More than 725 graduates took part in the University of Scranton’s undergraduate commencement ceremony Sunday at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Twp. Bachelor’s and associate degrees were conferred to students who had completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2024, as well as January and May of 2025.
In addition to covering the Northeast United States, this year’s graduating class included members from Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky and Texas. The graduates collectively spanned 17 states, as well as China, Ireland and Vietnam. The most common major among the graduates was nursing, followed by kinesiology, biology, occupational therapy, finance and accounting. In total, the graduates covered 59 distinct majors.
The graduating class includes Jenyah Cunningham, a double major (secondary education, English; English), from Brooklyn, New York. Cunningham is the recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan.
Nicole Young ’00, H’20, a 16-time Emmy Award-winning senior producer for “60 Minutes,” served as the principal speaker. In her address, Young spoke about the importance of showing up and being willing to take the next step in life.
“I’ve shown up to stories that broke my heart and interviews where everything went wrong,” Young said. “I’ve been in rooms where I was the only woman, the only person of color, the youngest voice, the last one invited; sometimes all of the above. And I showed up. That is the job; not just in journalism but in life.”
Honorary degrees were presented to Scranton graduates Jacquelyn Dionne ’89 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72.
Dionne, a Scranton native who previously worked as an intensive care nurse, is the health and wellness coordinator of Brookdale Senior Living in Wilton, Connecticut. She serves on the university’s board of trustees and has led and supported numerous significant campaigns to benefit the university, including co-chairing with her husband, John Dionne ’86, H’10, the largest capital campaign in university history.
Quinn graduated from Scranton with an accounting degree. His pastoral career includes 16 years as rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Quinn, who recently retired from his role as senior priest of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Clarks Summit, and St. Gregory Parish, Clarks Green, was a member of the university’s board of trustees for 15 years.
Sofia Termini, a nursing major from Northport, New York, spoke on behalf of the class of 2025.
“In my time at bedside, I’ve cared for people from every walk of life: the young and the old, the hopeful and the hurting and many in the final stretch of their journey,” Termini said. “Whenever I could, I took the time to sit with them, talk to them and help ease their minds, even briefly, from the pain they’re enduring. During these moments, something became strikingly clear: the dying rarely speak of social standing, awards or dream cars. …
“In the end, love is what remains. Not things. Not titles. Just love. My fellow graduates, fall in love, with people, with your work, with life itself and above all stay in love.”
The Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of the University of Scranton, addressed the graduates at the ceremony. He also conferred degrees upon candidates presented by Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D., dean of the Leahy College of Health Sciences; Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management; and Carolyn Berry, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., H’14, bishop of Scranton, provided the invocation. Cara Galli, a double major in early and primary teacher education and philosophy from Carmel, New York, delivered the benediction. Christopher J. Neumann, Esq. ’87, president of the university’s alumni society, also spoke at the ceremony, as did Tracy Stewart, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
An archived recording of the ceremony is available online.
