Worcester State honors seven undergraduates with prestigious Sheehan Award

Worcester State University honored seven of its highest-achieving students with Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan ’55, USMC Ret., Academic Excellence Awards on April 24, as part of the annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony.

The Sheehan Awards recognize the student or students with the highest GPA in each undergraduate class. The prize’s namesake, who passed away in 2016, was the most generous benefactor in Worcester State’s history, sharing $4.5 million to benefit students and faculty. 

We checked in with this year’s winners to learn more about their experiences, interests, and goals. 

Senior Academic Excellence Award

Andja Kola ’25: A psychology and liberal studies major (pre-med concentration) with a minor in Spanish, Kola is originally from Albania but has lived in Worcester since moving to the United States. She is involved with many honor societies, serves as president of Active Minds Club, a Spanish tutor for the Spanish Clinic, and as a volunteer ESL teacher at the Worcester Refugee Assistance Program. 

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? I have enjoyed every moment at Worcester State. One of the best things that has happened to me here is my work as a research assistant. For the past two years, I have been working for and with Dr. Benjamin Jee and Dr. Sarah Eagan in their separate labs and numerous simultaneous projects in the field of psychology. Working beside them has taught me a lot about research, from project ideation to data collection, coding, analysis, and results presentation for both qualitative and quantitative research studies. They are also helping me ideate and bring to life personal projects of mine, with the goal of publishing them in student journals in the field. I do not think I would have had all these research opportunities and the chance to work closely with such stellar professors if it weren’t for Worcester State.

What motivates you to excel academically? One of the biggest components of my academic success is the amount of opportunities I have been presented with thus far, such as doing work-study in a reputable office, tutoring in a subject I did well in, getting involved in research labs and gaining the hands-on experience research requires, presenting my work at many conferences, and completing trainings. Not only is one given all the tools and preparation to try out many things, but, also, effort and dedication are rewarded. With the proper tools and help from the professors and the university, the future seems brighter and more like something to look forward to. Another motivator for my academic results is my support system: my mom, my brother, and my friends. Although I’m not able to spend as much time as I would want to with them due to school and work, my grades and success are a way to pay off their sacrifices, love, and constant support of me and my career. 

What are your career aspirations? I aspire to get into an M.D./Ph.D. program and eventually become a psychiatrist. In particular, I aspire to use the preparation in the field to assist reparation programs and aid provided in cases of international conflict, specifically offering psychiatric assistance to populations involved in conflict. 

 

Junior Academic Excellence Awards 

Karlie Jandrow ’26: Jandrow, who is from Bellingham, Mass., is a criminal justice major with minors in psychology and addictions counseling and is active in the Worcester State Dance Team.

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? Being a student here at Worcester State has been a journey for me,

academically and socially, as it is the place that challenges me to succeed in my education, and where I hope to meet long term friends. I have made meaningful connections with professors and peers who challenged and inspired me. Engaging in deep discussions, collaborating on projects, and pushing my intellectual limits has made learning feel exciting and transformative. Woo State has also allowed me to continue my love for dance, as I am part of the Worcester State Dance Team and have been dancing for over 17 years.

What motivates you to excel academically? I have this desire for personal growth, and overcoming challenges within my courses pushes me to stay dedicated. I value opportunities that academic success can offer, such as scholarships, future career goals, and making a meaningful impact on the world. I also believe in hard work and that if you put your mind to something and complete it, no matter how big or small, that it is the best motivation and reward you can ask for.

What are your career aspirations? After graduating from Worcester State next year, I hope to be starting graduate school in clinical counseling to help reach my goal of becoming an addictions counselor. With a major in criminal justice, my end goal is to be a correctional counselor in a county jail or state prison, as most individuals in jails and prisons are there as the result of drug and alcohol use. I want to be able to help those individuals overcome their challenges with substance use disorders, as everyone deserves another chance to succeed. Everyone deserves a chance to receive help in maintaining their sobriety. 

Anna Riley ’26: A mathematics major from Grafton, Mass., Riley is minoring in computer science and is active on campus as a summer math tutor and a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program. 

