Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, MOM-n-PA Dental Missions to Give Free Services at Community Event

WHO:              MOM-n-PA Dental Missions (www.mom-n-pa.com)

WHAT:            Press conference featuring local dental chairs, Dr. Christopher Kotchick and Dr. Richard Grossman, state & local politicians, and key representatives demonstrating the power of this FREE community event. MOM-n-PA provides FREE dental care for the relief of pain to thousands of the neediest, many of whom are from working families who do not have access or cannot afford dental insurance.

WHERE:         Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA

WHEN:            Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10 am. Set-up will be on Thursday, June 5 starting at 8:00 a.m. TV and still photographers often find significant opportunities, as the empty arena will be turned into a 120 dental chair clinic in a few short hours.

MOM-n-PA believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to receive dental care regardless of income or current economic situation. For that reason, MOM-n-PA provides annual, free, dental clinics throughout Pennsylvania. With 120 mobile dental units over a two-day span, patients are accepted without qualifications, on a first come, first served basis.

MOM-n-PA has approximately 1000 volunteers including more than 200 dentists, 100 dental hygienists, and 200 dental assistants, 150 dental students, 30 nurses and 300 lay volunteers.

Since 2013, clinics have been in Philadelphia, Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, Reading, and Wilkes- Barre/Scranton. This year’s event will take place at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre Township, with local dentists and Co-Chairs Dr. Christopher Kotchick and Dr. Richard Grossman, spearheading the effort.

Over the course of the two day span, MOM-n-PA is expected to treat up to 2000 patients, providing approximately $1,000,000 worth of services, including medical screenings, dental exams with X-Rays when necessary, cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals and a limited number of partial dentures, without accepting any fees.

“Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been selected as a site because of the needs within the community and its surrounding areas,” stated Dr. Gary Davis of Shippensburg, MOM-n-PA Chairman. “We are a 100% volunteer organization and can use all the volunteer assistance and support we can get from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton community to provide these services to those families and individuals who do not have access to any dental care.”

According to the US Census Bureau, estimated statistics for a sample household over a 5 year period demonstrate that 35.9% of residents had income below the poverty level, as compared to 17.7% in the entire state. Additionally, 11.5% of residents had income below 50% of the poverty level, as compared to 6.1% in the entire state and 45.3% of children live below the poverty level, as compared to 19.0% in the entire state.

Unfortunately, families and individuals representing these characteristics often do not have access to any dental care. MOM-n-PA is designed to address this undeserved population by providing those services and seeking to establish a location where the patients will be able to receive future dental services.

For more information about the event visit www.mom-n-pa.com.

Marywood University Celebrates 107th Annual Commencement Ceremony

Former NFL QB/Current NFL Analyst and Successful Entrepreneur Ron Jaworski Addresses Graduates

More than 950 students, including August, December, May, and international graduates, were part of Marywood University’s 107th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 1 p.m., Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, in Wilkes-Barre Twp.

Marywood University’s two colleges, including the College of Health Sciences and the Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies, conferred degrees on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students who hail from 23 states and 6 countries. Business, physician assistant studies, and social work were the top graduate level degree granting programs. Business, architecture, and nursing were the top undergraduate level degree granting programs.

Former NFL QB/current NFL analyst and successful entrepreneur Ron Jaworski served as keynote speaker. Mr. Jaworski was honored with a citation of recognition during the ceremony.

A listing of area graduates, including students in a ten-county region (Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties, as well as Berks, Columbia, and Schuylkill Counties), follows. A full list of graduates, as well as related commencement information, can be found at: marywood.edu/commencement. Regional graduates include:

From the College of Health Sciences, as declared by Dean Shelby Yeager, M.Ed., LAT, ATC, CSCS:

DOCTORAL DEGREES
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology: Marissa Galardi, Archbald, and Allison Markowski, Kunkletown.

