Penn State Brandywine’s fall graduates receive degrees virtually

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Editor of Town Talk, News & Press of Delaware County

MIDDLETOWN» As Penn State conferred degrees upon its fall graduates during a virtual commencement ceremony on Dec. 19, nearly 60 Penn State Brandywine seniors watched the livestreamed event and celebrated their achievement with immediate family at their homes. The virtual ceremony was necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The ceremony was led by Penn State President Eric Barron. The commencement message was delivered by Wanda Bryant Hope, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Johnson & Johnson and a Penn State alumna.

Immediately prior to the virtual ceremony, Brandywine graduates joined their faculty in Zoom video conferencing rooms for a chance to reminisce and say goodbye. The graduates also viewed a special Brandywine commencement web page that included video messages from the campus chancellor, faculty and staff, and the graduates themselves.

In her message to the 54 graduates, Brandywine Chancellor Marilyn Wells encouraged them to reflect on how far they have come and to be open to the many possibilities that lie ahead.

Penn State Brandywine has committed to hosting in-person celebrations for the Class of 2020 when public health guidelines allow. With more than 1,300 students, Penn State Brandywine is a residential campus offering 14 bachelor’s degrees and the first two years of nearly all of Penn State’s 275 majors.

The following Penn State

Brandywine students from Delaware County received bachelor’s degrees last month during Penn State’s virtual commencement ceremony: ALDAN: Ahmir Bell-El

ASTON: Nataly Rojas BROOKHAVEN: George Davis BROOMALL: Alyssa Plotnick BRYNMAWR: Samantha Mendicino and Scott Watson CHADDS FORD: Cassandra Florschutz

FOLSOM: Derek Stein

GLEN MILLS: Kaylynn Edwards, Nolan Makatche and Abigail Searing

HAVERTOWN: Edrick Chung MEDIA: Katelyn Charlton MORTON: Marisa Sankey PROSPECT PARK: Joseph Pitts

RIDLEY PARK: Marc Pecko SHARON HILL: Alasia Petty Lewis

UPPER CHICHESTER: John Dagit, Ralph Loyson and Destinie Parker

UPPER DARBY: Shaimun

Alam, Tanni Chowdhury, Ajmail Matin and Sanjana Sheora VILLANOVA: Adi Yom-Tov WALLINGFORD: Nicole DiPalma

WAYNE: Matthew Albany

The following students received associate degrees: NEWTOWNSQUARE: Jaskaranjit Judge and Ryan Murrin UPPER DARBY: Sadrina Ali

Local student named to University of Mississippi’s honor list

OXFORD, MISS. » Cierra Raine Breeding, of Chadds Ford was recently named to the University of Mississippi’s Fall 2020 Honor Roll lists. Breeding was named to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.

In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

East Stroudsburg confers 447 degrees

EASTSTROUDSBUG» A total of 1,101 students will receive degrees from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on May 9. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional ceremonies can not take place, but all degrees will be conferred upon completion of coursework. Among those who received degrees are local students Tahj Fuller of Brookhaven, Virginia Higgins of West Chester, and Aminata Sanou of Upper Darby.

Linwood resident graduates Weber State University

OGDEN, UTAH » Lisa Tidwell of Linwood, recently graduated and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Weber State University. The historic class of 2020 includes more than 2,198 students who applied for December’s graduation.

Although official commencement ceremonies have been canceled for the fall, graduates are invited to attend the commencement exercises in the spring. Visit weber.edu/ wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

Belmont University announces local students named to Dean’s List

NASHVILLE, TENN. » Belmont University announced the local students who were named to its Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 semester. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

The following students achieved the Dean’s List: Lauren Hackett, Jessica Olkowski, and Dana Jacobs, all of Media; Hannah Keglovits, Rachel Boorse and Matthew Hillhouse, all of West Chester; Annalee Condiles, Gabriella McLachlan, Melissa Matus, of Wayne; Nicole Walheim of Havertown; and Jessica Dahm of Chadds Ford.

Glen Mills student graduates from University of Tampa

TAMPA, FLA. » Kyle Davis, of Glen Mills, graduated from The University of Tampa on Saturday, Dec. 5. Davis graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Entrepreneurship.

The virtual commencement ceremony included 618 undergraduate and graduate candidates. Each graduate received a personalized video commemorating their achievement.

Norton named to President’s List at Bob Jones University

GREENVILLE, S.C. » Joshua Norton, a Junior Nursing major from Bethel Township, was among approximately 600 Bob Jones University students named to the Fall 2020 President’s List.

The President’s List recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher grade point average for the semester. BJU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and com

munication, arts and science, health professions, and business. BJU has over

3,000 students from nearly every state and more than

40 countries.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Alyssa Plotnick of Broomall earned a degree in American studies at Penn State Brandywine. She started taking classes right after finishing high school through Penn State’s Pathway to Success Summer Start program, which allowed her to graduate a semester early. Plotnick plans to pursue a career in politics, history, writing or public relations.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Alasia Petty Lewis of Sharon Hill, shown holding her Academy Park High School graduation photo, graduated from Penn State Brandywine last month with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Katelyn Charlton of Media graduated from Penn State Brandywine in December. She earned a psychology degree and plans on pursuing a career as a child life specialist.

SUBMITTED PHOTO George Davis of Brookhaven, shown at Penn State Brandywine’s lion statue, graduated PSU Brandywine with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Kaylynn Edwards of Glen Mills, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, displays her cap and tassel along with her Penn State sweater.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Shaimun Alam of Upper Darby graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology and plans to attend graduate school.