Lackawanna College held commencement ceremonies for 277 students on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m. in the Mellow Theater on the college’s Scranton campus. 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.

The Honorable Seamus P. McCaffery, Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, was the principal speaker at Lackawanna College's 115th Commencement. The justice has made a career of public service on a national, state and local level for over 45 years. He spoke of the need for the individual to take an active role in the betterment of the community.

In additional to his judicial activities, Justice McCaffery dedicated 40 years to military service through active duty with the Marines, followed by extensive time in both the Marine Corps Reserve and the Air Force Reserve. After active duty, he spent 20 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, including serving as a detective in the Homicide and Major Crimes Divisions. While working full-time, he earned a bachelor’s degree from La Salle University and a Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law. He thereafter was as a litigator at one of Philadelphia’s premier law firms.

In 1993, he became the first retired Philadelphia police officer ever elected as a trial judge in Philadelphia County. Justice McCaffery won local and national acclaim for his work. His accomplishments earned him the label of “ Philadelphia’s Quality of Life Judge.” He was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 2003 and served for four years prior to his election to the Supreme Court.

Lackawanna College bestowed an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, on Justice McCaffery for his notable career which was accomplished with “unyielding dedication to public service, justice and progress.” The citation further declared that the justice “distinguished himself for his uncompromising leadership, uncommon common sense, incisive intelligence and ability to get things done.”

In addition to Justice McCaffery, Lackawanna College's President Raymond S. Angeli and Dr. Jill A. Murray, Vice President for Academic Affairs, offered remarks. Stacey Koch of Peckville presented the valedictory address as the class representative. Ms. Koch, an Education major, graduated Summa Cum Laude and has achieved membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the college's highest honor, the Seeley Distinguished Service Award. The medal was given to Kevin O’Hara, Lackawanna College’s former Director of Public Relations and Executive Director of the Mellow Theater. The medal was presented by Dominick DeNaples, Chairman of Lackawanna’s Board of Trustees, and President Angeli. T he recently retired Mr. O’Hara was honored for his knowledgeable and creative efforts on behalf of the college and his administration of the Mellow Theater from its earliest planning stages through its tenth anniversary last month.

Board Chairman DeNaples offered remarks and attorney Thomas Cummings, Jr., provided the Trustees' Message. Brian Costanzo, Class of 1998 and Lackawanna College’s Director of Admissions, delivered the Alumni Message and inducted the graduates into the Alumni Association. Awards and scholarships were presented by the President, Dr. Murray 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 – Kimberly Eastman; Business Division Academic Excellence Award – Tozia Pierre; Computer Information Systems/Mathematics/Science Division Academic Excellence Award – Anthony Bar; Social Sciences Division Academic Excellence Award – Ann Talarico; Allied Health Division Sonography Excellence Award – Suzana Maria Russian.

The academic procession was led by faculty members Emelia Angeli and Dr. William Tarutis, with Joseph Gilroy serving as Mace Bearer. Reverend Martin Boylan, Pastor, St. John’s Church, Honesdale, offered the invocation and benediction. Clark Luis sang the National Anthem. A string trio consisting of Father Gerard McGlone, Jean Brubaker and Julie Sipler played prior to the ceremony. Jennie Pitkus served as organist. Police Academy cadets Antonio Oriolo and Scott Perry served as flag bearers.

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:

COMMUNICATION - MEDIA STUDIES -- Ashley Nicole Janus, Gouldsboro; Bethany J. Lawlor, Lake Ariel.

HUMANITIES -- Earl Granville, Scranton; Jennifer Crystal Heege, Scranton; Kelsey Voldenberg, Scranton; Christopher James Zaccheo, Scranton.

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS -- Timothy R. Bunao, Newark Valley, NY; Brooke Callejas, Archbald; Emma Ann Connors, Taylor; Joseph M. Ducey, Jr., Clarks Summit; Dane Fallon, Taylor; Shawn Patrick Murnin, Vandling; Jessika Noemi Roldan, Pittston; Renai Kelley Russell, Lake Ariel; Scot Santoski, Scranton; Eugene F. Touseull, Lackawaxen.

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

ACCOUNTING -- Janice L. Cordes, Beach Lake; Krista L. Heusner, Scranton; Caroline Keeler, Dalton; Joseph Leonard, Roaring Brook; Bridget Nealon, Scranton; Michele Nealon, Scranton; Darlene Marie Eisenhardt Newton, Wyalusing; Stephanie Lynn Peterson, Towanda; Crystal E. Schmeckenbecher, Wysox; D’Anna VanBuskirk, Scranton; Maria Ashley Young, Ulster.

