FOR RELEASE AFTER MAY 15, 2004
Contact: Abigail Fota, College Relations
Associate - Media, 610-740-3790
LOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVE
CEDAR CREST COLLEGE DEGREES
Allentown, PA (May 14, 2004) - Two hundred and twenty-four seniors were awarded bachelor's degrees at Cedar Crest College's 134th Commencement Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2004 on the College Quadrangle.
Student speakers were Brenna O'Keefe, of Allentown, representing he traditional student population, and Beverly Wachtmann of Emmaus, representing the Lifelong Learning student population. Graduates received diplomas from College President Dorothy Gulbenkian Blaney.
Dr. Diana L. Eck, director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University and one of the nation's highly regarded experts on the growing religious diversity of the United States, addressed the graduating class and received an honorary degree during the ceremony.
Diana L. Eck is professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard University where she serves on the Committee on the Study of Religion in the faculty of arts and sciences. She is also a member of the department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies as well as the faculty of divinity. She received her B.A. from Smith College (1967) in religion, her M.A. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1968) in South Asian History, and her Ph.D. from Harvard University (1976) in the comparative study of religion.
Since 1991, Diana Eck has been heading a research team at Harvard University to explore the new religious diversity of the United States and its meaning for the American pluralist experiment. The Pluralism Project, has been documenting the growing presence of the Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Zoroastrian communities in the U.S. This research project has involved students and professors in "hometown" research on America's new religious landscape. Among those participating in this project are Cedar Crest College professors Dr. E. Allen Richardson and Dr. Catherine Cameron, and Cedar Crest College students.
In 1996, Diana L. Eck was appointed to a U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, a 20-member commission charged with advising the Secretary of State on enhancing and protecting religious freedom in the overall context of human rights. In 1998, Eck received the National Humanities Medal from President Clinton and the National Endowment for the Humanities for her work on American religious pluralism.
A list of local graduates is included on the following pages. For more information, call the College Relations Office at 610-740-3790.
ADAMS COUNTY
New Oxford
Ashley Henry, B.S. - genetic engineering
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Monroeville
Jennifer Richards, B.S. summa cum laude - genetic
engineering
BERKS COUNTY
Bernville
Valerie R. Ciraulo, B.S. summa cum laude - biology
Birdsboro
Sarah Knavel, B.S. cum laude - nursing
Boyertown
Loren S. Spade, B.A. - psychology
Earlville
Stephanie L. Frain, B.A. summa cum laude - social
work and psychology
Fleetwood
Rebecca Bechtel, B.A. cum laude - social work
Tiffany DeLillo, B.S. magna cum laude - nuclear
medicine
Kutztown
Nicole Hertzog, B.S. - nursing
Macungie
Mary Claire Mehler, B.S. - genetic engineering
Reading
Daneen Grossman, B.S. magna cum laude - genetic
engineering
BRADFORD COUNTY
Troy
Mary Connell, B.S. magna cum laude - nursing
Colleen Kreykenbohm, B.A. cum laude - art and mathematics
BUCKS COUNTY
Perkasie
Amie Kathryn Fox, B.A. - English and fine arts
Quakertown
Elizabeth Louise Fear, B.A. - English
Richboro
Lisa Knapp, B.A. - dance administration
Riegelsville
Mary Crouse, B.S. - nursing
CAMBRIA COUNTY
Sidman
Andrea Rae Beyer, B.S. summa cum laude - genetic
engineering
CARBON COUNTY
Bowmanstown
Angela Munjone, B.S. cum laude - mathematics and
secondary education
Lansford
Nicole Amber Lupco, B.S. - psychology
Lehighton
Toby Snyder, B.S. - genetic engineering
Shannon Woznick, B.S. - nursing
Palmerton
