Class of 2026
Congratulations, 2026 Graduates
Susquehanna University’s 168th Commencement ceremony, celebrating the Class of 2026,
was held on Saturday, May 9.
The Class of 2026 leaves Susquehanna shaped by meaningful experiences, strong connections and the confidence to pursue what comes next. Wherever their paths lead, they will always carry the spirit, resilience and pride of being a River Hawk.
Class of 2026
LATEST NEWS
Valedictorian is an academic title of success awarded to the student(s) with the highest academic standing among their graduating class. At Susquehanna University, the designation of valedictorian is granted based upon the highest grade point average among all bachelor’s degree graduates.
Paulina C. Biagioni, Bachelor of Science in Finance
Cindy Chen, Bachelor of Arts in English – Literature and Biology
Emilee Grayce Fisher-Henson, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Olivia M. Good, Bachelor of Science in International Business and Professional Sales
Lindsay Hirschman, Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English – Publishing & Editing
Anna M. Horn, Bachelor of Science in Ecology
Lexie N. Kauffman, Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English – Publishing & Editing
Grant T. Kuffa, Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics
Olive A. Lambert, Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Bachelor of Arts in English – Literature
Molly O. Shull, Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Ellen E. Taliani, Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English – Publishing & Editing
Jacob C. Thomas, Bachelor of Science in Ecology
Kendyll C. Ward, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in French Studies
Margaret D. Wise, Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management
Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society that celebrates academic excellence in first-year college students. The following are students who have maintained the qualifying Alpha Lambda Delta GPA throughout their four years at Susquehanna.
- Faiza Ahmed
- Lucy Anders
- Kareem Beck
- Emily Bennicoff
- Zachary Blando
- Kaylynn Boyer
- Ginger Brown
- Katie Cammarata
- Emma Campitelli
- Rachel Catania
- Melanie Ceylan
- Daicha Chaluisan-Rojas
- Jayden Checket
- Emily Christy
- Rebecca Cree
- Madelyn Dematt
- Natalie Doebley
- Julia Dudek
- Katelyn Dugery
- Fernando Jose Dysico
- Miles Ferguson-Avery
- Hannah Foust
- Daniel Francis
- William Frayne
- Kristina Frey
- Kayla Gaston
- Sydney Greiner
- Katherine Gruver
- Lindsay Hirschman
- Sydney Hoffman
- Dustin Hottel
- Calyssa Hurler
- Sarah Joy
- Payton Kenney
- Katelynn Ketterman
- Sara Knauss
- Lexis Lambert
- Hayley Lane
- Anna Lesher
- Isabella Lucas
- Laura Mace
- Teresa Martin
- Molly Mcguire
- Emmit Miller
- Kimberly Mohn
- Mackenzie Moran
- Bobbi Newsome
- Parks Ordiway
- Zachary Piecyk
- Alice Polcrack
- Annabella Potenza
- Mackenzie Quinn
- Kimoy Reid
- Samantha Rogers
- Madeline Rowan
- Olivia Sarnoski
- Nicholas Scarmozzino
- Keziah Sommers
- Charles Soriano
- Lydia Stefanik
- Thomas Stitt
- Casey Stroup
- Leah Themistokleous
- Jack Thon
- Bryan Tilkin
- Gabriel Torres
- Mickenzie Turpin
- Lauren Villa
- Justin Weychert
- Karly Wolfe
- Tyshawn Workman
Susquehanna’s Honors Program supports students’ commitment to the total Susquehanna experience by contributing as leaders, performers, athletes and community servants in addition to their academics. Honors students are selected from the top 10% of the enrolling class and have followed a sequence of special course and projects throughout their four years at Susquehanna.
- Carson Aguilar
- Lucy Anders
- Ainslee Binkley
- Cindy Chen
- Jacob Craig
- Rebecca Cree
- Madelyn DeMatt
- Lauren Dick
- Ella Driver
- Justine Gilbert
- Evan Heisler
- Joshua Higgins
- Michael Jaret
- Lexis Lambert
- Chad Lovenguth
- Clayton Maxwell
- McKenna Mowry
- Ellen Taliani
- Ell Virgilio
The Senior Awards are presented to graduating seniors by their respective academic departments and other offices and organizations that recognize students for academic excellence, scholarship, leadership and service.
Not all departments submitted awards and honorees for inclusion on the website; a comprehensive list of departmental honors are notated next to graduates’ names in the Commencement program.
