Ellen Carbonaro

Susan L. Lytle Practitioner Award

Ellen Carbonaro knew she wanted to be an elementary reading teacher from the time she was in first-grade. Ellen completed her undergraduate degrees at Rowan University in 2016 in Elementary Education, Liberal Studies: English and History, and with an endorsement as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities. For the first three years of her career, Ellen taught kindergarten where her passion for literacy education bloomed. Since then, Ellen has been teaching second-grade in Voorhees Township; her favorite subjects to teach are phonics and writing. Ellen decided to apply for the MA in Reading Education: Reading Specialist track because of her goal to help all of her students establish a lifelong love of reading and writing. Within the Reading Education program, the Teaching Reading and Writing Across the Grades and Multicultural Education courses sparked a special interest in her. She completed her research by studying how her students responded to multicultural mentor texts in the writer's workshop model of instruction. Ellen is thankful for the ongoing support of her professors, husband, family, friends, and colleagues during her graduate studies. Ellen's future career goals include transitioning to the role of an elementary reading specialist and teaching at the university level. 

Nicole A. Ceballos

Cecil F. Miller Special Education Award

I am Nicole Ceballos, an international student from Panama. I came to the United States as an Au pair six years ago knowing very little English. My experiences as a student of color, first-generation college student and coming from a low income community have influenced my decision to become an inclusive educator. My goal is to create safe and accessible learning environments for all my students regardless of their culture, religion, race or dis/ability. I will be teaching in Denver, CO, as part of a new program that will assess and insure that ESL students get the language and special educational resources they need to be successful.

Treshon Evans

John A. Rocco Postbaccalaureate Award for Excellence in Secondary Teaching

My name is Treshon Evans and I have a Bachelor's in English with a Marketing Minor and am currently pursuing my Master's in Subject Matter Education. I have a background in graphic design and photography from my time spent in the Graphic Design in Multimedia Technology Academy at Pennsville Memorial High School and one year of study in graphic design at Salem Community College. I also studied Japanese at Rowan for two years, and I hope to teach English in Japan one day. My passion, however, is teaching English at the Middle and High School Levels. I hope to create a classroom environment that promotes communication, understanding, and pride in diversity.

Jenna Lea Kulinski

The Cone Award for Teaching Individuals with Disabilities

Jenna is graduating with a B.A. in K-12 Health and Physical Education, with a Certificate of Drivers Education. Jenna is passionate in creating a safe and inclusive environment in her classroom and gymnasium. Learning how to modify instruction and activities in physical education for students of various abilities has been a highlight of her student teaching experience. Sharing the wealth of health in a world of convenience is a mission for Jenna, bringing a holistic approach that she outlined in her Society of Health and Physical Education presentation this year with her peers and professors. During her time here at Rowan she has been a member of Rowan's Health and PE Club, volunteered at Rowan's Get Fit Program for families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and recently at NJ Camp Abilities for students-athletes with visual impairments. Being awarded this Medallion Award, The Cone Award for Teaching Individuals with Disabilities is truly an honor, she thanks her professors, peers, and faculty for this accomplishment. She will continue to volunteer and make Health and Physical Education an inclusive and enjoyable environment for all. 

Ashley T. Lambert

Susan Taber Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Education Award

My name is Ashley Lambert and I am an Elementary Education & Mathematics major with my Teachers Of Students with Disabilities certificate, graduating in May 2023. I am currently student teaching in Camden, NJ with hopes to have my own classroom in September.  I enjoy bringing smiles and love to students each and everyday I am in the classroom. I also enjoy learning new ways to incorporate mathematics into the classroom and make the content more desirable to learn by students.

Sophia T. Lanzalotti

Evelyn Slobodzian Excellence in Reading Award

Sophia is honored to have been awarded the Evelyn B. Slobodzian Excellence in Reading Award. Sophia is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA as an Elementary Education and Literacy Studies dual major. She is an active member of Kappa Delta Pi, Rowan’s educational honor society. Since her freshman year, she has worked in the RowanCard Office. From a young age, Sophia has always dreamed of being a teacher. Now, she is eager to enter the world of education and pass on her love of reading, writing, and learning to her students. Sophia is grateful for her professors and supervisors who have provided her with support and guidance over the past four years. She values her time spent at Rowan University and the memories she has made during her college experience.

Gillian E. Moore

Ida and Jeff Margolis Award for Social Studies and Multicultural Teaching

Gillian Moore, recipient of the Ida and Jeff Margolis Medallion Award for Social Studies and Multicultural Education, is a dual History and Subject Matter Education major and a member of the Honors College. In addition to the Margolis Medallion, Gillian is the recipient of three other medallion awards, including the university-wide Thomas E. Robinson Award for Leadership. While at Rowan, Gillian has worked as an Admissions Ambassador and served as the president of the history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta. Her undergraduate historical research focuses on the Argentine human rights organization, Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo. Gillian’s love for history and goal to create inclusive curriculum brought her into social studies teaching. After graduation, she hopes to teach in a middle school setting.

