In addition to annual academic awards, Wilkes University also recognizes graduates that have made their mark outside the classroom. Congratulations to the following 2022 recipients!
Resident Assistant of the Year

Sarah Markovich
"Sarah was chosen for this award because she stands out from the rest in executing the duties of the RA position. She has cultivated a strong residential community, she has been a vital resource for her peers, and has upheld the values of the Residence Life Office and the RA position."
Outstanding Service & Dedication Award

Kaylee Hornberger
"Kaylee is deserving of this award because she has gone above and beyond for her residents from when she started the position to now. She is always on top of her communication when it comes to communicating with the residents or the professional staff in Residence Life. Kaylee recognizes the importance of the role of an RA and leads by example in everything she does on campus as well. Kaylee has done a lot to maintain deep interpersonal connections with her residents in 40 West this year, something that has been traditionally difficult in overseeing that style of living. Kaylee makes it a point to consistently follow up with her residents when she is made aware of circumstances that affect their living, and does it without being prompted to, just to make sure that her residents are supported.
Kaylee's residents always stop her in the hall or on campus, and she goes out of her way to speak with them to check up on them. In recognizing the personal challenges Kaylee has gone through this academic year, she has not let her duties as a Resident Assistant fall by the wayside, as well as her other commitments and dedications to other organizations on-campus, such as the Chaplain of Kappa Psi where she helps to plan community service engagements for the society, APhA, and SNPhA. She shows true dedication and passion into the position and always puts forth her fullest effort. Kaylee Hornberger is truly deserving of the Outstanding Service and Dedication award."
Resident Assistants - Seniors

Jackson (Ashlynn) Allison

Tyler Bonadie

Ryan Chapman

Taylor Dillon

Thaddeus Donlavage

Alexandra Gundlah

Elijah Hayes

Kaylee Hornberger

Jacob Hubbard

Randall Lisk

Daniel Maldonado

Kirsten Mascaritola

Rachelle Papacena

Prutha Patel

Mengying Shi

Breanna Ebisch
e-Mentors - Seniors

Jackson (Ashlynn) Allison

Donald Ballou

Dayton Benjamin

Angela Croop

Teddy Donlavage

Phil Erickson

Kaitlyn Falco

James Hughes

Lauren Johnson

Andrew Kovalick

Neha Metgud

Sean Schmoyer

Hope Williams
Female Senior Scholar Athlete

Sara Ross
3.986 GPA
Male Senior Scholar Athlete

Michael Gurska
4.0 GPA

Phil Erickson
4.0 GPA
Female Athlete of the Year

Emily Bidelspach
Second Team All-MAC Freedom; Team-high 13 goals and five assists (31 points)
Male Athlete of the Year

Donald Flynn
"Flynn, who earlier this season was named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Offensive Player of the Year and to the All-United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) First Team and All-MAC First Team, is now an All-American for the second time in his career. Flynn was named a CCM Hockey/AHCA First Team East All-American following his sophomore season in 2019-20. He was one of only three players to repeat as All-American's this season.
The senior led the nation this season with 1.33 assists-per-game as he totaled 32 in 24 games. He ranked third in the country with 1.75 points-per-game as he totaled 42 points. Flynn helped the Colonels to a 20-5-1 overall record during the 2021-22 season, leading the team with a plus-25 rating and a .595 face-off winning percentage as he went 223-and-152 at the dot this season. Flynn recorded 13 multi-point games including a season-high four point game against Albertus Magnus on November 14th. He scored 10 goals, including two game-winners and four on the power play."
Alumni Association Volunteer Award

Riley Smith
"Riley has been a volunteer on the Homecoming student team for several years, helps in the alumni office if requested, and has always been a reliable student, even with the shortest of notice."
Communication Studies Co-Curricular Award

Breanna Ebisch
"She was named to the Dean’s List multiple times and was inducted to both Lambda Pi Delta and Sigma Tau Delta. She has been involved with The Beacon, Wilkes Now!, WCLH and Zebra throughout her entire college career. She served as a Resident Assistant on campus for her junior and senior year, was the work study student for the Department of Performing Arts since her first year and was involved with Manuscript Society. She is also a Gold Award Girl Scout."
Keith Topfer Memorial Award

Brendan Lee
"Chosen due to excellence and hard work at his co-op."

Dylan Kuipers
"Displayed incredible diligence and work ethic."
Outstanding Senior Intern Award

Matt Shelly
"Matt has been involved in three internships during his tenure at Wilkes University. As a Senior, he was a brilliant Premedical Scholar, and he will start as a medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University."

Kayla Lopez
It is a pleasure and privilege to honor Kayla Lopez with the Outstanding Intern Award. Dr. Bob Bohlander and I created the Center as a place to help the Wilkes community, to provide a fertile ground for learning for interns, and as a home to research for students and faculty. Kayla worked with us as an intern at the NeuroTraining & Research Center in the Fall of 2021. Kayla was outstanding on all levels; She was reliable, and professional, perfected the techniques that she was taught, and really served as the leader in the center, helping and guiding the other student interns.
But more than this, Kayla gave her heart to the center. She was crucial in bringing in a lot of clients by talking about the center with friends, and always went the extra mile to make sure the center was running smoothly. Her performance was one of the keys to why we were so successful in maintaining a professional and valuable site for helping others. For this, we are thrilled and proud to honor Kayla with this important award."
Helping Hands Service Award

Jessica Turnitza
"Student Blood Drive and Get Swabbed ambassador. Jessica has been involved in the university's community health efforts for the past 2 years. She advertises and recruits for all of our Red Cross blood drives making them huge successes despite COVID limitations. She conducts outreach for the organization Get Swabbed Marrow registry in which students are afforded the opportunity to be a member of the bone marrow registry. This semester she additionally organized the Walk for Ukraine and medical donation drive. Jess has been an integral leader and effective teammate."

Chloe Kramer
"A helper with Reading Buddies as well as the VISTAs assistant."

Angela Fiorentino
"Helping out the Wilkes University Veterans Council with planning events, finding opportunities, and any other services that they need."
Nada Vujica Memorial Award

Juana Pimentel Gonzalez
"Juana's participation on campus and her leadership fosters internationalization and inclusion at Wilkes. She has been involved with the Hospitality Leadership Club for 4 years and is its current President. In past years, she served as VP and Social Media Coordinator. She has been involved in cultural and service events and organizations on campus including the Big Event, Hip Hop Club and the Asian Culture Society. She served as a Spanish tutor and has been part of Wilkes admissions team, working in Open Houses and giving presentations.
Juana's leadership is shown not only through her participation in activities and in clubs, but also by her initiative in working with incoming Panamanian students and serving as a special support for a visually impaired student during his entire time at Wilkes. Juana especially demonstrates the characteristics of the Nada Vujica Award in her efforts to highlight Panamanian culture through presentations, and events, and helping other Panamanian students to participate fully in campus activities."
Undergraduate School of Education Service Award

Kait Falco
"Kait's dedication to serving Wilkes University, the School of Education, and her peers in the Undergraduate Education Department is remarkable. Kait serves the University and department as an e-mentor, leads events during Open House and Summer Orientation, and served in leadership roles on the Education Club."