Chief Coleman Delivers Student Commencement Address, Numerous Bison Student-Athletes Receive Academic Awards

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- "Imagine what we will know tomorrow." That was the challenge issued by Johnathan "Chief" Coleman, a Posse Scholar and member of the nationally ranked Bison men's water polo team, who had the distinguished honor of delivering the class response on behalf of the Class of 2019 at Sunday's 169th Bucknell Commencement.

The law-school-bound Coleman, who graduated cum laude as a double major in political science (with honors) and philosophy, gave a rousing seven-minute speech where he credited Bucknell for shaping and re-shaping the way its students think, and preparing them to be agents of change in the world.

"The world is changing quickly, and through our Bucknell education we now have the tools to adapt to the fast-paced world," Coleman said. "However, merely adapting to the world is not enough. For years our elders have reported that we are the future of this great nation, but, to be honest, we are the now. Bucknellians, I challenge you to go forward and innovate."

Watch the full speech here:

Former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright delivered the Commencement address, and 881 students received their diplomas on Sunday. Of those, 168 were varsity student-athletes, and that group was well-represented on the list of honors graduates and University award winners. Of note, baseball pitcher Jeff Gottesman was one of three recipients of the President's Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement after graduating with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point percentage. Gottesman was one of seven student-athletes to graduate summa cum laude. Another 19 student-athletes graduated magna cum laude, and 33 graduated cum laude. Five student-athletes were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Here is a full list of Bucknell student-athletes receiving University honors:

DEGREES WITH DISTINCTION

Summa Cum Laude
Camille Andrews (women's soccer)
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)
Claire Lesher (field hockey)
Reed Malas (men's lacrosse)
Rachel Paciello (women's track & field)
Nicole Rupnik (field hockey)
Tabitha Wismer (women's cross country/track & field)

Magna Cum Laude
Carly Baggott (women's soccer)
Katie Childers (women's golf)
Maddie Dano (women's soccer)
Callie DeWitt (women's lacrosse)
Ryan Durkin (men's lacrosse)
Jenna Farmer (women's cross country/track & field)
Danielle Gannon (women's tennis)
Brad Landry (men's lacrosse)
Melissa MacPherson (women's soccer)
Christine O'Kane (women's cross country/track & field)
Ryan Ott (men's soccer)
Ashton Radvansky (men's golf)
Abigail Rosenberg (women's swimming & diving)
Nick Stephani (wrestling)
Harper Stewart (women's track & field)
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)
Christian Tailor (baseball)
Andrei Vitiuc (men's tennis)
Natalie Waterhouse (women's track & field)

Cum Laude
Alexis Auman (women's track & field)
Brian Babyak (men's cross country/track & field)
Lindsey Baker (volleyball)
Christian Bassolino (wrestling)
Ben Bliss (wrestling)
Colleen Buckley (women's cross country/track & field)
Julie Byrne (swimming & diving)
Anna Chiodo-Ortiz (women's cross country/track & field)
Johnathan Coleman (men's water polo)
Jared Drizin (baseball)
Jubal Early (men's golf)
M.C. Evans (field hockey)
Shaylyn Fahey (women's track & field)
Kasey Getkin (women's track & field)
Anna Gimmestad (softball)
Mackenzie Haney (field hockey)
Lauren Hazzard (women's cross country/track & field)
Wade Heidel (men's track & field)
Nate Jones (men's basketball)
Alex Jordan (football)
Lena Kleinberg (rowing)
Christian Klipstein (men's lacrosse)
Katie Mannino (field hockey)
Madison Narr (cross country/track & field)
Connor O'Brien (men's golf)
Mishi Papich (women's tennis)
Tyler Peterson (men's soccer)
Lexi Quick (field hockey)
Frank Satriale (wrestling)
Lindsay Smalec (women's swimming & diving)
Brianna Tutuska (women's track & field)
Kate Walker (women's basketball)
Mary Weinstein (women's swimming & diving)

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

Biochemistry
Frank Satriale (wrestling)
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)

Biology
Nicole Rupnik (field hockey)

Comparative Humanities
Matt Fay (men's track & field)

Geology
Ben Bliss (wrestling)

