WVIA Recognized for Impact: Six Prestigious PAB Awards Celebrate Local Storytelling

WVIA, Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania’s public media station, is honored to announce it has received six awards from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) for its outstanding work in 2023. 

These prestigious honors recognize WVIA’s commitment to delivering essential local news, informative programs, and captivating arts and entertainment content for our region.

“These awards represent so much more than success for WVIA. They acknowledge the important role we play in informing, educating, and entertaining our neighbors, and inspire us to continue delivering essential public media that strengthens our region.” said WVIA Chief Content Officer, Ben Payavis II. “We are deeply grateful for the continued trust, support, and encouragement from our communities, and look forward to building upon this success in years to come.”

The PAB Awards represent the pinnacle of broadcasting excellence in the state, judged by a panel of industry professionals. WVIA’s six recognitions span a variety of categories, reflecting its commitment to serving audiences across various interests and representing all facets of its communities.

Outstanding Use of Digital Media

  • WVIA presents PIZZA!, Digital Short-Form Documentary Series
  • ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers, Documentary Launch
  • Mind Over Matter, Season Recap

Outstanding Feature Story/Report

  • The Hooded Graves of Catawissa, VIA Short Take
  • Conversation group in Scranton Helps refugees from around the world, WVIA News story

Outstanding Television Documentary

  • ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers, Documentary

In addition to these awards, WVIA’s impact extends far beyond broadcast. In 2023, the station reached over 2 million viewers and 1 million listeners, provided educational resources to thousands of students, and hosted community events that engaged residents across the region. 

“These awards are a reflection of the countless hours, late nights, and passionate hearts poured into every story we tell,” stated WVIA President & CEO, Carla McCabe. “We do this together, for our communities.” 

Winners were announced online on Friday, February 9th, and a luncheon will be held at The Harrisburg Hilton on Friday April 26th, 2024, at noon, where winners will receive their awards.

Misericordia University College of Business Hosts Event Series

Are you or someone you know interested in the business world or becoming a business major? Misericordia University’s College of Business is holding an event series on current business topics and practices. This event is an overview of the Federal Reserve and current research on economic inclusion. It is an excellent opportunity for your students to enhance their knowledge, ask questions, and get inspired!

On Friday, February 23rd, from 12:20 to 1:30 pm, Dionissi Aliprantis, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Program on Economic Inclusion Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, will speak to the students in the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, McGowan Room.

This event is free, and registration is required. Please RSVP at: https://www.misericordia.edu/academics/academic-colleges/college-of-business/college-of-business-event-series

SWB RailRiders 2024 Single-Game Tickets on Sale

Single-game tickets for the 2024 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders season go on sale Saturday, March 2, at 11 A.M. The RailRiders will celebrate the first chance to buy individual game tickets by hosting a Family FunFest at PNC Field on March 2 from 11 A.M. until 2 P.M.

The RailRiders start their 17th season as the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees on March 29 in Buffalo and play their home opener on April 2 against the Syracuse Mets. The 2024 season is slated for 150 games, including 75 at PNC Field.

Individual tickets for any game will be available online only beginning at 11 A.M. on March 2 at swbrailriders.com, including Opening Night, July 4 or any of our great promotional dates.

The Family FunFest will offer big 2024 discounts and prizes.

Beat-the-Clock
Starting at 11 A.M. on March 2, fans can once again Beat-the-Clock and save big on Opening Night tickets at the PNC Field Box Office.

Starting at 11, get Zone C tickets for Opening Night for $1.00 at the box office until 11:59:59 A.M.

From noon until 1 P.M., Opening Night Zone C tickets are just $2.00. From 1-2 P.M., those same tickets will be $3.00 each! This ticket offer is only valid in person at the box office and the ticket discount is limited to eight tickets per person. Ticketing at PNC Field is all digital.

BP & Swing for Savings!
Take your Spring Training cuts with a round of batting practice. All ages are welcome to take some practice hacks in the RailRiders home batting cages.


Fans can Swing for Savings with a great offer on a new full season ticket membership. Take three swings and your highest velocity on our HitTrax will be your discount on a full season membership. Hit a home run and you’ll get $150 off a full season ticket plan. A $50 ticket membership deposit is required to Swing for Savings.


CHAMP’S Kids Club Membership Pick-up
CHAMP’s Kids Club members can pick up their official membership cards and gifts in the Geisinger Champions Club between 11-2. If you aren’t a member of CHAMP’S Kids Club, visit the team’s website or sign your kids up during the Family FunFest!

Community Corner
The RailRiders Community Corner will be open will with a great selection of game-worn items, autographs and more. All proceeds from this special edition of the Community Corner will benefit Bake Inclusive, part of PA Inclusive; an agency that provides support services to those with intellectual disabilities and autism, including job placement and training.

