WILKES-BARRE TWP.
Choking back tears as he adjusted his younger sister's mortarboard, Jesse Outhouse scanned the dimly lit corridor packed with hundreds of soon-to-be graduates clad in black gowns.
"It's emotional because it's the end of a great chapter of my life, but I am glad I can share it with my good friends," said Mr. Outhouse, a secondary education major at the University of Scranton.
His younger sister, Emma, also was among the more than 900 receiving undergraduate degrees on Sunday at the university's commencement at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Graduates included recipients of some of the nation's most prestigious scholarships, including the Truman Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship and multiple Fulbright scholarships. They represented 13 states, including Florida, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.
Majors with the most graduates were biology, nursing, accounting, exercise science, communication, psychology and occupational therapy.
Before the ceremony, Megan Etzel of Clark, N.J., and Carolyn Clyons of Trumbull, Conn., reflected on their past four years, trading stories about friends, parties and other social events as they waited in the corridor beneath the arena.
Though they will be back at the university next year - Ms. Etzel to pursue her master's degree in occupational therapy and Ms. Clyons for the physical therapy program - both agreed it won't be the same.
"We won't have our house mates, and most of the other people who made these last four years so memorable," Ms. Etzel said.
While adjusting his tassel with his left hand, Michael Gaeta, Cranford, N.J., fired text messages to family members above and friends waiting at opposite ends of the corridor.
"It's bittersweet," the exercise science major said. "I am excited to move forward, but these last four years went by so fast.
"It's surreal."
Commencement speaker, Sandra Postel, an author, scholar and consultant on global water protection, and director of the Global Water Policy Project, challenged graduates to find their "niche."
"Your niche is that sweet spot where what you love intersects with what you're good at," said Ms. Postel, who in 2010 was appointed Freshwater Fellow at the National Geographic Society.
She advised graduates to follow their passion rather than be enticed with materialism, arguing that neither BMWs nor 10,000-square-foot homes fill the void in someone's life.
Some graduates might have already pinpointed their niche, while others still might be searching, she said.
But, no matter what, "never doubt your story and your niche," Ms. Postel said.
"It's through individual stories - yours and mine - that we change the big story happening around us."
Ms. Postel received an honorary degree from the school.
Offering remarks, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., reminded graduates they have been challenged with St. Ignatius Loyola's charge - "to love and serve in all things."
"Remember that you are sons and daughters of The University of Scranton forever," Father Quinn said.
Area degree recipients include:
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Lackawanna County
Stephanie Marie Griffin, Scranton; Christine Grunza, Dickson City; Sarah Vanessa Hubbard, Gouldsboro; and James Michael Woody, Carbondale.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
Lackawanna County
