2023
FOUNDERS’ DAY AWARDS CONVOCATION
FRIDAY, MAY FIFTH | HIGHMARK EVENTS CENTER
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2023
FOUNDERS’ DAY AWARDS CONVOCATION PROGRAM Welcome Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Student Experience Invocation Rev. Michael T. Kesicki University Chaplain Remarks Keith Taylor, Ph.D. President Presentation of Awards Graduate Academic Excellence Awards Undergraduate Academic Excellence Awards Leadership Awards Service Awards Kappa Gamma Pi Archbishop John Mark Gannon Awards
Photographs from this event will be available on Gannon’s Facebook page later this weekend. Visit facebook.com/gannonu. -1-
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS - GRADUATE These awards are presented to graduating students for superior academic performance in their major, and for contributions to their department or field of study through curricular or co-curricular activities.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D., Dean Biomedical Engineering Spencer Miller Business Administration Boston McKinney Business Analytics Annie Christian
Environmental Science & Management Allison Marie Daisley Healthcare Administration Judith Huchukwuyem Ohu Electrical Engineering Joseph Andrew Mendez
Computer & Information Science Tejas Veeraganti Manjunath
Engineering Management Abdulmohsen Alamri
Embedded Software Engineering Naveen K. Manimaran
Mechanical Engineering David Gallion
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Lori Lindley, Ph.D., Dean
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling Michael J. Stewart
Organizational Learning & Leadership Allyson Elizabeth Graham
Criminalistics Madelyn Rose Alfieri
Public Administration Carmine A. Camillo
Education in Curriculum & Instruction Donald A. Fuller
Strategic Communication Lee Ann Cortina
MOROSKY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SCIENCES Sarah J. Ewing, Ph.D., Dean
Applied Exercise Physiology Gehrig Hutchison
Occupational Therapy Sydney Kiser
Athletic Training Miranda Leah Garris
Doctor of Physical Therapy Thomas William Dawson
Nurse Anesthesia Daniel K. Houck
Physician Assistant Jenny Ann Sheffield
Doctor of Nursing Practice Christopher Kelley
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS - UNDERGRADUATE These awards are presented to graduating students for superior academic performance in their major, and for contributions to their department or field of study through curricular or co-curricular activities.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D., Dean
School of Engineering and Computing Biomedical Engineering Kyle Jon Shank
Environmental Engineering Kristen Heflin
Computer Science Jared Daniel Heidt
Industrial Engineering Annalina Soares Reis
Computer Science and Software Engineering Nikoly Dos Santos
Mechanical Engineering Alexa Lee Elizabeth Littman
Cybersecurity Victoria Sue Bartlett
Software Engineering Sean Michael Hart
Electrical Engineering Daniel Hughes
Dahlkemper School of Business Administration
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Accounting Alexandra Grace Valerio
Finance Benito G. Vilardo
Business Administration Gabrielle Pire
Healthcare Management Michaela Rose Giambrone
Economics Michaela Rose Giambrone
International Management Diego Belchi Pertegaz
Entrepreneurship Georgios Panagiotis Koutroulis
Marketing Dominic Ferraro
Risk Management Ali Mohammed Al Marhoon
Supply Chain Management Christopher Heinrich
Sport Management and Marketing Lynsey MaKayla Habig
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Lori Lindley, Ph.D., Dean
Division of Humanities Advertising Communication Victoria R. Yonko
Public Service & Global Affairs Addison Price
Digital Media Madison Nicole Maurice
English Melissa Nicole Carlson
History Matthew Jon Whaley
Military Science Claire Elizabeth Kiphuth
Legal Studies (BA) Thomas L. Carroll
Philosophy Max Owen Kroell
Political Science Kaitlyn M. Reigel
Theology Melissa Nicole Carlson
Division of Social Sciences Early Childhood Education PreK-4 Rachel Grace Praetzel Middle Level Education Jaydan Miller Special Education PreK-12 Alexa Raine Harding Criminal Justice Reghan Kennedy
Mortuary Science Sydney Williams Psychology (BA) Jacob Andrew Wilhelm Psychology (BS) Olivia Kelly Social Work Caelan Jane Scholl -5-
MOROSKY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SCIENCES Sarah J. Ewing, Ph.D., Dean
School of Medical Sciences Physician Assistant Claire Elizabeth Livingston
Radiologic Science David W. Bostaph, Jr.
