From May 17-19, 26 MMI Preparatory school student scientists traveled to Penn State University to represent the School at the 2026 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) State Competition. The event brought together students from across the Commonwealth to present original research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MMI’s delegation achieved outstanding results, earning 14 first-place awards, 12 second-place awards, and four perseverance awards. Anna Zaroda ’27 earned a perfect score and received the coveted Zappa Award for her mathematics project. This award is given to two high school juniors or seniors who have shown outstanding work in the fields of physics, mathematics, engineering, or computer science and comes with a $150 prize.

Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long noted, “Opportunities like PJAS allow our students to move beyond the classroom and experience what it means to think critically, communicate ideas confidently, and engage in meaningful research. Having our students present their work alongside peers from across Pennsylvania is incredibly rewarding, and we are proud of the way they represented MMI through both their academic achievement and professionalism.”

Mr. Michael Mele, Chair of MMI’s Science Department and PJAS advisor, added, “The level of scientific inquiry and dedication demonstrated by our students this year was exceptional. These projects required months of research, experimentation, problem-solving, and perseverance. To see so many students recognized at the state level speaks not only to their talent, but also to their willingness to challenge themselves and fully embrace the scientific process.”

The following MMI students earned first-place awards: Sahiba Kaur ’30, Megan Yamulla ’30, Siya Patel ’28, Andrew Pedri ’28, Angel Reymunde ’28, Gavin Serock ’28, Marissa Yamulla ’28, Katherine Arias ’27, Christina Chrin ’27, Ruhani Shah ’27, Anna Zaroda ’27, Sharon Zhuang ’27, Alexis Bleiler ’26, and Arushi Solgama ’26. 

The following MMI students earned second-place awards: Riley Mason ’30, Lance Lispi ’29, Gabriella Carsia ’28, Anna Drobnock ’28, Jackson Moore ’28, Olivia Moore ’28, Zachary Naugle ’28, Arianny Nieves ’28, Shreeya Parikh ’28, Ian Composto ’27, Yeleiny Paniagua ’26, and Madelyn Young ’26.

Perseverance awards were given to the following MMI students for the achievement of competing at the PJAS state level for a certain number of consecutive years: Ian Composto ’27 (four years), Anna Zaroda ’27 (five years), Yeleiny Paniagua ’26 (four years), and Arushi Solgama ’26 (five years). 

On the trip, the MMI PJAS team was led by faculty advisors Mr. Tony Bianco, Mrs. Shannon Falcheck, and Ms. Michele Tyburski. Spencer Lovrinic accompanied the group as a chaperone.For more information about PJAS and the state competition, visit pjas.net/state-competition.

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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.

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On Thursday, May 14, MMI Preparatory School held its annual Athletic Awards Banquet at Valley Country Club in Sugarloaf to honor all student athletes throughout the ’25-’26 school year.

Mrs. Theresa Long, Head of School, shared, “Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate what it means to compete with passion, integrity, and pride. Whether earning championships, supporting teammates, or balancing the demands of academics and athletics, they represent MMI exceptionally well. The Athletic Awards Banquet was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only their accomplishments, but also the commitment and sportsmanship that define Prepper athletics.”

Athletic Director Mr. Joseph Flanagan added, “This year’s athletes gave our community so many moments to celebrate across every season. What stands out most is the way our students continue to support one another and compete with heart. From our seniors leaving a lasting legacy to our younger athletes stepping into leadership roles, this group showed tremendous dedication to their teams and to MMI. It was great to come together and recognize all they achieved throughout the year.”

During the ceremony, athletes received awards in the MVP, Most Improved, and Coach’s Award categories, and varsity letter recipients were recognized.

The following awards were given:

Boys Basketball: Jandel Figueroa ’26 (MVP), Jozef Dovicak ’26 (Most Improved), and Ben Gombeda ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

Girls Tennis: Ava Genetti ’26 (MVP), Maia Laverty ’28 (Most Improved), and Mehak Manzoor ’26 (Coach’s Award).

Boys Tennis: Max Bleiler ’27 (MVP), Sharan Parikh ’26 (Coach’s Award), and Joseph Mayernik ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

Boys Cross Country: Clark Young ’28 (MVP), Thomas Petrick ’27 (Most Improved), and Gavyn Corchado ’27 (Coach’s Award). 

Girls Cross Country: Anna Zaroda ’27 (MVP), Delilah Yatsko ’27 (Most Improved), and Amanda Stoffa ’27 (Coach’s Award). 

