Awards Presented to the DeSales Class of 2026

Congratulations to these Class of 2026 graduates recognized for their academic excellence. Faculty members in each college choose the winners of the following awards:

College of Healthcare Professions

School of Nursing

• The Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary Scholarship and Education Fund for Nursing: Debra L Hoff.
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Adult Studies: Elizabeth A. Afflerbach.
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Traditional BSN: Erin Fleming.
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Adult Studies: Jazmin Brown
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Traditional BSN: Luz. A. Pomaquiza.
• The Susan Ratzell Scholarship for Nursing: Gianna D. Torgersen.

Medical Studies

• Medical Studies Award for Academic Excellence: Reece C. Stein.

Communication Sciences & Disorders

• The Communication Sciences & Disorders Award for Academic Excellence: Janae C. Topor

College of Arts, Education, & Humanities

School of Performing Arts

Dance

• The Conservatory of Dance Award: Anna K. Zach.
• The Dance Alumni Award: Davida B. Sealy.
• The DeSales University Dance Ensemble Award: Aislynn A. New and Shannon R. Sakaitis, ex aequo.

Theatre 

• The DeSales University Act 1 Theatre Award: Jamir M. Fisher and Henry M. Ingles, ex aequo.
• The Gerard J. Schubert, OSFS, Award in Theatre Arts: Andrew Kopacz.

TV/Film 

• TV/Film Award for Service and Leadership: Joseph J. Tangradi
• TV/Film Award for Filmmaking Craft: Samantha R. Kennedy.

School of Education

M.Ed. Teacher Education  

• Alumni Teacher of the Year: Derek M. Long.
• Graduate Education Student Teacher of the Year: Lori A. Dreisbach.
• The Bob Misko Award in Secondary Education: Natalie E. Durfee.
• The Jean Baptiste de la Salle (Patron Saint of Teachers) Award: Stephanie N. Colacito.
• The Sister John Marie Award: Giovanna B. Simmons and Jennifer I. Fandl, ex aequo.

Teacher Education 

• Traditional Undergraduate Student Teacher of the Year: Anasol G. Estevez.

Communication  

• The Award for Excellence in Communications/Journalism: Isabella M. Lee
• The Award for Excellence in Communication: Brianna N. Powell.
• The Award for Excellence in Service to the Humanities Department: Ivonne D. Batiste

English  

• The English Award for Excellence in Creative Writing: Fiction: Nicolas J. Barbadora.
• The Ross Baker Award for Excellence in Academic Writing: Hariklia I. Barbounis.
• The Samuel Nock Award for Excellence in English: Isabella M. Stevens

History  

• The Award for Excellence in History: Dante G. Maas and Sean E. Barley, ex aequo.

Spanish  

• The Award for Excellence in Spanish: Ivonne D. Bariste.

Philosophy & Theology

• Award for Excellence in Theology: Robert J. Young.

College of Sciences

Biology and Neuroscience   

• The Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Antonio G. Rinaldi
• The Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Kade J. Lippitt.
• Neuroscience Award for Academic Excellence: Alan D. Alexander.
• Neuroscience Award for Excellence in Research: Alan D. Alexander

Chemistry and Biochemistry

• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Angelena M. Donovan
• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Angelena M. Donovan.
• Alpha Sigma Chi Award for Excellence in the Natural Science Club: Joanne E. Baez.
• The Award for Excellence in the Chemistry Demonstrations Program: Haleigh A. Toto.
• The Chemistry Award for Academic Excellence: Connor R. Zimmerman.
• The Lehigh Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award in Chemistry: Connor R. Zimmermann.

Mathematics and Computer Science  

• The Computer Science Award for Academic Excellence: Andrew J. Presta.
• The Departmental Award for Excellence in Mathematics/Computer Science: Gabriel A. Bawden.
• The Mathematics Award for Academic Excellence: Alan D. Alexander.
• The Mathematics/Computer Science Award for Excellence in Research: Steven M. Counterman.

Behavioral and Social Sciences  

• The Albert Sproule Memorial Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Studies: Adam M. Perone.
• The Reverend Bernard F. Donahue, OSFS, Award for Excellence in Political Science: Zeynep N. Celik & Hariklia I. Barbounis, ex aequo.
• The St. Tho as More Society Award for Excellence in Law & Society: Adam M. Perone.
• The Homeland Security Award for Academic Excellence: Emmanuel A. Oliveras.
• The Criminal Justice Award for Academic Excellence: Kyle T. Hart
• The Criminal Justice Leadership Award: Gabriella L. Slak.
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence: Tyler J. Bergstresser.
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence in Adult Studies: Emma L. Neece.
• The Matthew Hammerstone Memorial Award for Excellence in Digital Forensics: Daniele Holland
• The Psychology Undergraduate Research Award: Luke J. Scalo.

Sport and Exercise Physiology  

• The Exercise is Medicine Award for Service: Bohdan L. Doyle and Danielle S. Southgate-Sands, ex aequo.
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Academic Excellence: Bohdan L. Doyle and Mackenzie E. Gordos, ex aequo.
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Excellence in Research: John A Rorick, Owen M. Frye and Bohdan L. Doyle, ex aequo. 

Waterbury Reilly School of Business

Accounting and Finance  

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Award for Excellence: Davis L. Trump.
• Institute of Internal Auditors Award for Excellence in Auditing Studies: Samil Perez.
• Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs Outstanding Senior Award: Thomas J. St Pierre.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Accounting: Joseph Q. Reteneller.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Economics: Meghann M. Schuster
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Finance: Ian E. Pearn.

Marketing and Management  

• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Business Administration: Clarissa S. Herholdt.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Healthcare Administration: Brynn N. Ballliet.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Marketing: Robert T. Dingell.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Marketing: Bridey M. Lawler.
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Supply Chain Management: Mary Frances T. McNulty.
• The Healthcare Administration Award for Leadership in Professional Development: Jocelyn E. Mattingly.
• The Jeff Focht Leadership Award in Management and Marketing: Haely N. Sosna.
• The Sport Management Award for Academic Excellence: Zachary A. Rothermel.