Lackawanna College held commencement ceremonies for 253 students on Sunday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. in the Scranton Cultural Center. The graduating class was the largest since Lackawanna College relocated to downtown Scranton in 1996 and one of the largest since the institution was authorized to award associate degrees by the Department of Education in 1957.

His Excellency James Spalding, Paraguayan Ambassador to the United States, was the principal speaker at the 114th commencement. In his remarks, he spoke of the journey that each of the graduates would make through life and the need to develop a global awareness as the world becomes more and more interconnected. He emphasized that growth and development would provide the keys to closing the gaps in the social fabric and that cooperation would be essential to future progress.

Lackawanna College bestowed an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, on Ambassador Spalding noting that “through the years, he has given wholeheartedly of himself to make the world a better place for all.” The citation further declared that Ambassador Spalding has “worked tirelessly for the advancement of his country and his countrymen. Utilizing his intelligence, skills and passion, he has sought to expand the role of Paraguay in the international community and to alleviate the spectre of hunger and poverty within his nation.”

In addition to Mr. Spalding, Lackawanna College's President Raymond S. Angeli and Dr. Midori Yamanouchi, Vice President for Academic Affairs, offered remarks. Paul J. Mundy of Scranton presented the valedictory address as the class representative. Mr. Mundy, a Life Science major, graduated Summa Cum Laude and has achieved membership in Phi Theta Kappa, Chi Alpha Epsilon and the National Honor Society. He had previously earned a degree in Environmental Science from Lackawanna in 2006, also Summa Cum Laude.

Chairman of the Board G. Richard Thompson delivered the Trustees' Message and John Keeler, Class of 1987 and Senior Vice-President, Government Relationship Officer, for Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, 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 awards went to: Humanities Division Academic Excellence Award – Adam Farley; Business Division Academic Excellence Award – Daniel R. King; Computer Information Systems/Mathematics/Science Division Academic Excellence Award – James Kerley; Social Sciences Division Academic Excellence Award – Maria Fabrikant; Allied Health Division Vascular/Sonography Excellence Award – Chrissy Duffy Nun; John H. Seeley Memorial Scholarship – Gregory Keating.

The academic procession was led by faculty members Gail Laskowski and Leopold Janczak, with James Burke serving as Mace Bearer. Reverend Raymond Petts, Pastor, Dickson City Assembly of God Church, offered the invocation and benediction. Clark Luis sang the National Anthem. A string trio consisting of Edward Wargo, Jean Brubaker and Julie Sipler 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 -- Adam J. Farley, Scranton: Donald Andrew Jones III, Plainfield, NJ; Jennifer L. Kimble, Scranton; Eric J. Lutz, Pittston; Elizabeth Mattise, Scranton; Dustin P. Siniawa, Eynon.

COMMUNICATIONS - MEDIA TECHNOLOGY -- Gregory Boyd, Scranton; Christopher C. Gaidos, Scranton; Anthony J. Genoble, Jr., Mountain Top; Chris Glasgow, Pittston; Charles F. McHale, Archbald; Steven Ryan, Effort.

HUMANITIES -- Jeriel Anna Lowe, Pittston; Nancy Caroline Lydon, Jessup.

The members of the graduating class receiving ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREES were:

ACCOUNTING -- Brighid Bauer, Scranton; Bridget A. Clarke, Pittston; Klaus W. Delia, Bridgeport, CT; Ann Marie Hildebrand, Kingsley; Daniel Richmond King, Fleetville; Marissa M. Loomis, Tafton; Jessica Lynne Podolsky, Paupack; Holly Marie Rafalko, Scranton; Stephanie Marie Sanders, Dunmore; Michelle Ann Young, Columbia Crossroads.

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY -- Tristin K. Colosimo, Carbondale; Tina M. Duffy, Mayfield; Kimberly Griffiths, Scranton; Aimee Maria Kamide, Throop; Joely Nicole Mottola, Dickson City; Brenda Lee Orlowski, Scranton; Alisa Ann Petitto, Dunmore; Suzanne Patricia Piasecki, Taylor; Desiree Soto, Hawley; Lori A. Szajkowski, Dalton.

ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY -- Matthew Paul Butash, Jessup; Brian E. Capple, Spring Brook; Jonathan W. Marianelli, Moosic; Gregory Scott Moore, Scranton; John T. Radocesky, Scranton.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION -- Elizabeth A. Earle, Troy; Amanda Lynn Hottenstein, Dushore; Rosemary Kachmarsky, Lopez.

PARALEGAL STUDIES -- Kelly Ann Doyle, Old Forge; Rebecca Rae Hoover, Scranton; Sarah Swendsen, Damascus.

VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY -- Jennifer Brown Barker, Bushkill; Katherine Barone, Falls; Tricia Ann Bowen, Dickson City; Holly France, Pittston; Crissey A. Nun, Weatherly; Larisa Mary Telemko, Carbondale; Danielle Walker, Scranton; Melissa S. Warenda, Wilkes-Barre; Alexander Phillip Wendolowski II, Peckville; Christine Alvord Wilcox, Old Forge; Terri Yanoski, Archbald.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY -- Elizabeth A. Earle, Troy; Sally M. McComis, Sayre; Melanie Ayn Page, Athens.

The members of the graduating class receiving ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREES were:

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -- Justin Michael Alunni, Eynon; Heather M. Barker, Honesdale; Tiffany Ann Bennett, Lake Ariel; Jonathan M. Bibalo, Scranton; Ryan J. Rhett Butler, Hop Bottom; Cathy E. Buttner, Moosic; Cindy L. Carter, Scranton; Stephen P. Corazzi, Peckville; Briana J. Dougherty, Honesdale; Alexa Ann Fiegleman, Clarks Summit; Deana Fisher, New Albany; Jessica Gorman, Honesdale; Amanda J. Hudock, Thornhurst; Megan Kostage, Blakely; Amanda Lynn Lavelle, Carbondale; Ryan Joseph Anthony Manley, Scranton; Bryan Christopher Marzolino, Dunmore; Aimee R. Masker, Equinunk; Susan Meixner, Scranton; Sylina Terry Mead, Lake Ariel; Cameron M. Moore, Moscow; Kasie Ann O’Dell, Forest City; Jonathan P. Paciotti, Peckville; Holly Marie Rafalko, Scranton; William Joseph Rizzo, Lake Ariel; Emily J. Rumain, Honesdale; Edward J. Schultz III, Throop; Lindsey T. Smith, Pocono Pines; Michael J. Sokolowsky, Pittston; Julianna Catherine Strok, Moosic; Kay E. Guttin Way, Wyalusing.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - SPORT MANAGEMENT -- Brandon Malachi Connelly, Philadelphia; Matthew Ryan Moore, Moscow; Peter R. Osmolia, Moosic; Mark Pittenger, Greeley.

