Recent graduates received special honors for outstanding performance and scholastic achievement during their academic careers at Rutgers University in Newark. Some graduated with Honors College Distinction, while others maintained impressive grade point averages, garnering summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude status. Many achieved membership in some of the oldest, most prestigious national academic societies such as Alpha Phi Sigma, Alpha Sigma Lambda, Phi Beta Kappa, and Pi Alpha Alpha. (Explanations of each society appear at the end of this news release.) Here are the names of the honored undergraduate and graduate students, by county or state and hometown.
| Atlantic County | |
| Galloway.............................. | Crystal M. Ovalles -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Pleasantville....................... | Cierra Brittaney Farquharson -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bergen County | |
| Allendale............................. | Christopher Jeffrey Martinie -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bergenfield......................... | Mudduser Malik -- Graduate Scholar Award, Economics (master’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Janelle E. Alum -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Najat J. El-Samna -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Somayah E. Elsamra -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Fernando David Maldonado -- Alpha Phi Sigma (bachelor’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Larry Montoya -- Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta (bachelor’s degree) |
| Cliffside Park...................... | Reiko Takatsu -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Rutherford................. | Mariusz Grabowski -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elmwood Park................... | Hasan Ashraf -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elmwood Park................... | Magdalena A. Gugala -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elmwood Park................... | Elizabeth Lee Law -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies; Graduate Scholar Award, English (master’s degree) |
| Elmwood Park................... | Majd Mohsen -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Emerson............................. | James L. Gallo -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | JuanCarlos Alvarez -- Alpha Phi Sigma (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | Jonathan J. Bressor -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Sigma Lambda; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | Aryel W. Heller -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | Andrea Fernanda Mourin -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | Jeevan M. Puthiamadathil -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fair Lawn............................ | Steven M. Tessler -- Pi Alpha Alpha (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Beata Jedryczka -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Miklos Kertesz -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Louis R. Zocca Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Joohyung Kim -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Piotr Pobiarzyn -- Harold A. Fales Memorial Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Anthony Surma -- Computer Science Departmental Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Joe Z. Yoler -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Garfield................................ | Peter Z. Yoler -- Omicron Delta Epsilon; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Glen Rock........................... | Gregory S. Franz -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Hackensack....................... | Sandra P. Cadena-Torres -- magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hasbrouck Heights........... | Loretta A. Fitzgibbons -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Leonia................................. | Ethan Yonghoon Kim -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Lodi...................................... | Ana Aluf -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Lyndhurst............................ | Csilla Caputo -- Phi Beta Kappa; Charles Pine Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montvale.............................. | Rand M. Talas -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Arlington................... | William T. Gaydos -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Arlington................... | Prerna L. Moorjani -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Charles Sabat Award; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Arlington................... | Sheri-Anne C. Stuart -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Oradell................................. | Julie T. Joseph -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Ramsey............................... | Negar Mohtashemi -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Ridgefield........................... | Jajung Yoon -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| River Vale............................ | Gassia Assadourian -- Benjamin M. Weissman Memorial Scholar (master’s degree) |
| Rutherford........................... | Shefali S. Patel -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Teaneck.............................. | Jeremy P. Gordon -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Teaneck.............................. | Fatemeh T. Khayatian -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Teaneck.............................. | Edith T. Meier -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Teaneck.............................. | Kofi Ocansey -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Teaneck.............................. | Asra Y. Syed -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Wallington........................... | Matthew Malysa -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Wallington........................... | Mateusz L. Pokoj -- Outstanding Urban Teacher Candidate-Secondary Education (master’s degree) |
| Wyckoff................................ | Daniela K. Kaefer -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Wyckoff................................ | Karen Marie Morgan -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Burlington County | |
| Bordentown........................ | Erin B. Gold -- Pi Alph Alpha (master's degree) |
| Burlington........................... | Ralph E. Jenkins -- Phi Beta Kappa; Charles I. Biederman Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Burlington........................... | Gregory T. Wilson -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Cinnaminson..................... | Brian Burns -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Edgewater Park................. | Donovan Linder -- Dean James Credle Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Willingboro......................... | Oladayo K. Adiatu -- Honors College Distinction; Carr Academic Scholar (bachelor’s degree) |
