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College Notes: April & May 2019
01:10PM / Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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Ryan Benoit of Williamstown received the Student Association Volunteer of the Year at the 2019 Cocurricular Awards Ceremony at Western New England University. Senior Associate Director of Residence Life Beth A. Hill presented the award. Benoit is majoring in business analytics and information management at the Springfield university.

Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College
Grace Ellrodt working on a window insert. Read the full story here. 
Grace Ellrodt of Lenox, a junior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, recently presented the results of her environmental studies capstone project titled "Insulating Window Insert Interventions in Energy Injustice: Incentives, Barriers, & Strategies." 
 
Ellrodt, the daughter of Dr. and Ms. Anthony G. Ellrodt and a 2016 graduate of Lenox Memorial High School, worked with two other students, Newell Woodworth of Lambertville, N.J., and Griff Golden of Riverside, Conn., on the project in collaboration with Window Dressers, a nonprofit working to help insulate homes. 
 
As part of their environmental studies major, Ellrodt, completed courses in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in addition to a 200-hour internship and the community-engaged capstone course in which groups of students pair with a community organization to bring scientific and other types of expertise to a specific project that addresses a community-identified need. Bates' environmental studies program is a national model for building civic engagement into academic programs.
 
 
Three local students at Lasell College participated in a mock trial at the Newton college's Connected Learning Symposium on Dec. 4, 2018, and Housatonic student gave a media ethics presentation.
 
Elizabeth Chapman, a fashion and retail merchandising major, and Hannah King, a history major, both from Pittsfield, participated on the plaintiff's team. Chapman delivered the closing argument and King performed the direct examination of a witness. 
 
In preparation, students in the course learned the order in which a trial is conducted, courtroom etiquette, and techniques of cross- and direct-examination. The teams conducted the trial in front of a panel of mock jurors comprised of faculty and staff and a judge, professor Linda Bucci.
 
Brianna VanDeusen, a communications student from Housatonic, presented work on media ethics through research conducted in a course on the same topic.
 
In the course, students explored sound, ethical communication practices in mass media professions and compared those with current trends and historical case studies. VanDeusen presented with this group for the entire college community.
 
The symposiums occur twice a year to showcase student work tied to real-world clients and applications outside of the classroom. The day featured events and presentations including a professional business negotiation for the location of the 2032 Olympics, performance art, sustainable fashion design, media ethics, crime theory, intergenerational genealogy, and more. 
 
 

Maya Finston-Fox spent spring break with Baldwin Wallace classmates in Montgomery, Ala.
Maya Finston-Fox of Monterey was among 44 Baldwin Wallace University students who participated in the Berea, Ohio, college's Alternative Break service program that provides community engagement in projects across the nation.
 
Finston-Fox, a graduate of Miss Hall's School majoring in political science, volunteered in Montgomery, Ala., with the theme of "Civil Rights: Then and Now." The students followed in the footsteps of the great men and women who have helped institutionalize nonviolence in the U.S. and learned about the history and future of the Civil Rights Movement. In partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative and Selma Center for Nonviolence, they served alongside people who encourage open dialogue, peaceful mediation and honest community building as a solution to conflict and violence. The trip was led by BW student Katie Rider with support from staff adviser Kristen Catrina.
 
Two local students participated in Lasell College's Lasell Alternative Break program, designed to connect students with social and conservation issues. Codie Treszi of Pittsfield went to Boise, Idaho, to volunteer at Boise Rescue Mission Ministries' River of Life Men's Shelter, the Idaho Foodbank, Idaho Youth Ranch, and Interfaith Sanctuary to better understand issues of homelessness in that community. Allison Wheeler of Adams went to Blairsville, Ga., to assist the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club's conservation efforts at Lance Creek and Cut Locust Gap.

London Green of Adams and Patrick Tierney of Pittsfield. 

 

Skookum Awards of Excellence will be presented to London Green of Adams, a psychology major, and Patrick Tierney of Pittsfield, a biology major, by the Western New England University Alumni Association.

