MANSFIELD, Pa. – Caitlin Beauduy was named the 2021 Outstanding
Senior during Mansfield University’s 156th Commencement held at Karl
Van Norman Field on Saturday.
Seniors whose activities and accomplishments have brought
recognition to themselves and to Mansfield University may be nominated for the
Outstanding Senior Award. The Award is presented annually at Commencement, and
the recipient is chosen by members of a faculty-student Award Selection
Committee who review nominations from the various departments.
To be nominated, the student must be a graduating senior of
the current academic year, have at least a 3.0 grade point average, and have
shown exemplary leadership and service to Mansfield University and the
surrounding region. 14 students were nominated for the 2021 award.
Beauduy graduated with a degree in biology and a
concentration in cell and molecular biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA. The New
Cumberland, Pa. native was a four-year member and team captain of the
Mountaineer field hockey team and held leadership positions with the Student
Dietetic Association and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She was involved
in T-cell research in Dr. Kristen Long’s cancer research lab at Mansfield and
was awarded a NASA grant to continue with additional funding.
She will pursue her passion for STEM and community outreach
in medical school next fall, with plans to ultimately become an OB/GYN.
Beauduy was also selected as Mansfield’s finalist for the
State System’s Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence. Each year, a
senior from one of the 14 State System universities is named the Ali-Zaidi
Award recipient.
Nominees for the 2021 Outstanding Senior Award included:
Aaron R. Benfer (Criminal Justice)
Aaron Benfer is from Winfield, Pennsylvania, and is a proud
member of the Criminal Justice Department. While at Mansfield, Aaron was the
President of the Criminal Justice Fraternity, Lambda Alpha Epsilon, for two
years and held several other positions within the group. He also served as the
head Resident Assistant in Spruce Hall. Post-graduation, Aaron planned to join
the Pennsylvania State Police, however, a knee injury has placed that dream on
hold. In the meantime, Aaron is exploring other options in probation, parole,
corrections.
Kelly M. Cammidge (English)
Kelly Cammidge was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, but
was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she moved to at the age of four. Kelly
is an English major with a focus in professional writing and a minor in
creative writing. Since she has been at Mansfield, Kelly made the Dean’s List
three times, the President’s List once, and won the English Department’s
Outstanding Junior Award. Kelly works at the Writing Center as a writing tutor
and manages the EWL Department’s social media accounts. When she graduates,
Kelly would like to work at a publishing company and someday have her writing
published.
Dustin C. Dailey (Education and Special Education)
Dustin Dailey was born and raised in the rural town of
Deposit, New York, and graduated with a degree in early childhood and
elementary education this past Fall. Through all of his endeavors, he carries
the spirit of his hometown with him. Currently, Dustin teaches kindergarten at
Charlotte Lappla Elementary School within the Wellsboro Area School District.
He plans to pursue a master’s degree in administration and eventually become a
part of a school’s administrative team.
Samuel C. Finch (Political Science)
Sam Finch was born and raised in Mansfield, Pennsylvania,
and studied political science with a minor in history. During his years at
Mansfield, Sam was privileged to study abroad, advocate for human rights, work
at the History Center, tutor students of American Government, and “pollute the
airwaves” of WNTE with his tastes in music. Sam’s hobbies include reading
(mostly nonfiction), watching television, playing video games, and
experimenting on his mandolin. After graduation, Sam would like to spend time
living in another country and then pursue a career, probably in technology.
Leanna Gregas (Nutrition)
Leanna Gregas is from Ashland, Pennsylvania, and will
graduate with a bachelor of science in nutrition with a concentration in sports
nutrition and a minor in community health education. During her time at
Mansfield University, Leanna received the Outstanding Student award
consecutively all four years of her academic career. She had the opportunity to
not only expand her knowledge, but also increase her professional skills
through the Student Dietetic Association and her Resident Assistant position.
Through her experiences at Mansfield, Leanna was able to apply to multiple
graduate programs with a competitive application. After receiving numerous
acceptance letters, she has decided to attend Gannon University’s Master of
Occupational Therapy program this summer and was awarded their Master of
Occupational Therapy Achievement Scholarship.
Catherine A. Hoover (Chemistry)
Katie Hoover is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and studied
chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. Katie was a member of the
Borzok research lab since Fall 2019, where she studied the biochemical basis of
arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. She is also the president of the Chemistry Club,
a chemistry supplemental instructor and tutor, and a lab assistant. Katie
received outstanding student awards each year of her career at Mansfield. She
will attend the University of Arizona as a member of the Arizona Biological and
Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program in the fall of 2021, where she plans to study
Medical Biophysics.
