MMI News

MMI Preparatory School seventh graders Jakob Narrow and John Schwear III received recognition and will have their artwork exhibited as part of the 2017 International Interdependence Hexagon Project competition. For the competition, which was completed during the 2016-17 school year, Narrow and Schwear competed in the Elementary Division (grades 4-6) in the 2-D category, which indicated a single student worked to create a two-dimensional hexagon. Narrow won the award for Most Effective All-Over Interpretation, while Schwear was an honorable mention selection in the Most Relevant Interdependence Theme category. The International Interdependence Hexagon Project is a visual arts opportunity for young...

MMI Preparatory School art instructor Lisa Marie Ferry recently gave a presentation at the STR2E2AM Evidence-Based Practices Conference at King’s College’s Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center in Wilkes-Barre. The conference covered material for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educators in the areas of science, technology, reading, writing, engineering, early childhood education, arts and mathematics. Ferry’s presentation was entitled “Turning Anxiety into Creativity.” The hands-on session addressed the anxiety and stress students suffer in the classroom and examined evidence-based strategies that can be used to alleviate their symptoms not only in the art curriculum, but other classes and beyond.

MMI Preparatory School graduate Salvadore DeFazio ‘67 presented his latest sculpture to the school during Alumni Weekend.  The sculpture honors the Class of 1967 as classmates prepare to celebrate their 50th reunion with a gathering in October.  The statue was unveiled during a ceremony Saturday in the Mildred Culp Kahler Courtyard at MMI. “I have artwork all over the world and felt it was time to do something for my alma mater,” DeFazio said. “It’s something I wanted to do for MMI because, obviously, I developed my earliest training at the school.” DeFazio explained that the sculpture has dual titles...

MMI Preparatory School art instructor Lisa Marie Ferry was selected to receive the 2017 Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) Outstanding Non-Public Art Educator Award. The award recognizes exemplary contributions, achievements and service to art education at the state, regional and national levels. It is given on behalf of the PAEA Awards Committee and PAEA Board. A nomination letter and two additional letters of recommendation were required for each award candidate. The award selection process took into account a candidate’s level of education; participation in National Art Education Association (NAEA) activities on the national, regional, state and local levels; their leadership...

MMI Preparatory School inducted four members into its Wall of Fame during the 12th annual Wall of Fame Awards dinner, which was held Saturday as part of MMI’s Alumni Weekend festivities. Stephen A. Makuta ’69 and Wilson L. Zehner ’81 were recognized for Athletic Achievement, Dennis P. Clarke was honored for Service to MMI and Atty. Donald M. Barnes ’61 was inducted for Professional Achievement. MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins said, “On behalf of the entire MMI family, I am honored to see Steve, Wilson, Dennis and Don inducted into the MMI Wall of Fame. During their time...

MMI Preparatory School’s literary magazine, Angst, won a Silver Award from the Pennsylvania School Press Association.  Angst is produced annually and features literary and visual works of art that are submitted by MMI students in grades 9 through 12. The 2016-2017 edition included 22 poems, 11 non-fiction pieces, 10 works of fiction and 24 art or photography submissions. MMI English instructor Jennifer Novotney served as the faculty adviser for the project. Student editorial board members were: Olivia Minzola, editor in chief; Evan Spear, co-editor and visual arts editor; Jessica Smith, nonfiction editor; Hunter O’Clair, assistant nonfiction editor; Jacob Weiksner, fiction...

MMI Preparatory School received a first-place award for Local Market Share during the Eastern Region Meeting at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Competition in Anaheim, California. The award is given to the school with the highest percentage of students in a high school involved in FBLA among all the states along the east coast of the United States as well as the island chapters of the Caribbean. This marked the sixth consecutive year that MMI students advanced to the national competition. Chava Kornblatt, Morgan Long, Allison McGeehan, Jakob Schwabe, Jonathan Smith, Jessica Smith, Julia Snyder and Stephanie Zellner...

MMI students received 23 first-place awards, 20 second-place awards and two third-place awards at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition, which was held on the Pennsylvania State University main campus. Junior Abigail Paul received a perfect score and earned special recognition from the Pennsylvania Science Talent Search (PSTS), which identifies and recognizes outstanding science talent in students who are juniors or seniors in high school.

