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Re-imagining MMI’s freshmen orientation Most of us probably have long-standing family traditions that get us excited for various holidays and life events. Whether it’s Aunt Mary’s green bean casserole on Thanksgiving, hanging a pickle on the holiday tree, exchanging gag gifts, or diving into grandma’s homemade apple pie at family dinners, there are things that make us all look forward to certain events and gatherings. But sometimes, those traditions have to change. Maybe a marriage brings in new traditions, maybe grandma can no longer make the apple pie, maybe the pickle gets misplaced… but you still go forward and maybe, just maybe, the compromise you make leads to a new tradition being born. Freshmen Orientation has been a long-standing tradition at MMI. Looking back at old yearbooks, “Freshmen Initiation” is documented from the early 1940s and dates back even further in the Flashes. It’s no wonder that when the tradition faced some scrutiny there was alarm over how it would turn out. Early in the school year, the senior class was faced with the task of re-imagining Freshmen Orientation to comply with Pennsylvania’s anti-hazing laws and the inclusion of secondary schools and the school’s new anti-hazing policy. As tasks go, it was a big one, but they took it on
with grace and poise. The newly re-imagined Freshmen Orientation led to two days of activities in late September designed to create a bond between the freshmen and seniors that should last well beyond the current school year. It began with a “trust walk” where seniors walked their blindfolded freshmen partners to the fields for a morning of team-building games. The freshmen took the lead on the trust walk back to campus where they enjoyed a pizza lunch and a group costume contest. Later in the afternoon, the re-fashioned Pajama Parade, with both seniors and freshmen continuing the famous jaunt through Freeland in their PJs, was met with much excitement by students, parents, and community members. They were even joined by Interim Head of School D. Scott Wiggins, who donned his sleepwear and fell in step alongside the students. After the traditional group photo on the steps of Old Main, the seniors lined the sidewalks leading up to the entrance and welcomed the freshmen one by one in a “Fresh Walk” where students’ names were called as the seniors cheered them on for their entrance into Old Main to officially begin their high school journey. Seniors asked (continued on page 6)
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From the Head of School As I write this with bright fall sunshine streaming into my office from the courtyard, I cannot help but consider how truly bright the future will be for MMI. In the first four months of my tenure as the Interim Head of School, we’ve had some challenges to overcome. Specifically, as you learned about in the cover story, challenges relating to the long-standing and deeply rooted tradition of Freshman Orientation. When you’re a “newbie,” you never really want to tackle the tough issues in your first few months, but due to circumstances beyond my control I was faced with shepherding the school through a shift that I now look back on and can see as a true blessing in disguise. Through this experience I came to know our senior students. Their work ethic, their leadership ability, and their willingness to solve problems that at the time you learn about them seem insurmountable. It would’ve been easy to just say “this is how it is… Freshman Orientation is no more,” but… the easy way is not always the best way and these students were clearly up to the task. When I received the re-imagined proposal for Freshman Orientation and read through the lines of text, I could easily see that careful thought and purpose was ensconced in every change to old traditions and in the bringing forth of new traditions. It was clear that they felt a sense of pride in their school and a deep desire to keep a version of Freshman Orientation alive, well into the future. The senior class really let it shine when the time came to execute their plan. The sense of school pride, camaraderie and genuine concern for the wellbeing of their fellow classmates and schoolmates was abundantly evident on Orientation Day. I had never taken part in a pajama parade before. Humbled doesn’t begin to cover the feeling of being asked to participate and being treated like part of the MMI family by students who, just a few short weeks ago, barely knew me. As I walked that parade route, sun shining down, students singing, smiling and laughing, I knew why the tradition was so important and I am grateful that it will continue. When I observed the new “Fresh Walk” and saw the joy on the freshman faces as the seniors reached out for ceremonious high-fives, I knew that a new long-standing tradition had been born. The light that shines from our students is the guiding beacon that reminds us of what attending or working in a school such as MMI is all about – relationships that get forged through tradition, last a lifetime, and can be called upon to keep the school community moving forward. Those are reasons to be proud. There is a great deal of Prepper Pride here in Freeland and I’m more than proud to be part of it.