Cornhole Tournament
The RailRiders will host a free, 24-team cornhole tournament on the Geisinger Plaza. Teams must pre-register and our double-elimination tournament begins at 11:30 A.M. First place wins a pair of Flex Plan packages. Second place takes home a pair of 4-Pack Mini Plans. Visit swbrailriders.com or follow the RailRiders on social media for more details. (Please note: The tournament field is limited to the first 24 teams that sign-up.)

Scavenger Hunt
Navigate PNC Field searching for clues to find treasure! This can’t-miss scavenger hunt will take you around the park and could lead to prizes, memorabilia and special offers if you find your way.

Trivia Challenge
Stop by the Geisinger Champions Club at 11:30 or 12:30 and test your knowledge will the RailRiders Trivia Challenge. Each game will last about 15 minutes, making sure you have time to enjoy everything going on at the ballpark. You’ll have the chance to win great prizes, including Yankees gear, gift cards and autographed memorabilia. Each game will consist of three rounds of trivial questions: SWB Baseball, Classic MLB and Name that Tune!

VIP Tours
Get a personal tour and see what we have to offer at PNC Field!

The RailRiders Team Store will be open from 11-2. Plus… New 2024 ballpark food options and beverages will be available for purchase.

Make plans to join us on Saturday, March 2, for the RailRiders Family FunFest at PNC Field! The full 2024 promotional schedule will be released leading up to single-game tickets going on sale March 2. For more information, call (570) 969-BALL or visit swbrailriders.com.

Wayne Bank Announces Promotion in Collections Department

Wayne Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Donnelly is pleased to announce the promotion of Gary Steich to Assistant Vice President and Retail Collections Officer.

Steich joined the Bank in 2016 as a Collections Officer and obtained a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in business from Wilkes University.

Mr. Donnelly stated, “As a Retail Collections Officer, Gary works to collect outstanding debts so that our organization can continue to invest in our communities and take care of our customers. He does a great job of partnering with our customers to provide options and find the best solution. This promotion is extremely well earned.”

Steich enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Novaleigh and Maverick.

Marywood University Schedules Experiential Learning Days in March

Marywood University is hosting several experiential learning days in March for prospective undergraduate students. These special exploration days, designated for specific areas of academic interest, allow students a more in-depth look at the learning and career opportunities within each discipline. In March, three programs—social sciences, science, and nursing—will offer special days for students to discover more, participate in learning activities, and meet faculty, including the following:

Saturday, March 2, Social Sciences Department Day, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Nazareth Student Center: Are you passionate about understanding human societies, seeking justice, or delving into the depths of history? Spend a Saturday at an event designed for students with an interest in social sciences, including criminal justice, history, pre-law, and sociology. The event features interactive workshops & seminars, campus tours, networking opportunities with current students, faculty, and successful alumni, and admissions and financial aid sessions. To register, go to admissions.marywood.edu/register/SocialSciencesDay24.

Monday, March 4, Scientist for a Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Center for Natural and Health Sciences: This fascinating opportunity offers students a glimpse into the world of scientific exploration, discovery, and innovation. Participants will have the opportunity to perform experiments in environmental science, immunology, microbiology, and anatomy. Future scientists in attendance will also gather information on career paths in the science field. To register, go to admissions.marywood.edu/register/ScientistDay24.

Thursday, March 7, Nurse for a Day, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center: Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in first aid training, simulation, and nursing lab activities. The event also includes meetings with faculty and current students. Register by February 29 at: admissions.marywood.edu/register/NFAD.

University of Scranton Online Programs Ranked Among Nation’s Best

U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked The University of Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 52 and its online MBA program at No. 120 in the nation.

This is the 13th consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times throughout the years.

For the 2024 Best Online Programs ranking, which published Feb. 7, U.S. News reviewed statistical information submitted by schools. The ranking criteria differed by category. The criteria used by U.S. News to rank online business and MBA programs included student engagement (30 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation by AACSB International, among other factors. The ranking criteria also included peer reputation score (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (15 percent); student excellence (15 percent); and student services and technology (15 percent).

Scranton offers online MBA degrees in accounting, business analytics, enterprise resource planning, finance, healthcare management, human resources management, international business and operations management; master’s degrees in accountancy, applied behavior analysis, business analytics, cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity, finance, health administration, health informatics, human resources management,  dual MBA/MHA degree and speech-language pathology, in addition to graduate certificates. For technology, recruitment and marketing support, the University partners with Wiley for some of the online programs.

In other U.S. News publications, Scranton has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 30 consecutive years. U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 5 among regional universities in the north in its 2024 guidebook and No. 8 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” a selection of the top colleges in the nation that express a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Student Powers Up Wright Center’s Energy-saving Efforts

Rachel Huxhold arrived at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice in early 2024 for a checkup of sorts, but her interest wasn’t in seeing a doctor.