MMI’s Relay For Life team raised $1,891 and will donate the funds to the American Cancer Society during the annual Relay For Life of Greater Hazleton, which will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Hazleton Area High School Track at Cougar Park on 23rd Street in Hazleton.

Students in seventh, ninth and 11th grades delivered presentations as part of MMI Preparatory School’s annual “Best of the Best” program during an assembly held at the school. Junior Lauren Babinetz, the daughter of Michael and Patricia Babinetz of Jim Thorpe, was the overall “Best of the Best” winner for the second semester for her presentation on the Morality of Self Driving Cars. 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. Additional “Best of the Best” presenters were: seventh grader Rachael...

MMI Preparatory School seniors Allison McGeehan and Nicholas Young both won National Merit Scholarships and junior Aaron Harman qualified for the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. McGeehan was selected as the winner of a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship and Young received the National Merit Computer Aid Scholarship. In March, McGeehan and Young were among just 15,000 students nationwide to advance as finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program and two of four finalists at MMI. Harman was selected as a qualifier for the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program based on his performance on the 2016 Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit...

MMI Preparatory School in Freeland conducted its 125th Commencement Exercises on Thursday, May 25, as seniors were awarded diplomas by Stanley B. Warner III ’92, chairman of MMI’s Board of Directors. This year’s graduating class of 42 seniors amassed more than $6.4 million in merit scholarships and awards. The 2017 graduating class also attained an average SAT score of 1733 and 1239 on the Redesigned SAT. The Class of 2017’s average ACT score is 27. Members of the Class of 2017 were accepted at over 71% of the colleges they applied to and will attend over 27 different colleges and...

MMI junior Angelica Alday has been chosen to serve on the Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre Student Advisory Council for the 2017-2018 program year. In this role, she will mentor and advise members of the Class of 2018, and will have the opportunity to serve as a Project Advisor or as a member of the Selection Committee that will work to choose members of the Class of 2019.

MMI Preparatory School seniors Garrett Kost and Allison McGeehan were recently named the Hazleton Elks Lodge #200 Teenagers of the Year. The award is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life. Applicants were judged on the basis of character, leadership, citizenship and scholastics.

MMI Preparatory School recently presented athletic awards to students during the school’s annual Awards Convocation. The awards were presented by MMI Athletic Director Jason Tribbet and team coaches. The District 2 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Award were presented to Dana Carrato and Nicholas Young. The award is for students who have participated in MMI’s athletic program for multiple years, maintained high academic averages and are involved in community and school service. Dana Carrato and Garrett Kost received the 2017 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, which recognizes students for success and achievement in both academics and athletics. Golfer, Jessica McClellan,...

MMI Preparatory School recently held its annual upper school Awards Convocation for students in ninth through 12th grades. MMI Head of School D. Scott Wiggins welcomed those in attendance and MMI College Admissions Counselor Stephanie Shandra served as emcee. Senior Allison McGeehan received a special award honoring her service as Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Reporter for the 2016-2017 school year. In addition to assisting MMI FBLA adviser Katherine Zucco, McGeehan spent a significant amount of time over the past year serving more than 500 students across the state in her capacity as State Reporter. Allison was...

UGI Energy Services recently donated $15,000 to MMI Preparatory School as part of the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program. The OSTC program, along with the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, enables a Pennsylvania business to gift up to $750,000 of its Pennsylvania state tax dollars directly to the school’s scholarship program. Tax credits are given for 90 percent of gifts given in two consecutive years, or 75 percent of a one-year gift. EITC and OSTC enable companies to support local schools at a minimum cost.

Peter Bayer, a retired United States Army Major General and former Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy on the Army staff at the Pentagon, will give the Founder’s Day Address at MMI Preparatory School’s commencement ceremony on May 25. Bayer, a 1980 MMI graduate, is the Area Vice President, Northeast for Penske Logistics where he leads a team of more than 1,900 associates providing world class transportation and warehouse management logistics support to 37 diverse customers nationwide. Prior to joining Penske, he proudly served for over 29 years as a soldier in the United States Army in a variety of...