D. Scott Wiggins Interim Head of School
MMI Today is the official newsletter of MMI Preparatory School 154 Centre Street Freeland, PA 18224
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D. Scott Wiggins Interim Head of School
William A. Shergalis, Ph.D. ’58 President Emeritus
570-636-1108 570-636-0742 (fax) mmi@mmiprep.org www.mmiprep.org Joseph G. Rudawski President Emeritus
MMI welcomes new faculty members MMI welcomed Syra Dewar as a new World Language instructor and Amanda Shonk as a middle school Science, Math and Technology instructor at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year. Dewar, Señorita as she likes to be called, is from Spain. She grew up in Valencia, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Syra Dewar
She has travelled, worked, and resided in several states in America, and numerous countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and for more than 15 years she worked as a Journalist and Communication Strategist. During this time, she worked as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Valencia.
She found her vocation as a Spanish teacher five years ago when she moved to the United States. Since then, she has been continuously teaching Spanish at different levels, from beginning to advanced, in different schools in Pennsylvania including Montoursville and Loyalsock. She also taught Spanish for Vivespañol, a SpanishAmerican exchange student company. Señorita is also proud to be in the pool of Spanish instructors at Pennsylvania College of Technology, where she started in 2015. “At this point, I can say without hesitation, that teaching my own language and culture is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had, and I
cannot think of anything else I would rather do as a career.” Señorita considers herself a learner as well as a teacher, constantly trying to improve, since she also has to learn English as a second language. “This, together with a strong background in communications has helped me to understand what it takes to learn a foreign language. Also, I feel that I can easily relate to students’ expectations and frustrations.” Dewar is married and has three children, two of whom are attending MMI. She enjoys traveling, walking, and spending time outdoors with her family. Shonk comes to MMI after serving as a long-term substitute and a STEM Lead Teacher in the SHINE program for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. Prior to that, she served as a tutor and substitute in the Dallas (PA) School District and a teacher and advisor in the AlamanceBurlington School System in North Carolina. Shonk holds certifications in Middle School Science, Middle School Education, ESL Program Amanda Shonk Specialist and Secondary English. She is currently pursuing her M.Ed. from California University of PA in STEM Education.
MMI hires Coordinator of Parent Programs Lani Drobnock was appointed to the position of Coordinator of Parent Programs in September. In this role, Drobnock oversees all aspects of the MMI Parents Association, serving as the school’s primary liaison. She is responsible for identifying and engaging parent volunteers, assisting with Parents Association events and the creation of parent education opportunities. She also assists in the school’s fundraising efforts, events and grant writing.
was the Director of Career Services at McCann School of Business & Technology, Hazleton Campus. She also served as the Marketing Director for the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. Drobnock earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from King’s College where she was inducted into the Aquinas Honor Society and Mu Kappa Tau, the National Honor Society in Marketing. She is also the recipient of the YWCA PEARL Award, the American Cancer Society’s Quality of Life-Service Award and Terry Zahn Award for Excellence in Marketing, Communication and Publicity. She is a graduate of Leadership Hazleton.
Lani Drobnock
Prior to joining the MMI family, Drobnock was the Community Relations Director for the Hazleton Area School District and the Executive Director of the Hazleton Area Education Foundation. Her responsibilities included the development of organizational infrastructure for the Hazleton Area Education Foundation, grant writing, and planning and implementation of marketing and fundraising strategies. Before joining the Hazleton Area School District, Drobnock
Drobnock is a native of the Hazleton area. She currently serves on the CAN DO Board of Directors and the Community Relations Committee, the YWCA of Hazleton Board of Directors, and as a member and Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Hazleton Rotary Club. She is also a member of the Lehigh Valley Health Network Board of Associates, United Way of Greater Hazleton Allocation Panel, the West Hazleton Elementary/Middle School PTA and is a volunteer and team mom for West Hazleton Little League. Drobnock resides in West Hazleton with her husband, John, and three children, John III, Anna and Benjamin.
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Lisa Ferry earns prestigious Master of Arts degree MMI art instructor Lisa Marie Ferry earned the prestigious Master of Arts degree in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations from Moore College of Art and Design. It is the only degree of its kind in the country and they are very selective in the application process. The rigorous program trains and empowers art educators to develop skills for adapting and implementing strategies that enrich the lives of all learners. Once accepted into the master’s program, candidates develop and test innovative techniques through their actionbased research in a field setting while critically assessing art education policies and documenting the study of contemporary art education issues for diverse learners. “The process in obtaining my Master of Arts degree was a very rewarding experience. I am honored to bring the knowledge I gained back to the students at MMI as we start the 2016-17 school year,” Ferry said. “I had to do a qualifying review to move on with my research. I chose to focus on using postmodern principles in art to alleviate anxiety and stress with students in middle and high school. Anxiety disorder is an ever-growing issue with our youth. Of the 55 million students in the United States, 17 million of them will have an anxiety or learning disorder. At least 40 percent of those 17 million will have an anxiety disorder and the numbers keep rising.” Ferry gave a presentation on her research topic at the 2016 Pennsylvania Art Education Association and Pennsylvania Independent School Association conferences. She shared her knowledge and understanding of how to create art activities and an art journaling kit based on postmodern principles to help alleviate anxiety and stress symptoms. Ferry’s experience includes teaching photography and advanced photography at Misericordia University for three years. She has been a photographer for more than 20 years and
Lisa Ferry at her graduation ceremony.