Ashley Morris

Marion Rilling Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

My name is Ashley Morris. I am graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Education with Specialization in Early Childhood Education and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement. I have over 9 years of experience working in education as a paraprofessional, behavior technician, and  afterschool program director. It has always been my lifelong dream to be an educator. I am humbled and honored to be selected to receive the Marion Rilling Award Medallion for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

Samantha N. Picone

Robin Haskell McBee Award for Exemplary Teacher Leadership

I graduated with my bachelor's in Elementary Education K-6 and Liberal Studies: English/Writing Arts from Rowan in 2016. After graduating, I began teaching Kindergarten and am now in my fifth year with Hoboken Public Schools! I loved my undergraduate experience at Rowan which led me to return for my Masters's degree in Teacher Leadership and a COGS in Reading. I am very grateful to have had an amazing support system of family, friends, mentors, and professors throughout my Teacher Leadership program. This process has been an incredible experience that has pushed me professionally, academically, and personally to become a better educator. I am honored to be nominated for the Medallion Award and look forward to furthering my career in education by taking on leadership roles within my district and continuing to advocate for my students and community.

Cat Rogers

Thomas J. Gallia Award for Excellence in Secondary Science Teaching

Cat Rogers is graduating summa cum laude with his Master of Arts degree in STEM Education. He is a member of Delta Alpha Pi International Honors Society for High Achieving Students with Disabilities, Alpha Epsilon Lambda Honors Society for Graduate and Professional Students, and is a nominee for the New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Award. In 2019, Cat founded the Student Neurodiversity Club and contributed to the development of Rowan’s PATH Program and Center for Neurodiversity. After graduating from Rowan with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science, he served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2022, Cat was awarded the New Jersey Science Teacher Association (NJSTA) Dr. Doris White Memorial Scholarship and became an active member of the Council for Exceptional Children. As an autistic educator and fierce disabilities advocate, Cat is dedicated to transforming how neurodiversity is viewed and valued both in and out of the classroom. Cat and Dr. Rob Wieman, Assistant Professor and Department Chair of STEAM Education, presented How are you SO good at that: Neurodiversity as an asset in education at this year’s Access, Inclusion, and Social Justice Week. In June, they will be sharing their vision for diversity, equity and inclusion in education at the National Congress on Science Education Conference and at the Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (NJAMTE) in Ewing, NJ. Cat is humbled and honored to have been chosen to receive the Thomas J. Gallia Award Medallion for Excellence in Secondary Science Teaching. 

Emily Scott

Leonard L. Mancuso Award for Excellence in Secondary School Student Teaching

I will be graduating this May with my B.A. in Art and B.A. in Education with a certification  to teach K-12. I work mostly in 2D art, focusing on acrylic painting, graphite, charcoal, markers, and watercolor. During my time at Rowan University, I have been an active member of Rowan’s National Art Education Association Student Chapter. Over the years, I have served as NAEA’s Secretary, Senator, and Vice President, hosting events and fundraising to promote the Art Education program at Rowan. During the first half of Student Teaching, I taught 4th through 8th grade at Logan Township School District and am currently completing my final placement at Timber Creek Regional High School. In my free time, I am normally working on a new project, reading, meeting up with friends, or playing with my adorable cat Luna! I want to say thank you to my two professors who have become my mentors and have been there for me every step of the way: Dr. Jane Graziano and Dr. Eugene Neglia! I will forever be grateful for all of the incredible opportunities, experiences and memories that Rowan University has gifted me. 

Brianne Siderio

Larry Marcus Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership, Doctoral Studies

Dr. Brianne Siderio graduated from the Ed.D in Educational Leadership program in 2023. She is interested in STI awareness and prevention content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge in K-12 school settings and her dissertation was titled Exploring New Jersey’s Middle and High School Health Educators’ Decision-Making on STI Content and Instruction: A Qualitative Collective Case Study. She is continuing her research through her online business, THE STITALK, to coach those diagnosed with an STI and transform the current state of STI education in the US; our global society. Her research strives to deconstruct STI societal stigma peered by suicide prevention for those diagnosed.  Brianne also earned a B.A. in Education and History with a concentration in reading and her M.A. in Reading. Both degrees were earned from Rowan University. She currently is an educator in a New Jersey K-8 public school, and she aspires to teach full-time at the university level working with teacher candidates.