School of Public Health and Health Sciences Medical Laboratory Science Oluchukwuka I. Owunwanne
Public Health Cassandra Marie Acey
Nutrition and Human Performance Lauryn Rougeux
School of Rehabilitative Sciences Occupational Therapy Isabella Maria Green
Communication Sciences and Disorders Hannah Grace Shabala
School of Sciences Biochemistry Olympia Otulakowski
Chemistry Devin Williams
Biology Scott Peter Zanella, II
Mathematics Carmen M. Mancuso
Villa Maria School of Nursing Nursing Emma Nicole Lowers
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LEADERSHIP AWARDS Paul Perrine, Dean for Student Development and Engagement Fr. Michael Kesicki, University Chaplain Outstanding Student Organization Student Government Association Presented to the club or organization that has exceeded the expectations inherent in their stated purpose and function, has nurtured the leadership development of its members and has had an impact on campus and in the community. Outstanding University Ambassador Sydney S. Klakeg Presented for outstanding service to Gannon and engagement with its constituents. Fraternity Medal of Honor Dominic MacArthur Awarded to the student who best exemplifies Fraternity values and ideals. Sorority Medal of Honor Madison Duschek Awarded to the student who best exemplifies Sorority values and ideals. Inspiration for the Next Generation Kimberlea M. Carlson Presented by the Alumni Association to a graduating senior who reflects the ideals, mission and character of Gannon University. This includes academic achievement, high moral character, leadership, service and commitment to Gannon University. Martha Noyes/Sandra Mead Leadership Award Victoria Sue Bartlett Awarded to a returning adult female student for demonstrating personal achievement and professional promise. This award was endowed by Martha Noyes in 1983 to Villa College to thank them for the help she received through their Counseling Services for Women Office. Sandra Mead was the Director of the office. Reverend Charles Drexler Award for Outstanding Leadership in Faith, Worship, Community and Service Brendan R. Cuddihy Rachel G. Praetzel Awarded for outstanding leadership in faith, worship, community, and service. This award was instituted in 1999 in memory of Fr. Drexler who served as professor of theology, as vice president of student development, and as university chaplain. Fr. Drexler served Gannon for 25 years, almost his entire priestly life.
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SERVICE AWARDS Paul Perrine, Dean for Student Development and Engagement Fr. Michael Kesicki, University Chaplain Joe Luckey Award for Dedication to the University Kylie Elizabeth Woodward Awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated dedication to the University. This award is in honor and memory of Joe Luckey for his lifetime of service and dedication to the University. Msgr. Wilfred J. Nash Service Award Grace Elizabeth Foster Kylie Elizabeth Woodward Awarded for demonstrated service inspired by the University Mission. This award is in honor and memory of Msgr. Nash, a priest of the Diocese of Erie, who served as Gannon’s second president for 21 years. Doc Beyer Award Madeleine Grace Olsen Jacob Hollo Awarded for outstanding achievement in scholarship and athletics. This award is in honor and memory of Dr. Richard L. “Doc” Beyer, a member of the Gannon History Department for over 20 years. St. Catherine Medal Megan C. Poser Awarded to an undergraduate student for demonstrating outstanding leadership, scholarship and service.
