CU-Mansfield honors students at annual Academic Honors Reception

MANSFIELD, Pa. – Mansfield University honored students during its annual Academic Honors Reception on Wednesday, April 6 at Straughn Auditorium.

The reception included recognition of the Mansfield University Ali-Zaidi Award nominee, the Outstanding Senior Award nominees from each academic department, and academic department honors.

Ali-Zaidi Award

Created in 2000, the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence is conferred upon a graduating senior from one of the State System universities. This award was founded by Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a charter member of the Board of Governors.

Candidates for the award are recommended by their university president at the conclusion of a campus application and selection process that is open to all graduating seniors. Multiple selection criteria included outstanding academic scholarship, including prizes, honors, and honorary societies; participation in extra/co-curricular activities; and a two-page essay by the nominee addressing how the university has prepared him or her for the next career step.

The 2021-22 Mansfield University nominee for the Ali-Zaidi Award is Shae Marx, a cell & molecular biology major from Stroudsburg, Pa.

Outstanding Senior Nominees

Seniors whose activities and accomplishments have brought recognition to themselves and to the University may be nominated for the Outstanding Senior Award. The Award is presented annually at commencement, and the recipient is chosen by members of a faculty-student award selection committee who review nominations from the various departments.To be nominated, the student must be a graduating senior of the current academic year, have at least a 3.0 grade point average, and have shown exemplary leadership and service to Mansfield University and the surrounding region.

This year's Outstanding Senior Award nominees are:

• Claire Ames
  Art, Communication, English, and World Languages
  Communication: Sports Information
• Aaron Butters
  Business Administration, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Information Systems 
  Applied Mathematics
• Sarah Craig
  History, Education, Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology
  Early Childhood Elementary Education & Special Education
• Hannah Gilliland
  History, Education, Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology
  Secondary Education: Earth & Space Science
• Sarah Hart
  Business Administration, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Information Systems
  Business Administration, General
• Elizabeth Long
  Art, Communication, English, and World Languages
  Graphic Design
• Shae Marx
  Natural Sciences
  Biology: Cell & Molecular
• Jessica Nistad
  Music
  Music Education & Vocal Performance
• Lacey O'Donnell
  Behavioral and Social Sciences 
  Social Work
• Zena Parkhurst
  Art, Communication, English, and World Languages
  English: Literary & Cultural Analysis Concentration
• Natalie Piganelli
  Behavioral and Social Sciences 
  Psychology: Forensic
• Courtney Russell
  History, Education, Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology
  Secondary Education: Social Studies/History

Academic Department Honors

The following students were recognized by their respective academic departments for their outstanding achievement during the academic year.

• Art
  Lucia Briar
  Kristina Zenga
  Amanda Rutledge
  Elisabeth Harding
• Biology 
  Sadie Beers
  Graham Wooden
  Isaac Ilgen
  Shae Marx
• Business
  Idris Ali
  Seth Anderson
  Hannah Caccia
  Sarah Hart
• Chemistry
  Caitlin Irwin
  Micah Yoder
• Communication 
  Justin Gerber
  Karissa English
  Tanner Demchak
  Claire Ames
• Criminal Justice 
  Natalie Blackstone
  Imari VanDyke
  Joshua Colon
  Dylan Garner
• English
  Alyssa Messmer
  Gabrielle Orcutt
  Kaitlyn Orcutt
  Kevin Long
• Geosciences/Safety Management
  Samuel Rozanski
  Isaac Walker
  Emma Stone
• Honors
  Gaetana Argot
  Nathan Metzger
  Stephanie Moir
  Samantha Shemeluk
• Health Sciences 
  Hannah Route
  Tiphanie Stocks
  Grace Foltz
  Lauren Watson
  Savanna Snyder
  Hailey Weidenhammer
• Library
  Jared Espiritu
  Alyssa Messmer
  Hayne Webster
  Kaitlyn Orcutt
• Math & CIS
  Chad Coleman
  Kiersten Gerbes
  David Guerra
  Sara Strong
• Music
  Kyla Kemper
  Jared Vamvakias
  Patrick Murphy
  Jessica Nistad
• Psychology
  Cara Doherty
  Megan Gordish
  Kaitlyn Orcutt
  Daniel Moco
• Social Work
  Cassidy McCain
  Brandon Schrader
  Akiah Lovett
  Cara Griffith
• Sociology
  Kayla Thompson
  Warren Kendal
  Burdette Passmore
• TRiO
  Lucas Sherwood
  Chad Coleman
  Elizabeth Coates
  Tamsyn (Tammy) Valashinas-O'Donnell