Lackawanna College held commencement ceremonies for 241 students on Saturday, May 19, in the Mellow Theater on the college's Scranton campus. The graduating class was one of the largest since Lackawanna College was authorized to award associate degrees by the Department of Education in 1957.

Brenda Gael McSweeney, Ph.D., educator, economist and former United Nations executive, was the principal speaker at the 113th commencement which began at 1:30 p.m. She spoke of the journey that each of the graduates would make through life and the need to close some of the gaps in the world’s social fabric, especially in the areas of education, wages and civic responsibility.

Lackawanna College bestowed an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, on Dr. McSweeney noting that she “ has opened up new horizons for the betterment of man- and womankind.” The citation further declared that Dr. Fitzsimmons has “worked to ease the burdens of those who face each day not knowing whether there will be enough to eat, a warm place to lay their heads, medicine to heal their wounds, work to provide sustenance or a night without terror and killing.”

In addition to Dr. McSweeney, Lackawanna's President Raymond S. Angeli and Dr. Midori Yamanouchi, Vice President for Academic Affairs, offered remarks. Noelle K. McKay of Harveys Lake presented the valedictory address as the class representative. Ms. McKay, a Human Services major, graduated Summa Cum Laude.

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the college's highest honor, the Seeley Distinguished Service Medal. The award was given to the Honorable Chester T. Harhut, President Judge of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and a Lackawanna College alumnus who has served as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees. The medal was presented by President Angeli. It was noted during the ceremony that “Judge Harhut’s work in the courts and in the community has greatly assisted an untold number of area residents. Caring and compassion have been the hallmarks of all his efforts. His distinguished career does honor to his alma mater and serves to once more illustrate the quality of Lackawanna College graduates.”

Gerald Langan delivered the Trustees' Message and Annmarie Kiehart, President of the Alumni Society, delivered the Alumni Message and inducted the graduates into the Alumni Association. Awards and scholarships were presented by the president and by Academic Dean Frank Goskowski together with division chairs Emelia Angeli, Dr. Sharon Nazarchuk, Joseph Gilroy, Dr. William J. Tarutis and Stephanie McDaniels.

The academic procession was led by faculty members Dawn Mizwinski-Wesley and Anthony DiMattia, with Barry Staples serving as Mace Bearer. Reverend Frank Twardzik, Pastor, St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Scranton, offered the invocation and benediction. Clark Luis sang the National Anthem. A string trio consisting of Kadie Krempasky, Claire Sever and Mary Kay Kuzma played prior to the ceremony. Jennie Pitkus served as organist.

The presentation of diplomas and certificates was made by President Angeli, Dean Goskowski and college Registrar Theresa Scopelliti.

The members of the graduating class receiving Associate in Arts Degrees were:

COMMUNICATIONS-MEDIA STUDIES -- Dana Lynn Gehling, Avoca; Corey Kime, Scranton.

COMMUNICATIONS - MEDIA TECHNOLOGY -- Antoine Cilk Blake, Taniment; Luke Chesniak, Old Forge; Kevn J. Chuff, Olyphant; Joshua M. Straub, Quakertown; Alton Williams, Jr., Philadelphia.

COMMUNICATIONS - THEATER ARTS -- Tiffany Ann Fasulo, Scranton; James William Hart, Dunmore; Jamel A. Karim, Scranton; Breanne Van Fleet, Scranton.

HUMANITIES -- Brenda K. Wallace, Lake Ariel.

The members of the graduating class receiving Associate in Applied Science Degrees were:

ACCOUNTING -- Robert Bollinger, Jr., Simpson; Stephanie J. Canfield, Wyalusing; Alicia Marie DeAngelo, Taylor; Kaaren L. Keener, Towanda; Carissa N. Kiehart, Mayfield; Michael Joseph Padula, Lake Ariel; Roxanne V. Seymour, Scranton; Eric Matthew Shannon, Sayre; Kruti Shah, Scranton; Donna Jean Slater, Ulster; Carrie Theresa Timm, Honesdale.

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL ULTRASOUND -- Melissa Hand, Archbald; Christopher M. LaSavage, Carbondale; Gail A. Moyer, Blakely; Diane Stelma, Hughestown; Tara Ann Zulkoski-Sterling, Hanover Twp.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES -- Cyrus J. Matthews, Hackettstown, NJ.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION -- Alonna A. Jennings, Canton; Suzanne M. Mahoney, New Albany.