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KAPPA GAMMA PI Paul Perrine, Dean for Student Development and Engagement Fr. Michael Kesicki, University Chaplain National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society for Academic Excellence and Service Leadership Amy Celine Frosch
Reilly Ann Johnston-Walsh
Addison Price
Alexander Chase Clark
Sophia Rose Piatt
Madison Rose Georgiana
Sanibel Stravinsky
Ermina Hodzic
Allie May DeBiase
Prathyusha Konka
Ashley Corinee Saunders
ARCHBISHOP JOHN MARK GANNON AWARDS Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President The University’s Archbishop John Mark Gannon Award is presented for academic excellence in memory of our founder, Archbishop John Mark Gannon, to the students who have attained the highest grade point average upon graduation. Victoria Sue Bartlett
Ashley Mayes
Emilie Cecilia Hilliard
Daniel Patrick Oar
Claire Elizabeth Livingston
Rachel Grace Praetzel
Carmen M. Mancuso
Anna M. Thomas
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HISTORY OF JOHN MARK GANNON He was called the “Builder Bishop,” a man under whose leadership churches, schools, institutions and an entire culture were built. He was Archbishop John Mark Gannon, a poor boy from the west side of Erie whose legacy is the inheritance of the Gannon University family. When he died at age 92 in 1968, Archbishop Gannon had been a priest for exactly a third of a century and a bishop for 50 years. A fervent advocate of the value of education, Archbishop Gannon presided over the founding of 20 elementary schools, eight parish high schools, five independent high schools and five diocesan regional high schools. In the early 1920s, the concept of a Catholic college in the Erie area had began to take shape. Founders Archbishop Gannon, Monsignor Joseph “Doc” Wehrle, Mother Helena Dillon and Sister Stella Harrington decided early on that the Erie Diocese should have a role in developing opportunity for higher education. Thus Villa Maria College was chartered in 1925 and received its first students. In the years that followed, great effort went into the development of a college for men, Cathedral College, (later to become Gannon College), under the Villa Maria state charter. In 1933, Archbishop Gannon established Cathedral College, a twoyear institution that was the forerunner of Gannon University. Cathedral College was a direct result of a promise that Bishop Gannon had made to about 30 graduates of the new Cathedral Preparatory School to provide them with a higher education. As the U.S. and Erie County economies sank into the most desperate year of the Great Depression, the Rev. Dr. Joseph J. “Doc” Wehrle, the superintendent of the diocesan school system, opened Cathedral College under the charter of Villa Maria College as a downtown extension for men. The two colleges merged into Gannon University on July 1, 1989. The final step in the Gannon University and Villa Maria integration occurred in May 1992 with Gannon consolidating all its programs to its downtown campus. Despite his manifold accomplishments, Archbishop Gannon was a humble man. He resisted the calls for the college he established to be named in his honor and insisted that Cathedral College was a more fitting name. But there can be no more fitting honor for Erie’s “builder bishop” than a vibrant university bearing his name and dedicated, as Archbishop Gannon was dedicated, to faith, service and education as a Eucharistic Minister. - 10 -
ABOUT THE AWARDS Martha Noyes/Sandra Mead Leadership Award The Martha Noyes/Sandra Mead Leadership Award is presented to a female student for demonstrating personal achievement and professional promise. This award was endowed by Martha Noyes in 1983 to Villa Maria College to thank them. Sandra Mead was the Director of the Villa Maria Counseling Services Office for Women, which assisted Martha Noyes. Martha stated that Sandra Mead was the inspiration for the award, saying that the work that Sandra did at Gannon/Villa Maria will live on for generations. Martha Noyes grew up in Butler, Pa., and received her undergraduate degree in music and music education from Carnegie-Mellon University. She earned her master’s degree in cello from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She also holds a certificate in management from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Martha has played with the Houston and Milwaukee Symphonies and was assistant cellist in Birmingham, Alabama and cellist in Sioux City, Iowa, and from 1973-1976 in Erie. Along with performing, Noyes taught in public schools and at several colleges. She is now retired, living in Cary, North Carolina.
Reverend Charles Drexler Award Charles H. Drexler received his bachelor’s degree in arts of foreign languages from Gannon College (now Gannon University) in 1965 before moving on to the Catholic University of America in 1968 to obtain his bachelor’s degree of sacred theology. He began working at Gannon on May 24, 1969, shortly after becoming an ordained priest in the Catholic Church. He served the Gannon community in various positions for 25 years, including vice president of student development, director of liberal studies, professor of theology, and university chaplain. As chaplain, he oversaw the installation of the stained glass windows in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, which were said to be one of his proudest accomplishments. In addition to his teaching and administrative duties, he was also the director of the center for catholic studies, chaplain to the residents of Wehrle Hall, campus minister and director of student living. The Reverend Charles Drexler Award for Outstanding Leadership in Faith, Worship, Community and Service is presented annually in his honor and memory.
