Leadership Lackawanna awardsscholarships to five recipients

The H. Leigh Woehling Leadership Lackawanna Fund was awarded to Jason Pozniak of Nibbles & Bits in Dunmore, shown at right, because of his aspirations to become a leader. Lackawanna Leadership selected five scholarship recipients dedicated to community development for its 10-month Core Program. Also shown, from left: Nicole Morristell, Leadership Lackawanna; Rachel Santoro, CHOP; Jacob Torba, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter; Amber Trunzo, Countryside Conservancy; Steve Brown, LCBC Church, and Pozniak.

Leadership Lackawanna recently announced it awarded over $2,700 to five scholarship recipients, who each actively lead and uplift their respective employers, demonstrate a passion for community development and wish to contribute to a brighter future through participation in the Leadership Lackawanna 10-month Core Program. 

The H. Leigh Woehling Leadership Lackawanna Fund was awarded to Jason Pozniak of Nibbles & Bits in Dunmore because of his aspirations to become a leader.

These various scholarships help offset the cost of tuition associated with enrolling in this program.

To select the recipients, a diverse group of volunteers from across the Leadership Lackawanna organization –including previous alumni and local community executives – reviewed and then ranked each application, which each offered a unique perspective based on their tenure and experience in the workplace and demonstrated a level of commitment to leadership development and community awareness, with purpose and giving back.

In the Leadership Lackawanna 10-month Core Program, participants gain direct and indirect leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills and enhanced understandings of the issues and topics relevant to the greater region. Class members also participate in group projects benefiting local nonprofit organizations.

Leadership Lackawanna is privileged to award annual scholarships to various program participants. This opportunity is made possible because of a collaboration with the Scranton Area Community Foundation as they are the stakeholder and manager of these philanthropic efforts. In total, there are nine scholarship endowments at the Foundation that provide various levels of tuition assistant, in perpetuity, to Leadership Lackawanna participants. 

Other scholarships recipients were::

  • Both Amber Trunzo of Countryside Conservancy and Rachel Santoro of CHOP received the Margaret
  • Briggs Leadership Lackawanna Fund because of their demonstrated leadership ability, interest in community affairs and desire for an increased commitment to community and professional services.
  • Rachel Santoro of CHOP also received the Government Leadership Award of the Scranton Area Foundation, which is a merit-based award given to an individual who shall be committed to civic leadership.
  • Griffin Pond Animal Shelter employee Jacob Torba received the Karen O’Connell Welles Leadership Lackawanna Fund because of his potential for leadership and demonstrated financial need.
  • The William W. and Mary L. Scranton Leadership Lackawanna Fund was presented to Steve Brown from LCBC Church for displaying leadership qualities with a giving spirit to the community.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today announces class of 2023-2024

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce community leadership and professional development affiliate, Leadership Lackawanna’s youth program, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, announces the program class of 2023–24. Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) is a seven-month program that develops high school juniors’ leadership, interpersonal, and managerial skills in the greater Scranton region.

Program participants will be provided with real-world experiences in financial literacy, health care, STEAM, philanthropy, crime and corrections, nonprofit organizations, and community service instructed by partnering organizations. NBT Bank proudly sponsors the 2023–24 program year.

Shown, front row, from left: Ashley Bossick, Nicholas Giumento, Kylie Krzak, Isabella Moher, Ava Page, Dante Pallazari, Abygale Plevyak, Gabriella Potis, Lily Rozzi, Gia An Serge, Faith Wormuth.

Second row: Abigail Harshbarger, Chloe Dong, Cole Johnston, Giada Costa, Joseph T. Healey, Matthew Hill, Mandie Martin, Reese Morgan, Justin Osman, Margaret Pegula, Nico Warhola.

Third row: Gabriella Estadt, Jordan Robert Malar, Isabelle Maurer, Sarah McCullon, Declan Moran, Ivy Neureuter, Sarah O’Brien, Hope Polishan, Elizabeth Schneider, Makayla Walton, Elizabeth Washine.

Back Row: Dhruv D. Amin, Jacon Antolick, Joseph DiStasi, Zachary Kobaleski, Caroline Luyster, Jack Maloney, Roland McLaine, Clinton Muir, Anthony John Piestrak, Akhilesh Velaga.

Not pictured: Ava Wallace

Orientation for Leadership Lackawanna

The Leadership Lackawanna core program class of 2023–24, which includes many Dunmore businesses and organizations, met recently for orientation and an introduction to leadership basics. Leadership Lackawanna strives to enhance emerging and established leaders’ skills, connections, and knowledge, strengthening our communities, workplaces, and organizations.

Shown front row, from left:  Cali Rose Nataloni, Nunzi’s Advertising; Hannah Shurtleff, First National Bank; Rachel Santoro, Goodwill Industries of NEPA; Amber Trunzo, Catherine McAuley Center; Kelli McCullough, Wright Center; Rachel Brummett, Honesdale National Bank; Abbey Merker, Montage Mountain Resorts; Isabella Ceccoli, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Michaela Martines, Wright Center; April James, Allied Services Home Health, and Jenn Sosa, Penn East Federal Credit Union. Second row, same order: Philip Zvirblis, NET Federal Credit Union; Kim Lazuka, Greater Scranton YMCA; Chelsea Cadwalder, NBT Bank; Emily Pettinato, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Dana Force, United Neighborhood Centers; Tara Floyd, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Stacy Cognetti, Lackawanna College; Emily Glodzik, Penn State Scranton; Jacob Torba, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter; Megan Kolis, Condron Sweda Advertising, and Scott Burti, Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Back row: Steve Brown, LCBC Church; Kristi Cleveland, Fidelity Bank; Pam Fischer, Benco Dental; Parker Dorsey, NeighborWorks NEPA; Megan Benedict, Wells Fargo; Thomas Swope, The AZEK Company; Kaitlin Allard, Barry Callebaut; Jason Pozniak, Nibbles & Bits; Christopher Moshinskie, FNCB Bank; Tara Jones, Lackawanna River Conservation Association; Matthew Jones, Tobyhanna Army Depot, and Richard Peters, Alleima USA LLC.