PennDOT ‘Innovations Challenge’ Winners Announced The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that a team of students from Monroe Career and Technical Institute in Bartonsville, Monroe County has been selected as the statewide winner for the 2021-2022 Innovations Challenge. Since last fall, high school students in grades nine through 12 have been working hard to solve this year’s challenge, which asked students to develop a comprehensive and cost-effective public engagement strategy, beyond the current public engagement procedures (outlined in Publication 295) that uses innovative technologies and tools that PennDOT can implement to more effectively engage and connect with all age groups during the transportation planning and project development process. “Each year, the PennDOT Innovations Challenge allows us to turn to the next generation of leaders to become an active part of proposing potential solutions to the challenges we face,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “I commend all of the students who participated in this year’s challenge for their ingenuity and creativity in developing solutions to this real-world transportation challenge.” Mentored by Ross Ruschman, the statewide winning team members are Neylla Joseph, Kyle Jarrett, Brittany Ulate-Mora, and Gavin Glukhoy. Their proposed innovative solution was the PaE3 program, which stands for Excite, Educate and Engage. The PaE3 program is an innovative way of using existing technologies to approach the need for communication between PennDOT and its key stakeholders and get citizens involved in PennDOT’s planning and project development process. The program focuses on using existing technologies to approach the need for communication between PennDOT and its key stakeholders, including using map applications like Waze and Google Maps to provide notifications about proposed road work projects, similar to how those sites show accidents and current construction projects. Now in its fifth year, the Innovations Challenge aims to not only help students explore real transportation challenges that PennDOT is facing, but also open their minds to the very real possibility of working for PennDOT or in the transportation industry after graduation. For this year’s challenge, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) provided $2,500 and the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) provided $1,500 for a combined total award of $4,000 for this year’s first place team. For complete details, visit the Innovations Challenge webpage at www.penndot.pa.gov.
HNB Supports WVIA with EITC Donation The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $2,500 of their approved allotment to WVIA Public Media. The funds, donated by HNB, will support educational programming. HNB President & CEO, Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., stated, “The accessibility of public media will continue to be important to our communities.” He said, “We are glad that we are able to continue to serve our area by contributing funding for this program.” Kirsten Smith, Grants & Education Officer at WVIA stated, “Thanks to the HNB’s EITC contributions, WVIA will be visiting many children in our shared region with educational programs to benefit their literacy and STEM needs. I will be certain to inform you of that progress and punctuate how impactful your EITC donations always are in doing wonderful things for children and families in our region.” WVIA-FM is a non-commercial, public FM radio station licensed to serve Scranton, Pennsylvania and is the National Public Radio member station for Northeastern Pennsylvania. The station is owned by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association along with its sister television station, WVIA-TV.