BUSINESS STUDIES -- Ademola Michael Balogun, Upper Marlboro, MD; Brian Christopher Beck, Dickson City; Richard Bernard, Bensalem; Corey Boynton, Scranton; Sean Brewer, Hop Bottom; Lewis A. Carter IV, Newark, DE; Bridget A. Clarke, Pittston; Josh S. Crisafulli, Scranton; Kimberly F. Monahan DeSanto, Scranton; Stephon Draper, Scranton; Michael William Evans, Jr., Philadelphia; Daniel John Finnegan, Jr., Sharon Hill; LeAnthony Rashad Fleming, Sr., Lakeland, FL; Stephanie Forgione, Scranton; Adrian Gailliard, Sewell, NJ; Brent Jervey, New Castle, DE; Mickey Johnson, Sayre; Lakeema D. Jones, Williamsport; John James Maneely, Lake Ariel; Elese Danielle Minier, Ulster; Prudence Marie Mumich, Nesquehoning; Edward Joseph Nyzio III, Old Forge; Terrence E. Onyiuke, Plainfield, NJ; Matthew Orr, Throop; Michael Canio Pasqualichio, Jr., Clarks Summit; Frank Seminario, Peckville.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS -- Jonathan Keith Condi, Dunmore; Jennifer L. Thoman, Rome.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE –COUNSELING -- Melissa Barrett, Dickson City; Tia Bauer, Scranton; Nancy A. Casciano, Scranton; Patricia D. Doherty, Honesdale; Patty Edwards, Old Forge; Glenn G. Fairbanks, South Abington Township; Stephanie M. Lamphere, Towanda; Shawntez C. Leverett, Baltimore, MD; Pierre Antonio Louis, Georgetown, DE; Jennifer Lindsey Lutz, Dunmore; Alyece Susan Melissa Mackrell, Dickson City; Alissa Patrice McMickens, Tunkhannock; Sarah May, Towanda; Heather Barbara Nester, Madison Township; Jillian D. Rafalko, Scranton; Amber Adeline Sabatell, Scranton; Jessica Stein, Peckville; Jody Tighe, Scranton; Alicia Anne VanValkenburg, Granville Summit; Lawrence Vispi, Jessup; Keith J. Weaver, Upper Black Eddy; Hayley Lynn Williams, Dickson City.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE – POLICE -- Jeremiah C. Ballard, Towanda; Tyrone M. Barringer, Jr., Philadelphia; James H. Bernoski, West Pittston; Joseph Scott Brussell, Honesdale; Peter Michael DelGaizo, Milford; Christopher L. Fertig, Ashland; Thomas M. Kobeski, Pittston; Stephanie M. Lamphere, Towanda; Edward G. Merrill, Hawley; Jason G. Oliveira, East Stroudsburg; Bernard R. Posten, Pittston; Robert P. Reimiller, Tunkhannock; Michael Keith Shaheen, Greentown; Julie Stoll, Dunmore; Jacob Howard Thompson, Honesdale.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE - POLICE/ACT120 -- Nathan L. Cooper, Sunbury; Melissa Garcia, Hazleton; Thomas M. Kobeski, Pittston; Robert P. Reimiller, Tunkhannock; Mary Kathryn Steppacher, Scranton; Gary K. Veasie, Weatherly; Ramon A. Welkom, Bloomsburg.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION -- Jessica A. Carson, Honesdale; Melissa A. Congdon, Gillett; Samantha L. Davenport, Scranton; Tami Dolan, New Albany; Carol Driesbaugh, Clarks Summit; Laura Ellen Ettwein, Bethlehem; Jaimie Marie Frisbie, Honesdale; Marcia Gaughan, Lake Ariel; Karyn Ann Huegel, Scranton; Kristie Grace Kashinski, Scranton; Jean Marie Killea, Lake Ariel; Erika S. Laskowski, Lake Ariel; Rolando Liriano, Scranton; Patricia A. Lucenti, Honesdale; Megan Lynn McFadden, Thornhurst; Stacy Jo Morrison, Hop Bottom; Monet O’Leary-Welsko, Sugarloaf; Kristin T. Putnam, Dushore; Laura Senapedis, Throop; Dana Denise Spencer, Ulster; Chastity Marie Walters, Athens; Theresa Catherine Yazurlo, Waymart.

EDUCATION -- Heather Lyn Chesky, Lakeville; Laura D. D’Agostino, Scranton; Stephanie J. Dein, Hawley; Nicholas Eric Devaney, Clarks Summit; Katy Hollenback, Wysox; Nickole A. Kazes, Lake Ariel; Nancy G. Krellwitz, Hawley; Jeriel Anna Lowe, Pittston; Mallory S. Matylewicz, Scranton; Cody A. Opalka, Mayfield; William Pucci, Honesdale; Zachary Reichert, Clarks Summit; Holly Ann Roman, Jessup; Mercedie E. Shipp, Towanda; Tiffany A. Stanton, Gouldsboro; Ray Steffen, Hawley; Janenne E. Trostl, Towanda; Ticia M. Valenta, Scranton; Kaitlin A. Wolcott, Duryea.

HUMAN SERVICES -- Kyle Alexander Bartos, Scranton; Nicolee R. Coles, Granville Summit; Steven L. Davis, Scranton; Maria Fabrikant, Moscow; Mark William Philip Faler, Taylor; Sarah Eileen Froese, Dunmore; Shanna L. Guman, Olyphant; Janet Alaine Haines, Athens; Ashley E. Harte, Scranton; Elaine M. Hauze, White Haven; Christian A. Herling, West Hazleton; Katy Hollenbeck, Wysox; Katie D. Illge, Madison Township; Nicole Jansen, Danville; Chauntey M. Leljedal, Ulster; Ellen Marie Mousley, Honesdale; Cristy O’Donnell, Taylor; Meghan A. O’Neill, Scranton; Timothy Amo Quinn, Hazleton; Felicia Rocco, Scranton; Kelly Schultz, Scranton; Lisa M. Simrell, Spring Brook Township; Janenne E. Trostl, Towanda; Kimberly M. Williams, Wyalusing.

