University of Success Seniors Graduate

Eighteen high school students completed The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a multi-year, pre-college program. Seated, from left: 2015 University of Success graduates Madeline Vetter of Hazleton, Samantha Ceballo of Milford and Karla Aguirre of Scranton. Second row: Kasey Barry of Mountaintop, Cristopher Herrera of Kingston, Salma Ahmed of Scranton, Laurencia Thomas of Scranton, Aartee Gangadeen of Henryville, Jasmine Quintana of Scranton, Stephanie Pacheco of Scranton and Chante Mercurius of Long Pond. Back row: Dominick Harvey of Wilkes-Barre and Carray Leepier of Scranton. Absent from the photo are: Devon Dante of Edwardsville, Kenneth De Souza-Oliverira, Ryan Miller, Scott Rafaiani and Karmon Van Wert, all of Scranton.

Eighteen high school students completed The University of Scranton’s University of Success, a multi-year, pre-college program that is designed for high school students to develop the skills needed to successfully gain acceptance to college. All the graduates have been admitted to post-secondary schools or chose to enlist in military service. Boston College, Marywood University, The University of Pittsburgh, Wilkes University and The University of Scranton are among the colleges University of Success graduates will attend.

Students enter the University of Success at the completion of the eighth grade and continue through their high school years. The program offers enrichment courses in study skills, SAT prep, public speaking, math, science, art and cultural activities, as well as financial aid and wellness seminars. The ultimate goal is for University of Success students to be accepted into a four-year college or university.

The University of Success, offered free of charge to participants, is funded almost entirely by corporate and foundation grants. Donors to the program include AT&T, Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, Dime Bank, Fidelity Bank, Kuehner Family Foundation, Medico Industries, MetLife Foundation, Overlook Estate Foundation, Peoples Security Bank and Trust, Prudential Foundation, Waste Management, Weis Markets and Wells Fargo.

The following is a list of 2015 University of Success graduates, the high school they attended, and their post-high school plans.

Karla Aguirre of Scranton, Scranton High School, plans to attend Indiana University at Pennsylvania.

Salma Ahmed of Scranton, Scranton High School, plans to attend Marywood University.

Kasey Barry of Mountaintop, Crestwood High School, plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh.

Samantha Ceballo of Milford, Delaware Valley High School, plans to attend Kutztown University.

Devon Dante of Edwardsville, Wyoming Valley West High School, plans to attend Bloomsburg University.

Kenneth De Souza-Oliverira of Scranton, Valley View High School, plans to volunteer for a year in Africa with his church and delayed his full-scholarship to North Point in Massachusetts.

Aartee Gangadeen of Henryville, Scranton Preparatory School, plans to attend Boston College.

Dominick Harvey of Wilkes-Barre, G.A.R. High School, plans to attend Luzerne County Community College.

Cristopher Herrera of Kingston, Hanover Area High School, plans to attend Penn State University, Hazelton Campus.

Carray Leepier of Scranton, Scranton High School, plans to attend The University of Scranton.

Chante Mercurius of Long Pond, Scranton Preparatory School, plans to attend The University of Scranton.

Ryan Miller of Scranton, West Scranton High School, plans to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

Stephanie Pacheco of Scranton, Scranton High School, plans to attend Penn State University, Worthington Campus.

Jasmine Quintana of Scranton, West Scranton High School, plans to attend Wilkes University.

Scott Rafaiani of Scranton, Scranton High School, plans to attend Marywood University and won a full-scholarship to their School of Architecture.

Laurencia Thomas of Scranton, West Scranton High School, plans to attend Lackawanna College.

Karmon Van Wert of Scranton, West Scranton High School, plans to attend the police academy at Lackawanna College.

Madeline Vetter of Hazleton, Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua, plans to attend Penn State University, Hazelton Campus.