President’s Awards

Convocation

April 28, 2020

President’s Awards

Virtual Convocation

Program

April 28, 2020 – 7:00 p.m.

Invocation and (Very Rev.) Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R. Opening Remarks President Address Dr. Thomas Woods, Professor Physician Assistant Sciences Award Presentations Fr. Malachi and Dr. Karan H. Powell, Vice President, Academic Affairs Closing Prayer and Benediction Fr. Malachi

Biography of Dr. Thomas Woods

Dr. Thomas Woods began his career at Saint Francis University as the Director of the Dorothy Day Center, coordinating community service projects and student driven outreach programming for area families. He also served as a residence hall director and counselor for the Upward Bound Program prior to training as a Physician Assistant. In 1998, he was hired as a faculty member in the Department of Physician Assistant Science Sciences, a job that he affectionately refers to as “the best job on campus.” As a person who spends his days collaborating with gifted colleagues and intelligent, kind and dedicated students, Dr. Woods feels that Shangri-La exists in Sullivan Hall. Dr. Woods is the extremely proud father of three wonderful children and the spouse of Elizabeth, a fellow Saint Francis alumnus and Physician Assistant.

Campus Ministry Stewardship Award

Presented to a person who serves as a role model for the

University’s Catholic Franciscan Heritage.

Mary Kate Elenchin

Dorothy Day Outreach Humanitarian Award

For outstanding dedication in serving

the needs of others with a joyful heart.

Tessa Clouse and Michael Yahner

Act 101 Program Academic Achievement Award Presented by an anonymous donor to the junior or senior

member of the ACT 101 Program with the highest Q.P.A.

Clara-anne McGinty

Margaret M. Tobin Research Award Outstanding library research is recognized through the Tobin

Award. The research must have been completed by an

undergraduate within the current academic year. Candidates

are nominated for the award by a professor. The award is

funded by an anonymous donor. Margaret Tobin was a former

director of the Pasquerilla Library. She died in 1986.

Olivia Fearer and Preslee Litzinger

Service Awards

Funded Awards

Anne Sloan Borland Award

The Borland Award is a cash prize given for the best example of library research submitted as an academic course

requirement by a graduate student at Saint Francis University during the current school year. In addition to receiving a cash award, the winner also will collaborate with the department

chairperson to select materials for the library collection within their discipline.

Valerie Boles, Amanda Chumrik, Katharine Hann, Julia Kuehn, Amy O’Hearn, and Brianna Scott

Mark N. Shank Award A cash award is presented to a junior accounting student who has demonstrated excellence and financial need. This award

is named for the donor, a successful accountant and chief financial officer, and a 1975 graduate of the University.

Ashlee Mazurak

Class of 1982 Award Established in 2015 by members of the Class of 1982, this

award recognizes an outstanding student-athlete who is a second-semester freshman business major. The student should be active in service, with a minimum QPA of 3.0.

Ethan Knoebel

Endowed Awards

Kaylee Harford Award Kaylee Harford Award

Kaylee Harford was in her first year at Saint Francis when she lost her life in a car accident. The Harford family, along with

Dr. Rose Clark and Dr. Edward Zovinka, established this award in her memory. It is presented to a chemistry major pursuing

undergraduate research on campus during the summer. Logan Luchs

Mary and Paul Zovinka Undergraduate Research Award The purpose of the Zovinka endowment is to fund

undergraduate research in chemistry. It was established by Dr. Edward Zovinka and Dr. Rose Clark to honor Dr. Zovinka’s

grandparents. The recipient of this award is chosen by the chemistry faculty on the basis of his or her research potential, service to the department, QPA and demonstrated interest in

the field. Anthony Vassalotti

Angela (Bionaz) Damin, R.N., Nursing Award This award was established in 2015 by Dean Damin in memory

of his wife, Angela. It is presented to a full-time freshman, with demonstrated financial need, selected by the nursing

faculty as the top first-year nursing student from the local area.

Olivia Conrad

Endowed Awards (continued)

Endowed Awards

Theresa Wild Memorial Award Ms. Wild, who died in 2000, took great pride in the education of

her grandniece, a 1999 graduate of the physician assistant program at Saint Francis. The award will be presented to the

PA student who has made a positive contribution to the excellence and vitality of the institution and department.

Mia Capuzzi

James W. and Helen Marie Lieb Award

This award is a memorial to James Lieb, a mathematics professor at Saint Francis for 22 years. It also honors his widow, Helen, who established the endowment. The Lieb

Award is presented on the basis of scholarship, financial need, service and attitude toward the discipline of math.

Teresa Reid

Rev. Gabriel J. Zeis, T.O.R., Education Award This award is presented to a full-time junior history/secondary

education major with a minimum 2.5 QPA and demonstrated financial need.

Ryan Maucieri

Rev. Gabriel J. Zeis, T.O.R., Franciscan Values Award Presented by the Alumni Association. Awarded to a deserving

student who exemplifies service to others and strong Franciscan values. Patrick Sprigler

Christopher A. Collier Award

Joan H. Collier and family and friends have established the Christopher A. Collier Memorial Endowment to aid a full-time

student in good academic standing, who has attended an accredited Catholic secondary school, and who has

demonstrated financial need. The award is to be used for the costs of attending Saint Francis University.

Andrew Berman

Richard Dorsey Muller Memorial Scholarship Award This scholarship recognizes outstanding students who wish to

pursue a career in law. It was established by the Muller and

DeLessio families in memory of Richard Dorsey Muller, an SFU

alumnus and prominent attorney.

