanton, Scranton; Eric Kuhn, Dickson City;
Dhruti D. Patel, Scranton; Morgan A. Weber, Old Forge; and Alicia M. Welby, Old Forge.
Associate in Science, Nursing: Erik G. Adamitis, West Pittston; Maura Andrews, Eynon; Farida Atam, Scranton; Mary A. Bachak, Mayfield; Bruce Benko Jr., Dalton; Jamie R. Bodie, Honesdale; Matthew J. Butler, Scranton; Erika R. Cabrera, Shavertown; Denise P. Carfora, Lake Ariel; Marissa A. Churilla, Scranton; Kelsi L. Collins, Olyphant; Felicia M. Correa, Waymart; Erin E. Cortazar, Dunmore; Gabriella N. Cristiano, Jermyn; Kelly A. Denicola, Duryea; Monica C. DiAndriola, Old Forge; Jill A. Donovan, Scranton;
Vincent Donovan, Covington Twp.; Kayla Evanina, Blakely; Brian J. Fisne, Olyphant; Nicole Fletcher, Scranton; Heather L. Florentino, Lake Ariel; Melanie M. Gallinot, Waymart; Kali A. Gargone, Scranton; Sarah Gibbon, Hanover Township; Lindsay Gifford, Peckville; Cassandra L. Grudeski, Gouldsboro; Chelsea M. Hafner, Moosic; Alysha Handler, Hauppauge, NY; Julie A. Hankins, Newportville; Staci C. Hastings, East Stroudsburg; Danielle Healey, Eynon; Heather M. Hughes, Honesdale; Sarah A. Kain, Carbondale; Nicole M. Kelly, Dunmore; Colleen Knight, Scranton; Brianne N. Kravetsky, Union Dale; Brianna M. Lowry, Jessup; Desiree C. Luyster, Spring Brook Twp.; Anna T. Mason, Scott Twp.; Alisa M. Mazzella, North Hanover; Lisa Misson, Wilkes Barre; Mia G. Pantuso, Olyphant; Ingrid X. Patackas, Scranton; Samantha M. Pisano, South Abington Twp.; Kacie E. Post, Waymart; Jennifer L. Ptakowski, Clarks Summit; Richard P. Rogalewicz Jr., Dunmore; Joelle M. Ryan, Moscow; Zarina Saifurrahman, Scranton; Toni M. Slack-Miller, Blakely; Samantha O. Snead, Moscow; Shara R. Stallo, Scranton; Michael E. Surridge, Wilkes-Barre; Amy N. Velez, Long Pond; Caroline L. Walsh, Scranton; Diandra M. Weckel, Simpson; Necha Weinreb, Scranton; Emily A. Wentland, Eynon; Caitlyn N. Wright, Sweet Valley; Zachary D. Yursha, Dallas; and Dana E. Zayac, Dunmore.
Bachelor of Science, Nursing: April A. Alexander, Simpson; Nikita Alicea, Dunmore; Noreena L. Brown, Stroudsburg; Nicole A. Chrysler, Clarks Summit; Elisabeth A. Cohen, Taylor; Colleen M. Dougherty, Scranton; Christina M. Eboli, Dunmore; Josue C. Etienne, Philadelphia; Alyssa Marielle B. Fabi, Dunmore; Andrea M. Gilpin, Throop; Lindsey M. Gorniak, Dunmore; Julianne Graziano, McDonald; Jessica G. Grigalunas, Honesdale; Jillian M. Grose, Clarks Summit; Amber M. Gurke, Archbald; Angela M. Henning, White Haven; Joseph A. Hull, Duryea; Amy L. Juice, Scranton; Jordyn E. Kelly, Scranton; Keren Khawaja, Hazleton; Cara Kozel, Roaring Brook; Michelle M. Llewellyn, Wyoming; Allison F. Miller, Greentown; Tina M. Nagle, Wapwallopen; Lennie Romero, Drums; Lynn M. Salvati, Hawley; Virginia C. Sharff, Tafton;
Angela M. Taylor, Factoryville; Bonita L. Urzen, Jessup; Angeline N. Wauran, Scranton; Kelly E. Worozbyt, Dunmore; Lisa Wozniak, Avoca; and Allison Zawicki, Old Forge.
Bachelor of Science, Science: Laraine M. Birks, Clarks Summit; Renee L. Deacon, Scranton; Alycia M. Gomes, Scranton; Arie J. Kazmierczak, Scranton; Conor P. McNally, Clarks Summit; and Marissa E. Ziskowski, Archbald.
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice: Kathryn H. Singleton, Scranton.
