{"id":195696,"date":"2026-05-18T16:21:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/195696\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:21:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:21:21","slug":"lackawanna-college-holds-132nd-commencement-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/195696\/","title":{"rendered":"Lackawanna College holds 132nd commencement ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lackawanna College awarded 108 bachelor\u2019s degrees, 382 associate degrees and 32 certificates at the 132nd commencement Sunday at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Twp.<\/p>\n

Lackawanna held the joint commencement ceremony with Peirce College, with both institutions awarding degrees to their graduates.<\/p>\n

Lackawanna College President Jill Murray,\u00a0Ph.D., Peirce College Provost Rita Toliver-Roberts, Ed.D., and Lackawanna College Provost Erica Barone Pricci, Ph.D., addressed graduates and conferred degrees to candidates. Lackawanna College degrees were presented by Dean of Curriculum and Faculty Affairs Adrienne Asbury and AVP of Enrollment Management and Student Success Denise Larson. Peirce College degrees were presented by Dean of Graduate Students Charlene Glenn, Ed.D., and Associate Provost, Academic Affairs, Stephanie Donovan, Ed.D.<\/p>\n

Alisha Myers of Tunkhannock presented the valedictory address.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring my time at Lackawanna College, I have learned the importance of perseverance, time management, and balancing multiple responsibilities,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a working, nontraditional student and parent, this experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally. I plan to carry these lessons forward as I continue my career, strive toward new goals, and serve as a positive example for my family and others considering returning to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myers earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in business from Lackawanna College and works full time at HANDS of Wyoming County, a nonprofit organization focused on early-childhood development and family-support programs. Her role includes financial and\u00a0 administrative oversight, coordinating Pre-K Counts enrollment, and providing home visiting services through Parents as Teachers to support families and promote school readiness.<\/p>\n

Graduates from regional counties are:<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Arts, professional studies<\/p>\n

Denny Temple, Scranton<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, accounting<\/p>\n

John David Hughes, Scranton; Thomas Keegan, Waverly Twp.; Chester Lenceski, Old Forge; Trinity McAndrew, Scranton; Shane C. McGinley, South Abington Twp.; Tiffany Miscannon, Hazleton; Liselotte Perez, Hazleton; Anisha Smith-Thornton, Scranton; Shannon E. Toolan, Clifford Twp.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, business<\/p>\n

Samuel Anderson, Scranton;\u00a0Amanda D. Bales, Greenfield Twp.; Yeremi Bautista, Pittston; Beyonce Blasko, Scranton; Michael Bullock, Tunkhannock; Jillian Carter, Jefferson Twp.; Joseph Defelice, Dunmore; Brian Durkin, Archbald; Estelle Fuller, Jermyn; Adriana Gambo, Dunmore; Dana Kay Gillern, Archbald; Stephanie Lynn Griffiths, Jessup; Trinity Jane Jachens, Milanville; Stephanie Karr, Scranton; Paige E. Kelly, Taylor; Alexia Angelina Kopchak, Kingston; Zachary Kowanick, Scranton; Giovanni C. Lopez, Olyphant;\u00a0Joseph Mandarano, Dunmore; Ryan McAndrew, Scranton; Dilcia Mejia De Pena, Hazleton; Richard Moeller, Olyphant; Allison Murray, Clarks Summit; Alisha Myers, Tunkhannock; Lissette Angelique Oriol, Hawley; Maria Perez, Hazleton; Joseph Preate, Old Forge; Paul Randall, Drums; Kristen E. Rocuba, Forest City; Nicholas A. Schmidt, Clifford Twp.; Jasmin Selimovic, Honesdale; Paul-James Sparks, New Milford; Jordan Spencer, Clarks Summit; Dominic Temperino, Dunmore; Aaleyah Marie Velez, West Hazleton;\u00a0Jesse Philip Young, Lords Valley; Amanda Elizabeth Zarate Mata, Meshoppen.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, criminal justice<\/p>\n

