Five Neumann Delaware County alums were honored by the university with the annual Alumni Association Awards, presented on March 12.

Edith Burnham Maletsky, a resident of Aston, received the John Neumann Award for her professional development, service to the university, and commitment to community service.

Maletsky received her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1976 at Our Lady of Angels College. She admitted the first patient to the Crozer Burn Center in 1973 and was a flight trauma nurse at Crozer in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

She was also the education coordinator for the Burn Foundation of the Greater Delaware Valley, where she developed numerous fire and burn protection projects that were implemented throughout the tri-state area. She even worked with producers of Sesame Street TV to develop fire safety measures for children.

Maletsky authored and implemented a “teach the teacher” program, which became the first college-level course that dealt with burn and fire problems in the United States.

She returned to Neumann College in 1995 to earn her MS in pastoral counseling. Now 90, she has been retired for many years but keeps her nursing license up to date and still provides health training to members of her parish.

Judith Neubauer, also of Aston, accepted the School of Nursing and Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. Neubauer is a double graduate of Neumann University, earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2010 and her Master of Science in nursing in 2013.

Following graduation, she worked as a primary care nurse practitioner in Media. In 2015, she began to precept nurse practitioner students and teach in Neumann University’s nurse practitioner program part-time. She was then hired as the full-time director of the graduate nursing program in August of 2019.

Neubauer completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree through the University of South Alabama and has recently been promoted to Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing. She is currently working on expanding the graduate nursing program by adding a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, which she expects to begin in the fall of 2024.

Aston’s Casandra Nguyen was named Outstanding Senior. She will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology and medical laboratory science. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA her entire college career, Nguyen has had many roles at Neumann, serving as vice president and treasurer of Boogie Knights Dance Club, vice president of Sigma Zeta National Science and Mathematics Honor Society, and a member of the Delta Pi Chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society. She has worked as a mentor and orientation leader, a Neumann Navigator, and a peer tutor.

When Nguyen isn’t on campus, she works as an ophthalmic assistant and volunteers at her parish. Post-graduation, she plans to apply to medical school and one day provide care for underserved communities that may not have access to healthcare.

Samantha (Lafferty) Zdun of Garnet Valley was inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame. As a member of the women’s lacrosse team from 2003-2006, Zdun played in 58 games, scoring 200 goals and notching 83 assists. In team history, she ranks fifth in goals, third in assists, third in points (283), and third in caused turnovers (126).

Zdun graduated in 2006 with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and in 2017 received her MS in Education with an Autism Endorsement. She taught in the Upper Darby School District since 2008 and is currently a kindergarten teacher at Primos Elementary School.

She was nominated for the 2016 Delaware County Excellence in Teaching Award and received the Superintendent’s Certificate of Recognition. In 2017, the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation awarded her the Bravo Award for inspiring students and positively affecting their lives.

Anthony Latini of Glen Mills was presented with the Honorary Alumni Award. Latini serves as managing director of investment banking at Janney Montgomery Scott, leading the firm’s insurance industry effort, with a focus on merger and acquisition advisory services and capital offerings. He has over 35 years of experience providing corporate finance and investment banking services.

A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and his FINRA Series licenses. Latini currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees at Neumann University and is an active board member of the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Historical Corporation.