Seniors – Elliot Biddle, Kaitlyn Edmiston, Cory Kumpf

Junior – Daniel Henry

M. Jayne Kimlin Award in Physical Science

This award was established according to the wishes of Dr. M.

Jayne Kimlin, a longtime professor of chemistry at Saint

Francis, who died in 1999. It is awarded to an undergraduate

chemistry or engineering major to participate in summer

research on campus.

Ivory Krise

Endowed Awards (continued)

Armond A. Manfredi, Jr., Awards in Accounting,

Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing and

Management Information Systems Presented to seniors in the School of Business with strong

academic records, involvement in extracurricular activities

and outstanding leadership

Accounting – Gregory Heider

Economics – Maxwell Benzel

Finance – Jacob Wilson

Management – Elliot Biddle

Marketing – Haley Thomas

Management Information Systems – Jillian Scott

Anthony and Mary Pekala Award The award is intended for a current Saint Francis University

student from Pennsylvania with a minimum 2.5 QPA,

demonstrated financial need, and humanities major in the

School of Science, Technology, Education, Arts and

Mathematics.

Anthony Labriola

Paul Deskevich Outstanding Mathematics Student Award This award will be conferred on a promising mathematics

major. The recipient will have demonstrated a high proficiency

in the study of mathematics and display a particular ability and

joy for learning math. This award is to be used for University

expenses. Dan Abramowicz, ’79, Ph.D., has established this

endowment to honor Associate Professor Emeritus Paul

Deskevich for his passion for the mathematics field.

Michael Gallagher

Endowed Awards

Gunard B. Carlson Memorial Foundation/

Saint Francis University Creative Writing Contest The contest is open to all Saint Francis University

undergraduates. Students may submit written work in any of

four categories: fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and essay

writing.

Cash prizes and tuition credit will be awarded to the top four

writing entries. In addition, a cash prize will be awarded to

honorable mentions.

Students may also submit visual artwork in four categories:

painting, sculpture, photography and sketch. The top visual

entry will receive a cash prize, as will honorable mention

entries.

All winning writing and visual artwork will be published in

Tapestries, the campus literary magazine.

1st Place Writing – John Weidner

2nd Place Writing – Shelby Allen

3rd Place Writing – Kathryn Dunleavy

4th Place Writing – Alyssa Baxter

Honoral Mentions Writing – Ryan Alu, Wendy Bintrim

Elizabeth Catalano, Scott Riner, and Kristen Toth

1st place Visual Arts – Samuel Bumbarger

Honoral Mentions Visual Arts – Jacob Bowen,

Katelyn Diehl, Monica Gregg, Vittoria LaRosa,

and Michael Yahner

Endowed Awards (continued)

William B. Furlong Upperclassman Scholarship Award

The Furlong Endowment was created by the William B. Furlong

Family, and by friends and former students of Dr. Furlong. He

was an English professor at the University for over 30 years.

The scholarship is awarded to an English or communications

major with an excellent academic record, who serves the

community and who has demonstrated financial need.

Rebecca Norris

Ann Eppard Memorial Scholarship

and Congressional Internship

This scholarship and internship is awarded to an upper-level

student. He or she should have a strong academic

background, possess good communication and research skills

and have a genuine interest in legislative processes,

government and law. Personal integrity and discretion in

dealing with confidential and sensitive legislative matters are

required.

Drew Crusciel and Shea Moran

Endowed Awards

Honors Program Graduates

Ryan Alu (Dr. Daniel Wetklow)

Mollie Byrne (Dr. Lane Loya)

Dayna DeSalve (Dr. Balazs Hargittai)

Kathryn Dunleavy (Dr. Brennan Thomas)

Kristin Endres (Dr. Lane Loya)

Madaline Johnston (Ms. MaryAnn Shaw)

Michelle Karpinsky (Dr. Edward Zovinka)

Cory Kumpf (Dr. Mary Gentry)

Zachery Marker (Dr. Jill Cavalet)

Laura Roth (Dr. Thomas Woods)

Megan Shingler (Ms. Cassie Grassmyer)

Renee Surma (Dr. James Logue)

Sarah Ward (Dr. Carrie Beebout)

Other Awards

Academic Achievement Award The Saint Francis University Alumni Association presents this

award to the graduating senior with the highest QPA over his or

her entire college career.

Ryan Alu

Gregory Heider

Megan Shingler

Margaret Stern

Saint Francis Honor Society

Distinguished Faculty Award Finalists

Dr. Rosemary Bertocci

Dr. Denise Holladay Damico

Ms. Gale DeArmin

Dr. Patrick Farabaugh

Ms. Kelly Garanich

Dr. Lane Loya

Dr. Tricia McFadden

Dr. John Miko

Dr. Angela Seidel

Mr. Kent Tonkin

Winner: Ms. Gale DeArmin

Special Awards

Other Awards (continued)

Gerald and Helen Swatsworth Faculty Award Finalists

Dr. Stephen Baker

Dr. Timothy Bintrim

Dr. Denise Holladay Damico

Ms. Gale DeArmin

Dr. John Miko

Dr. Marnie Moist

Winner: Dr. John Miko

Mr. and Ms. Frankie Awards

Ms. Frankie Finalists

Amanda Ferguson

Emily Graziano

Teresa Narduzzi

Abigail Tarosky

Lauren Vasas

Mr. Frankie Finalists

Elliot Biddle

Joshua Mills

Tommy Nguyen

Andrew Potopa

Aidan Sweeney

Mr. and Ms. Frankie: Teresa Narduzzi and Tommy Nguyen

Special Awards (continued)