Ana Barett, Wilkes-Barre; Alexa Christine Barth, Dunmore; Justin Bryk, Wilkes-Barre; Molly A. Donovan, Scranton; Leonela A. Espinosa Ciprian, Scranton; Kyle Thomas Gorman, Lake Ariel; Christian Hernandez, Scranton; Abigail Kelly, Archbald; Jacob Kizer, Scranton; Genesis Marte, Hudson; Rashely Matias, Hazleton; Samantha Meluskey, Wilkes-Barre; Alicia Tori Muzi, Moscow; Anthony J. Perri, Mayfield;\u00a0Jacob Piazza, Scranton; Michael Kenneth Sebastianelli, Jessup; Prakriti Sitaula Sharma, Scranton; Abigail Jo Ursich, Honesdale; George John Ziccardi, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, hospitality management<\/p>\n

Sara Ann Grande, Dunmore.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, human services<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn H. Aschoff, Matamoras; Lindsey A. Bayly, Honesdale; Bobbi Jo Canfield, Tunkhannock; Leanne Chamberlain, Hawley; Zachary Bruce Cole, South Abington Twp.; Taylor Conklin, Thompson; Ambur Dawn Dencker, Hawley; Tiffany Gallo, Scranton; Kyleigh E. Jones, Susquehanna;\u00a0Cecelia Elisabeth Laboranti, Olyphant; Michelle Lane, Tunkhannock; Leslye Marte, Hazleton;Ariel Matticks, Scranton; Ryan Purdy, Scranton; Tina M. Swingle, Mehoopany; Kierstyn Walcott, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, nursing<\/p>\n

Bobbie Jo Sands, Browndale.<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science, restaurant and foodservice management<\/p>\n

Nysir Rumond Neal-Pelzer, Dunmore.<\/p>\n

Associate in Applied Science, accounting<\/p>\n

Mohammad Amanzada, Scranton; Skayyo Blair, Dunmore; Alexis Caramanno, Jermyn; Michael Delvillar, Lake Ariel;\u00a0Jade Kohut, Scranton; Sean McGlone, Clarks Summit.<\/p>\n

Associate in Applied Science, surgical technology<\/p>\n

Taylor Richmond, East Stroudsburg.<\/p>\n

Associate in Arts, professional studies<\/p>\n

Jordan Artmont, Wyoming; Arthur Askew, Old Forge; Kiley Barbour, Hallstead; Ryley F. Box, Lake Ariel; Ella Casper, Fell Twp.; Phillip Steven Cohen, Honesdale; Stephanie Cruz, Scranton; Missveli Cruz Reyes, Scranton; Kevron Danso, Stroudsburg; Emily Dexter, Gouldsboro; Tony Do, Scranton;\u00a0Evan Edsall, Avoca; Lindsey Eisloeffel, Honesdale; Thomas Esgro, Covington Twp.; Mychal Fisher, Milford; Vanessa Frantz, Susquehanna; Kimberly Gallardo, Scranton; Olivia Gries, Lake Ariel; Katelyn Gunuskey, Honesdale; Azariah Harman, Montrose; William Hobart, Susquehanna; Victor Holt, Olyphant; Sarah James, Forest City; Cora Jones, Wyoming; Jenna Mancuso, Jermyn; Nahuel Minis, Scranton; Jacob Monko, Shavertown; Connor Ondek, Dunmore;\u00a0Vito Perrone, Old Forge; Alexandra Pinto, Tyler Hill; Roxanne Razny, Hawley; Janna Rowlands, Jefferson Twp.; Mia Scalese, Moscow; Zaliyah Small, Scranton; Daniel Stuble, Factoryville; Anne Sullivan, Pleasant Mount; Justin Toth, Hawley; Natalie Zeno, Hawley.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, baking and pastry<\/p>\n

Chelsea Huegel, Scranton; Lauren Powell, Falls Twp.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, business administration<\/p>\n

