Local Students Earn Academic Honors

University of New Hampshire’s Dean’s List

The following students have been named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire for the spring 2020 semester.

Gianna Guarino of Winthrop for earning Honors. Guarino is majoring in Sociology.

Alyssa Ferrara of Winthrop for earning High Honors. Ferrara is majoring in Communication Sci & Disorders.

Ashley Miles of Winthrop for earning Honors. Miles is majoring in BusAdm:Marketing.

Brianna Bocchio of Winthrop for earning High Honors. Bocchio is majoring in Nursing.

Jillian Kfoury of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. Kfoury is majoring in HumanDevelopmnt&Family Studies.

Sarah Kfoury of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. Kfoury is majoring in Mathematics.

Heidy Benson of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. Benson is majoring in Nursing.

Holly Benson of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. Benson is majoring in HumanDevelopmnt&Family Studies.

Christian Natareno of Winthrop for earning High Honors. Natareno is majoring in English/Journalism.

Jillian Olevitz of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. Olevitz is majoring in Civil Engineering.

Alexandra Scarfo of Winthrop for earning Honors. Scarfo is majoring in Health Management & Policy.

Tiana DiBenedetto of Winthrop for earning Highest Honors. DiBenedetto is majoring in Nutr:Dietetics.

Students named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Hampshire are students who have earned recognition through their superior scholastic performance during a semester enrolled in a full-time course load (12 or more graded credits). Highest honors are awarded to students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.85 or better out of a possible 4.0. Students with a 3.65 to 3.84 average are awarded high honors and students whose grade point average is 3.5 through 3.64 are awarded honors.

The University of New Hampshire is a flagship research university that inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top ranked programs in business, engineering, law, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. UNH’s research portfolio includes partnerships with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, receiving more than $100 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.

Opincaru Receives Degree

Late this spring, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the Class of 2020 with a socially distanced commencement season in place of its traditional 152nd Commencement exercises. Nicolae Opincaru of Winthrop, was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with high distinction.

Since the Class of 2020 was unable to receive diplomas in person this year, they instead received personal commencement packages, mailed to their home, that that included their diplomas, commencement regalia, and other items to celebrate their successes, as well as a congratulatory video message from President Laurie Leshin. In total, WPI awarded 1,043 bachelor’s degrees, 674 master’s degrees, and 54 doctoral degrees.

In her video message, Leshin made the traditional Commencement walk to the WPI’s iconic Earle Bridge, which students walk over during New Student Orientation and then again when they graduate. She then stopped, turned, and told graduates, “You should be here. But make no mistake: Today is still your day. You’ve walked this bridge together once, and you will walk it again. I can’t wait to see you do just that. Until then, it’s my honor to wait for you.”

WPI plans to hold in-person undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies in the future, at a date to be announced.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPI’s pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. www.wpi.edu

Russo Makes Dean’s List at RIT

Jonathan Russo of Winthrop  was named to the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2020 Spring Semester. Russo is in the computer engineering program.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for Dean’s List if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of “Incomplete”, “D” or “F”; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls about 19,000 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the U.S.

The university is internationally recognized and ranked for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. RIT also offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Global partnerships include campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo.

President’s List at Coastal Carolina University

 More than 1,100 students earned a spot on the President’s List for the Spring 2020 semester at Coastal Carolina University, including:

Francesca Capone, a Special Education Multi-Categorical Premajor major from Winthrop.

Meghan Chavis, a Intelligence and National Security Studies major from Winthrop.

Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, S.C.