MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Belief in a student’s potential can be transformative, a theme that ran throughout SUNY Orange’s 66th Annual Awards Convocation on Tuesday evening, May 20, at the Paramount Theatre. As the College celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, the event marked the start of Commencement week by honoring top academic performers, scholarship recipients, and student leaders whose talents have flourished with the support and encouragement of faculty, family, and peers. Their dedication and achievements have enriched campus life and reflect the values at the heart of SUNY Orange.

More than 500 students, family members, friends, College employees and community members were on hand. Under the supervision of President Dr. Kristine Young, 154 academic and co-curricular awards were issued. SUNY Orange Foundation Board Member, Sue Sheehan, presented 38 scholarships to graduating students. This is the first year the Orange Ribbon award will be presented to students for outstanding service contributing to the improvement of campus life with 56 recipients.

Student speaker Peter Bambino II (photo left) delivered a motivating and congratulatory address to the audience. He added a personal touch by sharing a quote from his father, “My father said to me, ‘If only you could see the potential in yourself that I see in you.’” Bambino used the moment to connect with his classmates and remind them that they, too, have more abilities than they may realize.

Before announcing its own awards, the College recognized two recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, Sara Calle Alvarado and Brianna Reid, both from Middletown. Earlier this spring, Cristian Garcia of Middletown received the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award from SUNY for Educational Opportunity Program excellence. Cassie Deerr of Monroe was honored with Phi Theta Kappa Academic All-State recognition.

Spencer Barnes (photo right), a Newburgh resident and Newburgh Free Academy graduate, was recognized by the Honors Program and received academic awards from both Interdisciplinary Studies and the English Department for his work in English and philosophy. A Liberal Arts major, Barnes will continue his education at The New School in Manhattan.

“I will major in English and philosophy and want to pursue a future in academia because it changed my life,” said Barnes. “Professor Elaine Torda saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I am so grateful to all of my professors, my peers, and for my time at the College.”

“Both of my parents are alumni of SUNY Orange,” said Thomas Focarile (photo below), a Goshen High School graduate and resident, who will receive two associate degrees, one in engineering and one in business administration. Focarile earned academic awards in both disciplines, as well as the Charles J. Reilly Business Education Scholarship and the Dennis Rohan Annual Scholarship.

“The Dennis Rohan Scholarship is awarded to the student with the highest GPA in the engineering class,” Focarile explained. “I will be continuing my education at SUNY New Paltz and hope to use my knowledge to help our family farm. I’d also like to thank Professor Soricelli and Dr. Wohlbeck for encouragement.”

SUNY Orange will hold its 75th annual Commencement, Thursday, May 22, in the Physical Education Building due to inclement weather on the Middletown campus at 10 a.m. Brianna Reid will serve as student speaker. For live updates 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.

For the photos from this event, click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCf86q

 

 

Scholarships
Walter Albrecht Memorial Scholarship: Noah Swart
Alford Biology Scholarship: Ryan Ortega
Business Club Scholarship: Laura Blaney
Helen K. And George R. (Bucky) Bartlett Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Lauren Czenszak
Christopher J. Basta Memorial Scholarship: Alvia Torres
William O. Bell Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Aly Belmont
Chris G. Chachis Alumni Scholarship: Nicole Imhoff
Amy Bull Crist Scholarship: Aly Belmont
Mary B. Diana Scholarship: Caroline Farrell
Trustee Edward P. Dougherty Memorial Scholarship: Trinity Stackhouse
Marie Ann Dulzer Communication & Theater Scholarship: Stephen D’Ambrosio
William F. Ehlers, Jr. Scholarship in Anthropology: Kierra Moore
Evening Nursing Scholarship: Jillian Dolce
Dr. Marvin Feman Scholarship: Coral Garcia
Max H. Golub Memorial Faculty Award: Wendy Lucero
Flo Hannes OTA Scholarship: Ashiana Brown
Odell S. Hathaway Memorial Scholarship: Fiona S. Doherty
David Kotler Memorial Scholarship: Madison Clancy
George F. Large Scholarship: Rubedo Walden
Dr. Cortland R. Mapes Biology Scholarship: Alessandra Alcantara, Sara Cuevas, Cassie Deerr, Abigail (Jakoi)
     Jamieson, Xavier Martinez-Paredes, Ryan Ortega, Michael Whitehead, Gabriella Brezina, Coral Garcia, Noah
     Steltz
Ivan Medina Memorial Scholarship: Clarice D’Attolico
Christine M. Morrison Scholarship: Abigail (Jakoi) Jamieson
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Scholarship: Cynthia Castro
Orange County Society of New York for Collegiate Study Scholarship: Remi Garcia
Elizabeth Parkhurst Memorial Scholarship: Antonio Nieves
John B. Parkhurst Creative Writing Award: Joyce Brown
Charles J. Reilly Business Education Scholarship: Thomas C. Focarile, Emmanuel Melvin
Dennis Rohan Annual Scholarship: Kyle P. Doherty, Thomas C. Focarile
Seeley McClure Memorial Scholarship: Cassie Deerr
June M. Simpson Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Christie Beattle
Herbert M. Sussman Biology Scholarship: Xavier Martinez-Parede
Patrick B. Sweeney Annual Scholarship: Mariah Rogers
Dr. Hannah Vuolo Memorial Scholarship: Justin Salas
Colonel John T. Westermeier Award: Cassey Trinidad Ramirez
Annette A. Whalen Memorial Scholarship: Leah Scherdin