The award was established in 1989 as a way to recognize the outstanding achievements of the university's students. It recognizes their leadership roles on campus, community service/volunteer experiences, and participation in athletics and cocurricular programs. The word Skookum means excellence in the Chinook Indian culture. Green and Tierney were among 15 students named to receive the award at a dinner in the fall. 

Green and Tierney were also recognized at the College of Arts and Sciences Senior awards ceremony on April 25 in the St. Germain Campus Center. Students receiving Academic Honors Awards are selected based on their academic achievement in the major or based on their overall class standing. The following students were recognized for their outstanding achievement:
 
Green received the Honor Graduate in Psychology Award presented to the graduating senior in psychology who demonstrates the field's highest ideals. Green is graduating with a bachelor of arts in psychology
 
Tierney received the Biology Achievement Award and the Honor Graduate in Neuroscience Award. Presented by Burt Rosenman, associate professor of biology, the Biology Achievement Award is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, laboratory skills, and personal qualities in pursuit of scientific knowledge. The Neuroscience Award is given to the graduating senior in neuroscience who demonstrates th field's highest ideals. Tierney is graduating with a bachelor of science in biology
 

Shawndell Cummings of Pittsfield received the Matthew Sullivan Scholarship during the Senior Luncheon and Recognition Celebration put on by Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology's Department of Criminal Justice and Center for Public Safety Initiatives. 

This award is named for Matthew Sullivan, who passed away in September 2000. He was a 1997 graduate of the criminal justice program and was employed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service agency in Boston. This memorial scholarship was established to keep his memory alive in the RIT community and to help other criminal justice students complete their education.
 
 
Kirby Bryce of Clarksburg has been named to the dean's list for all four years at Curry College, located in Milton. He was recognized at the annual reception to honor graduating students who have demonstrated academic excellence. Bryce is one of 88 students honored this year. 
 
 
Maya Finston-Fox of Monterey was among the more than 180 students whose exceptional academic work was showcased during the Baldwin Wallace University Ovation Festival's Day of Excellence. Finston-Fox, a graduate of Miss Hall's School majoring in political science, gave an oral presentation titled "Brain Student Fellowship."
 
The BW Ovation Festival at the Berea, Ohio, college recognizes student success in research, scholarship, experiential learning, the arts and more. Participants in the Day of Excellence must complete the submission process and have a faculty mentor who sponsors their work and gives approval to present.
 
 
Two area sudents were honored at the annual Prize Day celebration Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
 
Sophia Gebara of Williamstown received the William B. Jaffe Art Award for exceptional acheivement by an art major, marked by excellence in the study of art history, independent scholarship, and interest in the work of the department.
 
Nar Lin of Pittsfield received the Robert M. Fuller Senior Prize, given to the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.
 
 

Honor Societies

The following local residents were recently initiated at the colleges they are attending into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. 
 
Westfield State University 
Katherine Chapman  and Jacob Prudhomme, both of Adams; Shayne Garvey of Clarksburg; Nicole Hebert-Whitman and Alexis Reder, both of Dalton, Michaela Grady of Pittsfield and Hanna Ciepiela of Windsor
 
State University of New York at Potsdam
Samantha Twing of New Marlborough
 
University of Massachusetts
Debora Coons of Lanesborough and Krystle Gallo of Pittsfield
 
Clarkson University, Beacon, N.Y.
Noah Chicoine of North Adams, majoring in mathematics

 

Graduations

Samuel Polastri of Becket was presented an associate's degree in construction technology and John Cosmus of East Otis a certificate in computer-aided drafting during graduation exercises in December 2018 at the State University of New York at Delhi.
 
Keegan McCauley of Pittsfield earned a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies and Tristan Reinhard from Williamstown a bachelor of arts in intelligence and national security studies from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C. Their degrees were awarded during commencement exercises on May 11.
 
Liam Tremlett of Pittsfield graduated with a degree with bachelor of arts degree on May 19 from Curry College in Milton during commencement exercises at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield.
 
William Churchill of Great Barrington graduated from Gettysburg (Pa.) College on May 19 with a bachelor of science degree.
 
