2024–25 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Class Announced

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its community leadership and professional development division, Leadership Lackawanna, is proud to announce the 2024–25 class of Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT)—a transformative program that prepares high school juniors for leadership roles in their communities.

Sponsored by NBT Bank, the TLT program spans seven months, immersing students in hands-on experiences across essential sectors, including healthcare, STEAM, history and heritage, crime and corrections, financial literacy, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and community service.

“This year, we are proud to welcome these 67 remarkable teens into the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Program. We’re hopeful they’ll use the skills and knowledge they gain over the next seven months to positively impact their schools and communities as confident and capable young leaders,” shared Jen Strzelec, program coordinator for Leadership Lackawanna.

The TLT program provides these young leaders with unique opportunities to develop critical leadership, interpersonal, and managerial skills. Throughout the program, students will engage in workshops, field visits, and interactive discussions led by regional experts and industry leaders, preparing them for the real-world challenges and opportunities that await them.

The class participants are:

Addison Daiute

Aidan Tinney

Andrew McDonald

Anthony Betti

Audrey Agnello

Ava Roberto

Ava Strzelec

Ava Wisnosky

Benjamin Reese

Benjamin Kulikowski

Brendan Korty

Charlie Stampien

Emily Atonal

Emily Grover

Emily Loomis

Emma Guse

Emmelia Rucks

Gabriella Dennis

Gabrielle Jordan

Gavin Roberts

Gianna Vachino

Grace Bennett

Isabelle O’Brien

Jaiden Trunzo

James Prislupski

Joseph Griffin

Joshua Cuck

Julia Noto

Kate Peters

Kathryn Apolinario

Kathryn O’Hora

Katie Gutekunst

Kaylyn Davis

Kelsey Smith

Kevin Vincent

Khloe Mistishin

Kiera Crowell

Kiley Williams

Krithika Krishnan

Lauren Bartell

Lindsey Bartell

Luke Warring

Madeleine Mackarey

Madelyn Battaglia

Madison Hallock

Madison Smith

Maryn Kukuchka

Matther Kirchner

Mia Peregrim

Molly Carter

Molly Banik

Mya Cesarini

Natalia Ghirelli

Natalie Talluto

Natalie Puckett

Nathan Beecham

Nmesoma Udoye

Nora Crambo

Olive O’Rourke

Olivia Lawler

Olivia Lach

Raphael Thomas

Ryan DeMarco

Sona Hanumali

Timmy Fogley

William Murphy

Wyatt Barucky

Celebrating the Future Leaders of Tomorrow!

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce professional development and community leadership division, Leadership Lackawanna, celebrated 44 high school juniors who graduated from the organization Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) program. Tomorrow’s Leaders Today is sponsored by NBT Bank.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today is a seven-month program that develops the leadership, interpersonal, and managerial skills of high school juniors and provides real-world experiences in financial literacy, health care, STEAM, philanthropy, crime and corrections, nonprofit organizations, and community service. 

Class of 2024 participants:

  1. Dhruv Amin
  2. Jacob Antolick
  3. Ashley Bossick
  4. Giada  Costa
  5. Joseph DiStasi
  6. Chloe   Dong
  7. Gabriella Estadt
  8. Nicholas Giumento
  9. Abigail Harshbarger
  10. Joseph Healey
  11. Matthew Hill
  12. Cole Johnston
  13. Zachary Kovaleski
  14. Kylie Krzak
  15. Caroline Luyster
  16. Jordan Malar
  17. Jack Maloney
  18. Mandie Martin
  19. Isabelle Maurer
  20. Sarah  McCullon
  21. Roland McLaine
  22. Isabella Moher
  23. Declan Moran
  24. Reese  Morgan
  25. Clinton Muir
  26. Ivy Neureuter
  27. Sarah O’Brien
  28. Justin Osman
  29. Ava Page
  30. Dante Pallazari
  31. Margaret Pegula
  32. Anthony John  Piestrak
  33. Abygale Plevyak
  34. Hope Polishan
  35. Gabriella Potis
  36. Lily Rozzi
  37. Elizabeth Schneider
  38. Gia Serge
  39. Akhilesh Velaga
  40. Ava Wallace
  41. Makayla Walton
  42. Nico Warhola
  43. Elizabeth Washine
  44. Faith Wormuth

