ESU’s Sigma Xi Hosts 42nd Annual Science Honors Banquet

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on May 11, 2017, No Comments

The East Stroudsburg University Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, hosted its 42nd annual science honors banquet on April 28 at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, Pa. At the banquet, Sigma Xi honored students from eight departments within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Samantha Miller, a junior majoring in chemistry from Springfield, Pa. and Phillip Reinhardt, a senior majoring in chemistry from East Stroudsburg, Pa. received Sigma Xi associate membership. The recipients of the faculty memorial awards were Andrew Bischer, a graduate student studying biology from Stroudsburg, Pa., and Myla Keiling, a senior majoring in biology from Canadensis, Pa.

The department of biological sciences presented awards to Ryan McGonagle ’17, Philadelphia, Pa..; Samantha DeVivo ’20, Stroudsburg, Pa.; Danielle Prestifilippo ’17, Landsdale, Pa.; and Danielle Leone ’18, Broomall, Pa. The department of history and geography presented an award to Manyuan Li, a graduate student from Nayang, China. The department of chemistry presented awards to Eric Januszkiewicz ’17, New Paltz, N.Y.; Jamison Cole ’17, Stroudsburg, Pa.; Nicole Miller ’17, Bethlehem, Pa.; Devon Ackerman ’17, Hanover, Pa.; Melanie Silvestrini ’17, Queens, N.Y.; Samantha Miller ’19, Springfield, Pa.; Thomas Rundell ’19, South Abington, Pa.; Jonathan Schillinger ’20, Effort, Pa.; Susan Ambrose ’19, Oley, Pa.; Phillip Reinhardt ’17, East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Nathanelle Dubreuil ’17, Albany, N.Y.; and Rachel Chrzan ’17, Montdale, Pa. The department of computer science presented awards to Taylore Thornton ’19, East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Colin Burke ’17, Yardley, Pa.; and Joshua Soberg ’17, Matamoras, Pa. The department of mathematics presented awards to Elizabeth Malantonio ’16, Conshohocken, Pa.; and Anthony Walker ’18, Brooklyn, N.Y. The department of physics presented awards to Jamie Reese ’17, Fleetville, Pa.; Emily Walsh ’18, Stroudsburg, Pa.; and Karl Bohnenberger ’20, East Stroudsburg, Pa. The department of psychology presented awards to Destany Labar ’17, Cresco, Pa.; and Emily Fitzsimmons ’17, East Meadow, N.Y.

Additionally, two outstanding teacher awards were presented to Lori Soskil from East Stroudsburg High School North, East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Brenda Watson from Wallenpaupack Area Middle School, Hawley, Pa. Ms. Soskil teaches honors and college prep anatomy and physiology to juniors and seniors, and biology to sophomores. In 2015 she was a PA state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Ms. Watson teaches 8th grade math and algebra. She creates lessons that allow children to access mathematics through discovery and guided inquiry. Watson is an expert in the use of student achievement data to access what students have learned and to continually move their learning forward.

For more information about Sigma Xi, contact Alan Shaffer, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, in the college of arts and sciences, at 570-422-3796 or ashaffer@esu.edu.