DUNMORE, Pa. — Penn State Worthington Scranton held its 50th commencement on Saturday, May 5, during a ceremony at the Scranton Cultural Center.
This year’s commencement is particularly significant, as the class of 2018 marks the last graduating class of Penn State Worthington Scranton. On May 1, the campus officially became Penn State Scranton, a name change that was approved last year by the University’s Board of Trustees.
The name change was made to reflect the evolving, comprehensive role in higher education the campus has taken on and to more accurately describe the campus’ service area, as well as better reflect the 21st-century mission of the campus and the significant role that Penn State has in the region, while also still honoring the Scranton family.
Penn State Worthington Scranton Chancellor Marwan A. Wafa presided over the ceremony, and William Scranton III, whose grandfather, Worthington Scranton, is the campus’ namesake, delivered the commencement address.
Penn State Scranton Advisory Board Chair Lou Ingargiola introduced William Scranton III.
Scranton III directs the Scranton Family Office, and until its merger with Nationwide Insurance, served as chairman of the board of the Harleysville Group of Insurance Companies. He is a member of the boards of Allied Services, Penn’s Northeast, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Geisinger Marworth, the Willary Foundation, the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, and TecBridge, an organization he helped found.
He has been a strong and persistent voice for a cooperative regional approach to northeastern Pennsylvania's economic revival.
Kathy Zielinski, campus alumni society president, offered the alumni charge to the new Penn State alumni.
Graduate Hannah Woody, of Scranton, was named this year’s Chancellor’s Scholar.
David Byman, assistant professor of biology, served as faculty marshal for the ceremony.
Penn State Worthington Scranton granted baccalaureate degrees in business; corporate communication; English; human development and family studies; information sciences and technology; nursing; psychology; and science.
Associate degrees were awarded in business administration and letters, arts and sciences.
Several students graduated with honors of distinction.
Graduating Summa Cum Laude: Brian Carpenter, Pleasant Mount; Tait Hoffmeier, Dalton; and Katherine Megargel, Charleston, South Carolina.
Graduating Magna Cum Laude: Gina Coccetti, Peckville; Jillian Kochmer, Clifford Township; Aaron Panfini, Peckville; and Hannah Woody, Scranton.
Graduating Cum Laude: Chandler Hoyt, Wilkes-Barre; John McDonough, Dunmore; and Miranda Reaser, Moscow.
Recognition of Graduates with Military Service: Michael Kolcharno, Dunmore; Lynn Pacheco, Peckville; and Nicole Shradnick, Lake Ariel.
Penn State Worthington Scranton's 2018 graduates, by Penn State college and degree earned, are:
Associate in Science, Business Administration: Tait Hoffmeier, Dalton; and Brandon Ross, Scranton.
Bachelor of Science, Business: John Borgia, Duryea; Jonathan Brady, Lake Ariel; Glenn Burge, Taylor; Kaitlin Calogero, Duryea; Gina Coccetti, Peckville; Justin Crinella, Archbald; Matthew Crispino, Scranton; Joseph Dombrowski, Jefferson Township; James Dougherty Jr., Eynon; Kara Falzone, Dickson City; Ashley Fuentez, Taylor; Michael Gathany II, New Milford; Kyle Gifford, Olyphant; John Guzior, Clarks Summit; John Heffernan, Taylor; Alexandra Herron, Exeter; Emma Holmes, Throop; Stanley Lo, Scranton; Michael Loggans, Old Forge; Henry Matute Coello, Scranton; Evan Muchisky, Eynon; Luke Mushensky, Simpson; Javon Nickson, Scranton; Tara Phillips, Dickson City; Linda Radu, Mount Pocono; Kenneth Rafter, Jessup; Charles Rogers, Elmhurst Township; Philip Sawicki, Nicholson; John Scirone, Carbondale; Robert Selinsky, Carbondale; Keith Sepulveda, Tobyhanna; John Joseph Smith IV, Scranton; Joshua Spott, Gouldsboro; Edward Sumski Jr., Blakely; Gary Thoman II, Moscow; and Hannah Woody, Scranton.
