Western New England University

The Western New England University Skookum Awards recognize 15 outstanding members of the Class of 2026 for their leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to serving the University community.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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'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.

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.

Western New England University (WNE) proudly announces that its School of Law's Black Law Student Association (BLSA) has been honored with the prestigious NEBLSA Medium Chapter of the Year 2023-2024 award by the Northeastern Black Law Students Association (NEBLSA). NEBLSA, a regional affiliate of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), is committed to advocating for diversity in legal education and the legal profession. The organization is comprised of 34 local chapters in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEBLSA's membership consists of over 1000 law students.

Western New England University's College of Business students have emerged as the 1st Place winners of the 2023 Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts Stock Market Challenge - College/Corporate Competition. This prestigious event, now in its 18th year, witnessed a spirited competition where college students and corporate professionals, including accounting firms, investment management firms, and banks, engaged in a high-stakes contest to build the highest net-worth portfolio. Using fictional company shares, the WNE team demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy, outperforming competitors and surpassing the runner-up by 13% with an impressive 30% portfolio return.

On February 24, 70 students from institutions across Massachusetts and Rhode Island gathered at Stonehill College for the Mass FinTech Hub Bootcamp, a pioneering event aimed at delving into the evolving landscape of financial technology. Among them, seven bright minds from Western New England University's College of Business stood out for their engagement and enthusiasm. The participating students from WNE, representing various disciplines within the College of Business, included Elizabeth Heiney(Management & Leadership), Logan Palmer (Sport Management), Everest Schneider (Finance), Andersen Burrows (Finance), Aditya Shah (Business Analytics & Information Management & Finance), Kavya Parikh (Business Analytics & Information Management), and Matt Debler-Seidel (General Business). Accompanying them were two esteemed professors, Professor Charles Mutigwe from the Business Analytics & Information Management faculty and Professor Ethan Jiang from the Finance faculty.

In a remarkable display of tax law expertise, Western New England University (WNE) School of Law students Joy Vincenzo and Brendan Morrison clinched the coveted Best Written Submission prize at the 2023-2024 ABA Tax Challenge Competition held in San Francisco, CA on January 18-20. Their outstanding written solution outperformed those of 64 participating teams in this national competition. The Law Student Tax Challenge (LSTC) is a rigorous competition focused on the tax consequences of complex business-planning problems. It provides law students with a platform to apply their acquired tax knowledge, showcasing their research, writing, and oratory skills.

Epsilon Iota, the Western New England University chapter of Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society, celebrated the induction of nine outstanding members from the PY3 Pharmacy Class at an event held on Thursday, November 16, at the Munich Haus in Chicopee, MA. The Rho Chi Society, established in 1922, is an international honor society dedicated to fostering high scholastic achievement, fellowship among students in pharmacy, and the promotion of pharmaceutical sciences.

Meet Alex Gerrish '23 who traversed through an intricate academic pathway on the American Studies track that translated into his role as the museum programs and marketing manager at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.

Western New England University held its College of Arts and Sciences Senior Awards Ceremony on May 20th on Rivers Memorial Hall. The University honored 19 graduating seniors who were selected based on their academic achievement in the major or based on their overall class standing.

Western New England University held its College of Engineering Senior Awards Ceremony on May 21st in Rivers Memorial Hall. The University honored 16 graduating seniors who were selected based on their academic achievement in the major or based on their overall class standing.

Western New England University held its Twelfth Annual College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Awards Ceremony on May 3rd in Rivers Memorial Hall. The University honored the following students selected based on their academic achievement in the major or their overall class standing.

The Western New England University chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society welcomed 32 students at the University's annual induction ceremony on May 5th at Rivers Memorial.

The Western New England University chapter of Delta Delta Epsilon National Honor Society welcomed 6 students at the University's annual induction ceremony on May 2nd in the Center for Science and Pharmacy building.

Kathryn Grant, P4 student at Western New England University (WNE), has been awarded a competitive Student Registration Grant to attend the upcoming meeting of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). The AAPP's annual meeting is one of the most important events in the field of psychiatric pharmacy, bringing together leading experts and practitioners to discuss the latest developments in the field.

Western New England University student Riccardo C. Clemente has been recognized by Nova: Global Top Talent Network for the Italy 2022 Student List. Clemente was among 1,500 candidates selected to be assessed by a team of judges at Nova, in collaboration with SDA Bocconi School of Management representatives and judges. Clemente was selected as part of the Top 10 Student Talent for the Industrial Engineering bracket.

Western New England University College of Business Dean Sharianne Walker is pleased to announce the newest members to join the prestigious Cohen Scholar Program: Tabarek Al-Kowami, Jason Shumilla, and Kyle Zemba.

Adell Gadzey, of Colchester, VT, was recently honored as a recipient of the Royal Skookum Award, an honor at the Western New England University (WNE) Alumni Association 2022 Skookum Awards ceremony held on Sunday, September 25.

Brendan Cassidy, of Taunton, MA, was recently honored as a recipient of the Royal Skookum Award, an honor at the Western New England University (WNE) Alumni Association 2022 Skookum Awards ceremony held on Sunday, September 25.

Angelia White, of Hunlock Creek, PA, was recently honored as a recipient of the Skookum Award, an honor at the Western New England University (WNE) Alumni Association 2022 Skookum Awards ceremony held on Sunday, September 25.

Carly Schneider, of Fishkill, NY, was recently honored as a recipient of the Skookum Award, an honor at the Western New England University (WNE) Alumni Association 2022 Skookum Awards ceremony held on Sunday, September 25.