(NEWARK, NJ July 27, 2007) The Rutgers College of Nursing honored the best and brightest in its latest graduating class during 2007 commencement ceremonies.

The school singled out students for individual awards for

excellence, leadership or service, while also recognizing high-achieving students who were inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing. Sigma Theta Tau membership is by invitation to both baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.

The following students were honored by the College of Nursing:

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ

HAMMONTON: Lauren Taylor Stiteler, Sigma Theta Tau

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ

DUMONT: Hazel Encarnacion,the Dean of Student Affairs Award, Sigma Theta Tau

ELMWOOD PARK: Vesna Gecevski, Sigma Theta Tau

TEANECK: Sigrid Marfo

, Sigma Theta Tau

ORADELL: Elizabeth Castro Perez

, the Outstanding Senior Award, Sigma Theta Tau

WALLINGTON: Margaret Wygonik

, Sigma Theta Tau

WYCKOFF: Karen Marie Morgan

, Sigma Theta Tau

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ

SOUTHAMPTON: Jessica Lynn Mikle

, Sigma Theta Tau

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ

CLEMENTON: Sukruta Kali

, Sigma Theta Tau

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ

VINELAND: Christa Lynn Castellini

, Sigma Theta Tau

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ

BELLEVILLE: April Hunter

, Sigma Theta Tau; Jerico Laxamana

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award

IRVINGTON: Kenisha McLennon

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award and the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for Perseverance; Cassendra Simon

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award and the Reuben D. Fernandez Award for Clinical Practice

NEWARK: Larider Ruffin

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award, the Dr. Dorothy Demaio Professional Award, and the Reuben D. Fernandez Award for Clinical Practice

ROSELAND: Karina Avakova

, Sigma Theta Tau

GLOUCESTER COUNTY NJ

GIBBSTOWN: Diana Marucci

, Sigma Theta Tau

SEWELL: Liezl Claire Rasgo

, Sigma Theta Tau

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ

BAYONNE: Marcos Grullon

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Annabelle Layugan

, the Hildegard E. Peplau Writing Award; Mariam Samy Said

, Sigma Theta Tau; Starr Urbano

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award

JERSEY CITY: Yosria Abdalla

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Jusha Amin

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Belinda Davis

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Dayhanna Guzman

, the Educatonal Opportunity Fund Perseverance Award, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Kris-Kristoffer Lindo Lipa

, Sigma Theta Tau; Nileshwari M. Patel

, Sigma Theta Tau; Stephanie Queja Sescon

, Sigma Theta Tau; Geofeline Viray

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award

KEARNY: Michelle Renee Wagner

, Sigma Theta Tau

UNION CITY: Donna Velazquez

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award, the Dr. M. Elizabeth Carnegie Award for Perseverance, the Equal Opportunity Fund Scholar Award, and the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award

MERCER COUNTY, NJ

HAMILTON: Mae Lavente

, RN, Sigma Theta Tau; Holly Hurlburt Miller

, RN, Sigma Theta Tau and the Evelyn Hart Memorial Award

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP: Clarissa Barbon

, the Frances Marcus Steindler Memorial Award

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ

ISELIN: Jessica Mary McFadden

, Sigma Theta Tau

NEW BRUNSWICK: Kianna Cromedy

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Leadership Award and the Dr. Kathleen Jennings Dozier Research Award; Shauday Rodney

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Leadership Award, the Dr. Kathleen Jennings Dozier Research Award and the Reuben D. Fernandez Award for Clinical Practice

NORTH BRUNSWICK: Kristine Besario Tagaan

, Sigma Theta Tau

PARLIN: Kristine Grace Endaya

, Sigma Theta Tau; Noura A. Quayson

, the James Dickson Carr Scholar, the Rutgers College of Nursing Award, and Sigma Theta Tau

OLD BRIDGE: Heather Marie Rose

, Sigma Theta Tau

PISCATAWAY: Eppi Aguilar-Ramos

, Sigma Theta Tau; Shannon L. Costabile, Sigma Theta Tau

SOUTH AMBOY: Veronica Escalante

, the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ

HIGHLANDS: Florence Huber

, Sigma Theta Tau

MARLBORO: Al-Zada A. Aguilar

, Sigma Theta Tau;

Maureen Hearty

, RN, Sigma Theta Tau

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ

KINNELON: Melanie Ann Nycz

, Sigma Theta Tau

LONG VALLEY: Brittney Elaine Fleming

, the Dean of Student Affairs Award and Sigma Theta Tau

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ

LAKEWOOD: Jane Amy Foresta

, RN, Sigma Theta Tau

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ

CLIFTON: Karen Gosses

, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award; Rasia Leigh Guieb

, Sigma Theta Tau

PASSAIC: Carissa Kison

, Sigma Theta Tau

PATERSON: Katheryn Olivieri

, the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award and the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for Perseverance

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ

SOMERSET: Christina Aguilar Quejano

, Sigma Theta Tau; Esmeralda Valle

, the Educational Opportunity Fund Leadership Award, the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award, the Dr. Dorothy Demaio Professional Award, the Dr. Hurdis Griffith Award for Leadership, the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award and the Dr. Kathleen Jennings Dozier Research Award

UNION COUNTY, NJ

ELIZABETH: Tetyana Hrechko

, the Reuben D. Fernandez Award for Clinical Practice and the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award

LINDEN: Vanessa Rodriguez

, Sigma Theta Tau and the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award; Aurelle Femae Palma Sudara

, Sigma Theta Tau

UNION : Olivia Joy K. Domingo

, Sigma Theta Tau

ROSELLE: Kristen Marie O. Guiterrez

, the Ella V. Stonsby Award, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Joseph M. and Catherine Ruggieri Award; Zoila I. Denegri

, the Victoria Caballero Van Allen Scholar Award

VAUX HALL: Titilope Omodara

, the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for Perseverance and the College of Nursing-EOF Senior Academic Award

WESTFIELD: Daniela Bonvicini, Sigma Theta Tau