Seventeen students at Mohawk Valley Community College were inducted into Spire, a national honor society that recognizes the unique achievements of adult learners and other nontraditional students, during a ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Spire membership is offered to those who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, are involved in at least three campus or community activities, are within 12 months of graduation, and have overcome significant obstacles to achieve academic success. MVCC invites eligible students to join Spire every Fall and Spring semester.
MVCC’s Fall 2023 Spire inductees:
- Valerie Aikens of Rome, Chemical Dependency Practitioner AAS
- Devyn Alberico of Stittville, Nursing AAS
- Jacqueline Barnes of Marcy, Nursing AAS
- Ajla Causevic of Utica, Respiratory Care AAS
- Sierra Chubbuck of Rome, Nursing AAS
- Kayla Delgado of Utica, Health Sciences AS
- Gladys Galarza of Albany, School Facilities Management AAS
- Joshua Galarza of Oneida, Nursing AAS
- Kristyn Hankey of Little Falls, Business: Accounting AAS
- Monica Jackson of Utica, Nursing AAS
- Rebekah Johnson of Poland, Nursing AAS
- Monica Lewis of Yorkville, Liberal Arts and Sciences: Public Policy AS
- Kelli Reed of Sauquoit, Nursing AAS
- Rachael Russo of Utica, Health Sciences AS
- Nathan Sortino of Clinton, Health Sciences AS
- Kelsey Vanderwood of Utica, Respiratory Care AAS
- Samantha Wickham of Rome, Health Studies: Radiologic Technology AAS
Jacqueline Barnes, Monica Jackson, and Kelsey Vanderwood, along with 2022 inductee Laura Malagese of Utica (Early Childhood Education), also were selected as the recipients of the Spire Honor Society Scholarship, which is awarded to current Spire members who demonstrates leadership, persistence, and future promise.
About Spire
Spire is a national honor society for nontraditional students enrolled in two-year academic programs who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve academic success. Its mission is to provide adult (defined as at least 25 or older) and nontraditional students (such as young single parents, those with disabilities, those who earn degrees while working full-time, and international students) with the same level of recognition outstanding traditional students receive. Today, over 70% of students enrolled in colleges and universities across the country fall into the “nontraditional student” category. MVCC began inducting members into Spire in 2014. Learn more about Spire.