The Class of 2024 Award Winners

Members of the Class of 2024 are being recognized for their academic excellence.

Every year, faculty members in each division choose the winners of the following awards. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. 

BUSINESS

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Award for Excellence: Elijah J. Eberly.
• Institute of Internal Auditors Award for Excellence in Auditing Studies: Shane M. Artis. 
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Accounting: Brandon N. Rank. 
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Business Administration: Calvin D. Shelly.  
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Economics: Kerrigan L. de Meij.  
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Finance: Benjamin J. Phillippy.  
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Healthcare Administration: Nicole S. Eck. 
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Management: Harkiran K. Bhullar. 
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Marketing: Jordan F. Lewis.  
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Marketing: Rachel M. Vlassis. 
• The Business Faculty Award for Excellence in Supply Chain Management: Colin M. McCunney. 
• The Healthcare Administration Award for Leadership in Professional Development: Brenda S. Colangelo and Lynsey R. Hunt, Ex Aequo.
• The Jeff Focht Leadership Award in Management and Marketing: Lindsay N. Gordon.
• The Sport Management Award for Academic Excellence: Ryan M. Freda.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS

Medical Studies 

• Medical Studies Award for Academic Excellence: Christopher M. Matera. 

Sport and Exercise Physiology 

• The Exercise is Medicine Award for Service: Kevin M. Trahey.  
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Academic Excellence: Alyssa H. Bartczak, Elizabeth M. McCarthy, and Breana Cahill, Ex Aequo.
• The Sport and Exercise Physiology Award for Excellence in Research: Kevin M. Trahey, Evan M. Lapp, Thomas J. Guydan, and Trent N. Talipan, Ex Aequo. 

LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Communication 

• The Award for Excellence in Communication: Zachary V. Rizzuto. 
• The Award for Excellence in Service to the Humanities Department: Amelia M. Grube. 

Education 

• Alumni Teacher of the Year: Sofia G. Villatoro. 
• Graduate Education Student Teacher of the Year: Suzanne L. Hammond. 
• Traditional Undergraduate Student Teacher of the Year: Jozlyn J. Minnema. 
• The Bob Misko Award in Secondary Education: Carl H. Tyce. 
• The Jean Baptiste de la Salle (Patron Saint of Teachers) Award: Mallory J. Searle. 
• The Sister John Marie Award: Becky A. Hunsberger.

English 

• The English Award for Excellence in Creative Writing: Fiction: Michael J. Spear. 
• The Ross Baker Award for Excellence in Academic Writing: Laura I. Rohrbach. 
• The Samuel Nock Award for Excellence in English: Michael J. Spear. 

Fine Arts 

• The Play it Forward Award: Amelia M. Grube. 

History 

• The Award for Excellence in History: Ethan J. Russell. 

Philosophy and Theology 

• Award for Excellence in Theology: Gemma A. Lopena. 

Social Sciences 

• The Albert Sproule Memorial Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Studies: Hope M. Hoppe. 
• The Reverend Bernard F. Donahue, OSFS, Award for Excellence in Political Science: Sarahjane R. Galvin. 
• The St. Thomas More Society Award for Excellence in Law & Society: Jesus S. Delgado. 
• The Homeland Security Award for Academic Excellence: Emma M. Laliberte. 
• The Criminal Justice Award for Academic Excellence: Talon G. Spess. 
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence: Hannah E. Schappell.  
• The Psychology Award for Academic Excellence in Adult Studies: Harvey L. Yerger. 
• The Matthew Hammerstone Memorial Award for Excellence in Digital Forensics: Talon G. Spess.  
• The Psychology Undergraduate Research Award: Hannah E. Schappell. 

Spanish 

• The Award for Excellence in Spanish: Faith L. Chadwick. 

NURSING

• The Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary Scholarship and Education Fund for Nursing: Leila R. Joseph.  
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Adult Studies: Kristin A. Wyrwa. 
• The Nursing Excellence Award-Traditional BSN: Amanda L. Dobeck.  
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Adult Studies: Stephanie DiTraglia. 
• The Nursing Leadership Award-Traditional BSN: Valentina L. Bartolucci.  
• The Susan Ratzell Scholarship for Nursing: Madeline C. Cochran. 

PERFORMING ARTS

Dance 

• The Conservatory of Dance Award: Lena N. Eaton.  
• The Dance Alumni Award: Breana Cahill and Kayleigh B. Pugh, Ex Aequo. 
• The DeSales University Dance Ensemble Award: Paige N. Ingoglia and Caitlyn F. McGullam, Ex Aequo. 
• The Jeanne Meixell Award: Megan E. Streichenwein. 

Theatre 

• The DeSales University Act 1 Theatre Award: Nicole F. Lawrie and John J. Drumgoole, Ex Aequo.
• The Gerard J. Schubert, OSFS, Award in Theatre Arts: Nicole F. Lawrie. 

Performing Arts 

• Performing Arts Division Award for an Outstanding Student: Isabella R. Trocino. 

TV/Film 

• TV/Film Award for Service and Leadership: Danielle I. Herbert. 
• TV/Film Spirit of the Filmmaker Award: James M. Hartranft. 

SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS

Biochemistry-Molecular Biology 

• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Abigail P. Stocker.  
• The Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Abigail P. Stocker.  

Biology 

• The Award for Excellence in the Association for Women in Science: Flynn E. Casey.
• The Biology Award for Academic Excellence: Catherine E. McGrath and Batur B. Yaman, Ex Aequo.
• The Biology Award for Excellence in Research: Alexis R. Armstrong.  
• The Medical Studies Award for Excellence in Research: Mercille N. Nguyen.  

Chemistry and Physics 

• Alpha Sigma Chi Award for Excellence in the Natural Science Club: Rebecca J. Kibler.  
• The Award for Excellence in the Chemistry Demonstrations Program: Emily E. Ringholm.  
• The Chemistry Award for Academic Excellence: Nicholas J. Manidis.  
• The Chemistry Award for Excellence in Research: Rebecca J. Kibler.  
• The Lehigh Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award in Chemistry: Abigail P. Stocker.  

Mathematics and Computer Science 

• The Computer Science Award for Academic Excellence: Harkiran K. Bhullar.  
• The Departmental Award for Excellence in Mathematics/Computer Science: Luke P. Cossman. 
• The Mathematics Award for Academic Excellence: Abigail M. Davis.  

Neuroscience 

• Neuroscience Award for Academic Excellence: James G. Buentello.