NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona University honored the academic excellence of its top students during the annual Honors Convocation held on Thursday, May 14, at the Hynes Center. The ceremony recognized all seniors and graduate students who were members of academic honor societies.
Eight student athletes were awarded bronze medals for their achievements within their respective disciplines, while 17 received gold medals for successfully completing the University's Honors Program.
The valedictory address was given by Elizabeth Ricco, a graduate assistant for Iona athletics and the Sports Communication and Media graduate program in the School of Arts & Science. The valedictorian is the student selected by a committee for their exceptional academic performance and involvement in extracurricular activities. This individual has demonstrated leadership, dedication, and excellence both in the classroom and beyond. Their achievements reflect a well-rounded commitment to the university community.
BRONZE MEDALISTS
Each department within Iona University's School of Arts & Science, LaPenta School of Business, NewYork-Presbyterian School of Health Sciences, and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship honored its top-performing students with baccalaureate and graduate bronze medals.
BACCALAUREATE DEPARTMENTAL MEDALISTS
School of Arts & Science
Education:
Alivia Lichtner, softball
English:
Brooke Acker. softball
English:
Lindsey Grove, lacrosse
Political Science:
Jack Allen, rowing
Public Relations:
Jack Allen, rowing
LaPenta School of Business
Business Analytics & Information Systems:
Dylan Riccio
Finance:
Victoria Curreri, lacrosse
Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Entrepreneurship:
Lauren Sweeney, lacrosse
GRADUATE DEPARTMENTAL MEDALISTS
LaPenta School of Business
Business Analytics:
Yannie Chan, basketball
Information Systems:
James Carey, basketball (assistant general manager)
Management: Shane Walpole, athletics (graduate assistant)
Marketing:
Mia Andrews, women's basketball (graduate assistant)
GOLD MEDALISTS OF THE IONA UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM
Students in Iona University's Honors Program were recognized for the completion and presentation of their senior thesis projects:
STUDENT:
Brooke Acker, softball
TITLE: "Literacy Crisis in New York City and Rural Mississippi"
MENTOR: Scott Cleary, Ph.D., English
STUDENT:
Mackenna Agosti. rowing
TITLE: "Bilayer Tension as a Quantitative Probe of Small Bioactive Molecule Interactions at the Membrane-Water Interface"
MENTOR: Sunghee Lee, Ph.D., Chemistry
STUDENT:
McKenna Arguien, cross country / track
TITLE: "Growth Mindset in College Sports and Education: Implications for Math and Athletic Achievement"
MENTOR: Margaret Smith, Ph.D., Mathematics
STUDENT:
Victoria Curreri, lacrosse
TITLE: "Macroeconomic Determinants of U.S. Housing Market Dynamics: Evidence Across Regions and Time Lags"
MENTOR: NyoNyo Kyaw, Ph.D., Finance, Business Economics & Legal Studies
STUDENT:
Lindsey Grove, lacrosse
TITLE: "Tendencies of Historical Interpretation Regarding the Genpei War"
MENTOR: Professor Thomas Ruggio, Visual Arts
STUDENT:
Zaheira Hegazi. soccer / track
TITLE: "Strengthening Families, Reducing Recidivism: The Role of Family Preservation Services Juvenile Justice Outcomes"
MENTOR: Tyron Pope, Ed.D., Criminal Justice
STUDENT:
Robert Heim, swimming
TITLE: "Authenticity and Artificiality: How Human Creativity Endures in the Age of AI"
MENTOR: Aakash Sapru, Ph.D., Entrepreneurship
STUDENT:
Alivia Lichtner, softball
TITLE: "Rethinking the Traditional Literacy Block: Interdisciplinary Learning in Elementary"
MENTOR: Professor Susana Plass, Education
STUDENT:
Matthew Mischlich, water polo
TITLE: "Surgical Management of Lumbar Pars Interarticularis Defects: A Review of Techniques and Outcomes"
MENTOR: Christina Nevers, Ph.D., Health and Wellness
STUDENT:
Cassandra Pinho, golf
TITLE: "Parental Involvement Concerning Students with Disabilities"
MENTOR: Professor Susana Plass, Education
STUDENT:
Dylan Riccio, diving
TITLE: "Attitudes and Awareness Toward Climate Change in Malawi: A Study of Seminary Students"
MENTOR: Vaughn Fayle, Ph.D., Religious Studies and Music
STUDENT: Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
TITLE: "Who We Fight – A Short Film"
MENTOR: Professor Jamie Iglehart Frasson, Media & Strategic Communication
STUDENT:
Clare Robertsen, rowing
TITLE: "Birth Order's Influence on Personality and Behavior: A Biopsychosocial Perspective"
MENTOR: Kelly McGovern, Ph.D., Psychology & Neuroscience
STUDENT:
Lorelei Teddy, rowing
TITLE: "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Alternative Augmentative Communication Devices"
MENTOR: Dorothy Leone, Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders
STUDENT:
Lola Trujillo, water polo
TITLE: "Potential Dangers of Artificial Intelligence in Cybercrimes and the Need for Regulation"
MENTOR: Anthony Chiarlitti, Ed.D., Criminal Justice
STUDENT:
Hannah Werth, softball
TITLE: "Uncovering the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Violence"
MENTOR: Tyron Pope, Ed.D., Criminal Justice
STUDENT:
Matthew Woyksnar, swimming
TITLE: "Interactions Between a Solvatochromic Dye and Liposomes Towards the Detection of PFAS in Water"
MENTOR: Michael Ihde, Ph.D., Chemistry
ACADEMIC HONOR SOCIETIES
School of Arts & Science
BETA BETA BETA (Biology)
Andrew Fogarty, cross country / track
ALPHA PHI SIGMA (Criminal Justice)
Zaheira Hegazi, soccer / track
SIGMA TAU DELTA (English)
Brooke Acker, softball
Lindsey Grove, lacrosse
Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
MEDIA & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION HONOR SOCIETY
Jiles Addison, track
Jack Allen, rowing
William Quincy, athletics (graduate assistant)
Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
PI MU EPSILON (Mathematics)
McKenna Arguien, cross country / track
PHI SIGMA TAU (Philosophy)
Lindsey Grove, lacrosse
PI SIGMA ALPHA (Political Science)
Jack Allen, rowing
PSI CHI (Psychology)
Katie McNamara, rowing
Clare Robertsen, rowing
LaPenta School of Business
BETA GAMMA SIGMA (Business)
Victoria Curreri, lacrosse
Lauren Sweeney, lacrosse
NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences
SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL NURSING HONOR SOCIETY
Sabrina Faulkner, lacrosse
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
Alexa Doe, cross country / track
Hailey Guerrero, softball
Sadie Sallas, water polo
Lorelei Teddy, rowing
Hynes Institute of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
SIGMA NU TAU (Entrepreneurship)
Maliya Haddock, lacrosse
Robert Heim, swimming
Rastko Jevdjovic, water polo
Braize Mitchell, baseball
Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
Bruno Rivera, soccer
Lauren Sweeney, lacrosse
Graduate
Mia Andrews, basketball (graduate assistant)
Matt Rankin, cross country / track
NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC HONOR SOCIETY
Delta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma
School of Arts & Science
History
John Maroney, swimming
Media & Strategic Communication
Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
VALEDICTORIAN, CLASS OF 2026
Elizabeth Riccio, athletics (graduate assistant)
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