The Class of 2025 Award Winners

Members of the Class of 2025 are being recognized for their academic excellence. Every year, faculty members in each college/school choose the winners of the following awards. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. 

College of Healthcare Professions

School of Nursing

• The Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary Scholarship and Education Fund for Nursing: Gabriel Huff.
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Adult Studies: Shannon Wesley.
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Traditional BSN: Katelyn Verba.
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Adult Studies: Angela Pilarski.
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Traditional BSN: Emmalee Young.
• The Susan Ratzell Scholarship for Nursing: Elaina Voitek.

Medical Studies

• Medical Studies Award for Academic Excellence: Elizabeth Chiliberti.

School of Performing Arts

Dance

• The Conservatory of Dance Award: Anna Gardiner.
• The Dance Alumni Award: Annyssa Parker.
• The DeSales University Dance Ensemble Award: Victoria Polidoro and Rylee Sandrowicz, ex aequo.

Theatre 

• The DeSales University Act 1 Theatre Award: Monica Lagana and Isabella Lucano, ex aequo.
• The Gerard J. Schubert, OSFS, Award in Theatre Arts: Isabella Lucano.

TV/Film 

• TV/Film Award for Service and Leadership: Megan Cano, Kaitlyn Ardite, and Elizabeth Higgins, ex aequo.
• TV/Film Award for Filmmaking Craft: Josephine Yozzi.

School of Education

M.Ed. Teacher Education  

• Alumni Teacher of the Year: Todd Breinich.
• Graduate Education Student Teacher of the Year: Shannon Fisher.
• The Bob Misko Award in Secondary Education: Laura Rohrbach.
• The Jean Baptiste de la Salle (Patron Saint of Teachers) Award: Lauren Prokesch.
• The Sister John Marie Award: William Erwin.

M.Ed. Higher Education 

• Student of the Year Award in Higher Education: Bailey McDonald and Daniel Martinez, ex aequo.

Teacher Education 

• Traditional Undergraduate Student Teacher of the Year: Victoria Harnett.

Humanities

Communication  

• The Award for Excellence in Communication: Stephanie Graffin.
• The Award for Excellence in Service to the Humanities Department: Emma McCormick and Erin Smola, ex aequo.

English  

• The English Award for Excellence in Creative Writing: Fiction: Erin Smola.
• The English Award for Excellence in Creative Writing: Poetry: Erin Smola.
• The Ross Baker Award for Excellence in Academic Writing: Emma McCormick and Ashley Schroeder, ex aequo.
• The Samuel Nock Award for Excellence in English: Emma Fliszar and Erin Smola, ex aequo.

History  

• The Award for Excellence in History: Sadie Statler.

Spanish  

• The Award for Excellence in Spanish: Mia Gibboney.

Philosophy & Theology

• Award for Excellence in Philosophy: Benjamin Vacha and Julia Fellmeth, ex aequo.
• Award for Excellence in Theology: Faith Chajnacki.

Biology and Neuroscience  

• The Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Isabella Nota and Victoria Kenney, ex aequo.
• The Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Austin Dotta.
• Neuroscience Award for Academic Excellence: Alexa Bleam.

Chemistry and Biochemistry

• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Benjamin Ziegler.
• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Cora Zilinski.
• Alpha Sigma Chi Award for Excellence in the Natural Science Club: Andrea Vaupel.
• The Award for Excellence in the Chemistry Demonstrations Program: Andrea Vaupel.
• The Chemistry Award for Academic Excellence: Andrea Vaupel.
• The Lehigh Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award in Chemistry: Benjamin Ziegler.

Mathematics and Computer Science  

• The Computer Science Award for Academic Excellence: Alexandra Soleta.
• The Departmental Award for Excellence in Digital Art: Luke Hoffman.
• The Departmental Award for Excellence in Mathematics/Computer Science: Max Flannick.
• The Mathematics Award for Academic Excellence: Sophia Evangelista.
• The Mathematics/Computer Science Award for Excellence in Research: Maximilian Sarko.
• The Bro. Daniel Wisiniewski Award for Leadership and Service in Mathematics/Computer Science: Connor McGill.

Behavioral and Social Sciences  

• The Albert Sproule Memorial Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Studies: Tyler Korbal.
• The Reverend Bernard F. Donahue, OSFS, Award for Excellence in Political Science: Katherine Murphy.
• The Homeland Security Award for Academic Excellence: Haley Estus.
• The Criminal Justice Award for Academic Excellence: Elif Cevikparmak.
• The Criminal Justice Leadership Award: Jeniya Austin.
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence: Lauren Bove.
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence in Adult Studies: Caleb Buckley.
• The Matthew Hammerstone Memorial Award for Excellence in Digital Forensics: Taylor DeStefano.
• The Psychology Undergraduate Research Award: Caroline Erb.

Sport and Exercise Physiology  

• The Exercise is Medicine Award for Service: Madison Kelly.
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Academic Excellence: Ashley Bitner.
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Excellence in Research: Ashley Bitner, Justin DeStaso, and Linnette Ramos, ex aequo. 

Waterbury Reilly School of Business

Accounting and Finance  

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Award for Excellence: Joshua Deremer.
• Institute of Internal Auditors Award for Excellence in Auditing Studies: Daniel Fonte.
• Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs Outstanding Senior Award: Bryce Haviland.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Accounting: Michaela Regan.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Finance: Hannah McDonnell.

Marketing and Management  

• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Business Administration: Matthew Mikita.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Healthcare Administration: Iain Hadeed.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Human Resources Management: Genesis Ocasio Santiago.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Management: Zachary Marshall.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Marketing: Emma McCormick.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Marketing: Faith Chajnacki.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Supply Chain Management: John Murphy.
• The Healthcare Administration Award for Leadership in Professional Development: Kirstyn Willever and Alexandra Hall, ex aequo.
• The Jeff Focht Leadership Award in Management and Marketing: Jordon Troxell.
• The Sport Management Award for Academic Excellence: Brent Holzman.