traveled to Mexico on a full stipend for a photo ethnography assignment. Ferry has had her work shown at her own exhibitions and has had three pieces of artwork selected for the juried Northeastern Biennial Twenty Thirteen and Twenty Fifteen. She was also a published finalist for two consecutive years in Photographer’s Forum magazine. Additionally, Ferry has served as a facilitator and speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
MMI faculty, staff give presentations at state conference The entire MMI faculty, along with a number of administrators, attended the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools Biennial Conference at The Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square, PA, on Friday, October 7. A number of MMI’s employees took leadership roles and were involved in presenting sessions and educating their peers.
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Director of Admissions and Marketing Marci Hosier facilitated the Marketing and Communications Affinity Group. Social sciences instructor Katie Zucco presented “Across the Corridor: Building Relationships Through Cross-Curricular Instruction.” Lisa Ferry, fine arts instructor, presented “Anxiety to Creativity: Using Postmodern Principles in Art Ed Projects to Alleviate
Anxiety and Stress.” English instructor Jennifer Novotney led a session on “Shared Writing Experiences” while social sciences instructor Grete DeAngelo ’92 presented “Teaching without a Textbook: A Theme-Based Approach to History and Social Studies.”
Students have exciting start to 2016-17 school year MMI began the new school year on August 23 with 257 students enrolled. Orientation was held August 22 for all new students and their parents. The program helped familiarize new students with each other, as well as teachers, counselors, administrators and school staff. More than 20 current students in the MMI Ambassador
program were on hand to assist students and teachers with the orientation program. Once again a continental breakfast was held for students, parents, faculty and staff to start the day. After hearing from the Interim Head of School and Athletic Director, students broke off into their respective classes while parents had a chance to learn more about policy and procedure as well as hear about academic requirements from the Assistant Head of School.
Above at left, Desiree Petrick, Heaven Merenich, Julia Jenigen, and Tessa Peluso pose together on the first day of school. Above at right, students raise their hands to answer a question from World Language instructor Christina Spencer.
Students show MMI pride during Spirit Day MMI’s Student Council, under the guidance of President Joshua Narrow, a senior, held Spirit Day on September 2. Students were asked to come to school sporting their MMI gear. After a morning of classes, Spirit Day began with a luncheon sponsored by MMI and an afternoon snack for all students of soft pretzels and ice cream sponsored by the MMI Parents Association. After lunch, the student body was divided into teams across the grades and competed in a series of events led by Student Council and members of the Class of 2017.
MMI hosts back-to-school social for parents MMI sponsored a Back-toSchool Wine and Cheese Social for all parents of current students on August 24 to celebrate the start of the 2016-17 school year. The evening offered a great opportunity for catching up with old friends and making new ones. Parents met members of MMI’s Board of Directors, administration, staff, coaches and faculty. This tradition is a fun way for MMI’s newest parents to get to know the ropes and to mingle with other MMI families. Parents, faculty, staff and coaches of MMI gather to kick off a new school year.
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More than 100 children attend MMI summer camps MMI hosted 118 area children this summer for camps that ran from June through August. In addition to partnering with Sciensational and Box of Light, MMI’s own faculty and staff led five of the 14 different camps that were offered. Some of the camps included Maker Camp, Robotics; Harry Potter – Magical Mystery Tour; Egyptian Dig; Minecraft; Film Making with Legos; Hovercraft Design; Crime Scene Investigation, and Bookmaking.
Re-imaging a tradition that the freshmen refrain from using those doors again until they walk out of them on graduation night (emergencies not withstanding). On Friday, the entire school and even a few parents came out to watch the freshmen vs. seniors kickball game at the fields. In this case, the upper classmen had the advantage, winning the game 15-5, but that didn’t stop the classes from joining together for the first-of-its-kind “bond-fire” on Friday evening. The perfect end to two days of camaraderie and fun that was clearly evident to everyone who bared witness. And
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just like that, new traditions were born. While the classes of 2016 and 2019 will be the last to have experienced Freshmen Orientation as it was, the classes of 2017 and 2020 will forever be remembered as the pioneers of new traditions that stand the test of time. MMI is proud of our traditions, but we’re even more proud of the students who showed their true leadership capability and were able to write the next chapter in school history. As alumni, parents, and friends of the school, it should feel good to know that when faced with a challenge, MMI students stepped up without hesitation and got it done.
