Members of the Class of 2020 Recognized for Exceptional Leadership and Service
Graduates Receive Prestigious Crown and Shield Award
In recognition of their commitment to service, 18 members of the Class of 2020 have been awarded the prestigious Crown & Shield Award, which honors students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and participated in service during their four years at Assumption. The crown and shield are two key elements of the Assumption seal and the award recognizes graduating seniors who have protected (shield) and furthered (crown) in the interest of the student body and the community.
“Crown and Shield recipients honor Assumption students who have consistently embodied the institution’s mission through their leadership and service during their four-year academic journey,” said Deborah Cady Melzer, Ph.D., vice president of student affairs/dean of students. “These students have applied the lessons learned in the classroom to extracurricular activities across campus. They have served as extraordinary leaders to advance our campus and Worcester community for the better. They have served as leaders, influenced change, and encouraged action among their classmates. These awardees were chosen because their positive and meaningful contributions will last long after graduation day.”
Assumption has recognized seniors with the Crown & Shield Award since 1952. The recipients will be honored at a luncheon with their families and administrators on August 22, the day before their rescheduled Commencement, which will be held on August 23 at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester.
Below is a list of this year’s Crown & Shield recipients.
Amelia Botelho, of Foster, RI, graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in applied behavioral analysis. During her time at Assumption, Botelho served in a number of leadership positions including as a Campus Ministry student leader; Social Justice Ambassador vice president; Reach Out Center service director; Human Services Club co-vice president; and a Training Resources of America teacher’s assistant. She participated in a SEND Service Immersion trip to Pine Ridge, SD, and was a member of the Honors Program, the Psychology National Honors Society, as well as a SOPHIA Collegian. She was also the recipient of the Aquinas Merit Scholarship.
Margaret Brennan, of Randolph, NJ, graduated with a degree in English literature. While at Assumption, Brennan served as a COMPASS Orientation leader and student facilitator, as well as the Orientation’s parent and family program chairperson. She was also an executive Admissions Ambassador; co-chair of the Campus Activities Board’s Carnival Committee; and a campus life intern for the Office of Student Affairs. Brennan was also a resident assistant and head resident assistant; the student delegate to the NASPA Student Affairs Leaders of Tomorrow Conference; a member of the Honors Program and the International Honor Society for English; and an Augustine Scholar, which is awarded to students, who embody the Assumption mission through their academic achievement, leadership, community service and good character.
Leilah Bruno, of Worcester, recently earned her degree in English with a concentration in writing and mass communications. Bruno served as an Orientation leader; wrote for Assumption’s student newspaper, Le Provocateur; and was the public relations executive for the ALANA student group.
Timothy Cody, of Manchester, NH, was a psychology and philosophy double major. On campus, Cody was actively involved in his faith, participating in the Campus Ministry Association and Council; serving as a liturgical minister and peer minister; was a Charismatic Praise co-founder and leader; was president of the Advocates for Life student group; and was a Horizon Retreat team member and rector. He was a team leader of a SEND Service Immersion trip to Washington, D.C.; a Catholic Missionary with NET Ministries; and a volunteer missionary in Assumptionist communities and for shelter refugees in Layrac and Lourdes, France. An Augustine Scholar, he studied abroad at Assumption’s Rome, Italy, Campus. During the institution’s online degree conferral ceremony on May 10, Cody was named a winner of the Donec Formetur Christus Presidential Award, which recognizes a junior or senior who embodies the spirit of Assumption and the ideals of an Assumptionist education.
Adam Duval, of Franklin, graduated with dual majors in accounting and music, and a minor in fraud examination and forensic accounting. During his time on campus, Duval was an active student leader, serving as the Senior Retreat rector for the Class of 2020; was a START Retreat team member; president of Assumption’s Habitat for Humanity student club; a COMPASS Orientation leader, facilitator, and student executive; and a senator on the Student Government Association. He was also the student leader for SEND Service Immersion trips to Baltimore, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Duval was active in the arts at Assumption, participating in Assumption’s Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, and Chorale, and performed in three spring musicals (Godspell, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Music Man). In April, he was awarded the institution’s departmental award for music. He was also involved in Campus ministry as a Eucharist minister and a music minister librarian.
Kashmir Flood, of Cromwell, CT, graduated with a degree in sociology and minor in psychology. On campus, Flood was the president and co-founder of the Sociology/Criminology Club; member of Mentor Collective Program; served as a Class of 2020 senator and ALANA Network representative for the Student Government Association; was an active member in and strong advocate for ALANA all four years; was co-chair of Black History Month committee and chair of first Native American History event; and represented ALANA on the Presidential Task Force on Race & Ethnic Relations. She was also a resident assistant as well as a marketing assistant for Assumption’s Career Development & Internship Center. Off campus, Flood was a volunteer with African Community Education, which provides a community and assists African immigrant youth and families in Worcester.
Cole Foster, of Medfield, earned his degree in marketing. A vocal scholar, Foster was active in the arts, performing as Jesus is this year’s student-run production of Godspell, and founded the Greytones a cappella club on campus. He was involved in the Student Government Association, serving as vice president of academic affairs and vice president of, and senator for, the Class of 2020. He was also an Orientation leader and spent a semester studying at the Rome, Italy, Campus.
