MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – SUNY Orange embarked upon its Commencement-week festivities on Tuesday evening (May 21) by distributing its most prized academic achievement awards, scholarships to graduating students, and club and organizational awards during its 65th annual Awards Convocation at Middletown’s Paramount Theatre.

More than 500 students, family members, friends, College employees and community members were on hand. Under the supervision of President Dr. Kristine Young ,177 academic and co-curricular awards were issued. The Executive Director of the SUNY Orange Foundation, Dawn Ansbro, presented 30 scholarships to graduating students.

Recent SUNY Orange graduate Djean Nikitov exuberantly delivered his address. He shared his appreciation for the opportunities provided by the College academically and collegially with sincerity. “I love this event. It celebrates those who go above and beyond to make this Community College a community college. Looking at all of you, I see stories. Stories of hope, resilience, passion for what you do and dreams to be fulfilled,” Nikitov shared.

With appreciation, he concluded, “I would not be the person I am standing in front of you without every single one of you.”

Before issuing its own awards, the College recognized two winners of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence: Djean Nikitov (Middletown) and Lucia Vanella (Washingtonville). Earlier this Spring, Christina Weygant (Wallkill) received the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award from SUNY for Educational Opportunity Program excellence, and Phi Theta Kappa Academic All-State Honors were awarded to Kayla Bruestle (Pine Bush), Craig Lofaro (Newburgh), Gabriella Miyoshi (Maybrook) and Oriana Dorfman (Newburgh).

SUNY Orange will hold its 74th annual Commencement during three separate ceremonies, Thursday, May 23 on the Alumni Green at the Middletown campus as follows: Health Professions Division Exercises at 9:30 a.m., Business, Math, Science and Technologies Division Exercises at 2 p.m. and Liberal Arts Division Exercises at 5 p.m. Angie Almeyda, Djean Nikitov and Lucia Vanella will serve as student speakers. For live updates related to any impacts by the weather and for those unable to attend the ceremony in person, the event will be streamed live online via the College website at www.sunyorange.edu.

Scholarships
Walter Albrecht Memorial Scholarship: Austin Moran
Apprentice Players Theatre Arts Scholarship: Trinity Rhoades
Helen K. And George R. (Bucky) Bartlett Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Victoria Akiki
William O. Bell Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Cody Higbie
Chris G. Chachis Alumni Scholarship: Joshua Martin
Amy Bull Crist Scholarship: Jack Bogdan
Mary B. Diana Scholarship: Kailey Tvedt
Trustee Edward P. Dougherty Memorial Scholarship: Dylan Moshier
William F. Ehlers, Jr. Scholarship In Anthropology: Madeleine Sacchi
Evening Nursing Scholarship: Amanda Robertson
Faculty/Staff Graduating Scholarship: Robert Lennon
Max H. Golub Memorial Faculty Award: Ann Thomas
Flo Hannes Ota Scholarship: Emily Aufmuth
Odell S. Hathaway Memorial Scholarship: Pedro Perez
David Kotler Memorial Scholarship: Angelo Reade
George F. Large Scholarship: Nkosi Felder
Dr. James Lynch Award: Noah Steltz
Dr. Cortland R. Mapes Biology Scholarship: Eduardo Camacho, Jadel Estiverne, Maeve Ferrara, Dana Lee, Robert Ludwigsen
Seeley McClure Memorial Scholarship: Carlos Padilla
Ivan Medina Memorial Scholarship: Isela Flores
Christine M. Morrison Scholarship: Gabriella Miyoshi
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Scholarship: Hailey McGrath
Orange County Society of New York for Collegiate Study Scholarship: Elias Ramirez
Elizabeth Parkhurst Memorial Scholarship: Gwenyth Haesche
John B. Parkhurst Creative Writing Award: Kristen Pereira, Nicole Imhoff
Charles J. Reilly Business Education Scholarship: Victoria Kurlander
Dennis Rohan Annual Scholarship: Edward Celiz, Will Heintzman
Dr. Manuel Rosenblum Theater Scholarship: Lucas Broughal
Herbert M. Sussman Biology Scholarship: Robert Ludwigsen
Patrick B. Sweeney Annual Scholarship: Miranda Frisbee
Dr. Hannah Vuolo Memorial Scholarship: Ann Thomas
Colonel John T. Westermeier Award: Christina Fernandes
Annette A. Whalen Memorial Scholarship: Paul Rivieccio