Johnson College’s 103rd Commencement Ceremony to be Held May 20 at the Circle Drive-In Johnson College will confer degrees to over 180 graduates at commencement exercises to be held at the Circle Drive-In on the Scranton Carbondale Highway in Scranton on Saturday, May 20, 2022 (Rain date: Thursday, May 19, 2022). The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will be live streamed on the College’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/JohnsonCollegePA. Graduates will be awarded Associate in Science degrees (A.S.), Associate of Applied Science degrees (A.A.S.), and academic certificates. Nicholas J. Scarnato, CCO at Producto, graduate of Johnson College, class of 1980, and Old Forge, PA native, will give the commencement address. Degrees will be presented by Katie Leonard, Ed.D., president and CEO of Johnson College, and Marianne Gilmartin, Esq., chairperson of the board of directors. Evan Wilcox, a graduate of the Radiologic Technology program and recipient of the Johnson College Award for Academic Excellence in the Associate in Applied Science programs will serve as the student speaker. Matt Cirba, Johnson College Computer Information Technology program instructor and alum of the Class of 2009 will give the alumni address to the newly graduated Johnson College class of 2022. Following is a list of the 2022 Class of Johnson College: ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE PROGRAMS Computer Information Technology Jacob Brodowsky Lake Ariel Pennsylvania Casey Deaton Pittston Pennsylvania Michael Frazier South Abington Pennsylvania Brandon Graham Clifford Twp Pennsylvania Justin Greenberg (ABK) Scranton Pennsylvania Mason Hoeffner Exeter Pennsylvania Justin Kemble Scranton Pennsylvania Brian Langieri Clarks Green Pennsylvania John Lee (S) Old Forge Pennsylvania Ryan Mascaro Olyphant Pennsylvania Aidan Mullen (ABK) Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Max Rubart Greentown Pennsylvania Jamar Rymer Scranton Pennsylvania Michael Salansky (H) (S) Susquehanna Pennsylvania Emily Williams (ABK) Scott Township Pennsylvania Physical Therapist Assistant Alexander Calabro Exeter Pennsylvania Ian Farr Mehoopany Pennsylvania Danny Fuentes (C) Edwardsville Pennsylvania Brittany Gilley (H) (M) (ABK) Pittston Pennsylvania Brianna Ketcho Dupont Pennsylvania Helga Linhares (C) Clarks Green Pennsylvania Lauren Miskell (C) Archbald Pennsylvania Darius Powell Jefferson Township Pennsylvania Ireland Reilly Thornhurst Pennsylvania Hailey Taylor Kingsley Pennsylvania Radiologic Technology Jessica Cann Larksville Pennsylvania Hailey Cruser Dunmore Pennsylvania Tamar Elba-Kops (H) (C) Easton Pennsylvania Brittany Doran Avoca Pennsylvania Alexis Drab Friendsville Pennsylvania Michelle Gibbons Trucksville Pennsylvania Justin Hall Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Kristen Kasa Mocanaqua Pennsylvania Christine Margavitch Scranton Pennsylvania Hope Miller Catawissa Pennsylvania Alexander Mros (C) Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Tanya Patterson Monroe Township Pennsylvania Allana Warner Montrose Pennsylvania Veterinary Nursing Brittany Bethel (S) Dallas Pennsylvania Lauren Cann (C) Larksville Pennsylvania Jasmine Deitrick Aberdeen Maryland Kayla Dishong Browndale Pennsylvania Kyler Kephart Woodland Pennsylvania Megan Krakosky Shavertown Pennsylvania Kaitlyn Littzi Dallas Pennsylvania Moriah Lovell Scranton Pennsylvania Jaime Martinek Greeley Pennsylvania Alexander Nallin* (H) (S) Scranton Pennsylvania Cassidy Payton Williamsport Pennsylvania Victoria Pettinato (ABK) Carbondale Pennsylvania Tresa Savidge (ABK) Danville Pennsylvania Kiran Singh Lords Valley Pennsylvania Robert Thompson Courtdale Pennsylvania ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE PROGRAMS Advanced Manufacturing Technology Brendan Chandler Honesdale Pennsylvania Samuel Hopkins Honesdale Pennsylvania Aden Cardone Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Brian Marianelli Taylor Pennsylvania John Wesnesky (H) Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Architectural Drafting & Design Technology Corey Desanto Jermyn Pennsylvania Rocco LaCapra Dunmore Pennsylvania Cody Mackin (S) Taylor Pennsylvania