On Sunday, October 6, the Office of Alumni Engagement held its annual Skookum Awards Ceremony, inducting 16 extraordinary students into the exclusive cohort of outstanding students.

The Skookum Award was first established in 1989 by the Western New England University Alumni Association to recognize the outstanding achievements of students for their academic commitment, unwavering leadership, and astounding representation of the vibrant, diverse student body. The Skookum Award Ceremony is a long-time tradition, drawing in the attendance of many past award recipients who look to show their support and usher this year’s honorees into the Skookum network. D’Naysia Stonick ’19, a Skookum alumna and the event’s guest speaker, shared four pieces of advice with the soon to be graduating class - the importance of nurturing connections, obtaining the tools necessary to succeed, embracing change, and to always keep growing. Dr. Allissa Long ’17/PharmD’19, Ryan Hoover ’23, and Alley Estrella ’23 recognized the 16 students’ amazing achievements presenting them with their framed certificate and symbolic rock alongside President Robert Johnson.

The top three candidates were awarded the highest honors of Grand Skookum and Royal Skookum:

• Ashley Figueroa, 2024 Grand Skookum, Biomedical Engineering major with a minor in Chemistry from Charlton, Mass.
• Elizabeth Heiney, 2024 Royal Skookum, Management and Leadership major with a minor in Finance from Springfield, Mass.
• Armani Mayes, 2024 Royal Skookum, 3+3 Psychology and Doctor of Occupational Therapy student with a minor in Neuroscience from Waterbury, Conn.

The following 13 students received Skookum honors:

• Alexa Adams, a Business Analytics and Information Management major with a minor in Finance and Enterprise Resource Planning from Windsor Locks, Conn.
• Adriana Aponte, a Psychology major with an Accounting minor from Meriden, Conn.
• Emma Birmingham, a Political Science major with a minor in International Business from Enfield, Conn.

• Jessica Brown, a Health Studies major, and student in WNE’s 3+3 Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program from Douglas, Mass.
• Shaina Cooney, a Health Studies major with a minor in Chemistry from Montogomery, N.Y.
• Lauren Corcoran, a Biomedical Engineering major from Kingston, Mass.

• Brianne Dube, a Health Studies major, and student in WNE’s 3+3 Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program from Lewiston, Maine 
• Gianna Fiore, a Marketing Communications and Advertising major with a minor in Statistics from Methuen, Mass.
• Taylor Geist, a Forensic Chemistry major with a minor in Psychology from Charlotte, N.C.

• Naressa Kempadoo, a Health Sciences major with a minor in Chemistry from Holyoke, Mass.
• Kaila Mank, a Marketing Communications/Advertising and Entrepreneurship double major from Raymond, Maine

• Patrick Riley, a Political Science major with three minors in Public Administration, International Studies, and Campaigns & Elections from Thomaston, Conn.
• Zoey Wexler, a Forensic Chemistry major with a minor in Math from Manchester, Conn.