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY -- Angela Christina Burke, Dunmore; Christine Legg, Spring Brook Township; Nicole A. Minervini, Freeland; Suzana Maria Russian, Carbondale Township; Brittany Nicole Russoniello, Scranton.

ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY -- Edward John Andrukitis, Moscow; Michael Boyko, Taylor; Brian Carpenter, Avoca; Glenn Gardner, Jr., Lane Lake; Jason F. Graziano, Scranton; Charles Joseph Janus, Gouldsboro; Joseph Kane, Avoca; Gregory Martin Keating, Dunmore; Paul Rusin, Scranton; Brandon Sherry, Scranton; Thomas Steven Yanochko, Blakely.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION -- Tammi Harrigan, Athens; Michelle Dianne Millard, Athens.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY -- Heather Clarke, Towanda; Brenda Renee Farley, Towanda; Melissa Mae Holden, Addison, NY; Amber R. Hollenback, Towanda; Ashley Kennedy, Sayre; Ashly A. Michel, Rome; Kimberlee G. Norton, New Albany; Andrea Desiree Potter, Towanda; Alisha M. Struppler, Sayre.

VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY -- Kimberly A. Bell, Moscow; Laura Chrzan, Moscow; Melanie J. Cibula, Shaverton; Christopher M. Davie, Hawley; Susan LeRoy, Carbondale; Christina Marie Lesko, Wilkes-Barre; Amanda Maria O’Dell, Clarks Summit; Julie A. Rafalko, Throop; Brett Michael Sullivan, Dalton.

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

BANKING -- Irene J. Selvaggi, Honesdale; Heather Marie Shotwell, Falls.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -- Santos Albert, Scranton; Hannah G. Barrese, Clarks Summit; Jeffrey J. Bobich, Factoryville; Gina Bordi, Olyphant; Candice Ann Borgia, Scranton; Michael Allan Buckwalter, Pocono Pines; Michele Louise Canfield, New Albany; Daniel Trent Colan III, Scranton; Lauren Delguercio, Blakely; Amanda Marie DeMarco, Springbrook Township; Marcell Leigh Drake, Taylor; Jolene Marie Duggan, Scranton; Samantha Lynn Edwards, Moscow; Catrina Festa, Scranton; Ashley Mae French, Athens; Jennifer Kochis, Scranton; Lisa Desiree Lloyd, Scranton; Christopher M. McCormick, Scranton; Aubrey O. Milak, Jessup; Roosevelt D. Minnick, Scranton; John Moskwa, Jr., Taylor; Jessica Christine Moyer, Dunmore; Simone Musolino, Honesdale; Nicholas P. Pasqualichio, Clarks Summit; Rayanne Reed, Scranton; John Anthony Rettura, Scranton; Michelle L. Rice, Towanda; Corey M. Richardson, Scranton; Jeffrey Rimosites, Throop; Crystal Cherie Sanborn, Pleasant Mount; Amanda K. Smith, Scranton; David J. Smith, Carbondale; Emily Vinson, Troy; Joshua J. Wascura, Peckville; Jared A. Yanniello, Old Forge; Veronica S. Zelenski, Dunmore.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - SPORT MANAGEMENT -- Matthew Amos, Scranton; Timothy W. Boyer II, Philadelphia; Christopher A. Brooks, Lake Ariel; Kyle M. Juice, Scranton; Andrew Jacob Kovalcik, Scranton; Sergio Marzitelli, Old Forge; Jamal Nelson, Laurel, MD; Shea O’Connor, Archbald.