Bassamh Amer Al-Bassam, Scranton; Janice Marie Annibale, Dunmore; Frank Anzelmi, Old Forge; Richard Louis Armezzani, Peckville; Gary Dominic Arvay, South Abington Twp.; Danielle Lauren Banks, Dunmore; Amy Elizabeth Bannon, Jermyn; Matthew Farrell Bannon, Clarks Summit; Brittany E. Barbone, Scranton; James P. Bassani, Dunmore; Danielle Marie Beddoe, Jermyn; Emily Marie Bielski, Scranton; Brianna Karen Bilbao, Old Forge; Marsinlen Hope Blackwell, Old Forge; Joshua Horacio Blanco, Scranton; Elizabeth Rose Boino, Scranton; Holli Kathleen Bott, Dickson City; Laura Marie Bracey, Moscow; Natasha Brea, Nicholson; Michael Edmund Brown, Scranton; Charles Joseph Browning II, Peckville; Jessica Butler, Vandling; Sean Patrick Butler, Dickson City; Molly Lynn Calderone, Dunmore; Rebecca Watkins Cangemi, Scranton; Jacqueline Marie Carini, Scranton; Rosie Casey, Archbald; Maribeth Frances Castaldi, Scranton; Christopher Allan Chapman, Throop; Walter Anthony Checefsky, Archbald; Stacy Ann Chludzinski, Taylor; Rachel C. Chow, Scranton; Bella Donna Cipriano, Scranton; Elisa Katherine Colchado, Scranton; Kelly Ann Cole, Moscow; Caitlin Marie Collins, Clarks Summit; Timothy Scott Corcoran, Scranton; Timothy John Cox, Scranton; Joshua Cramer, Dickson City; Matthew Robert Craven, Olyphant; Cory J. Crinella, Archbald; Michael James Davis, Moosic; John Patrick Dean, Scranton; Chivon K. Demchak, Carbondale; Emily Christen DePew, Madison Twp.; Kevin Patrick Dermody, Elmhurst; Marcus Jacob Dermont, Scranton; Samantha Quinn DeSantis, Scranton; Angela Elizabeth DiBileo, Scranton; Anthony Keegan James Dilmore, Scranton; Daniel Patrick Donahue, Scranton; Kathleen Michelle Druther, South Abington Twp.; Anthony Angelo Duchnowski, Dunmore; Maria L. Durdach, Dalton; Elizabeth Enlow, Dunmore; Brian Vincent Entler, Scranton; Brianna Marie Finnerty, Old Forge; Stephanie Anne Fisk, Dunmore; Stephen David Franchak, Jermyn; Andrea Genello, Scranton; Michael Joseph Genello, Scranton; Brett Joseph Gilmartin, Moscow; Carson Julianne Gilvey, Archbald; Michael James Goonan, Scranton; Matthew William Gorman, Scott Twp.; Lisa Marie Gruszecki, Old Forge; John Joseph Hambrose IV, South Abington Twp.; Anna Haroun Mahdavi, Scranton; Patrick John Hart, Dunmore; Greylan Elaine Heffernan, Taylor; Jonathan George Hiler, Waverly; Ashley Morgan Hofer, Scranton; Colin Walter Holmes, Scranton; Adrianna Hughes, Dunmore; Candace Brea Janes, Scranton; Joshua Robert Javitz, Dickson City; Nicole Anne Jensen, Clarks Summit; Kathleen Elizabeth Jordan, Clarks Summit; Joohye Jung, Scranton; Brian Carey Kanavy, Dunmore; Jacob Karboski, Scranton; Kurt Joseph Kincel, Jefferson Twp.; Stephen Francis Kranick, Dunmore; Ryan Matthew Kwolek, Blakely; Sarah Alicia Lamothe, South Abington Twp.; Timothy Michael Lavelle, Clarks Green; Holly Wanda Leard, Scranton; Gwen Hannah Levy, Dunmore; Maria Regina Licitra, Scranton; David Michael Linhares, Scranton; Jessica Rae Lloyd, Moosic; Kiley Karen Lotz, Scranton; Dawn Marie Lowmiller, Clarks Summit; Abigail Elizabeth Lukasik, Dickson City; Andrew Seth Lunney, Scranton; Colleen Beth Mackrell, Peckville; Alexa Ray Mahalidge, Clarks Summit; Niko Dominick Manetti, Old Forge; Leo Anthony Maxfield, Taylor; Jordan Lee Mazzoni, Archbald; Timothy James McCormick, Scranton; Matthew Scott McGrath, Old Forge; Michael Vincent McGuigan, Scranton; Kathryn Ann McGuire, Roaring Brook Twp.; Timothy Patrick McGurrin, Jr., Clarks Summit; Kellie Alisha McIntyre, Waverly; Jeremiah Christopher Mullen, Scott Twp.; Amanda Lynn Murphy, Scranton; Stephen John Nicolosi, Clarks Green; Michael Paul Nidoh, South Abington Twp.; Corinne Alice Nulton, Archbald; Edmond Donald O'Connell, Scranton; Cheryl Renee O'Donnell, Old Forge; Meghan Catherine O'Malley, Scranton; Morgan Clare O'Malley, Scranton; Lindsey Christine Olechna, Scranton; Neil Pal, Scranton; Tayler Kathlene Pallotta, Dunmore; Carolyn Ann Pandolfo, Dunmore; Sydney Alexandra Parker, Scranton; Kristen Marie Patchcoski, Scranton; Devin B. Patel, Waverly Twp.; Sandra Elisabeth Perry, Dunmore; Logyn Elizabeth Pezak, Jessup; Kelsey Jean Powell, Moosic; Edward Andrew