- Ian Althoff, Outstanding Physics-Engineering Senior (Physics)
- Lucy Anders, Robert G. Mowry Award (University Honors Program)
- Margaret Bachman, The Achievement in Legal Studies Award (Political Science); and Dean of Students Leadership Award (Student Life)
- Ella Baker, Writers Institute Outstanding Service Award (English & Creative Writing)
- Rayne Beishline, Charles E. Lyle Senior Psi Chi Award (Psychology)
- Paulina Biagioni, Outstanding Senior in Finance (Finance & Analytics); and Academic Excellence in Italian Studies (Languages, Literatures & Cultures)
- Ainslee Binkley, P. Lynn Mangle Award (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
- Ashley Brickner, The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Outstanding Senior in English-Literature Award (English & Creative Writing)
- Ginger Brown, Katie J. Kasinecz Memorial Graphic Design Award (Art & Design)
- Emily Chambers, Excellence in Operations and Design (Theatre)
- Jayden Checket, The M.L. Klotz Departmental Merit Award (Psychology)
- Cindy Chen, The Academic Achievement Award in Biology (Biology)
- Emma Church, Environmental Studies Outstanding Senior Award (Environmental Studies)
- Matthew Crawford, Campus Impact Award (Student Life); and Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior Award for the Class of 2026 (Alumni Relations)
- Rebecca Cree, Outstanding Senior in Physics (Physics)
- Samantha Cubberley, Outstanding Graphic Design Portfolio Award (Art & Design)
- Madelyn DeMatt, The Taylor Holloway-Brown Award for Outstanding Senior in English-Publishing & Editing (English & Creative Writing); and Senior Academic Excellence Award in Music (Music)
- Lauren Dick, The James A. Blessing Award in Political Science (Political Science)
- Natalie Doebley, The Jack Reade Award (Mathematical Sciences); and Academic Excellence in Spanish Studies (Languages, Literatures & Cultures)
- Emily Ford, The John H. Longaker Award for Commitment to History (History)
- Kayla Gaston, Outstanding Senior in Economics, B.S. (Economics)
- Olivia Good, Outstanding Senior in International Business (Management & Marketing)
- Paige Hepfer, W.A. Tarr Award from Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
- Joshua Higgins, Jeffrey P. Whitman Outstanding Senior in Philosophy (Philosophy)
- Allison Himler, Outstanding Student in Broadcasting (Communications)
- Lindsay Hirschman, Maria Leonard Award (Alpha Lambda Delta)
- Katrina Hook, Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior Award for the Class of 2026 (Alumni Relations); and Outstanding Student in Advertising & Public Relations
- Anna Horn, Outstanding Ecology Major Award (Ecology)
- Ryan Horst, Excellence in Performance (Theatre)
- Cade Hovey, The Larry D. Augustine Award for Outstanding Service at WQSU (Communications)
- Sydnie Howard, Writers Institute Outstanding Service Award (English & Creative Writing)
- Mia Jacobs, The Theresa Palmer Award (Division of Inclusion & Belonging)
- Michael Jaret, Outstanding Senior in Economics, B.A. (Economics)
- Charles Jones, Outstanding Student in Professional Sales (Communications)
- Kyra Keenan, Outstanding Senior in the Department of Art & Design (Art & Design)
- Sarah Krichten, Outstanding Sociology Student Award (Sociology & Anthropology)
- Dylan LaGreca, Outstanding Senior in Professional Sales (Management & Marketing)
- Olive Lambert, Maria Leonard Award (Alpha Lambda Delta); Writers Institute Outstanding Senior Award (English & Creative Writing); and Robert G. Mowry Award (University Honors Program)
- Lance Latchford, Outstanding Senior in Studio Art (Art & Design)
- Brandon Lavitt, The Blair M. Heaton Award (Athletics)
- Claudia Lazzelle, Pi Sigma Alpha Award (Political Science); and Environmental Studies Outstanding Senior Award (Environmental Studies)
- Anna Lesher, McCormick Achievement Prize (Music)
- Michael Lipscomb, Outstanding Student in Sports Media (Communications)
- Laura Mace, Outstanding Senior Chemist (Chemistry); Outstanding Chemistry Research Award (Chemistry); and American Chemical Society Outstanding Scholar (Chemistry)
- Kyndall Mason, Academic Excellence in French Studies (Languages, Literatures & Cultures)
- Emma Mavretic, Outstanding Senior in Accounting (Accounting)
- Lex Meditz, Outstanding Research Award in Neuroscience (Neuroscience)
- Ryan Menke, Outstanding Senior in Luxury Brand Marketing & Management (Management & Marketing)
- Lukas Michaels, Outstanding Theatre Minor Student (Theatre)
- Emmit Miller, P. Lynn Mangle Award (Earth & Environmental Sciences)
