Undergraduate
1950
William Plummer of Painted Post, N.Y., has published a book, Fronds and Anemones, a collection of essays on birding and gardening. The collection reflects an interest in nature that began while growing up in north Wilkes-Barre — an interest that grew when he was a nature counselor at Camp Acahela on the Lehigh River and two years on the staff of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico during summers while attending Wilkes.
1959
Stephen Poleskie of Ithaca, N.Y., is having his artwork studied in a graduate seminar at Humboldt University in Berlin. The course is being taught by the Swiss art historian Inge Hinterwaldner, who is writing a book about Poleskie. Formerly a member of the faculty at Cornell University, Poleskie’s long art career included running the New York City fine-art screen printing shop Chiron Press and the creation of Aerial Theatre, in which he created four-dimensional designs in the sky by flying an aerobatic plane.
1965
Catherine DeAngelis of Baltimore, Md., was among those honored at the Awards and Portrait Presentation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Biennial Meeting and Reunion Weekend in June 2017. Awards recognized the outstanding achievements of distinguished Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine alumni and faculty, and portraits honored the influential members of the Johns Hopkins Medicine family.
Leslie Tobias Jenkins
Leslie Tobias Jenkins of Aurora, Colo., was one of six women who won the 2017 notecard contest for the National American Association of University Women. Jenkins won for her yellow mailbox photograph. Recently, she sold two matted prints of the photograph at the Aurora branch meeting of the AAUW. She plans to sell the 150 complimentary notecards she will receive of her photograph as a contest winner to raise money for the local scholarship fund.
1970
David Koranda received the Distinguished Advertising Educator Award from the American Advertising Federation at its national conference in June 2017. He teaches at the University of Oregon.
1972
Fred DeVecca’s first novel, The Nutting Girl, was published in August 2017 by Coffeetown Press.
1973
Kay Marie Platt of Mickleton, N.J., retired on March 17, 2017, after more than 27 years as an administrator at Widener University. She spent the last 22 years as assistant dean for the University College and then for its Center for Continuing Studies.
1974
James Godlewski, MS ’77 of Kingston, Pa., was the keynote speaker at the 13 Annual Building Blocks to Early Learning, Early Care and Education Professional Development Event held at Lock Haven University in Clearfield, Pa. Godlewski’s presentation was entitled School Readiness: What Early Education Teachers Can Do to Help Families Get Their Child Get Ready for Kindergarten.
Lee Miller recently celebrated 30 years in business at his company, Independent Sealing Company. As president and founder, Miller formed the company that serves all of the United States specializing in parts for the fluid sealing industry.
1976
Garry Taroli was featured on the “Newsmakers” program on WBRE TV in Wilkes-Barre in a segment dealing with new anti-animal abuse legislation signed into law by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.
Charles Jones, far right, meets Drew Brees, third from left with son-in-law, Andy Dalton, second from left.
Charles D. Jones of Richardson, Texas, had the opportunity to meet Drew Brees, NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints on Jan.28, 2017. The picture was taken at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Andy Dalton, NFL quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, is married to Jones’ daughter, Jordan.
1978
Susan Adams of Pottsville, Pa., retired after 38 years as a high school and elementary art teacher with the Williams Valley School District in Tower City, Pa.
1987
Allan Knox
Allan Knox of Yorktown, Va., has accepted a position as a search and rescue satellite aided tracking system program analyst with the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Knox retired from the United States Air Force in 2007 after 20 years and since that time has worked as both an Air Force and Coast Guard civil servant in various search and rescue positions.
1988
Andrew Bossard was chosen Outstanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Intermediate-Level Civilian of the year. Each year, the Air Force honors outstanding performance in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and exceptional contributions to the field of ISR through the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Awards Program. The 2016 awards program reviewed 256 nominations from more than 25 organizations.
1989
Anthony DeCosmo of Swoyersville, Pa., released his latest science fiction novel, Anansi Station, which is available in paperback and e-book formats.
1994
Jonathan Perloff of Slatington, Pa., received his sixth patent issued for an interbody spacer that can be introduced in a minimally invasive manner to help patients with degenerative disc disease. He developed the the device as part of his work for Globus Medical, a company specializing in innovative technologies for patients with spinal disorders. Perloff designs devices the improve the quality of life for patients while streamlining surgery techniques for doctors.
1995
Timothy Williams was appointed superintendent of schools for the Westmont Hilltop School District. The district is located outside of Johnstown, Pa.
1997
Asif Ilyas was featured in The New York Times in March. Dr. Ilyas is a hand and wrist surgeon, who specializes in wide-awake surgery as well as an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The article focused on Ilyas and other doctors who are offering patients the option to stay awake during surgery.
