Graduation 2025

MMI Preparatory School honored the Class of 2025 during its 133rd commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 22.

This year’s graduating class of 30 seniors were accepted at more than 80 percent of the colleges they applied to. At those colleges, the seniors were awarded over $3,200,000 in academic merit scholarships and awards.

Students from the graduating class provided remarks about the occasion, highlighting their transformations during their time at MMI, and the support they received from their classmates and staff. “That’s when I realized that I wasn’t the same timid 6th grader I was when I first came to MMI.” Kendall Orozco, 2025 Valedictorian, remarked regarding the beginning of her education. She would later comment on what helped her become more outgoing. “MMI brought me out of my shell, and what made the biggest difference in my life was meeting the students who go here.”

Diane Kim, 2025 Class President, would echo this sentiment by saying, “The connections and relationships we have with one another today are only one example of how our class has grown and changed immensely throughout our time at MMI. Little did we know, all the after-school Garlic Knot and gas station runs, locker room pranks and lunch table conversations, awards ceremonies and spirit weeks, as well as so many other countless memories, would little by little shape us into the seniors and soon-to-be-graduates we are today.”

The theme of transformation, one’s roots and future, was shown in their class banner, as well as a tribute to the late Mr. Gerard Pierotti, an MMI Math teacher who passed away last summer. The banner, which was presented by Winni Zheng, represents years of change while leaning into the idea of space — a topic beloved by Mr. Pierotti. It features minecarts going into space, as an homage to MMI’s beginnings and the graduating classes’ future.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Jack Della Croce ‘73, owner and dentist at Della Croce Dental Care in Freeland, advised students that it’s about the little decisions they make that will truly shape their future, or as he referred to them as, “micro-choices.”

“These are small, seemingly insignificant decisions that actually shape the course of your life and ultimately determine your impact on the world. They are decisions that, in the moment, might not feel important, but when you look back, you’ll realize that they made all the difference.” Things like the people the students choose to hang out with, their study habits, and work ethic, will have an effect throughout their college career and life.

• The Joseph A. Chaykowski ’48 Memorial Prize for Mathematics and Science: Alexander Composto
• The Freeland Rotary Service Above Self Award: Diane Kim
• The MMI Faculty Award: Daniel Griffith

Members of MMI’s Class of 2025, their parents, and their hometowns are as follows:

Chloe Ann Allen, child of Brian Allen of Freeland and Lynne Allen of Freeland; Willa Elle Bartholomew, child of Dean and Cheryl Bartholomew of Jim Thorpe; Xavier Jon Bleiler, child of Eric and Heather Bleiler of Mountain Top; Corey Tyler Buchman, child of Christopher Buchman of Freeland; Lydia Chen, child of Cui Min Gao of Freeland; Alexander Stephen Composto, child of Stephen and Nicole Composto of Freeland; Eve Mary Corazza, child of Albert and Jasmine Corazza of Sugarloaf; Dante Asher DeStefano, child of Richard and Helen DeStefano of Freeland; Daniel Katchur Griffith, child of James Griffith and Amy Katchur of Hazleton; Brayden Harleman, child of Drew Harleman of Jim Thorpe and Kristi Harleman of Hazleton; Joshua Moisey Hoover, child of Adam Hoover and Dr. Jennifer Moisey of Sugarloaf; Thomas James Horvat, child of Thomas and Lisa Horvat of Drums; Aiden Michael Hosier, child of Barry and Marcianna Hosier of West Pittston; Diane Dain Kim, child of Chun Kim and Sul Min of Frackville; Michael Patrick Kranyak, child of Michael and Anita Kranyak of Hazle Township; Mary Katherine Kupsky, child of Colby Vonderheid and Lori Blue of Bear Creek Township; Gracie Madison Magula, child of Gerard and Dr. Sarah Magula of Hazleton; Joshua David Naugle, child of David and Linda Naugle of Hazle Township; Kendall Reese Orozco, child of Christopher and Tricia Orozco of Zion Grove; Kiyan Paknezhad, child of Dr. Hassan Paknezhad and Elham Naghdi Sedeh of Mountain Top; Nicholas Louis Pantages, child of Louis and Cynthia Pantages of Lake Harmony; Evan Charles Pedri, child of Atty. C. David and Holly Pedri of Drums; Isaiah Perez-Serrano, child of Isaias Perez Diaz and Josefina Serrano of Hazleton; Lucas Anthony Pesotine, child of Rebecca Bredbenner of Freeland and Anthony Pesotine of Hazleton; Jason Basil Roberts, child of Dale and Sharon Roberts of Freeland; Hayden Casper Schwabe, child of Marybeth Hayden of Hazle Township and Scott Schwabe of Hazleton; Lilli Amelya Warner-Senape, child of James Senape III ’91 and Kimberly Warner-Senape of White Haven; Isabelle Grace Wells, child of Ricky Wells and Dolores Craig of Wapwallopen; Joshua William Witner, child of Michael and Kristi Witner of Freeland; Winni Zheng, child of Lili Lin of Jim Thorpe.