Travis Beisner, Honesdale; Alicia Bellagamba, Scranton;\u00a0Keith Blood, North Abington Twp.; Ajah Blyden, East Stroudsburg; Kevin G. Bond, Hawley; Casandra Chagaris, Clarks Summit; Richard Conte, Moscow; Brendan James Creamer, Hawley; Luke Cuomo, Greeley; Duc Ho, Olyphant; Madison E. Irish, Sterling; Marissa Jones, Jessup; Nico Killino, Old Forge; Conner Joseph Lewis, Simpson; Rashid Lovely, Dunmore; Lester Maxwell, Moscow; William McDowell, Scranton; Merolin Nunez, Freeland; Isiah Ortiz, Scranton;\u00a0Anthony Panfini, Peckville; Lily Parr, Tunkhannock; Kayla Price, South Abington Twp.; Andrea Rivera, Waymart; Charlena Rodriguez, Moscow; Carmen Santiago Martinez, Scranton; Maria Stefano, Old Forge; Jonathan Strelecki, Olyphant; Emely Tejeda Cabrera, Hazle Twp.; Donna Maria Tomachick, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, business studies<\/p>\n

Brianna Smith, South Gibson; James Boyd, Mount Pocono; Colin Burdian, East Stroudsburg; Jireej Cole, Tamiment; Ryder Machado, Milford; William Maloney, Scranton;\u00a0Isaac Nambu, Scranton; Ryan Novakowski, Forty Fort; Victoria Ortalano, Jessup; Jordon Petrowski, Mayfield; Jasmin Romano, Bushkill; Jose Soquiel, Hazleton.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, cardiac sonography<\/p>\n

Brittany Tiana Bennett, Stroudsburg; Bryanna Boozer, Scranton; Sydney Paige Buchman, Conyngham; Madison Dembinski, Lake Harmony; Abbygail Geyer, Falls Twp.; Mia Hernandez, Scranton; Tessa Johns, Swoyersville; Mikayla Jordan, Carbondale; Jessica Mashinski, Luzerne; Macey Kathleen Nagy, Brackney;\u00a0Jordan Radle, South Abington Twp.; Sydney Upright, Montrose; Marianna Vincavage, Dupont; Katelynn Ziskowski, Archbald.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, criminal justice<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Bartoli, Jermyn; Kiera Bennett, Scranton; Haylee Cole, Peckville; Ashley Pauline Collman, Shohola; Julissa Elejalde, Scranton; Miguel Angel Garcia, Hazleton; Jennifer Justiniano, Old Forge; Aarianna King, Scranton; James Kowalski, Wapwallopen; Maury McLaughlin, Scranton; Jennifer Mejia, Hazleton; Brody Nichol, Kingston;\u00a0Taylor Odzana, Taylor; Robert Reynolds, Union Dale; Louise Ann Salley, Scranton; Lila Shygelski, Taylor; Vianna Lorena Soriano, Hazleton; Krista Vanhorn, Milford; Sarah Zawatski, Nanticoke.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, culinary arts<\/p>\n

Chase Lombardi-Sickler, Lake Ariel; Colin Lyons, Scranton; Richard Melendez, Covington Twp.; Kevin Zamorski, Montrose.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, cybersecurity<\/p>\n

Jaida Jacqueline Almonte-Guzman, Scranton; Collin Blasi, Dunmore; Jayden Capone, Scranton; Johanelis Enid Constanzo Alvarez, Hazleton;\u00a0Alexander Cupelli, Covington Twp.; Angely Davila, Scranton; Dean Del Villar, Lords Valley; Ousmane Diallo, Kingston; Brooke Durso, Waymart; Mohamed Hassan, Scranton; Jessica Jacob, Hazleton; Matthew Kackos, Union Dale; Jordan Moran, Jermyn; Kyle Oetting Yahara, Old Forge; Baeddan Reese, South Abington Twp.; Arielle Rodriguez, Mountain Top; Delroy Scott, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, diagnostic medical sonography<\/p>\n