PARALEGAL STUDIES -- Jennifer A. Brode, Peachtree City, GA; Amanda Marie Byron, Scranton; Kathleen A. Nichols, Scranton; Ayanna Raye Reid, Scranton.

VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY -- Fontayne Danielle Armitage, Mehoopany; Eric J. Barron, Scranton; Eve Leah Bauer, Quakertown; Destyne Ann Baum, Pittston; Elizabeth Lillian Bidwell, Scranton; Anne Bouttavong, Scranton; Matthew F. Dutka, Olyphant; Sara Marie Fitzgerald, Lake Ariel; Danielle Samantha Healey, Eynon; Pamela Hudson, Carbondale; LeiAnne Piccoletti, Taylor; Ronald C. Russo, Jr., Clarks Summit; Margaret Elizabeth Spager, Dunmore; Tiffany C. Walsh, Factoryville; Dana Marie Willson, Scranton; Michael C. Zaladonis, Jr., Taylor.

The members of the graduating class receiving Associate in Science Degrees were:

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -- Diane Angeli, Peckville; Jeannie Lyn Boots, Waymart; Tabitha Brooke Berkosky, Dickson City; Kevin Conner, Richmond, VA; Christopher Decker, Kingston; Tyrone Miles Dorsey, Union, NJ; Linda Louise Fisher, New Albany; Gregory Timothy Forde, Scranton; Lauren A. Franko, Lake Winola; Kaaren L. Keener, Towanda; Laurie Kriner, Towanda; Jennifer Marie Lawrence, Scranton; Angela K. Miszler, Hawley; Geraldine Ann Naugle, Blakely; Kellyn Eleyse Nolan, Waymart; Nicole O’Heren, Shohola; Jordan Palmer, Wysox; Leonard Patrick, Edwardsville; Heather N. Place, Towanda; Mahota R. Reed, Honesdale; Madelyn E. Salaman, Scranton; Stacey Sedlak, Peckville; Eric Matthew Shannon, Sayre; Carrie Theresa Timm, Honesdale; Katrina Lynn Vosburg, Milan; Kristin Ann White, Scranton; Robert J. Yesnowski, Duryea.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - SPORT MANAGEMENT -- Harold Bent, Windsor, CT; Clifford J. Bonhomme, Jamaica, NY; Richard Allan Breymier, Jr., Clarks Summit; Quinzel E. Chestnut, Williamsburg, VA; Jessica Lynn Cortazar, Throop; Robert J. Gatz, Scranton; Nicholas Gentilezza, Scranton; Jonathan J. Gonzalez, Clifton, NJ; Ryne Mailen, Moscow; Deon D. Peters, Pasadena, MD; Daniel L. Walters, Dunmore; Ryan Wasko, Scranton.

