Spotlight on Student Success at Senior Awards

Wagner College recognized the academic achievement, leadership, and service of its graduating seniors during the 2025 Senior Awards Ceremony, held Thursday, May 15, in the Spiro Sports Center.

In his opening remarks, Wagner College President Jeffrey A. Doggett commended the Class of 2025 for their accomplishments and contributions across campus. “You have inspired me and driven your fellow students not only to dream, but also to achieve at the highest level,” Doggett said. “In every discipline, across every major or co-curricular activity, the Wagner students in this room made their mark, performing their best work and doing their college proud.”

Thomas D. Tressler-Gelok, Ed.D., dean of campus life, emphasized the significance of commemorating students at this moment in their academic journeys. “It is such an honor to celebrate our graduating students who have achieved so much in their academic and co-curricular experiences at Wagner,” he said. “The awards ceremony is a special reminder to cherish these times of celebration in honor of a group of students who have left such a profound mark on our campus.”

Among those recognized was Ximena De la Garza Contreras ’25, who delivered the student keynote address and received the Internationalization Action Award and the Robert deCsipkes Memorial Prize for Clinical Potential. Sydney Cox ’25 was also honored for her academic excellence and artistic achievement, receiving both the Dr. Donald W. Spiro Award for Best Academic Achievement and the Faculty Award in Theatre Performance.

Alumni Association

Merit Award (outstanding service, loyalty, and dedication): Emma Lofstedt

Campus Life

Weissglass Family Prize (community investment): Amanda Marko
Internationalization Action Award: Ximena De la Garza Contreras
Diversity Action Award: Paola Brizuela
Resident Assistant Award: Andrew Cowie
Alpha Delta Pi Leadership Award (Michele Connors Tellefsen ’71): Grace Giovannone
Community Service Award: AG Carhart
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Agent of Change Award: Ruth-Ann Chambers
Student Organization Leadership Award: Gavin Conner
Student Government Association Award (in memory of Harry S. Jackson III ’09): Siobhan Brannigan

Civic Engagement

Julia M. Barchitta Award for Civic Engagement: AG Carhart
Periclean Senior Award: AG Carhart
Periclean Community Agency Award: Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program

Nicolais School of Business

Alpha Omicron Pi Award: Agathe Yabit Tita
Wagner Investment Group Legacy Award: Andrew Cowie
Sir Peter L. Cardiello Award for Entrepreneurship: Kendra Hall
Janice M. Buddensick Award for Excellence in Accounting: Kathryn Siverson
Business Administration Award: Kathryn Siverson & Emma Lofstedt
Economics Department Award: Emma Lofstedt
Douglas Gee Morton Award in Economics: Mattia Bognolo
Sports Administration Award: Rebecca Desiderio

Education Department

Chair Award – Distinction in Teaching: Willow Fallon
Department Award: Victoria Dimino
Culturally Responsive Award: Giulianna Paradiso
Ann H. and Norbert H. Leeseberg Undergraduate Education Award: Willow Fallon
Katherine & Egon Wendel Education Prize: Amanda Nicoletta
5 C’s Award: Kristina Colon
Special Education Award: Julianna Lopez

Evelyn L. Spiro School of Nursing

Constance Byron Award: Amanda Mascia
Ellen Horrmann Award: Natalie Herrmann
Jane Hadley Goldsack Nursing Prize: Amy He
Mary Burr Award: Jaime Lauria
Nursing Faculty Award: Liana Iannicelli
Student Nurse Association Award: Abigail Sullivan
Jules Elle Bittner Promising Pediatric Nurse Award: Emma Maroney

Physician Assistant Program

Physician Assistant Award: Leila Caraos & Alec Signorile

Division of Humanities & Arts

English Literature Prize: Amanda Galloza Faublas & Joanna Portuesi
Christian P. Holmstrup History Award: Anthony Cantirino
Verrazano Memorial Prize in History: Kendall Tabobandung
Simone de Beauvoir French Award: Siobhan Brannigan
Instrumental Music Award: Angela LoBello
Margery Mayer & Sigvart J. Steen Award for Excellence in Music: Victoria Dimino
Eva Lazar Gabriel ’49 Music Award: Molly Nemirow
Academic Excellence Award in Music: Jo Orr
Dr. Ronald Cross Music History Award: Jade Schoenfeld
Faculty Award in Theatre for Design, Technology & Management: Micah Hale
Dolly Award in Theatre for Performance: Emma Casertano & Katarina Andiel
Bob Gabriel Memorial Endowed Award in Performance: Ralph Bologna
Nathan and Ruth Wolff Award for Dance: Elle Ouimet
Faculty Award in Arts Administration: Alexandra Cole
Faculty Award in Theatre Performance: Sydney Cox
Film and Media Award in Art: Miruna-Andreea Mihalcea
Stephen Greenwald Award for Film: Hayden Hulser
Robbie & Mary Boody Memorial Award in Art: AnnaMaria Petalas
Rev. Piotr Pilch Prize in Fine Arts: Julianna Bevilacqua

Division of Sciences & Math

Health Sciences Award: Katelyn Bouma & Bianca DiMarco
Kevin Sheehy Award in Biology: Kristian Stanczewski
Biopsychology Award: Juliana Kelly
Dr. Natale Colosi Microbiology Award: Angela LoBello
Dorothy Schaffer Memorial Award in Computer Science: Carlota Alonso
Wagner College Prize in Mathematics: Mattia Bognolo
Kappa Mu Epsilon Award: Eric Sander
Dreyfus Prize in Chemistry: Robert Tipaldi
Lee Yorgey Davidheiser Prize in Chemistry: Alexa Marzano
Harvey Logan Memorial Award in Physics: Leo Benevedes

Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Political Science Award: Hayden Hulser
International Affairs Award: Katerina Cervenkova
Barna Csuros Memorial Award (pre-law): Dylan Haase
Dr. Donald W. Spiro Award for Best Academic Achievement: Sydney Cox
Robert deCsipkes Memorial Prize for Clinical Potential in Psychology: Ximena De la Garza Contreras
Robert deCsipkes Memorial Prize for Research Potential in Psychology: Alanis Dejesus
Dr. Rosemary A. Robbins Psychology Department Award: Christopher Romano
Behavioral Economics Award: Emma Lofstedt
Hertha Troll Meyer Memorial Award in Sociology & Anthropology: AG Carhart