Feldano Francois, of Cambridge, graduated with a degree in sociology. Francois was active in the ALANA Network all four years, serving as president this past year, during which he helped create a number of ALANA and Cross-Cultural Center initiatives, including the first Hounds of Assumption media project and other media and technology updates. He was also a resident assistant and head resident assistant on campus.
Ashley Gioioso, of Walpole, graduated with a major in theology and minor in education. As an undergraduate, Gioioso was engaged in Campus Ministry as a student leader council member, a peer minister co-coordinator, and a START and Horizon Retreat team member. She was also a SOPHIA Collegian and participated in a SEND Service Immersion trip to Tuscaloosa, AL.
Katherine Golden, of Millis, graduated with a major in health sciences and a minor in art history. During her time at Assumption, Golden was a parent and family executive for the COMPASS Orientation Program, and a senator for the Class of 2020 in the Student Government Association. She was also a SOPHIA Collegian, a member of the Honors Program, and an Augustine Scholar, which is awarded to students who embody the Assumption mission through their academic achievement, leadership, community service and good character. She was also a member of the Women’s Basketball team, serving as a captain during the 2019-20 season. Golden will pursue a graduate degree in social work following a summer position with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGA).
Sanna Hussain, of Pakistan, graduated with dual majors in computer science and mathematics. While at Assumption, she served as a resident assistant and an Orientation leader, and was an active member of Assumption’s Interfaith Alliance for three years, during which she collaborated on dynamic programming and helped recruit more than 100 student volunteers for the annual spring Working for Worcester effort. She also worked as a HelpDesk support technician for Assumption’s IT Department.
Emma Lang, of Marshfield, graduated with a major in human services and rehabilitation studies and minors in English and psychology. During her time at Assumption, she was the student chairperson and a parent and family executive for the COMPASS Orientation program; was the student co-coordinator of Agape Latte; and served as team leader for the START and Horizon retreats. She was also an instructor for the institution’s Learn to Swim community program; served as the secretary for the Class of 2020 in the Student Government Association; was the student representative for the Office of Accessibility Services; and team manager for the Women’s Basketball team for three seasons. She was a SOPHIA Collegian and an Augustine Scholar.
John LeDoux, of Worcester, graduated with a degree in health sciences with a concentration in physical therapy. LeDoux was active in the Student Government Association, serving as a class senator, class president, and vice president of student affairs. He also worked as facility supervisor for the Plourde Recreation Center, where he helped create and run the Unified Sports initiative, which joins Assumption students and Special Olympics athletes in intramural sports. He also assisted the Women’s Basketball team as their video manager for the last two seasons.
Colin McQuillan, of Medfield, graduated with a marketing degree. McQuillan served as this year’s Student Government Association president, as well as president of the Class of 2020 and vice president of student affairs. During his four years at Assumption, he was also a COMPASS Orientation leader and executive; a Campus Ministry lector all four years; and also served on the search committee for the Vice President of Student Affairs and the Conduct Appeals Board.
Arianna Pereschino, of Cranston, RI, graduated with a degree in psychology and minors in sociology and human services and rehabilitation studies. At Assumption, she was active in Campus Ministry, serving as Horizon Retreat leader, a Peer Ministry member, and a SEARCH Retreat participant. Pereschino, who studied abroad at the Rome, Italy, Campus, was also a resident assistant; an Orientation leader; a vocal scholar; an intern in the Office of Student Activities; and a student leader for a SEND Service Immersion trip to Washington, D.C.
Lauren Salerno, of Peabody, was an organizational communication major and marketing minor. During her time at Assumption, she served as media executive and weekend entertainment executive for the Campus Activities Board; a Class of 2020 assembly member; and participated in a SEND Service Immersion trip to Baltimore. Salerno also spent a semester studying at Assumption’s Rome, Italy, Campus.
Corey Soper, of Escondido, CA, graduated with a degree in theology. On-campus, Soper was a member of the Campus Ministry council; a theology and math tutor in the Academic Support Center; an Admissions Ambassador; member of the Honors Program; and a participant on a SEND Service Immersion trip to Washington, D.C., and Habitat for Humanity trips to Pennsylvania and Baltimore. In addition, he held a Campus Ministry student leadership position in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; was vice president for the Advocates for Life student group; and as a leader of the Christian Initiation group, he helped welcome members of the Assumption community into the Catholic faith through the Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. As a junior, Soper received the departmental award for theology and an Augustine Scholarship, which is awarded to students who embody the Assumption mission. He was also awarded the prestigious Donec Formetur Christus Presidential Award, which recognizes a junior or senior whose life embodies the ideals of an Assumptionist education.
Lily Vartanian, of Vernon Rockville, CT, graduated with a major in philosophy and minor in theology. Vartanian was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) all four years, including as an SGA Senate speaker; was chair of the Elections Committee; served on the Core Text Committee; was a member of the Honors Program; and on the Women’s Rowing team. In April, she received the Michele and Donald D’Amour Humanitas Award, which is presented to a student who is completing, and has excelled in, the Core Texts and Enduring Questions minor.