| Essex County | |
| Belleville.............................. | Emily L. Burde -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville.............................. | Laura Da Silva -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Cirio G. De Jesus -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Guy Hernandez -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Diego F. Lafuente -- Phi Beta Kappa; Omicron Delta Epsilon; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Rachel L. Porcaro -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Jeannette Rodriguez -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Belleville............................. | Emmanuel Sanchez -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Richard Abad -- Creative Achievement in Graphic Design (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Sarah H. Aly -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Stacy L. Beltran -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Salvatore M. Cordi -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Yaranil Ferrer -- magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Jason L. Myers -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies; Graduate Scholar Award, English (master’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Nesha L. Rampersad -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Samantha T. Reyes -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bloomfield.......................... | Christopher M. Thompson -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Orange..................... | Angela Bradley -- EOF Academic Achievement Award; Excellence in Field Practice; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Orange.................... | Bianca C. Clark -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| East Orange.................... | Chinelo G. Ogbudinkpa -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Orange.................... | Anabell Pimental -- EOF Academic Achievement Award; EOF P.R.I.D.E. Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Orange..................... | Javana N. Rhodes -- Outstanding Urban Teacher Candidate-Elementary Education (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Orange.................... | Marjani Smith -- Excellence in Theatre (bachelor’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Luis Antilus -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Ashley V. Burroughs -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Naomi Ceus -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Stephanie L. Cherubin -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Hyacinthe Luna -- Alpha Phi Sigma (bachelor’s degree) |
| Irvington............................. | Shonta Watson -- Alpha Phi Sigma; Beth Niemi Award for Excellence in Women’s Studies; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Livingston......................... | Rachel Lauren Berger -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Livingston......................... | Richard I. Jalonack -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Livingston......................... | Kitt D. Paraiso -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Betty Skuze Thompson Prize; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Adedoyin U. Aderinto -- Honors College Distinction; Carr Academic Scholar; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Clara N. Akayuli -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Caroline G. Livingston Alesiani -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Ketlen Alsbrook -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | D. Talib Aquil -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Martha Baez -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | James A. Blaney Jr. -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Freda Boateng -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Werner Contreras -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Veronica Maria Dominguez -- Office of the Dean of Student Affairs Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Anna L. Dos Santos -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Nataly M. Evans -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Yaranil Ferrer -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Brian Edward Hohmann -- Graduate Scholar Award, History (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Shantae Kemp -- EOF Community Service Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Nakeishia A. Knox -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Ameenah S. Lashley -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Deliris Lorenzo -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Kristy A. Medina -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Sigma Lambda (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Fanny Mendoza -- Phi Beta Kappa; Academic Excellence Award in Social Work; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | David Mizak -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | John A. Neves -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Brian O’Hara -- Richard J. Hughes Award (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Abu-Bakr A. Okoya -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Simbiat A. Oladiran -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Yulissa Ortiz -- EOF Academic Excellence Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Rodney Q. Pierce -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Sigma Lambda; 2010 Dean James Plummer Award; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Charlene N. Pierre-Saint -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Elsie Alma Rivera -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Kenyatta Robinson -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Gustavo Rodriguez -- Phi Alpha Theta; David Robert Friedlander Memorial Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | David S. Santa -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Ana Santos -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Sulaiman O. Shittu -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Marquita Smith -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Julia S. Steele -- Graduate Scholar Award, Political Science (master’s degree) |
