Annual Awards Convocation Recognizes Academic Excellence

Students across majors were honored this past Thursday for academic excellence at Northampton Community College (NCC)’s annual Awards Convocation. The celebration is a capstone to the academic year, recognizing outstanding students for their academic accomplishments. 

Some of the most prestigious awards handed out included the Hites Family Foundation Higher Education Endowment Scholarships and Nancy A. Taylor Endowed Scholarships as well as recognition of the New Century Workforce Scholar Award and the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. Award recipients were called to the stage to accept their awards while faculty and guest presenters highlighted their achievements and future plans. 

Velvet Salgado, a sports medicine & rehabilitation sciences major, opened the ceremony with renditions of “What A Wonderful World” and “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by Mario Acerra, professor of communication/theatre and coordinator of the media production program, on piano. Salgado will perform later this summer at Musikfest, the nation’s largest free music festival, in Bethlehem.  

Deanna Hammarsten, associate professor of mathematics and last year’s recipient of NCC’s Christensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, delivered the Convocation address, encouraging students to stay curious about the world. Curiosity, she said, is what will help them to keep trying when an academic concept may not click right away and is what will help them build more empathy for those around them. 

This year’s Trustee Leadership Award recipient, Maura Ceglia, delivered the student address. Ceglia will officially receive her award at next month’s Commencement ceremony when she graduates with an associate of applied science degree in communication design. 

Ceglia highlighted the opportunities she had at NCC, most notably her first time traveling outside the country to London with the faculty-led study abroad trip during spring break last year.  

“It [traveling to London] was the best decision I could’ve ever made for myself,” she said. “This trip urged me to face my fears and face the world with confidence, and it opened my eyes to just how many opportunities are out there in the world.” 

Ceglia, whose love of art began in childhood, plans to transfer to Kutztown University to complete a bachelor’s degree in communication design.  

“Making creations that bring people joy and make people feel seen, just like the ones I experienced growing up, is my purpose in life,” she said. “I hope to continue uplifting others along the way through artwork that captures my strengths and my struggles. The future is bright for the creative community at NCC, and I can’t wait to make a colorful mark on the world.” 

David A. Ruth, Ph.D., president of NCC, closed the ceremony by thanking the faculty and staff as well as the parents, families, and friends of the honorees, noting that they all play essential roles in supporting student success.   

“The students we celebrated today are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “I’m so proud of all of our students at NCC, and it’s such a privilege to witness their successes, no matter how big or small.” 

A reception for students and their guests immediately followed the ceremony. 

The following is the complete list of students recognized at this year’s Awards Convocation as well as students honored at previous awards ceremonies:  

Awards Convocation: 

New Century Workforce Scholar Award 

Kaarma Rosas 

American Advertising Federation Greater Lehigh Valley Ad Club Creative Achievement Award 

Sophia Santamaria 

Ann Richards Computer Science and Information Technology Student Award 

Raymond Castro 

Award for Excellence in Academic Writing 

Dominic Baldere 

The Courage to Care Award - Early Childhood and Special Education 

Madeline Cole 

Eastern PA Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Award 

Alejandro Cordova, Iris Hergenrother 

The Friends of Gregory Purdon Memorial Award for Excellence in Art 

Destiny Allinson 

Global Studies Academic Award 

Brookelyn Farrel 

Global Studies Global Citizen Award 

Brookelyn Farrel 

Heart of Hospitality Award (Discover Lehigh Valley) 

Kimberly Lazaro Clara 

Heart of Hospitality Award (Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau) 

Zuri Finley 

Hites Family Foundation Higher Education Endowment Scholarship 

Mitchelle Mwasi, Ei Thanzin Myo 

Nancy A. Taylor Endowed Scholarship 

Grant Dieter, Lauren Kahmar 

Honors Program Outstanding Student Award 

Diana Polanco 

Just Born Business Award 

Tori Shoenberger 

Liberal Arts Award 

Xzavier Pacheco, Michael Schwab 

Marconi Award for Media Production 

Breanna Engle, Paige Pavelko 

Marketing Insight Award 

April Bachert 

MillerSearles Accounting Award 

Zoey Angney 

Norman R. Roberts Theatre Scholarship Fund Award 

Maximilian Cole, Giovanni Failla 

Northampton County Bar Association Award 

Paul A. Janis, Jr., Amanda E. Shuey 

Pan African Caucus Educational Scholarship (PACES) 

Murine Barrett-Hanchard, Marcell Petersen 

Sandra Preis & George Jain-Cocks Endowed Mathematics Award 

Gialexa Amengual 

Secondary Excellence in Education Award Sponsored in part by PSECU 

Zachary Talijan 

All Pennsylvania Academic Team  

Crystal Armstrong, Sumin Kim, Jessica Lagos, Mitchelle Mwasi, Kaarma Rosas, Caisee Sargent-Davila 

American Welding Society Foundation Award 

Keegan Hackett 

Irvine Freshman Leadership Award 

Hannah Burros