MMI announces fourth quarter honor roll
MMI Preparatory School has announced the names of students who achieved Honor Roll status during the fourth quarter of the 2017-2018 school year.
MMI alumnus Aaron Harman to be featured in WVIA Artist of the Week segments the week of July 1
Aaron Harman, a member of the MMI Class of 2018, was selected as a WVIA Artist of the Week and will be featured in segments for the program beginning the week of July 1 on WVIA-TV and wvia.org.
Harman, the son of Ronald and Yvonne Harman of Drums, was named a Performing Artist of the Week by WVIA and was recognized for the achievement during MMI’s Upper School Awards Convocation last month.
MMI team finishes fifth at Envirothon state competition
MMI Preparatory School’s team of Lauren Babinetz, Alexander Sessock, Kaitlyn McGeehan, Dominique Kline, and Grant Warren finished in fifth place at the Pennsylvania Envirothon state competition in Selinsgrove. Schools from across 65 counties competed in the event.
MMI hosting annual summer camps in June and July for all area children
MMI Preparatory School will host its annual Summer Camps beginning June 25. The camps are open to all area school children and provide a fun-filled and educational experience.
The camps will be offered in morning and afternoon sessions from the week of June 25 to the week of July 23. Topics include Asian and Spanish Cook and Craft camps, Ooey Gooey Science Camp, Sports Camp, Lego Robotics Camp, Messy Art Camp, Magnetic Levitation Camp, Cake Decorating Camp, Dance Camp, Musical Theatre Camp, and Chemical Magic Camp.
Twenty-four MMI students capture first place at Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science state competition
Twenty-four MMI Preparatory School students captured first place and 27 students placed second during the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) state competition, which was held from May 20-22 at Penn State University’s main campus.
Alyssa Sweda wins MMI “Best of the Best” competition for the second semester
Alyssa Sweda, pictured in the second row at right, was selected as MMI’s “Best of the Best” winner for the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year following an assembly at the school, where ninth and 11th grade students delivered presentations. Sweda won for her presentation entitled "Legacy."
MMI holds 126th commencement ceremony
MMI Preparatory School in Freeland conducted its 126th Commencement Exercises on Thursday, May 24, as seniors were awarded diplomas by John H. Hersker ’76, chairman of MMI’s Board of Directors.
This year’s graduating class of 38 seniors amassed more than $8.1 million in merit scholarships and awards. The 2018 graduating class also attained an average score of 1225 on the Redesigned SAT. The Class of 2018’s average ACT score is 25.
Members of the Class of 2018 were accepted at over 73% of the colleges they applied to and will attend 27 different colleges and universities this fall.
MMI captures six of top 10 positions at regional Envirothon competiton, winning team advances to state championships
MMI Preparatory School swept the top five positions and had an additional team finish seventh during the regional Envirothon competition. The winning team of Lauren Babinetz, Alexander Sessock, Kaitlyn McGeehan, Grant Warren, and Dominique Kline scored a total of 407 points during the event and will advance to the state championships on May 22-23 at Susquehanna University and Camp Mount Luther, where they will represent MMI and Luzerne County.
MMI honors student athletes at annual Upper School Awards Convocation
MMI Preparatory School honored students for their athletic performances during the annual Upper School Awards Convocation on May 16.
MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins and Athletic Director Jason Tribbet presented the awards, along with coaches from each team.
MMI honors students’ academic achievements at annual Upper School Awards Convocation
MMI Preparatory School held its annual Upper School Awards Convocation on May 16 to honor students in ninth through 12th grades.
MMI Head of School, D. Scott Wiggins, welcomed everyone in attendance and recognized Class of 2018 Valedictorian Gabriella Kupsho and Salutatorian Aaron Harman. Stephanie Shandra Swietnicki, MMI college admissions counselor, served as emcee for the program, where more than $600,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to students.
