La Plume — 窪蹋勛圖厙 College celebrated its 155th commencement on Saturday, May 16, during a ceremony on the Colleges campus in La Plume. Degrees were conferred upon 134 students.
Local Entrepreneur and 2009 窪蹋勛圖厙 College alumna Maggie Calpin, owner of Nibbles & Bits, a gourmet gift and chocolate company in Dunmore, Pa., offered the keynote address and was awarded an Honorary degree from the College.
窪蹋勛圖厙 President John F. Pullo, Sr. 69 presided over the ceremony. Amber Mascia, Sergeant, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a resident of Blakeslee, Pa, addressed her classmates as this years outstanding graduate. President Pullo, Vicki A. Stanavitch, Ph.D. 92, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and Kirby K. Hickey 62, Chair of the Board of Trustees, presented the degrees and certificates to the graduates.
泭梆n his remarks, President Pullo congratulated the graduates and their families and thanked them for sticking with 窪蹋勛圖厙 during some very difficult times prior to the Colleges merger with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER) in May 2025. Your resilience, perseverance, and commitment to 窪蹋勛圖厙 during your time here, coupled with the steadfast support of WIER and the dedication of our faculty and staff, saved 窪蹋勛圖厙 College! I am grateful for that. The entire 窪蹋勛圖厙 community is grateful for that, Pullo said. We still have much work to do as we continue to rebuild, but what we are working to accomplish here is not being done in higher education today as schools like 窪蹋勛圖厙 are becoming fewer. American higher education still needs an affordable, private college experience, and you are all examples and representatives of that. Go forth and proudly share your 窪蹋勛圖厙 experiences. And know that we are proud of each and every one of you and pleased to now welcome you into our 窪蹋勛圖厙 alumni family, Pullo added.
As he introduced Calpin, Pullo said, 窪蹋勛圖厙 alumna Maggie Calpin is the personification of the Colleges motto of Progress Through Effort. We are excited to have her with us today to share her inspiring story. I am also excited to announce that she will be joining our Board of Trustees in the next academic term.
Calpin began her career in cosmetology before receiving her bachelor of science in business from 窪蹋勛圖厙. She graduated magna cum laude in 2009 while working full time as a cosmetologist. Following her graduation from 窪蹋勛圖厙 and at just 24 years of age, Calpin took a leap and purchased a turnkey business, transforming it into the thriving brand it is today, including launching in-house chocolate production in 2013. Nibbles & Bits is well known for its handcrafted confections and thoughtfully curated gifts.
In her remarks to the students, Calpin highlighted the realities of building a business while reminding students that success is not always a straight line and that some of the best opportunities come from taking risks before you feel fully ready. My wish for you is that good enough is never enough for you. That you continue to grow. To push. To become more than you ever thought possible. I hope you stay hungry. I hope you keep striving for more, Calpin said.
This years degree recipients are:
Master of Accountancy
Arielle Lee Burdett, Camden, N.J.
Master of Business Administration
David J. Booths, Lake Ariel; Dawson Fresses, Holland; Nicholas Joseph Gravel, Sidney, N.Y.; Gregory Deshawn Potts, Lodi, N.J.; Steven Rodriguez, Tobyhanna; Andrea Celeste Walcott, Factoryville.
Master of Education
Jorden Rasheed Cook, New Paltz, N.Y.; Ashley Marie Dymond, Tunkhannock; Alexsis S. Hermann, Scranton; Shai Ling Serrano Chang, Clementon, N.J.; Lexis Taylor Tonkin, Carbondale; Katelyn N. Venezio, Vandling.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Tracie Lynn Miller, Athens; Sean Jovan Pettway, Grahmsville, N.Y.
Master of Science in Sport Leadership Management
Willie A. Exum, Factoryville; Brandon Michael Girod, Elgin, Texas; Anthony James Merone, Waymart.
Master of Science in Wildlife Biology
Christina Gail DeCresenza, Tunkhannock; Zachary B. Hemond, Mifflintown.
Bachelor of Arts
Della Lee Bobb, Dalton; Anna M. Boles, Scranton; Joshua Harvey, Scranton; Ethan J. King, Scranton; Keila Zick, Hop Bottom.
