Professor Juliana Gray presided over the ceremony
From Alfred University,
Students and faculty were celebrated for their achievements during Alfred University’s annual Honors Convocation Friday afternoon, April 25, in Miller Theater. Among the honorees were Abby Hurley, coordinator of the Beth Robinson Judson Leadership Center, who received the prestigious Abigail Allen Award, and students Marcella Peccorini and Elijah Hammarlund, winners of the 2025 Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award.
Juliana Gray, professor of English and director of the University’s Honors Program, served as master of ceremonies and addressed the gathering of honored students, faculty and staff, family, and friends.
“We are here to celebrate students, faculty and staff who advance new discoveries, new means of expression,” Gray commented. Of the students being honored, she said, “They challenged themselves, pushed themselves, went well beyond what was merely required of them and achieved so much more.”
Among the honored students were Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award recipients Peccorini and Hammarlund. Winners of the Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Award are chosen on the basis of scholarship, extracurricular achievement, personal character and conduct and nominated by faculty, students, and staff. The award was established to honor Alfred University alumnus Marlin Miller ’54, HD ’89, ’19, a Life Trustee and Board of Trustees Chair emeritus, and one of Alfred University’s most generous supporters.
Peccorini, from San Salvador, El Salvador, is set to a bachelor’s degree in biomaterials engineering, with a minor in chemistry, and has a 3.82 grade-point average. The recipient of a Dean’s Scholarship, the Treddenick Scholarship, and Keeling Scholarship as well as support from the New York State College of Ceramics Endowed Performance Fund, Peccorini is a member of several honor societies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Material Advantage.
Hammarlund, from Florence, MA, will receive bachelor’s degrees in biomaterials engineering and chemistry. He has a 4.00 grade-point average and has been on the Dean’s List each semester he has been at Alfred. The recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, Hammarlund is winner of the 2024 Outstanding Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) Senior Award, given to an outstanding senior and based on scholarship and service to the university and community, the 2023 Scholes Scholar Award, presented to the sophomore engineering student with the highest GPA, and is a member of Tau Beta Pi honor society.
Hurley oversees the Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) and is credited with revitalizing the Judson Leadership Center after the COVID pandemic. She teaches a course on gender and leadership, supervises a practicum for each student in the WLA, and organizes the Pamela Lavin Bernstein Women of Influence Speaker Series. In addition to being a staunch supporter of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and serving on its executive committee, Hurley has taken on the important role of educating the campus community about voter registration.
Sandra Singer, director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, presented Hurley with the Abigail Allen Award, pointing her “important work” in registering voters on campus. “I hope you’re inspired by Abby to register.”
Noting the presence at Convocation of participants in the Women’s Leadership Academy, Singer commented, “There are future leaders here who Abby has helped educated and inspire.”
Several faculty members were also recognized during Honors Convocation.
Kery Kautzman, professor of Spanish, was cited for her 25 years of service to the university. During her quarter-century teaching career at Alfred, Kautzman has chaired the Division of Modern Languages, directed the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, sat on the Global Studies and Honors Program advisory boards, served on the Faculty Senate, and mentored Fulbright teaching assistants. In 2019, she was named an honorary member of the university’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Darren Stohr, scanning electron microscopist in the Inamori School of Engineering, was presented with the John F. McMahon Excellence in Ceramic Teaching Award. The award is presented annually in honor of John F. McMahon for his many years of dedicated service to the university as both a professor and dean.
Twelve faculty members received the Joseph Kruson Trust Fund Awards for Excellence in Teaching, with recipients chosen based on a student vote. Following are the 2025 winners: Frederic Beaudry, professor of environmental studies; Paul Briggs, assistant professor of ceramics; Cat Clarke, assistant professor of genetics, plant biology, and biostatistics; Andrew Eklund, professor of chemistry; Danielle Gagne, professor of psychology; Julianna Gray, professor of English; Theresa Gunn, associate professor of accountancy; Zachary Hamm, clinical associate professor of theatre design and technical director; Roger Loucks, professor of physics; Doris Möncke, associate professor of glass science and engineering; Anthony Nguyen, assistant professor of design; and Lynn O’Connell, professor of school psychology.
Seven faculty members—one from each academic unit—were presented with Faculty Scholar Awards in recognition of excellence in research and scholarship. The 2025 awardees are: Jonathan Ziese, assistant professor or theatre, Performing Arts Division; John Hosford, art librarian, Scholes Library, University Libraries; Geremy Grant, assistant professor of school psychology, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies; Joseph Petrillo, professor of mathematics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Collin Wilkinson, assistant professor of glass science and engineering, Inamori School of Engineering; Meg Bernstein, assistant professor of art history, School of Art and Design; and Ali Coskun, associate professor of accounting, College of Business.
Two students—Emily Woo and Roque Santiago—were honored as recipients of the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. The award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may include the arts (creative and performing), athletics, career achievement, community service or leadership.
Coral Lambert, professor of sculpture in Alfred University’s School of Art & Design, New York State College of Ceramics, was recognized for receiving the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. Mechele Romanchock, director of libraries, was cited for receiving the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship.
Twenty-nine students were honored as Alfred University Scholars, an award recognizing the seniors who have completed the requirements of the Alfred University Honors Program. The 2025 recipients are: Sarah Anderson, Samantha Batt, Ella Becher, Raina Bowen, Ryan Brant, Jodean Bray, Greta Burns, Natalie Cates, Gina Colosimo, Alyssa DiMillo, Abigail Gatza, Briana Hayes, Christofer Huber, Zainabu Jalango, Caitlin Jonas, Nashmoon Sheena Kehelella, Yuliia Koreiba, Alyra Rain, Emily Redpath, Julia Redpath, Roque Santiago, Gianna Sapienza, Eric Schweickert, Em Sexsmith, Emma Suplicki, Edem Vallely, Hunter Williams, Callum Young, and Wyatt Zindle.
“Congratulations to our honorees. Thank you for what you have helped create here at Alfred University,” Mark Zupan, university president, said in closing Friday’s ceremony. “This is a very busy time on our campus. I encourage all of us to revel in magical moments like this.”