Girls Volleyball: Alexa Fazio ’27 (Co-MVP), Cassidy McDermott ’26 (Co-MVP), and Victoria Park ’29 (Most Improved). 

Golf: Joseph Mayernik ’26 (MVP), Caleb Skuba ’26 (Most Improved), and Madelyn Young ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

Boys Volleyball: Rishi Patel ’26 (MVP), Jozef Dovicak ’26 (Coach’s Award), and Akshay Narayanashetty ’27 (Most Improved). 

Varsity Soccer: Andrew Pedri ’28 (Offensive MVP), Xavier Reymunde Wittmer ’28 (Defensive MVP), and Hasan Arain ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

Varsity Baseball: Caleb Skuba ’26 (MVP), Ben Gombeda ’26 (Most Improved), and Bryce Radzwich ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

Mid School Soccer: Mason Makoweic ’31 (Co-MVP), Jacob Hoffman ’31 (Co-MVP), and Randy Skuba ’31 (Coach’s Award). 

Mid School Basketball: Mason Makoweic ’31 (MVP), Paxton Bleiler ’30 (Most Improved), and Owen Farell ’30 (Coach’s Award). 

Mid School Volleyball: Gabrielle Serock ’30 (MVP), Riley Mason ’30 (Most Improved), and Megan Yamulla ’30 (Coach’s Award).

Mid School Baseball: Jaxon Lyman ’30 (MVP), Kamil Gonzalez Arias ’30 (MVP), and Alex Diaz ’30 (Coach’s Award). 

Mid School Cheerleading: Gabriella Vasquez ’30 (MVP), Addison Marie Pecile ’32 (Most Improved), and Aria Karnoski ’31 (Coach’s Award). 

Upper School Cheerleading: Erica Schwear ’26 (MVP), Calli Mason ’28 (Coach’s Award), and Gabriella Carsia ’28 (Coach’s Award). 

Girls Varsity Basketball: Anna Drobnock ’28 (MVP), Keirsi Mooney ’29 (Most Improved), and Georgia Washko ’26 (Coach’s Award). 

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MMI Preparatory School recognized the achievements of its high school students during the Upper School Awards Ceremony on May 13. This annual event, hosted by Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long, honors students from ninth to twelfth grades who showcase excellence in various subjects and events. 

“This evening is a celebration of students who have challenged themselves to think critically, lead with purpose, and pursue excellence both inside and outside the classroom,” Mrs. Long noted. “Our Upper School students continue to distinguish themselves through scholarship, creativity, service, and resilience. From academic achievement and research to leadership and community involvement, these students represent the very best of MMI, and we are excited to see the impact they will make in the years ahead.”

During the ceremony, the American Legion’s Academic Excellence Awards were presented by Commander Gerald Gaffney, Mr. Robert DeJohn, and Ms. Laura Strober of the Freeland American Legion Post and Auxiliary 473 to Alexis Blieler ’26 and Sharan Parikh ’26. The 2026 American Legion Award was awarded to senior Cedrah Abdulrahman. The American Legion Essay Award was awarded to Tyler Swericek ’29 for his response to the prompt: “Is the American Dream still relevant today?”

Ms. Joanne Gerhard and Mrs. Jennifer Oakum of MMI presented the next award on behalf of the Drums Lioness Club, an extension of the Lions Club International. This club awarded Ava Genetti ’26 for showing the qualities of leadership and community-minded volunteerism.

Cassidy McDermott ’26 was honored with the White Haven Lions Award. Candidates for this honor must reside within the 18661 zip code and be accepted as a full-time student to a degree program at an accredited institution. 

The Freeland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5010 recognized three MMI students for excellence in the Voice of  Democracy Competition: Erica Schwear ’26 (First Place), Ava Genetti ’26 (Second Place), and Ian Composto ’27 (3rd Place). The VFW established the Voice of Democracy program in 1947 to provide students in grades nine through twelve the opportunity to express themselves regarding democratic ideas and principles. 

Seven MMI students received the College Board School Recognition Award for demonstrating outstanding academic achievement within their high school community: Eliza Garcia ’27, Sharan Parikh ’26, Cassidy McDermott ’26, Frederick Blaine ’26, Arushi Solgama ’26, Joseph Mayernik ’26, and Morgan Beerbower ’26.  

Five MMI students received recognition from The College Board’s National First-Generation Recognition Program. This program is designed to recognize high-achieving students who are first-generation college students. This year’s recipients are: Gavyn Corchado ’27, Eliza Garcia ’27, Sharan Parikh ’26, Cedrah Abdulrahman ’26, and Mehak Manzoor ’26.

