College notes

Graduations Kristen E. Distler, a 2007 graduate of Monroe-Woodbury High School, graduated magna cum laude from the School of Communications at the University of Albany on May 15. Hannah McCarty, the only daughter of David and Gue McCarty of Monroe, will graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point on Saturday, May 21. Immediately upon graduation, West Point Cadets are appointed 2nd lieutenants and will serve a minimum of five years active duty in the U.S. Army. After graduating, Hannah will report for training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri as a military police officer and will be based at Fort Riley, KS. Hannah is one of three McCarty children to attend West Point. Her older brother Justin is an Army officer serving in Iraq and her younger brother Jason will be entering his senior year at the Academy this fall. The following students will be awarded degrees during commencement ceremonies on May 22 at Dominican College in Orangeburg: Rita Sussner of Harriman, bachelor of science degree in nursing. Margaret Carey of Highland Mills, master’s degree in eduction of students with disabilities. Samantha Walls of Highland Mills, bachelor of arts degree in biology. K. Malaika Feeley of Tuxedo Park, master’s degree in family nurse practitioner. SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner announced the following students are May 2011 candidates for degrees: Michael R. Lange of Greenwood Lake, bachelor of arts, theatre arts. Thomas F. Smith of Monroe, bachelor of science, business administration - management. Daniel A. Firestone of Highland Mills received a master of business administration during the 2011 graduate commencement at Quinnipiac University earlier this month in Hamden, Conn. Andrew Richard Da Silva of Highland Mills has graduated Rutgers University with a bachelor of arts and sciences degree; he majored in social work and sociology. He will be attending the School of Social Work at New York University. NYU has awarded him a $9,000 merit scholarship. Honors Several local students were recently inducted into Kappa Delta Pi, the national honor society for education at The University of Scranton: Briana Calvano of Harriman, a sophomore at Scranton. Kaitlyn Neenan of Highland Mills, a junior at Scranton.