Jessica Genewski, B.S. summa cum laude - nursing
CHESTER COUNTY
Exton
Midgeann Marie Smithburg, B.S. - nutrition
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Bloomsburg
Amanda M. Carl, B.S. - genetic engineering
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Chambersburg
Rebecca Smith, B.S. - biochemistry
HUNTINGDON COUNTY
Huntingdon
Melissa Smith, B.S. cum laude - biochemistry
LACKAWANNA
Peckville
Noelle Krempasky, B.A. cum laude - communication
Taylor
Janine M. Pero, B.A. summa cum laude - dance
LEBANON COUNTY
Jonestown
Rebecca Wilson, B.S. magna cum laude - psychology
LEHIGH COUNTY
Allentown
Michelle L. Aikey, B.S. - accounting
Evelyn Beckman, B.A.S. summa cum laude - art, business
and history
Sherri G. Berger, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
Jessica Borrero, B.S. - computer science
Katharine S. Brownson, B.S. - psychology
Amber Budraitis, B.S. - nutrition
Julia Dweck, B.A. summa cum laude - elementary
education
Targol C. Esmaili, B.S. - genetic engineering
Jennifer L. Ettl, B.A. magna cum laude - history
and secondary education
Kimberly Faust, B.S. - nursing
Melaine Fehlinger, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
and elementary education
Andrea B. Grunberg, B.A. summa cum laude - art
and psychology
Joanne Hosni, B.S. - psychology
Asami Hotta, B.A. magna cum laude - psychology
and art
Kathleen G. Hutchinson, B.S. - environmental science
Celena Kehler, B.S. - psychology
Amanda Elaine Kochan, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
Tara Kresge, B.S. - chemistry
Miwako Nagato, B.A. - psychology
Ikuko Nishimura, B.S. - management
Brenna O'Keefe, B.A. magna cum laude - English
Beth Paximadas, B.S. magna cum laude - nuclear
medicine
Leslie Lucia Picone, B.S. - nutrition
Gillian Pidcock, B.A. summa cum laude - English
Lisa Potenzi, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
Carla Renaldo, B.S. - neuroscience
Jennifer L. Salabsky, B.A. summa cum laude - art
and elementary education
Janet Fayssal Sallit, B.S. summa cum laude - neuroscience
Beatriz Sanabria-Melendez, B.A. summa cum laude
- social work
Joanellyn M. Schubert, B.A. cum laude - dance
Linda A. Schumacker, B.S. cum laude - business
administration
Shelley Surber, B.S. summa cum laude - nutrition
Ginna Sylvanus, B.S. magna cum laude - nursing
Tamera S. Weaver, B.A. - psychology and art
Tina M. Wells, B.S. - computer science
Amber Zehner, B.S. - biology
Breinigsville
Nancy J. Ohm, Jr., B.S. summa cum laude - management
Antoinette Yons, B.S. - computer science
Coopersburg
Nancy S. Branch, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
Alyson A. Schwenk, B.A. summa cum laude - psychology
Coplay
Aline DeFreitas, B.S. cum laude - biochemistry
Shelley L. DePinto, B.S. summa cum laude - nutrition
Julie Schaeffer, B.S. - nursing
Emmaus
Melissa Green, B.S. - psychology
Angela Kiechel, B.S. magna cum laude - nutrition
Kara Lechmanik, B.S. - nursing
Beverly Wachtmann, B.S. cum laude - nutrition
Aarti Verma, B.S. magna cum laude - nursing
Fogelsville
Donna Breininger, B.A. - history
Stacie Frederick, B.S. - computer science
New Tripoli
Michele Ortiz, B.S. - nursing
Orefield
Heather Emig, B.S. - biochemistry
Schnecksville
Christina Klotz, B.S. - management and art
Whitehall
Kelly Beltzner, B.A. summa cum laude - secondary
education and Spanish
Alla Kligman, B.S. - finance
Amy Perkins, B.S. magna cum laude - business administration
Janine Perna, B.S. - genetic engineering
Barry A. Strohl, B.A. summa cum laude - social
work
LUZERNE COUNTY
Nunemberg
Nancy Caporusso, B.S. - biology
St. Johns
Jeanne Gennaro, B.S. - nursing
Swoyersville
Melissa A. Czock, B.S. - genetic engineering
LYCOMING COUNTY
Williamsport
Erin Molino, B.A.S. - nursing and psychology
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Barto
Kimberly Howard, B.A. summa cum laude - social
work and psychology
Telford
Lois Thomas, B.A. - social work
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Bath
Abigail Ann Fota, B.A. - psychology
Peggy Spengler-Moser, B.A. magna cum laude - history
Jessica Urmy, B.A. - social work and psychology
Bethlehem
