Bloomsburg, a Commonwealth University

The winners of the Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg Frederick Douglass Institute Creative Expressions Competition were announced on April 19. The winners were Nadia Simon, first place in short film; Tyree Bracey, who took third place in art; and Alexia Kirk, first place in the professional coursework/project. Also, Malik Thompson, first place in poetry/short story; Meredith Hankins, second place in art; Kya Miranda, first place in art; and Gwendolyn Powell, second place in essay. In addition, Morgan Creek took first place in poetry/short story, while Riley Vodicka and Grace Menko, captured third place in poetry/short story. The theme of the 3rd annual event was"Frederick Douglass: The Legend, The Legacy, The Man."

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg recognized its top honor graduates for each college for Spring 2023 at its commencement ceremonies on May 13. Top honor graduates were named for each of the five colleges -- the College of Arts, Social Sciences; the College of Health Professions; the College of Education and Human Studies; the Zeigler College of Business and the College of Science and Technology.

Bloomsburg University, a Commonwealth University, announced its Fall 2022 Top Honor graduates from its five colleges who were to be recognized at the school's commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10. A total of 400 students were to graduate this fall, including 58 students earning master's degrees.

A record number of 157 Bloomsburg University Student-Athletes received the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award. The D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, in its 15th year of existence, is given to student-athletes who have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the 2021-22 academic year and has attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college-level classes.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) recognized a school-record total of 297 Bloomsburg University student-athletes for the 2021-22 academic year as scholar-athletes. The 297 Huskies join a PSAC-record of 4,144 student-athletes from the league's 18 institutions. To be eligible, the 2021-22 student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 upon completion of the academic year. With 4,144 student-athletes eligible, it marked 53% of the PSAC student-athlete population. The PSAC has registered at least a 30% growth rate for 14 consecutive years.

The Bloomsburg University athletic department virtually recognized a record 246 scholar-athletes for their academic successes over the course of the past two semesters. Scholar-Athlete recognition was awarded to those who achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the past two semesters or who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Additionally, 99 freshmen or transfer student-athletes who posted a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their first semester at Bloomsburg University were honored.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania College of Education recognized its Outstanding Seniors in each of its undergraduate for the 2019-20 academic year. From the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Education program Julia Krueger was recognized, while from American Sign Language/English Interpreting Kate Andres was named the top senior. In Special Education Abigail Potter is the top senior, while in early childhood education Joseph Kline was recognized. From middle level education Taylor Prehotsky was named the top senior, while Brett Budwash from secondary education was named the top senior.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Political Science has named the winners of its awards for the end of the academic year. Noah Roux and Catherine Jones were named co-winners of the Gloria Cohen-Dion Service Award. Roux was also named winner of the department's Forensics Award. Blair Johnston was named the winner of the Outstanding Political Science Student Award.

The Bloomsburg University Department of Psychology named it Distinguished Students and Ellen Barker Memorial Scholarship winner for 2019-20. Dominic Pinto and Giovanna Fracalossi were named the distinguished students in psychology, while Samantha Carney was named the Barker Memorial Scholarship winner.

The Bloomsburg University Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice named its 2019-20 award winners.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Philosophy has named Keira Frazier of Bloomsburg the 2020 winner of the Carlough Award for the outstanding graduating senior. The award, presented annually for over a quarter century, is named for William Carlough, former chair of the BU philosophy department. The winner of the award is based on a vote of all philosophy faculty, a student's GPA in philosophy and overall GPA as well as the faculty's judgement of the student's achievements and ability. Frazier will attend Penn State Law School in University Park on a full scholarship.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Communication Studies has named Geara Leigh Catania the 2020 Student of the Year.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Languages and Cultures named the winners of its outstanding achievement awards in foreign languages for 2019-20. The outstanding achievement award in foreign language goes to a graduating senior in each language who has excelled in the major and in all work at the university; has successfully participated in extra-curricular activities, and is recommended by the majority of faculty in the major language track. The recipients are: Arabic: Laura Comstock French: Abbygail Hill German: Abbygail Hill Russian and Eastern European Studies: Ian Birdwell and Adelina Sacouto Spanish: Abigail Culver and Ayalibis Cruz The awards were to be presented at an end-of-semester awards ceremony that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance named its senior award winners for its music division. "All three students are very deserving of the recognition. Each of them contributed to the department in their own unique way. We will miss them," said Stephen Clickard, chair of the BU division of music. Randy Baxendale of Nazareth, Pa. was named the outstanding senior in the music liberal arts track major. In his time at BU, Baxendale has been the leader of the trumpet section of the BU marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, and jazz ensemble. He toured with the jazz ensemble through Germany and the Czech Republic in May of 2018. Baxendale has been accepted into the graduate degree program in trumpet performance at Penn State University to earn his master's degree in music performance. Earning the outstanding student senior award for the music audio recording track was Elizabeth Heimbach of Mechanicsburg, Pa. At BU, she performed with the wind ensemble, the marching band, and concert band and also served as a member of the performing arts facilities staff. She interned with Klock Entertainment and was offered a part-time job as media director with them in the Fall of 2019, before graduating. After graduation in December, she was promoted to the full-time position of director of events. Lexi Holtzman of Duboistown, Pa. is the recipient of the outstanding student senior award for the music education track. An active member of the Bloomsburg University collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education, she served the chapter as the vice president and regularly attended state and national conferences. In the spring of 2019, Holtzman joined a select group of music education students who presented on popular music pedagogy in higher education at the bi-annual National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Conference. In addition to serving the Bloomsburg NAfME chapter, she was also president of the University Women's Chorale and co-conductor of the student-run acapella group "The Leading Tones."

The Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental, Geographical & Geological Sciences (EGGS) held its on Friday, May 10, at the Greenly Center in Bloomsburg. Awards were presented by Michael Shepard, Ph.D., chair of the department, as well as faculty mentors of the awardees. Lauren Barrett was named Outstanding Senior in Environmental Geoscience. Autumn Helfrich was named Outstanding Senior in Professional Geology. Both Meg Ronan and Tyler Ulmer were inducted into Gamma Theta Upsilon, the International Honor Society in Geography. Anna Ellis was recognized for her work as a GIS tutor. Scholarship winners were also recognized. Katherine Mather-Shingara and Sabrina Savidge were awarded the Braun Geology Field Camp Scholarship. Sean Leshko received the Daniel J. Tearpock Scholarship. Kyle Argenziano received the Joshua D. Sonntag '14 & Chelci A. Kravabloski '16 EGGS Scholarship and the Professor Brian & Marty Johnson Geography/Planning Scholarship. Zachary Hartman received a scholarship from the Tearpock Geoscience Fund.

The Bloomsburg University Department of Mathematical and Digital Sciences held its annual end of the year awards ceremony on April 7. Department chairman Curt Jones, Ph.D., presented awards to its top students. Jordan Marlow - Marek Mathematics Scholarship; Johnathan Prichett - J. Edward Kerlin Scholarship; Austin Pasquel - J. Edward Kerlin Scholarship; Karissa Jelonek - C.R. Reardin Award ; Steven Hricenak - High Academic Achievement Award in Computer Science; Laura Josuweit - James Pomfret Award (Highest Academic Achievement in Math); Nathaniel Huber - Highest Academic Achievement Award in Digital Forensics; Dario D'Amato - Elizabeth and James Mauch Scholarship