Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
On Saturday, Penn State Scranton welcomed 170 new alumni into the Penn State family at its 54th commencement ceremony.
SCRANTON, Pa. -- On Saturday, Penn State Scranton welcomed 170 new alumni into the Penn State family at its 54th commencement ceremony.
Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan A. Wafa, Ph.D. presided over the ceremony, which was held at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple in downtown Scranton, and campus and PSU alumnus Robert Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, was commencement speaker.
“Your years of hard work and commitment to your studies have gotten you to this momentous occasion,” Wafa told the graduates. “On behalf of the Penn State Scranton community, I want to say we are all proud of you and all you have accomplished. This is not the end of a journey – rather, it is the beginning of one, as you will go forward after today and use the skills and knowledge you have gained here to build a life that I am sure will be filled with even more milestones and accomplishments for you to celebrate.”
Durkin reenforced the importance of what the graduates have already accomplished. “In a very short time, you will walk across this stage to be handed a diploma – your diploma! A document that symbolizes the hard work and sacrifices you have already made as you begin your quest to who you will be in the future.
“And I think it very important to add … that you managed to do all of this amid the biggest public health challenge in over 100 years! That is amazing! I hope for each of you a pathway to a landing place filled with happiness and success. And I hope you always answer the call with pride when someone shouts, We Are…Penn State!”
Christopher Davis, secretary of the Penn State Scranton Alumni Society, gave the alumni charge to the new Penn State alumni and Dale Holen, associate professor of biology, served as faculty marshal for the ceremony.
Graduate Markuss Braveris was named this year’s Chancellor’s Scholar told his classmates to always persevere. “We are seated here on this beautiful day, about to receive the degrees that we have all worked so hard for. But, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, we are going to encounter a lot more challenges moving forward. But no matter how much adversity we may face, we can all always look back on this moment today and remember that it is possible -- we will persevere and we will succeed! And let’s not forget, we are not alone in our challenges. At this time, I want to thank all of Penn State Scranton’s faculty, staff, and administration for their continued dedication towards our success and achievement.”
Penn State Scranton granted baccalaureate degrees in Biology; Business; Corporate Communication; English; Human Development and Family Studies; Information Sciences and Technology; Letters, Arts and Sciences; Nursing; Project and Supply Chain Management; and Psychology.
Associate degrees were awarded in: Business Administration and Letters, Arts and Sciences. One Master’s Degree was conferred in Communications.
Several students graduated with honors of distinction.
Graduating Summa Cum Laude: Markuss Bruveris and Rachel Veniamin.
Graduating Magna Cum Laude: Lucy Adams, Nicholas Bednar, Alissa Chorba, Logan DeSanto and Courtney Varcoe.
Graduating Cum Laude: Michael Clark III and Alexander Hamilton.
Recognition of Graduates with Military Service: Michael Apostolico, Nicholas Bednar, Nicola Giordano, Tyler Kernan, Madison Macknosky, Zachary Snyder and Shane Welcome.
Graduates of Penn State Scranton’s Class of 2022 are all smiles after the ceremonies, which took place Saturday, May 7 at 12 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center.
Credit: Penn State
Graduates of Penn State Scranton’s Human Development and Family Studies program lining up prior to the start of commencement ceremonies, which took place Saturday May 7, at 12 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center.
Credit: Penn State
Graduates of Penn State Scranton’s Information Sciences and Technology program lining up prior to the start of commencement ceremonies, which took place Saturday May 7, at 12 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center.
Credit: Penn State
The recipient of the 2022 Chancellor’s Scholar designation is Mr. Markuss Bruveris, a Business major, pictured here with Chancellor Marwan Wafa.
Credit: Penn State
Our keynote speaker is Mr. Bob Durkin, President and CEO of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and a Penn State Scranton Advisory Board member.
Credit: Penn State
Graduates of Penn State Scranton’s Class of 2022 are all smiles after the ceremonies, which took place Saturday at 12 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center.