Above, freshmen and seniors teamed up for games as part of Freshmen Orientation. At right, seniors make a path to welcome a freshman student as she enters the doors of Old Main during the “Fresh Walk.”
Alumni welcomed back for Homecoming 2016 MMI held its annual Homecoming Weekend celebration on September 16 and 17. This year’s Homecoming honored reunion classes ending in -6 and -1. On Saturday, MMI held a ceremony in the Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library and Learning Center lobby for the dedication of the Dr. Philip A. McHale ’58 and Ms. Linda Tishko collection and display case, which houses the numerous Native American artifacts that Dr. McHale collected throughout his career and donated to MMI. Following the ceremony, MMI hosted the traditional Homecoming Picnic in the MMI cafeteria. Picnic attendees enjoyed an afternoon of sharing MMI memories. They also had the opportunity to tour the school and campus. Homecoming Weekend concluded with the Wall of Fame induction dinner on Saturday evening.
Ms. Linda Tishko and Dr. Philip A. McHale ’58 pose near the display case in the Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library and Learning Center lobby that houses the numerous Native American artifacts they donated to MMI. At left, MMI Interim Head of School D. Scott Wiggins, center, addresses the crowd prior to the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the new display cases.
Christine Lucas; John Hersker ’76, Board of Directors Vice Chairman; Susan Wiggins, wife of D. Scott Wiggins; and Atty. Rebecca L. Warren ‘84, Board of Directors member; pose prior to the Wall of Fame dinner.
Jean Rudawski, Kathy Lucas, Brian Lucas ’84, Board of Directors member and past Chairman; President Emeritus Joseph G. Rudawski, and Librarian Stella Boosalis enjoy the Wall of Fame festivities.
Interim Head of School D. Scott Wiggins addresses the crowd as Edward Sharp ‘36 listens. Sharp celebrated his 80th MMI reunion at the Homecoming Picnic.
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MMI students are known for excellence during the school year, but our students also spend their summers doing really exciting things. A few of their adventures are featured here. Ali Aijaz and Anirban Chowdhury attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University this summer. The pair joined high school students from across the state to complete research and problem-solving projects. Anirban was among a group of nine students who matched eight world records for problem solving that were set by Brown University researchers. Ali worked on a research project entitled, “Classification of Two Dimensional Associative Algebras Over the Real Numbers.”
Seniors
Junior Angelica Alday was awarded a performance grant to participate in the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary which saw 160 local and international students undergo training with professional musicians from Cleveland and New York. Mid school counselor Madison Below attended the Girl Bullying & Empowerment National Conference, a part of the Innovative Schools Summit held in Las Vegas, Nevada. She attended sessions with topics ranging from how to understand the line that teens walk between risk and reward, to how to teach students with Asperger’s, to building empathy in students in order to improve school climate. Below’s daughter, Wynne, enjoyed the Bellagio fountain show one evening! Seventh grader Jayden Bonham toured Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, WY and Salt Lake City, Utah on his family’s summer adventure!
4 Sophomore Elizabeth Borchick and seventh graders Anna Cabell and Lucy Butkiewicz danced on the Waterside Stage at Disney Springs, Orlando, in June alongside fellow dancers from the Performing Arts Center in Conyngham.
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5 Senior Niklas Byriel and freshman Philip Byriel traveled to Germany, Switzerland and France to visit family and friends. The picture shows the Byriels with their great-grandfather in Wiesbaden, Germany, and there are four generations showcased in the photo.
6 Maria Carrato ‘14 spent a month doing a summer study tour in Greece. Her parents, Anthony ‘83 and Carmine, and her two younger siblings, current senior Dana Carrato and sophomore Nicholas Carrato, met up with Maria in Athens and spent time on Crete and Santorini.
7 Sophomore Tyler Degenhart and senior Eric Degenhart encountered a bit of friendly competition this summer with a battle between the lifeguards at Eagle Rock, where Eric worked, and the lifeguards at Eurana Park, where Tyler worked. The lifeguards squared off in challenges such as swimming, rowing and obstacle courses. Eagle Rock’s lifeguards took first place in the challenge and Eric earned bragging rights in the Degenhart household.
