December 2021 Commencement Program

sixty-sixth

Commencement

December 19, 2021

PROGRAM PROCESSIONAL Pomp & Circumstance, performed by Jon Lehning and Band

MACE BEARER Kelly Wallace, Ph.D., Innova�ve Educator of the Year, 2021

MARSHALS Faculty Senate

NATIONAL ANTHEM INVOCATION Puspa Mishra, ‘21, Surgical Technology - AAS Candidate

PRESIDER Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D., President, Trocaire College

BOARD OF TRUSTEES GREETING Thomas H. Waring, Jr., Chair, Board of Trustees, Trocaire College

SISTERS OF MERCY GREETING Sister M. Jeanne Thomas Danahy, RSM ‘67, Trustee, Trocaire College

STUDENT ADDRESS Tenisha Johnson, ‘21 Nursing - BSN Candidate

DISTINGUISHED COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER ADDRESS Amber Slichta, ‘94, Vice President of Programs and Learning, Ralph C. Wilson Founda�on

PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES FOR DEGREES & CERTIFICATES Allyson M. Lowe, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs

ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRADUATES CONFERRING OF DEGREES Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D., President, Trocaire College

BENEDICTION Tenisha Johnson, ‘21 Nursing - BSN Candidate

RECESSIONAL Pomp & Circumstance performed by Jon Lehning and Band

For more information on our Commencement Celebration and where to view ceremony images: my.trocaire.edu/graduation-information Share the celebration!

Use #TrocaireGrad21 and #TrocaireProud

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Amber Slichta, ‘94, a Buffalo na�ve, joined the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Founda�on as Vice President of Programs and Learning in July 2016.

In this role, she oversees the development and implementa�on of grantmaking strategies and collabora�on within the early childhood, a�erschool, caregiver, and young adults and working families program areas of the Founda�on as well as learning and evalua�on.

Slichta previously served as vice president at the Health Founda�on for Western & Central New York, where she developed and implemented several major ini�a�ves to improve the lives of children in poverty and vulnerable older adults. She also facilitated many key partnerships and other projects that furthered the Founda�on’s mission.

Prior to joining the Health Founda�on, Slichta was the execu�ve director of HealthforAll of WNY, Inc. where she led an effort to provide insurance subsidies for the working uninsured and their employers. She also served as project manager for the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Department of Family Medicine and as communica�ons manager and organ services coordinator at Upstate New York Transplant Services, Inc. As a registered nurse, Slichta has also held posi�ons in cri�cal care and medical surgical nursing. She received an associate degree in applied science/nursing from Trocaire College, a bachelor’s degree in accoun�ng from Canisius College and a master’s degree in health services administra�on from D’Youville College.

STUDENT ADDRESS Tenisha D. Johnson, RN ‘19, ‘21 will receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing this fall. She is the first bachelor’s graduate of the Pathways to Nursing Success program, funded by the Health Resources Service Administra�on (HRSA) Nursing Workforce Diversity grant. Tenisha is a two-�me recipient of the Buffalo Renaissance Founda�on Scholarship and is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society.

She served 10 years in the United States Navy in Community Rela�on Opportuni�es in various countries, par�cipated in suicide preven�on programming, and served on health promo�on commi�ees. Her passion for giving back to the community is evident as she volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Founda�on, WNY Heroes, Morale Welfare Recrea�on, Marine Toys For Tots, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Tenisha’s most memorable �mes at Trocaire were her �me spent in the Pathways program, at Roswell Park Cancer Center, and at the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. Through these experiences, she was given the opportunity to par�cipate in pa�ent care, train in leadership roles, and give community trainings. She loved ge�ng to know the people in the community, the pa�ents, and be able to put a smile on their faces despite adversity.

Tenisha plans to con�nue her educa�on and obtain her master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and become cer�fied in oncology. She aspires to work in Pediatric Oncology, as she is eager to not just make changes, but be the change as the field of nursing constantly evolves. She strives to be a great leader and mother to her daughter, Asia Reign.