Throughout the program, students were engaged in various sessions facilitated by local organizations serving the greater Scranton area. In addition to invaluable lessons in the program focus areas, students were given the unique opportunity to engage with business leaders and network with students from 16 local schools. Their program culminated with the allocation of $15,000 in grant money from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to five deserving local nonprofits selected by the students. The nonprofits that received the 2024 grants are the Catherine McAuley Center, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Keystone Mission, Lackawanna County Area Agency of Aging, and the Women’s Resource Center. 

In addition, each student completed five service hours for a total of 220 hours, dedicated to helping 8 local nonprofit organizations.

Leadership Lackawanna’s TLT Program accepts applications from sophomores who attend high school in Lackawanna County and its surrounding areas, as well as all charter and technical schools and homeschool students. Learn more online at www.LeadershipLackawanna.org.

Leadership Lackawanna Announces Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Class of 2023-24

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce community leadership and professional development affiliate, Leadership Lackawanna’s youth program, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, announces the program class of 2023–24.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) is a seven-month program that develops high school juniors’ leadership, interpersonal, and managerial skills in the greater Scranton region. Program participants will be provided with real-world experiences in financial literacy, health care, STEAM, philanthropy, crime and corrections, nonprofit organizations, and community service instructed by partnering organizations. NBT Bank proudly sponsors the 2023–24 program year.

TLT participants:

  1. Abigail Harshbarger
  2. Abygale Plevyak
  3. Akhilesh Velaga
  4. Anthony John Piestrak
  5. Ashley Bossick
  6. Ava Page
  7. Caroline Luyster
  8. Chloe Dong
  9. Clinton Muir
  10. Cole Johnston
  11. Dante Pallazari
  12. Declan Moran
  13. Dhruv D. Amin
  14. Elizabeth Schneider
  15. Elizabeth Washine
  16. Gabriella Estadt
  17. Gabriella Potis
  18. Gia Ann Serge
  19. Giada Costa
  20. Hope Polishan
  21. Isabella Moher
  22. Isabelle Maurer
  23. Ivy Neureuter
  24. Jack Maloney
  25. Jacob Antolick
  26. Jordan Robert Malar
  27. Joseph DiStasi
  28. Jospeh T. Healey
  29. Justin Osman
  30. Kylie Krzak
  31. Lily Rozzi
  32. Makayla Walto
  33. Mandie Martin
  34. Margaret Pegula
  35. Matthew Hill
  36. Nicholas Giumento
  37. Nico Warhola
  38. Reese Morgan
  39. Roland McLaine
  40. Sarah McCullon
  41. Sarah O’Brien
  42. Zavhary Kovaleski

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today accepts applications from sophomores who attend high school in Lackawanna County and its surrounding areas, as well as all charter, technical schools, and homeschool students.

PHOTO: Front Row: Ashley Bossick, Nicholas Giumento, Kylie Krzak, Isabella Moher, Ava Page, Dante Pallazari, Abygale Plevyak, Gabriella Potis, Lily Rozzi, Gia An Serge, Faith Wormuth. Second Row: Abigail Harshbarger, Chloe Dong, Cole Johnston, Giada Costa, Joseph T. Healey, Matthew Hill, Mandie Martin, Reese Morgan, Justin Osman, Margaret Pegula, Nico Warhola. Third Row: Gabriella Estadt, Jordan Robert Malar, Isabelle Maurer, Sarah McCullon, Declan Moran, Ivy Neureuter, Sarah O’Brien, Hope Polishan, Elizabeth Schneider, Makayla Walton, Elizabeth Washine. Back Row: Dhruv D. Amin, Jacon Antolick, Joseph DiStasi, Zachary Kobaleski, Caroline Luyster, Jack Maloney, Roland McLaine, Clinton Muir, Anthony John Piestrak, Akhilesh Velaga.

