LATROBE, PA – Saint Vincent College presented awards to faculty and students at the virtual Spring Honors Convocation, recorded May 5 in the historic Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.

Michael B. Downey, C'04, principal and vice president of Avison Young Commercial Real Estate's Pittsburgh office, served as commencement speaker.

Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., Saint Vincent College president, presented Mary R. Anand with the President’s Award, the College’s highest student honor, awarded to the member of the graduating class who best embodies the college’s Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college’s values – outstanding academic achievement, student leadership and community service.

Finalists for the President’s Award included Michael J. Cella, biology major from Pittsburgh (15221); Shae S. Robson, accounting major from Natrona Heights; Julia C. Snyder, English and communication double major from Murrysville; and Moira J. Sullivan, anthropology major from Waldorf, Maryland.

Honored faculty included Dr. Sarah E. Daly, assistant professor of criminology, law and society, who was presented the Quentin Schaut Faculty Award, and Thomas D. Octave, associate professor of music, who received the Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award.

Kaitlin E. Repp, junior politics major from Gettysburg, was the recipient of the 1968 Fr. Ronald R. Gorka Scholarship.

Student Government Association (SGA) Senior Awards were presented to Kyle X. Wilson of Essex, Maryland; Matthew W. Evans of New Brighton; Mary T. Popp of Arnold, Maryland; Olivia P. Williams of Altoona; and Madeline M. Mutinelli of Greenville. The 2021 SGA Administrator Award was presented to Marisa R. Carlson, assistant dean of studies, while Dr. Jerome Foss, associate professor of politics, was presented with the SGA Faculty Award. Junior biology major Robert Gigliotti, president of SGA, presented the SGA Awards.

Awards for Academic Excellence in the Major Field of Study, recognizing the graduating senior with the highest grade point average in each undergraduate program of study, were given to the following students:

Shae S. Robson of Natrona Heights, accounting
Moira J. Sullivan of Waldorf, Maryland, anthropology
Madison J. Starliper of Chambersburg, art education
Thomas A. Syphan of New Florence, biochemistry
Michael C. Kardos of Vandergrift, biology
Kevin Martin of Canonsburg, business economics
Nicholas J. Driscoll of Greensburg, chemistry
Elizabeth A. McCormick of Clarksburg, West Virginia, communication
Lynn-Marie Vaughan of Beltsville, Maryland, computer science
Thomas P. Franey of Bloomingdale, Ohio, criminology, law and society
Boehm of Lebanon, cybersecurity
Shaye E. Beeman of Somerset, digital art and media
Rebekah J. Reist of McKeesport, early childhood education
Nicholas S. Srnka of Erie, economics
Steven M. Patterson of Butler economics and mathematics
Hannah P. Rudy of Ligonier, engineering
Julia C. Snyder of Murrysville, English
Andrew Scott of Greensburg, environmental science
Nicolas G. Williams of Weedville, finance
Hannah L. Devine of North East, graphic design
Catherine E. Votovich of Woodbridge, Virginia, history and the Student Educator Award for students pursuing a secondary certification
Gage M. Smith of Mount Pleasant, information technology
Carlee T. Kilgus of Bridgeville, integrated science
Alexandra M. Gerstel of Greensburg, international business
Maria R. Hood of Luxor, liberal arts
Shelley M. Ohler of Greensburg, management
Bradley E. Bair of Leola, marketing
Caleb D. Bouch of Mechanicsville, Maryland, mathematics/engineering
Stephanie A. Cribbs of Irwin, mathematics
Nicholas T. Pietrusinski of Monroeville, music
Connor R. Thropp of Irwin, physics
Jonathan G. Meilaender of Houghton, New York, politics
Mary T. Popp of Arnold, Maryland, psychological science
Samantha Y. Blevins of Claymont, Delaware, sociology
Caroline A. Rooney of Bethel Park, special education
Connie G. DiFrancesco of Greensburg, studio art
Matthew W. Evans of New Brighton, theology.

Graduate students honored with the Award for Academic Excellence in their Major Field of Study include:

Samantha R. Zourelias of Apollo, counselor education
Madalyn R. Spittler of Annapolis, Maryland, curriculum and instruction
Josymir S. Dieppa of Greensburg, instructional design and technology
Courtney W. Patterson of McKeesport, Management: Operational Excellence
Alexandra P. Astle of Latrobe, special education.