Deshae N. Jones (Graphic Design)
Raised in the small town of Camden, New York, Deshae Jones
will graduate with a bachelor of science in graphic design. Being a bi-racial
woman in high school, Deshae was encouraged to go into college with the
intention of studying either math or science; those are the areas of study that
are considered to be “the most successful” or “financially adequate.” Growing
up, Deshae always had a passion for the arts, but never thought she could make
a living or find a job in that field. Since joining the Graphic Design
Department her junior year, Deshae has never been more passionate and immersed
in her work. She has never absorbed so much knowledge and information and been
able to apply what she has learned in each class to other classes, to her
personal life, and to professional life. Deshae’s major accomplishment at MU
was finding what she is passionate about doing for the rest of her life.
Deshae’s future plans include working as a graphic designer for Compass-Group
USA – the 6th largest food service provider in the world.
Jamie P. Leonard (Computer Science)
Jamie Leonard majored in computer science and was raised in
Simpsonville, South Carolina, which will always remain her home. She describes
herself as having heart, resilience, and determination that will always keep
her going, and she will make her dreams become realities. Jamie has a love and
passion for programming. While at Mansfield, she earned her place on the
President’s and Dean’s Lists several times, and even if she struggles sometimes
with life, she will only come back better than her best. Jamie plans to become
a software engineer, and with hard work, a pinch of luck, and the motivation
from the support she has received up to this point from those she loves, Jamie
will one day make her own game.
Anthony N. Mastroianni (Business Administration)
Tony Mastroianni lived in California until the age of nine
before moving to Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He is a business administration:
marketing and management major and has been at Mansfield for four years. Tony
served as President of the Student Government Association and was named Student
Leader of the Year for 2021. He is also a Resident Assistant. Tony serves on
many university committees and was part of the team that won 3rd place in the
CSBS Bank Competition last year. He has taken additional business courses
outside of his required classes and always tried to stay on top of his studies
even with all of his extracurriculars.
Ellie A. Motichka (Music Education)
Ellie Motichka grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania in the
town of Lake Ariel. She majored in instrumental music education with a flute
primary. Ellie’s major accomplishments include earning principal positions in
both wind ensemble and orchestra for six semesters, winning the Spring 2020
Concerto Competition, conducting a piece she prepared in the Spring 2020
Conducting Symposium Concert, winning the Sue Cunningham Memorial Scholarship
by video audition, and performing her Senior Recital. Ellie plans to teach
music in public schools after graduation and would like to pursue a master’s
degree in conducting.
McKenna K. Russell (Forensic Psychology and Counseling)
McKenna Russell is from Cogan Station, Pennsylvania,
graduating a year ahead of schedule with a double major in forensic psychology
and counseling with a minor in criminal justice. During her time at Mansfield,
she made the President’s List for four semesters and was the Outstanding Junior
of the Psychology Department. McKenna is part of the Mountaineer softball team
and was named an Academic All-American. McKenna was a nominee for the 2021 Syed
R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence. After Mansfield University, McKenna
plans on attending graduate school to study clinical psychology and eventually
wants to work as a special agent for the FBI.
Trent T. Smith (Geosciences)
Trent Smith is from Northampton, Pennsylvania, and majored
in geosciences with a concentration in environmental science. While at Mansfield,
Trent earned the Geoscience Academic Honor Award in both 2018 and 2020. A major
accomplishment of Trent’s was completing a watershed restoration report on
stream bank erosion on Holden Brook and providing the report to the Tioga
County Conservation District. His findings may be turned into real projects to
help stop erosion. After graduation, Trent plans to attend the Ross Leffler
School of Conservation in Harrisburg to become a State Game Warden for the
Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Jayden L. Walker (Social Work)
Jayden Walker was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee,
and will graduate with a degree in social work. Due to struggles faced as a
child, Jayden knew he wanted a future helping people, especially kids, and fell
in love with social work when he took an intro class. Learning about the impact
social workers can make and the different opportunities available was amazing
to him. Jayden achieved a 4.0 cumulative GPA and was named Social Work Junior
of the Year. Jayden plans to attend the University of Kentucky for his master’s
of social work and later have a career in social work while also coaching
football.