After an unusual semester, Mount Saint Mary College was proud to recognize more than 550 graduates at its virtual Commencement celebration on Saturday, May 16.
Of the graduates, 111 earned master’s degrees and 444 earned bachelor’s degrees. The graduating students hailed from 11 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
Dr. Jason N. Adsit, president of the college, congratulated the seniors on a job well done. “Your achievements, your amazing work, should be celebrated,” he said. “I am so proud of you, your families are so proud of you, and you’re going to go on to do amazing things…These are dark moments: Be the spark, make the change, and set the world on fire. I tip my cap to you, I celebrate you – congratulations.”
Alexander Perlak ’20, Senior Class president, said that the same tenacity that got the graduates through college will serve them well as they move on to the next chapters of their lives.
“Many of us started our academic journeys four years ago, and we all knew it was going to be a unique experience because the Mount is such a special place,” he said. “We did it, not as we initially planned to, but we did do it…We are adaptable. We made the most of the changes this semester and are ready for what lies ahead.”
Perlak added, “Always remember, the Mount is your home away from home.”
The day before Commencement, the School of Nursing honored the graduates of its prestigious program. At a virtual ceremony, Susan LaRocco, dean of the School of Nursing, congratulated the Nursing students on a job well done. “Your faculty and I could not be more proud of your accomplishments,” she said. “Not only have you persevered through a rigorous curriculum, you have provided service to the community in many ways.”
Over the last four years, the 2020 Nursing graduates assisted at local food pantries, taught young children about hospitals and nurses, and mentored high school students who are considering careers in nursing. In addition to these and other service initiatives, two dozen students from the college’s School of Nursing recently volunteered at Bon Secours Charity Health System to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several students from the class of 2020 were recognized for excellence in their studies and dedication to the field of nursing. The award recipients were:
- AMA NY Future Nurse Leader Award: Shannon Christiano
- School of Nursing Clinical Excellence Award: Erica Sitler and Jessica Koch
- School of Nursing Leadership Award: Vanesa Mazza
- Perseverance Award: Haley Cool
- General Excellence in Nursing Award: Soleil Bent
- Spirit of Nursing Award: Amanda Krom and Jennifer Turci
- Sigma Nursing Award: Emily Leath
- The DAISY Foundation Nurse Faculty Award was presented to Linda Kelly, assistant professor of Nursing, honoring her for her dedication to the Mount and the