Honors Convocation Recognizes Students’ Academic Excellence
Assumption recognized 75 students with awards for academic excellence during the 35th Annual Honors Convocation on April 15. Awards ranged from departmental honors to special recognitions, to Assumption’s highest honor, Augustine Scholarships.
“The annual Honors Convocation is an opportunity for Assumption to recognize those students who have demonstrated academic excellence through an impassioned commitment to learning,” said Louise Carroll Keeley, Ph.D., provost and academic vice president. “This ceremony allows faculty to celebrate the most meritorious students in each of their primary programs of study. To receive a departmental award or one of the special awards is a significant achievement for any undergraduate student and we are proud to honor them for their accomplishments.”
Each year, Assumption invites a distinguished alumnus to address the honorees on the value of a liberal arts education. This year’s keynote speaker was Suzanne Besnia, J.D., ’79, a civically engaged attorney, who has worked since 1984 for Riezman Berger, a legal firm in St. Louis. While an undergraduate at Assumption, Besnia focused on politics early, but immediately found an interest in the arts, studying musicology, studio art, drama, and art history. Being liberally educated is something she said “absolutely, without a doubt, has literally shaped my life in every aspect.”
Besnia shared that a liberal arts education expands one’s wealth of knowledge and opens our eyes to the world; gives students to non-technical subjects demands a different level of thinking and provides the tools needed to look inward and to know ourselves; and develops a self-knowledge that helps lead us to moral happiness through giving back to society.
“Self-knowledge is essential for us to be thoughtful and deliberate people in the decisions we make to bring about our own moral happiness. Moral happiness considers not only our own happiness but the happiness of society and we give back to society,” she said. “Those with self-knowledge ethically and morally deliberate the decisions to work for the good of society. These are the people we want as neighbors, coworkers, leaders, and friends. They are not threatened by new ideas and are capable of evaluating and understanding a different point of view … The ability to engage in civil discourse on subjects essential to our society is developed here at Assumption and I hope you will all continue to hone that skill.”
AUGUSTINE SCHOLARSHIP
The Augustine Scholarship is awarded to rising junior and senior students, who—through their academic achievement, leadership, community service and good character—best embody the Assumption mission. Students nominated for this prestigious academic distinction have demonstrated initiative and leadership in academic and co-curricular endeavors, and are of demonstrably good character. Grade point average alone is not evidence of initiative and leadership, even in the academic arena. The following is a list of this year’s Augustine Scholars:
Thomas Angell ’20, Broad Brook, CT
William Armstrong ’20, Granville
Margaret Brennan ’20, Randolph, NJ
Timothy Cody ’20, Manchester, NH
Gertrude Cox ’20, South Wellfleet
Jennifer Doherty ’21, Milton
Katherine Golden ’20, Millis
Anne Guadalupi ’21, Augusta, ME
Grace Gustinis ’20, Monroe, CT
Rose Horell ’20, Monroe, CT
Emma Lang ’20, Marshfield
Maeve McDonald ’21, Quincy
Elizabeth Paquette ’20, Durham, NH
Alicia Polak ’20, Lowell
Jenna Smith ’20, Milford
Corey Soper ’20, Escondido, CA
Catherine Waclawik ’20, Blackstone
Hannah White ’20, Tamuning, Guam
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
The Donec Formetur Christus Presidential Award for embodying the spirit of Assumption, announced by President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., recognizes a junior or senior whose life embodies the ideals of an Assumptionist education. The recipient understands the relationship between the intellectual and spiritual life, espouses the values of the Gospel in his or her life, and gives witness to the spirit of the Catholic intellectual tradition.
This year, the Presidential Award was given to Corey Soper ’20, of Escondido, CA. During the ceremony, Corey also received the departmental award for theology and an Augustine Scholarship.