Margaret Suiter

Daniel P. Stanley Health and Exercise Science Alumni Award

I graduated from Paulsboro High School in June of 1960, for 2 years I worked at Weiss 5 & 10 and then 2 years at The Paulsboro Record weekly newspaper.

When Glassboro State was beginning the Physical Education and Health major I applied and was accepted into the first class starting in September 1964 and graduating  on June 4, 1968.  While at Glassboro I worked for Heritage’s Dairy store. I earned my MA degree in Physical Education and Health also from Glassboro State in 1973.

I taught at Memorial Junior High School in Vineland from September 1968 through June 1969 and at Kingsway Regional High School in Swedesboro from September 1969 until I retired in June 2000.

While at Kingsway I coached Field Hockey, Softball, Basketball and Golf.  I also directed the Intramural program and the Night School Volleyball group.  I taught and certified students in CPR in the Senior Health classes and also at In Service Days.  I was also a class advisor for several classes and chaperoned Senior Trips.

I was an Adjunct for Rowan University and supervised student teachers in  Physical Education and Health from September 2000 through June 2004.

After retirement I took the Basic Lay Speakers class through The United Methodist Church and the Advanced or Certified Lay Servants classes and served at various churches when needed including my home church St. Paul’s UMC In Paulsboro.

I was baptized as an infant and have been a member for over 65 years.  I have served in various roles in the church.  

For the last 20 years I have coordinated our monthly Feed My Sheep soup kitchen and grocery sharing and for 9 years I have coordinated our Children’s Christmas Gift Project in conjunction with the Paulsboro School system.  I also volunteer at 2 South Jersey Food Banks.

For 5 years I have coordinated our church’s participation in Paulsboro’s Community Clean Up project.

I have been working on taking pictures and gathering information to update the records of the cemetery at St. Paul’s .

Lauren Townsend

Robert L. Donaghay Award for Excellence in School Nursing

Hi, my name is Lauren Townsend and I am a school nurse. I graduated from nursing school in 2004 and received my BSN in 2008. I spent most of my career at Cooper University Hospital as a bed side nurse and then as the nursing supervisor until 8/2022. The summer of 2022 I decided it was time for a change and I accepted a position as a school nurse at Vineland High School. I then enrolled into the Certified School Nurse program at Rowan University and will finish July 3rd, 2023. Besides being a nurse, I am also a wife and mom of two kids who are very active and keep me busy. I decided it was time for me to be more available for them! I am very happy with the choices that I have made and can’t wait to see what else the future as a school nurse holds for me.

Jazmynn O. Travis

Charles Cammarota Award for Counseling in Educational Settings

Jazmynn is a second-year Counseling in Education Settings (CES) Program graduate student. She also served as President of the Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honors Society Zeta Pi Chapter. In Jazmynn’s spare time, she plans her upcoming fall wedding or takes her daughter on new adventures.

Erin Valderrama

Excellence in Elementary Education

My name is Erin Valderrama, and I am a Rowan graduate with a degree in Elementary Education. Teaching is my passion, and I love having the opportunity to shape young minds. It truly is a rewarding career. Witnessing a child’s face light up when they grasp a new skill, hearing their excitement or laughter during activities, and seeing them develop into their own individual person, makes any day a great one. I am thankful for my time at Rowan and everyone who has helped me achieve my goals and acquire my dream job. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Paige Wainwright

Robert L. Donaghay Award for Excellence in School Nursing

Paige (DeBow) Wainwright graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clemson University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a Global Health certificate. While at Clemson, Paige was the Nursing Class President, involved with the Student Nurses’ Association, as well as a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Fraternity. She received a multitude of honors and awards while in the nursing program including the Dean’s Award for Entrepreneurship in Community Service, School of Nursing Community Service Award, Herbert N. Shearin Memorial Award for Nursing Excellence, Excellence in Nursing Award, and the Sigma Nursing Achievement Award. Upon graduation, Wainwright began working on an inpatient unit at Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ. After working tirelessly taking care of COVID-19 Positive Patients, she transitioned into outpatient pediatrics to pursue her dream of working with children. “Nurse Paige” is currently one of the school nurses at Magowan Elementary School in Edgewater Park, NJ. She is enrolled in the School Nurse Certification program through Rowan University and will be receiving her Instructional School Nurse Certificate this Summer. Paige and her husband, Adam, are expecting their first child, Callie Morgan Wainwright, this July. 

Morgan S. Zane

Stanton B. Langworthy Award for Excellence in Foundations of Education

I am a 2022 graduate of Rowan University where I was also a member of the Rowan softball team. After I graduated, I accepted a position as a 1st grade teacher in Vineland, NJ. My goals are to continue to teach at the elementary level for a while, then ultimately go back to school and become a college professor. I love what I do and can't wait for a lifelong journey of educating others.

Current and Previous Medallion Recipients