Instead, she wanted to peer into the building’s maintenance closets and closed-door spaces where water heaters, heating/cooling units, and other devices work to keep the clinic functioning and comfortable – and consume energy.

Her aim: Uncover waste and promote conservation.

Huxhold, 30, is a student at the Harvard Extension School, pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability. She chose The Wright Center as the focus of her capstone project, offering to serve for free as a student consultant and develop a sustainability action plan that she intends to give to the nonprofit’s leadership team in April.

The plan, which she describes as “a road map or reference guide,” will recommend energy-saving strategies that can be implemented immediately, Huxhold said. The plan also will identify future opportunities for The Wright Center’s team to consider as it “thinks through how to operate more sustainably” and possibly looks to renewable energy alternatives.

“Energy usage is the main area we’re tackling,” explained Huxhold. “But I’m also looking at waste and water activity, how folks are using the building – really, a myriad of ways to be more environmentally conscious.”

The Wright Center demonstrated its growing commitment to sustainability in early 2023 when it hired Covington Township resident John Slater as its first environmental, social, and governance (ESG) specialist.

“The sustainability plan that Rachel prepares for us will have a tailored set of recommendations,” said Slater, who noted the project’s timing is ideal. Not only is it expected to be completed just as The Wright Center compiles its top ESG priorities (and metrics by which to measure them), but it also is unfolding as the government offers incentives to nonprofits through the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation to make the transition to clean energy.

“The plan will be actionable for us because there are so many energy-conserving things out there to do,” Slater said.

The Wright Center’s leaders will be able to review the report’s suggestions this spring, then potentially make changes and start saving money that can be reinvested in patient care and services. But beyond lowering utility bills, there are likely to be other benefits. Chief among them is the ability of the health center to withstand severe weather events so that it can fulfill its role as an essential community provider and serve low-income patients of all ages even in challenging circumstances.

“It’s about resiliency,” said Huxhold. “As climate change progresses and we have stronger heat waves, more severe storms, things like that, there are definitely benefits to making sure the facilities are able to perform the functions that they need to in all kinds of more extreme conditions.”

For The Wright Center, there also can be a reputational benefit to being a sustainability leader among community health centers. As word spreads, its emphasis on conservation and climate awareness could serve as a drawing card for job seekers who prefer “green” organizations over those that seemingly remain ambivalent about the planet’s problems.

‘The perfect marriage’

To perform an energy audit of The Wright Center’s facilities, Huxhold first looked at the paper records, including utility bills and written descriptions of its building management systems. Then, she followed up with fieldwork.

Huxhold, a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, visited Northeast Pennsylvania in mid-January, touring the Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn and the Wilkes-Barre Practice. The two buildings are owned, not leased, by the organization, potentially allowing for recommended energy-conserving steps to be followed more easily and quickly.

Dennis Hand, director of facilities management, Michael Sobolewski, maintenance worker, and Slater accompanied the student consultant as she eyeballed the buildings’ heating/cooling systems, water heaters, and other equipment.

She peered over IT gadgets and looked at light fixtures. She checked for drafty doors and windows. She noted facility conditions (later commending The Wright Center for its upkeep) and asked plenty of questions of employees who use the buildings.

“We got a lot of positive feedback just walking around and telling folks what we were looking for,” said Huxhold, who is credentialed as a certified energy manager and a LEED green associate. “It felt as if everyone really saw the value and was excited about this type of work.”

At the outset of her capstone project, Huxhold had contacted the National Association of Community Health Centers in Bethesda, Maryland, asking for its guidance on narrowing the choices of potential project partners.

“The Wright Center was the first group they mentioned,” she said. “They explained that ESG work was an emergent priority for The Wright Center, and it wants to be a leader in the health care space for climate action. It seemed like the perfect marriage.”

Feeling the heat

Federal officials urge health care organizations to connect the dots between the environment and health. In 2021, the Biden administration established the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity to examine how the environment impacts Americans’ health and to ramp up protection for people, “especially those experiencing a higher share of exposures and impacts,” according to the newly established office.

As part of the initiative, health centers, hospitals, and related groups nationwide are signing on to the Health Sector Climate Pledge, a voluntary commitment to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The Wright Center will likely have a major opportunity to weave energy efficiency into its operations as it works to complete Phase III of the repurposing of its Wilkes-Barre site. Slater believes the health center will increasingly be able to highlight its actions, serving as an example and sharing lessons with patients and the broader community about conservation and the connection between climate and public health.

“A lot of people don’t think Pennsylvania is being impacted because they’re not seeing the large-scale weather disasters locally, all the damage,” Slater said.