Bachelor of Science
Dwight Abram, Jr., Dunmore; Ausar Isaiah Alexander, Somerset, N.J.; Vanessa I. Alicea, Allentown; Trevor Altenhofen, Lake Ariel; Rocco Edward Arduini, Nineveh, N.Y.; Kamdyn Isaiah Ayers, Pemboke Pines, Fla.; Luke C. Baker, Factorville; John Balchunas, Palmyra; Krista Lynn Bancey, New Milford; Isabella Deanna Benitez, East Windsor, N.J.; Codi James Bomboy, Montrose; Michael Breed, Factoryville; Paula Ann Briel, Cresson; Arthur G. Bronson, III, Lake Ariel; Malaysia D. Bryant, New York, N.Y.; Trisha Lynn Buck, Lehington; Alexis Marie Capwell, Jessup; Sugeidy De los Santos, Apopka, Fla.; Adam John Dovin, Friendsville; Emily Rose Engle, WilkesBarre; Anna Grace Flowers, Clarks Green; Kayon Kimberlee Forbes, Whitehall; Brooke Elizabeth Freni, Glendora, N.J.; Adrian Gonzalez, Taylor; Tyler Gurman, Bronx, N.Y.; Arlenys A. Gutierrez, Allentown; Ashley Ann Henriksen, Moosic; Emma Elizabeth Hughes, Clarks Summit; Joseph J. Jordan, Scott Township; Lillian Estelle KennedyButler, Bel Air, Md.; Caitlyn Kerr, Meshoppen; Alyssa Carol Kritzberger, Effort; Rocco J. LaCapra, Dunmore; Vivianna Raquel LaCapra, Dunmore; Abagaille K. Lewis, Pittston; Fushawn Buckie Liggins, Taylor; Hunter Joseph Lukavitch, Shickshinny; Isabella Josephine Mandarano, Dunmore; Amber Lynn Mascia, Blakeslee; Matthew McElligott, Gahanna, Ohio; Erin Elizabeth McHale, Carbondale; Gianna Marie McNerney, Covington Twp; Gianna Nicole Megna, Staten Island, N.Y.; Ann Marie Metzger, Chambersburg; Anthony Marcus Mierez, Granby, Conn.; Molly Louise Mindas, Clarks Summit; Mariano Iacobino Monacelli, Scranton; Devin Maurice Montgomery, Waldorf, Md.; John Thomas Moran, Scranton; Madelyn Clare OHearn, Old Forge; Jeremiah Noah Ortiz, Scranton; Hannah Claire Osbahr, Old Bridge, N.J.; Michael W. Palinkas, Philadelphia; Alexis Rae Price, Carbondale; Ramona Bethsaida Ramirez, Philadelphia; James K. Renter, Scott Township; William Michael Reuter, Easton; Maria Bel矇n Rodriguez Molina, Caba, F.O.; Sandra Ann Rogers, Carbondale; Holly Michelle Ross, Clarks Green; Angelise Nicole Sanchez, Debary, Fla.; Zachary Santiago, Philadelphia; Kaylee Shane Sargent, Tioga; Ian Matthew Scalabrini, Oakland, N.J.; Hailey Sky Scardo, Scranton; Ian James Schmidt, Factoryville; Emily Jean Schultz, Tunkhannock; Charles Joseph Seeley, Alpha, N.J.; Emily Rose Seward, Dalton; Mason P. Shay, Dalton; Rylee Elizabeth Sheehan, Waymart; Fisher C. Sheffield, Clermont, Fla.; Brielle Ann Shevchik, Clarks Summit; Dana Elynn Sibilia, So. Abington Twp; Jason Mark Smith, Montrose; Jakob Daniel Snipes, Scott Township; Remy Didier Sylvain, Scranton; Brett Patrick Tigue, South Abington Township; Brandon Valles, Toms River, N.J.; Crystal Ann Vanderhoof, Pleasant Gap; Gregory F. Verano, Raritan, N.J.; Dominic Xavier Weber, Millsboro, Del.; Julien Michael Wells, Scranton; JahCiere Lytez Williams, Lancaster; Garrett Lee Worthington, New Providence; Grace Ellen Yadlosky, Vandling.
Associate in Science
Sandra Bencomo, Philadelphia; Isabella Grace Brienza, Fredericksburg, Va.; Madison Chenelle Brown, Wyalusing; Meghan Elizabeth Crist, Carlisle; Sara Kristine Deats, Elkland; Livia Noel Hable, Pottsville; Sahar Hamraz, Spotsylvania, Va.; Shkise AlMatee Jackson, Jr., East Stroudsburg; Alicia Ann Lee, Nicholson; Jasmine Lee Lozada, Morrisville; Molly Jean McNulty, Scranton; Autumn J. Morefield, Waymart; Ansar Mustafa, Philadelphia; Jayona Jaliyah Osgood, Scranton; Kissayris Doralis Salcedo, Philadelphia; Carmen Milagros Santos, Philadelphia; Lisbeth Victoria Santos, Hazle Twp; Mary Elizabeth Schlasta, Scott Township; Colleen Marie Sutton, Scranton; Natalie Vazquez Lebron, Philadelphia; Tanner Shane Young, Clarks Summit.
Associate in Applied Science
Breanna Madyson Landers, Cliffwood, N.J.; Daniel Jens Roskeland, Archbald; Eric Michael VanLuvanee, Nicholson.