2024 Student Awards Convocation

Northampton Community College (NCC) held its annual Student Awards Convocation Ceremony on April 25, which recognizes top-performing students for their academic achievements over the past year. 

Family, friends and members of the NCC community gathered in the Lipkin Theatre on the Bethlehem campus and joined via livestream to support students and congratulate them on reaching their goals.   

Professor of Sociology, Andrew McIntosh, the recipient of the Christensen Award for Excellence in Teaching award, addressed the audience on the advice and guidance he gives his students.  

“With privilege comes responsibility. Many of you don’t take the privilege of earning your degree lightly,” McIntosh said.  

“Now that you’re on a career path, what advantages do you have to help others? It’s not enough to show up and check boxes if you’re reaching for a better tomorrow. Whatever grace and understanding that has assisted you in getting this far, show that to others through your future work. Little gestures of compassion produce an abundance of good will,” said McIntosh, hoping that students will leave their mark on the world.  

Each presenter felt the students honored this afternoon exemplified excellence. These students were honored for their speaking skills, creative skills, and other life skills that will take them far in their endeavors.  

At the end of the ceremony, trustee leadership award recipient, Jennifer Aleman, spoke to the audience. She’s a psychology major and veteran looking to work with veterans and people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other struggles.  

“Surviving a car accident, domestic violence and handling TBI traumatic brain injury, a year ago, I was just trying to get by,” an emotional Aleman said, “NCC gave me an opportunity to explore a higher level of academic critical thinking, unique opportunities and different qualities within myself. I was able to develop my leadership skills, and I found a sense of community and belonging here. Leadership is about improving your environment and creating a safe space for those around you, and I now challenge everyone here to be the leader we all need. During a time where we are experiencing extreme division, let us unite.” 

“While I’m extremely proud of what our students do every day, this afternoon truly takes pride to a whole new level,” said President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D. “All of our students at NCC are winners. I’m not the only one beaming with pride for our students, our faculty and staff are just as proud. We expect to see great things from you in the future.” 

The president concluded by telling the students, “Just know NCC will always be your home.” 

Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients! 
 

All-Pennsylvania Academic Team

Bethlehem Campus

Morotiola Babajide, Zuzanna Solarz, Ruturajsinh Chudasama, Morgan Bisousky 

Pocono Campus

Jenny Ro 

Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholars 

Morotiola Babajide, Jenny Ro 

Ann Richards Computer Science and Information Technology Student Award

Sebastian Babon 

American Advertising Federation/Greater Lehigh Valley Ad Club Creative Achievement Award

Marcus Davila 

Award for Excellence in Academic Writing  

Godwin Mwakasege 

Bethlehem Women's Club Nursing Award  

Ruth Eldred 

Business Capstone Team Excellence Award 

Vincent Kovacs, Ian Pearn, Tyler Mack, Javier Nunez Jaramillo 

Commuter Transfer Scholarship Award 

Thanh-Thanh Nguyen, Allison Vacha 

Eastern PA Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Award 

Jacqueline Vega, Samantha Talero, Adrian Jimenez 

The Friends of Gregory Purdon Memorial Award for Excellence in Art  

Emma Barr 

Global Studies Academic Award  

Parker Flamish 

Global Studies Global Citizen Award 

Kiomy Rincon-Cintron 

Heart of Hospitality Award (Discover Lehigh Valley) 

Amanda Werkheiser 

Hites Family Foundation Higher Education Endowment Scholarship 

Morotiola Babajide, Emma Humphreys 

The Lehigh and Northampton Chapter of PennAEYC

Melinda Fish

Honors Program Award 

Kenneth Hart 

Just Born Business Award  

Lee Sokolowski 

Liberal Arts Award 

Barbara Welty, Katherine Barone 

Marconi Award for Media Production 

John Connor McKearnin 

Marketing Insight Award  

Alexander Sipos 

Nancy A. Taylor Endowed Scholarship 

Natalie Harrison, Rosanny Perez 

Norman R. Roberts Theatre Scholarship Fund Award  

Aiden King 

Northampton County Bar Association Award  

Kerry Coll 

Pan African Caucus Educational Scholarship (PACES) 

Melisa Munroe, Omaya White 

Sandra Reis & George Jain-Cocks Endowed Mathematics Award  

Ramón Romero 

Trustee Leadership Award  

Jennifer Aleman 

Irvine Freshman Leadership Award  

Andre Forrest 

Outstanding Funeral Service Education Student of Year Award  

Jacob Stitzel 

PA Funeral Director's Award  

David Joerger 

American Welding Society Foundation Award  

Cory Matoushek 

Practical Nursing Clinical Performance Awards 

Bethlehem Campus  

Lilliana Galasso, Kelsey King, Dora Sanchez, Brittany Harper, Nicole Gula 

Pocono Campus  

Haley Carey, Jillian Lindsay 

Registered Nursing Leadership Awards 

Bethlehem Campus 

Ciara Dolan, Mackenzie Hutchinson, Katherine Sparling, Coleen Lambert 

Pocono Campus 

Melvin Molhoop