BY KELLY LEWIS
Caroline Abate alongside President Denning and Jennifer Swanson is presented with the International Business Program Award.
Summit photo by Kelly Lewis
Thirty-nine seniors, along with five graduate students were recognized and presented awards at the Scholars Celebration on Wednesday, April 27 at 5 p.m. in May Auditorium.
Stonehill President, Father John Denning, C.S.C. welcomed faculty, students, and families with an opening prayer and remark.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to recognize the great work these scholars have accomplished in the classroom, the labs, and in their research,” Denning said.
“I also want to recognize in a special way the faculty who have worked so closely with our students during their days of study and learning. To the families, faculty, and staff who are here today, thank you for all you have done to support and mentor these remarkable individuals and help them to achieve this honor,” he said.
Father Kevin Spicer, Dean of the May School of Arts & Sciences read off the names of departmental honorees from the May School. Please see the complete list below.
As each name was called, the student receiving the award walked across the stage accompanied by a faculty member to receive a certificate and take a picture with President Denning.
Senior Emma MacIntyre, accompanied by Professor Jared Green, accepted the Maurice Morin Department Citizenship Prize. MacIntyre is an English major with a double minor in Spanish and Creative Writing.
“She isn't concerned with getting the ‘right’ answers, but rather with sharing her deeply felt experience of language, narrative, and poetics, and asking perceptive questions, enjoining her peers to connect more deeply to each other and the world,” Spicer said.
MacIntyre said she will begin work at the Jamestown Philomenian Library as a Marketing and Programming Associate in June.
“I am thrilled to explore the world of librarianship, taking the love for literature and learning I have developed as an English major to promote a society in which there is bountiful curiosity and information accessibility,” she said.
The Health Science Program recognized senior Grace Sanders for her dedication and academic success.
“The first half of her time at Stonehill was spent pursuing a degree that, ultimately, was not her
calling. The dedication she has shown to herself in listening to and following her heart exemplifies what it means to be a Stonehill Scholar,” Spicer said.
Sanders said she was previously majoring in early childhood education and thought she was going to be a teacher. She said she realized she didn’t want to be a teacher and switched to Health Science as a rising junior.
Sanders said her advisor, Professor Kate Harris emailed her to notify she had won the award a few weeks prior to the ceremony.
“I wasn't expecting to win, I didn't even know these awards were given out. I feel like I was chosen because of how I was able to jump into a major with difficult courses so late, catch up to those in our grade, and still manage to maintain a very high GPA,” she said.
Sanders said her parents, grandmother, and boyfriend attended the ceremony to support her recognition for past work and to celebrate her upcoming future. She will be working at Boston Children’s Hospital as a nutrition technician in the feeding center.
“I also will be going to Boston University and pursuing my Master's in Nutrition and be in the dietetic program which prepares you to be a Registered Dietitian,” Sanders said.
Deirdre Boyer, a senior, was recognized by the Biology department and accompanied by Professor Nicole Cyr.
“There are so many great biology students that all could have won this award. I think I received this award as I've been heavily involved in the biology department through being a TA, lab assistant, SURE leader, and SIA faculty search representative,” she said.
“Her knowledge and enthusiasm for science-informed her endocrine research, for which she was awarded two SURE fellowships. Her research led to presentations at neuroscience conferences and a senior honors thesis. She has Deirdre has a bright future as a research scientist,” Spicer said.
Following graduation, Boyer said she will work as a research associate at a biotechnology startup company.
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences recognized Megan Perry for her research in intermediate-mass black holes.
“Megan has been a very successful teaching assistant, in the Physics, Math, and Chemistry Departments,” Spicer said.
Perry said she could not have gotten to the point she is at today without the support of my professors, especially Professor Massarotti and Professor Fornasini.
“I felt proud of how far I have come since freshman year. I am so thankful for the many opportunities I have gotten at Stonehill, especially through my STEM classes,” she said.
Perry will move to Maryland in August to attend the University of Maryland, studying geology while working with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
“I also will be working on a project at NASA Goddard to send a laser ablation mass spectrometer to the far end of the moon to analyze the chemical composition of rocks,” Perry said.
Following the May School of Arts & Sciences awards, President of Lambda Epsilon Sigma Kaitlyn Simmons invited Dean Sam Beldona to the stage to present the awards for the students in the Leo J. Meehan School of Business.