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? The support provided by Worcester State makes success more achievable. The staff encourages and motivates me, and the walk-in hours for some of the student services make it easy to get help when I need it.

What motivates you to excel academically? I have always challenged myself to do the best I can. I get a sense of accomplishment through seeing my hard work pay off.

What are your career aspirations? Besides relating to my major, I do not have a solid idea of what I want to do in the future. Right now, I’m trying to build a strong foundation through strengthening my skills and gaining experience.

 

Sophomore Academic Excellence Awards 

Zachary Goddard ’27: A member of the Commonwealth Honors Program at Worcester State, Goddard is a computer science major with a

double minor in composition and music technology. He is from Uxbridge, Mass.

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? The best part of my Worcester State experience has been the courses and faculty. The passion that the professors have for their classes and students is contagious. It has been hard to find a class that I, too, have not been passionate about. The knowledge that I have gained, the experiences I have had, and the amount that I have grown since becoming a Worcester State student cannot be overstated, largely thanks to the amazing faculty.

What motivates you to excel academically? There are many things that motivate me to excel academically. First, my parents raised me

to work hard and give an honest effort to everything I do. Second, I am driven to do well so I can have a successful career and have better opportunities moving forward. Last, I am a first-generation college student and never thought I was going to attend college, so I try to take advantage of every moment I have here.

What are your career aspirations? I currently work in healthcare IT and would like to continue moving forward in that field. I want to work in information security and help healthcare organizations protect their most valuable data. In such a critical field, it is essential to protect patient and company information so nobody has to worry about having their sensitive data leaked. To accomplish this, I would like to pursue a graduate degree to expand my knowledge further, to best fulfill my future roles in healthcare IT. 

Melina Sako ’27: An economics major and chemistry minor, Sako has a pre-med concentration. She lives in Worcester and is originally from Albania. 

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? The best part about my Woo experience has been meeting my best friend and boyfriend, which has made my experience a lot better.

What motivates you to excel academically? What motivates me to excel academically is keeping a good GPA in order to get into medical school.

What are your career aspirations? Getting into medical school is my career aspiration. 

 

First-Year Academic Excellence Awards 

Gaetcheena G. Cyril ’28: Cyril, who is from Carrefour, Haiti, is a biology major and is active in the Fiber Arts Circle on campus.  

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? The best part of my Woo State experience has been meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and experiencing campus life. Here at Worcester State University, I have met people from different cultural backgrounds, and I have also learned from them. Living on campus has been one of my best choices because it fosters in me a sense of responsibility and engagement in my community. Living on my own has also helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses as a person. 

What motivates you to excel academically? Part of what motivates me to excel academically is the language barrier. As an immigrant student for less than two years, I feel it is necessary to do the best I can in order to stay on top of things. Having graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA proved to me that I have the potential to overcome any challenge that comes my way. This encouraged me to work even harder as I transferred from high school to college. I always keep in mind that the harder the situation becomes, the greater the success will be. My desire to reach my goals also fuels my motivation to excel academically. 

What are your career aspirations? I aspire to become a pediatric neurologist. I have always dreamed of becoming a doctor, especially a pediatrician, since I was 8 years old. As I grow, this dream becomes coupled with my curiosity about how early brain development affects children. By combining my passion, knowledge, and skills, I want to play a significant role for children who have ADHD, chronic neurological conditions, and possibly mental health issues. I remain confident that they deserve a healthy childhood, and this is what I am aiming for.

 

Larissa Granger ’28: A biology major from Hudson, Mass., Granger is a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program at Worcester State.

What’s been the best part of your Woo State experience? The best part of my Woo State experience so far has been the small class sizes and the amazing professors that I’ve had.

What motivates you to excel academically? I’ve always tried to do my best. I also love learning about new things.

What are your career aspirations? I’m currently undecided about what career path I want to pursue.

 

Top image: President Maloney and Andja Kola at the Academic Achievement Awards, photo by Veronica Jay