2021 Extracurricular Awardees
Resident Assistant of the Year
Alanah Guerrero
"Alanah Guerrero deserves this because she puts her heart and soul into making campus home for the residents in the community she serves. Alanah consistently has taken time to help her residents, and other resident assistants to make sure they were okay. Alanah has a strong ability to connect with others with being an outgoing person. She is always looking out for others and supports them no matter what their experience is in that moment. Programmatically, Alanah has been strong this year in response to COVID-19’s impact on campus. Notably, two large-scale programs that occurred in Evans Hall and for all first-year RAs include the Egg-cel in Studying Egg Hunt and Sex Bingo, which have been ideas that Alanah and other RAs worked to have happen. In supporting the department this year as one of the co-chairs of the Residence Life Traditions committee, she worked to plan Battle of the Halls for the first-year students. It is with great pride to give the Resident Assistant of the Year award to Alanah Guerrero."
Resident Assistants - Seniors
Alanah Guerrero
Arsen Cora
Dylan Womelsdorf
Jasleen Kaur
Jason DeBoard
Katy Blankenhorn
Kevin Long
Mark Chester
Moustafa Almeky
Richard Ermeus
Outstanding Service & Dedication Award
Katy Blakenhorn
"Katy Blakenhorn is being awarded the Outstanding Service & Dedication Award because she is and incredible leader and has made a positive impact on her peers ranging from first-year students, her assigned residents, and her RA peers. Katy gives a full effort into all that she does. She is an exceptional scholar and prioritizes her academics to be able to have time to be a resource and presence in the Wilkes community. As an RA, Katy’s residents and coworkers know that her door is always open if they ever need anything. At the beginning of this year Katy shared that she wanted to mentor more RAs but found it challenging to connect because of COVID. This led her to volunteer to be a Co-Chair for the Traditions Committee in the hopes of getting to know more of her peers. She successfully mentored a few RA peers both in and outside of the RA role and she has built exceptionally strong residential communities in three separate halls, each with their unique challenges. Katy has successfully executed numerous programs which have engaged her residents and enhanced their residential experiences. Katy has been a wonderful mentor and support to her peer and genuinely cares about helping others to gain the most from their college experience. She is caring, hardworking, transparent, dedicated, supportive and always goes above and beyond the call of duty. Campus Involvement: Resident Assistant (3 years - Michelini Hall, UT, and Waller Hall); President, APhA-ASP; Treasurer, Rho Chi Honor Society; Worked in the Club Hub; e-Mentor for 3 years; Pharmacy Intern, Giant Pharmacy "
e-Mentors - Seniors
Alanah Guerrero
Brooke Mazzotta
DeAndre DePass
Devin Lindley
Edison Fowler
Jason DeBoard
Jessica Morandi
Kacee Diehl
Logan Biechy
Louis Baez-Fuentes
Monica Morrison
Natalie Everett
Olivia Raymond
Sarah Malone
Colonels Elite
Alexa Cieri
Alexa Gaetano
Allen Kokilananda
Ariel Reed
Ashley Coughlin
Brandon Whitman
Brianna Horton
Cameron Fiester
Caylee-Mae Williams
Chase Ohlson
Derek Heiserman
Devon Catrambone
Domenica Lerch
Emily Bidelspach
Emily Loftus
Emma Stauffer
Ethan P. Erickson
Gabriela Smicherko
Hannah Hart
Heath Hoovler
Joseph Pasquini
Juliann Duignam
Kalyn Lash
Katelyn Kinczel
Landon Henry
Laura Booths
Lauren Golden
Lauren Shiplett
Laurenne Fraser
Madelynn Kinnard
Matthew Mueller
Michael Gurska
Michael Paterson-Jones
Niamh Harkins
Nicholas Fea
Nicholas Surgent
Owen Grigas
Peyton Schuck
Philip Davis
Rhiannon Aurand
Ryan Galvin
Ryan Solomon
Sean Coller
Tatiana Mancera
Taylor Reiff
Toon De Schepper
Tyler Dill
Valerie Koenig
Zachary Tone
Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year
Kristie Najdek
"3.963 GPA"
Female Athlete of the Year
Maddie Kelley
"Named Second Team All-MAC Freedom. Ranked seventh in the conference for scoring average at 11.0 ppg, eighth in rebounding at 4.8 rpg, 10th in both field goals made and field goal percentage at 37 and 33.6, respectively, first in three-pointers made with 21, third in three-point percentage at 34.4, first in three-pointers per-game at 2.1, tied for 10th in steals-per-game at 1.2, tied for 11th in steals with 10, 13th in minutes with 272, and 17th in minutes-per-game with 27.2."
Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year
Nico Lorenzo
"4.0 GPA (Highest GPA of male senior athletes)"
Male Athlete of the Year
Tony Molitoris
"Molitoris ranked seventh in the MAC Freedom with a 3.49 earned run average. Tied for first in wins with six while ranking second in innings with 56.2. Tied for fifth in conference with 33 strikeouts while finishing fourth in walks with nine. Tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts in same week against Stevens and FDU-Florham."
Alumni Association Volunteer Award
Caitlin Klinger
"Caitlin was the intern first and did an above average job in that role. She came back as a work study the following semester and went above and beyond her duties. She continued to help out and volunteer even after the semester ended. Caitlin reached out and even volunteered to help once graduated with anything in the alumni and advancement offices. "
Communication Studies Outstanding Leadership and Service Award 2021
Dylan Mehl
"Assistant Sports Director for 90.7 WCLH Radio, Co-Opinion Editor for The Beacon, and an active member in Wilkes communication studies extracurriculars for majority of academic career."
Keith Topfer Memorial Award
Emma Kimmel
"Emma participated in different projects, wrote work instructions for machines, and worked to optimize operations at Mountain Top Foam. She was able to learn about the basic process of manufacturing as well as different programming techniques for various machines. She was also just informed by her supervisor that she will be able to lead a project this summer. Emma has many big opportunities ahead of her!"
Intern of the Year Award
Phil Erickson
"In the first semester of his internship, Phil worked as the Intern of Finance at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (APKCFEE). As an Intern in Finance, he focused on learning the basics of valuation of intellectual property through work on projects for mechanical engineering professor Dr. Razavi and Jaxlax. Jaxlax is operated by Wilkes Men’s Lacrosse Coach, Curtis Jaques. He studied Dr. Razavi’s patent and its qualitative properties that allow financial analysts to assess its value. He then took the knowledge gained from studying the patent and applied it to creating a Net Present Value/Discounted Cash Flow analysis for Jaxlax’s Triiilax product."
Helping Hands Service Award
Jessica Turnitza
"Student Blood Drive and Get Swabbed ambassador. Jessica helped to advertise and recruit for all of our blood drives; making them huge successes despite the pandemic. She created two Get Swabbed events for the Bone Marrow registry in which we distributed 50 kits. She did an amazing job. "
Nada Vujica Memorial Award
Juan Astegiano
"Juan Astegiano has been involved in supporting internationals, developing his own understanding of international perspectives, and promoting internationalization during his 4 years at Wilkes. He worked closely with the Office of International Engagement, helping newly arrived Panamanian students as they learned to live and study at Wilkes; he spent semesters abroad taking advantage of learning opportunities around the world; he majored in international relations, learning international perspectives theoretically, as well as practically. Juan is always ready to help any way he can and always looks at situations with a positive attitude."
Teacher Education Service Award
Kait Falco
"When the Education Department needs student support, Kait is always there. She is collaborative and an educational leader. Kait serves as the Education Club President and Honors Program Student Committee President. She is also on the Orientation Coordinator Team. With the Honors Program, she has collected school supplies for the CYC, walked for the NEDA, & collected soda tabs for Ronald McDonald. This year with the Education club, she successfully planned and ran a Field Day event with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Kait also participated in selling and hanging the Blue Ribbons for Autism awareness day with the Graham Academy and the city of Wilkes-Barre, writing letters to children at St. Jude’s, & Day of Caring at Heights Murray. "
Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Extracurricular Achievement Award
Kayla Acker-Carter
"Kayla has been instrumental in facilitating chapter activities and successful outreach events for the Wilkes University Student Chapter of the Society Of Women Engineers (SWE) as President. She is also an active member of the Wilkes Student Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) and Students for Environmental Sustainability (SES). "
Helping Hands
Makayla Guzzo
"Despite the complications of COVID Makayla was able to plan two majorly successful Into the Streets events that paired students with our elderly neighbors to do outdoor beautification."
Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Extracurricular Achievement Award
Steffen R. Horwath
"Steffen was integral in the successful excursions, fund-raising activities and outreach activities as President of the GeoExplorers Club. He was also an active member of the Wilkes student chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) and Students for Environmental Sustainability (SES) club."