Worcester State University honored more than 60 outstanding students and two distinguished faculty members during the annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony on April 23.
In opening remarks, Board of Trustees Chair Lisa Colombo ’87 noted that this year’s awardees have joined a “proud tradition of academic achievement that spans generations.”
“Each award carries a story,” she said. “A story of a student’s hard work, dedication and talent. A story of faculty mentorship and family support. A story that connects our students to our donors, some of whom were once Worcester State students themselves and are now giving back.”
The student awards, given by the university with financial support from donors to the Worcester State Foundation, celebrated a wide range of accomplishments across disciplines and backgrounds.
The evening started with the prestigious university awards, which were given to four students for their accomplishments in both academia and community involvement.
Senior nursing major and Spanish for health professions minor Erin Condon won the Ella M. Whitney Award. The prize recognizes scholarship, social aptitude, personality, leadership, executive ability, growth, loyalty, integrity, and participation in school activities. A member of the Commonwealth Honors Program and Chi Alpha Sigma Student-Athlete Honor Society, Condon was recognized at the ceremony for her research on post-partum depression and mother-infant bonding.
Alexa James, a sophomore computer science major with minors in urban studies and theater, was honored with the Ellen Meyers Memorial Award. The award is given to an undergraduate student with disabilities who is actively engaged on campus or in their community. James was noted for her involvement with the Urban Studies Club, the Black Student Union, and five theater productions, as well as for her computer science research.
Senior psychology major and sociology minor Hannah Almeida was given the John F. Eager Continuing Education Excellence Award. Named for a former Worcester State biology professor and established in his memory, the award is given to the undergraduate evening program senior who has the highest overall GPA.
Finally, Maverick Margraf, a junior criminal justice major with minors in geography and homeland security, was recognized with the Negron Cruz-Audet LGBTQ+ Academic Excellence Award. The award is given to a student who identifies as LGBTQ+ and who has an excellent academic record. Margraf was noted for his involvement with the Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association.
The ceremony concluded with the awarding of the prestigious [1]Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan ’55 USMC Ret., Academic Excellence Awards, which recognize the highest achieving full-time students in each undergraduate class.
In addition to the student honors, two faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to teaching. Professor of Psychology Dr. Champika Soysa and Professor of Earth, Environment, & Physics Dr. Anne Armstrong each received a George I. Alden Excellence in Teaching Award.
In closing remarks, Provost Lois Wims praised the gathered students’ talent, motivation and hard work, noting each was poised to “take what [they] have learned at Worcester State beyond our Tiffany gates and into the world.” “May your leadership, your ability to think critically and solve problems and your commitment to excellence guide you forward,” she said.
Following is the complete list of students who won departmental awards at the ceremony.
Juliana Ortiz Herrera, Bollus Lynch Accounting Award
Thuy Ngo, George and Sheila Tetler Award in Business Administration
Angelina Saris-Coburn, Raj-Mahendra Jain Business Administration Award
Jennifer Lopez, Godfrin Family Communication Award
Bromly Domingo, Matt Wright ’10 Media Production Award
Tomas Pinzon Espinosa, Tarmey Family Endowed Communication Award
Hannah Klapper, Central Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Spirit of Service Award
Ayaan Chaudhry, Kurt Correia ’16 Criminal Justice Award
Karlie Jandrow, Vanessa Dunn Memorial Criminal Justice Award
Samantha Murphy, Worcester State Foundation Award in English
Alek Poirier, Professor Cheng and Christina Yuan History Award
Zachary Rich, Ronald R. Valerio ’75 Award in History
Ryan Franklin, Thomas M. McNamara ’94 Award in Political Science
Liam Walsh, Beth Axelson ’70 Psychology Award
Samuel DeHoyos, Faith T. Zeadey Memorial Sociology Award
Benjamin Barter, Dr. Vincent E. “Jake” Powers Urban Studies Award
Hira Rizvi, Maureen Power Service Award
Abby Rickert, Schwartz Charitable Foundation Urban Studies Award
Rhiannon Mansur, George and Sheila Tetler Award in Art
Lys Peppler, Malcolm Gordon Memorial Visual and Performing Arts Award
Amalie Deshais, Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Art Award
Roan Testa, Worcester State Foundation Award in Theater
Nathalia Bicknell, Ann M. O’Leary 1960 Memorial Award in Spanish Translation
Mehilyn Polanco, Dr. Dorothy A. Escribano Spanish Award
Samantha Murphy, Worcester State Foundation Award in Spanish
Hien Nguyen, Dr. Anthony Thurston Biology Award
Grace Balzanelli, Dr. Marlin B. Kreider Biology Award
Nicolas Vanegas, Dr. Maureen ’80 and Edward Shamgochian Biology Award
Sajah Raouf, Lincoln Donohue ’98 Memorial Biotechnology Award
Yuliya Krupnik, Worcester State Foundation Award in Biotechnology
Christian Biadasz, Dr. Maureen ’80 and Edward Shamgochian Chemistry Award
Kyle McGown, Worcester State Foundation Award in Chemistry
Zachary Stomski, Worcester State Foundation Award in Computer Science
Rowan Buck, Dr. Earl B. Shaw Geography Award
Cailey Ryan, Worcester State Foundation Award in Environmental Science
Emma Heintz, Worcester State Foundation Award in Public Health
Kyle DiPilato, Dr. Richard Bisk Mathematics Teaching Award
Quinn Trumbull-Olsen, Worcester State Foundation Award in Mathematics
Isabella Capuano, Anne “Annie” Dolan ’13 Nursing Award for Compassion
Jaime Allard-Smith, Dr. Jean and Michael Campaniello Nursing Award
Stacy Asante, Dr. Paula L. Dufresne-Sullivan ’86 Humanitarian Nursing Award
Emma Heintz, Eileen Bolesky Award in Nursing
Yolanda Boakye, Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital Award for Nursing Clinical Excellence
Lily Bartelloni, Robyn Leo Memorial Nursing Award
Julia Shanoudy, I. Robert and Aviva Freelander Occupational Therapy Award
Carissa McKee, Honorable John J. Binienda Sr. Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Award
Kylie McCarthy, Sherrie (Lyonnais) McNamara ’95, MS-SLP ’97 Award in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
June Wholey, Worcester State University Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association Award
Evangilina Melendez, Barbara E. Waters ’50 Memorial Award for Aspiring Kindergarten Educators
Madison McCarthy, Class of 1952 Endowed Elementary Education Award
Joshua Olson, Donald Cousineau ’57, M.Ed. ’60 and Elaine (Curran) Cousineau ’57, M.Ed. ’60 Elementary Education Award
Emma Estepp, Dorothy J. Hargrove ’63 Early Childhood Education Award
Reece Waterman, Douglas R. “Duke” Dawson Science Education Award
Paige Coski, Eleanor Dragonetti ’52 Memorial Award in Education Studies
Avery Dow, Helen Shaughnessy Elementary Education Award
Johnathon Beford, Lillian C. and George H. Albro ’65 Education Award
Lauren Olson, Madelin A. Wilmarth Early Childhood Education Award
Olivia Ure, Ruth Cohen Blumsack Early Childhood Education Award
Natalie Dymerski, Helen Hirshberg Barron Award in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Sofia Haydee Silva-Rosa, Robert H. Kyle Award for Excellence in Liberal Studies