Residential Education Awards
We are very proud of our staff and all of their accomplishments. This page is dedicated to honoring our previous awards winners throughout the years!
For information on these awards and honors, please email ResEd@wagner.edu!
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Month |
| Abigail Bernesky ’26 | October 2024 |
| Gaby Juarez Aureoles ’26 | September 2024 |
| Isabella Berisa ’25 | May 2024 |
| Emma Herron ’26 | April 2024 |
| Ruth-Ann Chambers ’25 | March 2024 |
| Ahmed Mohamed ’26 | February 2024 |
| Meliti Ethymiou ’24 | November 2023 |
| Magdalena Aleksovska ’24 | October 2023 |
| Elisaebth Renda ’23 | April 2023 |
| Liana Anderson ’23 | March 2023 |
| George LaManna ’25 | January 2023 |
| Jackie Mountain ’24 | September 2022 |
| Bridget Damon ’23 | August 2022 |
| Anastasia Antoniou ’23 | April 2022 |
| Aishat Okeowo ’23 | February 2022 |
| Kevin Roach ’23 | December 2021 |
| Samantha Marquez ’23 | November 2021 |
| Mia Milton ’23 | October 2021 |
| Noah McKane ’23 | September 2021 |
| Katherine Durgin ’22 | May 2021 |
| Andrew Kolar ’22 | April 2021 |
| Mahmoud Abdalla ’22 | March 2021 |
| Claire Quigley ’21 | February 2021 |
| Nicholas Dolley ’22 | October 2021 |
| Raquel Rubalcava Reyes ’23 | September 2020 |
| Elizabeth Schoenfeld ’21 | August 2020 |
| Margaret Gregory ’22 | March 2020 |
| Jenna Gibilisco ’20 | February 2020 |
| Anastazia Stolecki ’20 | December 2019 |
| Graham Schmelzer ’20 | November 2019 |
| Ruth Sytsma ’21 | October 2019 |
| Aaron Frongillo ’20 | September 2019 |
| Dylan Walters ’20 | August 2019 |
The Resident Assistant Award is selected by the Director and awarded at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. This award is given to a student who serves as an excellent representation of the Wagner College Resident Assistant Staff.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Jacqueline Mountain ’24 | 2023-2024 |
| Bridget Damon ’23 | 2022-2023 |
| Nicholas Dolley ’22 | 2021-2022 |
| Kiersten Gerard ’21 | 2020-2021 |
| Renata Pastuszak ’20 | 2019-2020 |
| Elizabeth Arvanitis ’20 | 2018-2019 |
| Kaitlyn Ross ’21 | 2017-2018 |
| Melanie Trinkwald ’17 | 2016-2017 |
| Jorge Acevedo ’16 | 2015-2016 |
The Returner of the Year Award is awarded to a staff member who is returning to their role during the academic year. The Returner of the Year is a person who has used their returning role to help develop their peers and provide leadership to all.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Isabella Berisa ’25 | 2023-2024 |
| Samantha Marquez ’23 | 2022-2023 |
| Jameel Jones ’22 | 2021-2022 |
| Claire Quigley ’21 | 2020-2021 |
| Jenna Gibilisco ’20 | 2019-2020 |
| Jonathan Besselink ’20 | 2018-2019 |
| Elise Whisler ’19 | 2017-2018 |
The Rookie of the Year Award is presented to a student staff member who is in their first academic year of employ. The Rookie of the Year has gone above and beyond to assimilate to the position.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Ahmed Mohamed ’26 | 2023-2024 |
| Jackie Mountain ’24 | 2022-2023 |
| Mia Milton ’23 | 2021-2022 |
| Gabriella Walker ’21 | 2020-2021 |
| Ruth Sytsma ’22 | 2019-2020 |
| Elizabeth Schoenfeld ’21 | 2018-2019 |
| Daniel Smith ’19 | 2017-2018 |
The Community Development Award is presented to a staff member who has excelled in the community development components of the position. This person has built community, put on exceptional programs, and maintain a healthy, residential community in their environment.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Javier Gonzalez ’26 | 2023-2024 |
| Ainsley Armstrong ’24 | 2022-2023 |
| Kate Durgin ’22 | 2021-2022 |
| Raquel Rubalcava Reyes’ 23 | 2020-2021 |
| Brandon Anderson | 2019-2020 |
| Jenna Gibilisco ’20 | 2018-2019 |
| Kaitlyn Ross ’20 | 2017-2018 |
The Unsung Hero Award is presented to the student staff member who is recognized by their peers as someone who has gone above and beyond. This person is one who is not normally recognized but should be due to their outstanding commitment to the program and their peers.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Haley O’Toole ’25, M’26 | 2023-2024 |
| Magdalena Aleksovska ’24 | 2022-2023 |
| Sarah Smith ’22 | 2021-2022 |
| Mahmoud Abdalla ’22 | 2020-2021 |
| Sydnie Brown ’22 | 2019-2020 |
| Renata Pastuszak ’20 | 2018-2019 |
| Dale Sandy ’19 | 2017-2018 |
The Director’s Choice Award is presented to a student staff member who has continued to support the developing role of the Office of Residential Education. This recipient is someone who has supported the office and it’s community responsibilities at an enhanced level. The recipient is someone who has represented the office at major functions, served on committees, or led staff initiatives.
| Paraprofessional Staff Name | Academic Year |
| Sydney Xhunga ’24 M ’25 | 2023-2024 |
| Noah McKane ’23 | 2022-2023 |
| Maggie Gregory ’22 | 2021-2022 |
| Anna Greentree ’21 | 2020-2021 |
| Graham Schmelzer ’20 | 2019-2020 |
| Gina LaRosa ’20 | 2018-2019 |
| Emily Austein ’19 | 2017-2018 |
| Devryn Susman ’19 | 2016-2017 |
| Adam O’Brien ’17 | 2015-2016 |
The Professional Staff Member of the Year is selected by the Head RAs based on nominations from the student staff members. The Professional Staff Member of the Year should be a person who has supported the student staff and supported the mission, vision and values of the department.
| Staff Member Name | Title | Academic Year |
| Samantha Marquez | Graduate Residential Coordinator | 2023-2024 |
| Reality Anderson | Graduate Residential Coordinator | 2022-2023 |
| Leroy Marshall | Graduate Residential Coordinator | 2021-2022 |
| Nicole Ntumba | Area Coordinator | 2020-2021 |
| Reilly Schaefer | Residential Student Services Manager | 2019-2020 |
| Joseph Revander | Graduate Residential Coordinator | 2018-2019 |
| Jonathan ‘JR’ Rosario | Area Coordinator | 2017-2018 |
The Campus Partner of the Year Award is presented to one person on campus who has supported Residential Education in exceptional ways. This award is presented by the Director, based on nominations from student and professional staff members.
| Staff Member Name | Title | Academic Year |
| Danae Choquette | Accessibility Specialist | 2023-2024 |
| Desiree Braithwaite | Director of Central Services | 2022-2023 |
| Katie Wassel | Associate Athletic Director & Senior Women’s Administrator | 2021-2022 |
| Dr. Kathleen Oberfeldt | Dean of Health & Wellness | 2020-2021 |
| Robert Soltmann | Executive Director of Dining Services | 2019-2020 |
| Michael Purpura | Executive Chef | 2019-2020 |
| Monica Wohltjen | Assistant Director of Public Safety | 2018-2019 |