A STANDING OVATION FOR GRADUATING SENIORS
Wagner College Theatre proudly celebrates the many graduating seniors and arts students recognized at the 2026 Wagner College Senior Awards Ceremony. This year’s honorees were recognized for excellence in academics, performance, leadership, service, arts administration, education, and creative achievement across the college community.
A special congratulations goes to Abigail Bernesky, Arts Administration and Theatre Performance double major, who received the college’s prestigious Dr. Donald W. Spiro Award for Best Academic Achievement. The award is presented annually to the graduating senior who has demonstrated extraordinary academic effort and a deep commitment to the life of the institution.
The Department of Theatre and Speech also presented several departmental awards recognizing outstanding accomplishment in performance, design, management, dance, and arts administration.
The Dolly Award in Theatre for Performance, recognizing excellence in performance, was awarded to Selina Amargo and Harper Saxon.
Madison Garcia received the Faculty Award in Theatre Performance for excellence in theatre performance.
Sierra Friday received the Faculty Award in Theatre for Design, Technology and Management in recognition of excellence in design, technology, and management.
Abigail Bernesky was also awarded the Faculty Award in Arts Administration for meritorious participation in the Arts Administration Department.
Jillian Rubino received the Faculty Award in Dance for excellence in dance, while Margaret Cantwell received the Nathan and Ruth Wolff Award for Dance.
Salvatore Romania was honored with the Bob Gabriel Memorial Endowed Award in Performance, presented to a theatre major with an interest in Italian and/or Italian American culture and a proven history of outstanding theatrical performance.
Several theatre majors were also recognized with awards from departments and programs across the college.
Aiyana Torres, a Design, Technology, and Management major, received the Diversity Action Award for furthering and supporting diversity initiatives at Wagner College.
Roux Colacino, also a DTM major, received the Outstanding Service in Communication Award for significant contributions to student-led media efforts on campus.
Daniel Siani received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Agent of Change Award, recognizing a student who embodies Dr. King’s vision of servant leadership. Siani was also recognized with the Art History Award for excellence in the study of Art History both inside and outside the classroom.
We also want to congratulate the seniors who received awards from the Music Department, Visual Arts Department, and the Education Department.
Destiny Elias received both the Education Department Award for outstanding academic achievement and the Education Department Chair Award – Distinction in Teaching.
Anthony Romano received the Education Department Katherine & Egon Wendel Education Prize, awarded to a student with a high GPA intending to pursue an M.S.Ed. degree at Wagner College.
Caleb Ullian earned the Department of Music Academic Excellence Award in Music.
Cassandra Nieves received the Department of Music Dr. Ronald Cross Music History Award for outstanding achievement and scholarship in music history.
Miriam Lupu was honored with the Department of Music Eva Lazar Gabriel ’49 Music Award.
Selina Amargo also received the Department of Music Margery Mayer and Sigvart J. Steen Award for Excellence in Music in recognition of excellence in choir performance.
The ceremony also celebrated students receiving Undergraduate Leadership, Intercultural, and Lavender Cords, bestowed upon student leaders who have made significant contributions to the Wagner College community during their undergraduate careers.
The arts were proudly represented among this year’s cord recipients, including Keri Adolfson, Selina Amargo, Abigail Bernesky, Giovani Cadet, Madeleine DiGaetano, Taitum Eddington, Destiny Elias, Ann Hoye, Maia Hubscher, Mikaila Miller, Mikyla Phipps, Harper Saxon, Morgan Scire, Daniel Siani, Victoria Tarleton, and Aiyana Torres.
The Department of Theatre and Speech congratulates all of the 2026 award recipients and graduating seniors on their many accomplishments and contributions to the Wagner College community.