Raposo, Blakely; Matthew William Reddock, Eynon; Robert Patrick Reed, Scranton; Adam Mark Reese, Peckville; Maura Anne Regan, Scranton; Camille Frances Reinecke, Dunmore; Aida Ribanovic, Scranton; Alyssa Catherine Rimosites, Throop; Ryan James Robeson, Scranton; Jessica Rogan, Scranton; Bryan Arnoldo Rosales, Scranton; Brooke Marie Ruane, Moosic; Robert John Ruane III, Scranton; Donna Rupp, Scranton; Adam Ryan, Jermyn; Matthew Thomas Sabia, Old Forge; Kholood Khalid Safar, Scranton; Michael John Saladino, Scranton; Henry Jordan Sallusti, Scranton; Kyla Sare, Scranton; Edmund Joseph Scacchitti, Scranton; Michael Scarantino, Old Forge; Daniel Vladimir Schlasta, Scott Twp.; Amanda Theresa Sensi, Moosic; Kushtrim Shabani, Lake Ariel; Avani K. Shah, Scranton; Khushbu Shaileshkumar Shah, Scranton; Megan Marie Shipsky, Jermyn; Joseph Lewis Shoemaker, Scranton; Kaitlyn Mae Simon, Scranton; Jennifer Lee Simpson, Olyphant; Brittni Lee Smith, Blakely; Eric Emery Smith, Clarks Summit; Monica Dee Smith, Scranton; Rebecca Ann Smith, Moscow; Andrew Stanley Sobolak, Scranton; Scott Christain Stange II, Scranton; Sarah Dorothy Stavisky, Jefferson Twp.; Eric P. Steinmetz, Roaring Brook Twp.; William A. Stella, Scranton; Mary Kathryn Steppacher, Scranton; Oliver John Strickland, Scranton; Michelle Swan, South Abington Twp.; J. Patrick Sweeney, Dunmore; Caroline Ann Swift, Clarks Summit; Marissa Ann Talerico, Carbondale; Shannon Clare Taylor, Scranton; Michelle Grace Thomas, Peckville; David Anthony Tomaine, Dickson City; Andrew Robert Torba, Moosic; Michael Ross Trischetta, Scranton; James Michael Vasky, South Abington Twp.; Marissa Caroline Clare Verchuk, Scranton; Michele Ann Wall, Throop; Brock Walsh, Scranton; Leonard Thomas Walsh, Scranton; Natalie Clare Walsh, Scranton; Alexandra Watson, Roaring Brook Twp.; Kristen Lynn Whritenour, Scranton; Harrison Walter Wolff, Clarks Summit; Ardy W. Wong, Scranton; Graham Milton Yeager, Waverly; and Anastasia Rose Zygmunt, Covington Twp.
Luzerne County
Maria Patricia Boris, Avoca; James John Bresnahan, Exeter; Robert Paul Bresnahan Jr., Hughestown; Jennifer Anne Briggs, Pittston; Michael Gerald Coco, Jr., Exeter; Gabriella Concetta Corridoni, Pittston; Geralyn Rita Cross, Plains; Christopher A. Culver, Jr., Swoyersville; Allison Maureen Daly, Laflin; Michael Anthony DiPietro, Wyoming; Kaitlyn Marie Falzone, West Wyoming; Emily Marie Gavigan, Laflin; Mark Edward Giovanelli, Plains; Victoria Lynn Girman, Dupont; Peter Joseph Kelley, Harding; Lee Arnoldo Molitoris, Plains; Anthony F. Pittelli, Pittston; Jonathan Bradley Schall, Wyoming; and Charles Francis Tully, Pittston.
MONROE COUNTY
Clayton Charles Colefield III, Cresco; Stephanie Gleason, Swiftwater; Colby Jon Larsen, Pocono Manor; Dominic Vito Marcogliese, Henryville; and Chanel Nadja Wright, Pocono Summit.
PIKE COUNTY
Peter Barrale, Shohola; David James Bright, Tafton; James William Dillon, Greentown; Samantha Rose Dzirko, Dingmans Ferry; Rachel Victoria Knuth, Greeley; Patricia Sigrid Malzahn, Shohola; Karalee C. Morgan, Milford; and Steven Christopher Savarese, Hawley.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY
Sydney Nichole Carmody, Thompson; Nicholas Brian Hollister, Montrose; Chelsea Margaret Lucchesi, Union Dale; Craig Allen Noldy, Jr., Forest City; and David John Rechlicz, Montrose.
WAYNE COUNTY
Devin Alexandra Avellino, Gouldsboro; Bernadetta Teresa Bernatowicz, Lake Ariel; Arielle Christine Burkavage, Honesdale; Moriah S. Diamond, Honesdale; Lucie Frey Henry, Beach Lake; Andrew S. Milewski, Lake Ariel; Grace Noel Nebzydoski, Honesdale; Hannah Marie Ruby, Lake Ariel; Mary Frances Scheller, Forest City; Joseph William Sonner, Honesdale; Joseph Paul Terry, Honesdale; and Scott M. Yablonski, Covington Township.