Credit: Penn State
The following Penn State Scranton 2022 graduates, by Penn State college and degree earned are:
Bachelor of Science, Biology: Mahdee Abuelhawa, Pringle; Nicholas Chludzinski, Moscow; Alex Frietto, Scranton; Songul Gafurova, Scranton; Jared Griffin, Throop; Christian Hanerfeld, Clifton Township; Madison Macknosky, Dickson City; Cara Mia Manasek, Clarks Summit; Haley Rinker, Thornhurst; and Yasmine Smith, Tobyhanna.
Bachelor of Science, Business: John Abda, Mayfield; Ruslan Badalov, Scranton; Nicholas Bednar, Carbondale; Angel Bello, Scranton; Tabitha Boyd, Hawley; Markuss Bruveris, Milford; Carson Cacioppo, Scranton; Kyle Davies, Archbald; Anthony Defilippi, Gouldsboro; Matthew Dessoye, Wilkes-Barre, Francis Fajardo, Jessup; John Giguere, Jefferson Township; Christopher Hauber, Moscow; Nathan Hollander, Scott Township; Ryan Kasper, Dickson City; Christopher Klein, Duryea; Noah Krehel, Dunmore; Rachel Lewis, Covington Township; Clayton Martin, Honesdale; Mary McDermott, Scranton; Meryam Meawad, Pocono Summit; Bryan Melliand, Clarks Summit; Eric Middleton, Clarks Summit; Maura Monahan, Spring Brook Township; Quinn Nguyen, Old Forge; Matthew Palkovic, Lake Ariel; Dhruv Patel, Scranton; Dhruvi Patel, Scranton; Sebastian Phillips, Roaring Brook Township; Tressa Potis, Eynon; Danielle Powell, Bushkill; Felicity Quick, Lakeville; Eric Reingold, Lake Ariel; Sarah Robinson, Dupont; Benjamin Rudolph, Scranton; Danielle Velikic, and Waverly Township.
Bachelor of Arts, Corporate Communication: Marissa Boyd, Hawley; Britney Diaz, Tobyhanna; Tabitha Henderson, Scott Township; Molly Killeen, Scranton; Melick Lubin, Brooklyn, NY; Kyle Osterhout, Clarks Summit; Angelina Palma, Old Forge; Nathan Rehder, South Abington Township; Morgan Sewack, Scranton; Robert Tomachick, Scranton; Christopher Urban, Honesdale; and Maria Veniamin, Waverly Township.
Bachelor of Arts, English: Bobbi Lee Biefeldt, Jessup; Kyle Callejas, Archbald; Dominic Lupini, Eynon; Nicole Regni, Clarks Summit; and Rachel Veniamin, Waverly Township.
Bachelor of Science, Human Development & Family Studies: Lily Anuszewski, Jermyn; Kylee Brink, Olyphant; Alissa Chorba, Jessup; Meagan Calogero, Duryea; Anthony Hoffman, Taylor; Isabella Muncie, Scott Township; Priya Patel, Scranton; Alyssa Rousseau, Roaring Brook Township; and Kimberlyn Sanchez, Hazleton.
Bachelor of Science, Information Sciences & Technology: Danielle Aiello, Jessup; William Blaum, Dalton; Ryan Ephault, Springbrook; Michael Fedorka, Dickson City; Eric Fritz, Avoca; Matthew Gates, Union Dale; Douglas Griffiths, Scranton; Alexander Hamilton, Clarks Summit; Paul Marmo, Old Forge; Jaymin Patel, Scranton; Parth Patel, Clarks Summit; Tarangkumar Patel, Scranton; Elliott Pratt, Huntington Station, NY; Demitri Reece, Olyphant; Skyler Santiago, Kingston; Nicholas Santos, Scranton; Natalie Schield, Dupont; and Zachary Vrabel, Moscow.
Bachelor of Arts, Letters, Arts and Sciences: Dominique Bonavoglia, Olyphant.