Orange Ribbon Award

Kaleigh Alexander, Edithzel Anzurez Dolores, Peter John Bambino II, Laura Blaney, Karla Burleson, Toria Burton, Sara Calle Alvarado, Stiven Chicas Machado, Zara Lilith Rose Corney, Logan Crance, Areli Cruz Daza, Cassie Deerr, Sydney DuPlessis, Antonio Emerito Nieves, Cristian Garcia, Finnigan Geer, Brisa Gonazlez, Phoenix Trinity Graham, Jermaic Fuentes, Raheem Frankson, Steve Hoffman, Jessica Hernandez, Ashley Huerta, Kathleen Mary Howell, Jakoi Jamieson, Samantha Jacopino, April Kurtz, Isabella Lasalle, Marley Leary, Vincent Linarello, Brian Lopez, Olga Makkas, Philip Mahaney, Mariana Mera, Owen Michelstein, Laela Montagnino, Mary Jane Moran, Izabella Matos, Luis Meza Ramirez, Serena Owens, David Peterson, Liyah Pineiro, Ashley Perez, Jessica Roosa, Glynnis Rodgers, Justin Salas, Tanvir Singh, Andrew Stephens, Jordan Subocz, Katie Vaquero, Sara Cuevas, Michelle Zavala, Sophia Weinert, Shyron Williams, Cathleen Worthington, Mark Youssef

Leadership Program: I Am a Leader: Mohua Gazi, Yasmin Hernandez Medina, Brian Lopez, Glynnis Breanna Rodgers, Sophia Weinert
 
Departmental Awards (Certificate of Merit, Outstanding Scholastic Achievement)
Honors Program: Spencer Barnes, Kate Katzmann, Delimar Jimenez Rijo
Phi Theta Kappa: Cassie Deerr

Arts and Communication Department
New Media: Peter John Bambino II
Visual Communications: Diego Salinas Ballesteros, Catherine Raciti                  

Behavioral Sciences Department
Anthropology: Sadie Hankins, Jaiden Ramirez
Human Services: Ashley DiGiacomo, Keisha Ponce, Jaylee Ramos
Sociology: Tayeln McKinney, Sophia Piccirilli, Sam Stuercke

Biology Department
Biology: Stephanie Lisette Caceres, Jakob Mann, Sydney Newsome

Business Department
A.A.S. Accounting: Mylah Rosenblum, Ilianabell Ruiz, Veronica Woodley
A.S. Accounting: Caleb Barraza, Laura Blaney, Wendy Lucero
A.S. Business Administration: Thomas Focarile, Emmanuel Melvin, Justin Salas
A.A.S. Business Management: Ana Mendez, Leah Scherdin, Angela Tommasi

Clinical Laboratory Science Department
Clinical Laboratory Science: Marley Leary, Mayra Maciejewski, Kobe Oates

Computer Science & Technology Department
Computer Science: Hunter Corey, Ajan Samuel, Jordan Subocz
Cyber Security: Samantha Abraham, Ariana Cartagena, Joseph Pierro
Networking: Summer Mazzani, Mariana Salinas, Nicholas Vitale
Web Development: Alexander Roeltgen

Criminal Justice Department
A.S. Criminal Justice: Clairice D’Attolico, Caroline Farrell

Dental Hygiene Department
Dental Hygiene: Vennce David, Brittany Mazzi, Kate Wright

Education Department
Early Childhood Education: Shannon Breault, Samantha Lynch, Cassie Rooney
Teaching Careers: Victor Domingues, Madison Hauck, Cassey Trinidad Ramirez

English Department
English: Imara Alexander, Spencer Barnes, Micah Servero
Philosophy: Spencer Barnes, Fiona Doherty, Devshi Saxena

Interdisciplinary Studies Department
Interdisciplinary Studies: Spencer Barnes, Jolie Mondelli, Shane O’Connor

Mathematics Department
Mathematics: Michael Cragan, Olivia MacEntee, Tanvir Singh

Movement Sciences Department
Exercise Studies: Aliyah Cancela, Madison Clancy, George Donlan
Physical Education: Michael Giordano, Caleb Sahlstrom, Jonathan Velasquez
Public Health: Stephanie Smedes

Nursing Department
Nursing: Madeline Castillo, Jacob Darwin, Emily Revella

Occupational Therapy Assistant Department
Occupational Therapy Assistant: Amy Hollenbeck, Skyler Melenciano, Brittney Weiss

Physical Therapist Assistant Department
Physical Therapist Assistant: Kristin Flynn, Catherine Lugones, Emily Simmons

Science, Engineering & Architecture Department
Chemistry: Olivia Loeven, Alexander Lopez, Sydney Newsome
Engineering: Thomas Focarile, Olivia MacEntee, Dylan Miedema
Physics: Michael Cragan, Gavan O’Brien