But he frequently reminds people to think about the state’s recent string of relatively mild winters, last year’s wildfire-induced smoky air, and an increasing number of high heat index days (above 90 degrees) each summer. “Even though we’re not in an area that is feeling the impact excessively, like a New Orleans or a Miami,” said Slater, “it’s still something that is slowly showing its stripes.”

Marywood University Announces Area Students Named to Fall 2023 Dean’s List

Marywood University announces the area students named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List from each of its colleges, including the College of Health, Human Services, and the Sciences and the Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies.

Undergraduate students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-4.00 on 12 or more graded credits merit this academic honor. Students who believe they may have been omitted from this list in error should contact the Dean of their respective college.

Area students named to the Dean’s List from the College of Health, Human Services, and the Sciences as declared by Dean Shelby W. Yeager, M.Ed., LAT, ATC, CSCS, include:

Joanna Aguirre, Wilkes Barre; Katelyn Ainey, Jessup; Kathryn Albitz, Tobyhanna; Julia Allabaugh, Bear Crk Twp; Reese Allen, New Milford; Michael Antoniacci, Moosic; Paul Appolt, Scranton; Cassidy Asinski, Waymart; Ava Aulisio, Old Forge; Rachel Beidler, Scranton; Madison Bialy, Dickson City; Megan Bidwell, Honesdale; Seth Blakiewicz, S Abingtn Twp; Alyssa Bollard, Kingsley; Vanessa Bompane, E Stroudsburg; Karli Boyer, Pine Grove; Margaret Breznay, Pittston Township; Bridgette Brown, Moosic; Halle Bryk, Pittston; Emma Budnovitch, Roaring Brook Twp; Noah Budnovitch, Roaring Brook Twp; Branielle Butwin, Harding; Juan Cardenas, Jessup; Joseph Cardillo, Dunmore; Allyson Carpenter, Scranton; Jessica Carpenter, Scranton; Mackenzie Carr, Greentown; Emily Ceccacci, Madison Twp; Izabella Chmil, Scott Twp; Samantha Christian, Pittston; Corey Cicci, Scranton; Bailey Cinamella, Covington Twp; Jonah Cogliette, Dunmore; Ryan Coleman, Archbald; Jenna Collins, Duryea; Laci Connor, Archbald; Lily Connor, Roaring Bk Tp; Michael Cost, Scranton; Seth Croll, Milford; Francheliz De Jesus Correa, Carbondale; Skylar Dearie, Carbondale; Morgan Decker, Avoca; Makayla Decker, Avoca; Nichol Denison, Clarks Summit; Molly Devine, Scranton; Katelyn Diaz, Montrose; Talia Donati, Wyoming; Todd Dotter, Thornhurst; Madison Doyle, Throop; Gabrielle Eldridge, Nanticoke; Eduardo Escobar, Harding; Myia Evans, Elmhurst Twp; Destiny Farmer, Blakely; Mackenzie Ferry, Pocono Pines; Noah Fontanella, Archbald; Chloe Fosko, Tunkhannock; Madelyn Franceski, Vandling; Brandon Freedman, Fleetwood; Skylar Gagnon, E Stroudsburg; Josie Galella, Tunkhannock; Amber- Ann Garcia, Scranton; Page Gittens, Tamaqua; Gianna Giumento, Throop; Ryan Glatzel, New Milford; Autumn Goonan, Dickson City; Emma Graham, Bethany; Priscilla Grill, Scranton; Sadie Grochal, Shavertown; Amanda Gross, Moscow; Zohal Gul Mohammad, Scranton; Haley Hallman, Blandon; Mara Hamm, S. Abington Township; Courtney Hammond, Birdsboro; Natasya Handijaya, Scranton; Kortney Harry, Noxen; Shawna Hauck, Hamburg; Caleah Hawley, Eynon; Lauren Hegedus, Scranton; Michaela Henderson, Olyphant; Stephanie Hicks, Throop; Sierra Holbert, Stroudsburg; Marilyn Hoskins, Moosic; Anna Howey, Jessup; Ashley Hrywnak, Spring Brook; Kaylee Hysock, Shenandoah; Katelyn Ingrassia, Mount Pocono; Abbey Jackson, Olyphant; Aiyanna