April 14, 1999
PSM Students Honored for Excellence
Recognition and accolades to sophomore students for academic excellence and leadership marked the Penn State McKeesport Alumni Society’s 16th Annual Honors Convocation earlier this week in First Evangelical Free Church.
Forty-five sophomores with grade point averages of 3.5 and higher received academic achievement awards and nine students received scholarships and special awards with monetary purses.
Co-coordinator of the honors and scholars program, Dr. Joseph Marchesani, assistant professor of English, presented awards for completion of the two-year honors program to Antara Deb, Frankfort, Ill.; Kim Hayduk, Murrysville; Kristy Longsdorf, Greensburg; Kristen Smith, Donora; Daniel Tiberio, Greensburg, and Nicole Willis, Newark, Del.
University scholars who comprise the select student body of the Schreyer Honors College included: Nathan Condron, North Huntingdon Twp.; Michael Demes, Duquesne, and Timothy Dunmire, Glassport.
Casey A. Brady of Uniontown received the prestigious Penn State McKeesport Alumni Society’s Endowed Scholarship Award, which recognizes a current degree student who is the son or daughter of a Penn State graduate.
Jill E. Bruney of Elizabeth Twp. received the Distinguished Baccalaureate Degree Student Award in recognition of her academic achievements and service to the campus.
She serves as a Lion Ambassador, a PEPP tutor and on a campus search committee.
Catherine Tomko of White Oak received the Distinguished Associate Degree Student Award for academic achievement and leadership inside and outside of the classroom.
She is the editor in chief of the campus’ Collegian student newspaper.
Melissa A. Daykon of Pitcairn received two awards: The Eric and Josephine Walker Award for exemplary character, scholarship, citizenship and contributions to the campus, and the Kalich Family Student Government Leadership Award. She is president of the Student Government Association and serves on several campus staff committees, as well as SGA committees.
The Outstanding Minority Student Award went to Twamonowiye Daniels of Philadelphia for her service to the campus, character as shown by influence on fellow students and academic achievements. She is SGA secretary, a resident assistant, ACE peer mentor and Lion Ambassador.
Melanie Opaska of Monroeville captured the Dr. Edward Sichi Jr. Memorial Award for outstanding writing skills.
Sadir L. Scarbrough of Pittsburgh received the Rhodes Student Leadership Award in recognition of her contributions to student life. She is a Resident Assistant, is involved with SGA and other student activities in leadership roles, and is a dean’s list student.
Kristy L. Longsdorf of Greensburg received the Heyworth-Traina Athletic Memorial Award, which recognizes a sophomore who has participated on an athletic team and who exhibit the qualities of good sportsmanship, leadership and scholarship.
Longsdorf served as a role model on the 1998 Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team, as well as a scholar.
Campus Executive Officer Dr. JoAnne E. Burley presented the 1999 President’s Freshmen Award to three students who earned a 4.0 cumulative grad e point average based on at least 12 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given.
Medallions were awarded to Holly L. Nesbit, West Mifflin; Michael P. Patterson, Port Vue, and William L. Vogler, Monroeville.
The alumni society named William M. Hayduk, formerly of Murrysville and now living in Florida, as the 1999 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient for his contributions to the advancement of the society’s goals and his leadership role as immediate past president of the Campus Advisory Board.
Hayduk was instrumental in the formative years of the alumni society and served on its board for several years.
This year’s alumni award and contribution is made in memory of Jim Turner, who recently passed away.
Tuner, owner of Turner Dairy, provided freezer trucks in order to transport ice cream from the Penn State Creamery in State College to Penn State McKeesport.
Judy Fry of McKeesport was granted honorary alumni status for her service to the alumni society. She has volunteered and assisted in numerous society events.