Mallory Brown ’02, Principal at Egon Zehnder in Germany, to serve as guest speaker at MMI commencement ceremony
Mallory Brown '02 will give the Founder’s Day Address at MMI’s commencement ceremony on May 24.
After graduating from MMI, Brown attended the University of Notre Dame and majored in Political Science with a minor in German. She landed a position at Egon Zehnder, a global management consulting and executive search firm, immediately upon graduating from Notre Dame in 2006. The firm has 69 offices globally and works with companies in a variety of industries and sectors.
MMI holds National Junior and National Latin honor society inductions
MMI Preparatory School inducted 32 students into the National Junior Honor Society and 26 into the National Latin Honor Society during an induction ceremony at the school.
During the ceremony, MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins welcomed the audience and the Very Reverend Lawrence Barriger, the advisor for both honor societies, gave the criteria of members, presided over the induction ceremony, and introduced the guest speaker. MMI eighth graders Benjamin Zhao and William Smith provided the processional and recessional music, respectively, for the ceremony.
Eleven MMI students place in the top 10 at Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America competition
Eleven MMI Preparatory School students placed in the top 10 at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition and four students will advance to the national competition, which will be held June 28 to July 1 in Baltimore. 51 MMI students participated in the state competition.
MMI releases third quarter Honor Roll
MMI Preparatory School has announced the names of students who achieved Honor Roll status during the third quarter of the 2017-2018 school year.
MMI students win Art Youth Expo awards
MMI Preparatory School students Julia Snyder, Sydney Karpowich, and Anna Haber each won awards in the 2018 Art Youth Expo. The annual two-day art exposition was held April 6-7 in downtown Hazleton. The students submitted their art selections under the guidance of MMI art instructor Lisa Marie Ferry.
MMI Prepper Playhouse to present Wizard of Oz April 20-21
The MMI Prepper Playhouse will present The Wizard of Oz on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the MMI Athletic and Drama Complex. General admission ticket prices for all performances are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Reserved seating is available for $12 per ticket. Tickets will be available at the door or by calling the school at 570-636-1108 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Zachary Young to receive recognition in 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program
MMI Preparatory School junior Zachary Young, the son of Christian and Nicole Young of Freeland, will receive recognition in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program after finishing as one of the top 50,000 entrants in the country on the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
MMI student places second in Wilkes/LCCTM contest
MMI Preparatory School junior Frederick Mejia, left, placed second in the Junior Division in the Wilkes University/Luzerne County Council of Teachers of Mathematics (LCCTM) content. Mejia competed against approximately 80 other students in the division. Pictured at right is Susan Moyer, MMI mathematics instructor and contest advisor.
MMI places in top five at MATHCOUNTS competition
MMI Preparatory School’s team of Rachael Betz, Alistair Plotnick, Connor Spencer, and Benjamin Zhao placed fifth out of 16 teams during the annual MATHCOUNTS competition in February. Zhao also earned the fourth highest individual score in the competition and placed fifth in the Countdown Round. Additional MMI individual competitors were Brenna Eckhart, Edgar Lopez-Rodriquez, Nathaniel Neidlinger, Frankie Martinelli, Elizabeth O'Donnell and Abigail Sparich.
Fifty MMI students advance to Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science state competition
Fifty of MMI Preparatory School’s 69 competitors placed first in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition and will advance to the state competition, which will be held May 20-21 at Penn State University’s Main Campus in State College.
MMI students presented 76 projects. Seven students finished in the top two in multiple categories. Junior Coleman Smith placed first in two math categories and recorded a perfect score in the one event. Freshman McKenna Gallagher (biology and chemistry), junior Mahum Ahmed (microbiology and math), senior Lauren Babinetz (engineering and math), and senior Joshua Kalada-Kania (botany and zoology) all placed first twice. Junior Andrew Decker was first in biology and second in math and junior Jessica McClellan finished first in behavioral and second in physics.
MMI holds induction ceremony for Chinese, German, and Spanish National Honor societies
MMI Preparatory School inducted students into the Chinese, German, and Spanish National Honor societies during an honor societies induction ceremony at the school.
MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins welcomed those in attendance and provided closing remarks.
MMI inducts 27 students into National Honor Society
MMI Preparatory School inducted 27 students into the Andrew J. Stofan Chapter of the National Honor Society during an honor societies induction ceremony at the school.
MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins delivered a welcome address to the attendees and provided closing remarks. MMI English instructor and National Honor Society advisor Donna Titus presided over the induction ceremony. National Honor Society officers are: Marc Lobitz, president; Benjamin Lloyd, vice president; Wesley Guarneri, secretary; Andrew Decker, historian, and John Malay, treasurer.
MMI recognizes inductees of National Science, Math, and Art honor societies
MMI Preparatory School inducted students into the Science, Math, and Art National Honor societies during an honor societies induction ceremony at the school.
During the ceremony, MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins delivered a welcome address to the attendees and provided closing remarks.
Four MMI students receive awards in annual Klapper Memorial Holocaust essay contest
Four MMI Preparatory School students placed in the 23rd annual Israel T. & Mildred Klapper Memorial Holocaust Essay Contest. The contest is sponsored jointly by the Hazleton Jewish Community Council and the Greater Hazleton Ministerial Association.
Senior Sydney Karpowich captured first place in the High School division and senior Julia Snyder placed second. Eighth grader Lucy Butkiewicz and seventh grader Jakob Narrow tied for second place in the Middle School division. MMI English instructor Jennifer Novotney and History instructor Grete Floryshak were the faculty advisers for the competition.
MMI to host annual Open House on Sunday
MMI Preparatory School, located at 154 Centre Street in Freeland, will host its annual Open House this Sunday, March 18, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and features special research projects in academic fields and the culinary arts that were created by MMI students. State Street Corporation is the event sponsor.
Visitors can view the academic projects from 2 to 4 p.m., while the culinary projects will be available to see and sample from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Wister Quartet chamber ensemble makes annual visit to MMI on March 5
The Wister Quartet, a nationally renowned and Grammy-nominated chamber ensemble, will return to MMI Preparatory School for the 15th consecutive year for a performance at the school on Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
The concert is sponsored by Dr. James W. Feussner ’65 in memory of Elizabeth Feussner and The Sowers & Turri Music and Arts Fund of the Luzerne Foundation.
The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Athletics and Drama Complex on the MMI campus at 154 Centre St., Freeland. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Eleven MMI students receive Scholastic Writing Awards
Eleven MMI Preparatory School students were recipients of 2018 Scholastic Writing Awards in the Northeast Writing Region-at-Large division. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12.
Senior Lauren Babinetz, the daughter of Michael and Patricia Babinetz of Jim Thorpe, received a Gold Key for her critical essay “Whistleblowers – The Only Way to Know” and will advance to the national competition. Regional Gold Key work is currently being considered for national recognition in New York City and national medalists will be announced on March 13.
MMI releases first semester Head of School List
MMI Preparatory School has announced the names of students who achieved Head of School List status during the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year.
Students are as follows:
MMI releases second quarter Honor Roll
MMI Preparatory School has announced the names of students who achieved Honor Roll status during the second quarter of the 2017-2018 school year.
Students are as follows:
Noah Poesnecker wins MMI National Geographic Bee
Eighth grader Noah Poesnecker won MMI Preparatory School’s in-school competition of the National Geographic Bee and will advance in the competition for a chance to win a $50,000 college scholarship. Sixth grader Heath Williams was the runner-up in MMI’s competition.
Poesnecker is the son of Renee Poesnecker of Mountain Top and the late Devon Poesnecker. Williams is the son of Atty. Richard and Shannon Williams of Mountain Top. MMI Social Sciences instructor Grete Floryshak is the National Geographic Bee adviser.
The School National Geographic Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 30th annual National Geographic Bee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world.
