Fairfield University, Fairfield, awarded 1,285 diplomas at its 61st Commencement on Sunday, May 22. A number of area residents received degrees during the commencement: From Newtown, Christina M. Ercole received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology; Emily S. Fiorey received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology; Daniel T. Murtha received a bachelor of arts degree in politics; Claudia S. Toth received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology; Amanda L. Feuerberg received a master of fine arts degree in creative writing; Kelly L. Goodridge received a master of fine arts degree in creative writing; Eileen McGrath received a master of business administration degree in MBA-Accounting/Information Systems; Margaret E. Tomasiewicz received a master of arts in APPY-Foundations of Advanced Psychology. From Sandy Hook, Michelle D. Brennan received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology; Anthony R. Magliocco received a master of science degree in accounting; Caitlin A. O’Keefe received a master of arts degree in secondary education social studies; and Patricia L. Woessner received a master of science degree in nursing.

In Providence, R.I., the following area residents were named to Providence College’s spring semester’s Dean’s List: Courtney Fuller of Newtown, Jennifer Lynn of Newtown, and Danielle Norris of Sandy Hook.

The following students were named to the Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Dean’s List for the spring semester: Meghan Barbour, Elizabeth O’Brien, and Kelley Sullivan of Newtown, and Kerry McDonald and Joseph Rahtelli of Sandy Hook.

The following local students have achieved Dean’s High Honors, a recognition for students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.7, for the spring semester at Connecticut College, New London: Mary Gover, Samuel Norcross and Shelby Sisco, and Sandy Hook resident Elizabeth Maret.

Bentley University, Waltham, Mass., recently released the names of local residents who were honored for their outstanding academic achievement in the spring semester by being placed on the university’s President’s List or Dean’s List. Morgan Haynes Knees of Newtown and Mitchell Bloomberg of Sandy Hook were named to the President’s List. John Aminti of Sandy Hook was named to the Dean’s List.

Area residents enrolled at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., were named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester. To qualify, students must attempt at least 12 credit hours graded on the A through F option and earn a 3.4 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) during the semester. Students named on the Dean’s List were Alexandra S. Caracciolo, John J. Quinn, Andrew R. Shugarts, and Jennifer L. Brill.

Genevieve Marie Santayana of Sandy Hook was named on the spring Dean’s List at University of the Sciences, Philadelphia. Selection for this award is based on completing and passing all assigned courses with no grade below a “C” and attaining an academic average of at least 3.4 for courses taken in the spring semester.

 Kaitlin Eckert of Sandy Hook was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Salve Regina University, Newport, R.I. To qualify, full-time undergraduate students must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.6 with no grade below a B in that semester at the university.

Brittany Pasko, daughter of Ann Lindenmeyer of Newtown and Lawrence Pasko of Danbury, Jennifer L. Spanedda, daughter of Debra and Peter Spanedda of Sandy Hook, and Kelley A. Tenney, daughter of Patricia and James Tenney of Sandy Hook, were named to the Dean’s List at Endicott College, Beverly, Mass., for the spring semester. To qualify, students must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5, receive no grade below a C, and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits during the semester.