SMITHFIELD, RI – Bryant University has announced the Commencement Award winners for the Class of 2021. A longstanding Bryant tradition, Commencement Awards recognize graduating seniors for their distinguished achievements and contributions in several categories including academic excellence, leadership, and service. This year, 42 students will receive awards. These high-achieving students are among more than 800 graduates who have successfully completed their Bryant University studies and will be awarded Bachelor’s degrees at the 158th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies on May 22.
Class of 2021 Commencement Award winners as well as the award descriptions are listed below:
- Jack Harold Hess Aigner
- Michael Alfred Alfieri
- Kojo Manu Appiah
- Kathleen Helen Bannon
- Alyse Noel Beauchemin
- Hannah Arlene Bloomwald
- Dana Michele Brokmeier
- Danielle Nicole Caci
- Matthew Peter Caruso
- Gianna Christine Ceccarelli
- Maia Grace Correll
- Meghan Dalton
- Cara Isabelle DelSesto
- Kaitlin Marie Dickey
- Christopher K. Dodd
- Peter Alden Elder
- Kaitlyn Rose Fales
- Zachary Dominic Fiss
- Shannon Erin Flaherty
- Edward Alexander Golas
- Matthew Leonard Houde
- Jonathan David Huntley
- Justin Stuart Johnson
- Ryan Nicholas Kilcoyne
- Shawn Michael Kilcoyne
- Jordan Ian Klein
- Connor Joseph Koch
- Rebecca Christine Michaud
- Olivia Hannah Ray Millstone
- Abby Elizabeth Murphy
- Amelia Grace Olsen
- Nichole Anne Page
- Angelica Marie Provost
- Kyle Andrew Rosa
- Alexis Sherwin
- Katherine Claire Tibbitts
- Alec Bryan Turner
- Sara Elizabeth Tyma
- Olivia Rose Valenti
- Amy Sophia Villegas-Zwerg
- Amanda C. Whitham
- Caroline Elizabeth Williams
Academic excellence and achievement
Academic Excellence: Danielle Nicole Caci, Christopher K. Dodd, and Shawn Michael Kilcoyne are recognized with the President’s List Sash, to be worn by the graduating seniors who have achieved President’s list distinction (4.0 grade point average) every semester while at Bryant, and the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, presented to the graduating seniors with the highest cumulative academic average toward a degree in business administration or economics.
Christopher K. Dodd and Shawn Michael Kilcoyne are also recognized with the George J. Kelley Award, presented to the graduating seniors who have completed at least 102 credits at Bryant and are recognized and honored for having the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of the fall semester. Kyle Andrew Rosa is recognized with the Jeremiah Clark Barber Award, presented to the graduating senior who has shown the most consistent academic improvement resulting in Dean’s List recognition. Edward Alexander Golas and Amy Sophia Villegas-Zwerg are recognized with the Bryant University Scholar Award, presented to graduating seniors who have published, or have had an article accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal while a student at Bryant University.
Accounting: Connor Joseph Koch and Sara Elizabeth Tyma earned the Anna M. and Jere St. Angelo ’61 Accounting Award, presented to two graduating seniors in accounting who have demonstrated a high level of achievement, are in the top 10 percent of their class, are residents of an urban area, and will enter a career in public accounting. Zachary Dominic Fiss is recognized with the Leander Frances Emin Endowed Homestead Award, presented to a graduating senior who has achieved scholastic excellence in accounting. This award was inaugurated by the family of Leander Francis Emin ’07 to honor his memory and his birthplace and home – the 1708 House and the entire Emin homestead, farm, and airport – which became the campus of his alma mater.
Angelica Marie Provost is recognized with the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants Award, presented to a graduating senior who, in the opinion of the accounting faculty, has demonstrated excellence in accounting studies and intends to pursue a career in public accounting.
Actuarial Mathematics: Jonathan David Huntley and Rebecca Christine Michaud earned the John Hancock Insurance Company Award, presented to two graduating seniors who have demonstrated superior achievement in the study of actuarial mathematics. Kaitlyn Rose Fales and Edward Alexander Golas earned the SAS Institute Award, presented to two bachelor’s degree candidates who have demonstrated superior achievement in the study of applied mathematics and statistics and have successfully completed coursework involving the application of SAS statistical software in their data analysis.
Biology: Caroline Elizabeth Williams is recognized with the Excellence in Biology Award, presented to a graduating senior in biology who has exhibited excellence in the classroom and research laboratory, shown care and concern about world health problems, and demonstrated a potential for outstanding contributions in the field of biological science.
Communication: Alexis Sherwin is recognized with the Communication Department Award, presented to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement and exceptional competency in all of the contemporary communication arts.
Data Science: Matthew Leonard Houde is recognized with the Excellence in Data Science Award, presented to a graduating senior with a major in data science who has excelled academically, enriched his or her data science education through meaningful work experience, and demonstrated an unselfish attitude toward others through active involvement in organizations, clubs, or events.
