MMI News

MMI Preparatory School juniors Allison McGeehan and Kevin Cibak and sophomores John Malay and Mahad Muhammad each won awards during the Pennsylvania Bar Association Mock Trial district competition at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. McGeehan, the daughter of Thomas and Sandra McGeehan of Drums, and Cibak, the son of James and Deidre Cibak of Sugarloaf, both won best advocate awards. Malay, the son of John and Kathryn Malay of Jim Thorpe, and Muhammad, the son of Ikram and Alia Muhammad of Mountaintop, were each crowned best witness. The winners were chosen by the opposing team.

BB&T Bank made a $5,000 contribution to MMI Preparatory School through the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program that provides students with need-based financial aid.

MMI Preparatory School held an induction ceremony on February 4 for students who joined the National Art Honor Society. The students inducted into MMI’s Chroma Chapter are Victoria Kline, daughter of Dr. John and Dr. June Kline, Mountaintop; Danielle Pileggi, daughter of Daniel and Sandra Pileggi, Albrightsville; Kryslyn Postupack, granddaughter of Andrew and Mary Postupack, Hazleton; and Erin Sari, daughter of Izzet and Mumine Sari, Sugarloaf.

MMI Preparatory School in Freeland recently received a $955 contribution from First National Community Bank (FNCB) through the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program to go toward need-based scholarships at the school. MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood said, “FNCB’s contribution is greatly appreciated by the entire MMI family, particularly the students who will directly benefit from it by receiving financial aid. On behalf of those students and their families, I would like to express our gratitude to FNCB.”

All the proceeds from ticket sales for the Preppers’ varsity basketball game against G.A.R. on January 29 were donated to the cause. Additionally, the students collected donations through a t-shirt and towel sale. The Coaches vs. Cancer program empowers coaches, their teams and communities to join the fight against cancer by participating in awareness efforts, advocacy programs and fundraising activities. Guided by the Coaches vs. Cancer Council, participating coaches help people with cancer today and to find cures to end the disease tomorrow and have raised more than $87 million to help the American Cancer Society’s mission.

Ayla Cooper, an eighth grade student at MMI Preparatory School, won MMI’s competition in the first round of the 28th annual National Geographic Bee and will advance for a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship. Cooper, the daughter of Lea Cooper of White Haven and Jason Cooper of Avoca, will take a qualifying test for the state competition. Up to 100 of the top scorers on the test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state competition on April 1. MMI eighth grader Benjamin Putnam, the son of Benjamin and Andrea Putnam of Sugarloaf, finished second...

MMI Preparatory School senior Lauren Toscano won a Gold Key award in the Scholastic Writing Awards’ Northeast Writing Region-at-Large competition and will have her work advance to New York City for national consideration. Toscano, the daughter of Jessica Toscano of Drums, won the top prize for her writing portfolio, “I Wasn’t There.” Senior Lindsey Walko and junior Joshua Narrow both won a Silver Key award and junior Olivia Minzola won Honorable Mention. Walko, the daughter of Lawrence and Debbie Brenner-Walko of Drums, won for her flash fiction entry, “Green Dress.” Narrow, the son of Howard and Marie Narrow of Hazleton,...

MMI Preparatory School sophomore Angelica Alday advanced to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s District 9 Regional Orchestra Festival (PMEA) and will compete with 120 other students for a spot in the PMEA State Orchestra Festival. Alday placed sixth in the first violin section following seating auditions for the District 9 Orchestra Festival to advance to the regional competition. The PMEA Northeast Region Orchestra Festival comprises students from District 9 and District 10 and will be held from February 24-26 at Twin Valley High School in Elverson.

Seniors Charles Bower and Lindsey Walko and junior Joshua Narrow captured first place at the Pennsylvania School Press Association regional journalism competition and will represent MMI Preparatory School at the state competition in March. At the state competition, Bower will compete in the artwork category, while Narrow will compete in the poetry category. Both Bower and Narrow have work published in the MMI Preparatory School Literary Magazine. Walko is the Yearbook Editor and the Production Editor for the literary magazine and will compete in the copywriting category. Jennifer Novotney serves as advisor for the MMI literary magazine and Grete DeAngelo...

Students in MMI’s Interact Club made sure this winter will be a little brighter – and warmer – for area residents in need. Interact Club students donated a collection of mittens, scarves, and hats to the Salvation Army as part of the Club’s Mitten Tree Project. MMI students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to donate the items and place them on four trees in the school’s common area. Club President Katie Eschenbach, Vice President Doug Genetti, Secretary Erin Sari, and Treasurer Ryan Eschenbach coordinated the effort. The project’s faculty advisers are Michael Scarlato, Timothy Garvey, Katie Zucco, and Susan Moyer.

Several MMI Preparatory School athletes received postseason honors for their outstanding play during the fall 2015 sports season. Seniors Alyssa Famalette, Mikayla Dove, and Terrance Jankouskas and junior Keenan Overa were all selected to the Wyoming Valley Conference Soccer Coaches first team. Seniors Jay Solgama and Devon Faul and juniors Kevin Cibak and Dylan Slusser received WVC Soccer Coaches second team honors. In girls’ volleyball, junior Dana Carrato and sophomore Gabriella Kupsho earned honorable mentions from the Wyoming Valley Conference Coaches Association. Junior tennis player Elizabeth Pinto and sophomore golfer George Palermo were both Citizens’ Voice All-Star first team selections.

The MMI Preparatory School Student Council conducted two drives to collect canned goods, toiletries, and monetary donations to benefit the area needy. Following in the philanthropic traditions of school founders Eckley and Sophia Coxe, the students collected over 610 cans and $160 to benefit the Freeland Thanksgiving food drive. Students also collected 189 toiletry items to benefit the homeless population. Jacob Weiksner and Elizabeth Pinto, right, were the student event coordinators. Michael Scarlato, left, and Anthony Cusat are the Student Council Advisors.

MMI Preparatory School freshman Andrew Decker finished second in the recent Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition at the WVIA-TV studios in Pittston. Decker, the son of Aaron Decker of Kingston and Elizabeth and Troy Topolski of Sugarloaf, competed against other students from throughout Luzerne, Lackawanna, northwestern Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and eastern Wyoming counties.

Julia Snyder captured first place in MMI Preparatory School’s annual Spanish II Piñata contest. The contest continues the Spanish tradition of constructing papier-mâché figures for children’s celebrations, birthdays, holidays, and traditional festivals.

MMI Preparatory School has received a grant that it will use toward new equipment for the school’s science and technology department. MMI was nominated for the $1,000 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance grant by Liberty Petroleum Distributors of New Milford. The grant funds are specifically designated for math or science departments. MMI plans to use the grant money to purchase a form scanner for its new 3D printer and the associated software.

MMI Preparatory School recognized six students as the “Best of the Best” during an assembly program held at the school recently. The overall Best of the Best honor for the first semester was awarded to senior Luke Yamulla, son of Dr. Robert and Atty. Ann Yamulla of Sugarloaf, for his presentation on presidential candidates. The school’s assembly program provides each student with the opportunity to explore varied subject areas not typically studied in the classroom. Students present a topic of interest to them such as art, music, geography, or culture before a larger audience than they would be exposed to...