COLLEGE NEWS

Kevin Morenski, a 2004 graduate of Sparta High School, graduated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), with two bachelor’s degrees: in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering, along with a minor in French. He also completed the course and internship requirements and passed the New York State paramedic licensing exam last October. Morenski was a Rensselaer Medalist in 2004 (awarded to one student in secondary school for excellence in mathematics and science); was on the dean’s list for five semesters; received RPI’s Founders Award of Excellence in 2007; served four years as a student orientation advisor; was elected twice to the position of class senator; was a campaign manager for “Teach for America”; a founding member of the RPI College Libertarians; performed undergraduate biomedical research during the summer; volunteered numerous hours of EMT service; received certifications for advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, pre-hospital trauma life support, and was an American Heart Association Basic Life Support instructor. Morenski also earned certifications as a PADI certified advanced open water diver, an SDI certified rescue diver, and a Solid Works CAD software certified professional. Last January, he completed the 26.2 mile Walt Disney marathon. Morenski is attending Florida State Law School this fall. Sasha Dessy, granddaughter of Huguette and Pol Dessy of Sparta, has been accepted in the doctorate program in psychology at the Texas Women’s University in Denton. Dessy graduated summa cum laude in psychology from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. She was a member of the National French Honor Society; Pi Delta Phi; Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology; Alpha Chi, the national scholastic honor society; and Phi Beta Kappa, the national academic honor society. At Texas Women’s University, she will focus on feminism and multiculturalism, studying the psychological differences and similarities between people from different cultures and learning how to provide appropriate counseling to them. Kylie Vozza of Sparta recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from LIM --The College for the Business of Fashion in New York. Ashleigh Breeden of Sparta has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2009 semester at Rutgers University. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, and Dobro Slovo, the Slavic National Honor Society. Breeden is among a group of second-year students being recognized for outstanding academic achievement by Rutgers with its 2009 Academic Excellence Award, given to the top 10 percent of sophomores based upon grade point average. Breeden will attend the Rutgers School of Business in the fall, with future graduate school plans. Matthew Peter Raymond Walsh, a sophomore majoring in music at the University of Rochester, has been named to the dean’s list for the 2009 spring semester. A resident of Vernon, he is the son of Timothy and Judith Walsh, and a graduate of Vernon Township High School. A group of area residents were named to the dean’s list for the spring 2009 semester at Felician College, with campuses in Rutherford and Lodi. They are: Gerald Hull and Melissa Santo of Hamburg; Patrick Brynes of Oak Ridge; Noel Moore of Ogdensburg; Sussex residents Suzette Bradaric, Nicole Diana, Nicholas Loizzi and Gloria Zurlo; Cecilia Cadillac of Vernon; Lee Ann McCarthy, Stephan Murrell and Jeralyn Powers of Newton; Mercedes Appaluccio and Michael Sincaglia of Sparta; Tracy Mack and Maria Tsilios of Stanhope; and Ali Patino of Washington.