Local Residents Honored for Academic Achievement at Univeristy

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Seated from left are, W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., dean, Kyle Randall, Daniel Jackowitz. Standing are Nicole Giorgio, Kimberly Smith, Alycia Crilly, Alissa Valiante, Cristinal Miinea, Christopher Toomey

SCRANTON, PA (01/10/2013)(readMedia)-- Samer Bandak, Walnutport, Cristinal Miinea, Ph.D., Easton, and Christopher Toomey, Coopersburg,were among the ten graduate students at The University of Scranton named recipients of Frank O'Hara Awards, which recognized students with the highest grade point average at approximately the mid-point of their master's degree programs in each of Scranton's graduate programs.

Bandak is currently pursuing an MBA in operations management. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in international business with a minor in Arabic from The University of Scranton. He is a graduate assistant in the admissions office and the International Programs Department. He serves as president of the International Club, and is also a member of the President's Cabinet, International Business Club, MBA club, Marketing Club and the Mountain Sports Club. He has volunteered with the American Red Cross.

Miinea is pursuing a master's degree in healthcare administration. He earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Bucharest, Romania, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Houston, Houston, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at Dartmouth School of Medicine, Lebanon, N.H. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and has worked with biopharmaceutical firms such as ISS Pharmaceuticals, Celldex Therapeutics and Avantor Performance Materials. He is the vice president and international relations liaison of the American College of Healthcare Executives at the University.

Toomey is pursuing an MBA. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Lafayette College, Easton. Currently, he works for an international company in Bethlehem that provides equipment and engineering services for the global cement and minerals industries. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and has a professional engineering license in Pennsylvania. He has worked with the DaVinci Science Center in Allentown and the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science at Easton High School, Easton.

Digital image (OHara Grad CGCE)

Recipients of The University of Scranton's Frank O'Hara medals from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education pictured with W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., (seated far left) dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education, are, seated from left, Kyle Randall and Daniel Jackowitz. Standing are, from left, Nicole Giorgio, Kimberly Kowalik-Smith, Alycia Crilly, Alissa Valiante, Cristinal Miinea, Ph.D., and Christopher Toomey.