Bryce Radzwich ’26 was the recipient of this year’s Hazleton Area Garden Michele Fellin Scholarship, which recognizes students in Luzerne, Carbon, or Schuylkill counties studying horticulture, botany, environmental science, or related fields. 

Mr. David Pedri, President of The Luzerne Foundation, joined the ceremony to recognize students who earned the Ed Hughes Memorial Scholarship and Mary Santella Swart Scholarship. The Ed Hughes Memorial Scholarship was presented to Adam Frask ’26 and Erica Schwear ’26. This scholarship, made possible by a fund set up by Mr. Ed Hughes, is awarded to students who display a strong sense of character, who are committed to their communities, and who choose to pursue their education despite facing challenges. Gabriel Horvath ’26 earned the Mary Santella Swart Scholarship, awarded to students in the Hazleton Area School District who plan to further their education. 

Ann Marie Kistler, the widow of John Kister, took the stage to present a scholarship honoring her husband’s legacy to Ava Genetti ’26.

Senator David G. Argall honored Erica Schwear ’26 and Caleb Skuba ’26 with the Good Citizenship Award for exemplifying the qualities of good citizenship through their display of outstanding character, leadership, and scholarship. 

Annually, the Greater Hazleton Area Polonaise Society honors the highest achieving Polish American graduate of MMI with an award in honor of Mr. Jake Kislan ’56. Contributors to this year’s scholarship are The Wydock Family in memory of their mother, Agnes Wydock, and the Kopetskie family in memory of their parents, Thomas and Florence Kopetskie. This year’s recipient was Joseph Mayernik ’26.

Awards were also given to underclass students who showed outstanding contributions, achievements, and dedication to an individual subject area in the past academic year. Those students were:

Freshmen: Eleanor Onufer (History), Nilson Tejeda (Math), Jade Quijandria (English), Jeremy Arias (Visual Arts), Marlow Basalyga (Performing Arts), Robert Brighthaupt (Chinese Language), Stella Horvath (French), and Eleanor Onufer (Spanish Language, Science). 

Sophomores: Marissa Yamulla (History, Math), Arianna Larsen (English, Chinese Language), Max Temchatin (Visual Arts), Madalynn Young (Performing Arts), Kayleigh Erickson (French), Angel Reymunde (Spanish Language), Siya Patel (Science)

Juniors: Amanda Stoffa (History, Visual Arts), Eliza Garcia (Math), Katelyn Gera (English), Christina Chrin (Performing Arts), Sharon Zhuang (Chinese Language, Science), and Angelina Seeba (Spanish Language). 

Delilah Yatsko ’27 was presented with this year’s Producer Award for her work on The Shakespeare Festival. This student-led and produced event highlights adolescent ability to perform and produce with minimal adult orchestration. 

Six students were recognized for their excellent performances on the National Spanish Exam: Sophie Schulz ’29 (Class Experience Category, Honorable Mention), Alviso Encarnacion ’28 (Bilingual Category), Angel Reymunde ’28 (Class Experience Category, Honorable Mention), Angelina Seeba ’27 (Class Experience Category, Honorable Mention), Eliza Garcia ’27 (Class Experience Category, Bronze), and Katherin Arias ’27 (Billingual Category, Silver).

The MMI Ambassador Service Award was presented to Erica Schwear ’26 for promoting the school at various admission events and seeking out opportunities to volunteer at events geared toward current parents and alumni.

During the ceremony, the winners of MMI’s reimagined Open House were named. This year, each student was required to develop an independent research project while working collaboratively with other grades. The project reflected pride in the subject matter through research and extensive preparation. All projects were evaluated by an off-campus team of judges who selected the winners in the two categories of STEM and Multicultural. Sixth graders worked collaboratively with ninth graders on STEM projects, and seventh graders worked with tenth graders on Multicultural projects. Members of the eighth grade had fun working with the eleventh grade on food projects that were held in the gym. Seniors completed a capstone project. 

The upper-school winners who were recognized at the awards ceremony include:

STEM (Ninth Grade Winners): Keirsi Mooney (First Place), Brayden Hoover (Second Place), and Lissa Garcia (Third Place).

Multicultural (Tenth Grade Winners): Justin Park (First Place), Siya Patel (Second Place), and Arianny Nieves (Third Place).