Jean, Cresco; Kylee Jezorwski, Dunmore; Justice Johnson, Laceyville; Dariane Jones, Factoryville; Sarah Kagan, Hanover Twp; Tristen Kalt, Jermyn; Daelyn Karboski, Olyphant; Emma Kobylanski, Olyphant; Carissa Kopenis, Hanover Twp; Noel Korkuti, Clarks Summit; Morgan Koutch, Ashland; Kayla Kristopaitis, New Boston; Matthew Laboranti, Peckville; Jeffrey Lake, Clarks Summit; Morgan Langan, Clarks Summit; Athena Legates, Thompson; Grace Lehman, White Haven; Kristen Lello, Avoca; Kaylyn Lewis, Hallstead; Natalia Lic, E Stroudsburg; Anna Liuzzo, Mayfield; Emmanuel Lomax, Bushkill; Jasmine Loury, Scranton; Brian Lynott, Clarks Summit; Kathleen Magda, Wilkes Barre; Nicholas Mancuso, Old Forge; Alyssa Marion, Peckville; Juliauna Mason, Mountain Top; Elizabeth Mathias, Wyoming; Morgan Mayne, Eynon; Digne Mbinga, Scranton; Sara McCormack, Scranton; Wriley McDonald, S Abingtn Twp; Willow McDonald, S Abingtn Twp; Grace McDonald, Avoca; Jordyn McDonough, Spring Brook Township; Abby Megotz, Scranton; Mason Mendygral, Kingston; Brett Miller, Scranton; Madison Miller, Clifford Township; Alayna Miller, Shavertown; Skylar Milovcevich, Dingmans Fry; Samantha Mitchell, Lakeville; Lizbeth Moctezuma, Scranton; Emily Mondak, Peckville; Christina Monroe, Olyphant; Journey Moran, Kingston; Matthew Morgan, Archbald; Madison Mower, Roaring Brook Twp; Alyvia Mroczka, Mayfield; Grace Murtagh, Olyphant; Fajrun Najih, Scranton; Rebecca Navin, Kingston; Bethany Newell, Mountain Top; Kaitlynn Nichols, Scott Twp; Nicholas Notari, S Abingtn Twp; Lauryn Notari, S Abingtn Twp; Abbie O’Brien, Scranton; Celeste Orchard, Lake Ariel; Kateri Ostraszewski, Wapwallopen; Rebecca Ottensman, Nanticoke; Alexis Overholtz, Dunmore; Nadia Palevac, Peckville; Victoria Para, Pittston; Isabella Parise, Jessup; Megha Patel, Dunmore; Sarah Pavlovicz, Scranton; Allison Pavlowski, Dickson City; Nicole Piccoletti, Pittston Twp; Caitlyn Posdon, Hawley; Jack Rafferty, Scranton; Jessica Raharjo, Scranton; Connor Rasimovich, Scranton; Brandon Reed, Taylor; Matthew Richards, Dallas; Camille Rillstone, Ransom Twp; Emily Rinaldi, Duryea; Natalie Rinaldi, Tobyhanna; Kasondra Robinson, Tobyhanna; Bernard Roedel, Lake Ariel; Tatiana Roldan, Milford; Aaliyah Rosado, Scranton; Jordan Rosenberg, Gilbert; Samuel Rosetti, Archbald; Nikki Rosiak, Taylor; Nicholas Ruiz, Wyomissing; Breanna Sanon, Cresco; Gracie Secor, Avoca; Olivia Sellers, Wyoming; Taylor Seprosky, Archbald; Kelsey Sholtis, Larksville; Carl Shygelski, Taylor; Mary Siracuse, Jessup; Bennett Sisto, Peckville; Riley Skelton, Honesdale; Gianna Snell, Jermyn; Thomas Spall, Greenfild Twp; Lillie Spencer, Hunlock Creek; Abigail Stalter, Jermyn; Merison Stecik, Taylor; Megan Stledger, Jessup; Kacie Szczech, Dickson City; Oliwia Szumniak, Pocono Manor; Cataldo Talutto, Scranton; Vicky Tang, Scranton; Danyelle Tech, Dunmore; George Thompson, Montrose; Alyssa Tkacz, South Abington Township; Jaeanna Topa, Scranton; Courtney Toroni, Peckville; Marie Traverse, Milford; Alexis Turner, Clifford Twp; Emily Umlah, Hanover Twp; Delaney Valinski, Waymart; Meghan Van Wert, S Abingtn Twp; Jasmin Veloz, Bushkill; Anthony Viscomi, Scranton; Katie Ward, Glen Lyon; Rebecca Webb, Shoemakersvle; Khya Webb, Scranton; Cian Wescott, Scranton; Bailey White, S Abingtn Twp; Shaskia Wibowo, Scranton; Samantha Wilson, Dickson City; Madeline Wittig, Frackville; Chloe Wolfe, Prompton; Lauren Youngken, E Stroudsburg; Katelyn Yurkavage, Old Forge; Aleena Zahradnik, Archbald; Leah Zambetti, Yatesville; and Michael Zuzzio, Archbald. 

