Recognition Day

Recognition Day is our annual year-end ceremony to honor the accomplishments of English students. It has taken place since 2015; awardees from past years are recorded below.

Photo of Audience applauds graduating students in the Gothic Lounge

Recognition Day

English Professor Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz and inductees to Sigma Tau Delta

 

Our tenth annual Recognition Day ceremony took place May 6th, 2024, in the Gothic Lounge. Thanks to everyone who took part and to our hard-working students and especially this year鈥檚 graduates. Each awardee below was presented with a certificate and a book selected for them鈥攁nd inscribed鈥攂y the professor who nominated them. Congratulations!

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ACADEMIC AWARDS 

Academic Excellence in a General Education Course (presented by Jim Broderick)
Sophia Burns (nominated by Jim Broderick)
Victoria Reyes (nominated by Michael Walters)
Kellee-Ann St Louis (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Mylasia Tillman (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Allison Villhard (nominated by Josh Fausty)

Outstanding Coursework by an English Minor (presented by Jim Broderick)
Naziha Bamba (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Jason Laderas (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Melody McLain (nominated by Ann Wallace)

Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature (presented by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Leah Castillo (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Zaccaria Grant (nominated by Ann Wallace)

Academic Excellence in a Language Course (presented by Corey Frost)
Eric Cheng (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)
      Honorable Mentions: 
Thomas Deignan (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)
Nathan De Frias (nominated by Adrian Versteegh)

Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom (presented by Alina Gharabegian)
Leah Castillo (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Eric Cheng (nominated by Jim Broderick)
Thomas Deignan (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Maria Montes (nominated by Josh Fausty)
Radha Rench (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Gianna Valdez (nominated by Ethan Bumas)

Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing (presented by Edi Giunta)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Khadija Diop (nominated by Tan Lin)
Brian McGinley (nominated by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Radha Rench (nominated by Corey Frost)
Rin Sarmiento (nominated by Ethan Bumas)

Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing (presented by Josh Fausty)
Marina Castillo (nominated by Edi Giunta)
Heymi Auld Perez (nominated by Corey Frost)
Andrea Themen (nominated by Josh Fausty)

Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar (presented by Ann Wallace)
Jessica Rivera for her essay 鈥淪tigmatism: I am Found in Those Pages鈥 (nominated by Josh Fausty) 
Nancy Scapati for her essay 鈥淭he Evolution of the English Elegy鈥 (nominated by Alina Gharabegian)
Nadialis Tutiven for her critical memoir "Syringe the Buried Cracks" (nominated by Ann Wallace) 

The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship (presented by Corey Frost)
Anjali Paras
     Honorable Mentions
Roxanne Lipa
Jessalyn Brockmann

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WRITING AWARDS 

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award (presented by Josh Fausty)
Winner: Heymi Auld Perez for 鈥淭he Chair at the End of the Hallway: En memoria de Chicho鈥
     Honorable Mention: Radha Rench for 鈥淏edbugs and Other Pestilence鈥
Judges: Fatmire Ahmeti, David Blackmore, and Ann Wallace

The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award (presented by Edi Giunta)
Winner: Marina Castillo 
     Honorable Mentions: Nashelly Molina and Robert Suarez 
Judges: Joshua Fausty, Edvige Giunta, Krystal A. Sital, and special guest judge Annabella Sciorra

The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize (presented by Alina Gharabegian)
Winner: Gianna Valdez 
     Honorable Mentions: Bryan Martinez and Heymi Auld Perez 
Judge: Ann Wallace

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EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS 

Outstanding Service to the English Department (presented by Edi Giunta)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (book selected by Edi Giunta)
Khadija Diop (book selected by Edi Giunta)

Distinguished Contribution to Campus Literary Life (presented by Corey Frost and Edi Giunta)
Presented to the members of THE DRAFT (Alyssa Lian Bacay, Khadija Diop, Eman Hermas, Fatima Aishalyn Pepino, and Yorky Veras) and the staff of HYPE (Isabelle Legaspi, Radha Rench, Emily Teixeira, and Gianna Valdez).

