Recognition Day
Our tenth annual Recognition Day ceremony took place May 6th, 2024, in the Gothic Lounge. Thanks to everyone who took part and to our hard-working students and especially this year’s graduates. Each awardee below was presented with a certificate and a book selected for them—and inscribed—by the professor who nominated them. Congratulations!
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ACADEMIC AWARDS
Academic Excellence in a General Education Course (presented by Jim Broderick)
Sophia Burns (nominated by Jim Broderick)
Victoria Reyes (nominated by Michael Walters)
Kellee-Ann St Louis (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Mylasia Tillman (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Allison Villhard (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Outstanding Coursework by an English Minor (presented by Jim Broderick)
Naziha Bamba (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Jason Laderas (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Melody McLain (nominated by Ann Wallace)
Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature (presented by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Leah Castillo (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Zaccaria Grant (nominated by Ann Wallace)
Academic Excellence in a Language Course (presented by Corey Frost)
Eric Cheng (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)
Honorable Mentions:
Thomas Deignan (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)
Nathan De Frias (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)
Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom (presented by Alina Gharabegian)
Leah Castillo (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Eric Cheng (nominated by Jim Broderick)
Thomas Deignan (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Maria Montes (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Radha Rench (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Gianna Valdez (nominated by Ethan Bumas)
Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing (presented by Edi Giunta)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Khadija Diop (nominated by Tan Lin)
Brian McGinley (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Radha Rench (nominated by Corey Frost)
Rin Sarmiento (nominated by Ethan Bumas)
Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing (presented by Josh Fausty)
Marina Castillo (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Heymi Auld Perez (nominated by Corey Frost)
Andrea Themen (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar (presented by Ann Wallace)
Jessica Rivera for her essay “Stigmatism: I am Found in Those Pages” (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Nancy Scapati for her essay “The Evolution of the English Elegy” (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Nadialis Tutiven for her critical memoir "Syringe the Buried Cracks" (nominated by Ann Wallace)
The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship (presented by Corey Frost)
Anjali Paras
Honorable Mentions
Roxanne Lipa
Jessalyn Brockmann
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WRITING AWARDS
The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award (presented by Josh Fausty)
Winner: Heymi Auld Perez for “The Chair at the End of the Hallway: En memoria de Chicho”
Honorable Mention: Radha Rench for “Bedbugs and Other Pestilence”
Judges: Fatmire Ahmeti, David Blackmore, and Ann Wallace
The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award (presented by Edi Giunta)
Winner: Marina Castillo
Honorable Mentions: Nashelly Molina and Robert Suarez
Judges: Joshua Fausty, Edvige Giunta, Krystal A. Sital, and special guest judge Annabella Sciorra
The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize (presented by Alina Gharabegian)
Winner: Gianna Valdez
Honorable Mentions: Bryan Martinez and Heymi Auld Perez
Judge: Ann Wallace
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EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Outstanding Service to the English Department (presented by Edi Giunta)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (book selected by Edi Giunta)
Khadija Diop (book selected by Edi Giunta)
Distinguished Contribution to Campus Literary Life (presented by Corey Frost and Edi Giunta)
Presented to the members of THE DRAFT (Alyssa Lian Bacay, Khadija Diop, Eman Hermas, Fatima Aishalyn Pepino, and Yorky Veras) and the staff of HYPE (Isabelle Legaspi, Radha Rench, Emily Teixeira, and Gianna Valdez).