POST-MASTER’S DEGREES
School Psychology Educational Specialist (Ed.S.): Lauren Davis, Reading; Patrick Dougherty, Scranton; Cathryn Wolff, Elmhurst Twp, and ToniAnne Zito, Stroudsburg.

MASTER’S DEGREES
Master of Arts: Angel Brofsky, Peckville; Ariana Campbell, Scranton; Lindsay Carey, Taylor; Ashley Carter, Scranton; Evan Cobb, Factoryville; Kahlan Delamarter, Meshoppen; Maxine Fabrizio, Exeter; Luxaida Hernandez-Hierro, Hazleton; Caleb Hinds, Montrose; Jessica Hoban, Scranton; Kegan Laman, Dickson City; Haelle Litvak, Duryea; Vanessa McCarthy, Scranton; Colette McDonnell, Scranton; Abbey McGee, Barnesville; Meagan Molina, Scranton; Eric Nole, Clarks Summit; Rachel Pisarcik, West Wyoming; Julia Polt, Hawley; Elizabeth Pfohl, Scranton; Kristen Reitano, Saylorsburg; Julia Rudick, New Milford; Sierra Santarsiero, Moosic; Corinna Scoblick, Kingston; Samantha Sestito, Milford; Ashley Velasquez, Wyoming, and Chelsea Welch, Sugarloaf.

Master of Health Services Administraton: Matthew Beck, Waymart.

Master of Science: Kara Anders, Kingston; Michael Antoniacci, Moosic; Jessica Brand, Scranton;  Maria Castaldi, Moosic; Kevin Connor, Scranton; Seth Croll, Milford; Matthew Diaz, East Stroudsburg; Patricia Dominick, Brodheadsvlle; Aubri Fisher, Archbald; Chelsi Flynn, Scranton; Casey Genett, Dunmore; Jacob Graziano, Old Forge; Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg; Alexandra Guse, Madison Twp; Mara Hamm, S Abingtn Twp; Conner Hauck, Scranton; Shalynn Honeywell, Harveys Lake; Wenwei Huang, Scranton; Kathleen Kennedy, Dunmore; Carrie Kraynak, Mountain Top; Taylor Loughlin, Shenandoah; Lily Mackarey, Archbald; Catherine Maholick, Gouldsboro; Matthew Manna, Scranton; Jordyn McDonough, Spring Brook Township; Nicole Melesky, Olyphant; Samantha Mushak, Scranton; Rebecca Navin, Kingston; Allison Nealon, Clarks Green; Sarah Niemi, Scranton; Deep Patel, Scranton; Siena Rainey, Clarks Summit; Jenna Reilly, Archbald; Molly Repecki, Olyphant; Jocelyn Ryan, Mountain Top; Meredith Santiago, Scranton; Sam Schorno, Lake Ariel; Taylor Seprosky, Archbald; Sarah Sherpinskas, Scranton; Samantha Shurtleff, Tunkhannock; Marylillian Stepanski, Hunlock Creek; Victoria Tanana, Throop; Evelyn Thomas, Scranton; Lillian Thompson, Moscow; Mimi Tilberry, Scranton; Kathryn Walsh, Springbrook Township; Isabella Watson, Honesdale; Leigha Welsh, Honesdale, and Rebecca Zayle, Scranton.

Master of Social Work: Alyssa Bowers, Simpson; Roxana Castillo, E Stroudsburg; Kevin Conroy, Canadensis; Amanda Hess, Effort; Tara Innocent, Tamiment; Nathan Litsch, Tamaqua; Jessica Lohmann, West Wyoming; Samantha Miller, Stroudsburg; Brian Peeters, Nazareth; Christa Richards, Dupont; Angela Schiavo, Taylor; Chelsea Townes, Kingston, and Stephanie Tyson, Carbondale.

BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Bachelor of Science: Ali Abdallah, Greeley; Joanna Aguirre, Wilkes Barre; Katelyn Ainey, Jessup; Reese Allen, New Milford; Alexandra Antonecchia, Milford; Cassidy Asinski, Waymart; Ava Aulisio, Old Forge; Taylor Bartle, Nanticoke; Madison Bialy, Dickson City; Rachel Black, Mountain Top; Seth Blakiewicz, S Abingtn Twp; Katelyn Boyd, Scranton; Naomi Bradbury, Coal Township; Bridgette Brown, Moosic; Joseph Bruno, Scranton; Noah Budnovitch, Roaring Brook Twp; Rebecca Castimore, Lords Valley; Izabella Chmil, Scott Twp; Jonah Cogliette, Dunmore; Ryan Coleman, Archbald; Laci Connor, Archbald; Meadow Curyk, Scranton; Mia Demarco, Pittston; Talia Donati, Wyoming; Todd Dotter, Thornhurst; Miriam Esther Sanchez Nava, Scranton; Tanner Fenstermacher, Luzerne; Luanne Forlano, Jessup; Derrek Foytack, Madison Twp; Breanna Frazier, Scott Twp; Dhruvi Fuletra, Plains; Gianna Giumento, Throop; Ryan Glatzel, New Milford; Morgan Gromelski, Duryea; Amanda Gross, Moscow; James Guariglia, Pittston; Mason Guelho, Stroudsburg; Natasya Handijaya, Scranton; Kortney Harry, Noxen; Lauren Hegedus, Scranton; Aliyah Heintzelman, Nescopeck; Abbey Jackson, Olyphant; Justice Johnson, Laceyville; Sarah Kagan, Hanover Twp; Will Kalinich, Scranton; Daelyn Karboski, Olyphant; Daniel Kimes, Moosic; Carissa Kopenis, Hanover Twp; Morgan Koutch, Ashland; Ian Kovatch, Archbald; Kayla Kristopaitis, New Boston; Brandon Kujawski, Jefferson Twp; Lauren Larouche, Bloomsburg; Anthony Leggin, Scranton; Mark Lokuta, Mountain Top; Kathleen Magda, Wilkes Barre; Kayla Malone, Douglassville; Sara McCormack, Scranton; Willow McDonald, S Abingtn Twp; Mason Mendygral, Kingston; Christian Michak, Kingston; Alayna Miller, Shavertown; Emily Mondak, Peckville; Lylah Mosley, Scranton; Madison Mower, Roaring Brook Twp; Sierra Mulgrew, Scranton; Era Nasufi, Carbondale; Abbie O’Brien, Scranton; Rebecca Ottensman, Nanticoke; Alexis Overholtz, Dunmore; Michelle Pan, Stroudsburg; Mackenzie Panetta, Milford; Jordan Pattavina-Arroyo, Dunmore; Lynda Perez, Long Pond; Maria Quinones, Scranton; Jack Rafferty, Scranton; Brandon Reed, Taylor; Emily Rinaldi, Duryea; Jalieza Rivera-Cordova, Scranton; Kaci Ryan, Bloomsburg; Bennett Sisto, Hawley; Riley Skelton, Honesdale; Gianna Snell, Jermyn; Megan St. Ledger, Jessup; Merison Stecik, Taylor; Emily Umlah, Hanover Twp; Stephanie Ventura-Ramirez, Wilkes Barre; Anthony Viscomi, Scranton; Khya Webb, Scranton; Bailey White, S Abingtn Twp; Samantha Wilson, Dickson City; Madeline Wittig, Frackville; Jericho Wurtz, Hawley; Lauren Youngken, E Stroudsburg; Katelyn Yurkavage, Old Forge; Leah Zambetti, Yatesville, and Michael Zuzzio, Archbald.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Megan Bidwell, Honesdale; Kyia Brouse, Scranton; Branielle Butwin, Harding; Karoline Defreitas, Wilkes Barre; Madison Fox, Clarks Summit; Zoey Hall, Lakeville; Amanda Hook, Effort; McKenna Huyser, Scranton; Marissa Keiper, Duryea; Samantha Kurian, Bloomsburg; Aleynel Martinez, Scranton; Gianna Marturano, S Abingtn Twp; Hailey Matechak, Carbondale; Abigail McCarty, Meshoppen; Alivia McDonald, Montoursville; Michelle Norton, Dunmore; Celeste Orchard, Lake Ariel; Allison Pavlowski, Dickson City; Dominic Pichany, Archbald; Yva-Marie Ramos-Febus, Scranton; Kasondra Robinson, Tobyhanna; America Rojas, Scranton; Tatiana Roldan, Milford; Dana Scandura, Roaring Brook Township; Prem Sharma, Dunmore; Allison Sidiropoulos, Moscow; and Affya Ufray, Long Pond.