NOT PICTURED: Ava Wallace

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Class of 2023

Leadership Lackawanna, an affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, recently celebrated the graduation of 42 high school students from its teen program, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), which is graciously sponsored by NBT Bank.

Leadership Lackawanna’s seven-month TLT program develops the leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills of high school juniors and provides real-world experiences in financial literacy, health care, STEAM, philanthropy, crime and corrections, non-profit organizations, and community service. 

Throughout the program, students were engaged in various sessions facilitated by local organizations serving the greater Scranton area. In addition to invaluable lessons in the program focus areas, students were given the unique opportunity to engage with business leaders and network with students from 14 local schools. Their program culminated with the allocation of $15,000 in grant money from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to three deserving local nonprofits selected by the students. In addition, each student completed five service hours dedicated to helping 14 local nonprofit organizations.

The 2023 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today graduates :

  1. Adrian Agnello, Western Wayne HS
  2. Riley Aquilino, Valley View HS
  3. Brittain Banull, West Scranton HS
  4. Braden Beecham, Riverside HS
  5. Brooke Beemer, Abington Heights HS
  6. Brooke Bilski, Holy Cross HS
  7. Katherine Boykin, Abington Heights HS
  8. Caden Brennan, Carbondale Area HS
  9. Jocelyn Brown, Carbondale Area HS
  10. Dinello Capalongo, West Scranton HS
  11. Rhayni Carroll, Western Wayne HS
  12. Megan Cosklo, Carbondale Area HS
  13. Elizabeth Cummings, Old Forge HS
  14. Haylee Czyzyk, Commonwealth Charter Academy
  15. Kate Evans, West Scranton HS
  16. Natalie Fuller, Valley View HS
  17. Roger Getts, Scranton Prep
  18. Madeline Herold, Abington Heights HS
  19. Andrew Houseknecht, Commonwealth Charter Academy
  20. Dane Huggler, Abington Heights HS
  21. Mae Kaufman, Mid Valley Secondary Cent
  22. Alexandra King, Scranton HS
  23. Geanna Kirchner, Dunmore HS
  24. Corrina Maldonado, West Scranton HS
  25. Odin Marrow, Commonwealth Charter Academy
  26. Patricia McAndrew, Lakeland Jr/Sr HS
  27. Brian McCormack, Scranton HS
  28. Natalie Micknick, Lakeland HS
  29. Mason Miluszusky, Carbondale Area HS
  30. Connor Peters, Valley View HS
  31. Mason Peters, Valley View HS
  32. Julia Possanza, Lakeland Jr/Sr HS
  33. Grace Rodriguez, Scranton HS
  34. Emily Romanowski, Western Wayne HS
  35. Carolena Ryon, Lackawanna Trail HS
  36. Paris Santee, West Scranton HS
  37. Emily Stefani, West Scranton HS
  38. Gavin Walsh, Scranton Prep
  39. Ethan Warring, Scranton HS
  40. Alexa B. Williams, Riverside HS
  41. Mary Zabielski, Valley View HS
  42. Yingqi (Angela) Zeng, Abington Heights HS

Leadership Lackawanna’s TLT Program accepts applications from sophomores who attend high school in Lackawanna County and its surrounding areas, as well as all charter and technical schools and homeschool students. Learn more online at www.LeadershipLackawanna.org.