Victoria Gaumer, B.S. summa cum laude - nursing
Rebecca Hawkes, B.A. summa cum laude - social work
Amy Morrison, B.A. summa cum laude - English
Dana S. Schrantz, B.S. - nursing
Faylie Schultz, B.A. - psychology
Mary Stockman-Smith, B.A. summa cum laude - social
work
Mirella Snow, B.A. - Hispanic and Latino studies
Easton
Nancy Humes, B.S. - nursing
Kimberly A. Kunsman, B.S. summa cum laude - nutrition
Melissa Lippincott, B.A. - psychology
Kelly M. Monaco, B.A. - elementary education and
psychology
Stacey L. Monaco, B.A. - elementary education and
psychology
Brenda Valle-Giardina, B.S. -nursing
Hellertown
Lisa A. Cody, B.S. - nursing
Lisa A. Johnson, B.A. - art
Deborah K. Martin, B.S. cum laude - nursing
Sophia Emilia Zelechiwsky, B.A. - psychology
Nazareth
Beth Boris, B.A. - social work
Linda Leuser, B.A. magna cum laude - English
Northampton
Linda Collis, B.S. summa cum laude - nursing
Rachel Sewald, B.S. magna cum laude - nursing
North Catasauqua
Lynne Sukanick, B.A. magna cum laude - elementary
education
Jennifer Weber, B.A. - communication
Wind Gap
Michelle Romanishan, B.S. magna cum laude - chemistry
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Philadelphia
Felisha Mitchell, B.S. cum laude - chemistry
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Ashland
Karen Lightcap, B.S. - nursing
Tamaqua
Kimberly Anne Firkal, B.A. summa cum laude - elementary
education
Kathy J. Nunemacher, B.S. - nursing
SNYDER COUNTY
Port Trevorton
Katie Whipple, B.S. - biology
YORK COUNTY
Hanover
Erin N. Nedderman, B.S. summa cum laude - neuroscience
NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS
ESSEX COUNTY
Montclair
Jennifer D'Andrea, B.S. - genetic engineering
Pamela Thorpe, B.S. cum laude - chemistry
HUNTERDON COUNTY
Ringoes
Deborah L. Seramba, B.S. - chemistry
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
South River
Kelly Russell, B.S. - biochemistry
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Matawan
Keri Miller, B.S. - chemistry
MORRIS COUNTY
Lake Hopatcong
Kelly Young, B.A. - social work
Landing
Melissa Green, B.S. - psychology
OCEAN COUNTY
Brick
Tiffany-Linn Stephens, B.S. - general science
PASSAIC COUNTY
Paterson
Jessica Muraviov, B.A. magna cum laude - English
Pompton Lakes
Jennifer Coward, B.A. - psychology
SOMERSET COUNTY
Bound Brook
Julia Buzby, B.S. cum laude - psychology
UNION COUNTY
Summit
Nadia Mohammad, B.A. - political science and communication
WARREN COUNTY
Phillipsburg
Jessica K. Bacon, B.A. - English
Francesca Migliore, B.S - mathematics
Cheryl Savard, B.S. - mathematics
OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS
ALASKA
Nicole Sperbeck, B.S. - biodiversity and conservation
biology
CALIFORNIA
Lori A. Kunkle, B.S. - biology
CONNECTICUT
Cassondra Eliasson, B.A. summa cum laude - Spanish
Amanda Gilbert, B.S. - genetic engineering
MAINE
Michelle Clement, B.S. - psychology
MARYLAND
Carly A. Wright, B.A. - psychology
MASACHUSETTS
Lindsey Leitao, B.S. - psychology
Jessica Powers, B.A. magna cum laude - psychology
MICHIGAN
Elisabeth Lind, B.S. - Biology
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Cheryl Parrott, B.S. - biodiversity and conservation
biology
Courtney Silver, B.S. cum laude - nursing
NEW YORK
Gabrielle Lynn Boulerice, B.S. magna cum laude
- chemistry
Nicole LaRosa, B.S. cum laude - biology
Danielle Elizabeth Mogyorosi, B.S. cum laude -
psychology
Ashley Jean Piersall, B.A. summa cum laude - art
Kateryna Rybka, B.S. - business administration
Johanna Schwingel, B.S. summa cum laude - genetic
engineering
Dawn Thurston, B.S. - genetic engineering
NORTH CAROLINA
Blythe Strickland, B.S. - nursing
WISCONSIN
Heidi J. Nick, B.S. summa cum laude - genetic engineering
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
BOSNIA
Alma Redzanovic, B.A. magna cum laude - communication
JAPAN
Noriko Yamaguchi, B.A. cum laude - history
KATHMANDU
Rajani Rajbhandari, B.S. summa cum laude - computer
science and mathematics
UKRAINE
Kateryna Rybka, B.S. cum laude - business
# # # #
Abigail Fota
College Relations Associate - Media
610-740-3790
afota@cedarcrest.edu