2021-22 BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR Thomas H. Waring, Jr. VICE CHAIR Lisa M. Kirisits, CPA CORPORATE SECRETARY Tracey A. Maw ‘94 TREASURER William Barre� Wadsworth MEMBERS Peg Adams Brian F. A�ea, Esq. Jus�n P. Azzarella Lawrence E. Christ Sister Anne Cur�s, RSM Sister M. Jeanne Thomas Danahy, RSM ‘67 Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. Sarah E. Gilson Angela Laviano Hamister

Richard P. Hershberger, Ph.D. Kathy Jamil Teresa M. Majors, CPA Sister Lisa Mary McCartney RSM, Ph.D. Gerald A Nagle James Notaro, Ph.D. Michael P. Rade, MD Jeffrey Rubin, DMD Sister Mary Ann Schimscheiner RSM, ’67 Rob Swann ’96 Lisa M. Wheeler ’95 Sean Wille�

TROCAIRE COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT Trocaire College, a private, career-oriented Catholic college, in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, strives to empower students toward personal enrichment, dignity and self-worth through educa�on in a variety of professions and in the liberal arts.

Recognizing the individual needs of a diverse student body, Trocaire College provides life learning and development within a community-based environment. Trocaire College prepares students for service in the universal community.

THE MACE AND SEAL OF THE COLLEGE The symbolism of the College Seal refers to the Holy Spirit, the Source of Wisdom; to the Church, within whose apostolate the College func�ons; to Our Lady of Mercy, Patroness of the Sisters of Mercy, under whose auspices the College is conducted, and lastly, to the objec�ves of the College.

The Holy Spirit is represented by a white dove. The Crown with the monogram symbolizes Our Lady as Queen; the stars, the preroga�ves of Our Lady. The book superimposed on the Mercy shield symbolizes learning and the objec�ves of the educa�onal program. For clarifica�on, Faith, Love, and Knowledge are a slight twist on the three theological virtues of Faith, Love, and Hope. There are 12 stars which refer to the perfec�ons of Mary, and the 12-star crown associated with her.

The ceremonial mace is fashioned from Red Oak and sports a Sterling Silver Die Cast Medallion featuring the Trocaire College Seal. It measures 42 inches in length. The pointed top points to the future for students well-grounded in Mercy tradi�on and heritage.

Tradi�on and heritage are represented by the rings at the base of the point of the spear.

Four rings refer to Personal Enrichment; Dignity, Self-worth; Strong values. The 5th ring refers to lifelong learning. The symbols on the sha� include business, educa�on, health science and liberal arts. The final ring represents development. The original idea for the college is represented by the small ball at the bo�om of the handle which grew and expanded to support Trocaire College as it is today.

TROCAIRE COLLEGE HISTORY AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY Trocaire College was founded in 1958 in the City of Buffalo by the Sisters of Mercy as Sancta Maria College, offering higher educa�onal opportuni�es to women of the order. The College gained dis�nc�on early on in the field of nursing and health science educa�on. In 1967, the college’s name was officially changed to Trocaire, Gaelic for mercy, to honor the heritage of the founding sisters. Trocaire granted admission to lay female students in 1965 and male students in 1972.

The college has evolved extensively over the past 50 years as it has arrived at its current structure. It confers a number of Associate and Bachelor degrees with an emphasis on the healthcare professions. In 2008 the college expanded its offerings with Trocaire Achievement Complex and an extension site in Williamsville, NY, and later in 2012 with a Massage Therapy Program.

The Trocaire College of today is a vibrant, mul�-dimensional coeduca�onal Catholic college which con�nues to operate in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Trocaire is an ac�ve member of the Conference for Mercy Higher Educa�on (CMHE).

Trocaire College changes the trajectory of the lives of its students, helping students of promise recognize their own talents and maintain their own mo�va�on while providing them the means by which to grow intellectually and emo�onally. Graduates of Trocaire are sought

by Buffalo employers across the service industries for their excep�onal character, skill, and dedica�on. Alumni of Trocaire College can be counted upon to work collabora�vely to excel in their professions.

