MMI News

MMI Preparatory School crowned Andrew Alday and Alyssa Famalette, both pictured first row center, its 2015 Harvest King and Queen during MMI’s annual Harvest Dance on November 7. Allison Warner-Senape, first row far left, Shaelyn Heft, first row far right, and Devon Faul, second row far left, were the runners up. Also pictured are Parent Faculty Organization representative Natalie Kost and MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood.

MMI Preparatory School art and anthropology instructor Lisa M. Ferry was one of only eight women who received the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Women’s Empowerment Grant during the Chamber’s 2015 Business and Community Awards ceremony. Ferry was also awarded a certificate of special congressional recognition from Congressman Lou Barletta in honor of her achievement.

MMI Preparatory School held an induction ceremony recently for 21 new members of the Science National Honor Society and 16 new members of the Mathematics National Honor Society. During the ceremony, Assistant Head of School Charles Seidel welcomed guests and faculty member Michael Mele introduced the officers of the two honor societies. Jay Solgama, president of MMI’s chapters of the Science National Honor Society and Mathematics National Honor Society, gave a speech. MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood gave closing remarks and Luke Yamulla provided piano accompaniment.

MMI Preparatory School recently inducted 38 new members of the Andrew J. Stofan Chapter of the National Honor Society during a ceremony at the school. MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood welcomed guests, adviser and faculty member Donna Titus gave opening remarks and Assistant Head of School Charles Seidel introduced the speaker. MMI Board of Directors Vice Chairman John H. Hersker ’76 served as speaker for the induction ceremony. He is the former president and CEO of Movie Tavern, Inc., was executive vice president of distribution for Paramount Pictures and served as chief operating officer of Copper Beech Capital.

MMI student-athletes Sarah Moyer and Brendan Drusda were recently named the school’s winners for the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award which highlights exceptional high school seniors and their achievements in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

Three MMI seniors were named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program for 2015. Andrew Alday, Sarah Moyer, and Jay Solgama received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Alday is the son of Dr. Senen Alday and Dr. Milagros Azcueta-Alday, Mountaintop; Moyer is the daughter of Robert and Susan Moyer, Bowmanstown; and Solgama is the son of Dr. Paresh and Arti Solgama, Mountaintop.

Students in MMI English instructor Jennifer Novotney’s creative writing and advanced creative writing courses held their annual Halloween Scary Story Contest.

Twelve MMI students recently competed in the school level Poetry Out Loud competition. Freshman Andrew Decker finished first and will represent MMI in the televised Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition on December 15 at the WVIA-TV studios in Pittston.

MMI English instructor Jennifer Novotney was one of seven featured authors at the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English Language Arts annual conference in Harrisburg. The authors were featured at an Author’s Breakfast where Novotney read from her young adult book Winter in the Soul and talked about her inspiration for writing the book. She also participated in a book signing for two of her novels, Winter in the Soul and Infinite Spring.

Students in MMI’s Sunshine Club recognized national Unity Day on October 21 by creating a pledge poster for students, faculty, and staff to sign indicating their stand against bullying. Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention month, which is sponsored by PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

Two MMI Preparatory School seniors will be featured on WVIA-TV Artist of the Week segments and are among the finalists for the WVIA Artist of the Year award. Allison Warner-Senape and Charles Bower visited the WVIA studios in Pittston to record a one-minute Artist of the Week piece that will appear on WVIA-TV from November 8-14 and online at www.wvia.org for a year.

Two students from MMI Preparatory School were among only seven students from across the United States who were selected to take part in a cultural leadership program in China this summer. Senior Terrance Jankouskas and 2015 graduate Rachel Stanziola, who were taught Chinese at MMI by World Language instructor Christina Spencer, visited China from July 27 to August 7 and participated in the ninth annual Ameson Chinese Elite Program (ACE), sponsored by the Ameson Education & Cultural Exchange Foundation. ACE is an annual event that brings together the brightest young minds from top secondary schools from the United States, China,...

MMI German language students are celebrating German Week from now through October 8. German Week celebrates the contributions of German Americans to the United States in the arts, sciences, business, academia and government. October 3rd marks the 25 thanniversary of the Day of German Unity, the official German national holiday that commemorates the unification of Germany. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 German American Day to honor the date in 1683 when the first German settlers immigrated to the United States.

Lori Losen, LPC, RPT gave a presentation on the topic of helping children manage anxiety during the first PFO meeting of the 2015-16 school year on September 22 in the cafeteria. PFO co-presidents Peggy Durako and Eileen Perchak presided over the meeting, which included remarks from Head of School Thomas Hood and the committee chairs and treasurer.

MMI Preparatory School students are utilizing three-dimensional printing technology as part of their curriculum with new equipment purchased through a donation from the family of two MMI students. David and Maureen Eschenbach of Drums have a daughter, Katie, and son, Ryan, who are juniors at MMI and through their donation, the school purchased a 3D printer that is being used in several courses and grade levels.

MMI Preparatory School held its 10th annual Wall of Fame dinner on Saturday, September 19, welcoming seven new members to its Wall of Fame. Established in 2006, the MMI Wall of Fame honors alumni in addition to current and 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: Ryan...

MMI Preparatory School recently received a $28,050 contribution from the United Way of Wyoming Valley, presented by Nina C. Dei Tos ‘01 MPA, Vice President of Resource Development. These funds will be used for scholarship support for MMI students who reside in the Wyoming Valley and meet the criteria for an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Scholarship.