Food (Eleventh Grade First-Place Winners): Katherin Arias, Christina Chrin, and Alexa Fazio for Allergen-Friendly Baked Goods. 

Senior Captione Winners: “Bio-Reactive Bandages” by Alexis Bleiler, Jozef Dovicak, Sharan Parikh, Rishi Patel, and Arushi Solgama. 

Christina Chrin ’27 was given the American Red Cross Scholarship Award.  

The #GARYINSPIRED ME Award was presented to Sharan Parikh ’26.

The University of Pennsylvania offers a Book Award program as part of its Association of Alumnae’s annual awards. This program recognizes outstanding high school juniors, with the award presented annually to a student who embodies the qualities of a scholar, innovator, and community servant, reminiscent of Benjamin Franklin. This year’s recipient was Amanda Stoffa ’27.

Next, awards sponsored by The University of Rochester were presented to the following students: Ruhani Shah ’27 earned the 2026 George Eastman Kodak Young Leaders Award and Scholarship; Sharon Zhuang ’27 was awarded the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award; Delilah Yatsko ’27 received the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences; and Amanda Stoffa ’27 was presented with the Rensselaer Medal Award & Scholarship.    

Jacob Gatts ’27 earned the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Innovation Award for his outstanding potential in STEM fields.                      

Each year, Russell Sage College is proud to recognize students who excel in the classroom while being engaged in the community. The winners of this year’s Student Sage Award were: Yoreimy Aponte ’27, Avari Deangelo ’27, Akshay Narayanashetty ’27, and Amber Quijandria ’27.

Keuka College presented the George H. Ball Community Achievement Award to Mia Jones ’27 and Roman Williams ’27.

The Centre Fellows Program Award was presented to Maximus Bleiler ’27 and Zachary Jordan ’27.

The Elmira College Key Awards, sponsored by the Elmira College Alumni Association, were given to Philip Benyo ’27 and Anna Zaroda ’27.                                                 

The Rochester Institute of Technology High School Awards Program recognized the following six students who distinguished themselves academically and are active members in their school and community: Ali Mehran ’27 received the 2026 RIT Computing Medal; Angelina Seeba ’27 received the 2026 RIT Humanities and Social Science Award; Alexa Fazio ’27 received the 2026 RIT Engineering and Technology Award; Gavyn Corchado ’27 received the 2026 RIT Math and Science Award; Ian Composto ’27 received the RIT Business and Leadership Award; and Katelyn Gera ’27 received the RIT Art and Design award.

The Junior Scholars Program at High Point University presented awards to Eliza Garcia ’27 and Kenedy Lutz ’27.

The Chatham University Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award was presented to Amanda Stoffa ’27.

The Alfred University Outside of Ordinary Scholarship Award was presented to Nicholas Swaditch ’27.

The Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University and the Ceramic Association of New York (CANY) Award was presented to Eliza Garcia ’27.

The Bonnie Scholarship at Saint Bonaventure University was awarded to Katherine Arias ’27, Nicholas Erickson ’27, Alexa Fazio ’27, Nathaniel Kringe ’27, and Savannah Romero ’27.

The District 2 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Award was presented to Yeleiny Paniagua ’26 and Adam Frask ’26.

The Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Scholarship was awarded to Joseph Mayernik ’26. 

The final awards of the evening were the Eckley B. Coxe, Jr. Memorial Subject Awards. Eckley B. Coxe, Jr., was the nephew of MMI founder Eckley B. Coxe. A trustee of the Mining and Mechanical Institute, now MMI Preparatory School, he donated the funds necessary to establish a series of monetary awards recognizing academic excellence in each subject area over the student’s entire tenure in the Upper School. The winners were: Cassidy McDermott ’26 (English), Sharan Parikh ’26 (History), Alexis Bleiler ’26 (Math), Gabriel Horvath ’26 (Science), Cedrah Abdulrahman ’26 (Chinese Language), Arushi Solgama ’26 (Spanish Language), Madelyn Young ’26 (Visual Arts), and Erica Schwear ’26 (Performing Arts). 

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On Tuesday, May 12, MMI Preparatory School held a ceremony to honor middle school students for their academic achievements, induct members into the National Junior Honor Society, and honor the eighth graders with a Rising Up Ceremony as they move into the Upper School next year.

Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long noted, “This ceremony celebrated so much more than academic success. It recognized perseverance, creativity, leadership, and the willingness of our students to challenge themselves and grow. From the classroom to Open House projects to service and scholarship, our middle school students continue to impress us with their character and enthusiasm for learning. We are excited to watch our eighth graders rise into Upper School and continue making their mark on the MMI community.”