8 Seventh grader Zachary DeRemer spent a week in Pittsburgh working on the “Pittsburgh Project” with members of his church doing free home repairs for elderly homeowners.
Seniors Katherine Eschenbach, Keenan Overa and Jessica Smith were among a select group of students from 20 different countries who attended the month-long Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University in July. The program exposed the students to the topics of entrepreneurship, globalization, team building, project management, leadership and working within a culturally diverse environment and ignited the students’ spirit of creativity, innovation and learning.
9 Senior Ryan Eschenbach and junior Angelica Alday attended a program at Marywood University that taught students how math connects to cyber security and how it applies to the real world. Dr Thomas Kent, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, showed students how to build computer programs for encryption and decryption. The group also visited the Museum of Mathematics in New York. Seventh grader Chance Eyerly participated in the Camp Cadet program sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Police in July held at Penn State Hazleton. Faculty member Lisa Ferry visited The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention. Ferry had a busy summer, also earning a Master of Arts degree in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations from Moore College of Art and Design (see story on page 4). Seventh grader Gina Galada trekked to Post Falls, Idaho this summer where she enjoyed many outdoor adventures like rafting on the Spokane River, visiting Silverwood Theme Park, and having a summer snowball fight while hiking in the mountains.
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Sixth grader Anden Karlick, alongside his sister, aunt and 500 other participants, completed the Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim in Punta Gorda, Florida. He swam 1.5 miles across the Peace River in under three hours.
Junior Sydney Karpovich, who started making jewelry six years ago as a hobby, officially launched Fleurish Designs on July 17 at a launch party at Theodora’s in Drums. Her collections are mainly comprised of beaded necklaces and bracelets, but also extend into anklets, keychains, and earrings, as well as jewelry made from metal and wood. When asked what she enjoys most about starting her own business, she said, “I love making jewelry but the knowledge I am acquiring from this journey is what makes it worthwhile. I have learned practical skills such as website design, e-commerce, marketing, accounting, and inventory control.” Customers can view and purchase Fleurish Designs through the website fleurishdesigns.com.
Senior Garrett Kost was selected to attend the Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State Civic Leadership program at Shippensburg University in June. The students learned about leadership, state and local government, and civic participation.
Faculty member Tina Lizbinski caught up on her summer reading after a long hike in the Canadian Rockies. Jessica McClellan scored a 94 to capture the Girls 9-10 grade division of the Wyoming Valley Country Club Invitational at the Wyoming Valley Country Club in WilkesBarre. Jessica defeated five other golfers in her first year competing in the annual event.
Sophomore
Eighth grader Ryan McNelis enjoyed jet skiing with his brother, Connor McNelis ’10, while vacationing in Florida. This summer took faculty member Gabriela Moustardas to Europe for almost two months. Most of this time was spent back home in Germany, and she also visited her daughter’s family in Albania. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Rhein (a UNESCO world heritage site) and spending a night there in one of the castles towering high above the river. Moustardas also took shorter trips to Colmar, France, and to Prague in the Czech Republic.
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Senior Danielle Pileggi was one of only 160 students worldwide who attended this year’s Leadership in the Business World program offered by Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Danielle attended the highly-selective program from July 3 to July 30 on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in Philadelphia. Leadership in the Business World offers opportunities to learn about leadership in 21st century organizations through a dynamic and rigorous mix of classes with Wharton professors and business leaders, company site visits and team-building activities. The participants received coaching on communication and team-building skills from six upper-level Wharton undergraduates who serve as Resident Team Advisors and visited business enterprises, speaking with successful leaders across various industries including finance, entrepreneurship, entertainment, real estate and retail.
Sixth grader Ava Putnam performed in Disney World with the Performing Arts Center while her brother, freshman Ben Putnam, enjoyed a visit with Stitch at Walt Disney World. Eighth grader Cole Rinehimer spent part of his summer vacation at Lake George, NY, which is a lake formed by glaciers in the Adirondack Mountains. One of his favorite activities was jumping off the boathouse with friends! Eighth grader Emily Ryan travelled to Canada for four weeks this summer. She attended sailing school in Barrie, Ontario and a science enrichment class at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. Emily additionally spent five weeks in Europe, spending one week in Amsterdam, one week in Norway, and three weeks in the Baltics, visiting Stockholm, Helsinki, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Gothenburg and Tallinn. She also raced her go-kart and sunfish sailboat when she could, and won a powderpuff stock car race at Evergreen raceway in St. Johns, PA. College admissions counselor Stephanie Shandra Swietnicki took part in the Philadelphia Area Catholic Colleges (PHACC) Tour where she visited: Cabrini University, Chestnut Hill College, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Holy Family University, Immaculata University, La Salle University, Manor College, Neumann University, Rosemont College, Saint Joseph’s University, and Villanova University. She also celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank, vacationing in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Eighth grader Millie Symbula, pictured top right, performed at Disney Springs in Florida in late June with Jeanne S. Burger Performing Arts Center and attended a Disney Dance workshop at Epcot taught by Disney dancers.