Local undergraduate degree recipients include:
Noah A. Abdulqawi, Shavertown; Ava N. Amato, Scranton; Maria E. Amato, Wyoming; Bibi S. Bacchus, Scranton; Elliott D. Ballino, Scranton; Hannah L. Beaudry, Scranton; Jaznie D. Belfont, Scranton; Rebecca E. Berry, Tunkhannock; Shandon J. Black, Scranton; Gray-Paul Bossi, South Abington Twp.; Grace E. Boyle, Clarks Summit; Christopher J. Brennan, Dalton; Emma E. Burak, Peckville; Ashley Mary Rose Burdick, Scranton; Marilyn K. Butler, Pittston; Meghan J. Caffrey, Wilkes Barre; David C. Calemmo, Mount Pocono; Tyler J. Cameron, Lackawaxen; Cabre A. Capalongo, Scranton; Jason T. Carpenter, Scranton; Abigail F. Casal, South Abington Twp.; Brian J. Castrogiovanni, Moscow; Jacob J. Cawley, Scranton; Arissa J. Chambers, Henryville; Jacob Charles, Scranton; John M. Christiansen, Honesdale; Olivia N. Clough, Scranton; Matthew R. Cocco, Hughestown; Emma M. Corby, Factoryville; Michael J. Cordaro, Clarks Summit; Ross A. Cordaro, Dunmore; Emily E. Crawn, Covington Twp.; Sean P. Currie, Scranton; Kim Thi My Dang, Scranton; Nicholas K. Davenport, Clarks Summit; Wences De La Cruz Garcia, Scranton; Patrick D. DelBalso, Plains Twp.; Sophia DeNaples, Dunmore; Joseph DeSouza, Peckville; Madison L. DeStefano, Spring Brook Twp.; Shubhat Dhungel, Scranton; Andrew P. Dickson, Shavertown; Felicia J. Domiano, Archbald; Mianicole Duverge, Scranton; Matthew P. Eckenrode, Scranton; Jianna E. Eike, Pittston; Jared T. Ely, Scranton; Amelia Esgro, Jermyn; Mia N. Familetti, Dalton; Katherine H. Fangs, Scranton; Amelia J. Farry, South Abington Twp.; Graceanne Fazio, Scranton; Ione K. Fetsko, Scranton; Emily E. Fick, Archbald; Victoria J. Fiorini, Nicholson; Madison J. Flannery, Archbald; Neal S. Forlenza, Wyoming; Indya J. Fredmonski-Szydlowski, Moosic; Abigail L. Gallagher, Scranton; Aubrey A. Gallagher, Scranton; Gabrina P. Garangmau, Scranton; Madelyne M. Gasper, Stroudsburg; Dennis C. Gavin, Scranton; Philip Gelso, Duryea; Hannah R. Geron, Carbondale; Thomas R. Gibson, Great Bend; Connor P. Gilbride, Scranton; Alexandria R. Graham, Nanticoke; Anthony T. Greco, Harveys Lake; Alexis Greene, Moosic; Hailey E. Griffin, Sugar Notch; Demetrios Grigoropoulos, Scranton; Matthew J. Halloran, Jessup; James R. Hankee, Clarks Summit; Sean C. Hanley, Shavertown; William R. Hanna, Vandling; Maximus J. Hanyon, Archbald; Mary Harmuth, Lake Ariel; Erin H. Hartey, Milford; Janice M. Healey, Dingmans Ferry; Mason T. Hemak, Jermyn; Nicolas M. Hipolito, Scranton; Zoe E. Honney, Scranton; Michael J. Howard, Mayfield; Evan M. Hromisin, Dallas; Emma N. Hughes, Scranton; Jonathan Janosky, Greenfield Twp.; Jaela D. Johnson, Kingston; John A. Kearney, Scranton; Kelly L. Kennedy, Scranton; Luis D. Kepich, Scranton; Michael J. Klingerman, Moscow; Justin X. Knab, Scranton; Gavin A. Kopesky, Honesdale; Robert M. Kretschmer, Honesdale; Theodore O. Krokus, Scranton; Emily Catherine Laabs, Roaring Brook Twp.; Emily E. Langan, Greentown; Ann Elise Lenway, Saylorsburg; Camdyn O. Lewis, Scranton; Olivia K. Lewis, Pittston; Victoria A. Lewis, Dunmore; Ethan J. Lieberman, Mountain Top; Janice A. Lisman, Shavertown; Caroline Liszewski, Stroudsburg; Olivia G. Liuzzo, Greenfield Twp.; Bethany J. Lopez, Stroudsburg; Eric S. Lukan, Honesdale; Tyler J. Maciejewski, Scranton; Dana J. Mackin, Avoca; Emis J. Maddox, Hazleton; Frank Magistro, Hawley; Andy O. Maldonado, Nanticoke; Madasen L. Mariano, Mayfield; Makenzie I. Mariano, Drums; Vilfredo Marquez, South Abington Twp.; Thomas Matchko, Jessup; Taylor J. Mazza, Carbondale; Julia