During the ceremony, representatives from the Freeland American Legion and Auxiliary presented the American Legion Award to four eighth graders with the highest grade point average: Sihiba Kaur, Rian Patel, Riley Mason, and Owen Farrell. Sahiba Kaur and Owen Farrell were also honored with the Good Citizenship Award. This award is given to students who exemplify good citizenship through character, leadership, and scholarship.

MMI also presented subject awards in each grade to the following students:

Sixth Grade – Caden Rebarchak (Music), James Wilson (Visual Arts), George Skuba (Geography, Science), Bennett Young (English), and David Falcheck (Math). 

Seventh Grade – Aria Karnowski (Music, Math, Science), Elaina Seltzer (Visual Arts), Mason Makowiec (Geography, English), Evelyn Jacobs (Health), and Athena Lee (Latin).

Eighth Grade – Rian Patel (Music, Science, Foreign Language), Janelle Cabrera (Visual Arts, Geography), Owen Farrell (English), and Sihiba Kaur (Math). 

Ryan Bonifacio ’30, David Falcheck ’32, Kamil Gonzalez Arias ’30, Aria Karnoski ’31, Sahiba Kaur ’30, Riley Mason ’30, Maahi Patel ’31, and Caden Rebarchak ’32 were also recognized for their outstanding work in the annual MATHCOUNTS competition.

Next, students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. NJHS represents an organization of the world’s highest-achieving middle-level students and provides an outstanding opportunity to grow with academically accomplished peers who are sharpening the habits needed for success in high school and beyond. The students inducted were: Kamil Gonzalez Arias ’30, Nathaniel Belanger ’30, Paxton Bleiler ’30, Ryan Bonifacio ’30, Janelle Cabrera ’30, Alexander Diaz ’30, Kai Duran ’30, Owen Farrell ’30, Ernesto Ahmari Garay ’30, Odin Hixenbaum ’30, Sahiba Kaur ’30, Zachary Lobitiz ’30, Jaxon Lyman ’30, Riley Mason ’30, Avery Orozco ’30, Ivan Ortiz ’30, Rian Patel ’30, Addison Postko ’30, Mathias Santana ’30, Gabrielle Serock ’30, Gabriella Vasquez ’30, Megan Yamulla ’30, and Kamila Zea ’30.

During the ceremony, the winners of MMI’s annual Open House were named. This year, Open House was reimagined. Each student was required to develop an independent research project while working collaboratively with other grades. The project reflected pride in the subject matter through research and extensive preparation. All projects were evaluated by an off-campus team of judges who selected the winners in the two categories of STEM and Multicultural. Sixth graders worked collaboratively with ninth graders on STEM projects, and seventh graders worked with tenth graders on Multicultural projects. Members of the eighth grade had fun working with the 11th grade on food projects that were held in the gym.

The middle-school winners who were recognized at the awards ceremony include:

STEM (Sixth Grade Winners): Bennett Young (First Place), Eliot Elick (Second Place), and Alexander Cabe (Third Place).

Multicultural (Seventh Grade Winners): Jake Hoffman (First Place), Derek Reyes (Second Place), and Dylan Duran (Third Place).

The event concluded with the Rising Up Ceremony for MMI’s eighth-grade students, who were recognized by their advisors, Mrs. Shannon Falcheck and Ms. Jennifer Gerhard. The students received a gift as they ended this school year by “Rising Up” to start their Upper School careers in the fall.

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A team of five sophomores from MMI Preparatory School achieved second place at the 2026 Luzerne County Regional Envirothon competition held at Camp Kresge on April 21st. The team, consisting of Marissa Yamulla ’28, Siya Patel ’28, Shreeya Parikh ’28, Gabby Carsia ’28, and Ariana Larsen ’28, earned a cumulative score of 352 across all five exams. They also earned the highest overall score of 91 in Aquatics (a score tied by two other MMI teams) and the highest overall score of 82 in Wildlife. 

In total, six teams of students from grades 10 through 12 represented MMI at this year’s competition. Guided by faculty advisor Mr. Michael Mele and chaperone Dr. Heather Grimm, MMI’s students tested their knowledge in environmental science categories, including Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife, and this year’s Current Issue: “Non-Point Source Pollution: It Begins at Home!” Of the 35 teams in the competition, MMI’s top performers earned 2nd, 7th, 10th, 11th, 15th, and 23rd place. 