Bachelor of Social Work: Destiny Evans, Meshoppen; Makayla Gregory, Waymart; Kaylyn Lewis, Hallstead; Lizbeth Moctezuma, Scranton; Sarah Pavlovicz, Scranton; Nicole Piccoletti, Pittston Twp; Marzinete Pilch, Archbald, and Alyssa Tkacz, South Abington Township.

From the Reap College of Creative and Professional Studies, as declared by Dean James Eckler, M.ARCH, MSAS, include:

DOCTORAL DEGREES:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Strategic Leadership and Administrative Studies: Zachary Brunner, Jefferson Twp; Emily Coleman, Dunmore; Francis Dombrowski III, Kingston; Kimberly Mecca, West Chester; Larissa Schwass, Scranton, and Kristoffer Weary, Throop.

MASTER’S DEGREES:
Executive Master of Nonprofit Leadership: Donald McGowan, Scranton; Jessica Spangenberg, Greenfield Township, and Holly Yorkonis, Avoca.

Executive Master of Public Administration: Sarah Thomas, Scranton.

Master of Arts (MA): Dylan Campbell, Scranton; Sister M. Francine Fasolka, IHM, Scranton; Rachel Kim, Scranton; Anne Rodella, Wilkes Barre; Brady Savani, Clarks Green, and Wesley Talarico, Harveys Lake.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Gabrielle Bartolini, Kingsley; Stefan Biggs, Hughestown; Angelina Carter, Old Forge; Calah Dougherty, Scranton; Sarah Evancho, Freeland; Raymond Havey, Clarks Summit; Johanny Martinez, Dunmore; Jasmine Roncevich, Taylor; Katherine Sorensen, Roaring Bk Tp, and Sheila Vannort, Jermyn.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Hashem Yousry Mofid Aboelnazar, Scranton; Alex Amorine, Lake Ariel; Michael Aronica, Scranton; Danielle Banfield, Pocono Lake; Sreyneat Chan, Scranton; Fares Elnahhas, Scranton; Yousif Eltohfa, Scranton; Amrita Mukesh Goklani, Scranton; Bassel Hamed, Scranton; Farah Ibrahim, Scranton; Zhiye Jin, Dunmore; Shana Keeler, Old Forge; Elsa Kovatch, Archbald; Matthew Lastauskas, Waverly Twp; Malavkumar Majmundar, Scranton; Abdelhalim Mehrem, Scranton; Colin Meissler, Jenkintown; Margaret Moyle, Dunmore; Priya Patel, Scranton; Corey Perkins, Clarks Summit; Tyler Prudente, Scott Twp; Zion Resto, Scranton; Haneet Saini, Scranton; James Urso, Olyphant; Jason Van Wert, Jefferson Twp; Robert VanBrunt, Covington Twp, and Abdalrhman Yousuf, Scranton.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Lisa Peet, Honesdale, and Zachary Yahn, South Abington Township.

Master of Public Administration (MPA): Matthew Debragga, Hunlock Creek; Megan Galko, Roaring Brook Twp, and Jordan Houston, Dickson City.