Jacqueline Francis, Lake Ariel; Lyndsey Anneliese Jensen, Hawley; Rachael Luton, Wyoming;\u00a0Wendi Maria, Scranton; Julenny Mercedes, Scranton; Niralben Patel, Scranton; Ravin Roman, Hawley; Olivia Sokolowsky, Avoca; Karli Tavella, Thornhurst Twp.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, hospitality management<\/p>\n

Alexander Bevan, Tunkhannock; Jade Jordan, Exeter; Rosie Juarez, Hazleton; Molly Marichak, South Abington Twp.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, human services<\/p>\n

Danna Abreu, Hazleton; Amirah Adamson, Scranton; Clarisse Armstrong, Scranton; Rachel Asmus, Spring Brook Twp.; Olivia Basalyga, Scott Twp.;\u00a0Louise Lauren Corallo, Wilkes-Barre; Megan Luisa DeStefano, Freeland; Heather Noel Dodd, Hawley; Michelle Dymond, Tunkhannock; Selina Erskine, Scranton; Olivia Folk, Great Bend; Christina Marguerite Foster, Hawley; MindyAnn Frank, Carbondale; Kenneth Gaughan, Dunmore; Lauren Herrera Facenda, Hazleton; Brittany Hughes, Scranton; Nicholas Hussung, Lake Ariel; Gabriel A. Johnson, Friendsville; Daniel Jones, Wyoming; Ryann Matthews, Taylor; Candice May, Jermyn; Kriste McGregor, Carbondale;\u00a0Loralie Mead, Forest City; Monica Morrell, Scranton; Emma Phraner, Hawley; Ashley Marie Pinzone, Covington Twp.; Vida Purdy, Meshoppen; Adam Raniero, Scranton; Alana Russell, Scranton; Lindsay Ann Seymour, Taylor; Kimberly Marie Shaffer, Lackawaxen; Elyssa Shaw, Carbondale; Rayne Sinkaus, Dunmore; Malazia Travis-Carter, Dunmore; Lisa Trifonov, Honesdale; Nicole VanGorden, Hawley; Alayshia Williams, Carbondale.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, nursing<\/p>\n

Serenity Campos, Scranton;\u00a0Nikiesha Teniele Cottle, Scranton; Samantha Cruttenden, Mehoopany; Amanda Dowling, Exeter; Melinda Fisher, Scranton; Jazly Garcia, Scranton; Brittany J. Grimmer, Old Forge; Tiffany Lynn Hessberger, Hawley; Jessica Hotaling, Meshoppen; Rachael Elizabeth Iskander, Mountain Top; Brooke Kristina Jacobs, Waymart; Stephanie Jennings, Archbald; Valerie Kohanski, Moscow; Katelin Marie Kukowski, Jenkins Twp.; Autumn Rose Legg, Moscow; Caitrin Mullisky, Mountain Top; Autumn Nutaitis, Plymouth; Morgan Parry, Forest City;\u00a0Leah Reed, Dunmore; Orianna Star Rex, Honesdale; Ashley Rood, Forty Fort; Tori Sanko, Scott Twp.; Karen Elizabeth Scheirer, Scranton; Kiran Singh, Lords Valley; Chloe Stoffey, Throop; Mindy Annalise Tejada, Hazleton; Amanda Lynn Varaksa, Throop; Alexa Rae Vargo, Kingston.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, petroleum and natural gas business administration<\/p>\n

Brian Derrick, Susquehanna.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, petroleum and natural gas technology<\/p>\n