Samuel Bean of Becket graduated with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and Shamus White of Dalton with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, marketing, the May from the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
 
Adam Jakob Derwitsch of Ashley Falls graduated from Clemson (S.C.) University with a bachelor of science in accounting. Derwitsch was among 3,600 students who received degrees at the May 9-10 ceremonies at Littlejohn Coliseum.
 
Alyssa Rylander of Adams graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing on May 11 from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H. Rylander was a member of the Student Nurses Association and will begin her nursing career this summer at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
 
 
Jennifer M. Evans of Pittsfield and Cole W. Hughes of Williamstown were among the 615 graduates St. Lawrence University during commencement ceremonies on May 19, 2019, in Canton, N.Y.
 
Evans, who attended Monument Mountain Regional School, majored in environmental studies, sociology, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude.
 
Hughes, who attended Mount Greylock Regional School, majored in environmental studies, biology, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree, magna cum laude.
 
 
Michaela Foote of Pittsfield was one of 635 graduates to receive a degree during Assumption College's 102nd commencement exercises on May 12 at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester.
 
A record number of graduate and undergraduate students at Lasell College in Newton were awarded degrees on Saturday, May 11. Among them were Gillian Campbell of Pittsfield, graduating cum laude with a bachelor of science in event management; Elizabeth Chapman of Pittsfield, with bachelor of science in fashion and retail merchandising, and Kyle Gelinas of Becket, with a bachelor of science in event management.
 
Zachary Greenspan of Becket is one of 511 seniors to earn their degree from Grove City (Pa.) College on May 18. Greenspan earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and biblical and religious studies.
 
Some 3,275 students were awarded degrees during the University of Vermont's 218th commencement ceremonies. Area students graduating from the Burlington university and their degrees are: 
  • Cameron Civello of Pittsfield, bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies.
  • Maria Colli of Glendale, bachelor of science degree in food systems
  • Alexander Harrington of Pittsfield, bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering
  • Zachary Harrington of Pittsfield, bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering
  • Trevor McFarland of Great Barrington, bachelor of science degree in athletic training education
  • Hannah Rivard of North Adams, bachelor of science degree in dietetics nutrition and food sciences
  • Thomas Schoorlemmer of Williamstown, bachelor of arts degree in political science
  • Lucas Wartella of Great Barrington, bachelor of science degree in public communication
  • Emma Waryjasz of North Adams, bachelor of science degree in professional nursing
 
American International College in Springfield awarded more than 600 undergraduate and graduate degrees to students representing 22 states and nine countries at the 134th commencement on May 11 including graduate degrees in counseling psychology to Rebecca Gillespie of Great Barrington and Michelle Shepard of Dalton and a bachelor's degree in sociology to Sarah Majdalany of Great Barrington.
 
Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., conferred degrees on May 26 to Isaac Gotterer of Lenox and Constantinos Koufis of Great Barrington.
 
Gotterer earned a bachelor of arts degree in feminist, gender, and sexuality studies, for which he also earned honors, and theater. He previously attended Lenox Memorial High School.
 
Koufis earned a bachelor of arts degree and honors in art studio. He previously attended Great Barrington Waldorf High School.
 
 

Academic Lists & Awards

Devan Galli of North Adams, a graduate of Mount Everett Regional School, earned first honors on the fall dean's list at Clark University in Worcester. Galli, a freshman who is playing softball for the Cougars this semester, earned a 3.9 grade-point average. A 3.8 or higher is required to make first honors. 
 
Lucienne Burnett of Great Barrington, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, N.J., has been named to the Honors List for the fall 2018 semester.
 
 
Amaya Smith of Williamstown, a junior at the college preparatory Pomfret (Conn.) School, was named to the high honors list for the winter marking period.
 
 

Samantha Daniels
Samantha Daniels of North Adams is the recipient of the Faculty Memorial Fund Scholarship at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.
 