| Newark.............................. | Jovina Williams -- EOF Perseverance Award; Yolande Rubianes Memorial Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Maplewood....................... | Alessandra Ducasse -- John Faulstich Newark College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Maplewood....................... | Alison S. Kolodny -- Phi Beta Kappa; Jay Rumney Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Maplewood....................... | Christopher D. Spurrier -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Millburn............................. | Ana Robin Bienstock -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Montclair........................... | Joseph P. Calabrese -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montclair........................... | Stephen M. Decina -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montclair........................... | Olubukola C. Elegbede -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montclair........................... | Jessica D. Harkness -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montclair........................... | Theresa E. Thweatt -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Nutley................................ | Karen J. Johnson -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Nutley................................ | Jacqueline I. Kinney -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Nutley................................ | Twinkle V. Tailor -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Orange............................. | Pamela Enemuo -- EOF Academic Achievement Award; EOF P.R.I.D.E. Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Orange............................. | Jamira C. Gray -- Alpha Phi Sigma (bachelor’s degree) |
| Roseland......................... | William J. Rinaldi -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Short Hills........................ | Gargi Sinha -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| South Orange.................. | Stephen A. Ivory -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| South Orange.................. | Elliot Schottland -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Verona.............................. | David L. Wallingford -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Mohamed Aly Ahmed -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Avril A. Ano -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Brian M. Cody -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | David C. Cuthbert -- Phi Beta Kappa; Biological Science Excellence Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Stefanie Christine Fuchs -- Graduate Scholar Award, Economics (master’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Peter J. Levine -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Olufunke O. Onigbogi -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Natalia Richardson -- Phi Beta Kappa; Omicron Delta Epsilon; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Josephine Ann Sears -- Sigma Delta Pi; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Aliza T. Tucker -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| West Orange................... | Joseph Tutalo -- Creative Achievement in Graphic Design (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hudson County | |
| Bayonne........................... | Ghazal Behreini -- Joannie L. Hubberman Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Audley B. Campbell Jr. -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | John J. Delaney III -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Mark Dimitry -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Haydee Fuentes -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Sigma Lambda (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Osvaldo Hernandez -- EOF Academic Achievement Award; Benjamin M. Weissman Writing Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Issac Millar -- EOF Highest Grade Point Average Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne........................... | Michael Sawires -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Bayonne City................... | Shadwa M. Salem -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Harrison........................... | Alberto Cabezas -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Harrison........................... | Jesus A. Huaranga -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hoboken.......................... | John J. Castellano -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hoboken.......................... | Robert J. Gonzalez -- Phi Beta Kappa; Creative Achievement in Graphic Design; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hoboken.......................... | Bridget B. Hottenstein -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Shaniese M. Arrington -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Wahab Ashraf -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Stephanie Barnes -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Valerie Carriere -- Alpha Phi Sigma; EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Linda C. Fleming -- Phi Beta Kappa; Joel Girgus Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Nike Ishmael -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Erika S. Jordan -- Phi Beta Kappa; EOF Academic Excellence Award; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Desiree Knight -- EOF Perseverance Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Lawrence L. Ledesma -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Angel M. Matos -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Alexandra Mizrahi -- Phi Beta Kappa; Lillian Robbins Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Eliana Munoz -- EOF Academic Excellence Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Yeisi Pinochet -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Natasha Powell -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Javier O. Rivera -- Phi Beta Kappa; Excellence in Video Production; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Yasmine O. Saleh -- Beth Niemi Award for Excellence in Women’s Studies; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Taylor S. Skupien -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Ambika V. Sukul -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | David O. Vega -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Ivelisse Veras -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Jersey City....................... | Choki Wangchuk -- Graduate Scholar Award, Political Science (master’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Elsa C. Alves -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Peter Amua-Quarshie -- Minority Biomedical Research Support Program Award, Neuroscience (master’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | William L. Blevins -- Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Andrea S. Gnoinski -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | David Martins -- Morris H. Beck Student Achievement Award; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Brian L. Monteiro -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Shuyang Peng -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Sarah Vanessa Silva -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kearny.............................. | Doo Kyun Wang -- Graduate Scholar Award, Economics (master’s degree) |
