Category Archives: awards and recognition

Department of Defense Scholarship Winners

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Larry Luther and Jesse Marks are the latest RMU cybersecurity students who received a generous scholarship as part of a competitive grant award to RMU from the US Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA) program. Dr. Ping Wang is the Faculty PI (Principal Investigator) of the grant. The DoD CSA scholarship provides full tuition, a stipend, book and laptop allowances, travel support, and future DoD employment for selected students to complete a cybersecurity-related degree at designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) institutions like RMU.

Larry and Jesse are among only 50 DoD CSA Scholars selected nationally this year. They both attended this year’s DoD CSA boot camp with PI Dr. Wang in Washington, DC, in July, participating in a realistic multi-challenge cyber competition.

Congratulations, Larry and Jesse! We are very proud of your amazing accomplishment!

Jesse (left) and Larry (right), with PI Dr. Wang (center), attended this year’s DoD CSA boot camp in Washington DC

Congratulations to Stephen Mancini Productions

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Beyond the Screen Film Festival has announced its 2024-2025 film winners. The prize for Best Debut Director and Best Historical Film went to the film Fedeltà: Soldati. Prigionieri. Directed by one of RMU’s faculty members, Dr. Stephen Mancini, and assisted by RMU student, majoring in Cinema & Photography, Payton Hostetler, who also shares in the recognition for this great accomplishment.

Produced by Stephen MANCINI Productions and filmed on location in Italy and Pittsburgh, Payton’s contributions to filming and editing have been integral to the film’s success. For anyone interested in discovering more about this award-winning film, including where to watch, please click here: https://stephenmanciniproductions.com/

Dr. Steve Mancini – Best Podcast Host!

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The CIS department is thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to our very own Dr. Steve Mancini on his recent achievement! Dr. Mancini has been recognized as the Best Podcast Host in the prestigious 2025 Communicator Awards for his engaging and insightful podcast, The Italian Impact.

This well-deserved win highlights Dr. Mancini’s dedication and passion for fostering connections both within our university and the local community. Through The Italian Impact Podcast, he skillfully brings attention to a diverse range of topics that resonate with students and faculty right here on campus, while also reaching out to the vibrant Italian community in Pittsburgh and beyond.

We encourage everyone to tune in and experience the award-winning podcast for themselves! You can find The Italian Impact Podcast on all your favorite listening platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also learn more and explore past episodes on the official website: https://italianimpactweekly.com/.

To see the details of Dr. Mancini’s award and all of the winners, click HERE

Let’s all celebrate Dr. Mancini’s fantastic accomplishment and continue to support his wonderful work with The Italian Impact Podcast! Congratulations, Dr. Mancini!


Dr. Peter Draus Wins 2024-2025 Teaching Excellence Award

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Congratulations to Dr. Peter Draus on receiving the inaugural College of Business and STEM Teaching Excellence Award! Dr. Draus was honored with the award at the UPMC Events Center on May 13, 2025. The teaching award, presented by Dr. Daria Crawley and Dr. Sushma Mishra, is given to someone who demonstrates a deep commitment to fostering a positive and engaging learning environment.

Dr. Peter Draus, Dr. Sushma Mishra, and Dr. Daria Crawley

Thank you, Dr. Draus, for going above and beyond to guide and empower the students at RMU. Way to go!

Celebrating Excellence: Welcoming Our New UPE Honor Society at RMU

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The air was filled with excitement, a few nerves, and a sense of accomplishment this semester as we held our first-ever induction ceremony for the RMU Chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the international honor society for computing and information disciplines. It was a truly inspiring event, celebrating the hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent of our charter members.

The Wheatley Atrium was filled with bright minds – the inductees themselves, their proud families and friends, and esteemed faculty members.

We were also honored to have Dr. Ioan Raicu, our guest speaker, deliver a brief welcome. Dr. Raicu is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Illinois Institute of Technology and is a National Council Member of UPE. We are thankful for his being able to join us and help guide us through our first UPE induction ceremony.

The heart of the event, of course, was the formal induction of our members. One by one, their names were called, and as they stepped forward, you could feel the collective pride in the room. Each inductee has demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and a passion for the computing sciences, making them truly deserving of this recognition. It was a powerful moment, symbolizing the passing of knowledge and the welcoming of these bright individuals into the UPE family. Three CIS faculty members were inducted as charter members of the chapter as well: Dr. Karen Paullet, Dr. Sushma Mishra, and Dr. Jamie Pinchot. Dr. Paullet will serve as the Faculty Advisor for our UPE chapter.  In addition, student officers are: Kate Shannon (President), Kelson Bowman (Vice President), Sean Miller (Secretary), and Jesse Marks (Treasurer).