Area students named to the Dean’s List from the Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies as declared by Dean James J. Sullivan, M.ARCH, RA, AIA, include:

Emma Adamchak, Swoyersville; Elizabeth Adams, Brackney; Madeline Adams, Brackney; Annabel Adams, Brackney; Mariah Addis, Peckville; Hanna Adonizio, S Abington Twp; Rye Ahronson, Scranton; Kaelin Alicea, Saylorsburg; Tatiana Amaral, Roaring Brook Township; Alex Amorine, Lake Ariel; Adam Anderson, Berwick; Lucia Anewalt, Bernville; Olivia Arcuri, S Abington Twp; Nathaniel Armstrong, Clarks Summit; Andrew Babinski, Scranton; Zoe Badner, Greentown; Danielle Banfield, Pocono Lake; Matthew Barletta, Scranton; Colton Barrett, Dunmore; Jake Barrett, Peckville; Gavin Beck, Moosic; Daniel Becker, Honesdale; Bria Beggin, Jessup; Allison Beidler, Scranton; Chase Benjamin, Archbald; William Berlew, Courtdale; Jaelynn Berry, Blakely; Mia Blume, Dunmore; Marlena Bompane, E Stroudsburg; Mia Bonavoglia, Scranton; Vincent Bonavoglia, Scranton; Abigail Bonczek, Clarks Summit; Logan Bowling, Luzerne; Esmeralda Brito Romero, West Hazleton; Jocelyn Brotzman, White Haven; Joseph Brown, Dunmore; Julie Bryan, Lake Ariel; Caitlyn Burdick, Waymart; Brennan Burnside, Scranton; Joel Cali, Old Forge; Bryan Cano, Scranton; Ashley Capone, Scranton; Lucca Cerminaro, Fell Township; Carter Cerretani, Clarks Summit; Emily Chamberlain, Luzerne; Sephora Charlot, Scranton; Phoebe Cheesman, Dalton; Alex Chickson, West Pittston; Beatrice Chindemi, Archbald; Maya Chorba, Peckville; Maxwell Christian, Scranton; Thomas Ciccotti, Scranton; Maria Cicerini, Jefferson Twp; Vito Ciullo, Scranton; Olivia Ciullo, Dunmore; Lauren Clancy, Clifford Twp; Jade Clarke, Scranton; Caroline Coar, Dunmore; Anna Coar, Honesdale; Isabella Coleman, Factoryville; Brianna Conniff, Archbald; Gavin Connor, Carbondale; McKenzie Connor, Childs; Courtney Connors, Old Forge; Christopher Conserette, Peckville; Chloe Conway, S Abingtn Twp; Makyla Cordaro, Scranton; Ariel Corrigan-Mills, Scranton; Daniele Cragle, Old Forge; Leah Crawley, Gouldsboro; Shannon Croll, Milford; Nickolas Curtis, Waymart; Francesco Danza, Nanticoke; Mardan Daurilas, East Stroudsburg; Matthew Davis, Saylorsburg; Thomas Day, Moosic; Joel Decarli, Archbald; Delayne Depietro, Archbald; Tehya Dietrich, Carbondale; Jacob Dolinish, Scranton; Macrina Dolinish, Old Forge; Cali Domin, Jefferson Twp; Collin Dougherty, Shavertown; Kyle Driscoll, Roaring Bk Tp; Molly Driscoll, Roaring Bk Tp; Emily Duris, Monroe Twp; Ryan Evans, Dalton; Kayleigh Evans, Taylor; Jayden Evans, Olyphant; Madison Evans, Cressona; Emma Eynon, Dunmore; Ellen Fago, Hawley; Emily Fairchild, Wyoming; Jaden Fedorchak, Carbondale; Zander Feist, Nescopeck; Elaine Felipe Olivares, Scranton; Rhonda Fenkner, Moscow; Dominique Ferraro, Jessup; Alyssa Ferrence, West Pittston; Avery Fiorillo, Clarks Summit; Bridgette Flannery, Lake Ariel; Alison Fortuner, Carbondale; Jolie Fraggetta, Milford; Carleigh Galliford, Lake Ariel; Estrella Galvan, Scranton; Abagaile Gerba, Scotrun; Elizabeth Gething, Old Forge; Riley Gibbons, Eynon; Kaitlyn Gingerlowski, Scranton; Maxim Gingo, Shavertown; David Girman, Dupont; Josh Godlewski, Taylor; Frank Golden, Dunmore; Daniel Gomez, Scranton; Dominique Gomez Juarez, Scranton; Nicholas Gowarty, Scranton; Angelina Goyne, Shavertown; Alyssa Green, Nescopeck; Kelsey Green, Nescopeck; Quintin Grosvenor, Kingsley; Marissa Gubitoso, Pittston; Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg; Mason Gumble, Tafton; Destiny Hallock, Throop; Charles Hamm, Waverly Twp; Shawna Heckman, Old Forge; Shannon Henry, Lake Ariel; Hunter