Political Science
Johnathan Coleman (men's water polo)

Psychology
Lena Kleinberg (rowing)

HONOR SOCIETIES

Phi Beta Kappa
Camille Andrews (women's soccer)
Rachel Paciello (women's track & field)
Nicole Rupnik (field hockey)
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)
Tabitha Wismer (women's cross country/track & field)

Tau Beta Pi (National Engineering Honor Society)
James Capone (men's track & field)
Katie Childers (women's golf)
Brad Landry (men's lacrosse)

Beta Gamma Sigma (International Honor Society Recognizing Business Excellence)
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)
Reed Malas (men's lacrosse)

Mortar Board (National College Senior Honor Society)
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)
Brad Landry (men's lacrosse)
Melissa MacPherson (women's soccer)
Rachel Paciello (women's track & field)
Ashton Radvansky (men's golf)
Abigail Rosenberg (women's swimming & diving)

Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering Honor Society)
Christian Bassolino (wrestling)
Nick Stephani (wrestling)
Brianna Tutuska (women's track & field)

Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor Society for Economics)
Melissa MacPherson (women's soccer)
Ryan Ott (men's soccer)
Lindsay Smalec (women's swimming)

Phi Sigma (Biological Sciences Honor Society)
Colleen Buckley (women's cross country/track & field)
Shaylyn Fahey (women's track & field)
Jenna Farmer (women's cross country/track & field)
Mackenzie Haney (field hockey)
Katie Mannino (field hockey)
Christine O'Kane (women's cross country/track & field)
Tyler Peterson (men's soccer)
Nicole Rupnik (field hockey)
Frank Satriale (wrestling)
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)

Phi Sigma Tau (International Honor Society for Philosophers)
Johnathan Coleman (men's water polo)
Matt Fay (men's track & field)
Nicole Vacas (rowing)

Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)
Johnathan Coleman (men's water polo)
Alex Jordan (football)

Psi Chi (International Honor Society in Psychology)
Ryan Ott (men's soccer)

Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society)
Katie Childers (women's golf)

STUDENT HONORS AND PRIZES

The President's Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement
In recognition of superior achievement by graduating with a cumulative 4.0 GPA
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)

The William C. Gretzinger Prize
For the highest standing in economics
Ryan Ott (men's soccer)

The University Prize for Men
For the man attaining the highest average
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)

The Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity Prize
To the most deserving chemistry graduate chosen at the discretion of the chemistry department
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)

The Beta Gamma Sigma Prize
To the senior in the College of Management who obtains the highest average in management subjects during the student's years in the University
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)

The Louis W. Robey Prize
To the senior woman and man who best exemplify the aims of a Bucknell education
Johnathan Coleman (men's water polo)

The Alvin F. Jackson Jr. '59 Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award
For excellence in scholarship and athletics
Jeff Gottesman (baseball)
Nicole Rupnik (field hockey)

The Richard P. Nickelsen Prize
For the graduating seniors demonstrating outstanding performance in geology
Ben Bliss (wrestling)

The Jai B. Kim Prize in Civil and Environmental Engineering
For the senior demonstrating outstanding performance in the study of civil and environmental engineering
Nick Stephani (wrestling)

The Bucknell Prize in Animal Behavior
To the seniors demonstrating outstanding academic performance in the study of animal behavior
Camille Andrews (women's soccer)
Colleen Buckley (women's cross country/track & field)

The Jose Marti Award
To the senior in Latin American Studies who has shown exemplary concern for social justice in the Americas
Chad Sussman (men's cross country/track & field)

The Bucknell Prize in Women's and Gender Studies
Awarded to the seniors demonstrating outstanding academic performance in Women's and Gender Studies
Lena Kleinberg (rowing)

The Dr. E. Slifer Walls Prize
To be awarded upon graduation to the premedical student or public health student from Union County or a designated portion of Northumberland County who has shown during his or her junior year the highest standards of combined will and devotion to the ideals of the profession for which he or she is making preparation.
Jenna Farmer (women's cross country/track & field)

Bucknell University Athletics

Chief Coleman Delivers Student Commencement Address, Numerous Bison Student-Athletes Receive Academic Awards

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