ESU

A total of 1,205 students received degrees from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania at separate commencement exercises for undergraduate and graduate students May 4 and 5.

Bath: Hayley Jackson, Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Ashley Reppert, Bachelor of Science in environmental studies; Peter Schiffert, Bachelor of Science in sport management

Catasauqua: Chabeli Lora, Bachelor of Science in social work

Coplay: Quincy Boulware, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Bridaliz Delcid, Bachelor of Science in biology; Bradley Wollweber, Bachelor of Science in athletic training

Northampton: Maria Belovich, Bachelor of Science in business management; Katelyn Clancy, Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Jessica Gober, Bachelor of Science in biotechnology; Mallory Johnson, Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Olivia Schneider, Bachelor of Science in business writing; Zane Sebesta, Bachelor of Science in athletic training; Nicole Tock, Bachelor of Science in special education (preK-grade 8) and early childhood education (preK-grade 4); Reghan Weller, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice

Walnutport: Alexander Caruno, Bachelor of Science in business management; Rebecca Owens, Bachelor of Science in early childhood education (preK-grade 4); Mickatelyn Shumanis, Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders; Lee Wolbach, Master of Science in exercise science

Whitehall: Shaun Cramsey, Bachelor of Arts in history; Arianna Guerino, Bachelor of Science in nursing; Nicole Milan, Master of Science in exercise science; Rachel Nappo, Bachelor of Arts in communication; Ian Sallit, Bachelor of Science in computer security; Carlee Worman, Bachelor of Science in business management

East Stroudsburg University, one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, opened in 1893 as East Stroudsburg Normal School. Today, ESU is a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 55 undergraduate programs, 22 master’s programs and one doctoral program. More than 6,800 students are enrolled for the high quality, affordable and accessible education ESU provides. Nearly 30,000 ESU alumni live in Pennsylvania.

Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College held its annual honors convocation designed to honor and celebrate leadership and scholarly excellence and achievement April 29. The awards recognize select members of the faculty and student body for their contributions to the college, to their peers and to their disciplines.

Dylan Ashton, of Northampton, Class of 2018, received the Phi Sigma Iota Award in French and the Rev. Dr. Arvids Ziedonis Jr. Fellowship for Graduate Studies in Foreign Languages and Literatures award.

The Phi Sigma Iota Award is awarded to a senior who has done excellent work in French, in and out of the classroom. The other award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in studies of a foreign language, literature or theology and intends to pursue a master’s or doctorate degree, of which foreign language, literature, culture or theology is an integral component to continue service within the local or international community.

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private, four-year residential, liberal arts college located in Allentown. With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, as well as selected pre-professional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health.

Cedar Crest College

Brian Thatcher, of Coplay, received the Nursing Excellence Award in Teamwork from St. Luke’s University Health Network during a ceremony at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks May 9.

Thatcher, a Cedar Crest College nursing student, is a patient care assistant at St. Luke’s Anderson campus. He was nominated for the award by a registered nurse on his floor and was later notified that he had been selected as the winner by Darla Frack, St. Luke’s vice president of patient care services.

“Darla, who is a Cedar Crest graduate, called a number of us to the nurse’s station to make the announcement,” Thatcher said. “To be recognized by my hospital is such an honor, and I have to thank the amazing team of nurses, PCAs, doctors and other professionals I work with who help me provide the best possible care to my patients.”

Thatcher made the decision to pursue a career in nursing after watching his father, a former steelworker, earn a nursing degree in 2004. Thatcher also worked with a male nurse at Gracedale Nursing Home who helped to guide his career and reaffirmed his decision to apply to Cedar Crest College.

“The influence from these two people, combined with my desire to care for people, is what keeps me on my path to obtain my nursing degree,” Thatcher said. “The Cedar Crest faculty and my clinical group have also been amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Thatcher expects to graduate from Cedar Crest College in 2019 and continue to gain experience in his position at St. Luke’s. Eventually, he’d like to become a nurse practitioner in cardiology. Thatcher is the father of two girls, and his fiancé is a registered nurse as well.

Located in Allentown, Cedar Crest College was selected as a Top Regional College and Best Value in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings from 2012-2018 and Best College for Veterans in 2015, 2016 and 2018. In addition, Cedar Crest was ranked by College Choice as the number 12 best women’s college in 2016 and 2017, and the School of Adult and Graduate Education was named a top 50 school for adult education by Best College Reviews in 2015 and 2017. In 2018, the college was ranked fifth in the northeast for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal. Founded in 1867, Cedar Crest currently enrolls approximately 1,700 students - full-time, part-time and graduate - in more than 50 fields of study.

University of Findlay

Kenley Rogers, of Bath, recently participated in the University of Findlay’s 2018 Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity. Rogers was also named to the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 310, a freshman honor.

Held on campus, undergraduate and graduate students were given the opportunity to share their research, creativity and professional learning experiences with the university and community. Many students received honors during the symposium’s awards ceremony.