BUSINESS STUDIES -- Brett E. Arnold, Langhorne; Amber Lynn Augelli, Scranton; Sandra S. Avery, Scranton; Constance R. Beck, Beach Lake; Robert Bollinger, Jr., Simpson; Justin Wayne Brown, Surfside Beach, SC; Kevin Garland, Horsham; Montel Glasco, Westfield, NJ; Stephanie Lynn Granville, Browndale; Reginald A. Harrison, Jr., North Wales; Brandon Jarrod Henderson, Powhaton, VA; Antoine Holmes, Williamsburg, VA; Francene Kresge Malinoski, Scranton; Shana Jennifer McAlmont, Towanda; Shane McAndrew, Clarks Summit; Scott J. McNeil, Sayre; Oliver McNeil, Sarasota, FL; Robert J. Meredith, Brooklyn, NY; Karli Musheno, Scranton; Adeeba Sonita Qahar, Scranton; Raymond Ramirez, Clifton, NJ; Diane J. Raub, Kingsley; Andrew Rescigno, Lake Ariel; Michelle Smith, Scranton; Nathan J. Trolio, Avoca; Barry L. Worthy, Newark, DE; Zachary Charles Zschunke, Weatherly.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS -- Melissa Jane Figliomeni, Moscow; John A. Helmke, Mansfield; Sheila Lynn Litzenbauer, Honesdale; Michael Munley, Clarks Summit; Thomas L. Myers, Jr., Rome; Bradley Rivera, Factoryville; Jonathan Vanness, Waverly.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE – COUNSELING -- Carissa Marie Abda, Dunmore; Ekaterina Anuchina, Honesdale; Carlos Barthelemy, Irvington, NJ; Ashlee N. Bobich, Factoryville; Jennifer A. Bojarsky, Archbald; Stephanie Elizabeth Clifford, Scranton; Una Alexandra David, Scranton; Ivan R. De Irish, Bridgeport, CT; Curt Lee Gardner, Jr., Towanda; Marisa Rose Gilchrist, Moosic; Brenda Sue Kellogg, Lake Ariel; Jamie Lynn Mousley, Honesdale; Kenneth Quinones, Dover, NJ; Jessica Lynn Walker, Scranton; Amanda White, Scranton; Lori Golden-White, Scranton.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE - COUNSELING/ACT120 -- Sarah Michelle Kosek, Forty Fort; Nilda Evelyn Perez, Scranton.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE – POLICE -- Brandon W. Bell, Taylor; Courtenay McMillan Clark, Sayre; Dennis J. Hoffman, Jr., Taylor; Kyle Robert Popish, Scranton.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE - POLICE/ACT120 -- Ashley Nicole Gallup, Frackville; Paul Jacob Kattner, Jim Thorpe; James Thomas Kennedy, Hazleton; John Kudasik, Hazleton; Marissa Petruce, Freeland; Jeffrey M. Turse, Hazleton.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION -- Shanon M. Bembenek, Scranton; Dayna Marion Bossard, Clarks Summit; April M. Cardamone, Towanda; Bettina A. Campbell, Old Forge; Deborah Anne Chandler, Scranton; Penelope Fasulo, Scranton; Robyn L. Keeney, Wyalusing; Nicole Marie Kithcart, Monroeton; Laurie A. Krecker, Pleasant Mount; Anita Lee (Ott) Liberatore, Scranton; Patricia Ann May, Granville Summit; Amanda Smith, Olyphant; Kimberly Ann Spencer, Hazleton; Andrea Lyn Stella, Hawley; Anne Frabasilio Swartz, Honesdale; Carla White, Scranton.

EDUCATION -- Cortney Marie Margaret Allen, Montrose; Amanda L. Bugianesi, Duryea; Sean Casey, Old Forge; Ashley Marie Colucci, Honesdale; Breeda Kathleen Cronin, Scranton; Kelsey Lee Gretz, Old Forge; Justin Huffman, Bethany; Ashley Lancia, Dunmore; Megan A. Langlois, Dunmore; Allyson Lynn Miles, Scranton; Corinne Quinn, Gouldsboro; Barbara Marie Reed, Lackawaxen; John William Sanders, Dalton; Meghan Scott, Moscow; Sara Esther Slater, Sayre; Amanda Smith, Olyphant; Anne Frabasilio Swartz, Honesdale; Ashlee Thomas, Moosic; Shanna Ileen Welman, Throop; Emelia Kayte Wilbur, Beach Lake.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES – POLICY -- Michelle LaMay Tufano, Moscow.

HUMAN SERVICES -- Ashley Nicole Bagdonas, Waymart; Luz Leonela Benzan, Hazleton; William H. Blank, Jr., Greenfield Twp.; Tara Cimini, Scranton; Shelly M. Dexter, New Albany; Jenna Marie Doyle, Greenfield; Maria G. Elston, Lakewood; Kim Erickson, Honesdale; Karen Marie Hagerman, Monroeton; Jennifer Ann Hunsinger, Hazleton; Damani Paul Irby, Scranton; Alonna A. Jennings, Canton; Brian L. Johnson, Athens; Elizabeth April Jones, Scranton; Tanya M. Kerrick, Hazleton; Ann-Marie Lawes, Clarks Summit; Holly Wanda Leard, Scranton; Kathleen E. Mahoney, Towanda; Noelle Alexandra McKay, Harveys Lake; Mia Beth Mizwinski, Honesdale; Stacey Joylene Mizwinski, Honesdale; Emily Anne Monczewski, Clarks Summit; Colin Daniel O’Rourke, Greenfield Twp.; Janki Ronak Patel, Scranton; Fany I. Patterson, Hazleton; Nathaniel Lyman Reeve, Towanda; Derek Lee Rivers, Fort Washington, MD; Nyiesha Small, Hazleton; Johanna Suleski, Athens; Andrea Marie Summa, Scranton; Elizabeth A. Trainor, Canton.

