University of Success Begins for Incoming Students

Aug 2, 2016

Twenty-one rising ninth-grade students completed The University of Scranton’s University of Success summer institute, which wad held on campus in July. The two-week summer institute is the initial event for incoming members of the University of Success, a four-year, pre-college mentorship program.

During the summer institute, students participated in “hands-on” physics classes where they raced windmills and analyzed water samples at a biology laboratory session in the Loyola Science Center that included interaction with live turtles, tortoises and a snake. The students participated in service projects at the University’s community garden, Leahy Center and the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen. The students also visited the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour at McDade Park, Pocono Environmental Education Center and learned about how physics is applied for amusement rides at Dorney Park.

The goal of the University of Success is to assist participating students to successfully complete high school and gain entrance into a college or university. The program helps students achieve this goal through a variety of activities and services from their current grade until they graduate from high school. The students that completed the summer institute will continue to meet at the University of once a month throughout their high school years.


 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.

Students completing this year’s University of Success summer institute are as follows:

Hailey Andrews of Clifford, who will attend Mountain View High School;

Olivia Bell of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Abygale Bergamino of Old Forge, who will attend Old Forge High School;

Darius Bermudez of Milford, who will attend Delaware Valley High School;

Lisa Blanchard of Carbondale, who will attend Carbondale High School;

Corey Bridges of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Ranjeeta Dhungel of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Leandria Hercules of Scranton, who will attend West Scranton High School;

Saunjere Hightower of Scranton, who will attend West Scranton High School;

Caroline Linn of Waymart, who will attend Scranton Preparatory School;

George Loukopoulos of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Erica Monteiro of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Alex Musti of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Shanice Nelson of Scranton, who will attend Scranton High School;

Juliet O'Brien of Shohola, who will attend North Pocono High School;

Emily Ortiz of Bushkill, who will attend Notre Dame High School;

Sarah Pineiro of South Abington Township, who will attend Abington Heights High School;

Terell Radway of East Stroudsburg, who will attend East Stroudsburg High School;

Simal Sami of Jessup, who will attend Valley View High School;

Jamie Stine of Scranton, who will attend West Scranton High School;

Mackenzie Wilbur of Hop Bottom, who will attend Mountain View High School.

Rising ninth-grade high school students participated in The University of Scranton’s University of Success summer institute, which introduced then to the four-year mentoring program and included hands-on projects, presentations and field trips. Front row, from left: Erica Monteiro; Lisa Blanchard; Corey Bridges; Simal Sami; Sarah Pineiro; Caroline Linn; Emily Ortiz; Maria Vital, operations manager at the Leahy Community Health and Family Center; Andrea Mantione, director of the Leahy Community Health and Family Center; and Margaret Loughney, University of Success program director. Second row: George Loukopoulos; Terell Radway; Juliet O’Brien; and Shanice Nelson. Third row: Hailey Andrews; Leandria Hercules; and Ranjeeta Dhungel. Fourth row: Mackenzie Wilbur; Abygale Bergamino; Jamie Stine; and Alex Musti. Top row: Kelly Judge, assistant teacher; Alyssa Caucci, head counselor, counselor; Erin Shumbres, lead teacher; Darius Bermudez; Saunjere Hightower; Olivia Bell; and Jordyn Ioacono, counselor; Brianne Lawrence, counselor; and Jordan McCauley, counselor.



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