Everett Residents College Academic Achievements

Luca Morelli among University of Scranton graduates

Everett’s Luca F. Morelli was among the more than 900 members of the Class of 2026. The newest Scranton alumni received their bachelor’s degrees on Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Graduates must have completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2025, as well as January and May of 2026. Morelli earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science.
The most common major among the graduates was nursing (10%), while accounting, biology, business administration, criminal justice, finance, kinesiology and occupational therapy represented about 5% each. In total, the graduates covered 61 distinct majors.
Following the processional and a welcome by Tracy M. Stewart, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., H’14, Bishop of Scranton, provided the Invocation. Sajidul Alam ’26, a double major in political science and philosophy from Kingston, addressed his fellow graduates as the class speaker.
Alam spoke about how the University became “home” for the Class of 2026, referencing two quotes that graduates have seen and heard throughout their daily travels at Scranton. “‘Go forth and set the world on fire.’ At first, it may have sounded like a call to do something big, something enormous. But Scranton has taught us that sometimes, it means taking what we have learned here and carrying forward those values with intention, integrity, compassion and purpose,” Alam said. “And there is another idea that defines this place, one that is etched on the side of the DeNaples Center: ‘Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live.’ For the past four years, The University of Scranton has been that place.”
Following Alam’s remarks, the University conferred honorary degrees to former Dominican University president Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D.; attorney and University alumnus Vincent F. Reilly, Esq. ’80; and longtime educator Jack Raslowsky. Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ‘76, G’83, H’15, then took the stage as the principal speaker. Dr. Pennington’s 40-plus-year career in higher education administration, prior to retiring in 2021, included 22 years as vice president for student development and campus life at Montclair State University.
In addition to serving as the principal speaker, Dr. Pennington celebrated her class reunion. She and other 1976 graduates gathered before the ceremony, reminiscing on their historic class: the University’s first undergraduate, full-time student class to include women.
Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president, conferred degrees upon candidates presented by the deans of the University’s three colleges: Victoria H. Castellanos, Ph.D., Leahy College of Health Sciences; Mark Higgins, Ph.D., Kania School of Management; and Carolyn M. Barry, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences.
Following the awarding of diplomas, Christopher J. Neumann, Esq. ’87, president of the alumni society, addressed the graduates, as did Father Marina. Megan E. Heeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology, provided the benediction prior to the recessional.

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Local residents earn degrees from Clark University

Clark University held its Commencement exercises at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., on Monday, May 18. The University awarded 612 bachelor’s degrees and 636 graduate degrees and conferred two honorary degrees during two ceremonies; graduates represented 49 states and 69 countries. The following students from Everett earned degrees from Clark: Aman Lamsal graduated with a Master of Science in Information Technologies; Utsav Ojha graduated with a Master of Science in Information Technologies; Surya Yadav graduated with a Master of Science in Computer Science; Sweta Yadav graduated with a Master of Science in Information Technologies.
Clark University President David B. Fithian urged the graduates to be engaged global citizens. “The world needs you to exhibit the value of higher education, to exercise principles of free expression, to believe in the progress of ideas, and to defend democracy and individual rights – even, and especially, when doing so requires listening across deep differences,” President Fithian said.
Student speaker William Stafford ’26, a political science major and aspiring lawyer, spoke to his peers about how choices shape a person. “We don’t always get to choose our circumstances, but we always get to choose how we respond to them, and who we become because of them,” said Stafford. “And now we’re about to step into a world that won’t always give us clear directions. There won’t always be a syllabus. No one’s going to tell you exactly what to do next. But you will always have the ability to choose.”
Founded in 1887, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university that prepares its students to meet tomorrow’s most daunting challenges and embrace its greatest opportunities. Through 33 undergraduate majors, more than 30 advanced degree programs, and nationally recognized community partnerships, Clark fuses rigorous scholarship with authentic world and workplace experiences that empower our students to pursue lives and careers of meaning and consequence.

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Stonehill College announces spring 2026 Dean’s List

Stonehill College was pleased to recognize the students named to the spring 2026 Dean’s List. To qualify for this honor, undergraduate students must have achieved a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher with a minimum of 12 credits from courses graded with standard letter grades. Everett’s Kylie Bragg, Sophia Ingrando, Lorenzo Possamai and Katelande Valcin made the Dean’s List.
Stonehill College, a Catholic institution of higher learning, was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1948. Located in North Easton, Mass., it is a community of scholarship and faith, anchored by a belief in the inherent dignity of each person. Through more than 100 academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business and preprofessional fields, Stonehill College provides an education of the highest caliber that fosters critical thinking, free inquiry and the interchange of ideas for over 2,500 students.