Hildebrand, Waverly Twp; Jocelyn Hittle, Morgantown; Zachary Houston, Exeter; Ava Howells, Douglassville; Samantha Howey, Honesdale; Colby Hughes, Scranton; Corey Iyoob, Jessup; Emily James, Hanover Twp; Joseph Jara, Lake Ariel; Lindsey Jason, Olyphant; Gabriel Jenceleski, Nanticoke; Kyle Jenkins, Scranton; Matthew Jesse, Dallas; Cameron Johnson, Newfoundland; Alice Jones, Olyphant; Bo Judson, S Abingtn Twp; Delaney Kaeb, N Abingtn Twp; Olivia Kaschak, Archbald; Cole Kauffman, W Abingtn Twp; Aiden Kelly, Fell Township; Megan Kielar, Carbondale; Danielle Kintzer, Mohnton; Karyn Klocko, Honesdale; Eleanor Kloss, Sprng Brk Twp; Michael Kobierecki, Dickson City; Jennifer Kobylanski, Dickson City; Brianna Kohut, Jessup; Esther Korkuti, Clarks Summit; Owen Kotchessa, Lake Ariel; Elsa Kovatch, Archbald; Rachel Kranick, Scranton; Diane Kraus, Covington Twp; Kaylee Kresge, Clarks Summit; Matthew Kubasti, Hunlock Creek; Sara Labar, Scranton; Cydney Lahr, Herndon; Connor Laity, Lake Ariel; Alivia Lawless, S Abingtn Twp; Madelyn Lee, Douglassville; Thomas Lee, Scranton; Mercedes Lee, Noxen; Giorgena Lema Sumba, Scranton; Sage Lesh, Scranton; Jodi Lowthert, Long Pond; James Lucia, Covington Twp; Tristan Luczak, Hanover Twp; Isabella Luongo, Old Forge; Kathleen Lynott, N Scranton; Kamdin Maby, Susquehanna; Connor Madsen, Matamoras; Jaylene Maisonet, Tobyhanna; Vanessa Mancuso, Olyphant; Aubrey Mangan, Scranton; Marissa Manza, E Stroudsburg; Lydia Marotti, West Pittston; James Marsh, Duryea; Nelly Martinez, Scranton; Jade Marzolino, Scranton; Jayden Matute, Scranton; Alexandra Matyjevich, Sprng Brk Twp; Noah Mauro, Carbondale; Danielle May, Madison Twp; Jack McCabe, Old Forge; Coleman McCain, Great Bend; Michael McCann, Dallas; Allison McDermott, Lake Ariel; Danilo McDonough, Scranton; Ann Marie McGrogan, Hazleton; Nathan McLane, Scranton; Emma McNally, Olyphant; Isaiah Meals, Fleetwood; Nicholas Mecca, Dunmore; Kirsten Melton, Scranton; Giavana Mercatili, Archbald; Jennifer Mercereau, Greentown; Marina Miesko, Sprng Brk Twp; Mary Miles, Carbondale; Thomas Milewski, Jefferson Twp; Jillian Mooney, Dunmore; Kevin Morales, Scranton; Nolla Morawiec, E Stroudsburg; Macey Morcom, Moscow; Paige Morgan, Olyphant; Owen Morgan, Jermyn; Riley Mulherin, S Abingtn Twp; Connor Mulhern, Duryea; Lily Mulligan, Scranton; Alexandra Murphy, Orwigsburg; Jacob Muth, E Stroudsburg; Yamile Nader, Beaver Mdws; Maggie Nagle, Forest City; Donia Nazmy, Wilkes Barre; Joshua Neary, E Stroudsburg; Maurice Nicholas, Scranton; Rebecca Nieto, Hawley; Marissa Nowak, Exeter; Jessica Nowakowski, Duryea; Lauren O’Brien, Pittston; Alexandria O’Halloran, Jessup; Thomas O’Keefe, Milford; Emily Orlando, Scranton; Nick Oruska, Montrose; Cecelia Otis, Olyphant; Caitlin Pagnotti, Scranton; Jake Pajalich, Avoca; Karen Pan, Stroudsburg; Polina Pastushenko, Scranton; Manshi Patel, Scranton; Megan Pavlowski, Dunmore; Casey Penzone, Jermyn; Chloe Perko, Bear Creek; Ava Perrins, Throop; Kailee Perry, Carbondale; Julia Pesotine, Hughestown; Kinsey Petcavage, Dalton; Logan Pfaff, Scranton; Matthew Pfohl, Scranton; Thi Ai Lien Phung, Scranton; Derek Plata, Scranton; Angel Popko, Dickson City; Victoria Potoski, Throop; Chloe Pugh, Mountain Top; Malori Rachko, Jefferson Twp; Emily Raffaele, E Stroudsburg; Joshua Ramos, Mahanoy City; Ashley Reddock, Eynon; Elyse Rehder, Clarks Summit; Robert Reilley, Wilkes-Barre; Fiona Reinhard, Kunkletown; Elizabeth Rembecki, South Abington Township; Anna Rinehimer, Nescopeck; Ayana Rivera, S Abingtn Twp; Emilee Paige Robinson, S Abingtn Twp; Brittnie Rodriguez, Scranton; Madelynn Ross, Wyoming; Elizabeth