LIBERAL STUDIES -- Vanessa M. Bara, Greeley; Leah Carroll, Scranton; Cassandra Marie Cordes, Waymart; Stephanie Crossett, Dushore; Jacklyn E. Digillio, Hawley; Jeffrey F. Jones, Jr., Philadelphia; Tabitha Nicole Lane, Ulster; Frank E. Lutz, Scranton; Nancy Caroline Lydon, Jessup; Stephen Mark Meadows, Moosic; Kellie E. Moran, Scranton; Ryah Jeanette Oswald, Scranton; Josh Pierce, Towanda; Kevin Presbery, Philadelphia; Kara Louise Robinson, Lake Ariel; Gina Marie Rudis, Scranton; Christopher Sedon, Plains; Susan Joyce Thrash, Weatherly.

LIFE SCIENCE -- Jennifer J. Leichter, Lake Ariel; James Richard Kerley, Scranton; Paul J. Mundy, Scranton.

DUAL MAJORS -- Nine students received dual degrees. They are:

Bridget A. Clarke, Pittston – Accounting and Business Studies; Elizabeth A. Earle, Troy – Office Administration and Surgical Technology; Katy Hollenback, Wysox, and Janenne E. Trostl, Towanda – Education and Human Services; Stephanie Lamphere, Towanda – Criminal Justice – Counseling and Criminal Justice – Police; Jeriel Anna Lowe, Pittston – Humanities and Education; Nancy Caroline Lydon, Jessup – Humanities and Liberal Studies; Holly Marie Rafalko, Scranton – Business Administration and Accounting; Mercedie E. Shipp, Towanda – Early Childhood Education and Education.

The following individuals received CERTIFICATES:

PARAMEDIC STUDIES -- Alexander Thomas Barowski, Tafton; Michael J. Chmielewski, Gouldsboro; Daniel Gennaro Feigenblatt, Kingston; Francis Gordon Miller IV, Clarks Summit; Andrew P. Saniski, Mayfield; Michael A. Sompel, Nanticoke; Jad Thomas Walther, South Abington Township.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude were Jennifer Brown Barker, Stephanie J. Dein, Patricia D. Doherty, Tami Dolan, Tina M. Duffy, Maria Fabrikant, Kimberly Griffiths, Janet Alaine Haines, Amanda L. Hottenstein, Rosemary Kachmarsky, Daniel Richmond King, Paul J. Mundy, Crissey A. Nun, Emily J. Rumain, Lindsey T. Smith, Lori A. Szajkowski, Jody Tighe, Kay E. Guttin Way and Kimberly M. Williams.

The Magna Cum Laude graduates were Katherine Barone, Jessica A. Carson, Jonathan Keith Condi, Elaine M. Hauze, Nickole A. Kazes, James Richard Kerley, Erika S. Laskowski, Chauntey M. Leljedal, Eric J. Lutz, Sally M. McComis, Joely Nicole Mottola, Edward Joseph Nyzio III, Suzanne Patricia Piascki, Bernard R. Posten, Sarah Swendsen, Jacob Howard Thompson, Janenne E. Tostl, Melissa S. Warenda, Alexander Phillip Wendolowski II and Christine Alvord Wilcox.

Graduating Cum Laude were Melissa Barrett, Brian Christopher Beck, James H. Bernoski, Heather Lyn Chesky, Bridget A. Clarke, Nathan L. Cooper, Peter Michael DelGaizo, Briana J. Dougherty, Adam J. Farley, Deana Fisher, Christian A. Herling, Aimee Maria Kamide, Stephanie M. Lamphere, Tabitha Nicole Lane, Elizabeth Mattise, Stacy Jo Morrison, Heather Barbara Nester, Timothy Amo Quinn, Ray Steffen, Gary K. Veasie, Ramon A. Welkom and Michelle Ann Young.