The award, and a Faculty Award given to Harrison Heist of Hancock, Vt., were  presented by the Vermont Tech Faculty Assembly. Several students were considered for the awards and wrote personal essays that reflected on their education thus far and their future goals. The Faculty Award is given to a student who has made the greatest contribution to student activities.
 
The Memorial Fund Scholarship is given to a student who has already completed their first year and whose outstanding scholarship exemplifies excellence in technology. This scholarship was created as a memorial to past faculty members who have passed away. Daniels is also a residence adviser and is president of the student-led ASHRAE club on the Randolph campus.
 
While Daniels works hard for her high grades she says she is OK with not being a 4.0 student. 
 
"I still strive to achieve a 4.0 GPA but I am able to focus more on learning the material rather than just doing well [academically]," she said. "I am able to apply my education to real-world problems and even help other students that are struggling."
 
 
Stacey Neveu of Williamstown, a student at the State University of New York at Oneonto, has been selected to receive the Haverly and Alice Moyer Scholarship and Hewitt Pantaleoni Memorial Music Fund. More than 700 students were awarded scholarships at the annual scholarship dinner held on April 4.
 
Joseph Mcninch of Lenox has been named to the Emerson College dean's list for the spring 2019 semester for achieving a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Mcninch is majoring in theater and performance at the Boston college.
 
Sara Pontier of North Adams qualified for the spring 2019 dean's list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
 
Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., has named Alyssa Rylander of Adams to the dean's list for spring 2019. Rylander is a nursing major and a member of the class of 2019.
 
Aspen Sawyer of New Marlborough has been named to the winter 2019 President's List at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The winter term runs from January to May.
 
Owen Brandriss and Neel Patel, both of Williamstown, and Frank Piasecki of Great Barrington were named to the dean's list at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
 
David T. Charland, a engineering science major from Pittsfield, and Lydia McBride, a graphic design major from Great Barrington, were named to the dean's list at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.

 Assumption College in Worcester has named Lydia Barnaba of Great Barrington and Samantha El Saddik of Pittsfield to the dean's list for the spring semester. 

Adam Leonard of Pittsfield has been named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Becker College in Worcester. Leonard is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in interactive media design, with a game production and management concentration.
 
Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., has named the following area students to its academics lists for the spring 2019 semester:
 
Dean's list: Benn Kittler of Adams; Hannah Fuller and Katie Lemanski, both of Cheshire; Olivia Bordeau, Haley Cowlin, Garrett Dempsey, Hannah LaPointe and Trevor Pelkey, all of Pittsfield; and Jacqueline Van Slycke of Williamstown.
 
President's list: Shelby Davis, Shannon Netzer, Gianna Paris and Carli Scolforo, all of Pittsfield, and Brianna Davis of West Stockbridge.
 
Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., has named Richard Astle of Pittsfield to the spring 2019 president's list and Austin Mendel of Adams to the dean's list. Astle is studying in the heating/air conditioning/refrigeration technical services academic program and Mendel is studying electrical construction and maintenance.
 
Daniel Brainerd, rising senior at the University of Vermont in Burlington, has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2019 semester. The Dalton resident is majoring in philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., has named to the following students to the dean's list for the spring semester: Sierra Jamros of Adams; Nicole Speranzo of Becket; Corry Psutka and Emma Smith, both of Dalton; Ericca Broderick of Great Barrington; Morgan Pannesco of Lanesborough; Luke Martino of Lenox; and David Majetich and Colby Masse, both of Williamstown.
 
Noah Pott was named to the dean's list at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, for the winter semester ending in April 2019. Pott, the son of David A. Pott and Alix E. von Auenmueller of Great Barrington, is a 2018 graduate of Great Barrington Waldorf High School. He is a first year at Bates.

American International College has named Sarah Majdalany of Great Barrington, Gabriella Martinez of North Adams and Louis Martial Anwobor of Pittsfield to the spring 2019 dean's list.

Curry College in Milton has named the following students to the dean's list for the spring 2019 semester: Julia O'Connor of Dalton; Kayla Wickham of Lenox; Matthew Stewart of North Adams; Liam Tremlett of Pittsfield and Michael Strizzi of Williamstown.
 
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