Photo: The Class of 2026 stands on the steps of Old Main.
On Thursday, May 21, MMI Preparatory School held its 134th commencement ceremony, honoring the Class of 2026.
100% of this year’s graduating class of 31 seniors will be continuing their education. In looking at the schools the seniors will be attending, the average merit scholarships/grants were $435,003 per year and $1,740,012 across four years.
During the ceremony, speeches were given by this year’s class banner artist, salutatorian, valedictorian, and class president, highlighting their transformations during their time at MMI and the support they received from their classmates and staff.
The first speech was given by Arushi Solgama, the student artist behind this year’s class banner. Continuing the Class of 2025’s tradition of dedicating the class banner to a faculty member, Arushi dedicated this year’s banner to Mrs. Laurie Mele: “I believe I speak for the entire class when I say [Mrs. Mele’s] patience, support, and belief in us were truly inspiring, and her presence throughout this whole process was an indispensable factor in shaping our growth,” Arushi said in her speech.
The design of this year’s class banner featured motifs of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. In sixth and twelfth grade, the class of 2026 raised caterpillars with Mrs. Mele, bookending their time at MMI with a project directly related to transformation and growth.
Arushi noted, “As we leave this place and step into college, I hope we embrace the next stage with the same grace, the same courage, and the same end goal that we first began with … When people look up at the class of 2026’s banner, I want them to know that we made it here because we truly earned our wings.”
Salutatorian Sharan Parikh took the stage next. In his speech, he shared the story of Icarus flying too close to the sun. “But here’s what they don’t tell you: Icarus didn’t scream. He laughed as he fell, because he knew that to fall is to have once soared.”
He loves this story because of the lesson it teaches us about living in the middle. “As you step into this next chapter, I hope you don’t hold back. I hope you reach for the sun. And if you fall — laugh as you fall. Because that’s how you know you were really flying.”
The one thing Sharan hoped his classmates would take away from his speech was this: “Don’t live your life trying to avoid the fall. Remember Icarus — not as a warning, but as the kid who looked at the sun and said what if. The one who didn’t settle for just escaping. The one who wanted to feel everything.”
Valedictorian Alexis Shea Bleiler’s speech centered around her connections with her fellow classmates, her personal transformation, and the lessons she’s learned through figure skating.
Alexis went on to share lessons of staying in the present and embracing life’s challenges. Her final piece of advice spoke to the value of self-worth. “Put in the hard work when no one is watching. Don’t work hard for other people. Do it for yourself. Do it because you believe in yourself and because you know you are capable of achieving hard things to better yourself.”
Rishi Patel, class president, rounded out the speeches by echoing the themes of growth and change. In his speech, he shared funny stories and fond memories from his classmates over the last seven years. Since they were in sixth grade, the Class of 2026 has had to experience a lot of firsts. They navigated online school after the pandemic, took the digital SAT, and started the men’s volleyball program. “None of that sounds like a big legacy when you list it out. But what it actually means is that this class has never once had the luxury of things just staying the same. Every single time something settled, it shifted … And every single time, without fail, we figured it out,” Rishi shared. “That instinct, to adapt, to push through, to just figure it out — that’s not a high school thing. That’s a you thing. It goes with you. Into college, into whatever comes after that, into every version of your life that hasn’t happened yet. You’ve been doing it since you were twelve. You’re not going to stop now.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Tamra A. Pawloski ’88. In addition to being an MMI alumna, Tamra is the daughter of MMI President Emeritus Joseph G. Rudawski, who was also in attendance at this year’s graduation to give his grandson, Joseph M. Mayernik, his diploma.
“Tonight is especially meaningful to me because this school has always been far more than a place of learning. It is woven into my family’s story,” Tamra noted. “So, for my family, this evening feels full circle – one generation cheering on the next, with gratitude for the past and excitement for everything still to come.”
During her speech, Tamra reflected on her career and life’s journey. From growing up in Freeland, PA, Tamra has worked in four different industries, lived in 5 different states, and visited countless countries. To the Class of 2026, she said: “The world ahead of you is big, exciting, and full of possibilities. And the education you have received here at MMI is one of the greatest gifts your families have given you — a foundation that will serve you for the rest of your life … Now it is your turn to build on it,” she said.
Members of MMI’s Class of 2026, their parents, and their hometowns are as follows:
Cedrah Jihad Abdulrahman, daughter of Basema and Jihad Abdulrahman of Hazleton; Hasan Abid Arain, son of Dr. Farah Rashid and Muhammad Arain of Bear Creek Township; Morgan Lorraine Beerbower, daughter of Ashley and Nathan Beerbower of Sugarloaf; Frederick Kazuki Blaine, son of Aya and Michael Blaine of Weatherly; Alexis Shea Bleiler, daughter of Heather and Eric Bleiler of Mountain Top; Jozef Junior Dovicak, son of Lucia and Jozef Dovicak of Blakeslee; John Thomas Ferry III, son of Dr. Lisa and John Ferry of Drums; Jandel Alexxis Figueroa, son of Jomaira and Luis Montero of Freeland; Adam Parker Frask, son of Hope and Corey Frask of Drums; Samantha Justine Gatts, daughter of Jamie and Justin Gatts of Conyngham; Ava Zhixia Genetti, daughter of Dana and Alan Genetti of Sugarloaf; Benjamin Edward Gombeda, son of Joyce and Edward Gombeda of Freeland; Gabriel Joseph Horvath III, son of Lindsay Flock of Conyngham and Gabe Horvath of Sugarloaf; Andrea Mae Jimenez, daughter of Elizabeth Jimenez of Hazleton; Cameron Joseph Kress, son of Tracy and Joseph Kress of Sugarloaf; Christopher John Laverty, son of Melissa and William Laverty of Mountain Top; Mehak Manzoor, daughter of Uzma Sharif and Manzoor Hassan of Mountain Top; Joseph Michael Mayernik, son of Valerie Rudawski and Thomas Mayernik of Freeland; Cassidy Renee McDermott, daughter of Lesley and Terrence McDermott of White Haven; Yeleiny Katlin Paniagua, daughter of Jesenia Jimenez of West Hazleton; Sharan Parikh, son of Payal and Vishal Parikh of Mountain Top; Rishi Chirag Patel, son of Jinal and Chirag Patel of Drums; Bryce Henry Radzwich, son of Keelyn and Craig Radzwich of Conyngham; Christian Ethan Schulz, son of Larissa and Lawrence Schulz of Freeland; Erica Schwear, daughter of Lisa and John Schwear of Sugarloaf; Caleb Powell Skuba, son of Millini and Gary Skuba of Drums; Arushi Solgama, daughter of Arti and Dr. Pareshkumar Solgama of Mountain Top; Jayden Richard Unger, son of Allison and Richard Unger of Conyngham; Georgia Marie Washko, daughter of Jennifer Oswald-Washko and Mark Washko of Drums; David Michael Yamulla, son of Molli and David Yamulla of Sugarloaf; and Madelyn Anelle Young, daughter of Nicole and Christian Young of Freeland.