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 bachelor's degrees May 20 at the Prudential Center in Newark, and master's degrees May 22 at the Sports and Recreation Center on campus. The following 75 individuals completed their degree requirements last summer, this spring (January or May 2025), or this summer.
 
These 70 student-athletes and five departmental student employees earned a total of 69 bachelor's degrees and 15 master's degrees, and 27 of the undergraduates earned honors (six Summa Cum Laude, 14 Magna Cum Laude and seven Cum Laude). Thirteen were members of the Honors College, and the Pioneers completed a total of 31 different degree programs.

Former women's soccer student-athlete Gianna Labiento (Lynbrook, N.Y., Sacred Heart Academy) was selected as the student speaker for the College of Science and Health graduate ceremony (WATCH). Labiento is graduating with a master's in materials chemistry, and her research focused on the optimization, generation and stabilization of noble metal quantum dots in organic solvents via aminosilanes, which has potential biomedical implications. A 2023 WP summa cum laude graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, she was a co-author, with Bhanu Chauhan, professor of chemistry, of an article published in the journal Molecules 2021. She also completed the Global Public Health Track in the University's Honors College; for her honors thesis, she mapped the concentration of PM 2.5—tiny particles that can be inhaled and penetrate deep into the lungs—in 20 New Jersey cities to determine whether those in low-income areas were subject to disproportionate exposure. Labiento has served as a supplemental instructor and tutor for students enrolled in chemistry courses, and participated in the Garden State-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (GS-LSAMP) and the Chemistry Club. A member of William Paterson's women's soccer team (2021-23), she played in 51 career matches, was a three-time honorable-mention academic all-New Jersey Athletic Conference selection (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24), earned spots on the 2022 and 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Teams, and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honor society.
 
This marks the second straight year that a Pioneer student-athlete was tapped to deliver remarks at Commencement, as softball's Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley) was the 2024 undergraduate speaker.
 
Labiento was also named the recipient of the 2025 College of Science and Health Dean's Graduate Award, one of four Pioneers to receive a special academic acknowledgement this spring. Women's basketball's Victoria Palladino (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) received the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences' Excellence in Public Relations Award, women's soccer's Madelynn Spink (Bellmawr, N.J./Audubon) received the College of Science and Health, Department of Kinesiology's Cindy Keller Award for Physical Education, and volleyball's Rose Vail (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) received the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology's Excellence in Academics, Research, and Service Award.
 
For more information about William Paterson Athletics, visit https://www.wpupioneers.com or https://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.
 
BASEBALL
Noah Cabassa (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education
Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield); Master of Business Administration
Chase Geisler (Lodi, N.J./Lodi); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Justin Grippo; Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Cum Laude)
Connor Luckie (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton High West); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Magna Cum Laude)
Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Business Track
Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona); Bachelor of Science, Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude)
Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Spencer Barnes (Bronx, N.Y./Mount Saint Michael Academy); Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Shane Geene (Lafayette, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Michael Gilmore; Bachelor of Music
David Martinez (Maywood, N.J./Hackensack); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Patrick Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler); Master of Science, Sport Administration 
Neftali Valentin (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Andre Wells (Matawan, N.J./Matawan); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Willie Woods (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow); Bachelor of Arts, Communication

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jade Martinez (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Mackenzie O'Brien (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Cognitive Science Track
Victoria Palladino (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North); Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations (Magna Cum Laude); College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences' Excellence in Public Relations Award
Esmeralda Ruiz (Kearny, N.J./Kearny); Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Brianna Smith (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley); Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies; Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education (Magna Cum Laude)
 
FIELD HOCKEY
 Abigail Viola; Master of Science, Sport Administration

FOOTBALL
Alajuwon Bell; Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Nick Bianco (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Jeremy Connelly (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Jayce Harmon (Milford, Del./Sussex Tech); Bachelor of Science; Sports Medicine; Bachelor of Science, Exercise Physiology
Jojo Kirby (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Ian Leary; Master of Business Administration
Isaiah Leeks (Neptune, N.J./Neptune); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Ethan Mayes (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Mike Osafo (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge); Bachelor of Science, Management
Tyrell Wigfall (Ocean, N.J./Ocean Twp.); Bachelor of Arts, Communication
Samod Wingo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.); Bachelor of Science; Sports Medicine; Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science
 
