Westminster College 171st Commencement Program

Senior Class Remarks ..................................................................................................Mr. Ian J. Herr ’25

Distinguished Faculty Award ............................................................................................. Dean McMinn

Conferring of Degrees .............................................................................................President Richardson

Degrees in Course ..................................................................................................... Dean McMinn

Kristen M. Amick, Ph.D. Registrar

Robert Badowski, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Chair School of Business

René A. Picó, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Chair School of Education

Congratulations .......................................................................................................President Richardson

Concluding Remarks Dean McMinn

Alma Mater Westminster College Graduate Choir

Benediction Rev. Mohr

Recessional Westminster College Faculty Brass Quintet

* The audience will please stand as you are able. + Words located at the end of program.

Westminster College Graduate Choir

Jada Marie Brown ’25

Amber L. Cepec ’25

Isabella Rose Dienes ’25

Katie Doris Lyons ’25

Shelby Rebecca Pocono ’25

Shawn M. Redmond ’25

Ellian Eduardo Ascencio

Allison M. Augustine

Jonas Alden Clark

Christopher Patrick Davis

Ashlee M. Douglass

Joshua A. Glaser

Brooke L. Horvath

Charlie M. Barefield

Jayden Alexis Benjamin

Cutter David Boggess

Samuel Blocher Dicaprio

Isabella Rose Dienes

Sarah R. Eisenhuth

Jacob Samuel Forrest

Gia Elizabeth Francisco

Melissa Graham

Lauren K. Gross

Isabella Marie Barnabei

Steel Talon Boyer

Ashlyn C. Brown

Sara E. Bubb

Isabella Ann Buettner

Ethan K. Burford

Natalie Dorothy Calvert

Ava J. Ferringer

Lily A. Hefner

Honors

Graduation Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Gavin Hill Jones

Dylan G. Kresak

Adison Paige Lenz

Evan Michael Lewis

Luvada R. Mayle

Madison McClernan

Anna Qian McGinnis

Magna Cum Laude

Emily F. Hipolito

Matthew Charles Howard

David John Kelly

Gianna Grace Lepore

Christina M. Loewe

Katie Doris Lyons

Natalie Gayle Maine

Brittany A. Marburger

Owen C. Martin

Elena C. Marttala

Cum Laude

Ella E. Hildebrand

Lindsey Marie Johnson

Aidan Michael Johnston

Emma Grace Little

Sara Ann Macmurdo

Alyjah Elizabeth Mejia McHugh

MacKenzie Jade Meyer

Alaina Moore

Gino Rosario Piraino

All-College Honors Program

Asia M. Morgenstern

Rebecca Nicole Ritz

Zoe E. Rowland

Rhett David Sanderson

Dalton Gabriel Stoops

Emma L. Sukal

Aubrey Rose Suttelle

Grace Kathryn Matson

Mackenzie Marie Powell

Nicolina Marie Risavi

Lyddia M. Rougeux

Connor T. Schmidt

Amelia Christine Sherman

Alexis M. Shiderly

Kaya Erin Skinner

Lucas John Toohey

Tyler Chase Young

Hannah Elizabeth Plowman

Shawn M. Redmond

Sydney Isabelle Rensel

Ashly N. Roa

Brady Charles Robison

Reid Leland Sanderson

Chase M. Thomas

Joseph Alvin Trudeau

Makyla Ray Wheeler

The All-College Honors Program provides opportunities for selected students to gain a deep appreciation of the multiple dimensions of knowledge. Only the most outstanding students in the incoming first-year class or rising sophomores are eligible, and selection is competitive. These graduates wear a special All-College Honors medallion.

Charlie M. Barefield - English

Isabella Ann Buettner - Psychology

Zachary R . Burghgraef - Chemistry

Lily A. Hefner - Interdisciplinary Criminal Justice/Molecular Biology

Christine Rose Karn - Biology

Alyjah Elizabeth Mejia McHugh - Business/ Marketing

Rhett David Sanderson - Materials Science

Reaghan Leslie Wilkerson - Interdisciplinary Criminal Justice/Psychology

Janeira C. James (+)

Bachelor of Arts (continued)

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ Campbell OH PreK-12 Special Education

Isaac Joseph Krahn Political Science Springfield VA

Amber L. Krebs Psychology Whitewater WI

Dylan G. Kresak Political Science Sarver PA

Russell W. Kwiat (+)

Adison Paige Lenz

Summa Cum Laude

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ New Castle PA PreK-12 Special Education

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ Pittsburgh PA PreK-12 Special Education