Student Club Awards
All 4 Jesus Club: Elijah Sampson
Anime Club: Gizmo Marin, Joe Sanchez, Dallas Soanes
Apprentice Players: Lucas Broughal, Trinity Rhoades, David Rosario
Architecture Club: Jordany Gil, Emily Mastowski, Phaella Toussaint
Biology Club: Victoria Akiki, Liam Bartels, Jakoi Jamieson
Black Student Union: Elsie Flurry, Valerie Phanor, Glynnis Rodgers
Board Of Activities (Middletown): Joe Sanchez
Board Of Activities (Newburgh): Jessica Hernandez
Business Club: Laura Blaney, Jennifer Salazar
Chemistry Club: Enrique Contreras, Ashley Perez, Tanvir Singh
Computer Science Club: Zachary Mitchell, Alexander Rosado, Andrew Stephens
C.O.T.A. Club (Changing Outlooks Through Activities): Kenyetta Barney, Mychal Petti, Sandra Williams
Criminal Justice Club: Tatianna Gomes, Celeste Guevara, Angelina Romero Martinez
Engineering Club: Ryan Antcliff, Alexis Keeley
EOP Club (Educational Opportunities Program): Marlin Lainez, Shirley Vincelette
E-Sports Club: Joseph Loperfido
Future Teachers Association: Gabriella Knight, Gabriella Miyoshi, Carlos Padilla
Geology Club: Miranda Frisbee, Conor Petti
International Club: Yesenia Chavez Hernandez, Ayla Ibrahim, David Peterson
Magic The Gathering Club: Thomas N. Giorgianni
Math Club: Edward Celiz, Jakoi Jamieson, Mary Jane Moran
Med Lab Tech Society: Yesenia Melendez, Briannah Merkerson
¡Mi Gente!: Cassie Deerr, Patricia Mejia Magallon
Nursing Club (Middletown): Angie Almeyda, Jeidy Chabau, Anna Smith
Nursing Club (Newburgh): Kaitlen Murillo-Solis
Outdoors Club: Jermaic Fuentes, Samantha Jacopino, Jakoi Jamieson
Physical Therapy Assistant Club: Hannah Buckwalt, Kimberly Mignogno, Holly Reimer
RAD Tech Club: Brendan Jennings
S.A.D.H.A. (Student American Dental Hygiene Association): Isabella Barola, Jaspreet Kaur, Margherita Minagro
SEGA (Student Engagement Gaming Association): Brandon Rodriguez, Jose Santiago
Stitch Society:  Patricia Mejia Magallon, Briannah Merkerson
Student Senate: Miranda Frisbee, Gabriella Miyoshi, Brianna Reid
Student Veterans of America: Rodney H. Phaire, Sr.
The Jewish Club: Carla Spensieri, Amalia Truglio
Leadership Program: I Am a Leader: Touria Bernard, Norma Brickner, Isabella Feldman, Summa-Reign Baynes

Departmental Awards (Certificate of Merit, Outstanding Scholastic Achievement)
Honors Program: Victoria Akiki, Ann L. Thomas, Kailey Tvedt
Phi Theta Kappa: Kayla Bruestle, Oriana Dorfman, Craig Lofaro, Gabriella Miyoshi

Arts and Communication Department
New Media: Carlos Dasilva, Timothy Hill, Robert Wagner
Visual Communications: Mehlaqa Jhaveri                     

Behavioral Sciences Department
Anthropology: Adam Hockenjos, Kierra Moore, Madeline Sacchi
Human Services: Erica Corrado, Conor Petti, Mychal Petti
Psychology: Kayla Breustle, Sebastian Tune
Sociology: Ashley Carranza, Jaylee Ramos

Biology Department
Biology: Maeve Ferrara, Robert Ludwigsen, Jaiden Ramirez

Business Department
A.A.S. Accounting: Kimberly Mejia, Karyme Salcedo
A.S. Accounting: Jennifer Salazar, Ann Thomas, Joseph Zampino
A.S. Business Administration: Katia Delgado, Victoria Kurlander, Phillip Ramos
A.A.S. Business Management: Jessie Marando, Paul Rivieccio, Ashley Ward     

Clinical Laboratory Science Department
Clinical Laboratory Science: Richard Carozza, Krysta Kelly, Sadike Ricketts

Computer Science & Technology Department
Computer Science: Denzel Discua, Johnathan Elton, Dylan Moshier
Cyber Security: Robert Dickman, Robert Lennon, Angelo Reade
Networking: James Biesele, Ryan Gross, Neil Ngo
Web Development: Brianna Iwu

Criminal Justice Department
A.A.S. Criminal Justice: Seth Del Rio, Isela Flores, Jason Sandoval
A.S. Criminal Justice: Sean Cameron, Abigael Pierre, Olivia Wechsler

Dental Hygiene Department
Dental Hygiene: Kathleen Bocash, Mia Hicks, Ashley Pomeroy

Diagnostic Imaging Department
Radiologic Technology: Emily Stebbins

Education Department
Early Childhood Education: Samantha Cruz, Rebecca Lopez, Stacy Mejia
Teaching Careers: Bonnie Crowe Bailey, Emily Eckerson, Lilly Rivera

English Department
English: Spencer Barnes, Christina Fernandes, Madison Green
Philosophy: Gwenyth Haesche, Jordan Seagren, Hanna Watroba

Global Studies Department
Global Studies: Shane O’Connor

Interdisciplinary Studies Department
Interdisciplinary Studies: Miranda Frisbee, Lucia Ann Vanella

Mathematics Department
Mathematics: Lucas Broughal, Logan Rodriguez, Martin Aguilar Solano

Movement Sciences Department
Exercise Studies: Hailey Morrison, Kailey Tvedt
Public Health: Jordyn Gonzalez, Anyaritza Nunez

Nursing Department
Nursing: Melissa DiMartino, Amanda Robertson, Lyanne Tunnell

Occupational Therapy Assistant Department
Occupational Therapy Assistant: Emily Aufmuth, Carrie Callahan, Chelsea Hart

Physical Therapist Assistant Department
Physical Therapist Assistant: Jennifer Kozlowski, Kimberly Mignogno, Holly Reimer

Science, Engineering & Architecture Department
Architectural Technology: Jack Bogdan, Nkosi Felder, Jaiden Gilbert
Chemistry: Maggie Knybel, Veronika Mocarska, Nicole Munoz
Engineering: Edward Celiz, William Heintzman, Cody Higbie
Geology: Liam Bartels, Martin Aguilar Solano