BUSINESS STUDIES -- Tammy Lynn Callear, Athens; Keith Kasson Carlos, Bridgeport, CT; Ryan D. Castle, Troy; Todd A. Craig, Shenandoah; Kaylin Cullen, Throop; Danielle M. Davies, Greentown; Johanny Kristell Ditren, Scranton; Carla J. Dunn, Jermyn; Laura L. Fedak, Carbondale; Kolina Marie Ganz, Scranton; Peter Gardner, Bloomfield, CT; Nicholas Mariano Genovese, Scranton; Bridget Eileen Hadley, Scranton; Keith Hardy, Washington, DC; Rachel Lee Hauser, Wysox; Corey Kavulich, Scranton; Andrew J. Killinger, South Gibson; Sheila Lynn Litzenbauer, Honesdale; Kachiri Shanequa Lynch, Lake Ariel; MonRai Matthews, Riverdale, MD; Eric M. McNeish, Carbondale; Aaron D. Moore, Scranton; Darlene Marie Eisenhardt Newton, Wyalusing; Jonas Nunez, Hazleton; Angel Ashley O’Hara, Scranton; Tozia Louise Pierre, Moscow; Louis Anthony Polemeni, Forth Worth, TX; Dellarice M. Shelly, Moscow; Theodore J. Shishlo, Old Forge; Alan Singletary, Jr., Baltimore, MD; Joseph J. Smiegal, Jessup; Alexis Sopchak, Scranton; Desirea J. Spencer, Ulster; Kevin Lamont Stewart, Jr., Philadelphia; Britteny Marie Taylor, Scranton; Jeffrey Wills, Laurelton, NY.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS -- Anthony Christopher Bar, Towanda; Megan Marie MacMaster, Equinunk; Jesse L. McMullen, Honesdale; Kristin Ann Smith, Peckville; Elsi Lyn Wilcox, Waverly, NY.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE – COUNSELING -- Justine Elizabeth Berta, Old Forge; Ryan L. Bogdanovicz, Jessup; Sean T. Casey, Moscow; William Howard Conklin, Jr., Clifford; Elie B. Daniel, Upper Darby; Jared C. Davis, Wyalusing; Michael Patrick Duffy III, Scranton; Daniel J. Halapin, Jr., Moscow; Jason Allen Hunter, Waymart; Jacob J. Kapson, Towanda; Randy J. Kopa, Archbald; Geraldine M. Kotsko, Towanda; Crystal Luz Matos, Lake Ariel; Paul Justin McHale, Scranton; Kaitlin Munley, Scranton; Jessica Lynn Shay, Honesdale; Ashton Dominique Sykes, Hanover, MD; Kimberly Ann Rafalko, Scranton; Dawn M. Yates, Moosic.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE – POLICE -- Melissa Lynn Briggs, Scranton; Michael Kristopher Foster, Towanda; Amy Hazen, Honesdale; Mario Parlopiano, Scranton; Colby Ross Pettigrew, Jermyn; Justin M. Summa, Springbrook Township; Jerel Walker, Riverdale, MD; Michael S. Walker, Towanda.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE - POLICE/ACT120 -- Maria Aracena, Hazleton; Michael E. Arthur, Jr., Carbondale; Charles A. Blesse, Reeders; Marisa Ryan Fediw, Dunmore; Lukasz K. Olszar, Moscow.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION -- Stephanie Tatiana Bortree, Carbondale; Stephanie Lyn Brodosky, Roaring Brook Township; Tyneshia Shakimah Cullars, Scranton; Lisa Anne Flaherty, Scranton; Deirdre Ann Florance, Honesdale; Renae Christine Gondella, Taylor; Jessica Lynn Griffiths, Dickson City; Lisa Marie Harvey, Dunmore; Laura Katherine Holloway, Carlisle; Jillian Huester, Scranton; Carrie Ann LoVerso, Hawley; Vanessa Lynette Lowry, Blakely; Christine M. McCann, Greenfield Township; Meaghan Lorraine McGovern, Scranton; Kim C. Mills, Union Dale; Kathleen A. Patchoski, Scranton; Brittany Ann Penetra, Thornhurst; Amanda K. Sewatsky, Dunmore; Cassie Spencer, Wyalusing; Jessica A. Yerke, Moscow.

EDUCATION -- Thomas M. Armona, Hawley; Laura Eliza Bailey, Dalton; Casey W. Baker, Towanda; Rachel L. Cramer, Archbald; Corrin A. Gaige, Scranton; Jenna Mae Gaudio, Beach Lake; Bridgette Elizabeth Ann Gawrys, Clarks Summit; John Michael Habeeb, Clarks Summit; Leidy Johnson, Clarks Green; Stacey Amber Koch, Peckville; Sara Ann Lemmons, Lake Ariel; Nicole McNeish, Scranton; Moriah Minich, Thornhurst; Anthony Pacifico, Wyalusing; Mary D. Philippi, Towanda; Brittani Cresenza Ptasinski, Dunmore.