Ayden Crawford, Browndale; Marshal Gordon, Clarks Summit; Austin Grosel, Union Dale; Nicholas Grover, Olyphant;\u00a0Jonah Houser, Nicholson; Henry Lopez, Springville; Sophia Maruzzelli, Tunkhannock; Brett Monelli, Dunmore; William Parry, Browndale; Carly Kathleen Powers, Meshoppen; Brendan Rucks, Jessup; Jake Savignano, Wyoming; Robert Sebastianelli, Jessup; Alyssa Smith, Greenfield Twp.; Brayden Tomlinson, Scranton; Jacob Wolter, North Abington Twp.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, physical therapist assistant<\/p>\n

Riley Dempsey, Dalton; Emily Rose McElroy, Matamoras; Mazzie Musgrave, Old Forge; Jordyn R. Noble, Beach Lake;\u00a0Aleah Shook, Hawley; Ashley M. Torres, New Milford.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, pre-allied health<\/p>\n

Alleson Arias, Shohola; LaRhonda Denine Boone, Carbondale; Yunimel Capellan, Hazleton; Cameron Chalmers, Dunmore; Maritza Cherry, Scranton; Lexis Corby, Meshoppen; Erika Dutka, Archbald; Jessica Esbensen, Carbondale; Shannon Flynn, Olyphant; Kayla Louise Heller, Tafton; Chantel Jenks, Milford; Olivia Keslosky, Avoca; Paris Morante, Scranton; Melody Perez, Clarks Summit;\u00a0Rya Sainte, Hawley; Brianna Sivak, Kingston; Abigail Yenalevitch, Larksville.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, robotics and integrated technologies<\/p>\n

Lucas J. Kotcho, Jermyn; Karim Vaquero, Carbondale.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, sports management<\/p>\n

Hunter Austra, Larksville; Luke Perez, Dunmore; Jason Prudente, Bear Creek Twp.<\/p>\n

Associate in Science, vascular technology<\/p>\n

Gabriella Borgia, Scranton; Brittany Caporali, Carbondale; Thomas Casuccio, Madison Twp.; Vianca Espinoza, Mountain Top; Aleksandra Falkowska, Blakeslee; Megan L. Johns, Meshoppen;\u00a0Keylin Maldonado, Scranton; Jennifer Mondragon, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Cannabis professional certificate<\/p>\n

Luca Baldassari, Dunmore; Adrianna Colon, Wilkes-Barre; Ahrianna Deitz, Olyphant; Ryan Kane, Dupont; Jugermi Nunez, West Hazleton; Nathan Smith, Forty Fort; John Valdes, Pittston; Danny Verdejo, Scranton.<\/p>\n

Conservation and natural resource certificate<\/p>\n

Robert Jenkins, Factoryville; John Paul Sirotnak, Dunmore.<\/p>\n

Construction pre-apprenticeship certificate<\/p>\n

Cristian Batista, Hazleton;\u00a0Victor Duran, Hazleton; Ricardo Jimenez, Hazle Twp.; Devan Mecir, Freeland; Ethan Packer, Shickshinny; Dulce Reyes, Hazleton; Wellington Reyes, Hazle Twp.; Aydan Riley, Drums; Ana Salazar Florenzan, West Hazleton; Jeyson Vasquez, Hazleton; Eddy Villar, West Hazleton; Alfonsina Villar Salazar, West Hazleton.<\/p>\n

\"LackawannaLackawanna College 2026 graduates Karen Elizabeth Scheirer, Scranton,left, and Morgan Parry, Forest City. (COURTESY OF LACKAWANNA COLLEGE)
\n\"LackawannaLackawanna College class of 2026 members, from left, Jana Hofmann, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Christian Harrison, Temple Hills, Md.; Neurdia Osias, Huntington Station, N.Y.; and Zoe Ortueta, Miami. (COURTESY OF LACKAWANNA COLLEGE)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Lackawanna College awarded 108 bachelor\u2019s degrees, 382 associate degrees and 32 certificates at the 132nd commencement Sunday at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195697,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[227,182,139,178,180,179,181],"class_list":["post-195696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-education","tag-local-news","tag-news","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-top-stories-stt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}