Western New England University

Western New England University (WNE) honored 16 exceptional seniors at the 35th annual Skookum Awards Ceremony in October, recognizing their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to the University community. Under a crisp autumn sky, families, faculty, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate these future leaders. President Robert Johnson praised the honorees as "the best among the best" and highlighted the vital role of faculty and staff in shaping their success. Alumna D'Naysia Stonick '19 inspired students with advice on embracing change and building networks, while Dr. Allissa Long '17/PharmD'19 described the rigorous selection process that narrowed the field from over 75 nominees to 16 awardees. Three students earned top honors: Ashley Figueroa (Grand Skookum), Elizabeth Heiney (Royal Skookum), and Armani Mayes (Royal Skookum). The Skookum Awards, named after a Chinook word meaning "excellence," have been a cherished WNE tradition since 1989. The ceremony reinforced the honorees' achievements and connected them to a supportive alumni network as they continue their journey of leadership and success.

Western New England University (WNE) takes immense pride in recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of over 750 students who have been named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2024 semester.

Western New England University (WNE) takes immense pride in recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of over 640 students who have been named to the President's List for the Fall 2024 semester.

Western New England University held its graduate commencement ceremony on May 19 at the MassMutual Center, celebrating the Class of 2024. The keynote speaker, MA Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle L'14, encouraged the students to "be willing to do what's right despite opposition" after sharing how her time as a student at Western New England set an example for her career path. Congratulations and best wishes to the newest Golden Bear Alumni. WNE is proud of you!

Western New England University held its undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 19 at the MassMutual Center, celebrating the Class of 2024. The keynote speaker, esteemed journalist Latoyia Edwards, talked about the importance of bringing passion and intensity to one's work without overshadowing what's most important: family. "If you don't remember any piece of advice that I give you this morning, remember to never take anyone who loves and supports you for granted." Congratulations and best wishes to the newest Golden Bear Alumni. WNE is proud of you!

Western New England University (WNE) takes immense pride in recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of over 670 students who have been named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2024 semester.

The Western New England University chapter of Delta Alpha Pi National Honor Society welcomed seven students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 26 in the University Commons.

The Western New England University chapter of Sigma Tau Delta National Honor Society welcomed 15 students at the University's annual induction ceremony, which took place in the University Commons on April 4.

Western New England University (WNE) takes immense pride in recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of over 540 students who have been named to the President's List for the Spring 2024 semester.

The Western New England University chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society welcomed 62 students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 19.

The Western New England University chapter of Psi Chi National Honor Society welcomed 13 students at the University's annual induction ceremony held on April 12 in the Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy.

The Western New England University chapter of Lambda Pi Eta National Honor Society welcomed three students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 26th.

The Western New England University chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society welcomed 39 students at the University's annual induction ceremony on May 2nd in the Campus Center.

The Western New England University chapter of Delta Delta Epsilon National Honor Society welcomed four students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 29th in the Center for Science and Pharmacy Atrium.

The Western New England University chapter of Beta Alpha Psi National Honor Society welcomed 23 students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 18th in the Rivers Memorial Hall.

The Western New England University chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon National Honor Society welcomed eight students at the University's annual induction ceremony on April 26th in the Universty's Blake Law Center.

Western New England University is proud to announce the selection of ten outstanding students who will serve as Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs) for the 2024 Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) program.

The Western New England University chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society welcomed 57 student-athletes from across 17 sports at the University's annual induction ceremony on May 2nd at Rivers Memorial.

The Western New England University chapter of Pi Alpha Theta National Honor Society welcomed 14 students at the University's annual induction ceremony which took place on April 18 in the Clarke Reading Room, D'Amour Library on the University campus. Phi Alpha Theta is the history honor society. The society promotes the study of history through the engagement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of ideas. The society seeks to bring students, teacher, and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges which promote and assist historical research and publication.

The Western New England University chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society welcomed 12 students at the University's annual induction ceremony which took place on April 18 in the Clarke Reading Room, D'Amour Library on the University campus. Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honor society in political science. Membership maintains high standards of scholarship and academic distinction in the political sciences and the society seeks to promote excellence in the study of political science through a variety of programs.

Western New England University held its College of Engineering Senior Awards Ceremony on May 18th in the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. The University honored 11 graduating seniors selected for their exceptional performance in their major or their overall class standing.

Western New England University recognized 16 graduating students for academic excellence within their fields of study during the College of Arts & Sciences Senior Awards Ceremony, held on April 19th in the Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy.

Western New England University held its Distinguished Golden Bear Awards ceremony on May 2 in River's Memorial Hall, recognizing students who have excelled in leadership and community involvement.

Students and faculty from Western New England University's (WNE) College of Engineering recently attended the 50th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC), held at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ on April 4-5, 2024. NEBEC, a premier gathering in the field of bioengineering, aims to foster collaboration and showcase innovative research and education programs in the northeastern United States. This year's conference brought together distinguished professionals and aspiring minds to explore various disciplines within bioengineering and biomedical engineering, including Cell and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics, Medical Device Technology, Medical Imaging and Processing, Neuro-engineering, and Education.

Western New England University held its College of Business Senior Awards Ceremony on April 30th in the St. Germain Campus Center.

As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability, Western New England University's College of Engineering is thrilled to announce the launch of "Jarvis" the lawn bot, a groundbreaking initiative in automated lawn care. Spearheaded by Mechanical Engineering student Jason Breton and overseen by Faculty Advisor Dr. Charles Roche, the lawn bot project aims to transform campus landscaping while promoting eco-conscious practices.

Western New England University's College of Arts and Sciences continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering impactful faculty-student research collaborations. Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Deana Vitrano led a delegation of undergraduate students, Jason Beaulieu, Colleen Malley, Daniela Martinez, and Fabiana Mesia, to the prestigious Eastern Psychological Association annual meeting held in Philadelphia on March 1. The team presented two projects that underscored the intersection of psychology and creativity. The first project, titled "The Association between ADHD and Creative Achievements," delved into the intriguing relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and creative accomplishments. The second project, titled "The Effect of ADHD Symptoms on Divergent and Convergent Thinking," explored the nuanced impact of ADHD symptoms on various facets of cognitive processing.

Western New England University (WNE) is pleased to announce the outstanding achievement of senior Political Science major, Maria Butrimas, who presented her latest research at the Pi Sigma Alpha 2024 National Political Science Honor Society Conference on February 17 in Washington, DC. The conference offers a dynamic platform for students to exchange ideas, receive constructive feedback on their research, engage in professional development opportunities, and establish connections with fellow students, industry professionals, and faculty members. The conference showcases presentations covering a wide array of topics within the field of political science by undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty. Butrimas was one of over 100 honors Political Science students from around the world invited to present at the Pi Sigma Alpha conference.

The Western New England University Stageless Players make a triumphant return with four eagerly awaited performances of its spring musical, The Rocky Horror Show, on April 12-14.

Western New England University (WNE) celebrates the publication of two mathematical solutions in the fall 2023 and spring 2024 issues of Pi Mu Epsilon (PME) Society Journal. Senior Daniel Podzunas (Mechanical Engineering, Math) collaborated with Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics Cheng-Han Pan, Ph.D., to outline solutions to the challenging mathematical puzzles released with each issue. The PME Journal is an esteemed publication of Pi Mu Epsilon, a society dedicated to the promotion of mathematical scholarship and advancement among undergraduate students. As members of the problem-solving group that has developed out of an informal affiliation of University Math Center tutors and Math Department faculty members, Podzunas and Pan have sought to pursue solving the PME Journal puzzles.