Outstanding Work as a Peer Tutor (presented by Ann Wallace)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (nominated by Ann Wallace and Alina Gharabegian)
Distinguished Achievement as a Student Teacher (presented by Corey Frost and Michelle Rosen)
Jessica Berrios (nominated by Michelle Rosen, Mary McGriff, and Brandi Warren)
Honorable mention
Jessica Rivera
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta (presented by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Current student members: Genesis Argueta, Heymi Auld Perez, Radha Rench
New Inductees: Sofia Asali, Gianna Valdez
Keeper of the Flame (presented by Corey Frost)
Alejandra Martinez and Bryan Martinez (nominated by Corey Frost)
Past Awardees
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Academic Excellence in a General Education Course
Angelica Calderon
John Latag
Ashley Lisboa
Jennifer Marchan
Charlene Martinez
Zachary Zwarycz
Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature
Cristi Benitez
Serena Isaac
Jason Laderas
Radha Rench
David Segura
Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Diamond Debarros
Thomas Deignan
Callie Gray
Heymi Auld Perez
Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Samantha Cruz
Andrea Themen
Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
Jessica Berrios
Melany Hernandez
Kailee Morel
Stefania Vanegas-Greczylo
Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
Marie Garcia
Kailee Morel
Rin Sarmiento
Academic Excellence in Critical and Creative Work
Khadija Diop
Radha Rench
Outstanding English Minor
Julia Almeida
Alyssa Lian Bacay
Callie Gray
Luis Luna
Outstanding Work in an English Course by a Non-Major
Julia Almeida
Alyssa Lian Bacay
Jason Laderas
Jennifer Marchan
WRITING AWARDS
The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Marie Garcia for “The Fire in the Kitchen”
Honorable Mentions:
Jessica Berrios for “On My Side”
Khadija Diop for “Zone de Captage: Elusive Memories”
Judges: Angel Eduardo, Corey Frost, and Rosa Garcia
The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Jack Liddell for his poem "Saudade."
Honorable Mention:
Kamila Cuevas for her poem “I don’t want another cigarette.”
Judge: Ann Wallace
EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Outstanding Service to the English Department
Khadija Diop
Jennifer Marchan
Kailee Morel
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Genesis Alexsandra Argueta
Heymi Auld Perez
Radha Rench
UNIVERSITY HONORS
Cum Laude
Krystal Maldonado
Alexandra Williams
Magna Cum Laude
John (Jack) Liddell
Summa Cum Laude
Deanna Glogowski
Kailee Morel
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Academic Excellence in a General Education Course
Alberto Rios-Perez
Mubarika Syed
Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature
Courtney Banoff
Rin Sarmiento
Andrea Themen
Emily Teixeria
Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Jessica Berrios
Marie Garcia
Adam Halecki
Bryan Martinez
Kailee Morel
Anjali Paras
Leonela Velez
Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Alexandra Williams
Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
Literature:
John (Jack) Liddell
Creative Writing:
Marie Garcia, Michele Nahrwold
Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
Marie Garcia
Folly Kouevidjin
Kailee Morel
Bruce Vereen-Nealous
Academic Excellence in Critical and Creative Work
Khadija Diop
David LaBella
Outstanding English Minor
Alyssa Bacay
Folly Kouevidjin
Luis Luna
Outstanding Work in an English Course by a Non-Major
Erin Badulis
Jazmin Cruz
Chiamaka Okwu
The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Melany Hernandez
Danique Robinson
WRITING AWARDS
The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Peggy Jackson for “Neon Flowers”
Honorable Mentions:
Meili Ellis-Tingle for “The Twins”
Julia Scott for “Nice Things”
Judges: Mauro Altamura, Cassandra Casella, and William Westerman
The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Kailee Morel
Honorable Mentions:
Jessica Berrios
Marie Garcia
Award Committee: Josh Fausty, Rosa Garcia, Edi Giunta, Krystal Sital
The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
William Van Sickell for "the gray outFIT"
Judge: Corey Frost
EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Distinguished Contribution to The Gothic Times
Julie Devoe
Outstanding Service to the English Department
Marie Garcia
Kailee Morel
Excellence in Clinical Practice (as a Student Teacher)
Alexandra Williams
Rebecca Richardson
UNIVERSITY HONORS
Cum Laude
Bahiya Cleveland