Caroline Abate, a senior, a Moreau Honors Scholar double majoring in International
Business and Spanish with minors in Data Analytics and Entrepreneurship was recognized by the International Business Department.
Abate has done it all. Spicer said she has interned and volunteered with several organizations, participated in the NYC externship and Engage Financial Leaders Program, been inducted into three honor societies, and has held leadership roles as a Resident Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Volunteer Coordinator, and Women in Finance Club President.
Abate said she has accepted a Financial Analyst position at Dell Technologies and will be traveling to Spain to teach English starting in September.
“I’ll be traveling to a small town in central Spain this fall, living with a host family, and teaching English in an elementary classroom for a few months. I'm excited for the opportunity” Abate said.
James Pentikis, a senior, the President of the Accounting Association and Beta Alpha Psi, the International Accounting Honor Society accepted the Accounting major award.
Pentikis said he was surprised when his two accounting professors approached in while doing work in Meehan to tell him he won.
He said he will be interning in Audit this upcoming summer with PwC. In the fall, he will
be starting a 5th-year program to achieve 150 credits needed for his CPA certification.
“Although I am excited to graduate, I do feel nostalgia as my time at Stonehill comes to an end. I am looking forward to what the future holds but do appreciate and are truly thankful for all of the opportunities presented to me while at Stonehill,” he said.
Next, the Class of 2022 and 2023 Lambda Epsilon Sigma (LES), Stonehill College Honor Society inductees were invited on stage.
President of Lambda Epsilon Sigma Kaitlyn Simmons, along with Vice President Nick Goul and Secretary Elisha Brinkman gave out certificates and LES pins.
“Lambda Epsilon Sigma recognizes outstanding juniors and seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, provided evidence of a thirst for knowledge that goes beyond the classroom into their co-curricular activities, contributed to the intellectual development of the Stonehill community, and exhibited an ability to communicate their thoughts effectively,” the program said.
According to the program, there was a total of 91 inductees, 36 members from the class of 2022 and 55 from the class of 2023. On stage, the inductees had to affirm the principles of LES out loud.
“I pledge to uphold the values of the Lambda Epsilon Sigma Honor Society to which I have been selected. I will be true to the principles for which it stands. I will demonstrate a thirst for knowledge, and contribute to the intellectual development of the community during my time at and beyond Stonehill College. I will maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character through my membership in this society,” the inductees said.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs DeBrenna Agbényiga concluded the ceremony, congratulating all students represented that night.
The complete list of Honorees:
May School of Arts & Sciences
Anthropology: Cheyenne Zinnkosko
Biochemistry: Mary Bussiere
Biology B. A.: Keith Francis
Biology B. S.: Deirdre Boyer
Chemistry B. S.: Madison Hussey
Communication Studies: Lukas Pina-Sousa
Communication Media Studies: Meghan Jarret
Computer Science: James Milinazzo
Criminology: Shannon Curran
Early Childhood Education: Katherine McKenna
Earth & Planetary Sciences: Megan Perry
Education Studies (Non-Licensure): Emma Bernier
Elementary Education: Lauretta Grant
English: Emma MacIntyre
Environmental Sciences: Abrielle Remick
Environmental Studies: Kaitlin Kornachuk
Gender & Sexuality Studies: Karly O’Keefe
Health Science: Grace Sanders
History: Gwenyth Taradash
Mathematics BA: Julia Barry
Mathematics BS: Emily Brady
Neuroscience: Megan MacIver
Performing Arts
Dance: Kaili Guyer
Theatre: Abigail Kramer
Philosophy: Lauren Correa
Political Science & International Studies - Government & Politics: James Paul Constantine
Psychology: Amun Mohanty
Secondary Education: Leah Kelly
Sociology: Ellen Jones
Spanish: Meghan Jarret
Special Education: Lauren Goode
Meehan School of Business
Accounting: James Pentikis
Economics: Elisha Brinkman
Finance: Patrick Milton
Healthcare Administration: Caitlin Regan
International Business: Caroline Abate
General Management: Tyler Chaffee
Management Information Systems: Alexandra Maiella
Marketing: Katherine Frodigh
Photo courtesy of Deidre Boyer