Photo: Front L-R; Riley Aquilino; Madeline Herold; Elizabeth Cummings; Mae Kaufman; Brooke Bilski; Alexa Willliams; Natalie Fuller; Corrina Maldonado; Angela Zeng; Jocelyn Brown; Emily Romanowski; Paris Santee; Grace Rodriguez; Brooke Beemer; Kate Evans; Second Row L-R: Odin Marrow; Caden Brennan; Braden Beecham; Rhanyni Carroll 

Emily Stefani; Carolena Ryon; Julia Possanza; Geanna Kirchner; Patricia McAndrew; Haylee Czyzyk; Megan Cosklo; Gavin Walsh; Back Row L-R: Dane Huggler; Adrian Agnello; Mary Zabielski; Mason Peters; Connor Peters; Brittain Banull; Roger Getts; Dinello Capaolongo; Mason Miluszusky; Katherine Boykin; Brian McCormick; Alex King; Natalie Micknick; Not Pictured: Ethan Warring; Andrew Houseknecht

About The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.

About Leadership Lackawanna
Leadership Lackawanna is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development.  Its six programs – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Leadership Collegiate, Core, Leadership Fundamentals 2.0, Executive and Welcome Scranton! – enhance the skills, connections and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them to better serve in our communities, workplaces and organizations.  Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has created more than 2,500 community leaders.  For more information, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com.

Leadership Lackawanna Hires Program Coordinator

The Chamber is proud to announce the addition of Jennifer Strzelec as program coordinator for its affiliate Leadership Lackawanna, the area’s premier community leadership and professional development organization.

In this role, Strzelec primarily supports the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program – a seven-month initiative for high school juniors. This includes recruitment, marketing, evaluations, and administrative support.

Strzelec has several years of experience as a preschool aide at Bright Beginnings Preschool in Mt. Cobb and at the YMCA in King George, Virginia. She also served in the United States Army in the avionics division at both Fort Hood in Texas and Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

Strzelec earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Temple University and is currently earning her MBA at West Chester University.

Apply today for a Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Grant

Does your organization provide work in any of the following areas?

  • Environmental and/or Local Parks Projects
  • Facility Improvement for Animal Welfare
  • Homeless Programs

Grants are available through the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) grants program.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is accepting requests for proposals for the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) grants program. Applications will be accepted from charitable organizations in Lackawanna County through Friday, January 15, 2022.

What is the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) grants program?

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) is a youth leadership program of Leadership Lackawanna that provides high school juniors with the opportunity to meet with community leaders and decision-makers. In addition to leadership development, the students are also required to complete a philanthropy curriculum conducted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. TLT seeks to help participants realize what they can do to make a difference in their community as young philanthropists and to further develop their leadership skills.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is proud to partner with Leadership Lackawanna in introducing the concept of philanthropy and grantmaking to our region’s youth. The Scranton Area Community Foundation allocates funding for the TLT class to grant. Priority areas are chosen by the TLT students. In 2022, grants will be provided to organizations working to make a difference in the following Priority Areas: Environmental and/or Local Parks Projects Facility Improvement for Animal Welfare Homeless Programs Grant applications for the TLT grants program are available through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s online grant management portal. The maximum grant amount awarded per grant for a 2022 TLT grant is $2,000.

Applications will be accepted from charitable organizations in Lackawanna County through Friday, January 15, 2022.

Apply

To submit an application, you will need to first create an account in our online grant management portal if your organization has not already done so. Please email grants@safdn.org with questions.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Graduate, Nora Betts, Announces Local Project

Nora Betts, a 2021 Tomorrow’s Leader Today graduate, has announced her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. 

Betts will build and install four bat boxes on homes in NEPA with threatened and unwanted bats. Informational signs will also be installed on the Lackawanna Heritage Trail to educate passersby on the importance of bats and bat boxes.

The Instagram @norabetts.batbox is dedicated to the project and serves as a place for live updates as well as an entertaining educational tool for members of the community and beyond.

If you’d like more information or are interested in having a bat box installed on your home, contact Nora at norabetts.batbox@gmail.com