Pictured, left to right, Dr. Sushma Mishra, Dr. Jamie Pinchot, Kate Shannon (president), Kelson Bowman (vice president), Sean Miller (secretary), and Jesse Marks (treasurer), Dr. Karen Paullet, and Dr. Ioan Raicu.

A huge congratulations to all our newly inducted members of UPE! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing the great things you will accomplish.

SGA Engagement with Students Award 2024-2025

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Dr. Karen Paullet, nominated by student Katherine Shannon, won the RMU 2024-2025 Student Government Association Engagement with Students Award. Dr. Paullet was recognized at the Student Excellence Awards Program on Tuesday, April 22.

Katherine Shannon, left, pictured with Dr. Paullet, right, with the SGA Student Engagement Award for 2024-2025.

An “Engagement with Students Award” from the SGA (Student Government Association) recognizes individuals, often faculty or staff, who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student engagement and well-being.

Thank you, Dr. Paullet, for recognizing the importance of faculty-student interaction and the role it plays in building a strong, vibrant, and inclusive campus community. Congratulations!

SDIT Student Recognition Awards Ceremony

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RMU honored a select few SDIT students at the SDIT Awards Ceremony in the Wheatley Atrium on April 16, 2025. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Daria Crawley, Dean, College of Business and STEM, as she highlighted the dedication and hard work of the students being recognized. Awards were presented by SDIT faculty members. Dr. Crawley presented the Dean’s Scholar Awards. Closing remarks were made by Dr. Joseph Zimmer, Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs. Congratulations to all the deserving students!

GRADUATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS:

Alexandria Moreland, Robert Pava, William Challingsworth, Reed Greco, Nikil Settipalli, and Chelsea Horne

OUTSTANDING COMPUTER & INFORMATION SYSTEMS STUDENT AWARDS:

Computer Information Systems Endowment Award:

Sean Miller

Sean Miller, left, pictured with Dr. Jamie Pinchot

The Computer Information Systems Student Award:

Isaac Arnold

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT AWARDS:

Errisa George and Michele Russell

Dr. Rob Ambrosini, left, pictured with Erissa George, right.

CYBERSECURITY STUDENT AWARDS:

Reese Martin, Robert Pava, Steven Zalenski, and Brent Rose

DEAN’S SCHOLAR AWARDS:

Peyton Lutchkus, Reese Martin, Rylie Milanovich, Robert Pava, and Trey Reichenfeld

Peyton Lutchkus, left, pictured with Dr. Daria Crawley, right.


Thank you to all the students, faculty, and staff for their hard work and never-ending RMU spirit!

More pictures from the recognition: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCaCwD

Best First Time Director for Dr. Stephen Mancini

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Dr. Stephen Mancini has won Best First Time Director for Fedeltà: Soldiers. Prisoners. at the Bomarzo Soulplace Film Festival 2025!

Fedeltà: Soldiers. Prisoners., is a powerful documentary that tells the story of a group of Italian Prisoners of War held at the Letterkenny Army Depot outside of Chambersburg, PA. The film takes you on a journey through their experience, culminating in a message of hope that continues to resonate today.

Bomarzo Soulplace Film Festival is an international competition with live screenings open to filmmakers from all over the world. It takes place in the small town of Bomarzo (Lazio, Italy) and its purpose is to help independent cinematography talents and filmmakers to improve their career.

For further information about the festival and the event you can check the festival page.

Fedeltà Solider Prisoner wins award at Dallas Movie Fest

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Dr. Stephen Mancini, an Assistant Professor in the Computer and Information Systems Department, filmed an international documentary called Fedelta’ Soldier Prisoner last year.  He worked with the US Army, Franklin County Historical Society, the Regional Government of Lombardia and the Association for Italian Prisoners of War (AMPIL).  The film premiered in Chambersburg, PA as well as Milan and Rome back in September.  It has been selected to appear in film festivals in 4 different countries as well as multiple cities in the US and has recently won the best Feature Documentary Award at the Dallas MovieFest.  The film chronicles the story of 1,250 Italian Prisoners of War who were kept at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA during WW2.  You can watch the film on Amazon Prime.

Here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DMTK2VXC/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Dr. Ping Wang Renewed as ABET Expert

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Congratulations to Dr. Ping Wang who recently got renewed as an ABET Expert.

ABET accreditation provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates. ABET accreditation assures confidence that a collegiate program has met standards essential to prepare graduates to enter critical STEM fields in the global workforce. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

Make sure to congratulate Dr. Ping Wang next time you see him!