| North Bergen.................. | Taz Momotaz -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Bergen.................. | Balks Muslah -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Bergen.................. | Ramon Rodriguez -- EOF Community Service Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Weehawken.................... | Christophea Chobanian -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West New York............... | Dwight R. Braswell II -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| West New York............... | Amneris Fraguela -- Alpha Sigma Lambda; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| West New York............... | Travis John McKinney -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies; Graduate Scholar Award, English (master’s degree) |
| West New York............... | Jennifer I. Mendoza -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| West New York............... | Juan J. Rodriguez -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hunterdon County | |
| Flemington...................... | Tracey A. Keegan -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Flemington...................... | Thomas E. Moomjy -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies; Graduate Scholar Award, English (master’s degree) |
| Pittstown.......................... | Judith A. Slocum -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Whitehouse Station....... | Benjamin James Gerrish -- Honors College Distinction; Richard C. Robey Memorial Award; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Mercer County | |
| East Windson................. | Bethany A. Conner -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Hamilton.......................... | Ashley Davison -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hamilton.......................... | Pierre Ngili -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Lawrenceville................. | Monali Patel -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Lawrenceville................. | Cassandra V. Possible -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Pennington..................... | Jeffrey A. Alpert -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Robbinsville.................... | Marcela O. Maziarz -- Pi Alpha Alpha; E. Drexel Godfrey Memorial Award (master’s degree) |
| Robbinsville.................... | Abroo N. Muzaffar -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Trenton............................ | Julius O. Bailey -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Middlesex County | |
| Avenel.............................. | Derek Feuerstein -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Colonia........................... | Anuoluwapom Sobanjo -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Carr Academic Scholar; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Brunswick............. | Mengyang Cha -- Samuel Greitzer Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| East Brunswick............. | Heather Marie Snow -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Edison............................. | Tiffany Peng -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Bessie Dolgan Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Edison............................. | Andrew E. Powers -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Edison............................. | Jacqueline Ricciardi -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fords............................... | Shirley Genty -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Highland Park................ | Erhan Ilkmen -- Graduate School Dean’s Doctoral Dissertation Award, Applied Physics (doctoral degree) |
| Iselin................................ | Zachary Charles Huff -- Honors College Distinction; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Iselin................................ | Aliya Mansoor -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Iselin................................ | Safiah Misbahuddin -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Phi Sigma; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Iselin................................ | Robin N. Reach -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Monroe............................ | Tanesha Bruce-Owens -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Monroe............................ | Sasha E. Potter -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| New Brunswick............. | Dori L. Patterson -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| New Brunswick............. | Thanh Tran -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| North Brunswick............ | Leeann T. Weniger -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Old Bridge...................... | Irina Efraimovich -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Old Bridge...................... | Jacqueline Pruiti -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Parlin............................... | Ian Micha Bailey -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Parlin............................... | Carissa Marie Meyer -- Phi Alpha Alpha (bachelor’s degree) |
| Piscataway..................... | Hiral Vyas -- EOF Academic Excellence Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Sewaren......................... | Ewelina M. Macha -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| South Plainfield............. | Fazlika Beg -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| South Plainfield............. | Isaiah Friday -- Phi Alpha Alpha (bachelor’s degree) |
| South Plainfield............. | Jennifer E. Martinez -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Monmouth County | |
| Allentown........................ | Jane Sharp -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Allenwood...................... | Thomas J. Duchak -- Phi Beta Kappa; John Keosian Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hazlet.............................. | Joseph M. Cali -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Howell............................. | Robert S. Amon -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Howell............................. | Patricia Lee Wesch -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Keyport............................ | Lauren Noel Mazzei -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Keyport............................ | Theodore C. Okosi -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Long Branch.................. | Siobhan A. Wright -- Phi Beta Kappa; Joel Girgus Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Manalapan..................... | Tracy Lee Cognetta -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Manasquan.................... | Teresa A. Buccarelli -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Morganville..................... | Carol A. Lewis -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Ocean............................. | Geoffrey J. Cole -- Pi Alpha Alpha; E. Drexel Godfrey Memorial Award (master’s degree) |