Mrs. Theresa Long, Head of School, stated, “Opportunities like Envirothon are a reflection of what makes MMI special. Our students are encouraged to step beyond the classroom and engage in meaningful experiences, all while being supported by dedicated faculty who mentor, guide, and challenge them to grow. It’s that combination of opportunity and support that helps our students thrive in School and beyond.”

Envirothon continues to be a vital part of MMI’s science programming. Faculty Advisor Mr. Michael Mele noted, “The Envirothon is about more than competition; it’s about building a deep understanding of the natural world through hands-on work. Watching students collaborate, problem-solve, and grow their confidence in the field is incredibly rewarding, and this group showed tremendous potential today.”

The participating MMI teams included:

Team A (2nd Place): Marissa Yamulla ’28, Siya Patel ’28, Shreeya Parikh ’28, Gabby Carsia ’28, and Ariana Larsen ’28.

Team D (7th Place): Madalynn Young ’28, Xavier Reymunde Wittmer ’28, Zach Naugle ’28, Isabella Destefano ’28, and Jared Santana ’28.

Team F (10th Place): Arushi Solgama ’26, Alexis Bleiler ’26, Rishi Patel ’26, Jozef Dovicak ’26, and Cassidy McDermott ’26.

Team B (11th Place): Justin Park ’28, Anthony Arias ’28, Angel Reymunde Wittmer ’28, Evan Polanco ’28, and Isaac Edmonds ’28.

Team C (15th Place): Caleb Skuba ’26, Benjamin Gombeda ’26, Gabe Horvath ’26, Adam Frask ’26, and David Yamulla ’26.

Team E (23rd Place): Erica Schwear ’26, Samantha Gatts ’26, Yeleiny Paniagua ’26, Cedrah Abdulrahman ’26, and Ava Genetti ’26.

Alternates: Amanda Stoffa ’27 and Denna Stellar ’28. 

The Envirothon competition is a long-standing tradition for MMI and an important opportunity for students to explore environmental careers and sustainability science in action.

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56 MMI Preparatory students participated in this year’s highly anticipated 75th anniversary celebration of the annual Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference, held on April 12-15 in Hershey, PA. 

During Monday night’s Opening Session, MMI’s FBLA chapter was awarded 1st in Local Market Share. The School received this recognition because 56% of its Upper School students are members of FBLA — the highest percentage in the state. 

Nearly 6,500 middle and high school students from 500 different schools competed in various events throughout the conference. MMI’s Ruhani Shah ’27, Yoreimy Aponte ’27, and Amanda Stoffa ’27 earned 2nd place in Social Media Strategies. 

“This year’s conference reflected the strength and engagement of our FBLA program,” Mrs. Katherine Zucco, MMI’s FBLA Advisor, said. “Earning first place in Local Market Share is a significant accomplishment, with more than half of our Upper School students involved in this co-curricular activity. I am especially proud of Ruhani, Yoreimy, and Amanda for their second-place finish, but, just as important, our students fully embraced the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues to build momentum for MMI FBLA.”

Throughout the conference, MMI students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a wide range of workshops, including “Make Your Mark with FBLA Collegiate” and “From FBLA Alum to Shark Tank: My Secret to Success.” John Hersker, an MMI alum from the class of 1976, also led two workshops titled “A Life in the Movies” and “Walt Disney: The Artist Who Built an Empire.” For MMI’s students, these experiences were inspiring and broadened their perspectives on leadership, creativity, and professional growth.

“Experiences like the FBLA State Leadership Conference give MMI students the opportunity to build confidence and leadership skills in real-world settings while representing our School with professionalism and pride. It was especially meaningful to see them connect with alumni like John Hersker ’76, whose presentations added to an already impactful experience. The level of student involvement in FBLA reflects a culture of initiative and engagement at MMI.” Mrs. Theresa Long, MMI’s Head of School, noted.

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MMI Preparatory School’s Prepper Playhouse is bringing the classic story of Willy Wonka to the stage on Friday, April 24th, and Saturday, April 25th. On both days, performances will be held at 7:00 pm in the Athletic and Drama Complex located at 154 Centre St in Freeland. Shows are open to the public.

Each year, the students in MMI’s Drama Club work hard to put on a great performance. Drama Advisor, Mrs. Joanne Oakum, sees this firsthand: “Willy Wonka has been such a fun and rewarding experience because of the commitment our students have shown from the very beginning. They have put in countless hours of hard work, supported one another throughout the process, and truly taken ownership of the production. For many of them, the theater is where they find their place, and it has been incredibly meaningful to watch them grow in confidence while bringing so much energy, creativity, and Prepper Pride to the stage.”

