Twenty Area Students Begin University of Success

Twenty rising high school students entered The University of Scranton’s University of Success program. The four-year, pre-college mentorship program began for the new participants with a two-week summer institute, which took place on the University’s campus in July.

The University of Success is an academic and enrichment program designed to provide academic, social, and cultural enrichment to area high school students. The program’s ultimate goal is to assist participating students to successfully complete high school and gain entrance into a college or university. Students enter the program at the completion of the eighth grade and continue through their high school years.

The summer institute provides learning experiences designed to engage the students in creative thinking, problem solving and communication through activities that expose students to concepts in various academic disciples.

The summer program featured presentations by University faculty, staff and students as well as counselors from Lackawanna County Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. At the institute, students learned about alternate renewable energy sources, sustainability, climate change, physics, biology and chemistry, among other topics. The institute included field trips to Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Pike County and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The students also volunteered for a cleanup project at the Children’s Advocacy Center.         

Following the summer institute, the students meet monthly throughout their four years in high school.

The University of Success, offered free of charge to participants, is funded almost entirely by corporate and foundation grants. Donors to the program include Dime Bank, Fidelity Bank, Carl and JoAnne Kuehner, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, Inc., Overlook Foundation, Peoples Security Bank and Trust, PPL Foundation, Lisa C. Thomas, M.D., and Waste Management.

Students entering the University of Success program are as follows:

Royli Jesus Ayala, Scranton, who attended South Scranton Intermediate School;

Isidora Berrios, Moscow, who attended North Pocono Intermediate School;

Makenna Boozer, Dickson City, who attended Mid Valley Secondary Center;

Anthony Campbell, Dickson City, who attended Mid Valley Secondary Center;

Sophia Chen, Milford, who attended Delaware Valley Middle School;

Trent Coffield, Moosic, who attended Riverside Junior Senior High School;

Corey Condon, Dunmore, who attended Dunmore School District School;

Luis Angel Espino, Scranton, who attended North East Intermediate School;

Vishwa Gandhi, Moosic, who attended Riverside Junior Senior High School;

Lucianna Gonzalez, Clarks Summit, who attended Abington Heights Middle School;

Joshua Miranda, Clarks Summit, who attended Abington Heights Middle School;

Eleany Sarai Nunez-Pazos, Scranton, who attended South Scranton Intermediate School;

Engel Ovalles, Scranton, who attended South Scranton Intermediate School;

K’lea Palukonis, Clarks Summit, who attended Abington Heights Middle School;

Yadhira Panamo, Scranton, who attended West Scranton Intermediate School;

Juan Ramos, Scranton, who attended West Scranton Intermediate School;

Elias Rios, Scranton, who attended West Scranton Intermediate School;

Brandon Sanchez, Scranton, who attended West Scranton Intermediate School;

Nmesoma Clare Udoye, Scranton, who attended South Scranton Intermediate School;

Laylah Weeks, Clarkes Green, who attended Abington Heights Middle School;

For additional information, visit the University of Success web site.