GRADUATES
Dena Kniess, a Butler native, graduated from Clemson University with a doctorate in educational leadership (higher education).
Kniess, a 1994 graduate of Butler High School, received her bachelor's degree in English-writing in 1998 and master's degree in college student personnel in 2002 from Slippery Rock University.
While at Clemson, Kniess served as an associate director in the New Student and Family Programs office and as treasurer for the South Carolina College Personnel Association.
She was awarded the Outstanding Professional Award from the Chi Sigma Alpha — Edward A. Grandpre Chapter in 2012 and was named a College of Health, Education and Human Development Graduate Student of Excellence in 2013.
Kniess has accepted an assistant professor appointment in the College Student Affairs program at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill. Kniess is the daughter of DuWayne and Kay Kniess of Butler.
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Molly McBryan of Grove City received a doctorate of pharmacy at the Wilkes University commencement in Wilkes-Barre.
Andrew Tommelleo of Prospect received a doctorate of education in educational leadership at Youngstown State University.
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Amber Shoemaker Thompson of Forward Township graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in information sciences and technology.Thompson is a 1999 graduate of Seneca Valley High School and served in the U.S. Navy for eight years. While in the Navy, she served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kennedy, the base in LaMaddalena, Sardinia and Jacksonville, Fla.Thompson is the daughter of Kent and Josie Shoemaker.—–—
Kasey Davidson of Myrtle Beach, S.C., graduated summa cum laude from Coastal Carolina University with a master's degree in early childhood education.Davidson is a 2008 graduate of Seneca Valley High School and a 2011 graduate of Indiana (Pa.) University.Davidson is an elementary teacher at North Mullins Primary School in Mullins, S.C., and the daughter of Donald and Kimberly Davidson of Evans City.—–—
Jason Clouse of Butler graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in economics. During his education, he received the Patty and Jay Baker Scholarship.Clouse graduated from Butler High School in 2009 and is a business analyst at Capital One Bank in McLean, Va. He is the son of John and Vicki Clouse.The following students received degrees from their respective colleges and universities:Boyers: Rachel Tiche at Hamilton CollegeButler: Blaise Taggart at the University of Cincinnati, Heidi Boyce, Ashley Depew and Rachel Judy at Malone University and Matthew Humphrey, master's degree at Chatham UniversityCranberry Township: Caroline Owen, magna cum laude at Clemson University, Matthew Shepherd, master's degree at Walsh College, Anatoli Dorosh, master's degree at Wilkes University, Blaine Schandelmeier at Chatham University, Valerie McKee, master's degree at Chatham University and Greg Bibri and Frank Pulice at Youngstown State UniversityEvans City: Paul Rivera at the University of Cincinnati and Erin Painter at Chatham UniversityFreeport: Sarah Paul, master's degree at Chatham UniversityGrove City: Marsha Timblin, master's degree at Chatham UniversityHarmony: Melanie Prelec and Lindsay Smith at Youngstown State UniversityMars: Abby Marks, magna cum laude at Clemson University, Sarah Heckman at Malone University, Brenda Haines at Youngstown State University and Amanda Hardt, cum laude at Marietta CollegeValencia: Samantha Barley and Andrew Knauff at Marietta College and Rachel Turkovich, magna cum laude at Elizabethtown CollegeZelienople: Alan Boyd, summa cum laude at Clemson University and Christine Roe, master's degree at Wilkes University—–—
Nicholas Westerman of Butler graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in applied physics from Indiana (Pa.) University. He was on the dean's list all four years at IUP.Westerman is a 2009 graduate of Butler High School and is the son of Eric and Linda Westerman.