| Morris County | |
| Brookside....................... | Laura A. Byrne -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Butler............................... | Jennifer L. Romalin -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Dover............................... | Georgia Efthimiopoulos -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Hugh W. Thompson Memorial Award; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kenvil.............................. | Martina Henderson -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Lake Hiawatha.............. | Adriana Afonso -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Lake Hopatcong........... | George G. Green -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Lake Hopatcong........... | Tejesh J. Patel -- Alpha Phi Sigma (bachelor’s degree) |
| Landing.......................... | Luis Damian Vernon -- magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Ledgewood................... | Stephen A. Gentle -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Montville......................... | Matthew C. Kitchen -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Morris Plains................. | MaryBeth Mariano -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Morristown..................... | Andrew Slowinski -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies (master’s degree) |
| Morristown..................... | Francisco A. Valdez -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Mount Tabor................... | Renate Dirks -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Parsippany..................... | David B. Bussel -- Phi Alpha Theta; Sydney Zebel Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Parsippany..................... | Stephanie Gallego -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Sigma Lambda; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Pine Brook..................... | Charles Meyers -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Pompton Plains............ | Megan Borrego -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Pompton Plains............ | Suzanne J. Ricciardelli -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Randolph....................... | Michelle M. Berardesco -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Riverdale........................ | Jason P. Raffo -- Lieutenant Edward Manzione Award (master’s degree) |
| Ocean County | |
| Brick................................ | Anthony M. Gardner -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Brick................................ | Arifur Rahman -- EOF Academic Excellence Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Forked River.................. | Alicia D. Velicky -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Point Pleasant.............. | Pamela L. Debutts -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Toms River.................... | Loretta C. Pasquarella -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Toms River.................... | Sonia Margarita Tavaska -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Passaic County | |
| Clifton............................. | Janet Arias-Martinez -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Clifton............................. | Vincent James Cordi -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Clifton............................. | Irene Krawczyk -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Clifton............................. | Santos M. Guillen -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Clifton............................. | Susan Muheisen -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hawthorne.................... | Marvin B. Azares -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Oak Ridge..................... | Gregory A. Gartland -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Passaic......................... | Jay S. Adhvaryu -- Phi Beta Kappa; Lourdes Casal Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Passaic......................... | Dayan K. Cortes -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Passaic......................... | Mona Mustafa -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Passaic......................... | Crystal Navarro -- Inge Gambe Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Passaic......................... | Wilfredo Torres -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Paterson........................ | Karen E. Bejar -- Phi Beta Kappa; EOF Academic Excellence Award; Kenneth Alvord Award for Excellence in Journalism and Scholarship; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Paterson........................ | John Mathis -- Wendell A. Jean-Pierre Award of Excellence (bachelor’s degree) |
| Paterson........................ | Alfred M. Rodriguez -- Alpha Phi Sigma; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Paterson | Diana G. Ruiz -- Phi Beta Kappa; Sigma Delta Pi; EOF Academic Excellence Award; Lourdes Casal Memorial Award; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Paterson........................ | Helianna Taveras -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Ringwood...................... | Marco Fornari -- Benjamin M. Weissman Memorial Scholar (bachelor’s degree |
| Totowa........................... | Christina Ann Desimone -- Honors College Distinction; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Wayne............................ | Courtney Vacca -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Somerset County | |
| Basking Ridge.............. | Sudha R. Iyer -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Bridgewater................... | Lindsay M. Cullinan -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Bridgewater................... | Pengbo Jiang -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Gladstone...................... | Michael D. Martins -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Somerset....................... | Christopher Kish -- Richard J. Hughes Award (master’s degree) |
| Warren........................... | Delilah J. Cortese -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Warren........................... | Alice N. Gitau -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Union County | |