Summa Cum Laude

Gianna Grace Lepore Psychology Pulaski PA

Magna Cum Laude

Emma Grace Little Psychology Slippery Rock PA Cum Laude

Christina M. Loewe Political Science Austin TX

International Studies

Magna Cum Laude

Karl A. Love (+) Spanish Pittsburgh PA

Nayana Mykal Lukus Psychology New Kensington PA

Natalie Gayle Maine English Ellwood City PA

Magna Cum Laude

Miranda Nicole Mancini Political Science Brockway PA

Brittany A. Marburger

Elena C. Marttala

Creative Media Production Evans City PA

Magna Cum Laude

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ New Wilmington PA PreK-12 Special Education

Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Alexander Matese Strategic Communication Brook Park OH & Social Media

Grace Kathryn Matson

Individual Interdisciplinary Clarion PA

Magna Cum Laude

Madison McClernan Psychology Glendora NJ

Katelynn Amber McCurdy (+)

Summa Cum Laude

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ New Castle PA PreK-12 Special Education

Brody Scott Mcguinness Environmental Studies Heber City UT

Mia G. Meholick Psychology DuBois PA

Zoey Regina Metz (+)

Child & Family Studies Pittsburgh PA

Jack Robert Mickle Political Science Presto PA

Alaina Moore

Broadcasting & Sports Communications

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ Weirton WV PreK-12 Special Education Cum Laude

Ellis P. Moore (+) Political Science Millington MI Psychology

Elysia Mary Morris (+) Environmental Studies Ellwood City PA

Shea Helene O’Donnell (+) Environmental Studies Hatfield PA

Lydia Alexa Ohm (2) Psychology Pittsburgh PA Criminal Justice Studies

Mason Anthony Peck

Hannah Elizabeth Plowman

Quinnlyn Grace Reaver

Emily Elizabeth Reed (+)

Bachelor of Arts (continued)

Creative Media Production Cary NC

Strategic Communication Oil City PA & Social Media

Cum Laude

Political Science West Middlesex PA

Creative Media Production Canonsburg PA

Sydney Isabelle Rensel English Evans City PA

Nicolina Marie Risavi

Rebecca Nicole Ritz (2)

Jack Ryan Romocean

Reid Leland Sanderson

Cum Laude

Political Science Greenville PA

Magna Cum Laude

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ Grove City PA

PreK-12 Special Education

Summa Cum Laude

Music with a Track in Composition Ravenna OH

Broadcasting & Sports Meadville PA Communications

Cum Laude

Kylee Elizabeth Shannon Fine Art Quantico MD

Amelia Christine Sherman

Alexis M. Shiderly

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ Foxburg PA

PreK-12 Special Education

Magna Cum Laude

PreK-4 Early Childhood Education/ New Castle PA PreK-12 Special Education

Magna Cum Laude

Nicholas Drake Smith (+) Political Science Harrison City PA

Emma L. Sukal

Individual Interdisciplinary Pittsburgh PA Summa Cum Laude

Sara Ann Swanson Biology Avondale AZ

Jenifer Yvonne Leigh Vaughan (+)

Cody John Vetter

Individual Interdisciplinary Delaware OH

Broadcasting & Sports Rochester NY Communications

Wyatt Cole Walker (+) Political Science Venetia PA

Cory Michael Conte Webster (+) Music Coraopolis PA

Brianna D. Wetzel Psychology New Wilmington PA

Autumn R. Wheeler

Psychology New Brighton PA

Makyla Ray Wheeler Psychology Millersport OH

Reaghan Leslie Wilkerson

Cum Laude

Criminal Justice Studies Cranberry Township PA Psychology

All-College Honors in Interdisciplinary Criminal Justice/Psychology

Harmony Yvonne Wilson Biology Sharon PA

Geoffrey S. Worsey

Savanna J. Wright (+)

Tyler Chase Young

Professional Communication Frederick MD & Leadership

Criminal Justice Studies Jefferson Hills PA

Psychology

Criminal Justice Studies

Magna Cum Laude

Punxsutawney PA

Jeremy William Beckinger

Jada Marie Brown

Isabella Rose Dienes

Katie Doris Lyons

Bachelor of Music

Music Education California PA

Music Education West Newton PA

Music Education Punxsutawney PA

Magna Cum Laude

Music Education Shippensburg PA

Music Performance - Piano

Magna Cum Laude

Shelby Rebecca Pocono (+) Music Education Shavertown PA

Shawn M. Redmond

Music Performance - Instrumental

Music Performance - Instrumental Ellwood City PA

Cum Laude

Dalton Gabriel Stoops Music Education Warren OH

Summa Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science

Natalia Teresa Albamonti (+) Individual Interdisciplinary Irwin PA

Joseph R. Antuono (2) Finance New Castle PA

Ellian Eduardo Ascencio Chemistry Pittsburgh PA

Summa Cum Laude

Jacob Daniel Auchter Business Administration Sharon PA

Mason Baldwin Biochemistry Cranberry Township PA

Isabella Marie Barnabei Neuroscience Oakland NJ

Cum Laude

Gavin Nicholas Batdorff Business Administration Berlin Center OH

Derek Hunter Beach Accounting Titusville PA

Patrick John Benedict

Marketing & Professional Sales Upper St. Clair PA Sports Management

Jayden Alexis Benjamin Business Administration Munhall PA Human Resource Management

