Extracurricular Awards

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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

The Resident Assistant of the Year award is meant to recognize an RA who has stood above the rest in executing the duties of the position. This award should be given to an RA who has demonstrated a mastery of the RA position, served as a resource to their peers, built a strong residential community, and upheld the values of the Residence Life office and the RA position.

Sarah Markovich

Pharmacy, 2024
Lansford, PA

"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

The Office of Residence Life’s highest honor given to a graduating RA, this award recognizes a staff member who has spent a significant portion of their time at Wilkes in the RA role and has made an indelible impact on the residents and staff of Wilkes University. The recipient of this award has given back to the department and the residents in a meaningful way. Through programming, residence life traditions, community building, campus leadership, and mentorship, the recipient of this award has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the mission of Residence Life and the growth of the residential student.

Kaylee Hornberger

Pharmacy, 2023
Williamsport, PA

"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

The RAs are hired on the basis of character, leadership, and their ability to interact with students. All of the RAs have undergone extensive training so they may readily meet the needs of all our residential students. The main function of the RA staff is to build a community, which is crucial to a successful residence hall living experience. The RAs practice an open door policy and are available day and night should students need them.

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

First-Year Student e-Mentors are upperclassman that provide experience and support to incoming students at Wilkes University. While the program begins at Orientation, e-Mentors work with their assigned group throughout the Fall semester, to offer guidance and knowledge that will help with the transition to college life. The program helps each new student connect with peers, upperclassmen, and the institution as a whole.

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

Highest GPA of female senior student-athletes.

Sara Ross

Communications Studies, 2022
Nazareth, PA

3.986 GPA

 

Male Senior Scholar Athlete

Highest GPA of male senior student-athletes.

Michael Gurska

Sports Management, 2022
Revere, MA

4.0 GPA

 

Phil Erickson

Financial Investments, 2022
Eau Claire, WI

4.0 GPA

 

Female Athlete of the Year

Top female athlete for the 2021-22 season.

Emily Bidelspach

Nursing, 2022
Myerstown, PA

Second Team All-MAC Freedom; Team-high 13 goals and five assists (31 points)

 

Male Athlete of the Year

Top male athlete for the 2021-22 season.

Donald Flynn

Computer Information Systems, 2022
Randolph, NJ

"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

This award will be given out annually to a student who showed consistent involvement with the alumni association during their time at Wilkes. This includes, volunteering on the Homecoming Student Team, representing students at Advancement events, and giving their time and talent to help out in the Alumni Office.

Riley Smith

Pharmacy P3
Allentown, PA

"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

A student who actively involved and holds leadership positions in the department's co-curriculars.

Breanna Ebisch

Communication Studies, 2022
Franklin, NJ

"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

Top student in a mechanical engineering co-op.

Brendan Lee

Mechanical Engineering, 2022
West Pittston, PA

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

 

Dylan Kuipers

Mechanical Engineering, 2022
Andover, NJ

"Displayed incredible diligence and work ethic."

 

Outstanding Senior Intern Award

The Outstanding Senior Intern Award is presented to a graduating senior intern in any major. They must have received (or will receive) a 4.0 in their internship. They should be considered an outstanding representative of the Cooperative Education program.

Matt Shelly

Biology, 2022
Cochranville, PA

"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

Psychology, 2022
Binghamton, NY

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

Given to an individual who is more than a great volunteer, but someone who has embraced the role of being a leader through service.

Jessica Turnitza

Nursing, 2022
Cumbola, PA

"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

Chemistry, 2023
Shamokin, PA

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

 

Angela Fiorentino

Environmental Science, 2022
Lanoka Harbor, NJ

"Helping out the Wilkes University Veterans Council with planning events, finding opportunities, and any other services that they need."

 

Nada Vujica Memorial Award

The Nada Vujica Memorial Award has been given for over 40 years to an international student who fosters internationalization on the Wilkes campus. Nada Vujica was a staff member at Wilkes and served as Head Librarian. Her husband Dr. Stanko Vujica was the Chairman of the philosophy department. Both of them were very interested in promoting international perspectives and to highlight globalization at Wilkes they created this award.

Juana Pimentel Gonzalez

Hospitality Leadership, 2022
Herrera, Panama

"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

This award is given to the undergraduate education student who exemplifies the ethic of service during his or her educational journey at Wilkes University.

Kait Falco

Elementary & Early Childhood Education, 2022
Bethlehem, PA

"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."