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
The following is a list of this year’s Departmental Award recipients:
Samuel Abusamra ’19, Worcester; Computer Science
Sara Amato ’19, North Attleboro; Mathematics
Hannah Avard ’19, Manchester, NH; Criminology
Thomas Barringer ’19, St. Louis, MO; Biology
Colleen Barry ’19, Southborough; Secondary Education
Adrienne Bertothy ’19, Wolcott, CT; Chemistry
Luke Boyle ’19, Branford, CT; Environmental Science
Elizabeth Browne ’19, Newtown, CT; Classics with a Concentration in Latin
Jordan Burt ’19, Easthampton; Economics
Christian Copeley ’19, Concord, NH; Liturgical Music
Lauren Crockett ’19, Cherry Valley; English Literature, Philosophy
Julia Demkowicz ’19, Worcester; Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies with a Concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Marny Fappiano ’19, Watertown, CT; History
Paul Fuller ’19, South Walpole; Marketing
Jennifer Futtner ’19, South Windsor, CT; French
Jose Garcia ’19, Los Angeles, CA; Latin American Studies
Colleen Glidden ’19, Shutesbury; Art History
Keriden Harrington ’19, Seekonk; International Business
Caroline James ’20, Webster; Data Analytics
Adrianna Karalis ’19, Ashland; Classics with a Concentration in Greek
Jessica La Comfora ’19, Worcester; Actuarial Science
Kelsey Mattar ’19, Braintree; Organizational Communication
Alysha McGovern ’19, Marlboro; Psychology, Biology with a Concentration in Neuroscience and Behavior
Dana Mendes ’20, Merrimack, NH; Studio Art
Anh Thy Nguyen ’19, Boston; Political Science
Thao Nguyen ’19, Worcester; Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
Kylie O’Rourke ’19, Spencer; Women’s Studies
Courtney Park ’19, Dracut; Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies
Alessandra Petrozza ’19, North Andover; Graphic Design
Daniella Pitruzzello ’19, Cromwell, CT; Sociology
Ambar Rosas Sanchez ’19, Carolina, PR; English with a Concentration in Writing and Mass Communications
Alex Roy ’19, Northborough; Accounting
Emma Salachi ’19, Mansfield; Global Studies, Italian
Zachary Sneeringer ’19, Lowell; Music
Corey Soper ’20, Escondido, CA; Theology
Amanda Voellings ’19, Grafton; Management
Renee Zahigian ’19, Winchester; Elementary Education, Spanish
SPECIAL AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The Ray Marion Award: Sara Amato ’19, North Attleboro; Lauren Crockett ’19, Cherry Valley; and Jessica La Comfora ’19, Worcester.
The Omer & Larette Boivin Scholarship in French or Foreign Languages: David Altman ’21, Bristol, RI
The Dr. Eugene W. Byrnes Scholarship in the Natural Sciences: Heather Bates ’20, Marlborough
The Special Award in Public History: Jonathan Bisceglia ’19, West Boylston
The Leo and Madeleine Remillard Scholarship for the Study of French: Sofia Boncaldo ’21, Holbrook
The Community Service Learning Award: David Cifarelli ’19, North Haven, CT
The Paul Ziegler Award in European History: Shannon Holleran ’19, South Easton
The David L. Christianson Award for the Study of Foreign Languages: Madeleine Iassogna ’20, Marietta, GA
The Chester Thompson Scholarship in the Natural Sciences: Aleeza Isaac ’20, Shrewsbury
The History Department’s Ray Marion Special Award in World History: Zachary Karpowich ’19, Trumbull, CT
The Prof. James McCarthy Scholarship for the Study of Economics or Global Studies: Samuel Kelly ’19, Enfield, CT
The Mary Whiton Calkins Award in Psychology: Hannah Krueger ’19, Meredith, NH
The Shirley Thompson Scholarship in the Visual Arts: Katheryn Kruzick ’20, South Windsor, CT
The Ken Moynihan Special Award in American History: Kaylen McClarey ’19, Marshfield
The William James Award in Psychology: Alexandra Orlandi ’19, Hudson
The Colleen Ritzer Memorial Award: Sheila Orlando ’20, Westborough
The Joseph E. Sheerin Merit Prize in the Study of Classical Languages and Literatures: Jakob Pohlman ’22, Worcester
The Cynthia Courtney and Adelard F. Landry Scholarship in French Studies: Lauren Robichaud ’20, Holden
The George E. and Sarah Denomme Scholarship: Colin Ryan ’21, Clinton
The Luca Pacioli Accounting Achievement Award: Matthew Sabacinski ’19, Webster
The Award in Medieval and Early Modern Studies: Megan Watts ’19, Fairfield, CT
The Special Award in Biology: Cameron Young ’19, Windsor, CT