M. McGraw, Carbondale; Gavin M. McHale, Dunmore; Erin McLaughlin, Sweet Valley; Ryan P. McNelis, Conyngham; Paul M. Meagher, Honesdale; Luciano P. Medico, South Abington Twp.; Jacob S. Metzger, Scranton; Matthew J. Metzger, Scranton; Rebecca M. Miller, Archbald; Taegan J. Mills, Montrose; Jacob G. Mohring, East Stroudsburg; Liam P. Moran, Scranton; Jenn A. Moreau, East Stroudsburg; Raiha Mubasher, Larksville; Hiba Muhammad, Mountain Top; Audrey B. Munley, Waverly Twp.; Ava M. Murazzi, Madison Twp.; Elizabeth C. Nemitz, Moscow; Isabella L. Oakey, Scranton; Alexandros S. Papadopoulos, Scotrun; Makayla A. Parker, Taylor; Jay J. Patel, Scranton; Priyal Patel, Mountain Top; Ashley Ma Paulino, Wapwallopen; Olivia N. Pavlico, Pittston; Nathan Pfund, Honesdale; Sophia N. Pisarski, Jessup; Madison Policare, Moosic; Zane E. Price, Scranton; Taralyn R. Reilly, Archbald; DeJanna B. Richardson, East Stroudsburg; Caroline E. Ries, Tunkhannock; Natalie M. Robinson, Scranton; Richard Rodriguez, Scranton; Kenneth A. Rogel, East Stroudsburg; Izabella M. Rose, Scranton; Frank G. Rosenski, Clarks Green; Sofia L. Salazar, Pocono Pines; Jennifer A. Sawchak, Scranton; Alyvia R. Schiavone, Taylor; Elizabeth R. Schieber, Jefferson Twp.; Daniel A. Schuler, Wilkes Barre; Curtis L. Scott, Cresco; Anika H. Sehne, Dalton; Caroline G. Shaffern, Scranton; Emily G. Sheldon, Thompson; John R. Sinclair, Scranton; Christian Snee, Olyphant; Arion M. Solomon, Scranton; Seth B. Strouse, Hanover Twp.; Anna M. Talutto, Scranton; Keiley M. Tapia, Stroudsburg; Alex Taylor, Duryea; Mikele-Danilo A. Tenev, Scranton; Eliana Tinngig, Scranton; Anthony I. Torres, New Milford; Robyn Toryak, Greentown; Trinity R. Treulieb, Effort; Asia L. Walker, Scranton; Rachael L. Wall, Roaring Brook Twp.; Abigail J. Walsh, Scranton; William Walsh, Factoryville; Isabella F. Wanas, Olyphant; Grace E. Washney, West Wyoming; Joseph A. Waslin, Scranton; Amanda M. Webb, Scranton; Emily M. Weiland, Dallas; Anne Williams, Scranton; Sophia Williams, Peckville; Kerrigan E. Wilson, Mount Pocono; Emma Rose Winter, Peckville; Shalay A. Woodson, Wilkes Barre; Kiley A. Yanochik, Dunmore; Jake Yanoski, Olyphant; Kayla S. Zachry, Dickson City; Samantha Zaic, Spring Brook Twp.; and Robert C. Zaloga, Moosic.
Emma E. Burak of Blakely accepts her bachelor’s degree on stage Sunday, May 18, at the University of Scranton’s undergraduate commencement ceremony. Burak was among the university’s more than 725 graduates celebrated at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp. (COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON)
Anna M. Talutto of Scranton waves to the crowd after receiving her bachelor’s degree Sunday, May 18, at the University of Scranton’s undergraduate commencement ceremony. Talutto was among the university’s more than 725 graduates celebrated at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp. (COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON)
The Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of the University of Scranton, applauds at the podium on Sunday, May 18, at the university’s undergraduate commencement ceremony at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp. (COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON)
University of Scranton 2000 graduate Nicole Young, a “60 Minutes” Emmy Award-winning senior producer, addresses the university’s graduating class at the commencement ceremony held Sunday, May 18, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp.(COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON)