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Clarion University–Venango Campus Honors Student Achievement

Recipients of Outstanding Student Awards - Seated, left to right: Theresa Wiskman, Business Administration; Gretchen Cochran, Nursing (ASN); Jennifer Covey, Early Childhood Education; standing, left to right: Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald, President of Clarion University; James Kronmiller, Arts and Sciences.	Recipients of Outstanding Student Awards - Seated, left to right: Kristine Ghering, Nursing (BSN); Rebecca Downing, Rehabilitative Services; Jessica Bergin, Radiologic Science Standing, left to right: Kathy Cochran, Nursing (MSN); Dr. Christopher M. Reber, Executive Dean of Clarion University–Venango Campus; Shelly Weaver, Contribution to Student Life; Michelle Moore, Respiratory Care.	Scholarship Recipients - Seated, left to right: Andrew Tygert, recipient of the Dr. Glenn R. McElhattan Scholarship; Emily Schwab, recipient of the Oil City Rotary Scholarship; Sarah Lewis, recipient of the Dr. Glenn R. McElhattan Scholarship; standing, left to right: Kathryn Goodwin, recipient of the Dr. Glenn R. McElhattan Scholarship; Debra Sobina and Joe Kranmer, representing Oil City Rotary.
Scholarship Recipients - Seated, left to right: Andrew Evan Basham, recipient of the Derrick Publishing Scholarship in Memory of Edward P. Boyle; Mrs. Kenneth (Margie) Vayda, representing the Greg Vayda Memorial Scholarship in memory of her son; Mel Basham, who presented the Derrick Scholarship to his son; standing, left to right: Vayda Scholarship sponsors Rick Sabousky and Dr. Kenneth G. Vayda, retired Clarion University faculty member and father of the late Greg Vayda; Abby Essigmann, recipient of the Dr. Thomas A. Gardner Scholarship.	Scholarship Recipients - Seated, left to right: Lisa Hugus, recipient of the Gloria J. Zampogna Scholarship; Heather Streczywilk, recipient of the Zonta Club and Gloria J. Zampogna Scholarships; Heather Ditzenberger, recipient of Galaxy Federal Credit Union and Second Presbyterian Women Scholarships; standing, left to right: Judy Saltzman, representing the Galaxy Federal Credit Union and Zonta Club Scholarships; Tony Zampogna, representing the Gloria J. Zampogna Scholarship.	Scholarship Recipients - Seated, left to right: Lois Carothers and Barbara Murphy, representing the Second Presbyterian Women Scholarship; standing, left to right: Andrea Stiller and Sara Knapp, recipients of the Second Presbyterian Women Scholarship.

Over 200 students and their families attended Clarion University–Venango Campus’ Honors Night celebration at the Quality Inn at Franklin on Friday, April 25, 2008. The annual event recognizes the achievement of students receiving scholarships and those who excel academically and in leadership positions. Outstanding Student Awards, Special Achievement Awards, and Dean’s List certificates were presented to the student honorees.

“Honors Night is a very proud occasion for our honorees and their families,” said Dr. Christopher M. Reber, executive dean of the Venango Campus. “It is also a time when the entire university offers a special thanks to the scholarship donors and sponsors who provide life-changing opportunities for students of all ages. Their commitment and generosity are inspiring and we are extraordinarily grateful for their support.”

Dr. Hallie Savage, director of the Honors Program at the Clarion Campus and President of the National Collegiate Honors Council, delivered the keynote speech.

“Academic excellence is defined by many people and explained in many different ways,” she said. “The essence of academic excellence at Clarion University is faculty and students that love to be challenged and impose high standards in the work that they do.”

Scholarship sponsors for the spring awards included Representative Ronald E. Black; Clarion University–Venango Campus; Clarion University–Venango Campus Endowment Fund; Frank Clark; Jack A. Coogan in memory of Rosemary Coogan; The Derrick Publishing Company in memory of Edward P. Boyle; Galaxy Federal Credit Union; Dr. Thomas A. Gardner; Gent, Gent and Snyder; Paul M. Goldberg Memorial Fund; Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield; William Huber Memorial Fund; E.M. McCord Memorial Fund; Dr. Glenn R. McElhattan; Mu Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau; Oil City Alliance; Oil City Lions Club; Oil City Rotary Club; Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Foundation; Pennzoil; Dr. and Mrs. Arthur William Phillips Charitable Trust; the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation; Regional Vision; Dorothy May Story Smith; Second Presbyterian Women; UPMC Northwest Auxiliary; Greg Vayda Memorial; and Zonta Club.

Fourteen students were selected by their peers and Venango Campus faculty for the Outstanding Student Award. Academic honors were presented by Dr. Ellen Foster, Venango Campus Forum Chair, to Courtney Huber, Administration Technology; James Kronmiller, Arts and Sciences; Theresa Wiskman, Business Administration; Jennifer Covey, Early Childhood Education; Kyle Mattison, Industrial Technology; Michelle Euless, Paralegal Studies; Gretchen Cochran, Nursing (ASN); Christopher Morgan, Criminal Justice; Rebecca Downing, Rehabilitative Services; Michelle Moore, Respiratory Care; Kristine Ghering, Nursing (BSN); Jessica Bergin, Radiologic Science; and Kathy Cochran, Nursing (MSN). Emily Aubele, Director of Student Affairs, presented Shelly Weaver with the Contribution to Student Life Award.

