Dunmore Volleyball Senior Elisa Delfino is All Regional

Posted on December 2, 2020 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore senior Elisa Delfino just started playing volleyball last year as a junior without initially knowing a lot about the game.

She learned quickly.

Elisa was selected late last month as an All Regional volleyball player for the 2020 season.

She led Dunmore to the Lackawanna League championship playoff match and District 2 Class 2A playoffs.

Daughter of Joe and Melissa Delfino, Dunmore, Elisa was a Lackawanna coaches’ first team all-star. She had 115 kills, 56 serving points with 18 aces, seven blocks and 11 digs.

In her career, she had 245 kills, 56 serving points with 18 aces, 13 blocks and 11 digs. This was her first All Regional selection.

Sue Dempsey is the volleyball coach at Dunmore. Trevor Holmes is the assistant.

“They taught me everything I know about volleyball,” said Elisa. “I didn’t even know there were only six players on the court. I came in as a junior not really knowing the rules of the game. They taught me the basics and it went from there.”

And her reaction to being selected All Regional as a senior?

“I am very thankful that I had the coaches who helped me get there,” she said.

“I really regret not starting playing volleyball sooner. I started as a junior and learned the game so fast. Volleyball is an easy game to pick up once you start playing on a regular basis. It is a lot of fun.”

The talented senior has a 94 academic average and is also a key member of the Dunmore Lady Bucks basketball team. She is a member of the French Club, Spanish Club, Earth Club, SADD and TACT at Dunmore. Her best subject is psychology.

The scholar-athlete has been selected as player of the game and player of the month for her volleyball skills.

Elisa said she would like to study business administration/marketing with a minor in psychology and continue her basketball career in college. Her sister Gianna was a standout basketball player for the Dunmore Lady Bucks. So basketball is in her blood.

She talked about her future goals. “It is going to be hard for me to stop playing sports. I want to play basketball and do well in college. I want to finish college, be successful and start a family. I will never stop playing sports. I love it too much. I will play in recreation leagues after college. I am pretty sure of that.”

Elisa said she likes listening to music in her spare time and would love to see Ariana Grande in concert.

A four-year member of the Dunmore Lady Bucks basketball team as a shooting guard and forward, Elisa is also a football cheerleader.

A middle hitter in volleyball, she talked about what it takes to excel in the sport. “It takes teamwork and commitment. That is the main thing. Then it all falls into place.”

The multi talented and versatile senior said her parents taught her a lot. “They always tell me to stick to things and keep trying. They tell me to not get discouraged when things do not work out.”

Elisa talked about the impact of COVID-19 on herself and classmates. “It has been hard on us, but at the same time has strengthened the team and bond we have together. It has brought us closer.

“It was tough on our basketball team last year. We were on a good roll in the playoffs and the season suddenly came to a halt. We were playing well as a team and thought we had a good chance of going all the way.”

Elisa said she is enjoying her Dunmore High School experience. “I really like Dunmore a lot,” she said. “It is a tight community. Everybody knows everybody. Dunmore is like one big family.”

Lackawanna College Venture Lab Launching Microloan Program

Posted on December 2, 2020 by The Dunmorean

The Lackawanna College Venture Lab, a program operated by the College to support entrepreneurs in Northeastern Pennsylvania, is launching a pilot microloan program. The program can provide up to $2,500 in short-term zero-interest loans for entrepreneurs to launch their startups in the region.

The microloan program will provide access to funds for low-income entrepreneurs who are launching microenterprises, which have fewer than six employees and require a smaller amount of capital to get started. The Venture Lab offers professional services, innovative programs and industry connections within a supportive peer-to-peer learning environment.

Though the microloan program and the Venture Lab does not specifically target women and minority entrepreneurs, 2019 US Census data shows that the Venture Lab’s Target Area contains a higher concentration of minority and Hispanic individuals than the NEPA region as a whole (13% vs. 8% minority and 16% vs. 9% Hispanic). This program will benefit these constituencies. In addition, most of the early Venture Lab client companies have been led by women and minorities.

“Our research shows that NEPA is behind other urban centers in Pennsylvania in microenterprise activity, representing a lost opportunity of over $100 million in annual revenue flowing into our communities,” said Michael Jensen, director of the Venture Lab. “We hope these microloans will help disadvantaged entrepreneurs obtain the vital capital they need to launch new businesses and build more economically resilient neighborhoods.”

The Venture Lab is supporting the program with funds provided by Lackawanna College. This pilot program will test the microloanmodel, processes and effectiveness in addressing the financial startup needs in the local entrepreneurial community and plans to expand and seek out additional resources.

To learn more about the Venture Lab and the microloan program, visit Lackawanna.edu/venturelab or email venturelab@lackawanna.edu.

Holy Cross Cross Country Runner Kevin Jumper is Performer of Year

Posted on December 2, 2020 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

All Region Holy Cross cross country runner Kevin Jumper came into this season with plenty of challenges and expectations.

And the Holy Cross senior scholar-athlete rose to the head of the table far ahead of the pack.

After winning all seven meets in the Lackawanna League Division III regular season, he was named Times-Tribune performer of the year.

Son of Colleen and Joe Jumper, he won the District 2 Class 1A title in 16:53 helping Holy Cross repeat as team champions. He placed second in the state in Class 1A PIAA Championships at 16:54.

With the graduation of Andrew Healey, last year’s boys Runner of the Year, Jumper was expected to become the top runner for the Crusaders.

As a junior at Holy Cross, he finished second to Healey in districts and earned a state medal by placing seventh in Class 1A. He was an All Regional selection last year.

“I knew I had a shot at repeating as All Regional,” said Jumper. “I knew it would be a challenge, but I focused on my own training and things went as planned.”

Alex Higley is the cross country coach at Holy Cross. “He teaches us a lot about the mental side of things,” said Jumper. “He teaches us to not take things too seriously and to stay relaxed and have fun.”

The talented senior said he has learned a lot from his parents too.

“My parents tell me not to stress out and enjoy what I am doing. They tell me to appreciate the love that comes my way.”

Jumper shook off the pressure and won all seven of Lackawanna League Division III meets by an average margin of 33 seconds. He set the school record of 16 minutes, 34 seconds against Dunmore at McDade Park this past September 24.

The four-year cross country runner will also be starting his fourth season on the Holy Cross track and field team this year. He runs the 3,200 and 1,600 and the 4 by 800 relay.

A member of the National Honor Society at Holy Cross, he is a member of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and the History Club. His best subject is Math and he has an impressive 3.9 grade point average. He is also a two-year member of the Holy Cross swimming team.

The stalwart runner said he is not sure where he will attend college, but wants to major in business administration and finance and continue his cross country and track and field career.

He talked about his future goals. “I want to go to a good college, continue running, do well in school and graduate. Then I may want to become a financial advisor.”

The All Regional Performer of the Year talked about what is takes to excel in cross country on the high school level.

“You need discipline and need to love the grind of getting out there everyday. You need to focus on preparation and repetition.”

At the District 2 Championships at Wyoming County Fairgrounds, he captured the District 1A individual title in 16:53 as Holy Cross repeated as Class 1A team champions.

At the PIAA Championships in Hershey, he placed second in the state in Class 1A in 16:54 which was 12 seconds behind two-time state champion and University of North Carolina commit Colton Sands of Penns Valley.

Jumper said he would like to see Khalid, a rhythm and blues pop artist, in concert.

He has enjoyed his experience at Holy Cross immensely. “All of the teachers and kids are always willing to help out in any way,” he said. “There is the perfect mix of athletics and academics here at Holy Cross. It is all I could ask for.”