Tyler Darvalics
Adam Halecki
Alexander Jones
AJ Vecellio
Magna Cum Laude
Justin Hernandez
Krystal Reyes
Summa Cum Laude
Hadia Awan
David LaBella
Yuliana Sorial
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Academic Excellence in an Introductory Course
David La Bella
Jack Liddell
Roxanne Lipa
Kailee Morel
Danique Robinson
Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Jack Liddell
Luis Pomales-Diaz
Sebastian Nunez
Percy Totten
Deanna Glogowski
Ryan Kelly
Yuliana Sorial
Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Andy Juele
Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
...In Creative Writing
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Peggy Jackson
...In Literature
Sara Ryan
Justin Hernandez
Outstanding English Minor
Mia Pepe
Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
August Catarella
Julia Scott
Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Peggy Jackson
Outstanding Coursework in General Education Course
Etrita Abdullahu
Ebony Chilin
The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Danique Robinson
Ivanna Alvarado
WRITING AWARDS
The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Emily Sierra
Honorable Mentions
Kyle Hernandez
Peggy Jackson
The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Nevin Perkins
Honorable Mention
John Latag
The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Peggy Jackson for "Make You Love Yourself"
Honorable Mention
August Catarella for "The Mask"
EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Distinguished Contribution to the Gothic Times
Kenise Brown
Extraordinary Achievement in Publishing
Rebecca Richardson, for founding HYPE
Outstanding Service to the English Department
Peggy Jackson
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Outstanding Service to the Department by Alumni
Donia Ayoub
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Erick Del Rio
Michelle Diaz
Ryan Kelly
Deja Suarez
Josselyn Torres
Percy Totten
Corrine Williams
Fulbright Fellowship
Gabriella Rodriguez
Outstanding Peer Tutor
Kyle Odenwalder
Presidents of New Jersey’s Teacher Training Institutions
Distinguished Clinical Intern Award
Victoria McCoy
Keeper of the Flame
Gabrielle Lauria
UNIVERSITY HONORS
Cum Laude
Athena Bellotti
Hamida Lettat
Victoria McCoy
Magna Cum Laude
Tiana Scott
Percy Totten
Albert Vecellio
Summa Cum Laude
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Peggy Jackson
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Academic Excellence in an Introductory Course
Christina Bodine
Emily Diaz
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Luis Pomales-Diaz
Kaitlyn Romeo
Alexandra Williams
Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Julie Bechtel Patino
Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Althemar Gutierrez
Juno Catral
Brian McGinley
Melanie Oliva
August Catarella
Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
...In Creative Writing
Melanie Colon
Emily Sierra
...In Literature
Julie Bechtel Patino
Jayson Heim
Outstanding English Minor
Johanna Riera
Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
...In Memoir
Peggy Jackson
Michael Suazo
...In Poetry
Kyle Odenwalder
Meili Ellis-Tingle
...In Fiction
Emily Sierra
Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing
Melanie Colon
The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Tonianne Daniello
WRITING AWARDS
The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Kimberly Aguilar
Donia Ayoub
Honorable Mentions
Genesis Campoverde
Michelle Diaz
Mayada Muhareb
The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Emily Sierra
Honorable Mention
Peggy Jackson
“Burning Bright” Recognition
Melanie Colon
Emily Diaz
The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Treston Castro
Honorable Mention
Alexander Jones
EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Distinguished Contribution to the Gothic Times
Stephanie Bock
Outstanding Service to the English Department
Emily Sierra
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Erick Del Rio
Michelle Diaz
Ryan Kelly
Kim MacDonald
Deja Suarez
Josselyn Torres
Percy Totten
Corrine Williams
Fulbright Fellowships
Andrea Fonseca
Hannah Rivera
Outstanding Peer Tutor
Emily Sierra
Departmental Honors
Michelle Díaz
Emily Sierra
Kyle Odenwaller
UNIVERSITY HONORS
Cum Laude
Kimberly Aguilar
Michelle Diaz
William Karabin
Sharon Lazo
Hannah Rivera
Magna Cum Laude
Tonianne Daniello
Andrea Fonseca
Nicole Vega
Natasha Velasquez
Summa Cum Laude
Ryan Lane
Mayada Muhareb
Julie Bechtel Patino
Corrine Williams