Pennsylvania State University

Nguyen inducted into honor society

Kien Nguyen, 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. Nguyen was initiated at Pennsylvania State University.

Nguyen is among approximately 25,000 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% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10% 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 undergraduate student 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 325 campuses in the United States, its territories 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.”

Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated into Phi Kappa Phi. Some of the organization’s notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.3 million to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

Des Moines Area Community College

Swisher graduates

Nearly 2,000 students graduated in the spring semester from Des Moines Area Community College’s Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban and West campuses. Among them was Christopher Swisher, of Coplay, receiving a degree in Homeland Security.

DMACC is one of America’s top-rated two-year institutions of higher learning. DMACC is dedicated to changing lives by offering an accessible, affordable and outstanding educational experience to students from across Iowa and the nation.

Situated in one of the country’s most vibrant regions, DMACC is proud to welcome students of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs to a diverse and inclusive college community. DMACC offers 10 career pathways, which encompass more than 220 credit and noncredit programs, degrees and certificates available to students. Each year, DMACC serves approximately 55,000 students across the college’s six campuses and seven learning centers and through DMACC Online. Students from every state in the nation and 41 countries now attend DMACC. Our talented graduates excel in the workforce and in life.

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg

Students earn degrees

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg congratulates more than 1,600 students who graduated during the spring 2024 semester.

Bath: Tyrus Bahrman, magna cum laude; Madison Miranda; Autumn Orlando, cum laude

Cherryville: Brady Rimple, magna cum laude

Coplay: Lindsey Hujsa, cum laude; Logan Merkle, cum laude

Northampton: Tyler Walling, cum laude

Whitehall: Joshua Bogensberger; Braeden Flannery; Taylor Levan, cum laude; Michelle Silva

SUNY-Purchase College

Students named to dean’s list

Purchase College announced more than 1,300 students were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester. Among them were Beatrice Breininger, of Coplay, and Keven Eugene, of Whitehall.

Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher and taken a minimum of 12 credits. For Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs, a semester GPA of 3.5 is required. For Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music programs, a semester GPA of 3.75 is required.

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College, SUNY, is a community of students, faculty and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity.

Widener University

Bensinger, Hazim graduate

Widener University celebrated the achievements of 1,186 Chester campus graduates in five ceremonies held on Memorial Field between May 14 and 16. Two local graduates were Victoria Bensinge, of Northampton, who earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy in physical therapy, and Hadil Hazim, of Whitehall, who earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering.

Graduates from the schools of business, nursing, engineering, arts and sciences, health and human services and center for graduate and continuing studies individually crossed the stage and were congratulated by President Stacey Robertson as they received a symbolic representation of their degrees. Robertson spoke at each ceremony, along with the respective leaders of the schools, colleges or program being celebrated and reflected on what it means to flourish in life. Graduates hailed from 14 countries, including Ghana, India, Greece, South Africa, and Turks and Caicos, and 37 states, including Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon and Utah.

Widener University is a private institution known for its commitment to the personal and professional success of every student, where academic experiences are distinguished by excellence and students develop the leadership qualities employers seek. Core values of respect, integrity and excellence are reflected in an outstanding student experience provided through an agile, innovative and inclusive approach to learning. Industry-shaping faculty provide close, personal mentorship and share powerful connections that help students build professional networks.

Recognized as one of the Philadelphia region’s leading universities, Widener offers programs and experiences that empower our community of learners to discover and create better futures as scholars, leaders and globally engaged citizens.

Kutztown University

Degrees recipients announced

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for nearly 1,100 students for the 2024 spring semester. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The following students have been awarded degrees following the 2024 spring semester.

The cumulative GPA necessary for honors distinction is with honor (cum laude), 3.4; with high honor (magna cum laude), 3.6; and with highest honor (summa cum laude), 3.8.

Bath: Tyler J. Bell, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance; Paige A. Mathur, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Gillian J. Rogerson, Bachelor of Science in education; Danielle Paige Rumore, Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling; Justin William Smith, Master of Education in secondary education (curriculum and instruction)

Catasauqua: Sammy Dari Flores-Villa, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance; Abdiel Omar Montalvo Santiago, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Bachelor of Arts in communication studies; Mason John Schlofer, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance

Coplay: Brianna Dirnbeck, Master of Science in school counseling (licensure); Amel Elsheakh, Master of Education in secondary education; Lindsey M. Heberling, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Destiny Milagros Rosario, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; Christina Slivinski, Master of Science in school counseling (licensure)

Danielsville: Haley M. Morales, Bachelor of Science in special education

Northampton: Corinne M. Benner, Bachelor of Fine Arts in animated arts; Patrick Perrin, Bachelor of Science in computer science; Elisa Anna Rivera, Master of Social Work; Jared M. Russell, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice

Walnutport: Michael William Seidick, Bachelor of Science in cinema, television and media production

Whitehall: Britney Burro, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Ashley Cosme, Master of Science in school counseling (licensure); Ella T. Holmes, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance and marketing; Logan Kester, Bachelor of Science in cinema, television and media production; Juno Krafchek, Bachelor of Science in education; Makaela M. Letayf, Bachelor of Science in elementary education; Tiffany Ray, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Rosetta Angela Teutonico, Bachelor of Science in education; Henri Toussaint, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in supply chain management and finance; Thao Thanh Tran, Bachelor of Science in business administration; Kadisha Vallejo, Bachelor of Science in geology; Matthew L. Ziminsky, Bachelor of Science in elementary education

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 beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County.

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 130 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. To complement their studies, KU’s NCAA Division II athletics program with 22 varsity sports joins the more than 160 student clubs and organizations providing students with a variety of activities for learning and discovery.

University of Maryland Global Campus

Fry earns degree

Justin Fry, of Northampton, earned a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity technology, magna cum laude, from University of Maryland Global Campus in spring 2024. Fry was one of more than 14,000 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC in the 2023-24 academic year.

Graduates came from all 50 states, three U.S. territories and 24 countries.

University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago, specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military service members. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide and more than 125 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of a state university and the University System of Maryland.

University of Tampa

Young-Holley named to dean’s list

Angeleta Young-Holley, of Northampton, earned dean’s list honors at University of Tampa for the spring 2024 semester. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher to be eligible for this honor.

Young-Holley was admitted to the Asian studies program at Kansai Gaidai University for the fall semester of 2024 in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, through the affiliate program from the University of Tampa. She was also warded the NASFA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to only 96 recipients to study abroad and gain valuable experiences that will prepare them for the increasingly global environment into which they will graduate. In addition, she was inducted into Tri Alpha First Generation Honor Society, Lambda Iota chapter, which promotes academic excellence and provides opportunities for growth, leadership development and community service for first-generation college students.

The University of Tampa is a private, comprehensive university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the university has about 200 programs of study and serves more than 11,000 students from 50 states and most of the world’s countries.