At MMI, being involved in extracurricular activities is one of the school’s core pillars of excellence: the guiding foundational principles of an MMI education. 

“Programs like the Prepper Playhouse are an essential part of the MMI experience because they give students the opportunity to grow in confidence, creativity, and collaboration,” said Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long. “Under the guidance of Mrs. Oakum, our students are challenged to take risks, support one another, and bring their talents to life on stage. The time and dedication she invests in this program creates an environment where students can truly thrive, both in performance and behind the scenes.”

Tickets to MMI’s production of Willy Wonka may be purchased at the door or online at www.boostmyschool.com/orgs/mmiprep/events/mmiprep-mmi-s-prepper-playhouse-presents-willy-wonka. The School recommends purchasing tickets online in advance, as the reserved seating for at-the-door sales is limited. 

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• Have a cumulative average in all subjects of 85.0
• Have attained an average of 75.0 or better in each course with no “incompletes”
• Be enrolled in a complete schedule of courses
• Have a satisfactory citizenship record for each school quarter

Inclusion of the honor roll gets added to a student’s permanent file. Students who achieved honor roll status are as follows:

Sixth Grade: Alexander Cabe of Freeland, Elliot Elick of Drums, David Falcheck of White Haven, Dylan Murmello of Blakeslee, Mike Pham of Hazleton, Caden Rebarchak of Drums, George Skuba of Sugarloaf, Virgil Vonderheid of Bear Creek Township, Charlotte Wilczak of Mountain Top, James Wilson of Mountain Top, and Bennett Young of Freeland.

Seventh Grade: Yordy Aponte of Hazle Township, Rachel Clark of Weatherly, Dylan Duran of Hazle Township, Renée Graham of Mountain Top, Jacob Hoffman of Drums, Aria Karnoski of Drums, Athena Lee of Drums, Mason Makowiec of Sugarloaf, Roshaan Mallhi of Berwick, Zakariya Mian of Mountain Top, Maahi Patel of Mountain Top, Derek Reyes Rodriguez of Hazleton, Charles Rogers of Drums, Elaina Seltzer of Mountain Top, and Randall Skuba of Sugarloaf. 

Eighth Grade: Paxton Bleiler of Mountain Top, Ryan Bonifacio of Hazleton, Janelle Cabrera of Drums, Alexander Diaz of Hazleton, Owen Farrell of Mountain Top, Ernesto Garay of Hazleton, Kamil Gonzalez Arias of Hazle Township, Odin Hixenbaugh of Hazle Township, Sahiba Kaur of Sugarloaf, Zachary Lobitz of Drums, Jaxon Lyman of White Haven, Riley Mason of Drums, Avery Orozco of Zion Grove, Rian Patel of Mountain Top, Addison Potsko of Mountain Top, Mathias Santana of West Hazleton, Gabrielle Serock of Sugarloaf, Megan Yamulla of Sugarloaf, and Kamila Zea of Hazleton.

Ninth Grade: Jeremiah Aquino of Hazleton, Marlow Basalyga of Hazleton, Jack Benyo of Drums, Bobby Brighthaupt of Bloomsburg, Jade Cabrera of Drums, Emma Casey of Freeland, Norjhely Cornelio Pena of Hazleton, Neal DeAngelo of Mountain Top, Brady Hoover of Sugarloaf, Stella Horvath of Conyngham, Lance Lispi of Lake Harmony, Mikaela Mauna of Freeland, Ashley Mendoza of West Hazleton, Keirsi Mooney of Mountain Top, Momin Muhammad of Mountain Top, Ellie Onufer of Mountain Top, Victoria Park of Hazle Township, Jade Quijandria of Hazleton, Thomas Rogers of Drums, Sophie Schulz of Freeland, Tyler Swircek of Hazleton, Nilson Tejeda, Jr. of Hazleton, and Ethan Ungemach of Sugarloaf.

