Students at Marist

Student Spotlights

Meet the Class of 2020

Marist College’s mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global 21st century.” The Class of 2020 fulfilled the college’s mission in its pursuit of academic excellence and community engagement. Our graduating seniors are far from one-dimensional. They dedicated themselves to the betterment of themselves and their communities in many ways by completing internships in government and industry, by working alongside faculty mentors on capping projects, and through their commitment to projects and charities that positively change our world. The students highlighted on this page each have a story to tell about the transformative role of a Marist education, and they embody the mission and values of our college.

Emmanuelle J. Farrell

Valedictorian Award – Emmanuelle J. Farrell

Emmanuelle Farrell is a student in the Honors Program with a major in psychology and a minor in cognitive science. She is a member of the Alpha Chi and Psi Chi honor societies. Her research has included the impact of social media on mental health, the quality of life of individuals on the autism spectrum, and the effects of mindfulness on student well-being. She presented this research at three conferences. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Emmanuelle has served as president of Best Buddies at Marist, an organization dedicated to the inclusion of individuals with special needs. She will be pursuing a Master of Social Work at Rutgers University in the fall.

Salutatorian Hailey Rose Guinn

Salutatorian Award – Hailey Rose Guinn

Hailey Guinn is a criminal justice major with a business minor and a paralegal certificate. She interned for the Dutchess County District Attorney and for the US Marshals Service while working as a tutor and coordinator of Marist SNAP (Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol). For her Honors senior thesis, she created a podcast on trauma and PTSD in the sexual assault recovery process. She will continue pursuing her passion for criminal justice at law school in the fall.

Award for Academic Distinction – Kathleen Kelly Monahan

Award for Academic Distinction – Kathleen Kelly Monahan

After earning a B.S. in art history from SUNY New Paltz, Kathleen Monahan completed police basic training and has worked in law enforcement since 2007. She currently works for the Town of Wallkill Police Department, where she has been their crime scene and evidence technician since 2011. While she finds law enforcement rewarding, she has a strong desire to get back into the art world. She is graduating with a degree in digital media with a minor in photography. While at Marist, she exhibited artwork locally in group shows at Roost Gallery in New Paltz and at Art Juxtapose in Rosendale.

Daniel Aaron Creedon

Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies – Daniel Aaron Creedon

Daniel Creedon is a member of the Marist College Physician Assistant Program class of 2020. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Marist College in 2013 and was selected by faculty to be a member of the Sigma Zeta national science and mathematics honor society. During his undergraduate studies, Daniel had the opportunity to intern with the Washington Redskins, present research at both regional and national conferences, and was published in the Journal of Athletic Training. Prior to admission in the Marist PA Program, He worked as an athletic trainer for Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County and the State University of New York at New Paltz. He also served as a clinical preceptor for the Marist College Athletic Training Education Program. Upon graduation from the PA program, he will continue his career as an orthopedic surgery PA.

Student Spotlights

Ellie Pettraccione, General Excellence Award Recipient

Ellie Marie Petraccione

Ellie Petraccione is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in environmental science and policy. For her Honors thesis, she conducted research on harmful algal blooms and invasive species in the Hudson River. She was honored to present this research at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting, the largest international earth science conference in the world. She created an interactive presentation to reach broad audiences beyond the scientific community. Ellie achieved this academic success while a member of the Marist Women's Lacrosse team and as a dedicated volunteer in Dutchess County. She is also the winner of this year's General Excellence Award.

 

Marla Joan DiPoto

Marla Joan DiPoto

Marla DiPoto is a fashion merchandising major and graphic design minor from Upton, Massachusetts. She is a recipient of the Fashion Faculty Award and the 2020 Award for Excellence in Fashion Merchandising. Her love for travel led her to study abroad in both Florence and London. Inspired by her London internship, the Marist Fashion curriculum, and graphic design courses, she hopes to pursue graduate school in the United Kingdom for graphic design, concentrating on the fashion and beauty industries. She is also the recipient of this year's Merit Award.

Mark Colin Palmer

Mark Colin Palmer

Mark Palmer is a graduating senior from Los Angeles, California, earning a political science degree with a minor in criminal justice. Growing up in South Los Angeles made him understand the importance of high-quality education and attending college. Around campus, he was an active participant from being on the leadership board of Marist Democrats to having a board position within Zeta Psi Fraternity. He was also an active member of the Center for Multicultural Affairs support programs as an Academic Enrichment Scholar. Mark has high aspirations as he has interests in working in higher education and wants to eventually run for political office and advocate for those who are voiceless.

Jillian Kaczmarek

Jillian Marie Kaczmarek

Jillian Kaczmarek arrived at Marist as a transfer student and immediately immersed herself into our community. She regularly visited the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie to read to and engage children. She has served as a tour guide, ambassador board member, and personal assistant in the Office of Admission, whose staff describe her interpersonal skills as that of a seasoned professional. She completed three internships and helped found women's club lacrosse. After graduation, she will start her career as an assistant buyer for Ross Stores. Jillian is also a recipient of one of this year's Alumni Leadership Awards.

Ava Elyse Hanlon

Ava Elyse Hanlon

Ava Hanlon is a biomedical sciences major with a minor in French who aspires to attend medical school after graduation. For the past two years she has poured her passion and energy into fundraising for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the Up til Dawn fundraising event. As the executive director of the Marist campaign, she guided a group of thirteen students whose efforts raised over $94,000 for St. Jude Children's Hospital research. This placed Marist in the top 10 in the nation for college and university fundraising, with Marist appearing as the smallest institution on the list. Ava is also the recipient of this year's Hermitage Community Service Award.

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Sabell Strachan

Graduating Magna Cum Laude, Sabell Strachan is a criminal justice major with a minor in social work who describes her time at Marist College as “nothing short of an amazing experience.” While at Marist, she was inducted into the National Society for Leadership and Success and the Criminal Justice honor society. She was president of It's on Us, a club that raises awareness of sexual assault on college campuses, and was an intern for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., Changing the Present, and the Dutchess County Public Defender's Office. After graduation, she will be attending Columbia University's School of Social Work to pursue a Master of Social Work degree.

Spencer Hogan

Spencer William Hogan

Spencer Hogan has accomplished a great deal in his four years at Marist. On campus he has served as executive vice president of the Student Government Association as well as Academic Affairs vice president. He was president of the Business Club and worked as a resident assistant. One of his most important professional experiences was as an intern in the White House Office of American Innovation, in Washington. He was awarded the Bienstock Family Internship at the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist, and he had an article published in their journal. Spencer will be starting as a management consultant with Accenture Federal Services in August. He is also a recipient of one of this year's Alumni Leadership Awards.

Joseph Thomas Sarci

Joseph Thomas Sarci

Joseph Sarci has had a distinguished career and has made a significant impact on the Marist community, serving as president of the Student Government Association, Campus Ministry Advisory Board, and Honors Advisory Board. He majored in history, minored in communication, and received his Paralegal Certificate. In the Honors Program, he consistently appeared on the Dean’s List, was inducted to the National Residence Hall Honorary Council, and served as an Honors peer mentor. Through the Albany Refugee Program, Elections Commission, and Campus Ministry, Joseph developed a passion for volunteering. He explored the civil rights movement by traveling throughout the Mississippi Delta and was involved in the Albany Refugee Program, which provides support for refugees integrating into American culture.

Amanda Dakara Guy

Amanda Dakara Guy

Amanda Guy is earning a bachelor’s degree in communication with concentrations in advertising and journalism, and a paralegal certificate. She has been named to the Dean’s List every semester and is on track to graduate summa cum laude. She was a tutor counselor/peer counselor for the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and completed internships for U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney and Xandr, a marketing and advertising firm. The recipient of the Marist College 2020 School of Communication and the Arts Award for Advertising, she was selected as one of 50 American Advertising Federation (AAF) Most Promising Multicultural Students for 2020. Amanda achieved this success while a student athlete on the Women’s Rowing Team and a member of Lambda Pi Eta.

Peter Austin Greco

Peter Austin Greco

Peter Greco is completing the M.S. in information systems with a concentration in business analytics. He has an undergraduate degree from Mount Saint Mary College, where he majored in business administration and also studied information technology. After his undergraduate studies, he pursued the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, passing the first level in 2018. Throughout his professional career, he has worked within financial institutions in multiple different capacities, and currently works as a business intelligence data analyst for a community credit union in the Hudson Valley. Peter can be found volunteering for local charities and organizations and learning about new disruptive technology.

Kelsey Alexandra Benavides

Kelsey Alexandra Benavides

Kelsey Benavides is a social work major who expects to graduate magna cum laude. She is a member of the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and she studied abroad in Costa Rica and interned at Access: Support for the Living and at the Family Service League in their Community Advocacy, Information, and Referral Program. She volunteered at the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, Liberty Partnership Program, the Red Cross, The Little Happy Star in Costa Rica, and the Special Olympics. She has been admitted to SUNY Stony Brook for graduate studies.

Izdihar A. Dabashi

Izdihar A. Dabashi

Izdihar Dabashi (on left), from Beacon, New York, is an early graduating senior, earning a psychology degree with a focus on neuropsychology. Being born in Oakland, California, to an Arab-American family taught her to value education and embrace hardship as growth instead of inhibition. She is the first place winner of the Psychology Research Conference held on campus and led the largest team on Marist’s Entrepreneurial 3-Day Startup program. A freelance creative writer, she hopes to publish a book this year. As an older sister to someone with special needs, she maintains strong aspirations of pursuing higher education and ambition to develop a concept to promote neurodiversity among children.

Jonathan Alexander Savas

Jonathan Alexander Savas

After spending 7 years in Boston where he completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Northeastern University, Jonathan Savas decided to make a change to his career path. He returned to his hometown of Poughkeepsie and enrolled in Marist’s M.S. in computer science – software development program. He credits Marist with helping him grow tremendously as a software developer. After his first year, he spent 9 months as an intern at Numerix, a FinTech company in Manhattan. After graduation, Jonathan will be joining IBM Poughkeepsie as a software developer. When not writing code, he spends his time as a member of his church and playing golf with friends.

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