The following students have received A.J. Palumbo Student Research Endowment Fund Awards:

Jared D. Ackerman of North Huntingdon
Mary F. Andreola of Pittsburgh (15236)
Alyssa M. Baker of Pittsburgh (15235)
Sydney E. Ball of Pittsford, New York
Grant S. Bartlow of Mount Pleasant
Joshua M. Boland of Pittsburgh (15239)
Caitlin A. Bridge of Ligonier
Michael J. Cella of Pittsburgh (15221)
Sarah E. Centore of Canonsburg
Erin R. Choby of Patton
Madelyn E. Cornman of Cadogan
Phillip A. Costa of Monroeville
Nicollae A. Crawford of North Apollo
Jacob D. DeSchepper of Ligonier
Lauren E. Diamond of Smithfield
Liam P. Dixon of O’Fallon, Illinois
Juliana C. Donaldson of Windsor Mill, Maryland
Alaina J. Dorazio of Derry
Lauren N. Dvorchak of Hastings
Lauren E. Galbraith of Greensburg
Savanah J. Gerstnecker of Volant
Jessica A. Gibson of North Huntingdon
Robert A. Gigliotti of Pittsburgh (15205)
Baylin M. Graham of Fenelton
Kolby S. Hanan of Lemont Furnace
Adam J. Harbert of Hagerstown, Maryland
Taylor L. Hatchet of Reisterstown, Maryland
Madison N. Hill of New Kensington
Margaret G. Hines of Pittsburgh (15236)
Briana A. Huff of Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Bruce M. Johnson of Warren, Ohio
Michael C. Kardos of Vandergrift
Lucas R. Kearns of Turtle Creek
Rachel A. Keller of Saint Marys
William B. Keough of Alexandria, Virginia
Andrew R. Klein of Ligonier
Catherine A. Kwiat of New Castle
Natalie M. Lamagna of Murrysville
Zoe E. Leasock of Somerset
Grace A. Leonard of Greensburg
Isabelle M. Machado of Latrobe
Sarah E. Maidment of Avella
John M. Martin of Canonsburg
Courtney E. Mattucci of Delmont
Devon B. McCarty of Hancock, Maryland
Benjamin J. Menarchek of Parkersburg, West Virginia
Adam T. Meneses of Pomona, California
Graham W. Merlin of Pittsburgh (15239)
Scott L. Meyers of Greensburg
Hannah G. Miller of DuBois
Sara L. Mills of Strasburg
Isabella K. Molinaro of Pittsburgh (15241)
Shane J. Moran of Indiana
Casey L. Moyer of Robinson
Zachary R. North of Bridgeville
Madison T. Nuttall of West Newton
Andrea N. Pancurak of Monroeville
Bertalan P. Papp of Budapest, Hungary
Justin M. Paul of Street, Maryland
Conrad D. Pearson of Eighty Four
Mary E. Person of Latrobe
Gabriella M. Petruccelli of Greensburg
Noah E. Plappert of Spring, Texas
Jennae R. Popelas of Latrobe
Mary T. Popp of Arnold, Maryland
Evan J. Portman of Export
Julie M. Reichert of Lancaster
Christopher W. Risnear of Jeannette
Emily P. Rohm of Lemont Furnace
Joseph T. Rudzinski of Lancaster
Rachael M. Schiafone of Ridgway
Kaitlyn C. Schiffer of Carlisle
Hannah E. Severein of Lancaster
Georgia Sherry of Northern Cambria
Sofia N. Sicignano of Clinton, Connecticut
Abbigail A. Stipcak of Latrobe
Moira J. Sullivan of Waldorf, Maryland
Connor R. Thropp of Irwin
Kelsey M. Tobin of Greensburg
Taylor V. Tritapoe of Knoxville, Maryland
Abigail G. Uhrinek of Natrona Heights
Stephanie Weinskovich of Duquesne
Olivia Zulisky of Greensburg.

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PHOTO: The 2021 President's Award Finalists. Front, from left to right: Julia Snyder, Moira Sullivan. Back, from left to right: Shae Robson, Mary Anand, Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., and Michael Cella.

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PR2021-062