HUMAN SERVICES -- Aiperi Almamatova Abdirashitovna, Honesdale; Tanya T. Adams, Wyalusing; Benjamin Stanley Benoit, Hanover Township; Angela Bossick, Waymart; Sarah Helena Farnell, Beaver Meadows; Corrine Marie Gregorsky, Scranton; Amber Haight, Scranton; Jamont Henry, Scranton; Nancy G. Krellwitz, Hawley; Kelly A. McClure, Weatherly; Barbara Morris, Hazleton; Amber Orr, West Pittston; Jaclyn Marie Reed, Honesdale; Laura Beth Roche, Scranton; Jennifer L. Rolls, Columbia Cross Roads; Jessica Lynn Shay, Honesdale; Ann Talarico, Scranton; Stashia Vincent, Towanda.

LIBERAL STUDIES -- Marcus Allen Arthur, Carbondale; Tressor Baptiste, Staten Island, NY; Christopher Beezup, Waymart; Keon Tyquan Campbell, South River, NJ; Shane Lucas Collins, Troy; Brenna E. Connor, Ambler; Heather Dawn Dale, Sugarloaf; Keri DeRogatis, Dalton; Kimberly Ann Eastman, Greenfield Township; Lucas James Ellex, Lackawaxen; Brian Vincent Entler, Commack, NY; Emily Anne Eremo, Factoryville; Gavin Thomas Gillette, Susquehanna; Sara Veronica Gris, Clarks Summit; Eric L. Hughes, Sayre; Kristen Nicole Hummel, Ambler; Christa Judge, Carbondale; Katherine E. Lavelle, Scranton; Jessica Lynn Mackie, Scranton; Anthony Miele, Clarks Summit; John Eric Miller, Towanda; Londell R. Nimmons, Easton; Zachary Travis Olver, Forest City; Caroline Opshinsky, Scranton; Kelsey L. Pazanski, Browndale; Kristine Marie Prebish, Scranton; Mark A. Richardson, Jr. Throop; Tiffany Marie Saar, Lake Ariel; Riana Sledzinski, Lake Ariel; Korrey Smith, Archbald; Shannee Sookbirsingh, Scranton; Richard S. Stankiewicz, Canton; Colin John Vanston, Jessup; Andrew K. Welch, Scranton; Dyson Bert Williams, Towanda.

LIFE SCIENCE -- Brandon J. Portice, Honesdale.

DUAL MAJORS – Two students received dual degrees. They are: Jessica Lynn Shay, Honesdale -- Criminal Justice–Counseling and Human Services; and Darlene Marie Eisenhardt Newton, Wyalusing -- Business Studies and Accounting.

The following graduates received CERTIFICATES:

PARAMEDIC STUDIES -- Francis S. Evarts III, Simpson; Daniel W. Frederici, Gibson; John L. LaBarr, Clarks Summit; Donald Bruce Stephens, Jr., Jermyn; Michael J. Zielinski, Clarks Summit.

The following graduates earned 2009 Commencement Honors:

Graduating Summa Cum Laude were Tanya T. Adams; Anthony Christopher Bar; Kimberly A. Bell; Sean T. Casey; Laura L. Fedak; Deirdre Ann Florance; Gregory Martin Keating; Stacey Amber Koch; Aubrey O. Milak; Kimberlee Gail Norton; Tozia Louise Pierre; Irene J. Selvaggi; Ann Talarico; and Britteny Marie Taylor.

The Magna Cum Laude graduates were Benjamin Stanley Benoit; Candice Ann Borgia; Angela Christina Burke; Tammy Lynn Callear; Lauren Delguercio; Michael Patrick Duffy III; Kimberly Ann Eastman; Sarah Helena Farnell; Jenna Mae Gaudio; Joseph Kane; Christine Legg; Carrie Ann LoVerso; Kim C. Mills; Kelsey L. Pazanski; Amanda K. Smith; David J. Smith; Justin M. Summa; Emily Vinson; Dawn M. Yates; and Jessica A. Yerke.

Graduating Cum Laude were Santos Albert; Thomas Armona; Casey W. Baker; Laura Chrzan; Janice L. Cordes; Rachel Cramer; Rachel Lee Hauser; Krista L. Heusner; Jason Allen Hunter; Nancy G. Krellwitz; Susan LeRoy; Eric M. McNeish; Nicole McNeish; Anthony Pacifico; Kimberly Ann Rafalko; Michelle L. Rice; Corey M. Richardson; Suzana Maria Russian; Crystal Cherie Sanborn; and Thomas Steven Yanochko.