Master of Science (MS): Anika Althouse, Kingsley; Courtney Barhite, Clifford Twp; Amanda Bauer, Forest City; Dhruvi Umeshbhai Borikar, East Stroudsburg; Colin Dempsey, Factoryville; Brittany Haynos, Dickson City; Summer Klikus, Mayfield; Sarah Martin, Clarks Summit; Caitlin Mattioli, Avoca; Christina Menn, Dallas; Trishant Mishra, Scrantn; Hardik Jagdishbhai Padhiyar, Scranton; Nupur Patel, Scranton; Harsh Patel, Scranton; Dhruvbhai Patel, Scranton; Saujankumar Patel, Scranton; Vini Patel, Dunmore; Danielle Ross, S Abingtn Twp; Ashleigh Smith, Honesdale; Gopi Virendrakumar Soni, Scranton; Scott Summers, Dunmore; Kathleen Upright, Montrose; Lauren Walsh, Jessup; and Adam Zaykowski, Old Forge.

BACHELOR’S DEGREES:
Bachelor of Architecture: Andrew Babinski, Scranton; Jacob Dolinish, Scranton; Alison Fortuner, Carbondale; Michael Kobierecki, Dickson City; Tyler Kraft, Bradford; Matthew Kubasti, Hunlock Creek; Cydney Lahr, Herndon; Connor Laity, Lake Ariel; James Marsh, Duryea; Nolla Morawiec, E Stroudsburg; Alvaro Moreno, Reading; Alexandra Murphy, Orwigsburg; Joshua Neary, E Stroudsburg; Karen Pan, Stroudsburg; Logan Pfaff, Scranton; Joseph Sanfilippo, Wyoming; Autumn Savitski, Shavertown; Maxwell Slusser, Berwick, and Victoria Weber, S Sterling.

Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture: Molly Schaefer, Scranton.

Bachelor of Interior Architecture: Lenae Burkhard, Orwigsburg; Danielle Kintzer, Mohnton; Karyn Klocko, Honesdale; Jenna Loomis, Peckville, and Abigail Sankus, Wilkes Barre.

Bachelor of Arts: Madeline Adams, Brackney; Elizabeth Adams, Brackney; Olivia Arcuri, S Abington Twp; Bria Beggin, Jessup; Lucca Cerminaro, Fell Township; Liam Clune, Lake Ariel; Kyle Driscoll, Roaring Bk Tp; Nhung Duong, Scranton; Dilenny Feliz, Peckville; Dominique Gomez, Scranton; Zachary Houston, Exeter; Allison Huegel, Scranton; Colby Hughes, Scranton; Corey Iyoob, Jessup; Lindsey Jason, Olyphant; Olivia Kaschak, Archbald; Olivia Kaschak, Archbald; Aiden Kelly, Fell Township; Brianna Kohut, Jessup; Sara Labar, Scranton; Aubrey Mangan, Scranton; Marissa Manza, E Stroudsburg; Jacob McLane, Scranton; Nathan McLane, Scranton; Martin Monahan, Dunmore; Susanna Morel Almonte, Scranton; Thomas O’Keefe, Milford; Francesco Pazzaglia, Archbald; Angel Popko, Dickson City; Rylie Ravinskas, Archbald; Emily Rowe, Forty Fort; Kevin Slywka, Moscow; Grace Spisso, Taylor; Jonelle Symonies, Carbondale; Kevin Talley, Lake Ariel; Julia Walsh, Scranton; Colby White, Jermyn; Madison Winn, Waymart; Zachary Witte, Lakeville; Taylor Zackarias, Tunkhannock; Rachel Zarubski, Dunmore; and Noah Zeigler, Lake Ariel.

