Cedar Crest

Sydney Frisch of Germansville graduated summa cum laude from Cedar Crest College with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

The commencement and pinning ceremony took place May 12.

Frisch, a 2013 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School, is the daughter of Kelly and Wally Frisch.

Penn State

The following local residents were recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines at Pennsylvania State University.

Allentown: Candice Sheaffer; and

Schnecksville: Shannon Aleman and Sofia Garra.

These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

U. of Scranton

Brianna Johnson of Allentown was among 19 University of Scranton students recently inducted into Tau Upsilon Alpha, the national human services honor society.

The university’s chapter of the honor society, established in 2008, recognizes academic excellence of undergraduate counseling and human services students.

Johnson is a counseling and human services major at the Jesuit university.

Wilkes Univ.

Jonathan Vasilik of Laurys Station, was one of 13 Wilkes University students who participated in field research in Hawaii during spring break.

The trip was in conjunction with the spring course, “Geology of Hawaii” taught by Sid P. Halsor, professor of geology and coordinated with the GeoExplorer Club and Bobby Karimi, assistant professor of geology.

Students spent several days in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park exploring the volcanic features associated with Kilauea volcano, the most active volcano on earth and in continuous eruption since the current cycle began in 1983.

Highlights included a tour and presentation by U.S. Geological Survey geoscientist at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, close-up observations of active lava flow on the volcanic field and night-time view of the vivid red glow over the Kilauea summit crater where lava fountaining was occurring.

Lebanon Val.

Koenig, a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science at The Valley.

Sigma Alpha Pi is the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success.

The honor society serves as a powerful force of good in the greater community by encouraging and organizing action to better the world.

Students are selected for induction based upon their grade-point average and level of involvement.

Sigma Alpha Pi is based on six main tenets for achieving success: finding a vision, setting goals, persevering, taking risks, pursuing one’s passion and continuous improvement.

Phi Kappa Phi

Kristen McCarty of Orefield, was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Baton Rouge, La., the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

McCarty was initiated at the U.S. Military Academy.

McCarty is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann, who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines.

Penn State

Alexander J. (AJ) Konya of Schnecksville was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at Penn State University.

Konya, a 2016 Parkland graduate, is pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in landscape architecture, a five-year major. He earned a 3.56 grade-point average.

Dean’s list status is awarded to students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.