Tenth Grade: Anthony Arias Tejeda of Hazleton, Gabriella Carsia of Sugarloaf, Isabella DeStefano of Freeland, Anna Drobnock of West Hazleton, Benjamin Drobnock of West Hazleton, Lucas Edmonds of Jim Thorpe, Kayleigh Erickson of Mountain Top, Jack Farrell of Mountain Top, Arianna Larsen of Drums, Maia Laverty of Mountain Top, Calli Mason of Drums, Jackson Moore of Hazleton, Olivia Moore of Hazleton, Patrick Moore of Hazleton, Zach Naugle of Hazle Township, Arianny Nieves of Hazleton, Thomas Pantages of Lake Harmony, Shreeya Parikh of Mountain Top, Justin Park of Hazle Township, Siya Patel of Sugarloaf, Andrew Pedri of Drums, Bianca Perez-Serrano of Hazleton, Evan Polanco of Berwick, Derek Radzwich of Conyngham, Angel Reymunde Wittmer of Mountain Top, Xavier Reymunde Wittmer of Mountain Top, Jared Santana of Freeland, Gavin Serock of Sugarloaf, Haden Stash of Hazle Township, Denna Stellar of Weatherly, Max Temchatin of Drums, Marissa Yamulla of Sugarloaf, Clark Young of Freeland, and Madalynn Young of Mountain Top.

Eleventh Grade: Yoreimy Aponte of Hazle Township, Katherine Arias of Hazleton, Philip Benyo of Drums, Maximus Bleiler of Mountain Top, Christina Chrin of Barnesville, Ian Composto of Freeland, Gavyn Corchado of Mountain Top, Avari DeAngelo of Mountain Top, Nicholas Erickson of Mountain Top, Alexa Fazio of Freeland, Eliza Garcia of Drums, Jacob Gatts of Conyngham, Katelyn Gera of Weatherly, Zachary Jordan of Drums, Nathaniel Kringe of Drums, Kenedy Lutz of Lake Harmony, Ali Mehran of Mountain Top, Akshay Narayanashetty of Mountain Top, Amber Quijandria of Hazleton, Savannah Romero of Hazleton, Angelina Seeba of Mountain Top, Ruhani Shah of Mountain Top, Amanda Stoffa of White Haven, Nicholas Swaditch of White Haven, Delilah Yatsko of Drums, Anna Zaroda of Mountain Top, and Sharon Zhuang of Conyngham.

Twelfth Grade: Cedrah Abdulrahman of Hazleton, Hasan Arain of Bear Creek Township, Frederick Blaine of Weatherly, Alexis Bleiler of Mountain Top, Jozef Dovicak of White Haven, JT Ferry of Drums, Adam Frask of Drums, Ava Genetti of Sugarloaf, Benjamin Gombeda of Freeland, Gabe Horvath of Conyngham, Joseph Mayernik of Freeland, Cassidy McDermott of White Haven, Yeleiny Paniagua of West Hazleton, Sharan Parikh of Mountain Top, Rishi Patel of Drums, Erica Schwear of Sugarloaf, Caleb Skuba of Drums, Arushi Solgama of Mountain Top, Jayden Unger of Conyngham, Georgia Washko of Drums, David Yamulla of Sugarloaf, and Madelyn Young of Freeland.

The post MMI Announces 2025-2026 Third Quarter Honor Roll List first appeared on MMI Preparatory School.

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania is honored to announce Erica Schwear ’26 from Luzerne County has earned the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Gold Award, for the 2026 Gold Award class.

For her project, Schwear expanded upon work she completed to earn her Silver Award. She had previously restored graves at a local historic cemetery, and she now wanted to teach others how to preserve history. She created a video for YouTube and TikTok, providing a tutorial of the steps required to repair headstones or other historic objects. Her project will be sustained as people can access the tutorial indefinitely.  

Schwear devoted a minimum of 80 hours to problem-solving, planning, and implementing her ideas for change. The impact of her Gold Award project will be felt long into the future, and Schwear has shown the next generation of girls what they are capable of accomplishing.

“We are so proud of Erica for achieving Gold Award Girl Scout status! MMI is a school deeply rooted in history, and Erica’s commitment to preserving the past is a deeply honorable one. Through her hard work, dedication, and service, Erica has proven herself to be a great role model to all of us at MMI,” said Mrs. Theresa Long, MMI’s Head of School.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. It’s available to girls in high school who create sustainable change for a community or world issue. Gold Award Girl Scouts address pressing issues in their communities and create sustainable change to make the world a better place.

The Gold Award process not only enables girls to help their communities but also provides tangible benefits as they grow as individuals. By going Gold, girls build professional skills, earn scholarships, build their network, and, for those interested in serving their country, are able to enlist at a higher pay grade when they join the military.

About Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges, whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike, or advocate for a cause that motivates them. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors and millions of alumnae, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and enact change. To join, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit www.gshpa.org.

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