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MMI inducts four into Wall of Fame MMI held its 11th annual Wall of Fame dinner on September 17, welcoming four new members to its Wall of Fame. Established in 2006, the MMI Wall of Fame honors alumni in addition to past faculty, staff and board members who have distinguished themselves in the areas of athletics, business, sciences, education, government, public service, the arts or humanities. Wall of Fame inductees are selected in the following categories: Athletic Achievement, Community Service, Service to MMI and Professional Achievement. During this year’s dinner and awards ceremony, the following inductees joined the Wall of Fame: John E. Hollis ’64 (Athletic Achievement), Lewis J. Matuella ’77 (Athletic Achievement), the late Dr. Thomas J. Conahan ’26 (Community Service), and Llewellyn F. Dryfoos III ’82 (Community Service).
MMI held its 11th annual Wall of Fame dinner and welcomed four new members. From left are: Kim McNulty, MMI Director of Advancement; Lewis J. Matuella ’77, inductee; John E. Hollis ’64, inductee; Llewellyn F. Dryfoos III ’82, inductee; Tim Conahan ’59 and Jim Conahan ’68, sons of the late Dr. Thomas J. Conahan ’26, inductee; and D. Scott Wiggins, MMI Interim Head of School.
Lewis J. Matuella ’77, fourth from the right, poses with his family and classmates, Lawrence Dessen ’77, left, and Frank Gavio ’77, second from left.
Llewellynn F. Dryfoos III ’82, second from left, stands with his family, from left, son, Lew ’15; wife, Maura; and daughter, Madeline ’19.
Above, Jim Conahan ’68 and Tim Conahan ’59, sons of the late Dr. Thomas J. Conahan ’26, gathered with family during the event.
John E. Hollis ’64, third from left, poses with his family and fellow MMI graduates Col. Michael Urenovich ’64, second from right, and Robert Koslap ’65, right.
Students enjoy Bring a Friend to School Day MMI hosted our first Bring a Friend to School Day of the year on Monday, September 26 and we welcomed 21 mid-school friends to campus for the day!
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MMI seeking Wall of Fame nominees period of ten years from nomination.
MMI celebrated the 11th anniversary of its Wall of Fame in September and is seeking nominees for future recognitions.
The Selection Committee includes the Head of School at MMI, one member of the Board of Directors, two alumni representatives, the MMI Athletic Director, the MMI Director of Advancement and one at-large member. Wall of Fame recipients will be announced in the Spring and inducted during Homecoming 2017.
The Wall of Fame was established to honor alumni, past faculty, staff and board members of MMI who have distinguished themselves in the areas of athletics, business, sciences, education, government, public service, the arts or the humanities. Inductees are recognized in the Athletic Achievement, Community Service, Service to MMI, and Professional Achievement.
In order to nominate a person for consideration, please complete the form below and return the completed nomination documents to Kim McNulty, Director of Advancement, MMI Preparatory School, 154 Centre Street, Freeland, PA 18224, no later than March 1, 2017.
Nominees can be considered for induction ten years after graduation. An award in each category may not be granted every year. A nominee can remain on the selection ballot for a
MMI Wall of Fame Nomination Form
Nominee:
Nominee’s Home Address:
Home Phone and/or E-mail:
Position Title and Business Name:
Business Address:
Business Phone and/or E-Mail:
Class of:
Please check if nominee is deceased – and list name/contact information above for a family member of nominee above.
My Name:
Home Address:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Nomination Criteria Nominees must be an MMI alumnus or past faculty, staff or board member and must meet the criteria listed under each category to be eligible. Alumni can be considered for nomination ten years after graduation. An award in each category may not be granted every year. A nominee can remain on the selection ballot for a period of ten years from nomination. Please select the category for which you are nominating this person (check one box only).