Bachelor of Science, Nursing: Katelynn Ache, White Haven; Lucy Adams, Clifford Township; Sierra Anderson, Taylor; Michael Apostolico, Archbald; Megan Auttonberry, Throop; Susan Bartholomew, Scranton; Rhiannon Berghauser, Mayfield; Mindy Biren, Scranton; Elizabeth Burns, Scott Township; Alexy Callaway, New Milford; MaryAnne Carachilo, Jefferson Township; Michael Clark III, Archbald; Alona Copertino, Spring Brook Township; Jason Crambo, Jefferson Township; Shannon Czekaj, Dunmore; Logan DeSanto, Dickson City; Andrea Dogal, Kingston; Colleen Georgetti, Tunkhannock; Domenic Giacobbe III, Dunmore; Nicola Giordano, Dickson City; Jonathan Gray, Haverstraw, NY; Emily Hilker, Simpson; Angel Hunting, Peckville; Tyler Kernan, Hallstead; Molly Killian, Scranton; Karli Kozel, Scranton; Ashley Lapiers, Nicholson; Karissa Lombardo, Dunmore; Heather MacCallum, Dickson City; Amanda Mattina, Honesdale; Teara Neu, Susquehanna; Sydney Nonnemacher, Hawley; Lauren Owens, Olyphant; Rocco Pacini, Factoryville; Mariah Petrucci, Throop; Allie Riley, Punta Gorda, FL; Emily Scarfo, Clarks Summit; Devin Seifert, Throop; Heather Slimak, Archbald; Zachary Snyder, Dunmore; Alexandra Tayoun, Waverly Township; Eayoni Thompson, Pen Argyl; Hannah Tolerico, Carbondale; Courtney Varcoe, Honesdale; Jenny Vongmany, Scranton; and Jenna Wright, Monroe Township.
Bachelor of Science, Project and Supply Chain Management: Sean Klinkman, Scranton; Cody McAndrew, Archbald; Thaddeus Romance, Prompton; Garrett Rusnak, Roaring Brook Township; Kenneth Stivala, Covington Township; and Shane Welcome, Scranton.
Bachelor of Arts Psychology: Edward Cavalier, Carbondale; Patrick Dougherty, Scranton; Michael Foder Jr., South Abington Township; Colleen Gavin-Austin, Bushkill; Randy Jarnicki, Old Forge; Sarah Mikelski, Plymouth; Jordann Monaco, Friendsville; Delia Scotch, Dalton; Kaylah Simmons, Scranton; James Smith, Scranton; and Jarret Townsend, Throop.
Bachelor of Science, Psychology: Alyssa Cuono, Mountain Top; Rutu Gandhi, Scranton; Jahasia Gillespie, Scranton; Paige Good, Mountain Top; Amanda Herne, Scranton; Jason Kline, Dickson City; Natalia Magdziak, Scranton; Emily Mattes, Dalton; Kesha Patel Sr., Scranton; Niralben Patel, Scranton; Justin Ruby, Spring Brook Township; Brianna Strein, Scranton; and Alexa Yatwa, Honesdale.
Associate in Business Administration: Kellianne Stalker, Moscow and Gunnaz Umarova, Scranton.
Associate in Letters, Arts and Sciences: Vanessa Judith A. Wolf, Moosic.
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice: Carmina Monaco, Johnson City, NY.
Master of Arts, Communications: Brent Wilson, Scranton.
Penn State Scranton also awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business degree post-humously to Thomas Epsom.
The campus also invited graduates from the 2019-20 classes, who had to celebrate their commencements virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic and did not have the opportunity to be recognized in front of their classmates, faculty and loved ones.
They were invited back to attend this year’s commencement as a way of commemorating their graduation at an in-person celebration. Those in attendance were:
- Betty Capozzi, B.S., Human Development & Family Studies
- Jasmine Dass B.S., Human Development & Family Studies
- Bansi Atulkumar Lalkiya, B.S., Business
- Richard Johnson, B.S., Business
- Melanie McAndrew, B.S., Nursing
- Jordan McCormack, A.A., Arts & Letters
- Shanie Mohamed, B.S., Business
- Sarah Mooney, B.S., Human Development & Family Studies
- Jim Lee Tuttle, B.S., Human Development & Family Studies
And, as a special memento for the Class of 2022, the campus created a virtual yearbook.
