MMI News

Andrew Krzywicki Straw ’75, the global portfolio manager for fiber optic connectivity product development for Corning Incorporated and a retired Army Reserve Colonel, will serve as the commencement speaker at MMI’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony on May 23. In his role at Corning, Straw manages a portfolio of more than 50 development projects for fiber-to-the-home, data center, and distributed antenna system products. He has worked in the fiber optic communications industry for more than 30 years in a variety of engineering and management roles, including applications and field engineering, manufacturing, and research and development.

The MMI Preparatory School Board of Directors announced today that Justin S. Kleinheider has been appointed as MMI’s new Head of School beginning on July 1. Kleinheider is a New Jersey native with nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. He comes to MMI from Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, Missouri, where he oversees the liberal arts, college preparatory curricular program in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. In addition to curricular oversight, Kleinheider works directly with faculty on professional development and is an active participant in daily student life. He led the school’s...

MMI Preparatory School inducted 17 eighth-grade students into the National Junior Honor Society and 13 students into the National Latin Honor Society during a ceremony at the school.

MMI Preparatory School students completed community service projects at nine locations throughout Greater Hazleton to honor a late MMI alumna as part of the annual Athena Ford ’01 Day of Service. Athena Ford was a 2001 MMI graduate who passed away on October 23, 2016, as a result of complications sustained in an automobile collision where she was a seat-belted passenger and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The Athena S. Ford ’01 Endowed Fund for Community Service was established in 2017 by members of the MMI Class of 2001 as a way to honor Ford. This fund is restricted by MMI...

Thirteen MMI Preparatory School students in the German Language program participated in German Day at Penn State University’s Main Campus.  Senior Daniel DeMelfi placed first in Level 3 Spelling. The Trivia Team of Anna Hoxha, Paige Matchick, Natalie Graham, Morgan Hosier, Louis DeAngelo, Reiley DeStefano, Daniel DeMelfi, Elias Bachman, Peter Walko, Dustin Paul, Allain Benetiz, Joshua Galbiati, and Althea Stewart tied for first place.   Sophomore Louis DeAngelo was second in Level 2 Spelling and freshman Allain Benitez finished 3rd in Level 1 Poetry.

Fifty-two MMI Preparatory School students attended the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference, which was held from April 8-9 in Hershey. Seven students placed in the top 10 and five of those students will represent MMI at the National Leadership Conference, which will be held in July in San Antonio, Texas.

MMI Preparatory School announced that Wyoming Valley BMW will serve as the event sponsor for its Parents Association Designer Bag Bingo, which will be held on Sunday on the MMI campus at 154 Centre Street in Freeland. Doors open at noon and bingo games begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 and will be available at the door.

Twenty MMI Preparatory School students, four faculty and staff members, and two parents visited Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai during a nine-day educational tour of China. The tour, which was coordinated by Education First Tours, was led by T.R. Laputka and chaperoned by MMI faculty members Christina Spencer, Michael Mele, and Christine Lizbinski.

Five MMI Preparatory School students completed several community service projects across Greater Hazleton as members of the 2018-19 Junior Leadership Hazleton class. Juniors Carter Frask, Catherine Havrilla, Madyson Hornack, Josiah Pacchioli, and Benjamin Putnam joined other students from schools throughout Greater Hazleton to carry out the projects. The class members are assigned a team who then prepares a project. The project teaches students about delegation of power, how to work together to achieve a goal, and ways they can bring some joy to parts of the community.

Four MMI Preparatory School students received awards in the 24th annual Israel T. & Mildred Klapper Memorial Holocaust Essay Contest, marking the first time in the history of the contest that one school won all four awards in the Middle School and High School categories. Eighth grader Jakob Narrow placed first in the Middle School division and junior Adam Tron won the High School division. Eighth grader Lauren Urosevich was second in the Middle School category and senior Wesley Guarneri was second in the High School category.

Motivational speakers group Be a Hero, LLC, returned to MMI and gave two presentations to the students about the impact bullying has on our schools, neighborhoods, and individuals. Lisa Marie Ferry, MMI Dean of Students and art instructor, played an integral role in bringing the program back to MMI. The organization’s unique perspective, action plan for every member of the bullying cycle, and unmatched ignition to make change puts Sweethearts and Heroes at the top of the list when it comes to changing schools’ climates.

MMI Preparatory School recently inducted students into the Art, Mathematics, and Science National Honor societies during a ceremony at the school.

MMI Preparatory School recently inducted students into the Chinese, German, and Spanish National Honor societies during a ceremony at the school.

Forty-one MMI Preparatory School students were inducted into the Andrew J. Stofan Chapter of the National Honor Society during MMI’s Honor Societies induction ceremony at the school. MMI English instructor and National Honor Society advisor Donna Titus presided over the induction ceremony. National Honor Society officers are: Alexander Sessock, president; Keefer Hoover, vice president; Elise Hreha, secretary; Zachary Young, treasurer, and David Antolick, Historian.

MMI Prepper Playhouse will present “The New Mel Brooks Musical, Young Frankenstein” on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the MMI Athletic and Drama Complex. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and $12 for reserved seating. To reserve seats, please call the office (570) 636-1108 or email admissions@mmiprep.org.  

Fifty-nine MMI students presented during the 58th annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Regional II competition at Wilkes University. Thirty-six of those students earned first awards and will advance to the PJAS State Competition, which will be held May 19-21 at Penn State’s University Park campus. Additionally, MMI received 23 second awards and one third award.

MMI senior Frederick Mejia placed first in the individual competition and joined classmates Brian Payne, Zachary Young, Alexander Sessock, Daniel DeMelfi, Wesley Guarneri, Alexander Kline and Coleman Smith to capture the top prize in the team event at the 71st annual Luzerne County Council of Teachers of Mathematics (LCCTM) contest, which was held recently at Wilkes University.

The Wister Quartet, a nationally renowned and Grammy-nominated chamber ensemble, will perform at MMI Preparatory School for the 16th consecutive year on Monday, April 1 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 is free and open to the public and 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.