Bachelor of Business Administration: Jihad Abdallah, Greeley; Jacob Allabaugh, Bear Crk Twp; Adam Anderson, Berwick; Mia Angelicola, Waverly Twp; Jake Barrett, Peckville; Brandon Carlson, Lakeville; Daniel Carra, Roaring Brook Twp; Chase Combs, Jessup; McKenzie Connor, Childs; London Durkin, Peckville; Brandon Fleschut, Dallas; Frank Golden, Dunmore; Daniel Gomez, Scranton; Nolan Harrington, Scranton; Cole Johnson, Williamsport; Alexander Jordan, Drums; Brett Kugler, Wilkes Barre; Thomas Lee, Scranton; Kathleen Lynott, Scranton; Sarah Martin, Archbald; Michael McCann, Roaring Brook; Giavana Mercatili, Archbald; Kevin Meredith, Luzerne; Marina Miesko, Sprng Brk Twp; Riley Mulherin, S Abingtn Twp; Samantha Munson, Old Forge; David Nichols, Scott Twp; Jake Pajalich, Avoca; Casey Penzone, Jermyn; Ava Perrins, Throop; Matthew Pfohl, Scranton; Joshua Ramos, Mahanoy City; John Russo, Milford; Haylee Sileo, Dunmore; Andrew Straka, Peckville; Milana Straub, Shickshinny; Trevor Thomas, S Abingtn Twp; Levi Vick, Wapwallopen; Nick Vilogi-Slayton, Jessup; Colin Virkitis, Richmondale, and Christian Winkler, Jermyn.

Bachelor of Fine Arts: Brandon Bartley, Mountain Top; Mary Boyle, Clarks Summit; Hannah Coates, Scranton; Daniele Cragle, Old Forge; Molly Driscoll, Roaring Bk Tp; Emily Duris, Monroe Twp; Julie Eggleston, S Abingtn Twp; Nelly Martinez, Scranton; Jillian Mooney, Dunmore; Khayman Sember, Jefferson Twp; Nicola Veniamin, Waverly Township, and Molly Yatchyshyn, Bernville.

Bachelor of Music: Rhonda Fenkner, Moscow; Emma Holbrook, Clarks Summit; Gabriel Jenceleski, Nanticoke; Kirsten Melton, Scranton; Madison Ostir, Tunkhannock; Madelynn Ross, Wyoming; Elizabeth Vito, Dupont; Brendan Weber, Shillington, and Sean Wolfe, Nanticoke.

Bachelor of Science: Mariah Addis, Peckville; Daniel Becker, Honesdale; Abigail Bonczek, Clarks Summit; Caitlyn Burdick, Waymart; Brennan Burnside, Scranton; Ashley Capone, Scranton; Maria Cicerini, Jefferson Twp; Olivia Ciullo, Dunmore; Jolie Fraggetta, Milford; Zachary Grosvenor, Kingsley; Jonathan Jenkins, Susquehanna; Megan Kielar, Carbondale; Taylor Kizer, Scranton; Melanie Lamberti, Roaring Brook Twp; Grace Lehman, White Haven; Emma McNally, Olyphant; Jennifer Mercereau, Greentown; Jolene Morais, Clarks Summit; Ariana Pillier, Tobyhanna; Elyse Rehder, South Abington Township; Elizabeth Rembecki, S Abingtn Twp; Jada Siino, Newfoundland; Cassandra Slusser, Bloomsburg; Gabrielle Snee, Olyphant; Alexandra Taffera, Moscow; Jillian Vito, Dupont, and Lauren Yencho, Dickson City.

PHOTO 1: Former NFL quarterback/NFL analyst and entrepreneur/philanthropist Ron Jaworski holds up a cell phone to remind graduates to rely on each other and not their mobile devices. Jaworski served as the keynote speaker at Marywood’s commencement ceremony, encouraging graduates to be leaders who care, build relationships, and who are present with one another in the moment. Prior to his address, he received a citation of recognition from Marywood University.

PHOTO 2: Ron Jaworski happily receives a citation of recognition from Marywood University President Lisa A. Lori.

Photos taken by Mike Straub