WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to congratulate its former student-athletes (who exhausted their eligibility) and departmental staff who received master's degrees May 18 at the Sports and Recreation Center on campus, and bachelor's degrees May 31 at the Prudential Center in Newark. The following 51 individuals completed their degrees last summer, this spring (January or May 2023), or will finish this summer.
These 51 individuals earned 45 bachelor's degrees and 10 master's degrees, and 16 of the undergraduates earned honors (five Summa Cum Laude, six Magna Cum Laude and five Cum Laude). Five were members of the Honors College, and the Pioneers completed a total of 25 different degree programs.
BASEBALL
David Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington); Bachelor of Science, Financial Planning (Summa Cum Laude)
Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education
Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison); Master of Business Administration
Jason Rivera (Clifton, N.J./Clifton); Master of Science, Exercise and Sport Studies
Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Adryan Lopez (Garfield, N.J./Lyndhurst); Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Domenic Mignone (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford); Master of Business Administration
Cody Ripato (Tollesboro, Ky./Augusta); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management (Summa Cum Laude)
Samir Sanu; Bachelor of Arts, History
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Justina Cabezas (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Yakira Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont); Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Bachelor of Arts, Economics (Cum Laude), Honors College Social Sciences Track
FIELD HOCKEY
Dana Burgess (Delran, N.J./Holy Cross); Bachelor of Science, Biology
Megan Hoopes (Westmont, N.J./Haddon Twp.); Master of Business Administration
FOOTBALL
Nasir Adams (Newark, N.J./Hudson Catholic); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts, Sociology
Key'maan Coleman (Rahway, N.J./Rahway); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Ryan Connolly; Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Magna Cum Laude)
John Fleming; Master of Science, Exercise and Sport Studies
Matt Gore (Washington, D.C./Crossland); Bachelor of Arts, History
David Pierre (Carteret, N.J./Carteret); Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Zahere Ritman (Edgewater Park, N.J./Burlington City); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Dequan Stubbs (East Orange, N.J./Barringer); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (Magna Cum Laude)
Tahir Taylor (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Hassan Williams; Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Nazier Wright (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
GOLF
Antonio Martiniello (Paramus, N.J./Don Bosco Prep); Bachelor of Science, Finance (Cum Laude)
Christopher McCann (Highland Lakes, N.J./Vernon Twp.); Bachelor of Science, Marketing
MEN'S SOCCER
Sean Furtek; Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Johnny Gadaleta (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Alfredo Gonzalez (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough); Bachelor of Science, Biology
Erick Gonzalez (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Kyle Hanlon (Charleston, S.C./James Island Carter); Master of Science, Sport Administration
Thomas Hatch (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon); Bachelor of Science, Accounting (Cum Laude)
Connor Hayden (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson); Bachelor of Science, Sport Medicine
Martin Menendez; Master of Business Administration
Anthony Nole (Clifton, N.J./Clifton); Bachelor of Science, Management
Owen Stahl (Succasunna, N.J./Seton Hall Prep); Bachelor of Arts, History and Bachelor of Arts, Economics (Magna Cum Laude)
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Lindsey Ash (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Atlantic Christian); Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science
Haylee Baker (Marlboro, N.J./Colts Neck); Bachelor of Science, Biology (Cum Laude)
Shari Kafetzis; Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Gianna Labiento (Lynbrook, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy); Bachelor of Science; Chemistry (Summa Cum Laude), Honors College Global Public Health Track, Department of Chemistry Excellence in Chemistry Award
Isabel Medina (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield); Bachelor of Arts, Communication (Summa Cum Laude), Honors College Social Sciences Track, Department of Communication Excellence in Public Relations Award
SOFTBALL
Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick); Bachelor of Science, Management
Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Stephany Bolanos (Perth Amboy, N.J./Academy for Allied Health & Biomedical Sciences); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Magna Cum Laude), Honors College Nursing Track
Brittany English; Master of Education, Special Education
Emily Murphy (Stockholm, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional); Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Magna Cum Laude)
TENNIS
Emily Murphy (Stockholm, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional); Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Magna Cum Laude)
VOLLEYBALL
Dakota Apicella; Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Cum Laude)
Kathleen Burrough (North Burlington, N.J./North Burlington); Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art (Summa Cum Laude), Honors College Social Sciences Track, Department of Art Creative Excellence in Applied Art Award
Barbara Colizza; Master of Education, Educational Leadership
Amanda Lembo; Master of Education, Educational Leadership
STUDENT STAFF
Dylan Kuncken; Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management (Magna Cum Laude), Honors College Business Track, Department of Kinesiology Distinguished Sport Management Student Award
