LATROBE, PA — Saint Vincent College is pleased to announce the five seniors who are finalists for its 50th annual President’s Award: Delaney R. Fox, Alyson E. Frank, Bridgette Gorg, Helen E. Kish and Olivia L. Persin.
The College’s highest student honor, the President’s Award is given annually to the member of the graduating class who best embodies the College’s Catholic, Benedictine and liberal arts values of academic achievement, leadership and community service.
Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., president of Saint Vincent College, will present the award at the Spring Honors Convocation at 1 p.m. April 24 at the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. In addition to the presentation of the President’s Award, the College will announce its Awards for Academic Excellence in the Major Field of Study for the 2024 graduates, the recipient of the Father Ronald R. Gorka Scholarship Award, the Quentin Schaut and Boniface Wimmer faculty awards, and Student Government Association senior, faculty and administrator awards.
2024 PRESIDENT’S AWARD FINALISTS
Delaney R. Fox
Delaney Fox, of Finleyville, is a political science major with a minor in English. She is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha (political science) and Sigma Tau Delta (English) national honor societies, the Benedictine Leadership Studies Program, Aurelius Scholars, and the Saint Vincent College Honors Program. Through Pi Sigma Alpha, Fox recently organized a nonpartisan voter registration event. Fox is researching American citizenship through the George Washington Fellowship Program and has presented work at two conferences. She is a prefect in Rooney Hall, a tutor in politics and statistics, and a student writing consultant. Fox has completed two internships with the U.S. District Court, is practice coordinator for the mock trial teams and has performed with The Company, Saint Vincent College’s student-run musical theatre group. After graduation, Fox plans to attend law school.
Alyson E. Frank
Alyson Frank, of Allison Park, is a mathematics major with a secondary education minor. A winner of the Addison Gibson Foundation Scholarship, Frank is a member of Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics) and Kappa Delta Pi (education) honors societies. She was part of the Fred Rogers Leadership Seminar Group, captain of the recently formed dance team, an Academic Affairs Committee Chair, a Rooney Hall representative of the Student Government Association, and a member of the Educational Policies and Orientation committees. Frank is student teaching in the Franklin Regional School District and is planning a career as a high school math teacher.
Bridgette Gorg
Bridgette Gorg, of Warrenton, Virginia, is an environmental science major with a biology minor. Vice president and captain of the women’s rugby team, Gorg is a National Collegiate Rugby Scholastic All American. She is a member of the Benedictine Leadership Studies Program, Biology Student Leadership Council, Alpha Lambda Delta academic honors society, and the Bearcat Buddies Club. After graduation, Gorg will pursue a career in conservation biology, focusing on field research, and will work on an invasive species research project with the University of Toledo.
Helen E. Kish
Helen Kish, of Pittsburgh, is double majoring in mechanical engineering and psychology with minors in sacred music and mathematics. She is a Wimmer Scholar, part of the Saint Vincent College Honors Program, and a Psi Chi psychology honors society member. As part of the leadership team of the Respect Life Club, Kish organized trips to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. She is involved in campus ministry and is a longtime member of the Saint Vincent Singers. She enjoyed Dr. Jerome Foss' discussion group about Flannery O’Connor’s short stories and essays. This past fall, Kish hiked a 40-mile backpacking trip with Dr. Michael Krom's Outdoor Leadership class. She is finishing her psychology thesis and plans to begin graduate school for psychology this fall at The Catholic University of America.
Olivia L. Persin
Olivia Persin, of Greensburg, is a triple major in mathematics, computer science and data science with a minor in cybersecurity. She is president of the Student Government Association (SGA) executive board, SGA class president and treasurer, treasurer of the Women in STEM Club and the Math Club, and a member of the Orientation Committee. She is a volunteer at the Westmoreland Food Bank and the Saint Vincent College Community Meals Program and worked at a vaccine clinic during the pandemic. In addition to being involved with Campus Ministry, Persin was the starting shortstop on the varsity softball team—she was named to the All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference second team and was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar Athlete—and played two seasons on the volleyball team. Persin is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics), Alpha Iota Mu (information systems & information), and Chi Alpha Sigma (athletics). Over the past year, she has participated in internships through the Department of Defense, the Office of Naval Research, and Lockheed Martin. Following graduation, Persin plans to work for the federal government.
PHOTO 1: Delaney R. Fox
PHOTO 2: Alyson E. Frank
PHOTO 3: Bridgette Gorg
PHOTO 4: Helen E. Kish
PHOTO 5: Olivia L. Persin