Evan Wilcox** (H) (S) (ABK) Milanville Pennsylvania Automotive Technology Jason Chilko (H) (S) Bartonsville Pennsylvania Justin Fay Dunmore Pennsylvania Michael Fordham Greentown Pennsylvania Keith Jacob Gouldsboro Pennsylvania Zachary Kearney Greenfield Township Pennsylvania Colby Kogan Tobyhanna Pennsylvania Allison Petty Scranton Pennsylvania Jacob Price Throop Pennsylvania Michael Santarsiero Moscow Pennsylvania Michael Sklareski Archbald Pennsylvania Riley Teel Montrose Pennsylvania Nicholas Wilson Stillwater Pennsylvania Biomedical Equipment Technology Hannah Acevedo Old Forge Pennsylvania Kelly Barron (ABK) Dickson City Pennsylvania Vincent Bonello Scranton Pennsylvania Nico Colachino Olyphant Pennsylvania James Goetz Scranton Pennsylvania Tyler Nolan Olyphant Pennsylvania Blake Sphabmixay Scranton Pennsylvania Benjamin Terry (H) (S) (ABK) Richmondale Pennsylvania Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology Joshua Bilinski (C) (ABK) Covington Township Pennsylvania Jonathon Dutter Greenfield Township Pennsylvania Carl Galavitz Carbondale Pennsylvania Tyler Gries (H) (C) (ABK) Honesdale Pennsylvania Timothy Gromelski Scranton Pennsylvania Spencer Jones Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Fantajah LaRoche Carbondale Pennsylvania Andres Ledee Pittston Pennsylvania Nathan McKane Archbald Pennsylvania Diesel Truck Technology Nicholas Dutter Hudson Pennsylvania Michael Frey Barryville New York Austin Fromert Moscow Pennsylvania Antonio Gay Carbondale Pennsylvania Joseph Ingraham (H) (M) Binghamton New York Vincent Kearney Taylor Pennsylvania Nicholas Neiger Narrowsburg New York Dylan Rinker Canadensis Pennsylvania Robert Rodriguez Scranton Pennsylvania Electrical and Construction Technology Jalen Alston Saylorsburg Pennsylvania James Ambrosia Scranton Pennsylvania Kyle Barrett Jessup Pennsylvania Matthew Calvey Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Ethan Campbell (C) Shavertown Pennsylvania Tyler Chesla Dalton Pennsylvania Devin Coombs Taylor Pennsylvania Philip Davitt (H) (S) (ABK) Dickson City Pennsylvania Brandon Doherty Archbald Pennsylvania Sean Eidenberg (ABK) Scranton Pennsylvania Jason Enger Lakeville Pennsylvania Luke Falcone (C) Dalton Pennsylvania Nicholas Ferraro Dunmore Pennsylvania Tyler Ford Jermyn Pennsylvania Matthew Foytack (ABK) Madison Township Pennsylvania Liam Galloway Equinunk Pennsylvania Michael Hannah Dunmore Pennsylvania Jack Islas Peckville Pennsylvania Peter Jakubiak Bartonsville Pennsylvania Jonathon Kaville (M) Old Forge Pennsylvania Ryan Lesh (ABK) Scranton Pennsylvania Anthony Marsico Old Forge Pennsylvania Jack McCabe (D) Old Forge Pennsylvania Dondy Normil Scranton Pennsylvania Nichole Nye (C) Archbald Pennsylvania Tyler Purdy Dalton Pennsylvania Patrick Redman Peckville Pennsylvania Alexander Reese Dunmore Pennsylvania Matthew Romanowski Harding Pennsylvania Matthew Rosengrant (S) Lake Ariel Pennsylvania Derrell Sapp Honesdale Pennsylvania Shawn Smith Scranton Pennsylvania Jakob Snopkowski Scranton Pennsylvania Calvin Sutcliffe Moosic Pennsylvania Anthony Tarantini Springbrook Pennsylvania Matthew Urda Carbondale Pennsylvania Shawn Van Fossen (C) Plymouth Pennsylvania Zachary Walter (C) Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Matthew Warden Dunmore Pennsylvania Gavin Williams Taylor Pennsylvania John Wilson Olyphant Pennsylvania Electronic Engineering Technology Dominic Allan Dickson City Pennsylvania Carla Bustamante Tobyhanna Pennsylvania Alec Ciaglia Roaring Brook Pennsylvania Cody Emrey Tobyhanna Pennsylvania Jacob Hansen (H) Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Matthew Parry Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Dante Clark Olyphant Pennsylvania Andrew Demming Scott Township Pennsylvania Ken Francis Moosic Pennsylvania Joseph Healey (C) (ABK) Throop Pennsylvania Ethan Hosier West Pittston Pennsylvania Al-Mauriece Ingram Dunmore Pennsylvania Jordan Kazmierski Clifford Township Pennsylvania Nicholas Klapatch