College Notes: Fairfax Student Excels At Business Leaders Conference

FAIRFAX, VA — To shine a light on the academic achievements of college students from the Fairfax City area, Patch shares information provided by the students' families and Merit News.

Tegan Pentek, a Fairfax resident majoring in accounting at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, took second place at the Pennsylvania-Future Business Leaders of America Conference.

"The 2023 FBLA-Collegiate State Leadership Conference was an amazing experience and incredibly successful," Pentek said, in a release. "As a graduating senior, I have greatly appreciated my FBLA experience throughout college. Apart from the benefits in leadership, public speaking, and communication skills, FBLA has been an incredible and unique opportunity to bond with friends, meet new people, and expand my network. I will take these experiences, new friendships, and lifelong skills with me throughout my career.

Pentek was one of three Alvernia students to compete in this conference. She also serves as the state secretary for PA-FBLA and as the president of Alvernia's Phi Beta Lambda student chapter. PBL helps business students to gain documented accomplishments to complement their academic experiences.

"Alvernia University's FBLA Collegiate members have the opportunity to develop 21st-century business skills, create valuable professional relationships and compete at both the state and national level throughout the year," said Michelle Conway, PBL chapter advisor, in a release. "The most recent State Leadership Conference provided our members with the opportunity to flex their technical skills, network and actively participate in personal and professional development workshops. These unique experiential learning opportunities prepare students for great success."

Sierra Kaplan, a Bradley University student majoring in health science from Fairfax, was named to the fall 2022 dean's list. To be eligible for the dean's list, a student must achieve a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the semester on a 4.0 scale.

Jessica Flanders of Fairfax has been named to the dean's list for the fall 2022 semester at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Flanders is a student in SDSU's College of Education and Human Sciences.

Nearly 550 students at Bridgewater College in Virginia were named to the fall 2022 dean's list by attaining a 3.4 or better grade point average out of a possible 4.0. Students so honored include:

• Jen Chan of Fairfax is a business administration major at Bridgewater.
• Carlee Gaboury of Fairfax is Gaboury is a health and physical education major at Bridgewater.

Andrew Lefcourt of Fairfax was recognized for outstanding achievement by being named to the McDaniel College fall 2022 dean's list with honors. Honors are earned for a semester grade point average of 3.50-3.69.

The following students at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania attained dean's list in fall 2022:

• William Hollier of Fairfax (22030)
• Erika Maaseide of Fairfax (22032)
• Nick Moshos of Fairfax (22030)

This status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses.

Rachel Furr, a native of Fairfax, was recently initiated into the Virginia Commonwealth University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 646 new initiates from 23 universities during December 2022.

The following students were named to the fall 2022 dean's list at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester:

• Avery Vasquez of Fairfax
• Lily Ali of Fairfax

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the dean's list.

The following students were named to the fall 2022 president's list at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester:

• Maria Hagedorn of Fairfax
• Karen Ellerbe of Fairfax

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the president's list.

Tait Bish, a psychology major from Fairfax was named to the dean's list for the fall 2022 semester at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. To be honored, the undergraduate must have earned a minimum 3.50 GPA and be enrolled as a full-time student.

The following students achieved the dean's list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee for the fall 2022 semester:

• Brigid Smullen of Fairfax
• Rowan Clark of Fairfax

Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours (exclusive of audit and pass/fail courses this semester) and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C (inclusive of audit, pass/fail courses and zero-credit courses).

Laney Campbell, a sophomore studying exploratory studies, is among more than 1,200 Harding University students included on the dean's list for grades achieved during the fall 2022 semester. To be eligible, a student must be carrying 12 or more hours with a 3.65 or higher grade-point average and no incompletes.

More than 7,500 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa in Iowa City were named to the dean's list for the 2022 fall semester. These included:

• Emma Echard of Fairfax is an open major in their second year.
• Emily Munger of Fairfax is a third year major in elementary education.
• Benen Witkop of Fairfax is in their fourth year, studying English and creative writing.