MMI literary magazine Recommended for Highest Award
MMI Preparatory School’s literary magazine, Angst, was ranked as Recommended for Highest Award in the nation from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) as part of its 2017 Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines (PRESLM) Awards. The latest edition of Angst was displayed at the NCTE Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, in November of 2017.
MMI received a Superior score (scores of 91-100 points) in the first round of judging, which is completed by state and national judges and based on a point system. Magazines scoring 91-100 points are recommended by the state and national judges for the Highest Award. The PRESLM Advisory Committee then determines if a magazine meets enough criteria to win the honor of Highest Award.
Fifty-one students will represent MMI at PA FBLA State Leadership Conference
Fifty-one of MMI Preparatory School’s 78 competitors in ninth through 12th grades advanced to compete at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference, which will be held from April 9-11 in Hershey.
MMI competed against students from throughout Luzerne County during the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference and saw 24 students capture first place in individual and team events.
First place winners and their categories are: Jakob Schwabe (Accounting I); Alexander Kline (Business Communication); Kelisa Hysenbegasi and Mahum Ahmed (Business Ethics); Kaitlyn Bellizia (Client Service); Zachary Young (Economics); Amanda Kalada-Kania and Alyssa Sweda (Entrepreneurship); McKenna Gallagher and Sydney Kohl (Graphic Design); Elliot Blasko (Impromptu Speaking); Samantha Sparich (Business Procedures); Jacqueline Snyder (Into to Public Speaking); Julia Snyder (Job Interview); Marc Lobitz, James Lambert, and George Palermo (Management Decision Making); Katharine Pinto, Philip Byriel, and Marcus Kassick (Management Information Systems); Chava Kornblatt (Organizational Leadership); and Julie Amentler, Kimberly Amentler, and Elizabeth Borchick (Publication Design).
MMI reschedules Visitation Night to January 18
MMI Preparatory School’s winter Visitation Night, which was postponed on Wednesday due to inclement weather, will be held Thursday, January 18 starting at 6 p.m.
At Visitation Night, families can learn more about an MMI education, the advantages the school offers for their children, and the steps to admission which include the entrance and merit scholarship exam. Visitation Night gives students and parents an opportunity to come to MMI and explore the campus.
The event will begin with a presentation by the school’s administration. Families of children entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grade next year are encouraged to explore the value of an MMI Middle School education because several of the upper grade levels had wait lists last year.
MMI junior finishes third among students from six counties at regional Poetry Out Loud competition
MMI Preparatory School junior Andrew Decker, the son of Aaron Decker, Kingston, and Elizabeth and Troy Topolski, Sugarloaf, finished third in the regional Poetry Out Loud competition at the WVIA-TV studios in Pittston. Decker represented MMI for the third consecutive year and was competing against students from parts of six counties.
During the regional competition, students recited three poems each to determine the overall winner. Decker competed against students from throughout Luzerne, Lackawanna, northwestern Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and eastern Wyoming counties. The regional competition, which was held under the direction of Arts in Education in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, will be televised in April on WVIA-TV as part of the station’s National Poetry Month celebration.
MMI students deliver first semester “Best of the Best” presentations
Students in 10th and 12th grades delivered presentations as part of MMI Preparatory School’s annual “Best of the Best” program during an assembly held at the school.
Sophomore Benjamin Putnam, the son of Benjamin and Andrea Putnam of Sugarloaf, was the overall “Best of the Best” winner for the first semester for his presentation entitled “The Science of Stranger Things.”
The assembly program is designed to help MMI students improve and enhance their communication skills, which are important as they progress through high school, college, and beyond.
MMI Relay For Life team raises $700 for American Cancer Society with Dance-A-Thon fundraiser
MMI’s Relay For Life team raised $700 for the American Cancer Society with a Dance-A-Thon fundraiser it hosted at the school on December 1. Prior to the dance, team members sold t-shirts. Any student who purchased a t-shirt was permitted a dress-down day on the day of the dance.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraising initiative, with volunteers in more than 5,200 communities across 27 countries gathering annually to raise money to fight cancer. All money raised benefits the American Cancer Society’s mission of funding research, education, advocacy and service programs for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their caregivers.