Outstanding Work as a Peer Tutor (presented by Ann Wallace)
Alyssa Lian Bacay (nominated by Ann Wallace and Alina Gharabegian)

Distinguished Achievement as a Student Teacher (presented by Corey Frost and Michelle Rosen)
Jessica Berrios (nominated by Michelle Rosen, Mary McGriff, and Brandi Warren)
     Honorable mention
Jessica Rivera

Membership in Sigma Tau Delta (presented by Michael Rotenberg-Schwartz)
Current student members: Genesis Argueta, Heymi Auld Perez, Radha Rench 
New Inductees: Sofia Asali, Gianna Valdez

Keeper of the Flame (presented by Corey Frost)
Alejandra Martinez and Bryan Martinez (nominated by Corey Frost)

Past Awardees

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Academic Excellence in a General Education Course 
Angelica Calderon
John Latag
Ashley Lisboa
Jennifer Marchan
Charlene Martinez
Zachary Zwarycz

Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature
Cristi Benitez
Serena Isaac
Jason Laderas
Radha Rench
David Segura

Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Diamond Debarros
Thomas Deignan
Callie Gray
Heymi Auld Perez 

Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Samantha Cruz
Andrea Themen

Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar 
Jessica Berrios 
Melany Hernandez 
Kailee Morel 
Stefania Vanegas-Greczylo

Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
Marie Garcia
Kailee Morel
Rin Sarmiento

Academic Excellence in Critical and Creative Work  
Khadija Diop  
Radha Rench  

Outstanding English Minor
Julia Almeida
Alyssa Lian Bacay
Callie Gray  
Luis Luna

Outstanding Work in an English Course by a Non-Major 
Julia Almeida
Alyssa Lian Bacay 
Jason Laderas
Jennifer Marchan

WRITING AWARDS

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award 
Marie Garcia for 鈥淭he Fire in the Kitchen鈥濃
     Honorable Mentions:
Jessica Berrios for 鈥淥n My Side鈥
Khadija Diop for 鈥淶one de Captage: Elusive Memories鈥
Judges: Angel Eduardo, Corey Frost, and Rosa Garcia

The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Jack Liddell for his poem "Saudade."
     Honorable Mention:
Kamila Cuevas for her poem 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want another cigarette.鈥
Judge: Ann Wallace

EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS

Outstanding Service to the English Department
Khadija Diop 
Jennifer Marchan
Kailee Morel

Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Genesis Alexsandra Argueta
Heymi Auld Perez
Radha Rench

UNIVERSITY HONORS

     Cum Laude 

Krystal Maldonado 
Alexandra Williams 

     Magna Cum Laude 

John (Jack) Liddell 

     Summa Cum Laude 

Deanna Glogowski 
Kailee Morel

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Academic Excellence in a General Education Course 
Alberto Rios-Perez 
Mubarika Syed 

Academic Excellence in Introduction to the Study of Literature
Courtney Banoff  
Rin Sarmiento  
Andrea Themen 
Emily Teixeria

Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Jessica Berrios  
Marie Garcia 
Adam Halecki 
Bryan Martinez 
Kailee Morel 
Anjali Paras  
Leonela Velez 

Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Alexandra Williams 

Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
     Literature:  
John (Jack) Liddell 
     Creative Writing: 
Marie Garcia, Michele Nahrwold

Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
Marie Garcia  
Folly Kouevidjin 
Kailee Morel 
Bruce Vereen-Nealous 

Academic Excellence in Critical and Creative Work  
Khadija Diop  
David LaBella  

Outstanding English Minor
Alyssa Bacay  
Folly Kouevidjin  
Luis Luna  

Outstanding Work in an English Course by a Non-Major 
Erin Badulis  
Jazmin Cruz  
Chiamaka Okwu 

The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Melany Hernandez 
Danique Robinson 

WRITING AWARDS

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Peggy Jackson for 鈥淣eon Flowers鈥 
     Honorable Mentions:
Meili Ellis-Tingle for 鈥淭he Twins鈥  
Julia Scott for 鈥淣ice Things鈥 
Judges: Mauro Altamura, Cassandra Casella, and William Westerman 

The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Kailee Morel  
      Honorable Mentions:
Jessica Berrios  
Marie Garcia 
Award Committee: Josh Fausty, Rosa Garcia, Edi Giunta, Krystal Sital 

The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
William Van Sickell for "the gray outFIT"
Judge: Corey Frost

EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS

Distinguished Contribution to The Gothic Times
Julie Devoe 

Outstanding Service to the English Department
Marie Garcia  
Kailee Morel 

Excellence in Clinical Practice (as a Student Teacher)
Alexandra Williams 
Rebecca Richardson 

UNIVERSITY HONORS

     Cum Laude 

Bahiya Cleveland 
Tyler Darvalics 
Adam Halecki 
Alexander Jones 
AJ Vecellio 

     Magna Cum Laude 

Justin Hernandez 
Krystal Reyes 

     Summa Cum Laude 

Hadia Awan 
David LaBella 
Yuliana Sorial 

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Academic Excellence in an Introductory Course
David La Bella
Jack Liddell
Roxanne Lipa
Kailee Morel
Danique Robinson

Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Jack Liddell
Luis Pomales-Diaz
Sebastian Nunez
Percy Totten
Deanna Glogowski
Ryan Kelly
Yuliana Sorial

Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Andy Juele

Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
...In Creative Writing
Meili Ellis-Tingle  
Peggy Jackson

...In Literature
Sara Ryan
Justin Hernandez

Outstanding English Minor
Mia Pepe

Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
August Catarella
Julia Scott

Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Peggy Jackson鈥

Outstanding Coursework in General Education Course
Etrita Abdullahu
Ebony Chilin

The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Danique Robinson
Ivanna Alvarado

WRITING AWARDS

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Emily Sierra
    Honorable Mentions
Kyle Hernandez
Peggy Jackson

The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Nevin Perkins
     Honorable Mention
John Latag

The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Peggy Jackson for "Make You Love Yourself"
     Honorable Mention
August Catarella for "The Mask"

EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS

Distinguished Contribution to the Gothic Times
Kenise Brown

Extraordinary Achievement in Publishing
Rebecca Richardson, for founding HYPE

Outstanding Service to the English Department
Peggy Jackson
Meili Ellis-Tingle

Outstanding Service to the Department by Alumni
Donia Ayoub

Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Erick Del Rio
Michelle Diaz
Ryan Kelly
Deja Suarez
Josselyn Torres
Percy Totten
Corrine Williams

Fulbright Fellowship
Gabriella Rodriguez

Outstanding Peer Tutor
Kyle Odenwalder

Presidents of New Jersey鈥檚 Teacher Training Institutions
Distinguished Clinical Intern Award 
Victoria McCoy

Keeper of the Flame
Gabrielle Lauria

UNIVERSITY HONORS

Cum Laude

Athena Bellotti 
Hamida Lettat
Victoria McCoy

Magna Cum Laude

Tiana Scott
Percy Totten
Albert Vecellio

Summa Cum Laude

Meili Ellis-Tingle
Peggy Jackson

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Academic Excellence in an Introductory Course
Christina Bodine
Emily Diaz  
Meili Ellis-Tingle
Luis Pomales-Diaz
Kaitlyn Romeo
Alexandra Williams

Academic Excellence in a Language Course
Julie Bechtel Patino 

Academic Excellence in the Literature Classroom
Althemar Gutierrez
Juno Catral
Brian McGinley 
Melanie Oliva
August Catarella

Academic Excellence in the Capstone Seminar
...In Creative Writing
Melanie Colon
Emily Sierra 

...In Literature
Julie Bechtel Patino
Jayson Heim

Outstanding English Minor
Johanna Riera

Outstanding Coursework in Creative Writing
...In Memoir
Peggy Jackson
Michael Suazo

...In Poetry
Kyle Odenwalder
Meili Ellis-Tingle

...In Fiction
Emily Sierra

Outstanding Coursework in both Critical and Creative Writing
Melanie Colon

The Charles Mottola Memorial Scholarship
Tonianne Daniello

WRITING AWARDS

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award
Kimberly Aguilar
Donia Ayoub
     Honorable Mentions
Genesis Campoverde
Michelle Diaz
Mayada Muhareb

The Margaux Fragoso Literary Courage Award
Emily Sierra
     Honorable Mention
Peggy Jackson
     鈥淏urning Bright鈥 Recognition
Melanie Colon
Emily Diaz

The Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize
Treston Castro
     Honorable Mention
Alexander Jones

EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS

Distinguished Contribution to the Gothic Times
Stephanie Bock

Outstanding Service to the English Department
Emily Sierra

Membership in Sigma Tau Delta
Erick Del Rio
Michelle Diaz
Ryan Kelly
Kim MacDonald
Deja Suarez
Josselyn Torres
Percy Totten
Corrine Williams

Fulbright Fellowships
Andrea Fonseca
Hannah Rivera

Outstanding Peer Tutor
Emily Sierra

Departmental Honors
Michelle D铆az
Emily Sierra
Kyle Odenwaller

UNIVERSITY HONORS

Cum Laude

Kimberly Aguilar
Michelle Diaz
William Karabin
Sharon Lazo
Hannah Rivera

Magna Cum Laude

Tonianne Daniello
Andrea Fonseca
Nicole Vega
Natasha Velasquez

Summa Cum Laude

Ryan Lane
Mayada Muhareb
Julie Bechtel Patino
Corrine Williams