LIBERAL STUDIES -- Angel Branch, Taylor; Michael A. Cooke, Brooklyn, NY; Kimberly, C. Dudley, Scranton; Kimberly Ann Good, Greentown; Traci Kate Harte, Clarks Summit; Toriano A. Holiday, West Mifflin; Marcus Mike`L Lemon, Waldorf, MD; Gina LoRusso, Scranton; Mackenzie Malone, Scranton; Lucy A. Mazzenga, Honesdale; Michael J. Miller, Jr., Taylor; Matt Newcomb, Honesdale; Kasie O’Dell, Forest City; Mahota R. Reed, Honesdale; Emily Joann Rumain, Honesdale; Shea Ryan Tierney, Langhorne; Joseph Franklin Todd, Jr., Bear, DE; Christopher A. Tonte, Pittston; Anthony Wood, Blakeslee; Farrah Yanul, Clarks Summit; Meghan Ellen Wall, St. Cloud, FL; Michael Wisneski, Blakely.

LIFE SCIENCE -- Melissa Ann Dutkevitch, Old Forge.

DUAL MAJORS -- Eight students received dual degrees. They are: Robert Bollinger, Jr., Simpson –Accounting and Business Studies; Alonna A. Jennings, Canton – Office Administration and Human Services; Mahota R. Reed, Honesdale – Business Administration and Liberal Studies; Eric Matthew Shannon, Sayre – Accounting and Business Administration; Anne Frabasilio Swartz, Honesdale, and Amanda Smith, Olyphant -- Early Childhood Education and Education; Kaaren L. Keener, Towanda, and Carrie Theresa Timm, Honesdale – Accounting and Business Administration.

The following individuals received certificates:

PARAMEDIC STUDIES -- Aimee Ackley, Jermyn; Sean Casey, Archbald; Kristopher C. Ganz, Throop; Austin J. Schrader, Moscow; Michael Zielinski, Lake Winola.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude were Fontayne Danielle Armitage, Constance R. Beck, Bettina A. Campbell, Stephanie J. Canfield, Pamela J. Hudson, Brian L. Johnson, Brenda S. Kellogg, Kathleen E. Mahoney, Patricia A. May, Noelle A. McKay, Diane J. Raub, Emily J. Rumain, Madelyn E. Salaman, Andrea L. Stella, Diane T. Stelma, Elizabeth A. Trainor, Lori White and Robert J. Yesnowski.

The Magna Cum Laude graduates were Sandra S. Avery, Jeannie L. Boots, Breeda K. Cronin, Kim M. Erickson, Lauren A. Franko, Jennifer A. Hunsinger, Alonna A. Jennings, Paul A. Kattner, Sarah M. Kosek, Laurie A. Krecker, Allyson L. Miles, Angela K. Miszler, Marissa A. Petruce, LeiAnne Piccoletti, Ronald C. Russo, Kimberly A. Spencer and Brenda K. Wallace.

Graduating Cum Laude were Destyne A. Baum, Anne Bouttavong, Ashley M. Colucci, Matthew F. Dutka, Ashley N. Gallup, Kimberly A. Good, Melissa L. Hand, Kaaren L. Keener, Carissa N. Kiehart, Laurie L. Kriner, Suzanne M. Mahoney, Gail A. Moyer, Karli R. Musheno, Kellyn E. Nolan, Donna Slater, Andrea M. Summa, Carrie T. Timm, Katrina L. Vosburg and Michael C. Zaladonis.

Awards presented at the commencement went to: Humanities Division Academic Excellence Award – Emily J. Rumain; Business Division Academic Excellence Award – Constance R. Beck; Mathematics/Computer Information Systems/Science Division Academic Excellence Award – Bradley J. Rivera; Social Sciences Division Academic Excellence Award – Breeda K. Cronin; Allied Health Division Vascular/Sonography Excellence Award – Dana Mills Willson; John H. Seeley Memorial Scholarship – Amanda L. Hottenstein.