ACADEMIC REGALIA HISTORY The academic regalia worn at Commencement is of medieval origin. The scholars of Bologna, Salamanca, Paris, Oxford, Cambridge, Louvain and Heidelberg dressed in a manner to dis�nguish themselves from the merchants and other townspeople. Since the 11th century, when the rise of universi�es began, “learned clerks” robed themselves in gowns, gaps and hoods, thus marking a difference between “town and gown”.

By this apparel they were recognized as belonging to the teaching guild, which was the Guild of the Master of Arts. In this organiza�on, the bachelor was the appren�ce of the master. This rela�onship was the forerunner of today’s academic structure.

Today, customs vary in different parts of the world. Generally, in Europe, professors wear the type of garment customary in the university where they are lecturing. In the United States, professors con�nue to wear the gown and hood of the university from which they received their highest degree. The gown, in origin, may have been simply a type of overcoat to protect the teacher from the cold in unheated buildings; the cut or style seems to be derived from ecclesias�cal a�re. It has been black; however, in recent years some ins�tu�ons have adopted a school color for their gowns. The gowns of bachelors and masters are usually without trimmings of any sort, whereas those of doctors are faced down the front with velvet and adorned with three velvet bars on the sleeves.

The cap or “mortarboard” may have come from the squarish cap worn by the masons of the Middle Ages was suggested by the shape of the books that occupied so much of the scholar’s �me. A�ached to a bu�on atop the “mortarboard” is a tassel. The tassel is worn on the le� side by individuals receiving or have received a degree. For photography purposes, a candidate’s tassel may be worn on the right side of the mortarboard.

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES Division of Arts and Sciences General Studies, AS Joseph C. Dougherty Kailey Elizabeth Frank ◊ Maylin Osorio-Viñales ≋ Chloe M. Seabolt

Division of Allied Health and Professions Health Informa�on Technology, AAS † Amah M. Aka * Healthcare Management, BPS †† Nicholas Michael Girdlestone †† Casey Stack Surgical Technology, AAS ††

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Amanda Darmstedter Jazzmin Chris�na Lynch Madison Marshman Puspa L. Mishra * Angeline Sharpe Brenda A. Solly *≋

Catherine McAuley School of Nursing Prac�cal Nursing, Cer�ficate Millicent Appiah Allana DePaz Samantha Alexandria Fischer Kailey Elizabeth Frank ◊ Jasmine M. Jackson Britney Elease Jones Danyelle A. Moore Carlene Zanoni

Nursing, AAS Asma Albakri Michael Kurt Allen ◊ Trine�a R. Alston ◊‡ Carissa Amann * Alyssa G. Arber Amanda Atkinson Kaylee Audy Kellie Chris�ne Bamrick † Janeen Marie Bauer Amanda L. Beard Amy E. Benede� Andrea K. Bessick ◊ Caitlin Marie Bezner Emily Biddeman †† Jason Blanchet Briana Boye�e † Katherine Brewer * Amanda L. Broadnax ≋ Shamon Yve�e Burns ≋‡ Elizabeth Rose Bu�no † Rachel Chisim * Chris�na Christopher Lisa Marie Christopher Kris�n Marie Cole Stephanie Amber Connor Ashton M. Corp † Timothy J. Costan�no ◊ Jatuan Coston Jade N. Cozzo ≋ Lisa Crawford Meghan Crowell ‡ Claire Crowley Heather Danner †† Stacey Jo Daprizio * ≋ Courtney Davis Allison DeMar�n Nicole M. Dobucki *‡ Madelyn Rose Donovan Shawnte Renee Dotson Joseph C. Dougherty

For more information on our Commencement Celebration and where to view ceremony images: my.trocaire.edu/graduation-information Share the celebration!