South Abington Township Pennsylvania Omar Maldonado Scranton Pennsylvania Damon Martin South Abington Township Pennsylvania John McDonald (H) (M) Pittston Pennsylvania Michael Mondlak West Pittston Pennsylvania Francis Moran Moosic Pennsylvania Jonathan Nicholoff Old Forge Pennsylvania Jake Norris Thornhurst Pennsylvania Gage Nudo Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Jamie Spindler Scranton Pennsylvania Caleb Tratthen Scott Township Pennsylvania Arthur Vitagliano Prompton Pennsylvania Daniel Walsh (ABK) Spring Brook Township Pennsylvania Alec Yanisko (ABK) Dunmore Pennsylvania Heavy Equipment Technology Leonard Nardozzo Nanticoke Pennsylvania Julia Price (H) Scranton Pennsylvania CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Building & Property Maintenance Joseph Church Hawley Pennsylvania Derek Segear Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Welding Technology Charles Atherton-Ely Old Forge Pennsylvania Ethan Coffay Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Xander Davis Honesdale Pennsylvania Isabella DeFlice (D) Scranton Pennsylvania Bilal Floyd Scranton Pennsylvania Naim Kendricks Scranton Pennsylvania Kadin King Tunkhannock Pennsylvania Jason Kutch Honesdale Pennsylvania Conor Leone Milford Pennsylvania Cole Maciak Clarks Summit Pennsylvania Luke Noble (D) (H) Milanville Pennsylvania Kenneth Rought Carbondale Pennsylvania Joseph Siggins Thompson Pennsylvania Philip Sprong Honesdale Pennsylvania Wesley Stetler Nicholson Pennsylvania Abigail Tirva Clarks Summit Pennsylvania (D) Dual Enrollment (H) Departmental Honors (S) Summa Cum Laude: GPA of 3.90 or HIGHER (M) Magna Cum Laude: GPA 3.89 – 3.80 (C) Cum Laude: GPA 3.79 – 3.70 Based on GPA to December 2020 (ABK) Alpha Beta Kappa Member * Recipient of Johnson College Award for Academic Excellence, Associate in Science ** Recipient of Johnson College Award for Academic Excellence, Associate in Applied Science Alpha Beta Kappa (ABK) is the premier national collegiate honor society for trades and essential occupations. The society honors excellence not only in the classroom, but also in shop, studio, and laboratory study. Additionally, students must be a member of a student organization or club to become an Alpha Beta Kappa member. The appearance of the degree candidate’s name does not verify satisfactory completion of degree requirements. Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical college, offering 17 associate degree and 4 academic certificate programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
Carl Hurst Named Associate Vice President at The University of Scranton Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, announced Carl Hurst will serve as associate vice president for information technology and Chief Information Officer, effective immediately. “Mr. Hurst, who will also serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet, possess significant knowledge of IT operations and infrastructure, as well as network and data security,” said Father Marina in an announcement to the campus community. Hurst joined the staff at the University in 2017 as the associate Chief Information Officer. During his time at Scranton, he played a leading role in the development and coordination of comprehensive technical and IT operational plans. He assisted the CIO with facilitating an IT governance strategy, researched emerging technologies and helped to evaluate and assess the University’s current technology and operations to guide future decisions. He also managed IT security, IT security audits and performed vendor security assessments, among other duties. Prior to joining the University, Hurst was the director of technical infrastructure at TMG Health. Previously, he was the manager of network and desktop infrastructure at Blue Cross NEPA and manager of Windows and desktop server systems at Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises. Hurst earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Wilkes University.
