Holy Cross Class of ’21 Celebrates Graduation

Posted on July 7, 2021 by The Dunmorean

Holy Cross High School held its commencement on June 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, with 62 seniors graduating. Commencement speaker was Most Rev. Joseph Bambera, Bishop of Scranton. Benjamin D. Tolerico is school principal.

A Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated on June 3 at Cathedral of Saint Peter with Rev. Cyril D. Edwards as celebrant.

Peyton Phillips, daughter of Nancy and Justin Phillips, Nicholson, was valedictorian, while Norah Kelly, daughter of Meg Kelly and Thomas Pappas, Scranton, was salutatorian.

Peyton Phillips attended Mt View Elementary and during her high school career, shehas been a member of the National Honor Society, which she served as vice president; Student Council, PJAS, Foreign Language Club, History Club, Track and Field and Soccer in which she served as captain.

Valedictorian Peyton’s academic career will continue at the University of Connecticut where she will pursue a major in Biomedical Engineering with a Pre-Med track and she hopes to pursue a career in Medicine, either in Pediatrics or Non-invasive Cardiology.

Salutatorian Norah Kelly entered Holy Cross after graduating from All Saints Academy and during her high school career Norah has been a member of the National Honor Society, Foreign Language Club, Service Club, Crafting Club, costume crew for Drama Club, Fiction Fanatics, and served as a Daisy Leader for Girl Scouts and Junior Camp Counselor. In the fall, Norah plans to attend the University of Notre Dame.

Graduates included: Jack O’Malley Allardyce (diploma with distinction); Kathryn Grace Augustine, Bria Ann Beggin, Emma Lauren Bellman; Patrick Michael Bennie (diploma with distinction); Jillian Frances Brennan, Sarah Lynne Callejas, Paige Marie Caskey, Lucca Anthony Cerminaro, Kelsey Anne Conlon, Laurel Marie Cortazar, Arabella Cecile Cox, James B. Davis, Matthew Adrian Dec, Carter Elizabeth Engelhardt, Kylie Noelle Engleman and Ryan Philip Evans.

Also, James Michael Fay, Emily Jane Ferguson, Kylee Rian Gale, Patrick Robert Gilman Jr., Emily Rose Haikes, William Robert Hanna, Lauren Elizabeth Hegedus, Ryan Joseph Huester (diploma with distinction); Will Anthony Kalinich, Robert J. Kane, Norah Ann Kelly (diploma with distinction); Molly Marie Landseidel, Thomas Theodore Lee, Abigail Grace Lentowski (diploma with distinction), Mark Lopez and Brandson Ludovici Jr.

Also, David Joseph Mariotti, Julia Hockey Mazur, Erin Elena McGee (diploma with distinction); Catherine Grace McGovern, Jacob Richard McLane, Nathan Patrick McLane, Ashlyn Marie McNally, Tyler Loren Mendicino, Samuel Morales, Sarah Elizabeth Murphy, Alexander Joseph Nole, Peyton Olivia Phillips (diploma with distinction); Cristia Lourdes Ives Polizzi, William Henry Roever II, Craig T. Roman and David Christopher Romanski.

Also, Corey Thomas Scochin, Caroline Grace Shaffern, Andrew Nicholas Skutack, Alesis Marie Tanana, Mikele-Danilo A. Tenev, Connor Benjamin Tone, Rebecca Maureen Tone, Kristina Lynn Tranovich, Elizabeth Wallace and Douglas Patrick Walsh.

Food Drive Helps Stock Up Pacer Pantry

Posted on July 7, 2021 by The Dunmorean

Marywood University students, Katelyn Gjini, president of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter, and Nicole Koestler, vice president of the NSSLHA chapter at the University, recently organized a food donation drive for Marywood University’s Pacer Panty.

Miscellaneous food, snacks, and personal hygiene/toiletry items were donated to the Pacer Pantry with the support of students and faculty in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department. The Pacer Pantry opened on the University’s campus in February 2020 on the ground floor of Emmanuel Hall.

Various Marywood University departments, deans, faulty/staff members, student groups, and Friends of the Poor (a sponsored ministry of the IHM Congregation) collaborated to make the Pacer Pantry a reality. Sister Elizabeth McGill, IHM, an IHM novice and a Marywood graduate, headed the project.

Food insecurity is a growing concern on college campuses throughout the country. Marywood’s local response to this nationwide issue is the Pacer Pantry, a name chosen by Marywood students, to benefit students and staff who may struggle with food insecurity. Fighting hunger—whether on a global scale or right in one’s own community—requires awareness. Advocacy and action are a part of the solution, but the fact that food insecurity is a real problem that exists on college campuses across the nation is eye opening for many.

The NSSLHA Chapter at Marywood University is a student-run organization that is an active part of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department and is in affiliation with the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. The NSSLHA Chapter at Marywood collaborates with the University’s Student Government Association, and has participated in many departmental as well as campus-wide activities and events.

For additional information about Marywood University’s Pacer Pantry, email PacerPantry@marywood.edu, or visit marywood.edu/article/2020-Pacer-Pantry-Open-House. For additional information about Marywood University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, please visit marywood.edu/csd/, or call the office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234.

Athlete of the Month: David Day

Posted on July 7, 2021 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

David Day finished off his Dunmore High School career as class valedictorian.

So what does he do for an encore?

He gets picked as a Lackawanna League Tennis Coaches first-team all-star for Class 2A as a No. 1 singles player.

Well versed and well spoken, David played four sports at Dunmore.

Besides being the No. 1 singles player on the tennis team, he was a wide receiver for the football team one year, participated in swimming for two years and goal keeper for the soccer team three years. He was a Lackawanna League Soccer Coaches first-team all-star as a goalkeeper in his junior year.

Son of Bobby and Karen Day, he credits his parents for the work ethic he learned. “My parents taught me the value of hard work. It is what drives you to do well in life and succeed.”

David is a driven young man who likes to keep busy. He was a member of the Spanish Club, Engineering Club, Earth Club and Service Club at Dunmore. He was Dunmore student body president and yearbook staff editor. He was president of the National Honor Society. The scholar-athlete finished with a 3.8 academic grade point average as class valedictorian.

David will study astrophysics at the University of Florida in the fall.

He talked about what it takes to excel as a high school tennis performer. “You need determination,” he said. “You can’t get down on yourself. You need to be consistent. A lot of it is mental.”

He praised Dunmore tennis coach Chris Phillips, the Lackawanna League coach of the year. “Coach Phillips told us that with the right mind set, anyone can play tennis. With hard work and the right mind set, anyone can do what they want.”

David said he likes listening to rap music in his spare time. He would like to see rapper Notorious B.I.G. in concert.

He talked about his future goals. “I would eventually like to earn a Ph.D in astrophysics,” he said. “I want to get into independent research. Hopefully, I will have a family and live a very normal life.”

David said he may play recreational tennis or bowling at the University of Florida.

A four-year member of the Dunmore Bucks tennis team, the intellectual athlete said he thoroughly enjoyed his experience at Dunmore High School. “Everyone at Dunmore is very caring and welcoming. Everyone at Dunmore wants to see you do your best and succeed. The teachers, coaches, students and administrators all want to see that. It’s a very caring atmosphere.”