2020 Baccalaureate and Honors Program

Ellie Marie Petraccione General Excellence Award

Ellie Petraccione graduated summa cum laude with a degree in environmental science and policy. For her Honors thesis, she conducted research on harmful algal blooms and invasive species in the Hudson River. She was honored to present this research at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting, the largest international earth science conference in the world. She created an interactive presentation to reach broad audiences beyond the scientific community. Ellie achieved this academic success while a member of the Marist Women’s Lacrosse team and as a dedicated volunteer in Dutchess County.

Marla Joan DiPoto Merit Award

Marla DiPoto graduated with a fashion merchandising major and graphic design minor. She was the recipient of the Fashion Faculty Award and the 2020 Award for Excellence in Fashion Merchandising. Her love for travel led her to study abroad in both Florence and London. Inspired by her London internship, the Marist Fashion curriculum, and graphic design courses, she hopes to pursue graduate school in the United Kingdom for graphic design, concentrating on the fashion and beauty industries. Marla is from Upton, Massachusetts.

Kathleen Kelly Monahan Award for Academic Distinction

After earning a B.S. in art history from SUNY New Paltz, Kathleen Monahan completed police basic training and has worked in law enforcement since 2007. She currently works for the Town of Wallkill Police Department, where she has been their crime scene detective. While she finds law enforcement rewarding, she has a strong desire to get back into the art world. She graduated with a degree in digital media with a minor in photography. While at Marist, she exhibited artwork locally in group shows at Roost Gallery in New Paltz and at Art Juxtapose in Rosendale.

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