Student Life

Celine Podlesney Hometown: Hazleton, Pa. Bachelor of Science in Nursing Activities and Achievements: Podlesney was pitcher on the Wilkes softball team, where she was received Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom team as a pitcher her freshman season in 2017 and was selected Second Team All-MAC Freedom as a pitcher in 2019 as a…

Wilkes University junior Juan Astegiano received the Outstanding Position Paper award from the 2020 Model United Nations Committee in New York. He is the first Wilkes student participating in the model U.N. program to win the honor.  Astegiano, who is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a member of the University’s…

Seth Platukis Hometown: Weston, Pa. Bachelor of Arts, Biology and Secondary Education Activities and Achievements: A dean’s list student, he was the recipient of the Wilkes University Polish Heritage Scholarship. Platukis was active on campus in a variety of activities reflecting his multiple talents. He was an honored speaker at the…

Taylor Hubiak Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Marketing (Double Major) Hometown: Glen Gardner, N.J. Activities and Achievements: Hubiak is the recipient of the Academic Achievement Award for Management recognizing the highest grade-point average in the major. A member of the Honors Program, she was a dean’s list student every semester…

Chengyu “Simon” Chu Bachelor of Science, Computer Science Hometown: City of Liaoyuan, Province of Jilin, People’s Republic of China Activities and Achievements: Chu was a resident assistant throughout his college career.  He also was president of Math and Computer Science Club as a junior and secretary of the Asian Cultural Society as…

Leticia Patino-Flores Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Secondary Education; minors in Spanish, international relations and history. Hometown: Bethlehem, Pa. Activities and Achievements: Patino-Flores has been active on campus, participating in many campus activities and taking a leadership role in several organizations. She served as public relations chair and secretary of ProgrammingBoard and for…

Students in Wilkes University’s School of Education complete field observation and student teaching experiences at local schools. Pictured are the senior education majors who are completing their student teaching requirement during the spring 2020 semester. Students teach on either the elementary and secondary levels in schools in northeast Pennsylvania and…

Cody Morcom  Doctor of Pharmacy Hometown: Scott Township, Pa. Activities and achievements: As a student pharmacist in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, Morcom excelled, taking on a variety of leadership roles and garnering accolades. In 2017-2018, he was one of 20 students nationally to participate in the CVS Health Foundation Scholars Program, presented…

It was only supposed to be for a few weeks. But on March 25, Wilkes University announced that it was necessary to continue remote learning for the rest of the semester due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. In this News@Wilkes question-and-answer, students in all majors reflected on the “new normal”…

Francesca Varela-Seri Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology  Hometown: Varela-Seri is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, but has lived in Philipsburg, N.J. for the last 15 years.  Activities and Achievements: Varela-Seri was a resident assistant from 2017 to 2020, and recently was responsible for the supervision of 50…