Christina Poff with Supervisor of the Year award.
Christina Poff of Williamsport, Md., was selected as Supervisor of the Year for the Maryland Correctional Training Center. The center contains the largest population of inmates in the State of Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Poff works as a psychotherapist for Greater Washington Psychiatry Counseling.
1998
Kristen LaBuda of Boiling Springs, Pa., published a children’s book, Don’t Be A Bully, Be A Friend!. LaBuda is a mother of four children and was an elementary school teacher for eight years before becoming a full-time mom in 2007.
Sarah Kovacs Yoder MS ’09 earned her doctor of education degree in educational administration from Temple University on May 12, 2017.
1999
Ronald Honick Jr. of Old Forge, Pa., has been appointed to Pennsylvania Bankers Association advisory committee for the Security/Fraud Committee. Honick is the senior vice president and operations and technology services officer at FNCB Bank.
2004
Amanda Leigh Brozana and wedding party.
Amanda Leigh Brozana married Victor Barreto Rios on Sunday, May 28, at a ceremony in Schuylkill County, Pa. She is the director of communications and development at the National Grange. The groom works in customer support and information technology at Comcast.
2005
Eleanor June, daughter of Darron Fadden.
Darron Fadden of Scranton, Pa., and wife, Jessica, welcomed a daughter, Eleanor June, on January 30, 2017. She weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.
2010
Katie Nealon
Katie Nealon of Huntington Beach, Calif., was named to the 2017 list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, an honor awarded to the top five percent of lawyers in Pennsylvania. Super Lawyers is a resource that recognizes the country’s most outstanding attorneys in more than 70 practice areas. Selection is based on independent research, peer nominations, and peer reviews. Candidates are evaluated on twelve indicators of professional excellence, including experience, honors/awards, verdicts and settlements, pro bono work, scholarly achievements, and other credentials.
Thomas Kresge
Thomas Kresge of Brodheadsville, Pa., had a hole-in-one using a wedge on hole 9 at Whitetail Golf Club on Sunday, July 30. His witnesses were Coach Jerry Rickrode and Jeremy Gigliotti.
2012
Cynthia Riccio Clair of Tannersville, Pa., and Conor Clair ‘13 were recently married. Fifteen Wilkes alumni attended the wedding and the group took a Wilkes photo. The alumni who were there include: Nick DiPaolo ‘12, Ryan Bracey ‘12, Jake Stonelake ‘12, Dave Kratzer ‘13, Justin Franiak ‘13, James Harcher ‘12, Ashley Thorpe ‘12, Chelsea Minix ‘12, Conor Clair ‘13, Cindy Clair ‘12, Jaclyn Volpe ‘12, Mark Fowler ‘13, Kerry Morton ‘13, Amanda Peters ‘12, and Bridget Hine ‘12.
2013
Conor Clair ’13 – see undergraduate degrees 2012.
Brian Palmiter, of Kingston, Pa., was nominated as a 2017 Young Professional of the Year by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. Palmiter is a civil designer at Borton-Lawson where he has been employed for three years. Prior to working at Borton-Lawson, he was employed by Boucher & James, Inc. as a designer and as a staff scientist at Farnham & Associates.
2014
Jeremy Wiest was promoted to the national account sales team with Consolidated Electrical Distributors and relocated to Fort Worth, Texas. The national accounts team works with retail operations, restaurants, healthcare providers, property managers, and other national multi-site clients helping to fulfill construction and/or maintenance needs.
2015
Rasha Shaker was named the executive marketing assistant for Grayscale Entertainment Marketing. Grayscale Entertainment Marketing is a full-service marketing agency focused on connecting brands, fans, events and bands located in Nashville, Tenn.
Graduate
1977
James Godlewski MS — see undergraduate degrees 1974.
1999
Carissa Pokorny Golden MS of Hellertown, Pa., was named associate dean of the College of Education at Kutztown University this May after serving as the interim associate dean. Pokorny Golden served as an associate professor of English and supervisor of secondary education at Kutztown since 2004. Prior to that, she taught English at Lehigh Carbon Community College and Pleasant Valley School District.
2003
Shawn T. Fitzpatrick MS was named superintendent of the Schuylkill Haven School District. He previously taught middle school in Hamburg Area School District.
2009
Sarah Kovacs Yoder MS -see undergraduate degrees 1998.
2011
Patricia Florio MFA and Donna Ferrara MA’13 co-edited Jewels of San Fedele, published by Serenity Books. The book is a collection of short fiction, memoir, art and photography. After a magical week in Tuscany, a group of writers shared their experiences in this paperback.
2013
Donna Ferrara MA – graduate degrees 2011