Magna Cum Laude

Cutter David Boggess Biology Marble PA

Magna Cum Laude

Nathan Thomas Bortnick Business Administration Conneautville PA

Steel Talon Boyer

Marketing & Professional Sales

Computer Science Mohrsville PA

Cum Laude

Kyle Robert Bruno Accounting Slippery Rock PA

Ethan K. Burford Business Administration Clarion PA

Cum Laude

Zachary R. Burghgraef (+) Chemistry Caledonia MI

All-College Honors in Chemistry

Samantha Louise Burnett Biology Pittsburgh PA

Brice A. Butler

Marketing & Professional Sales Farrell PA

Natalie Dorothy Calvert Biology Fairview PA

Cum Laude

Braeden Matthew Campbell (+) Biochemistry Glenshaw PA

Peter John Hamilton Canovali

Portland James Harrison Canovali

Declan Michael Catterall

Business Administration Pittsburgh PA

Business Administration Pittsburgh PA

Computer Science Cranberry Township PA

Alondra M. Melendez

John Daniel Menefee

MacKenzie Jade Meyer

Bachelor of Science (continued)

Molecular Biology Rochester NY

Sports Management Mount Pleasant PA

Accounting Mercer PA

Cum Laude

Charles E. Moller Chemistry Viola DE

Asia M. Morgenstern

Glenn Morrison (+)

Quinn P. Morrow

Computer Science New Wilmington PA Mathematics

Summa Cum Laude

Business Administration Delran NJ

Business Administration Pittsburgh PA Finance

Iresha Michelle Norris (+) Sports Management Sharon PA

Dwight Edward Parker Business Administration Youngstown OH

Breanna Leigh Peck Biology Mount Pleasant PA

Michael A. Phillips Finance Saxonburg PA

Walter Dwayne Phillips

Business Administration Miami FL

Gino Rosario Piraino Finance Export PA

Luke A. Postufka

Cum Laude

Business Administration Bridgeville PA

Marketing & Professional Sales

Mackenzie Marie Powell Finance Harrison City PA

Accounting

Magna Cum Laude

Lainee Renee Puhl

Brayan Josue Ramonez

Ashly N. Roa

Brady Charles Robison

Christopher Matthew Rotiroti

Lyddia M. Rougeux

Business Administration North Lima OH

Marketing & Professional Sales

Business Administration Venezuela, Punto Fijo FC

Accounting Philadelphia PA

International Business Business Administration

Cum Laude

Business Administration Hermitage PA

Cum Laude

Sports Management Hastings-on-Hudson NY

Molecular Biology Pittsfield PA

Magna Cum Laude

Zoe E. Rowland Biology Monaca PA

Summa Cum Laude

Tyler Jensen Salvatore Sports Management Mount Pleasant PA Business Administration

Rhett David Sanderson

Connor T. Schmidt

Gwenyth A. Sernulka

Rylie D. Siget

Kaya Erin Skinner

Marketing & Professional Sales

Materials Science Meadville PA

All-College Honors in Materials Science

Summa Cum Laude

Business Administration Evans City PA

Marketing & Professional Sales

Magna Cum Laude

Individual Interdisciplinary Austintown OH

Business Administration Beaver Falls PA

Accounting Oil City PA

Magna Cum Laude

Westminster College Board of Trustees 2024-2025

Chair

David M. Farner ’85 Pittsburgh, PA

Richard P. Beard ’95 Export, PA

Jennifer L. Bertetto Lower Burrell, PA

Anthony D. Brown ’84 Twinsburg, OH

Randall K. Bush Milwaukee, WI

Christian G. Carmody ’96 Mars, PA

Mark G. DeWitt Pittsburgh, PA

Beth A. Eck ’85 Charlottesville, VA

Christian G. Heilmann ’72 New Hartford, NY

Jeffrey T. Bersett New Wilmington, PA

Gabrielle R. DiDolce ’25 Shippenville, PA

Ian J. Herr ’25 New Castle, PA

George R. Berlin Canfield, OH

Gary D. Brown ’71 Pittsburgh, PA

Robert J. Bruce New Castle, PA

Leonard M. Carroll Jackson Center, PA

Vice Chair

Robin Willoughby Gooch ’75 Bonita Springs, FL

Robert C. Jackson Jr. ’91 Pittsburgh, PA

Robert C. Jazwinski ’75 Hermitage, PA

Linda Claybourn Jenkins ’80 Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY

Kristin Mezmar Kaiser ’86 Allison Park, PA

Deborah Platt Majoras ’85 McLean, VA

Doreen A. McCall Harrisburg, PA

Jeffrey A. McCandless ’80 Pittsburgh, PA

Stephen D. McConnell ’80 Sarasota, FL

Associate Trustees

Ella E. Hildebrand ’25 Greenville, PA

Nanci D. Kleese Hosick ’95, M’03 Hermitage, PA

Russell E. Martin Hermitage, PA

Trustees Emeriti

James Dewar ’59 Central City, PA

George C. Greer Rector, PA

Carolyn J. Jones ’58 Allison Park, PA

Thomas S. Mansell ’61 New Castle, PA

Leslie Cox Pemberton ’82 Venice, FL

Lisa B. Peters Sewickley, PA

Patrick J. Sentner ’90 Bluffton, SC

Tracy L. Stuck ’88 Columbus, OH

Thomas A. Tupitza ’79 Erie, PA

Jeffrey T. Wiley ’75 Allison Park, PA

Joseph F. Zunic ’85 Sewickley, PA

Pamela A. Richardson New Wilmington, PA

Wayne A. Miller ’61 Kalispell, MT

Martha Vance Wile ’57 Williamsburg, VA

Academic Heraldry

The caps, gowns, and hoods worn in the Commencement exercises are patterned after the attire of monks and students in the Middle Ages. The bachelor’s degree gown is distinguished by the long pleated front, intricate shirring across the shoulders and back, and long pointed sleeves. The master’s degree gown is similar but is different in the oblong, hanging sleeves. Those who hold the doctor’s degree wear a gown featuring broad velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each sleeve. This velvet trimming may be either black or the distinctive color of the field of learning represented by the degree.

Black is the traditional color of the gowns. However, many faculty who hold doctorates wear gowns distinguished by the primary color or colors of the institutions which awarded the degrees.

The caps worn are of many different types. There is the traditional “mortarboard,” the soft “beret” type, and the “Florentine” style. The tassels of the caps are worn on the left side by those who already possess bachelor’s degrees. Those who are to receive bachelor’s degrees in today’s exercises wear theirs on the right side until the presentations are made, at which time they will shift the tassels to the left.

The hood is probably the most distinct feature of the costumes being worn. The size of the hood varies according to the level of the degree held. The bachelor’s is the smallest, the master’s is somewhat larger, and the doctor’s the largest of the three. The inner silk lining of the hood symbolizes the colors of the institution which conferred the degree. The outer velvet border of the hood signifies the field of learning to which the degree pertains, such as the following:

Arts, Letters, Humanities - White Medicine - Dark Green

Business, Accounting - Drab

Economics - Copper

Education - Light Blue

Fine Arts - Brown

Law - Purple

Library Science - Lemon Yellow

Music - Pink

Philosophy - Dark Blue

Physical Education - Sage Green

Science - Golden Yellow

Speech - Silver Gray

Theology - Scarlet Red

— Walter E. Scheid Professor of

Speech

Emeritus

About Westminster College

Westminster College was founded as a coeducational institution by two presbyteries of the Associate Presbyterian Church. Originally called Westminster Collegiate Institute, it opened for classes in the spring of 1852 and was one of the first private undergraduate colleges to grant degrees to men, women and persons of color. In 1857, Sarah McMichael became the first woman to be granted the A.B. degree in Pennsylvania.

Beginning in one small brick building, the campus now has 24 major buildings and several athletic courts and fields located on 300 acres. From three departments of study in the early years, the academic program has grown to offer 41 majors and pre-professional programs housed in seven schools. The College began offering graduate programs in 1945. Westminster is regularly listed among the top private liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Money, Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal.

Westminster students benefit from a distinctly experiential and collaborative learning environment. They are mentored by faculty members who are dedicated to excellence in teaching and to engaging in active research—often with their students as collaborators. Each spring, students present their original research and share their artistic talents during the day-long Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration. More than 70 percent of students gain real-world experience in their field through an internship or practicum experience. The College promotes students’ professional opportunites through the Professional Networking Symposium each fall; the Harms Center for the Environment Symposium; the Entrepreneurship Symposium; and other opportunities that create networks and career pathways. The success of our Titan athletic teams in conference, regional and national championships is a point of pride at Westminster. We are equally proud of our students’ commitment to philanthropic outreach and to developing the competencies, commitments and characteristics that have distinguished human beings at their best.