The Clarion University–Venango Campus Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to the following students at the ceremony:

•Ronald E. Black Scholarship: Royanna Snow, a master of science in nursing major from Oil City

•Clarion University–Venango Campus Scholarship: Wendy Thompson, a nursing major from Leeper

•Clarion University–Venango Campus Endowment Fund: Jaclyn Goucher, a political science major from Oil City, and Malerie Petergal, a nursing major from Conneaut Lake

Frank Clark Scholarship: Jennifer Carr, a nursing major from Franklin

•Derrick Publishing Company in Memory of Edward P. Boyle: Andrew Basham, an elementary education major from Oil City

•Galaxy Federal Credit Union: Heather Ditzenberger, a nursing major from Franklin

•Dr. Thomas A. Gardner Scholarship: Abby Essigmann, a radiologic sciences major from Erie

•Gent, Gent, and Snyder: Caitlin Blauser, a nursing major from Parker, and Kyle Kennedy, undecided, from Grand Valley

•Paul M. Goldberg Memorial Scholarship: Stephanie Beatty, a marketing major from Oil City, and Jennifer Wagner, a Mass Media Arts, Journalism, and Communication Studies major from Oil City

•Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield: Robin Zerres, a pre-nursing major from Polk

•William Huber Memorial Scholarship: Cheryl McLaughlin, a nursing major from Oil City

•Dr. Glenn R. McElhattan Scholarship: Stephanie Colley, a nursing major from Bradford; Kathryn Goodwin, a nursing major from Oil City; Shawn Hines, a radiologic sciences major from Polk; Sarah Lewis, a criminal justice major from Emlenton; Christopher Morgan, a sociology major from Franklin; Jessica Novak, a nursing major from Emlenton; Katie Rufener, a radiologic sciences major from Burghill, Ohio; and Andrew Tygert, a Spanish education major from Franklin

•Oil City Lions Club: Joshua Bailey, a criminal justice major from Seneca; Maggie Deemer, undecided, from Oil City; Jaclyn Goucher; and Kevin Vogan, a history major from Oil City

•Oil City Rotary: Rachel Moon, a psychology major from Oil City, and Emily Schwab, a radiologic sciences major from Oil City

•Pennzoil: Megan Warner, an elementary education major from Titusville

•Dr. & Mrs. Arthur William Phillips in Memory of William J. McFate and Judge William E. Breene: Rachel Allio, a nursing major from Tionesta; Julie Armant, a radiologic sciences major from Oil City; Victoria Chapman, a nursing major from Warren; Shawny Cornell, a nursing major from Titusville; William Fetty, a respiratory care major from Sandy Lake; Amy Lewis, a nursing major from Titusville; Jerrica Lyle, a nursing major from Oak Ridge; Lori Secor, anursing major from Franklin; Alisa Vroman, a nursing major from Centerville; and Christa Yaegle, a nursing major from Warren

•Regional Vision: Aaron Rosen, a respiratory care major from Oil City

•Second Presbyterian Women: Heather Ditzenberger, a nursing major from Franklin; Breanne Morelli, a respiratory care major from Oil City; Andrea Stiller, a respiratory care major from Oil City; Heather Williams, a psychology major from Clarion; and Sara Knapp, a nursing major from Oil City

•UPMC Northwest Auxiliary: Charity Hansford, a nursing major from Knox; Katelyn Monrean, a radiologic sciences major from Knox; and Charles Witherell, a respiratory care major from Oil City

•Greg Vayda Memorial Scholarship: Michelle Tock, an early childhood education/special education major from Cooperstown; and Ben VanDyke; a secondary math major from Tionesta.

•Gloria J. Zampogna Scholarship: Lisa Hugus, a nursing major from Franklin, and Heather Streczywilk, a nursing major from Oil City

•Zonta Club: Ashley Baughman, a nursing major from Franklin, and Heather Streczywilk, a nursing major from Oil City

Additional Venango Campus Scholarship Committee scholarships are available for students who apply for summer, fall, and spring terms. For more information, contact the office of LaTrobe Barnitz, Coordinator of Admissions and Financial Aid at 676-6591, extension 1211.

Scholarships were also awarded through the School of Nursing and Allied Health to the following nursing students:

•Rosemary Coogan Endowed Scholarship: Angela Davidson of Polk, and Heidi Stetz of Brookville

•Dr. Julia Donovan Memorial Scholarship: Linda Drake of Marienville

•E. M. McCord Memorial Scholarship: Royanna Snow

•Dr. Edna McKenzie Scholarship: Melissa Asche of Venus, Kimberly Belfiore of Townville, Jhoanalyn Brandt of Seneca, Lori Costello of Tionesta, Linda Drake, Bridget Foust of Erie, Angela Davidson of West Sunbery, Kelly Kujawski of Oil City, Amy Lawrentz of Sandy Lake, Tiffany McClelland of Ridgway, Jamie Myers-Huff of Franklin, Marcia Nageotte of Cochranton, and Royanna Snow

•Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania: Dawn Linn of Franklin

•Dr. & Mrs. Arthur William Phillips: Jole-Lanee Burkett of Coolspring

•Dolores Sherman Scholarship: Michele Godin of Houtzdale

•Dorothy Story Smith Scholarship: Jessica Baumer of Mifflinburg

•Mu Xi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society: Lindsey Craig of Harrisville, Angela Davidson, Joe Kollar of Pulaski, Rebecca McMurdy of Polk, Heidi Stetz, Kimberly Weaver of Greenville, and Amy Winger of Polk

In addition, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency awarded 76 scholarships to nursing students in the associate and master’s degree programs.

Clarion University−Venango Campus, located in Oil City, PA, is the oldest regional campus in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The campus provides high-quality educational programs and personalized services to help students succeed. Students can earn an associate degree, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in select areas, obtain a one-year certificate or participate in a variety of professional development and personal enrichment courses. The campus is home to Clarion University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health and its Department of Applied Technology. Clarion University−Venango Campus is committed to serving the needs of the community.

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