MEN'S GOLF
Lorenzo Assante (Montville, N.J./Montville Twp.); Bachelor of Science, Management (Summa Cum Laude); Honors College Business Track
Emily Feola (Lake Hiawatha, N.J./Parsippany); Bachelor of Science, Accounting (Magna Cum Laude)
Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Magna Cum Laude)
Anthony Slekis (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex); Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education

MEN'S SOCCER
James Alain (Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Technical Institute); Bachelor of Science, Marketing (Magna Cum Laude)
Gianfranco Banca (Queens, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy); Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science (Cum Laude)
Roger Bermejo; Master of Science, Sport Administration
Diego Navas (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Brianna De La Cruz (Clifton, N.J./Clifton); Bachelor of Science; Sports Medicine (Summa Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Julia Fiorito (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North); Master of Business Administration
Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield); Bachelor of Science; Environmental Science (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Gianna Labiento; Master of Science, Materials Chemistry; College of Science and Health Dean's Graduate Award
Abby Lonergan (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Cum Laude)
Hailey Nelson (Elmer, N.J./A.P. Schalick); Bachelor of Science; Sports Medicine (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Jordyn Nelson (Totowa, N.J./North Arlington); Bachelor of Science, Speech-Language Pathology (Summa Cum Laude)
Madelynn Spink (Bellmawr, N.J./Audubon); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track; College of Science and Health, Department of Kinesiology's Cindy Keller Award for Physical Education
Alexa Teixeira (Kearny, N.J./Kearny); Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies; Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education (Cum Laude); Honors College Social Sciences Track
Diana Zuta (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes); Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
 
SOFTBALL
Lindsey Acker (Wenonah, N.J./Deptford); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Summa Cum Laude)
Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford); Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield); Bachelor of Science; Environmental Science (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler); Master of Education, Professional Counseling
Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley); Master of Science, Applied Mathematics; Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education
Courtney Schwark (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston); Bachelor of Science, Biology
Jasmine Vera; Master of Education, Professional Counseling
 
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Shane Apito (Lake Hiawatha, N.J./Parsippany); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management (Cum Laude)
Ricardo Ordinola (Lodi, N.J./Passaic County Tech); Bachelor of Arts, Sport Management
Jason Peralta (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack); Bachelor of Science, Environmental Sustainability (Magna Cum Laude); Honors College Global Public Health Track
 
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Samantha Pricken (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Cum Laude)
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Lindsey Acker (Wenonah, N.J./Deptford); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Summa Cum Laude)
Kourtney Hartzel (York, Pa./West York Area); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Bachelor of Science, Biology; Honors College Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track
Jordan Sweet (Camden, N.J./Brimm Medical Arts); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice; Bachelor of Arts, Legal Studies
Sara Thomas (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.); Bachelor of Science, Physical Education (Summa Cum Laude)
 
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Hope Arce-Reed (New Carrollton, Md./College Park Academy); Master of Business Administration
Ciara Feliz (Bogota, N.J./Bogota); Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Paola Molina (Hatillo, Puerto Rico/Colegio San Felipe); Bachelor of Science; Sports Medicine; Bachelor of Science, Exercise Physiology (Magna Cum Laude)
Beatriz Soares (Harrison, N.J./County Prep); Bachelor of Science, Accounting (Cum Laude)
Rose Vail (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney); Master of Arts, Clinical and Counseling Psychology; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology's Excellence in Academics, Research, and Service Award
 
DEPARTMENTAL STAFF
Kaylah Alamo; Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Juliana Kaynak; Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Summa Cum Laude); Honors College Social Sciences Track
Lexie Olsen; Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Joyce Palacios; Master of Science, Exercise Physiology
Kareem Wingate; Bachelor of Arts, Communication