Economics: Christopher K. Dodd is recognized with the Excellence in Economics Award, presented to a graduating senior with the highest grade point average in the major.
Environmental Science: Amelia Grace Olsen is recognized with the Environmental Science Leadership Award, presented to an outstanding graduating senior in environmental science who has excelled in the classroom and laboratory, exhibited leadership in initiatives for improving sustainability at the University, and shown potential for valuable contributions to the environmental field.
Finance: Kaitlin Marie Dickey is recognized with the Jack H. Rubens Leadership in Finance Award, presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding performance in academics, service to the finance department, and enthusiasm and leadership in extracurricular activities related to finance.
Financial Services: Michael Alfred Alfieri received the Jack H. Rubens Leadership in Financial Services Award, presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding performance in academics, service to the finance department, and enthusiasm and leadership in extracurricular activities related to financial services.
Global Studies, Legal Studies, Political Science, and Sociology: Alyse Noel Beauchemin is recognized with the Global Studies Award; Kathleen Helen Bannon is recognized with the Political Science Award; Gianna Christine Ceccarelli is recognized with the Legal Studies Award; and Hannah Arlene Bloomwald is recognized with the Sociology Award. These awards are presented to graduating seniors for their outstanding achievements in the study of global studies, legal studies, political science, and sociology.
History: Alyse Noel Beauchemin is recognized with the Pell Medal for United States History Award, presented to a graduating senior who has displayed excellence in the study of United States history. The late Honorable Claiborne de Borda Pell created this medal to honor the memory of his father, the late Herbert C. Pell, statesman and diplomat, who served the United States as Ambassador to Hungary and Minister to Portugal.
Information Systems: Jordan Ian Klein is recognized with the Excellence in Information Systems Award, presented annually to a graduating senior with a concentration in information systems who has excelled academically, enriched his or her information systems education through meaningful work experience, and demonstrated an unselfish attitude toward others through active involvement in organizations, clubs, or events.
Literary and Cultural Studies: Nichole Anne Page is recognized with the Literary and Cultural Studies Award, presented to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement in, and a strong commitment to, the study of literature and cultural studies.
Management: Olivia Hannah Ray Millstone, Abby Elizabeth Murphy, and Katherine Claire Tibbitts earned the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA) Management Department Commencement Award, which recognizes three graduating seniors with a concentration in Human Resources Management (HRM). These individuals have demonstrated academic excellence in HRM, active engagement with human resources practitioners, and a passion for a career in the profession.
Marketing: Peter Alden Elder is recognized with the Excellence in Marketing Award, given to a student graduating with a concentration in marketing who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and leadership in marketing, and made significant contributions to the Bryant community and the marketing program.
Modern Languages: Maia Grace Correll is recognized with the Modern Languages Department Award, presented to a graduate with exceptional competency in the study of a language other than English.
Psychology: Meghan Dalton is recognized with the Excellence in Psychology Award, presented to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement in the study of psychology.
Leadership and service
Character: Shannon Erin Flaherty earned the Roger W. Babson Award, presented to a graduating senior who is distinguished within the University community for his or her character, orderly mind, sound judgment, and systematic business habits.
Good Citizenship: Kojo Manu Appiah earned the Bryant University Good Citizenship Award, presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated the qualities of sincerity and vigorous industry in the interest of good citizenship and who has, by example, furthered better government both on and off campus.
Leadership: Olivia Rose Valenti is recognized with the George M. Parks Award, presented to a graduating senior whose leadership qualities have significantly enhanced the reputation of Bryant University.
Military Science: Justin Stuart Johnson earned the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Achievement Award, presented to a graduating senior who has excelled in military science studies and other courses, and who has shown superior leadership potential in the military science program and in extracurricular activities.
Service: Matthew Peter Caruso, Cara Isabelle DelSesto, Jonathan David Huntley, Ryan Nicholas Kilcoyne, Alec Bryan Turner, Olivia Rose Valenti, and Amanda C. Whitham earned the Student Senate Service Award, presented to seven deserving graduating seniors in recognition of their outstanding service to the student body of Bryant University. The recipients are selected by the Student Senate Service Awards Committee.
Talent and achievement
Creative Expression: Dana Michele Brokmeier is recognized with the Achievement in Creative Expression Award, presented to a graduating senior who has achieved excellence in creative expression, as demonstrated in the written, performance, film, fine, or applied arts.
Student-Athletes: Jack Harold Hess Aigner is recognized with the Male Senior Scholar of the Year Award, presented to the male senior student-athlete with the highest overall grade point average. Rebecca Christine Michaud is recognized with the Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, presented to the female senior student-athlete with the highest overall grade point average.
About Bryant University
For 158 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. Located on a contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual, and Barron's. Visit https://www.bryant.edu/.