Three MMI students earn top 10 honors at Monroe County Mock Trial Invitational
Three MMI Preparatory School students placed in the top ten during the recent Monroe County Mock Trial Invitational at Pocono Mountain West High School. Junior Andrew Decker topped 78 other individuals to take the title of Best Witness and senior Hunter O’Clair finished among the top 10 witnesses. Senior George Palermo placed in the top 10 for attorneys.
A total of 26 MMI students competed in the Mock Trial Invitational, which sees students take on various roles in a fictitious case, including attorney, witness, plaintiff, defendant, and timekeeper.
MMI team finishes fourth in annual Bloomsburg University Math Contest
MMI Preparatory School students Fredrick Mejia, Alexander Sessock, Zachary Young, and Aaron Harman placed fourth as a team in the Brain Teasers event during the annual Bloomsburg University Math Contest. Susan Moyer, MMI math instructor and department chair, was the adviser for the competition.
Mejia is the son of Carlos and Esperanza Mejia, West Hazleton. Sessock is the son of Jennifer and James Denion, Freeland, and the late John Sessock. Young is the son of Christian and Nicole Young, Freeland. Harman is the son of Ronald and Yvonne Harman, Drums.
MMI students compete in annual Sixth Grade Science Fair
Lauren Talbott, Robert Orbin, and Nathaniel Neidlinger placed in the top three during MMI Preparatory School’s Sixth Grade Science Fair, which was held on December 1 in the MMI Cafeteria.
Talbott captured first place for her project entitled “What’s in Your Water?” Orbin was second for his project called “Veggie Power!” Neidlinger came in third for his project entitled “How Yeast Affects the Size of Bread.”
MMI students advance to state finals of PA School Press Association's Student Journalism Competition
Senior Julia Snyder and junior Bailey Slusser will represent MMI Preparatory School at the state finals of the Pennsylvania School Press Association’s Student Journalism Competition. The state finals will be held on March 27, 2018, at Penn State University’s University Park campus.
Snyder and Slusser tied for first place in the Literary Magazine Artwork category during the regional competition at Penn State’s Berks campus. During the competition, students were given a poem written by a professional poet. After reading the poem, the students were tasked with creating a drawing that was relevant to the poem and would accompany the poem in the literary magazine.
More Articles ...
- Seven MMI athletes receive fall sports honors
- MMI Chamber Ensemble performs at 25th annual CAN DO Community Christmas.
- German language students visit Moravian Archives
- MMI’s Upper School Drama Club to perform annual series of one-act comedies on Dec. 8 and 9
- MMI holds annual Founders' Day ceremony
- MMI students attend Pennsylvania School Press Association’s Regional Student Journalism Competition
- MMI crowns 2017 Harvest king and queen
- MMI holds annual Poetry Out Loud school competition
- Lisa Marie Ferry honored as Outstanding Non-Public Art Educator and delivers presentation at PA Art Education Association conference
- MMI releases first quarter Honor Roll
- MMI to hold Visitation Night on November 15
- MMI students take part in hands-on information session on becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- MMI students complete community service projects to honor alumna on Athena S. Ford ’01 Day of Service
- MMI senior Aaron Harman named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist
- MMI Preparatory School Interact Club organizes collection drive for Hurricane Harvey victims
- MMI junior receives rare individual award during Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program
- Two MMI Students Place in International Interdependence Hexagon Project Competition
- MMI instructor Lisa Marie Ferry Gives Presentation at STR2E2AM Conference at King’s College
- MMI Alumnus Honors Class of 1967 With Sculpture That Merges Art and Mathematics
- Lisa Marie Ferry Wins Art Educator Award from Pennsylvania Art Education Association
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Contact
If you have any admissions questions, please contact:
Marci Hosier
Director of Enrollment Management & Marketing
admissions@mmiprep.org
570-636-1108