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Resident Physicians Present Scholarly Works at 71st American College of Cardiology Scientific Session Internal medicine resident and cardiology fellow physicians at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education recently presented scholarly abstracts at the 71st Annual American College of Cardiology Scientific Session & Expo in Washington, D.C. The global conference enables the cardiology community to connect with peers and top experts in the field to learn about the latest practice-changing research and cutting-edge education that can transform cardiovascular care for doctors, health care team providers and patients. Dr. Sanskriti Shrivastava, the lead author, presented three research abstracts and a meta-analysis. His scholarly works included, “Long Story Short: Long-Term Outcomes in Alcohol Septal Ablation vs. Septal Myectomy in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy,” “Outracing Cancer: Analyzing Racial Differences in Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in 270 Patients with Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors from the Seer Database,” and “Characteristics and Survival Outcomes in Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors Based on Histology: Insights from the Seer Database.” She also presented the meta-analysis, “Gender-Based Differences in Cardiovascular Outcomes Associated with COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The lead author on three abstracts, Dr. Chaitanya Rojulpote presented “Effects of Prednisone Use on Cardiac Function and Outcomes in Patients with Sarcoidosis,” “Temporal Trends of Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicating Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations in the United States,” and “Temporal Trends of Heart Failure Complicating Atrial Fibrillation in the United States.” Dr. Pooja Kharbanda was the lead author on the scholarly abstract, “Dynamic Assessment of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction Using Cardiac Catheterization.” Dr. Raza Naseer offered, “Rate vs. Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation in the Modern Era: A Systematic Review and Mata-Analysis.” “Monitored Anesthesia Care vs. General Anesthesia Outcomes in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, was presented by Dr. Humza Hanif, the lead author. Co-authors included Drs. Muhammad Affan, Najam U. Saqib, Muhammad Siddique Pir, Shrivastava and Naseer. “Double Firing AV Node,” a case report, was presented by Dr. Sujithraj Dommaraju. Dr. Saqib presented his case reports, “The Bread and Butter and Beyond” and “Robotic PCI,” which he co-authored with Dr. Samir Pancholy. Overall, resident physicians in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education have had 115 scholarly abstracts, written on a wide array of topics in medicine, accepted for presentation at professional conferences since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year.
Johnson College to Host 29th Annual Golf Tournament The 29th Annual Johnson College Open will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA (rain or shine). Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Each academic year, Presidential Scholarships are awarded to four qualified and deserving full-time students. To register to golf, visit Johnson.edu/golf.
AllOne Foundation Awards Grant to CAC/NEPA The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (CAC/NEPA) announces the award of a $65,000 grant from AllOne Foundation. “The Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania is grateful to AllOne Foundation for their generous grant to our Center. This grant supported expanding our trauma-informed behavioral and mental health services for child victims of abuse, neglect, and trauma in Northeastern Pennsylvania by hiring another full-time therapist for our Mulberry Center. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the CAC Team, and the child victims of abuse and neglect we serve, we are sincerely grateful for AllOne Foundation’s support.” said Marsha Pigga, Executive Director. For more information about the CAC/NEPA, please call the Center at 570-969-7313 or visit the CAC/NEPA’s website: www.cacnepa.org.
The Wright Center Prioritizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has named Dr. Alexies Samonte as its vice president of Sponsoring Institution Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Faculty and Curriculum Development, and Graduate Medical Education Funding Stewardship. In this newly created role, Samonte will work with executives and others throughout the organization to ensure ongoing and innovative faculty development, substantial accreditation compliance, community benefit tracking, and continuous resident wellness and resiliency, among other objectives. One major focus will be to create a robust strategy for diversity, equity and inclusion. Samonte’s diversity and inclusion efforts will span all three nonprofit entities: The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “I am excited about this new role,” said Samonte, who previously served as medical director of The Wright Center’s pediatric services. “Leading this journey is a privilege, since diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded within our mission.” The longtime pediatrician, who is a native of the Philippines, will work to educate faculty, staff and members of the broader community about diversity and inclusion matters such as those promoted by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) “ACGME Equity Matters” initiative. The ACGME initiative aims to drive change within graduate medical education institutions by increasing physician workforce diversity, and building safe and inclusive learning environments, while promoting health equity by addressing racial disparities in health care and overall population health. Samonte assumed her new role in late February. She already has coordinated The Wright Center’s participation in an upcoming continuing education series about LGBTQI+ inclusive health care. The series is being offered beginning June 1 through the Penn State College of Medicine’s Project ECHO network. Promoters say the series will help health care providers “meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients within a supportive and safe environment.” Additionally, Samonte will develop volunteer opportunities for residents and fellows that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion activities. She also will monitor and track the progress of The Wright Center’s diversity-related metrics. A Jenkins Township resident, Samonte earned her doctorate degree in medicine and surgery as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton. The Wright Center, which strives to be an optimal employer, has more than 600 workers in Northeast Pennsylvania and at its graduate medical education training partner sites across the nation. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
