PENN STATE ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS

Penn State Worthington Scranton recently held its annual Awards Dinner and Convocation. Several awards were presented for outstanding academic performance and service to the campus programs.
Receiving President's Freshman Awards were the following students who attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the first semester of their freshman year: Olga Gutenko, Hawley; Nicole Murphy, Mayfield; Nicholas Nauroth, Factoryville; Sharon Rodriguez, Long Pond; Afghani Roshan, Scranton; Sara Sledzinski, Lake Ariel; David Stefanski, Dunmore; and Lisa Swawola, Scranton.

Academic Excellence Awards were given to students demonstrating outstanding achievement in the individual disciplines. The disciplines and recipients are as follows: Biological Sciences, Anjolii Diaz, Milford; Business, Christine Neumann, Dunmore; Creative Writing, Vanessa Caparo, Moscow; Education, Laura Perry, Scranton; Engineering, Jeromy Petch, Jermyn; Engineering Technology, Raymond Ubaldi, Jr., Hawley; English Composition, Laura Gilpin, Scranton; Human Development and Family Studies, Jeanette Borosky, Exeter; Humanities, Kate Pidgeon, Jermyn; IST, Marcy Stanton, Throop; Mathematics, Matthew Merkel, Olyphant; Music and Visual Arts, Peter Robinson, Greentown; Nursing, Kimberly Muchal, Jessup; Physical Sciences, Jeromy Petch, Jermyn; Social Sciences, Frank Shaffer, Lake Ariel; Spanish, Sara Sledzinski, Lake Ariel; Speech Communication, Afghani Roshan, Scranton; and Statistics, Kim Briskie, Moosic.

Outstanding Scholars Awards were presented to students achieving the highest grade point average in the associate and baccalaureate curricula. The award is sponsored by the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society. Receiving awards were first-year students: Nicholas Nauroth, Factoryville; Sara Sledzinski, Lake Ariel; and David Stefanski, Dunmore; second-year students: Olga Gutenko, Hawley; Joseph Ranner, Honesdale; and Frank Shaffer, Lake Ariel; third-year student Afghani Roshan, Scranton; and fourth-year student Laura Gilpin, Scranton.

Receiving the Alumni Association Lifetime Membership Award was Laura Gilpin, Scranton.

The Honors Program Christopher Sturchio Service Award for outstanding service on behalf of the program was presented to Marcy Stanton, Throop. 

The Wall Street Journal Award for the outstanding associate degree graduate in the business administration curriculum was given to Laura Gilpin, Scranton.

The Richard and Lois Ostroski Family Award for Adult Learners was presented to the adult student with the highest grade point average upon completion of his or her freshman year. This year's recipient was David Stefanski, Dunmore.

Receiving the Patrick J. and Mary Jane Sheridan Award for Excellence in Financial Services for the outstanding student in the bachelor of science degree in business, financial services option, was Afghani Roshan, Scranton.

The Walter Weber Memorial Award in Theatre and Speech Communications was presented to Daniel Tatulli, Gouldsboro.

The following students who participated in the Penn State Worthington Scranton Honors Program were awarded certificates:

First year students - John Anyang, Scranton; Randy Coulthard, Archbald; Allasondra Evans, Falls; William Freeman, Ransom; Olga Gutenko, Hawley; Tiffany Inman, Courtdale; Samuel Mazzatta, Throop; Matthew Merkel, Olyphant; Ketrin Nashi, Scranton; Nicholas Nauroth, Factoryville; Sandra Postrion, Lake Ariel; Afghani Roshan, Scranton; Frank Shaffer, Lake Ariel; Sarah Sparrow, Carbondale; and Dennis Volkland, Taylor.

Second year - Amy Armstrong, Throop; Vanessa Caparo, Moscow; Carli Shields, Honesdale; Melinda Skutnick, Scranton; Dina Sorensen, Lake Ariel; and Marcy Stanton, Throop.  

Faculty and staff awards were also included in the program.

Janet Ann Melnick, Ph.D., Clarks Summit, instructor/field coordinator in human development and family studies, received the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Award. The Dr. Richard and Sally Matthews Award for Scholarly Activity was presented to Patricia H. Hinchey, Ph.D., associate professor of education.

Recipient of the newly established K. Bruce Sherbine Penn State Proud Award was Richard F. Dempsey, Dunmore, assistant professor in information sciences and technology.

Parminder Parmar, Ph.D., Clarks Summit, assistant professor of human development and family studies, was the recipient of the Advisory Board Award for Teaching. The David and Joyce Mack Tressler Fund for Professional Development was presented to Deborah Brandt Johnson, Jermyn, alumni and development specialist.

The recipients of the Award for Excellence in Administrative Service were Terri Nealon Caputo, Moscow, admissions counselor, and Leon S. John, Jr., Dunmore, assistant director of programs, unions and student activities. Receiving the Award for Excellence in Support Services was Wayne Reesey, Dunmore, campus technical services.