Bachelor of Arts, Corporate Communication: Janine Dobson, Dunmore; Joseph Dominick, Scranton; Thomas Finley, Peckville; Jordan Goldman, Long Pond; Ian Jones, Meshoppen; Catherine Klingler, Moosic; and Ashley Ryan, South Abington Township.
Bachelor of Arts, English: Brian Carpenter, Pleasant Mount; Seamus McDonough, Scranton; Meela Smith, Delaware Water Gap; Cathleen Voldenberg, Scranton; and Randy Webb, Old Forge.
Bachelor of Arts, History: Ryan Kelly, Dunmore.
Bachelor of Science, Human Development & Family Studies: Richard Aniska, Scott Township; Molly Burke, Dunmore; Brooke Collins, Scranton; Victoria Crockett, Trucksville; Jessica Daly, Jefferson Township; Danielle Desouza, Exeter; Emily Finnerty, Dunmore; Jillian Kochmer, Clifford Township; Eric McLain, Spring Brook Township; Katherine Megargel, Charleston, SC; Callista Newhart, Montrose; Mary Olinyk, Scranton; Lynn Pacheco, Peckville; Krishnaben Patel, Scranton; Geena Rizzo, Dickson City; Nicole Shradnick, Lake Ariel; Kayla Simrell, Moosic; and Molly Williams, Dunmore.
Bachelor of Science, Information Sciences & Technology: Karan Amin, Scranton; Austin Antoine, Waymart; Carolyn Augustyn, Scranton; Rowan Carvell, Newfoundland; Michael Kolcharno, Dunmore; Devin Lomeo, Dalton; John McDonough, Dunmore; Gregory Paone, Archbald; Ajel Patel, Dunmore; Jainit Patel, Scranton; Romitkumar Patel, Dunmore; Matthew Speicher, Taylor; and Robert Wiertel, Scott Township.
Associate in Arts, Letters, Arts & Sciences: Tommy Chompranouvong, Dunmore.
Bachelor of Science, Nursing: Mathew Acevedo, Thornhurst; Melissa Andrejack, Scranton; Laura Buzzinski, Scranton; Ashli Daley, Throop; Rebekah Gigliotti, Carbondale; Lex Harvey, Lords Valley; Chandler Hoyt, Wilkes Barre; Lindsey Julian, Jessup; Stephanie Midgley, Dupont; Sara Moss, Moscow; Myranda Polcha, Jermyn; Natalie Povanda, Moosic; Jamie Ramirez, Tobyhanna; Angela Reeves, Honesdale; Kiernan Riley, Scranton; Mary Terrinoni, Old Forge; and Carissa Zackus, Tunkhannock.
Bachelor of Science, Nursing (RN to BSN): Anthony Anelli, Jefferson Township; Rachel Baldan, Mayfield; Alexa Barsigian, Old Forge; Bernadette Bellington, Archbald; Michelle Cosklo, Clifford Township; Adam Crimi, Peckville; Paige Fratamico, Olyphant; Kali Gargone, Scranton; Ingeborg Juchum, Archbald; Gabrielle Kasaczun, Scranton; Andrea Kopa, Mayfield; Stacey Kordish, Peckville; Brianne Kravetsky, Lake Como; Kelle Lach, Roaring Brook Township; Amy Lamm, Covington Township; Brianna Lowry, Jessup; Desiree Luyster, Jefferson Township; Brittany Marold, Honesdale; Jennifer Mataloni, Hughestown; Melissa Mikovitch, Swoyersville; Autumn Naniewicz, Scott Township; Prachi Patel, Scranton; Miranda Reaser, Moscow; and Kara Zerby, Drums.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology: Robert Dixon III, Scranton; Katelynn Lake, Scranton; and Aaron Panfini, Peckville.
Bachelor of Science, Psychology: Danielle Berghoff, Hawley; William Bunnett, Scranton; Brandi Chilson, Old Forge; Kayla Occhipinti, Dickson City; Andrea Ross, Roaring Brook Township; and Hannah Radkiewicz, Clarks Summit.
Bachelor of Science, Science: Paige Amaya Hernandez, Scranton; Mikaela Brutico, South Abington Township; Joshua Kiddish, Dunmore; Nicholas Montini, Avoca; and Joshua Rieder, West Pittston.