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Joe Luckey Award In 1952 Joe Luckey enrolled at Gannon College and embarked upon a journey that would last over 50 years. Luckey is recognized as a 1955 alumnus of the University. In point of fact, he halted his study at Gannon due to a lack of funds and had entered into employment with the college within the maintenance department at the advice of the late Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. “Doc” Wehrle. Over his 55 years of service, Luckey became a “Gannon legend.” Many of his former co-workers refer to him as THE maintenance department since he could fix anything and everything and knew the campus and buildings like no other. Luckey was a loyal and well-respected member of the Gannon community and retired in 2008. Throughout his career, he enjoyed a very special bond with the many priests who ministered and taught at Gannon. Over the years, he was honored as the recipient of various awards including the Archbishop John Mark Gannon Medal of Distinction, was made a member of the University’s Founders’ Society, was a special honoree at the 2008 Gannon University Alumni Dinner and had also been recognized by the Serra Club. The Joe Luckey Award for Dedication is presented annually in his honor and memory, for his lifetime of service and dedication to the University.
Msgr. Wilfrid J. Nash Award Nash was raised in the St. Mary Parish and attended Cathedral Preparatory School and Cathedral College. He received his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Licentiate of Sacred Theology degrees from the Catholic University of America, and also a doctorate of letters degree from Fordham University. Nash joined the faculty of Gannon in 1944, teaching psychology and logic. During his time at Gannon, he also served as the director of athletics, dean and chancellor. He served as the second president of Gannon from 1956-1977. During his presidency at Gannon, the college became co-educational, enrollment more than doubled, undergraduate programs tripled and a graduate school was established. Nash also directed the most extensive building program in the school’s history, adding nine buildings to the campus. The core of the campus was built during his presidency, including the Nash Library, Zurn Science Center, Beyer Hall, the cafeteria, and Gannon’s second dormitory, Finegan Hall. In 1990, Nash received Gannon’s highest honor, the Archbishop Gannon Medal of Distinction. The Msgr. Wilfrid J. Nash Award for Christian Service is presented for outstanding Christian service in his honor and memory. - 12 -
Doc Beyer Award Richard ‘Doc’ Beyer attended Allegheny College and received his bachelor’s degree in 1926. He then attended the State University of Iowa to receive his master’s in 1927 and his doctorate in 1929. He was a history professor from 1946-1966, and then became the director of the department of history from 1956-1966. The multi-purpose building, located on campus at Seventh and Peach streets, was renamed Beyer Hall in 1972. The Doc Beyer Award is presented in his honor and memory for outstanding achievement in scholarship and athletics.
St. Catherine Medal The story of Catherine of Alexandria portrays a young woman (age 18) in Egypt in the early fourth century, who was required to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, and protested to the Emperor Maxentius that he cease his idolatry and persecution of the Christians and instead turn to the one true God. When Kappa Gamma Pi was founded in 1926, charter members selected Catherine of Alexandria as the patron saint of the organization because of her intellect, integrity and faith. Her story speaks of women’s intelligence, faithfulness, her skills in evangelization and public speaking and ability to stand on her own ground in the face of institutional pressures to do otherwise. Catherine’s story has historically inspired and sustained women in leadership, scholarship and courage. Her feast is celebrated as a reminder of those qualities in her life to which we should all aspire to have. The St. Catherine Medal is presented for outstanding leadership, scholarship and service.
GANNON UNIVERSITY MISSION Gannon is a Catholic, Diocesan university dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Our faculty and staff prepare students to be global citizens through programs grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and professional specializations. Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we offer a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.
A digital version of this program can be found at www.gannon.edu/commencement.
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WWW.GANNON.EDU | 1-800-GANNON-U