The Upward Bound Program at Wilkes University graduated 46 students at its 2021 graduation on Tuesday, May 4. The ceremony was held in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts. The three-year federally funded program is designed to prepare eligible high school students for success in post-secondary education.
The graduates received their alumni pins during the ceremony, which were presented by Wilkes University Upward Bound Director, Dawn Harding. The Upward Bound Program has been funded at Wilkes University for 54 years.
Four awards were presented to 11 students at the graduation:
- Academic Award: Gianna Donahue, Nanticoke Area
- Student of the Year Award: Carlos Contreras, Meyers
- Progress Award: Miguel Evertz, GAR; Chloe Wyberski, Wyoming Valley West
- Perfect Attendance Award: Teara Deonarine, Miguel Evertz, Brady Melovitz, Stephen Plaza and Madea Stortz, all of GAR; Abigail Kiush, Holy Redeemer and Zi Xuan Weng, Coughlin
PHOTO ONE: first row, left to right, Samera Vanderhoff, Nanticoke; Abigayle Smith, Wyoming Valley West; Jocelyn Snow, Coughlin; and Kaliyah Brown, Coughlin; second row, left to right, Steven Plaza, GAR; Lilly Morris, Hanover Area; Katie Magda, Holy Redeemer; Chloe Wyberski, Wyoming Valley West; and Kaycee Wren, Hanover Area; third row, left to right, Kayleigh Perks, Hanover Area; Abbey Mooney, Hanover Area; Winni Weng, Coughlin; and Alexandra Gomez, GAR; fourth row, left to right, Maya Saunders, Wyoming Valley West; Marily Munoz, Coughlin; Madea Stortz, GAR; and Janasia Turner, Pittston Area; fifth row, left to right, Anthony Mandoza, Holy Redeemer; Keira Murphy, Pittston Area; Levi Vick, Nanticoke Area; Brady Melovitz, GAR; and Stephen Youkoski, Meyers.
PHOTO TWO: first row, left to right, Mikayla Goldsmith, Dallas; Kaitlyn Ferrara, Lake Lehman; Luz Castro, Coughlin; Carlos Contreras, Meyers; Alexandria Graham, Nanticoke Area; Teara Deonarine, GAR; Maria Bonn, Nanticoke Area; and Brenda Arias, Hanover Area; second row, left and right, Dylan Housenick, Meyers; Gianna Evans, Holy Redeemer; Abigail Kush, Holy Redeemer; Gianna Donahue, Nanticoke Area; Kimberly Clocker, Holy Redeemer; Miguel Evertz, GAR; and Avdo Adzemovic, Hanover Area; third row, left to right, Madalynn Gregory, Crestwood; Serenity Black, Wyoming Valley West; Emmanuel Francisco, GAR; Baldwin Gerard, Meyers; Steven Kauffman, Hanover Area; and Michael Horan, Coughlin.
Two photos were taken to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Please note that face masks were only removed for the photographs.
