East Stroudsburg University

A total 1,176 students received degrees from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania at separate commencement exercises for undergraduate and graduate students May 5 and 6. A total of 984 bachelor’s degrees, 190 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees were awarded.

Bath: Allison Aversa, Bachelor of Science in biology; Abubakr Beig, Bachelor of Science in biotechnology; Mary Dziadual, Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Glenda Fevrier, Bachelor of Science in nursing; Ryan Kelly, Bachelor of Science in business management; Derek Kulp, Bachelor of Science in business management; Marissa Kvacky, Bachelor of Science in secondary education-biology; Danielle Millett, Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Kaitlyn Nasatka, Bachelor of Science in nursing; Kirsten Whitcomb, Bachelor of Arts in communication

Catasauqua: Anthony Brinkley, Bachelor of Science in special education (pre K-8) and early childhood education (pre K-4); Luke Garner, Bachelor of Arts in history

Northampton: Trey Daubert, Bachelor of Arts in communication; Meghan Lokay, Master of Science in exercise science

Walnutport: Lottie Castronova, Bachelor of Arts in communication; Kathleen Fritzges, Bachelor of Science in public health; Jessica Holota, Master of Science in athletic training; Alec Lederer, Bachelor of Science in environmental studies; Morgan Szoke, Bachelor of Science in athletic training; Lee Wolbach, Bachelor of Science in exercise science

Whitehall: Mariam Ali, Bachelor of Science in public health; Kathryn Cavaiuolo, Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders and Bachelor of Science in special education (pre K-8) and early childhood education (pre K-4); Yadira Dejesus, Bachelor of Science in early childhood education (pre K-4); John Johnson Jr., Bachelor of Arts in economics; Mark McLaine, Bachelor of Science in biology; Nicole Milan, Bachelor of Science in exercise science; Joshua Rizzo, Bachelor of Science in computer science

Ithaca College

Giancarlo Levano, an Ithaca College student from Whitehall, majoring in music education, performed in a Mother’s Day concert with the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers on the Millennium Stage of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers is a nonprofit music group whose sole mission is education, the preservation of the Negro Spiritual and the use of its themes of sorrow, despair and hope to promote racial healing and social justice. It is named in honor of civil rights pioneer Dorothy Cotton, an Ithaca resident who worked in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle as education director in the 1960s.

In 2007, the U.S. Congress officially designated African-American spirituals a “national treasure.”

“The Negro Spiritual has an honored place in American history as the voice of a uniquely American experience - the perseverance and triumph of an oppressed people through its indomitable spirit and incomparable ability to sing through its anguish with steadfast faith to a God above, with a joy and sorrow unparalleled in our history,” said Ithaca College Associate Professor Baruch Whitehead, who founded the chorus seven years ago. “Our mission is to raise our voices once again in these words and harmonies and to reach for these redemptive powers in our own times.”

Stevenson University

Film and moving image major at Stevenson University Matthew Patti, of Whitehall, was inducted into the Who’s Who Among Students for the 2016-17 school year.

“Each year, a select group of students is called forward to accept one of the most prestigious awards the academic community can bestow - selection to Who’s Who Among Students. This exclusive honor is conferred by more than 1,000 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is symbolized by the presentation of an award certificate.

“This procedure of nomination succeeds in highlighting the individual and diverse service to community and school. These are the students who enhance the positive image of the American students through their contributions to community and school. Because curricular and extracurricular programs at schools vary greatly, each college is assigned a quota of nominees. This quota is carefully calculated to ensure a well-rounded representation of the student body. All nominations must be endorsed by a college’s faculty or administration.”

Stevenson University is a coeducational, independent institution widely known for its unique synthesis of traditional liberal arts education and exceptional career preparation.

Kutztown University

Brett Girardi, of Whitehall, and Tabitha Martinez, of Catasauqua, have been inducted into Tau Sigma National Transfer Honor Society at Kutztown University (KU). This is the first class for the society at KU. Tau Sigma was incorporated in 1999 at Auburn University. Today, there are more than 175 chapters across the country.

Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown. KU is just two hours from New York City and 90 minutes from Philadelphia. As the region’s center for excellence in academics, culture and public engagement, KU’s programs and reputation for quality offer students the opportunity to discover lifelong avenues of learning and discovery. KU students select from more than 100 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment.

University of Scranton

Matthew Collier, of Whitehall, was among University of Scranton students taking first-, second- and third-place awards in competitions at the 2017 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Region 2 Student Activities Conference, which was held in the spring semester at Rowan University, N.J. Twenty-five Scranton students participated in contests that included robotics, physics, design and student paper and ethics competitions, as well as leadership training. IEEE Region 2 includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia. Collier won second place in the micromouse scratch competition.

Bloomsburg University

The following students recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society at Bloomsburg University. Approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni are initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees also may qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni, who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Coplay: Nicholas Heberling

Whitehall: Julianna Burkhardt

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann, who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society - one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is “to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

Lebanon Valley College

Tori Ward, of Whitehall, was recently recognized at the Student Affairs Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony at Lebanon Valley College. Ward, a graduate of Whitehall High School, is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in audio and music production at The Valley. Lebanon Valley College honored six students in total for their demonstrated leadership during the past academic year. These students received various awards in recognition to their abilities and service to the College. Ward received the First-Year Student Leaders of the Year Award.

Lebanon Valley College, Annville, is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The college offers 41 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, science in STEM education and speech-language pathology. The college has 1,602 full-time undergraduate students and 113 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 95 clubs and organizations and 19 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement. Learn more at lvc.edu.

Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College celebrated its 148th commencement May 13 with nearly 500 students receiving their degrees in the Louis A. Sorrentino gymnasium. The 385 graduating seniors were joined by 38 doctor of physical therapy candidates and 57 master’s degree candidates.

Catasauqua: Zac R. Edwards, Bachelor of Science in accounting and business administration, summa cum laude; Melissa K. Fuhrman, Doctor of Physical Therapy in health science and physical therapy

Whitehall: Jason D. Clader, Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology; Benjamin S. Fisher, Bachelor of Arts in political science

Lebanon Valley College, Annville, is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The college offers 41 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, science in STEM education and speech-language pathology. The college has 1,602 full-time undergraduate students and 113 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 95 clubs and organizations and 19 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement. Learn more at lvc.edu.