Photo: MMI’s second-place team, from left to right: Siya Patel ’28, Gabby Carsia ’28, Marissa Yamulla ’28, Shreeya Parikh ’28, and Ariana Larsen ’28.
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.
