Joeal Walden, a Senior Automotive student from Southwick, has been chosen as “The Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year” at The Lower Pioneer Valley Career and Technical Education Center for 2015. Joeal, along with 42 other students from across the state, will be honored on April 15th at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. During the past four years Joeal has been able to maintain an A average in both his technical and academic studies. An active member of his church Joeal even assists in some of the musical aspects of the worship service. This “self-starter” has restored a Mazda MX 6 and is always eyeing the next project particularly as it pertains to foreign cars. Joeal is the second member of his family to win this award following in his sister Lisa’s footsteps as the school’s 2014 winner. Following graduation he will be pursuing a degree in Automotive Technology in Boston at The Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology.
Southwick Native Ken Potts Participates in Leadership Academy
ITHACA, NY – Ken Potts, a sophomore Television and Radio major in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and member of the baseball team, is learning valuable leadership skills in Ithaca College’s Leadership Academy, the nation’s premier Division III sports leadership development program.
The Leadership Academy, led by associate professor Greg Shelley, instills traits and philosophies applicable in sport participation as well as professional and personal endeavors.
Approximately 300 student-athletes representing all 27 varsity sports are participating in the program.
Potts will receive special recognition upon completion of the program, and undergo personal development applicable after graduation from Ithaca College.
Teich to be inducted
AMHERST – Brendan Teich, son of Susan and Donald Teich of Westfield, will be inducted into the Nu Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on May 8.
Phi Beta Kappa honors recent graduates and current juniors and seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in the humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. Founded in 1776, it is the most prestigious national honor society recognizing excellence at the undergraduate level. The chapter at the university was founded in 1963.
Teich is a member of the Class of 2015 and is double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He received the Outstanding Undergraduate Award for Achievement in Theory from the School of Computer Science. Teich graduated from Suffield Academy in 2010.
Area residents spend Spring Break working at Habitat
PROVIDENCE, RI – The following area residents were among more than 130 Providence College students who recently spent a week working with Habitat for Humanity as a part of the College’s Campus Ministry program. Helping to build decent, affordable homes in nine locations were:
Brian Sheil, a resident of Southwich and a member of the class of 2018 who worked at a site in Pittsburgh, PA; and Melissa Sheil, a resident of Southwick, and a member of the class of 2016 who worked at a site in Mechanicsville, VA.
The students participated through the Habitat campus chapter at PC, which is sponsored by the chaplain’s office. Dedicated to eliminating poverty housing, Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry founded in 1976. Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner families and other volunteers who work through more than 1,900 affiliates worldwide.
Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,900 students and offers degrees in 49 academic majors. Since 1997, Providence College has consistently been ranked among the top five regional universities in the north according to U.S. News’ America’s Best Colleges.
Westfield resident named to Dean’s List
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – Brittany Stefano, daughter of Brian and Jennie Stefano of Westfield, received academic honors at Boston College by making the University’s Dean’s List for the Fall semester 2014 earning First Honors.
A junior at Boston College, Stefano is majoring in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Philosophy in the University’s Carroll School of Management.
The Dean’s List classifies students into three groups according to semester averages:
First Honors (3.700-4.000); Second Honors (3.500-3.699); and Third Honors (3.300-3.499).
In order to be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must earn at least 12 or more credits in courses
evaluated with a letter grade, excluding the P (pass) grade, and receive a passing grade in all courses.
Westfield High School graduate Olivia Gamble earns Dean’s Award recognition at Colgate University
HAMILTON, NY – Olivia Gamble, an Economics major from Westfield, MA, has earned the Dean’s Award for academic excellence at Colgate University for the Fall 2014 semester.
Students with a 3.30 or higher term average while enrolled in 3.75 or more course hours are eligible for Dean’s Award recognition at Colgate.
Colgate offers 54 majors to a diverse student body of approximately 2,900 undergraduate students, and supports 25 Division I athletic teams. The university’s 575-acre campus in rural central New York is renowned for its beauty and for the important role it plays in the student experience.
Local Students Graduate from Western New England University
SPRINGFIELD – The following students received degrees from Western New England University on February 15: Stephen Baker of Southwick and Holden Canty of Westfield.
Locals Inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
BATON ROUGE, LA – The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
Heather Kirby of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Haley Tayeh of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Michael Bokuniewicz of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Brianna Quinn of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Caitlin Nugent of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Carlo Maloni of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
Lisa Clark of Westfield was initiated at Westfield State University
These residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”
NW Catholic Graduate Guides Tours at Susquehanna University
SELINSGROVE, PA – Abigail Johnson of Granville is working as a student tour guide this year at Susquehanna University.
Tour guides are responsible for representing the Susquehanna community to prospective and admitted students and their families. They give tours of the campus and also work special days, such as Susquehanna Success Day and open houses.
To become a tour guide, students must complete a written application and personal interview with the admissions staff. Once selected, students complete an intensive training program, followed by additional training sessions throughout their time on the job. Training includes shadowing veteran tour guides, becoming familiar with the admissions process and frequently asked questions, learning to present important information during the tour and preparing to deal with challenging situations that may arise while giving a tour.
Johnson is a neuroscience major in the Class of 2015. A 2011 graduate of NW Catholic High School, she is the daughter of Don Johnson and Martha Lilja-Johnson.
Susquehanna University is a selective, residential liberal arts college that provides a solid background in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional experiences. Students develop critical thinking, writing, teamwork and communication skills which, combined with internships and research opportunities, prepare them for a lifetime of personal and professional success. The university is recognized nationally for its commitment to off-campus study through the Global Opportunities program. Small classes enable faculty members to serve as mentors, as well as teachers. Ninety-four percent of Susquehanna students are employed or in graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.
Westfield Resident returns from intensive research project
WORCESTER – Michael Enko of Westfield, a senior majoring in civil engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), recently completed an intense, hands-on project in Boston. The project was titled Advanced Nutrient Removal at the City of Montpelier WWTF.
At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project addressing a challenge in their major field of study. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university’s more than 40 off-campus project centers, which are located around the world. A signature element of the innovative undergraduate experience at WPI, the project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtful solutions to real problems that affect the quality of people’s lives — and make a difference before they graduate.
“The WPI project-based curriculum brings students out of the classroom and into the real world to apply their knowledge to solve problems,” said Professor Richard Vaz, dean of the WPI Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division. “Students are immersed in a new setting, solving open-ended problems and working with people of different backgrounds — all valuable perspectives for surviving and thriving in today’s global marketplace. They also learn the meaning and magic of teamwork; make valuable contributions to a problem in their field; and gain a competitive edge for any resume, or graduate or professional school application.”