Use #TrocaireGrad21 and #TrocaireProud

Olivia L. Dougherty ≋‡ Megan Doyle †† Emily Elizabeth Edwards Ma�hew Eldridge Jodi Failey Maria Farinacci Tiffany Alexis Farley * Bri�any Farmer Hannah E. Feldman Wille�e Fernandez-Nunez Valerie Frain * Mariah Gamel JoshuaJay Garcia Lindsay Ryann Gearhart Darcy Geis ≋‡ Ta’shelle J. German * IvyMarie O. Gilbert †† Corey Graves * † Courtney Greenway Caitlin Griffin Lisa Marie Guariglia Renee Hamm Emily Hannah-Albon Umal Hassan Chloe A. Hennings Felicia Herrmann Megan Holtz Mikiella Huggins Jessica Ickowski Payton Iozzia Marilyn C. Irving Ronda Renee Jackson Marlee Janiak †† Alysia Nicole Janzen * Rojin Jassim Breann K. John Maria Jones Flanagan Sara Kaier †† Renita M. Keith * Tiffanny Marie Kilian Breanna Knab William Korczynski † Stacey Kromer Gloria Kwanda Amira M. LaForme Tom Liao Chris�n Lonski Chelsea Chris�ne Lorich *‡ Amber Makin-Richards

Michelle G. Marle Kiley Martz Charlene Marie Maslowski Danielle Massey Kathleen McAnaney Da’Nesha L. McFarland Christopher Melito Rebekah Montalvo ≋ Moody * Paul J. Morath ◊ Chelsea Nile Nicholson Xanae Nickle Faye-Lyne P. Noel Uchenna Patrick Nwaugo Ashley Olivieri Natalie Orlowski Maylin Osorio-Viñales ≋ Jenna Parrish Karen A. Perry †† Alicia M. Porack † Hollie Michelle Po�er * † Sabrina Pritche� ‡ Samantha C. Przybysz ≋‡ †† Shelby Przybysz * Quinn A. Putaski Akira C. Reid Rolando Rojas Rayne Taylor Rui Amber Leigh Scherer Alesha H. Schmidt Erica Sierzchula Ayala Chanel Simpson ≋ Samantha Lynn Smith * Gabriella Sobaszek Meghan Sonnenberg Benjamin W. Spencer ≋ Ellio� James Stefanski † Amanda Stone Nicole Stover †† Gina Danielle Stulba * † Anthony Suriani Debbie Szczepanowski Julianna Tabone † Marshay Ta’nay Terry Kayla B. Thomas Derrick Thompson Lindsay Ann Tomaka † Jolene Torres Margaret Marie Torres †† Marissa

Allejandra Trzaska-Rozler Ashley Victori * Shannon Vona Cody Joseph Wagner Monicherri B. Walker Helene Chris�ne Watson Lauren K. Wentland †

Taylor Wierzba Cole�e A. Williams Kala Renee Williams Korie Williams Amber Wollaber Erin Woodard Champaine Young Emma Young Frank Ziccardi

Nursing, BS †† Stacey Brundo Kim Marie Dougherty Tenisha D. Johnson ◊ Superna Mam

HONORS & AFFILIATIONS † With Dis�nc�on: (3.4 GPA) †† With High Dis�nc�on: (3.6 GPA) ††† With Highest Dis�nc�on: (4.0 GPA) § With Merit (Cer�ficate Only): (3.4 GPA) * Phi Theta Kappa Interna�onal Honor Society, Alpha Pi Eta Chapter Δ Associa�on for Surgical Technologists Honor Society Members ◊ Veteran

‡ Alum From Day One

❖ P-Tech

≋: TriO Scholars

Red, White, & Blue Honor Cord: Designated for those graduates who currently serve, or served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces.

Gold Tassel with Gold & Blue Cords: Members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

Gold & Red Cords: Members of Alum from Day One

This program does not cons�tute as an official list of graduates.

Appearance of name does not guarantee the comple�on of degree requirements.

Honors and merits listed in the program are subject to change based on final cumula�ve grade point average (CGPA). Current merits are based on student’s midterm cumula�ve grade point average (CGPA).