Marywood University to Award 39 Endowed Medals of Recognition to Graduates
Published
Marywood University is honoring its best and brightest from the Class of 2026 with 39 endowed medals of recognition during events leading up to and including its 108th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township. The endowed commencement medals each carry their own legacy and criteria, representing some of the University’s most longstanding academic and service honors.
The 2026 Marywood University Commencement Medalists and honorable mentions include the following:
Doctoral Medal Recipients
WILLIAM G. MC GOWAN MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN DOCTORAL STUDIES - PH.D.
Awarded to: Shahub Toosi and Shelby W. Yeager
Honorable Mention: Angela M. Friebolin
WILLIAM G. MC GOWAN MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN DOCTORAL STUDIES - PSY. D.
Awarded to: Ryan Gardiner
Honorable Mention: Dominique Toscano
Graduate Medal Recipients
SISTER SAINT AGNES MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS
Awarded to: Paula Mesaris
Honorable Mention: Kathleen Lynott
GEFFEN MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN PRACTICUM EDUCATION
Awarded to: Jose Collado
Honorable Mentions: Dawn O’Donnell and Dawn Walker
HAGGERTY MEDAL FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN COUNSELOR EDUCATION
Awarded to: Sarah Haskell
Honorable Mention: Thi An Hoa Bui
THOMAS J. KEENAN, M.D. MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Awarded to: Mia Gruler
POLIZZI MEDAL FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Awarded to: Madison Hamlin
Undergraduate Medal Recipients
DOLORES M. ACKOUREY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RELATIONS
Awarded to: Carl (CJ) Shygelski
Honorable Mention: Jocelyn Hittle
BARRETT MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SCHOLARSHIP IN THE FIELD OF LEGAL
STUDIES, HISTORY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Awarded to: Joel Cali and Emily McLaughlin
THE SISTER REGINA BARRETT MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Awarded to: Owen Morgan
Honorable Mentions: Estrella Galvan and Destiny Hallock
HAROLD BRISLIN MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN CREATIVE WRITING
Awarded to: Lauren O'Brien
THOMAS AND NORAH CLARKE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS
Awarded to: Kate Pallas
Honorable Mention: Zachary Pramik
SISTER M. EVA CONNORS PEACE MEDAL
Awarded to: Madilyn Grose
CZACHOR MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Awarded to: Jocelyn Hittle
Honorable Mention: Jacob Muth
MARGARET RUDDY DOUGHERTY MEDAL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Awarded to: Maria Johnson
Honorable Mention: Ellen Fago
MARY GRACE LOUGHNEY FLYNN ’39 MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Awarded to: Kyle Bonham Jenkins
Honorable Mention: Beatrice Kathryn Chindemi
EDWARD GAYESKI MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN
Awarded to: Rebecca L. Cohick
SISTER M. IMMACULATA GILLESPIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION
Awarded to: Joel Cali
Honorable Mention: Kailey Stevenson
THE JENKINS-COLIS GILROY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL WORK
Awarded to: Emerson P. Gellert
JORDAN MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Awarded to: Mikaela Badner
KAPPA GAMMA PI MEDAL FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Awarded to: Noel Korkuti
ROSEMARY CARROLL KAZIMER MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Awarded to: Natalie Sweeney
Honorable Mention: Sage Lesh
SISTER M. CLARE KELLEY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Awarded to: Mikaela Jean Clark
Honorable Mention: Gina Nicole Sacco
SISTER M. MARGRETE KELLEY MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN SERVICE
Awarded to: Kelsey Green
Honorable Mention: Carl (CJ) Shygelski
SISTER M. DAVIDICA KILDEA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN VOICE
Awarded to: Beatrice Kathryn Chindemi
Honorable Mention: Jocelyn Emily Meyer
SAINT LUKE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN ART
Awarded to: Abigail Wilson
Honorable Mention: Kelsey Green
MARGARET T. LUNNEY MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE STUDY OF
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
Awarded to: Bethany Burns
Honorable Mention: Vanessa Bompane
LYNETT MEDAL FOR ACADEMIC DISTINCTION IN MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION ARTS
Awarded to: Charlotte Roscher
SISTER MARIA LAURENCE MAHER MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
Awarded to: Emma Budnovitch
MARY PACE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHILOSOPHY
Awarded to: Jocelyn Hittle
Honorable Mention: Madison Orlando
MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Awarded to: Stephanie Hicks
SISTER M. SYLVIA MORGAN, IHM MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRE-MEDICAL STUDIES
Awarded to: Carl (CJ) Shygelski
PHILIP E. MULRY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN CHEMISTRY
Awarded to: Jake Jones
NEMOTKO MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN NURSING
Awarded to: Morgan Mayne
WANDA PERSICHETTI MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Awarded to: Lucia Anewalt
JUDITH PIZNAR MEDAL FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO YOUTH
Awarded to: Jade Clark
ROBERT E. QUINNAN MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE ALPHONSIAN AND IHM TRADITION
Awarded to: Johanna Lettera
SHAFFER MEDAL FOR NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Awarded to: Jenna Collins
Honorable Mention: Marie Traverse
TAMA MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Awarded to: Noel Korkuti
For related commencement information, visit marywood.edu/commencement.
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Marywood University to Award 39 Endowed Medals of Recognition to GraduatesThe endowed commencement medals each carry their own legacy and criteria, representing some of the University’s most longstanding academic and service honors.
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