The following James Madison University students were named to the dean's list for the fall 2022 semester:

• Geoffrey Buechter of Fairfax, who is majoring in Accounting - BBA.
• Joseph Bronaugh of Fairfax, who is majoring in Accounting - BBA.
• Beatriz Ravel of Fairfax, who is majoring in Biology - BS.
• Clara McCuen of Fairfax, who is majoring in Biology - BS.
• Richard Myers of Fairfax, who is majoring in Biology - BS.
• Trieu Truong of Fairfax, who is majoring in Business Management - BBA.
• Patrick Lee of Fairfax, who is majoring in Business Management - BBA.
• Sachin Pillai of Fairfax, who is majoring in Business Management - BBA.
• Nina You of Fairfax, who is majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders - BA.
• Samantha Buttecali of Fairfax, who is majoring in Communication Studies - BA.
• Samantha Chau of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Information Systems - BBA.
• Kyle Hill of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Information Systems - BBA.
• Stella Lee of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Science - BS.
• Samuel Snyder of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Science - BS.
• David Clark of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Science - BS.
• Alyssa Sharp of Fairfax, who is majoring in Computer Science - BS.
• Laura Tirpak of Fairfax, who is majoring in Dance - BA.
• Kendyl Ellenberger of Fairfax, who is majoring in Dietetics - BS.
• Shayna Retting of Fairfax, who is majoring in Elementary Education - BS.
• Jessica McCormick of Fairfax, who is majoring in Elementary Education - BS.
• Kyle Scher of Fairfax, who is majoring in Finance - BBA.
• Sammi Iskandar of Fairfax, who is majoring in Finance - BBA.
• Liam Ho of Fairfax, who is majoring in Finance - BBA.
• Annabelle Stezin of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BA.
• Casey Moran of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BA.
• Isabella Rodriguez of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BA.
• Courtney Farzan of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Claire Peterson of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Candace Schourek of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Christopher Knowlton of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Nicolas Rife of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Rachel Zindler of Fairfax, who is majoring in General Psychology - BS.
• Hannah Couch of Fairfax, who is majoring in Geography - BA.
• Ainslee Fortner of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Y-Van Nguyen of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Kristina Tojsl of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Yuliya Dadayeva of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Gino Gerard of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Britney Ngongbo of Fairfax, who is majoring in Health Sciences - BS.
• Nicholas Sharp of Fairfax, who is majoring in History - BA.
• Caitlyn Dewey of Fairfax, who is majoring in Hospitality Management - BS.
• Lila Retting of Fairax, who is majoring in Inclusive Early Childhood Education - BS.
• Kiana Vu of Fairfax, who is majoring in Industrial Design - BS.
• Jarad Pelczynski of Fairfax, who is majoring in Integrated Science & Technology - BS.
• Grace Lane of Fairfax, who is majoring in Intelligence Analysis - BS.
• Elizabeth Schwenzer of Fairfax, who is majoring in Intelligence Analysis - BS.
• Margaret Cooke of Fairfax, who is majoring in International Affairs - BA.
• Ethan Rothstein of Fairfax, who is majoring in International Affairs - BA.
• Andrea Giron of Fairfax, who is majoring in Justice Studies - BA.
• Anna Ivkin of Fairfax, who is majoring in Justice Studies - BS.
• Rachel Miragliuolo of Fairfax, who is majoring in Marketing - BBA.
• Kaitlyn Roux of Fairfax, who is majoring in Marketing - BBA.
• Nikash Pant of Fairfax, who is majoring in Marketing - BBA.
• Caroline Bloom-Heathcote of Fairfax, who is majoring in Media Arts and Design - BA.
• Tess Green of Fairfax, who is majoring in Middle Grades Education - BS.
• Marisa Burnett of Fairfax, who is majoring in Nursing - BSN.
• Kayla Byron of Fairfax, who is majoring in Nursing - BSN.
• Ekaterina Birch of Fairfax, who is majoring in Physics - BS.
• Tarang Mishra of Fairfax, who is majoring in Political Science - BA.
• Declan McAlevy of Fairfax, who is majoring in Political Science - BA.
• Thien-Hue Nguyen of Fairfax, who is majoring in Political Science - BA.
• Peter Justen of Fairfax, who is majoring in Public Administration - BS.
• Ivy Mitchell of Fairfax, who is majoring in Public Administration - BS.
• Jade Stevers of Fairfax, who is majoring in Social Work - BSW.
• Nicholas Storer of Fairfax, who is majoring in Sport & Recreation Management - BS.
• Alexander Tuszynski of Fairfax, who is majoring in Theatre - BA.
• Heidi Clouse of Fairfax, who is majoring in Theatre - BA.
• Katherine Porter of Fairfax, who is majoring in Theatre - BA.
• Ian Jones of Fairfax, who is majoring in Undeclared/Exploratory.

Don't see your award-winning scholar among those appearing in this academic honors list? Send the details to Patch editor Michael O'Connell at michael.occonnell@patch.com and Patch will include them in a future post.