| Elizabeth........................ | Tiffany S. Butts -- Minority Biomedical Research Support Program Award, Psychology (doctoral degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Victor Costa -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Estephany Diaz -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Alexis E. Fabian -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Ulda Hurtado -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Roxana K. Morales -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Jeniffer Rodriguez -- Phi Beta Kappa; Lillian Robbins Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Jess Santiago -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Jessica P. Santos -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Academic Excellence in Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Elizabeth........................ | Tunisia S. Townsend -- Phi Beta Kappa; Sigma Delta Pi; Israel S. Stamm Memorial Prize; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hillside.......................... | Joana C. Romero -- Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Phi Sigma; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hillside.......................... | Cristina Sieira -- Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta; Sigma Delta Pi; Outstanding Achievement in Spanish; Edward H. Zabriskie Memorial Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hillside.......................... | Jennifer A. Silva -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Kenilworth..................... | Ann A. Bag-Ao -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Kenilworth..................... | Marites B. Solano -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Linden............................ | Amanda R. Baker -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Linden............................ | John F. Ryan -- Phi Beta Kappa; Heinz Seelbach Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| New Providence........... | Michael D. Snyder -- Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta (bachelor’s degree) |
| North Plainfield............ | Zainab Nawaz -- EOF Academic Achievement Award (bachelor’s degree) |
| Plainfield....................... | Lateisha A. Cartwright -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Plainfield....................... | Paula Neves -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies (master’s degree) |
| Plainfield....................... | Thylene M. Torres -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Rahway.......................... | Matheus Figueira -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Roselle.......................... | Carlos D. Martinez -- Phi Beta Kappa; Norman C. Miller Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Roselle Park................. | Shivam Shah -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Scotch Plains............... | Kevin Michael Dick -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Scotch Plains............... | Jessica Lynn Knierim -- Creative Achievement in Graphic Design (bachelor’s degree) |
| Scotch Plains............... | Dalton F. Laluces -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Springfield..................... | Tammie L. Kopin -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Carlos Abade -- Alpha Phi Sigma; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Dena M. Abdelshahed -- summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Danielle L. Baril -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Barbara G. Borges -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Monica M. Giron -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Kaitlin Moleen -- Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta; John C. Smock Award; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Manuel A. Patusco -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Union............................. | Brian E. Schopfer -- Phi Beta Kappa; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Warren County | |
| Blairstown..................... | Diane R. Oksienik -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| State of California | |
| Rohnert Park................ | Noelis Soto -- Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| State of Michigan | |
| Grosse Point Shores.. | Paul Nicholas Brady -- Graduate Scholar Award, Jazz History (master’s degree) |
| State of New York | |
| Brooklyn............... | Mark Borino -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Brooklyn............... | Victoria D. Llanos -- Phi Beta Kappa; Madison C. Bates Award; magna cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Brooklyn............... | Natalie Natica Murry -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Central Islip......... | Melissa Almonte -- Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Cicero................... | Amanda L. Agley -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Fort Montgomery... | Matthew M. Shook -- Pi Alpha Alpha (master’s degree) |
| Fresh Meadows... | Li Li -- cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Medford................ | Kraig W. Knibb -- Minority Biomedical Research Support Program Award, Psychology (master’s degree) |
| Poughkeepsie.... | Sharissa S. Barrow -- Honors College Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa; Morris H. Beck Student Achievement Award; Charles Pine Award; Faculty of Arts and Science Dean’s Award; Soldatova Award for Women in Math; Omicron Delta Epsilon; summa cum laude (bachelor’s degree) |
| Staten Island............ | Lauren Petrino -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies (master’s degree) |
| Yonkers................ | Dominic Evangelista -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
| Chalfont............... | Sean G. Howe -- Phi Beta Kappa (bachelor’s degree) |
| Hamilton.............. | Mae O. Lavente -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| Mechanicsburg... | Matthew D. Lingo -- Honors College Distinction (bachelor’s degree) |
| Secane................. | Thomas Pescatore Jr. -- Graduate Scholar Award, History (master’s degree) |
| State of Texas | |
| Irving..................... | Sunila Skariah -- Sigma Theta Tau (master’s degree) |
| International | |
| Vimont, France........ |
Myriam Gillibert -- Graduate School English Department Award for highest distinction in literary studies (master’s degree)
|
Alpha Phi Sigma is an honor society that was established in 1941 at Washington State University for majors in what was then called “police administration,” and is now known as criminal justice.
Alpha Sigma Lambda recognizes the scholarly achievements of adult students who manage adult responsibilities. The oldest and largest honors-based society for full-time and part-time students, it was founded in 1945 at Northwestern University.
Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary to foster and recognize excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Rutgers University, Newark, has graduated Phi Beta Kappa honorees since 1948.
Pi Alpha Alpha is the premier organization for acknowledging student excellence in the field of public affairs and administration. This national honor society was founded at Princeton University.
Sigma Theta Tau is an international organization that recognizes students who exhibit exemplary achievement in the field of nursing. Founded in 1922, this society celebrates baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and leadership.
Media Contact: Helen Paxton
973-353-5262
E-mail: paxton@andromeda.rutgers.edu