First Business High School Scholars at Scranton

The inaugural cohort of 19 high school students completed their first college course in business this summer as participants in Business High School Scholars Program, which began as a pilot program this summer.

University alumnus Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A. ’88, associate professor, director of the Doctor of Business Administration Program and Accounting Department chair, taught the students in the 200-level accounting course, “Fraud Behavior.”

“I was very impressed by the students. The class discussion was most engaging and at a college freshman level, as were their presentations,” said Dr. Boyle. The course included three presentations, weekly quizzes and multiple reflection papers and used a text book in addition to supplemental reading assignments. 

Similar to the University’s established High School Scholars Program, the pilot program is intended to allow high school students meeting academic requirements to take college courses at a reduced rate of $175 per credit, or $525 for a three-credit class. In addition, the Business High School Scholars Program seeks to group sophomore and junior high school students interested in pursuing a business degree at Scranton into a cohort and provides additional financial support to participants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dr. Boyle is leading the new program with support of fellow area natives who are also Scranton alumni now teaching at the University, including accounting professors James Boyle, D.B.A. ’86, and Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D. ’81. They will teach additional classes specifically for the high school students and donate their compensation from these courses to provide scholarship support to participating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Courses outside of business will be taught by Rev. Patrick D. Francis Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center, and Rev. Rick Malloy, S.J., Ph.D., University Chaplain.

Additional support is being provided by the University’s Jesuit Center, University Advancement, Finance, Administration and alumni donors who have started the Boyle-Mahoney Scholarship Fund. A Business High School Scholars Alumni Advisory Board was also formed in support of the program. University alumni Harry W. Zike ’76, chief financial officer of Chinook Sciences, Edward J. Steinmetz, Jr. ’81, senior vice president for finance and administration at The University of Scranton, Peter Butera ’83, senior vice president wealth management, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and Tracy Bannon ’84, assistant director of development at St. Joseph’s Center and University Trustee, are serving as board members.

 “Local alumni are grateful for the education they received at the University and are motivated to pass that opportunity along to the next generation,” said Bannon. “Local students add so much to University community. They are hard-working, smart and appreciative of what they have been given. This program gives local students the opportunity to experience the unique attributes of a Jesuit education while they are still in high school and just beginning the college search process.”

Marisol Olivares Hernandez, a rising sophomore at North Pocono High School from Covington Township, was among the first cohort of Business High School Scholar Program participants. A bilingual, high-honor student at North Pocono, who is active in several high school clubs, Olivares Hernandez was initially intimidated at the prospect of taking a college class, but said that she has overcome her fears and gained confidence in her abilities. Olivares Hernandez, who was the first in her family to complete a college course, is looking forward to taking a second course with her classmates in the fall semester. Her older sister, Erika Olivares, will begin her studies at The University of Scranton in the fall.

Other students who completed Dr. Boyle’s course as members of the first cohort of Business High School Scholar pilot program are:

Randall Bonitz, Scranton, who attends West Scranton High School;

Emma Boyle, Peckville, who attends Commonwealth Charter Academy;

Martin Cryan, Forty-Fort, who attends Holy Redeemer High School;

Mallory deQuevedo, Olyphant, who attends Mid Valley Secondary Center;

Tabitha Getz, Dunmore, who attends Dunmore High School;

Madison Green, Archbald, who attends Valley View High School;

Emily Herron, Nicholson, who attends Lackawanna Trail Junior-Senior High School;

Joseph Kologe, Scranton, who attends West Scranton High School;

Charles Leo, Shavertown, who attends Wyoming Seminary;

Mackenzie McHale, Archbald, who attends Valley View High School;

Alyssa Moore, Dickson City, who attends Mid Valley Secondary Center;

Madison Munley, Greenfield Township, who attends Lakeland High School;

Christopher Newell, North Abington Township, who attends Abington Heights High School;

Autumn Savitski, Shavertown, who attends Lake Lehman High School;

Kylie Seyler, Wilkes-Barre, who attends Wyoming Seminary;

Lauramarie Strage, Mountain Top, who attends Crestwood High School;

Trinity Veaudry, Taylor, who attends Riverside Junior-Senior High School;

Zi Xuan Weng, Plains, who attends James M Coughlin High School.

For additional information about the Business High School Scholars visit Scranton.edu/bhsscholars, email Rebekah.bernard@scranton.edu or call 570-941-5918.