Nassau County Residents Honored for Academic Excellence

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Pictured left to right: Shannon Grace Lavelle, Catherine Mary Fischer, Erin Christine Serkes and Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and senior vice-president for academic affairs.

SCRANTON, PA (06/14/2013)(readMedia)-- Three local University of Scranton graduates were recognized for academic excellence and outstanding service by the Jesuit university at Commencement. The Nassau County residents were among 67 honored graduates who earned some of the nation's most prestigious honors including Goldwater, Truman and Fulbright scholarships.

Catherine Mary Fischer of Garden City, a 2013 graduate of The University of Scranton, received the Excellence in Theatre Award.

Fischer double majored in communication and theatre with a concentration in broadcasting. She has participated in 15 productions with The University of Scranton Players. She directed two staged readings and a musical and was the webmaster for the Players Council for three years. Fischer has produced, directed and edited multiple public service announcements and promotional videos for the Royal Television Network. She wrote, produced, directed and edited a documentary titled: "Inside the Dramatic Mind, giving a behind-the-scenes view into the theatre world." Fischer also co-wrote a web series due to be released this summer.

In the future, Fischer hopes to work with the Emmy-award winning historical documentary film production company Insignia Films.

Fischer is a graduate of Garden City High School in Garden City.

Shannon Grace Lavelle of Hicksville, graduated summa cum laude from The University of Scranton and received the Professor Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages.

Lavelle double majored in biology and hispanic studies at the Jesuit university. She is a member of Beta Beta Beta (the national honor society for biological studies) and Alpha Sigma Nu (the honor society for Jesuit universities and colleges).

Lavelle will attend Hofstra University for her master's degree in physician assistant studies.

Lavelle is a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville.

Erin Christine Serkes of Massapequa, graduated magna cum laude from The University of Scranton and received the Edward J. Spitzer Scholarship Award.

Serkes majored in accounting at the Jesuit university. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (the national honor society for first-year students), Omega Beta Sigma (the women's business honor society) and Beta Gamma Sigma (the international honor society for business). She received The University of Scranton's Loyola Scholarship.

Serkes has volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, the National Make a Difference Day and the Michael Mulhall Scholarship Foundation Fun 5K Run. She was a member of the accounting business club.

Serkes will intern at the Grant Thornton Accounting Firm in New York, N.Y., this summer. She plans to return to The University of Scranton in the fall to pursue her MBA in Accounting. She also plans to take her CPA exam in the upcoming year.

Serkes is a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, N.Y.

Photo Caption: The University of Scranton honored 2013 graduates who exemplified its Jesuit Tradition through academics and service. Pictured left to right: Shannon Grace Lavelle, Catherine Mary Fischer, Erin Christine Serkes and Harold Baillie, Ph.D., provost and senior vice-president for academic affairs.