Athletic Achievement – Represents the best personnel that have participated in varsity athletics prior to graduation from MMI, in collegiate varsity athletics, in professional athletics, in the Olympics, or in national or world-wide events, and received recognition for that participation.
Community Service – Contributed to the betterment of his or her community in a significant way over a period of years t hrough distinguished service as a volunteer, donor, board member, etc.
Service to MMI – Contributed to the betterment of MMI in a significant way over a period of years through distinguished service as a faculty member, staff member, volunteer, donor, board member, honorary board member, etc.
Professional Achievement (please check all that apply to the nominee)
Achieved significant position in the business community by attaining executive position or by receiving recognition for achievement from a segment of the business community.
Achieved recognition of the development of major breakthroughs or significant accomplishments in the area of business, science or education.
Received recognition of achievements in his or her chosen profession, to include: major awards in educational or scientific organizations, artistic endeavors, governmental agencies, or humanitarian organizations.
On a separate sheet of paper, please describe your nominee and explain why he or she should be inducted to the MMI Wall of Fame, listing the nominee’s outstanding qualities/achievements.
Return all nominations no later than March 1, 2017.
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Milestones
Events in the lives of the MMI family Births Bill Deaton ’92 and his wife, Nancy, welcomed a son, Henry Walter Deaton, on September 28, 2015. Stacy and Marc Luhmen welcomed a daughter, Caroline Elise, on August 15, 2016. She joins older sister, Quinn. MMI Chef Teresa Kairewich and her husband, Bob, are the grandparents. Joseph A. Pinkey ’95 and his wife, Eileen, welcomed their first child, a son named George Jason, on May 3, 2016. Nate Titus ’03 and wife, Ginger, welcomed their first son, Nash Rocco, on September 22, 2016. Proud grandparents are MMI faculty member Donna Titus and her husband, Albert. MMI Athletic Director Jason Tribbet and his wife, Jenna, welcomed a daughter, Sadie, on August 15, 2016. Sadie joins older brother, Noah, who will be two in December.
Weddings Chris Trovitch ’03 wed Katie Metzger in St. Louis, Missouri where the couple currently resides. Chris is a 2007 graduate of King’s College with a degree in finance. He is employed by Edward Jones as an asset surveillance officer.
Deaths Marlene Abrams passed away on July 6, 2016. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Abrams ’62. Marlene is survived by her children, Benjamin Abrams ’96 and his wife, Patricia; Richard Abrams ’88; Jessica Horsey ’95 and husband, Ryan; and Cynthia Jarus. Phyllis Jane Cadwalader passed away on August 11, 2016. She is survived by her son, Robert and his wife Christina; and daughters, Elizabeth Jane Cadwalader and her husband, Eugene Baron; and past MMI Board members Sophia Francis Cadwalader Hayes and her husband J. Stoddard Hayes, Jr. as well as nine grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren. Eugene V. Carsia ’58 passed away on June 11, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons, Dr. Eugene Carsia; and Christopher Carsia; and daughter, Denise and her husband, Robert Krizansky.
Edward P. Cepil ’58 passed away on September 13, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Doris. John Michael Denion, Sr. ’48 passed away on August 4, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, John Denion, Jr.; Conal Denion and wife, Nancy; Christopher Denion; daughter, Ann Denion Hoskins and husband, David; and five grandchildren. William Feaster ’48 passed away on June 4, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Joan. Murray Feingold ’48 passed away on July 17, 2015. Dr. Feingold, a 2007 Inductee to the MMI Wall of Fame for professional achievement, is survived by his wife, Lorinda, and daughter, Rachael. Joseph E. McGowan ’52 passed away on April 2, 2016. He is survived by his daughters, Marise Leshko; and Michelle Anthony and husband, James, and two grandchildren. Virginia J. Moran passed away on November 19, 2015. She is survived by her husband, James; daughters, Gail Mussoline and her husband, Dr. Joseph; and Jill Moran ’86; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Josephine Perchak passed away on September 24, 2016. She is survived by her children; Stephen Perchak, Jr. and wife, Mary; Joanne Williams and husband, Caleb; Carole Murphy and husband, Robert; James Perchak and wife, Marilyn; Michael Perchak and wife, Eileen; nine grandchildren including Madison Perchak ’18 and five great-grandchildren. David E. Timko ’69 passed away on August 31, 2016. He is survived by his sisters; Marilyn Ferry and Joan Alvear; and many nephews and nieces including Emily Alvear ’14. Fred Ulshafer ’49 passed away on October 31, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Rita; and son, Fred W. and his wife, Anna. Brian Mathew Verbonitz, age 24, died August 5, 2016. He is survived by his father, Brian H. Verbonitz, mother, Tammy Verbonitz and a younger brother, Andrew Joseph Verbonitz. He is the grandson of Sally and Michael Verbonitz ’64.
