Graduates to pursue advanced degrees, work

Zoe Halpate, a graduating biology student from Bellevue at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is one step closer to becoming a veterinarian as she heads to her top choice vet school next fall – Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, one of the best veterinary schools in the country. 

She is one of 201 students graduating on Sunday from the university, and one of many going on to graduate school, particularly among her fellow biology majors, who make up 16% of the class.

Shane Rogers of Rome, Pa., is another biology major headed to Graduate School. Rogers will attend the University of Buffalo to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy.

A pair of biology graduates are headed to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree: Elizabeth Lowman of Eldred and Evan Baldwin of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Linda Cardaci of Long Pond is a biology graduate who will attend the University of Pennsylvania/Thomas Jefferson University to pursue a master’s degree in biotechnology.

Tanaya Washington of Pittsburgh will go straight to work with her biology degree as an emergency medical technician for the City of Pittsburgh.

Several exercise science majors also plan to earn graduate degrees. Nathan Fillman of Macungie and Colton Gietler of Shinglehouse will attend Gannon University in Erie to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Three exercise science graduates will pursue a Master of Athletic Training: Austin Jacobs of Walworth, N.Y., and Andi Parana of Wilcox will attend Chatham University in Pittsburgh and Hannah Fisher of Newark, N.Y., will pursue the degree at Slippery Rock University.

Two other exercise science majors will attend graduate school at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., to earn a Master of Occupational Therapy: Delaney Stowe of Avoca, N.Y., and Avery Vazquez of Warren.

Other science majors plan to attend graduate school as well. Ryen Sutton, a chemistry graduate from Youngsville, will pursue a doctorate in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. Anna Killingbeck, a forensic science and chemistry major from Chaffee, N.Y., will study for a master’s in forensic chemistry at the University of Buffalo. Olivia Freer of Port Allegany is an environmental science major who will study for a Master of Science in ecosystem science and management at the University of Michigan.

Others pursuing master’s degrees after graduating from Pitt-Bradford include Anjali Patel, a criminal justice major from Greenville, Master of Studies in Law at Pitt; McKenna Kelly, an accounting major from Perry, N.Y., business administration at St. Bonaventure; Alexandra Asp, a psychology major from Bradford who will be working at The Guidance Center, a Master of Social Work from Pitt on the Bradford campus.

Other students are going straight into the world of work. Farhid Negahban, a criminal justice major from Falls Church, Va., will be a police officer with the Fairfax County Police Department.

Accounting and business management majors headed to jobs include Veronica Shaffer of Valencia, who will work as a tax associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Pittsburgh; Allison Gutowski of Saint Marys will be a corporate accountant at Alpha Precision Group in her hometown; and Sarah Newland of Arcade N.Y., who will be an accounting intern at Freed Maxick CPAs in Buffalo.

Other accounting majors who have secured positions are Jackson R. McManus of Woolwine, Va., an associate at Brown Edwards in Roanoke, Va.; Alex Seeley of Granville Summit, an accountant’s assistant at Allen, Rogers and Osgood Accounting in Troy; and Jordyn Rice of Smethport, staff accountant for Stephen A. Troisi, CPA, PLLC, in Bradford.

Students entering the workforce as business management graduates include Payton Shupe of Austin, who will be a universal banker at Citizens and Northern Bank in Coudersport; Erica Williams of Bradford will be a computer technician at Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital; and Lexi Novosel of Kane will work as a human resource representative at Allegheny Bradford Corp. in Lewis Run.

Nursing graduates headed into the workforce include Alexandra Peters of Ambridge, a nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.; Emily Egger of Warren a nurse at Warren General Hospital; Mike Griffin of Claymont, Del., a nurse at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Del.; and Olivia Reese of Flinton, a nurse at UPMC Altoona.

Other graduates headed straight into the workforce include Dylan Lydic, a computer information systems and technology major from Kennedy, N.Y., who will be a systems engineer technician at American Refining Group in Bradford, and Madison Sauley, a radiological science major from Galeton who will be a radiological technologist at UPMC Cole in Coudersport.

Several education majors have secured positions. Kate Pfeil, a double major in applied mathematics and mathematics education 7-12 from Bradford will teach math in the Bradford Area School District.

Two early-level education (preK-4) students from Bradford will teach in their hometown: Kassandra Esch will be an assistant group supervisor at the YMCA Early Learning Center, and Kierstin Fisher will be a lead teacher at ABC Grow with Me Childcare.

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