2025 Undergraduate Award Winners Honored

Wagner College celebrated its exceptional underclass students at the 2025 Undergraduate Awards Ceremony, held Thursday, May 1, 2025, on campus in Spiro Hall. The event honored students for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to campus life.

“It is incredible to see all of the amazing work Wagner students are doing as leaders, both in and outside of the classroom,” said Danae Choquette, Academic Accessibility Specialist, who helped plan the event. “To have everyone in one room to celebrate those students was a great way to wrap up the day at the Celebration of Scholarly and Artistic Student Work.”

The Celebration of Scholarly and Artistic Student Work is a conference that highlights the achievements of students from all disciplines, showcasing research, scholarship, and creativity while promoting career readiness.

To see the full program for the Undergraduate Awards, please visit here.

Alexandru Soroiu won the Thomas Carroll Award for Environmental Sustainability, given for dedication in leading the campus toward a more environmentally sustainable future. (Campus Life)

Khalil Wason-Taylor won the Class of 2008 Scholarship, awarded to a rising senior for outstanding qualities in academics and service to the College. (Campus Life)

Haley O’Toole won the Distinguished Leader Award, given for superior qualities in cooperation, decision-making, and management. (Campus Life)

Olivia Ontaneda won the Leader on the Horizon Award, given in recognition of a student who shows promise as a leader on campus. (Campus Life)

Kayla Renwick won the Outstanding Service in Communication Award, given for contributions to media organizations on campus. (Campus Life)

Jonathan Ficarra won the Thomas Kendris Award in Expository & Journalistic Writing, given for outstanding work in writing courses and journalism. (Department of English)

Zachary Bugliaro won the Thomas Kendris Award in Expository & Journalistic Writing, given for outstanding work in writing courses and journalism. (Department of English)

Kassidy Garced won the Jack J. Boies Award for Creative Writing, given for excellence in the Creative Writing Competition. (Department of English)

Harper Saxon won the Eduardo Chirinos Spanish Award, given for outstanding work in Spanish language and literature. (Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures)

Sofia Acevedo won the Modern Languages Award, given to recognize outstanding work in Modern Languages. (Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures)

Marlena Ries won the Socrates Prize, given for outstanding philosophical thought with application to human concerns in a community. (Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Olivia Petrizzo won the Exceptional Performance in Philosophy Award, given for academic excellence in philosophy. (Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Kristen Alexander won the Art History Award, given to a student who demonstrates excellence in the study of Art History. (Department of Visual Arts)

Kailey Marino won the Richard Gaffney Memorial Grant, given to support student work in art. (Department of Visual Arts)

Jessa Engelmann won the Richard Gaffney Memorial Grant, given to support student work in art. (Department of Visual Arts)

Yineth Rodriguez won the Biological Sciences Award, given for the highest academic promise in Biological Sciences. (Department of Biological Sciences)

Artan Shaini won the Robert D. Blomquist Memorial Award in Biology, given to an outstanding Biology student with good moral character. (Department of Biological Sciences)

Ahmed Lotfi won the Kurt Goedel Award for Excellence in Mathematics, given for outstanding performance and achievement in mathematics. (Department of Mathematics & Computer Science)

Gabriel Gaglio won the Kurt Goedel Award for Excellence in Mathematics, given for outstanding performance and achievement in mathematics. (Department of Mathematics & Computer Science)

Summer Pillarella won the Wagner College Award in Chemistry, given for academic excellence in Chemistry. (Department of Physical Sciences)

Genevieve Bland won the Verrazano Memorial Prize, given for outstanding academic achievement in Government and Politics. (Department of Government & Politics)

Eric Szepietowski won the Phyllis Andors Award, given for outstanding performance in Government and Politics. (Department of Government & Politics)

Emma Brooks won the Phyllis Andors Award, given for outstanding performance in Government and Politics. (Department of Government & Politics)

Elisa Parazzi won the International Affairs Award, given for outstanding academic achievement in International Affairs. (Department of Government & Politics)

Kaitlyn Reilly won both the Gertrude Aull Award, given for the greatest potential as a psychologist, (Department of Psychology) and the Dr. Rhoda Frumkin Literacy Award, given in recognition of an education student committed to culturally responsive literacy in schools. (Education Department)

Katherine Dewey won the Dr. Rhoda Frumkin Literacy Award, given in recognition of an education student committed to culturally responsive literacy in schools. (Education Department)

Olivia West won the Gertrude Aull Award, given for the greatest potential as a psychologist. (Department of Psychology)

Grace Levkovich won the Academic Excellence Award in Sociology, given for outstanding academic work in Sociology. (Department of Sociology)

Lillian McNally won the C. Wright Mills Award, given to a student who embodies the spirit of sociological imagination. (Department of Sociology)

Artan Shaini won the Julia M. Barchitta Award for Civic Engagement, given for bridging academic achievement with contributions to the community through the Civic Engagement Certificate Program. (Civic Engagement)

Jareb Goldston won Bonner of the Year, awarded to a student who exemplifies civic engagement and leadership through community work and democratic engagement. (Civic Engagement)