Alumni Notes What’s happening with MMI graduates around the globe
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Jacob Daniels ’11 received his bachelor of science degree and master of engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in May. While at RIT, Jacob completed co-ops with GE Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio; Borg Warner, Ithaca, New York; and Delphi, Rochester, New York. He was also inducted into the Order of the Engineer, a society that fosters a spirit of
pride and responsibility in the engineering profession. Jacob has accepted a position with Delphi in Rochester, New York, as an advanced process development engineer in the powertrain division.
Jacob Daniels ’11
Brittany Fisher ‘12 was selected a Lehigh University President’s Scholar, which enables her to receive a tuitionfree fifth year of study in an additional undergraduate or graduate program.
Memorials
Library Memorials, Annual Fund Memorials and Honors donated between June 15 and October 1
In memory of Marlene Abrams Mrs. Kim McNulty Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Oberrender In memory of Daniel Ackers Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce In memory of Lucetta Alderfer Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood In memory of Louis J. Beltrami Atty. and Mrs. Theodore R. Laputka Jr. In memory of John Brndjar Mrs. Faye G. Director In memory of Eugene Carsia ’58 Dr. William Shergalis ’58 and Mrs. Miki Shergalis In memory of Rose Carsia Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce In memory of Gloria Carter Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood Mr. Wilson Zehner ’81 and Mrs. Michele Zehner In memory of Ed Cepil ’58 Dr. William Shergalis ’58 and Mrs. Miki Shergalis In honor of Dennis Clarke Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schaeffer In memory of Thomas J. Conahan ’26 Dr. Thomas J. Conahan III ’59 and Mrs. Catherine Conahan and Eugenia E. Conahan
In memory of Scott Graham ’84 Mr. Rusty Cassway and Mrs. Karen Cassway ’84 In memory of Robert Honis Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood In memory of Scott Laird Mr. Edward Lesny ’58 and Mrs. Susanne Lesny In memory of Charles Henry Manhart Mr. Edward Lesny ’58 and Mrs. Susanne Lesny In memory of Don Markley Mr. Edward Lesny ’58 and Mrs. Susanne Lesny In memory of Thomas Merrick ’51 Mr. Edward R. Merrick ’54 In memory of Anna Moyer Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood In memory of Angelo Porreca Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce In honor of Nick Scholtens Mr. Peter Zwart In memory of Wayne Shelly Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Moore In memory of Ruth Shershan Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce In honor of Ethan Stine ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lobb
In memory of John Ferry Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood Mr. Brian Lucas ’84 and Mrs. Kathy Lucas
In memory of David Timko ’69 Mr. James Moran, Ms. Jill Moran ’86 and Ms. Gail Mussoline
In memory of Thomas Gallagher Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce
In memory of Craig Wallen Dr. John Della Croce ‘73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce
In memory of Robert Gicking Mr. Robert Conahan and Mrs. Cindy Brenner Conahan ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Hood Mr. Lawrence Walko and Mrs. Debbie Walko ’79
In memory of Mary Webb Dr. John Della Croce ’73 and Mrs. Marybeth Della Croce In honor of Dr. Myung S. Yoon Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schaeffer
In memory of Robert and Linda Gicking Mr. James A. Corazza ’73 and Ms. Karen Sandrock Mrs. Kim McNulty
MMI loses oldest living alumnus Charles Cassard Kaesemeyer of Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, a member of the MMI Class of 1931, died on October 4, 2016 at age 102. Kaesemeyer was employed by the Fuller Company in Catasauqua where he worked until his retirement. Kaesemeyer ‘31 visited MMI in July of 2014, six months after his 100th birthday. Also with him on the visit were his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Sally, Margaret Haentjens Stone and Lauretta O’Hara. His family is joined by former Head of School Thomas G. Hood at right.
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
PAID WILKES-BARRE, PA PERMIT#188
MMI Preparatory School 154 Centre Street Freeland, PA 18224 Address Service R equested
Entrance Exam Testing Date Important Dates 2017-2018 Admissions – January 28, 2017 Applicants report to the MMI Main Office (Ridge Street entrance) by 8:45 a.m.
Visitation Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 16 Founder’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 23 Mid School Grandparents’ Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 29 Visitation Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 11 Mid Winter Social. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 16