- Thomas Morahan, The Outstanding Research Award in Biology (Biology)
- Mackenzie Moran, Dag Hammerskjöld Award (International Studies); and The Michele DeMary Outstanding Service Award (Political Science)
- Logan Moyer, Outstanding Student in Journalism & Digital Content (Communications)
- Grace Pennucci, The Michele DeMary Outstanding Service Award (Political Science)
- Julia Pinckert, Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior Award for the Class of 2026 (Alumni Relations); and Outstanding Senior in Management (Management & Marketing)
- Alice Polcrack, The Academic Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences (Biology); and The Outstanding Senior in Public Policy Award (Political Science)
- Arthur J. Pounds, Outstanding Ecology Major Award (Ecology)
- Albina Qose, The Peter DaDalt Finance Award (Finance & Analytics)
- Kayla Reed, Campus Impact Award (Student Life)
- Kimoy Reid, Outstanding Senior in Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Management & Marketing)
- Alessia Revelli, The Jack Reade Award (Mathematical Sciences)
- Emily Roberts, Outstanding Student in Museum Studies (Sociology & Anthropology); and The Kumar Outstanding Promise in Anthropology Award (Sociology & Anthropology)
- Seth Rockovich, Senior Music Education Service Award (Music); and Outstanding Senior Musician Award (Music)
- Samantha Rogers, PICPA Outstanding Senior in Accounting (Accounting)
- Jordan Rosenberg, The Donald Housley Award for Outstanding Preparation in Secondary Education (History)
- Julia Roth, The Connie N. Harnum Award (Athletics); and The James A. Blessing Award in Political Science (Political Science)
- Luke Ryan, Charles E. Lyle Senior Psi Chi Award (Psychology)
- Jessica Sack, Most Improved Graphic Design Portfolio Award (Art & Design)
- Nick Scarmozzino, Dean of Students Leadership Award (Student Life)
- Haley Seitz, Most Outstanding Student in Film Studies (Film Studies); and Outstanding Service in the English Programs (English & Creative Writing)
- Catherine Shipsky, Outstanding Research Award in Neuroscience (Neuroscience); and The M.L. Klotz Departmental Merit Award (Psychology)
- Molly Shull, The J. Brady Minich Award (Management & Marketing)
- Liliana Shutt, Outstanding Student in Communication Arts (Communications)
- Nava Sims, The Senior Distinction in Criminal Justice Award (Political Science)
- Robert Speece, Outstanding Senior Musician Award (Music)
- Zachary Stark, Outstanding Service to the Department of Art & Design (Art & Design)
- Lydia Stefanik, Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Service Award (Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority)
- Morgan Stickley, Outstanding Senior in Business Analytics (Finance & Analytics)
- Ash Stryker, Outstanding Research Award in Neuroscience (Neuroscience)
- Kelly Sullivan, The Patricia J. Martin Quality Educator Award (Education)
- Jack Thon, Gerald Gordon/William A. Russ Award for Achievement in History (History)
- Mickenzie Turpin, Outstanding Senior in Physics (Physics)
- Alex Vidal-Perez, The William A. Lewis, Jr. Award (Division of Inclusion & Belonging); and Writers Institute Outstanding Senior Award (English & Creative Writing)
- Kelly Waldron, The Harry Haddon Journalism and Media Prize (Communications); and The Jeanne Neff Leadership Award (Women and Gender Studies)
- Kendyll Ward, Academic Excellence in French Studies (Languages, Literatures & Cultures); and Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Scholastic Award (Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority)
- Natalie Weber, The 2026 Lore Degenstein Service Award (Lore Degenstein Gallery); and The Dr. G. Edward Schweikert III Psychology Research Award (Psychology)
- Lydia Witherite, The 2026 Lore Degenstein Service Award (Lore Degenstein Gallery)
- Madeline Widnick, Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award (Music); and Excellence in Student Teaching (Music)
- Zachary Zelna, The Peter DaDalt Finance Award (Finance & Analytics)
PICTURE THIS
Relive the celebrations and ceremonies by visiting Susquehanna’s photo webpage to view, share and download photos. Be sure to check back often as photos will be added throughout the week.
Social Media Videos
Moments & Memories from the Class of 2026
A Surprise for Our Seniors
Faculty Commencement Fit Check
Caps Off to Our Graduates
Show your Orange & Maroon Pride
Class of 2026, we are so proud of you! Tag @susquehannau and #Susqu2026 so we can share in your celebration.
Commencement Photo Album
Class of 2026
Commencement Livestream Recording