Located in Findlay, Ohio, the University of Findlay is known not only for science, health professions, animal science and equestrian studies programs, but also for cultivating the next generation of business leaders, educators and innovative thinkers through a dedication to experiential learning, both in and outside of the classroom. Established in 1882 through a joint partnership between the Churches of God, General Counsel and the City of Findlay, the University of Findlay has nearly 60 majors leading to baccalaureate degrees and offers 11 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees. More than 3,800 students are enrolled at Findlay, and the university is nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review.

Wilkes University

Wilkes University electrical and mechanical engineering majors presented their senior projects and demonstrated them at an April 28 event. It was attended by faculty, friends and family. Engineering students in the university’s college of science and engineering must complete a senior project as part of the requirements to receive their degrees.

Danielsville: Daniel Frack presented “Electronically Controlled Airflow Management.”

Northampton: Kendrick Schell presented “Electronically Controlled Airflow Management,” and Michael Henne presented “Pro Set - Volleyball Launcher.”

Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large research university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. In addition to 43 undergraduate majors, Wilkes offers the doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education and doctor of pharmacy degrees and more than a dozen master’s degree programs, including the master of business administration and master of fine arts in creative writing.

Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College held its annual honors convocation designed to honor and celebrate leadership and scholarly excellence and achievement April 29. The awards recognize select members of the faculty and student body for their contributions to the college, to their peers and to their disciplines.

Andrew Rice, of Catasauqua, Class of 2019, received the Alphonse C. Lova Memorial Award. This is given to a rising senior majoring in chemistry and planning a career in medical research.

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private, four-year residential, liberal arts college located in Allentown. With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, as well as selected pre-professional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health.

Lebanon Valley College

Tori Ward, of Whitehall, received the Student Leader of the Year award at the Student Affairs Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony at Lebanon Valley College. Ward is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in audio and music production and business administration.

Lebanon Valley College 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 1,624 full-time undergraduate students and 118 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 95 clubs and organizations and 19 study abroad programs.

Coastal Carolina University

Meghan Shafer, of Bath, was among the approximately 1,183 students eligible to walk in Coastal Carolina University’s graduation exercises. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. The graduation exercises were held on campus at the HTC Student Recreation Center and Convocation Center in three separate ceremonies May 4-5.

Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Coastal Carolina University offers baccalaureate degrees in 74 major fields of study. Among CCU’s 21 graduate-level programs are 18 master’s degrees, two educational specialist degrees and the Ph.D. in marine science including coastal and marine systems science. The most popular undergraduate majors are marine science, management, exercise and sport science, communication and psychology. CCU boasts a growing array of internship, research and international opportunities for students, as well as numerous online programs through Coastal Online.

Bloomsburg University

Rachel Heimbach, of Northampton, was recently initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Heimbach was initiated at Bloomsburg University and is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be 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 may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

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.”

GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Brianna Jones, of Walnutport, won the Clinical Scholar Award at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s May 5 awards ceremony. The Clinical Scholar Award is presented to the fourth-year medical student with the highest achievement in the clinical years (years three and four).

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is a member of the Geisinger family. Geisinger Commonwealth offers a community-based model of medical education with campuses in Danville, Doylestown, Scranton, Sayre and Wilkes-Barre. Geisinger Commonwealth offers doctor of medicine and master of biomedical sciences degrees. The college’s innovative curriculum, focused on caring for people in the context of their lives and their community, attracts the next generation of physicians and scientists from within its 17-county region in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania, as well as from across the state and the nation. Geisinger Commonwealth is committed to nondiscrimination in all employment and educational opportunities.

Lehigh University

Ryan Bonshak, of Whitehall, won both the James J. Duance III Student Life Leadership Award and the Allegiance Award at Lehigh University.

The James J. Duane III Student Life Leadership Award is given to seniors in recognition of extraordinary performance as a student leader. The following areas are used as a basis for evaluating outstanding performance: overall impact on Lehigh students, program development and implementation, bridging cultural differences and student governance by taking a role to improve student, faculty and staff interactions.

Lehigh University’s Allegiance Award is presented to seniors to recognize their dedication and continuous improvement focused within a specific organization. Outstanding performance in this area includes the senior’s impact on the organization, being an organizational member for a substantial portion of their time at Lehigh, serving in a variety of roles within the organization and being instrumental in overall organizational management such as visioning, goal setting and yearly transition for the organization.

For more than 150 years, Lehigh University (lehigh.edu) has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. The institution is among the nation’s most selective, highly ranked private research universities. Lehigh’s four colleges - college of arts and sciences, college of business and economics, college of education and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science - provide opportunities to 7,000 students to discover and grow in a learning community that promotes interdisciplinary programs with real-world experience.

Wilkes University

Wilkes University student Alexis Morgan, of Walnutport, was one of more than 95 students, faculty and staff recognized at the extracurricular awards luncheon for their contributions to activities outside the classroom. Morgan received the Resident Assistant, Graduating Seniors recognition presented by the office of residence life.

Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to excellence through mentoring in liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities by offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large, research university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small, liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. In addition to 43 undergraduate majors, Wilkes offers the doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education and doctor of pharmacy degrees and more than a dozen master’s degree programs, including the master of business administration and master of fine arts in creative writing.