Rothwell, Factoryville; Emily Rowe, Forty Fort; Ashley Rusinko, Tunkhannock; Ashley Rusinko, Tunkhannock; John Russo, Milford; Joseph Sanfilippo, Wyoming; Abigail Sankus, Wilkes Barre; Sarah Sassi, Newfoundland; Autumn Savitski, Shavertown; Daniel Sayre, Tunkhannock; Brielle Scheland, Old Forge; Santo Schiavone, Clarks Summit; Marissa Schuler, Harveys Lake; Aleah Schulte, Dunmore; Lia Schwenk, Dunmore; Savannah Shannon, Gilbert; Daniel Shannon, Tunkhannock; Alexander Shields, Scott Twp; Jada Siino, Newfoundland; Haylee Sileo, Dunmore; Gradon Silva, Sprng Brk Twp; Nadia Slish, Lake Ariel; Kevin Slywka, Moscow; Andrew Smith, Archbald; Matthew Smith, Old Forge; Olivia Smith, Archbald; Gabrielle Snee, Olyphant; Todd Snyder, Meshoppen; Alexandra Solimine, Lake Ariel; Nevaeh Sorensen, Scott Township; Grace Spisso, Taylor; Eric Spivak, Scranton; Ashley Stefanac, Dunmore; Kailey Stevenson, Montrose; Italia Storey, Scranton; Andrew Straka, Peckville; Jakub Stromko, Tobyhanna; Ryan Strony, Dickson City; Ruiwen Su, Dunmore; Antonia Summa, Dunmore; Jessica Sunar, Scranton; Natalie Sweeney, Jessup; Jonelle Symonies, Carbondale; Alexandra Taffera, Moscow; Kevin Talley, Lake Ariel; Carissa Tallo, Dunmore; Emily Tansley, Scranton; Trevor Thomas, S Abingtn Twp; Hunter Thomas, New Milford; Samantha Thomas, Factoryville; Caryn Thompson, Scranton; Gabrielle Troch, Newfoundland; Brianna Trutt, Lake Ariel; Kaylee Urso, Old Forge; Robert Van Brunt, Covington Twp; Nicola Veniamin, Waverly Township; Levi Vick, Wapwallopen; Nick Vilogi-Slayton, Jessup; Elizabeth Vito, Dupont; Lilly Vito, Dupont; Jillian Vito, Dupont; Larissa Waite, Henryville; Julia Walsh, Scranton; John Walsh, Clarks Green; Mira Walsh, Scranton; Lauren Walsh, Jessup; Justine Walters, Roaring Bk Tp; Natasha Walton, Moscow; Kenneth Ward, Scranton; Brendan Weber, Shillington; Victoria Weber, S Sterling; Benjamin Werle, Meshoppen; Emma Wesley, Wilkes Barre; Kevin Whitaker, S Abingtn Twp; Colby White, Jermyn; Benjamin Williams, Honesdale; Abigail Wilson, Scranton; Zachary Witte, Lakeville; Sean Wolfe, Nanticoke; Claire Wood, Montrose; Molly Yatchyshyn, Bernville; Kyra Yergey, Fleetwood; Maggie Yerkes, Milanville; Julia Zadzura, Archbald; Rachel Zarubski, Dunmore; Jenna Zerilli, Effort; and Anna Zuby, Peckville.

Johnson College to Host Boy Scouts’ 25th Annual Merit Badge College

Johnson College announced it will host over 150 Scouts during the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, Boy Scouts of America 25th annual Merit Badge College on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its Scranton campus.

Merit Badge College is a special advancement program available to all Northeastern Pennsylvania Scouts holding a rank of 1st class or above. Through the pre-registration process, scouts enrolled in one to four courses from a slate of over 30 different Merit Badge offerings, such as Automotive Maintenance, Electronics, Chemistry, Welding, Digital Technology, Woodwork, Citizenship, Business, Metalwork, and many more. The classes vary from 1 to 6 hours in length. They are facilitated by volunteers from Johnson College’s faculty, staff, and Boy Scout Leaders selected based on being accomplished professionals or experts in the specific field.  

Merit Badges are earned by Scouts only through the completion of designated prerequisites, active participation, and demonstrated knowledge of the specific material. This event helps Scouts gain understanding and make progress in their Scouting advancement. It also affords opportunities to meet other Scouts and adults throughout the area and get a real taste of a collegiate atmosphere.