Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content

Virtual Tour | Visit Campus | Contact Us | Apply Now

Utica University Logo
  • Academics
    • Programs
    • Online Programs
      • Online Business Programs
    • Honors Program
    • Graduate Study
    • International Ed & Study Abroad
      • Study Abroad
    • Exceptional Faculty
    • Student Support and Success
    • Schedules, Catalogs, and Resources
    • Institutes and Centers
    • Utica University at Florida
      • Tuition and Fees: ABSN Program
      • Accepted Students
    • Current Offerings
    • General Education
      • Planning Sheet
      • Themed Pathways
    • Opportunity Programs
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Understanding Financial Aid
      • Value
      • Excelsior, Explained
      • University Scholarships
      • Annual Awards
    • Applying For Financial Aid
    • Tuition and Fees
      • Utica Campus Programs
      • Online Programs
      • ABSN Program
    • Net Price Calculator
    • Pioneer Passport
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Admissions
    • Transfer Admissions
      • Articulation Agreements
    • Graduate Admissions
      • Graduate Inquiry Form
    • International Applicants
      • International Inquiry Form
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visit
      • Utica University Campus
      • Virtual Tour
      • Why Not Fly?
    • Apply Now
    • Contact Us
    • Accepted Student Info
    • High School Counselors
    • High School Bridge Program
  • Community
    • Living on Campus
      • Res Life & Student Living
      • Student Involvement & Leadership
    • Wilcox Center
    • The Utica Area
      • Hotels and Restaurants in the Utica Area
    • Utica Stories
    • About Utica
  • Athletics
    • Intercollegiate Athletics
    • Esports
  • News & Events
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Apply Now
  • Directory
  • About
  • Library
  • Logins
Utica University

Utica University announces 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

  1. Utica Community
  2. Utica Stories
  3. Utica University announces 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica University is proud to honor Shayla Pominville, a Psychology and Childhood Education major from Clinton, NY who has earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average, as the 2024 Valedictorian. 

This year’s Salutatorian is Sara Rachon, a Biology major and Chemistry minor from Marcy, NY who has earned an impressive 3.99 GPA. 

Shayla Pominville, with shoulder-length brown hair, smiles at the camera.

Following graduation, Shayla aspires to be a local elementary school teacher. As a Theater minor, Shayla would like to teach a theater program for kids while educating upper elementary school students. Currently, she works at Benton Hall Academy in the Little Falls City School District as a long-term 5th grade substitute teacher. Her mother and father, Laura and Shawn, two siblings, Owen and Wyatt, and grandparents join the Utica University community in celebrating this achievement. 

Sara Rachon, with long brown hair, stands in front of a body of water and smiles at the camera.

Sara plans to attend dental school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). Sara graduated from Holland Patent High School. Her mother and father, Scott and Lorna, three siblings, Samantha, Scott, and Sophia, and grandparents are proud of Sara and her wonderful accomplishments as a Pioneer.

More Stories

Nurhaliza Syukur, wearing a lab coat, holds up a beaker with red liquid in it.
Student

From Malaysia to Masonic (and beyond)

By any measure, it was a long and unlikely journey to her goal, but she made it. A Rohingya refugee...
Linnea Franits with her book - An Arts-Based Inquiry of Sibling Disability: Stealing from My Sister’s Plate
Faculty

Big little sister

Growing up with a sister who had major medical problems and was considered disabled, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr....
Tangerine Grove
On Campus

Local Organizations Give to Utica University’s Tangerine Group Food Pantry

The Tangerine Grove recently received a $5,000 gift from The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties as well as...
All Stories

I would like to see logins and resources for:

For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.

Utica University Logo
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Academics
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Admissions
  • Community
  • Athletics
1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502
Map & Directions
(315) 792-3006
Contact Us
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Bookstore
  • Disability Learning Support
  • Student Right to Know
2025-2026 College of Distinction2025-2026 Private College of Distinction2025-2026 Business College of Distinction2025-2026 Education College of Distinction2025-2026 Nursing College of Distinction2025-2026 Career Development College of Distinction2025-2026 Equity & Inclusion College of Distinction2023-2024 Military Friendly (Silver)