Abington Heights
Nathaniel DeMeglio, Abington Heights (Submitted)
Senior Nathaniel DeMeglio is representing Yokomo USA in the RC Off-Road Buggie category. In order to qualify to race for Yokomo USA, drivers must showcase strong RC racing skills, experience and a competitive performance record. The Yokomo team will compete in the fourth annual MIBO International this month. He is currently competing in Michigan.
“I’m excited to be competing with a new car and taking on new challenges,” Nathaniel said.
In addition, when he was 9, Nathaniel, who plans to study criminal justice in college, started a business called Nate’s Lil Cakes and More, catering for weddings, anniversaries, sweet 16 parties and more. Every year, he donates dozens of loaves of bread to the Diocese of Scranton’s Easter Loaves of Joy Project.
Blue Ridge
Vincent Cain, Blue Ridge (Submitted)
Eighth grader Vincent Cain will play Hansel in Blue Ridge Theater Department’s upcoming production of “Happily Ever Before,” running March 6 to 8. This will be his third performance. Vincent has also played roles in “Hercules” and “Night at the Wax Museum.” He is known by his teachers as kind, creative and willing to take on academic challenges, such as honors classes.
On the upcoming performance, Vincent said, “I’m excited, although I will likely start feeling nervous as the show gets closer.”
In his spare time, he enjoys drawing, playing video games and being creative. After graduating high school, Vincent aspires to attend college to study robotic engineering.
Carbondale Area
Nathan Matos, Carbondale Area (SUBMITTED)
Senior Nathan Matos was named WVIA Artist of the Week. He drew an abstract art piece, created a nice painting of mountains and drew a cathedral.
“It wasn’t too difficult, honestly. I feel confident in what I do,” Nathan said.
His activities include drawing, working out and playing basketball.
Nathan plans to attend college to major in art.
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
Kienan Cook, CTC (Submitted)
Kienan Cook, a junior at Forest City Regional High School in the collision repair program, is being recognized for his outstanding workmanship/leadership in the program. He has maintained an A average this year, and obtained his OSHA10 safety certification.
“I like to work and make progress and an outcome every time I work on a new project,” Kienan said.
Outside of school, he is restoring a Dodge pickup outside. After high school, Kienan hopes to get a good job and work toward his future goals.
Dunmore
Fifth and sixth grade members of the Dunmore Elementary Service Club held their annual fundraiser this past February.
Students have the ability to buy a “candygram” for their friends and teachers at the school. Members of the service club help distribute the candygrams throughout the school for Valentine’s Day. They then use that money to help various organizations and groups throughout the school community and even the larger Dunmore community.
Elk Lake
Madilyn Lucio, Elk Lake (SUBMITTED)
Freshman Madilyn Lucio is playing the leading role of Celia in the spring play, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” on March 13 and 14 in the high school auditorium, with a ticket price of $3.
“I got my first major role in a play. My role is Celia from ‘As You Like It.’ I’m the cousin of the main character, Rosalind, and I go into exile with her,” Madilyn said.
She plans on attending a trade school to become a cosmetologist.
Forest City Regional
Adrianna Davis, Forest City Regional (SUBMITTED)
Senior Adrianna Davis tutors every day at lunch-and-learn with middle school students for her senior project. She helps them with classes and study skills.
“I enjoy working with children and helping them do better in school,” she said.
Adrianna also works at Dyberry Camp every summer with children with disabilities.
She plans to work full time and eventually study ultrasound technology to work in the field.
Lakeland
Abigail Bertocki, Lakeland (Submitted)
Senior Abigail Bertocki was recognized by the Lakeland School Board as December’s outstanding senior. A nominating teacher wrote, “Abigail is a conscientious student with an excellent attitude. She is extremely driven and focused on getting the most out of her high school education.”
“I am extremely appreciative of this and I love that I can be recognized even now as a senior,” she said.
Abigail, who hopes to go to a four-year university to major in psychology and minor in philosophy, is a member of the varsity girls soccer team and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, and also dances.
Mid Valley
Christopher Jenkins, Mid Valley (SUBMITTED)
By definition, Christopher Jenkins, grade 6, is an excellent role model to his peers. He embodies what it means to be a Spartan, school officials said.
“If you believe in yourself, you are already halfway there,” he said.
Chris participates in Mid Valley Little League. He enjoys cooking and hanging out with his friends.
Chris plans to attend college for turf grass management. He hopes to attend Mississippi State and play baseball.
Old Forge
Ashley Batista, Old Forge (SUBMITTED)
Seventh grader Ashley Batista was chosen to sing the national anthem at all of the home basketball games for the 2025-26 season.
“My music teacher enjoys the way I sing, and when I sang a duet in my music concert she contacted me and asked if I would sing at our games. I felt very special being chosen among others since it’s my first year in high school. I am nervous singing in front of a large crowd, but I really enjoy it and hope I can continue next year,” she said. “Sometimes you have to fight for something that someone told you that you couldn’t do it.”
Ashley’s activities include softball, chorus, cheer in the summer and drama club.
She would like to do something in the medical field.
Riverside
Liam Novak, Riverside (SUBMITTED)
Liam Novak and his classmates in Amber Rugletic’s fourth grade science classes participated in a magnetic chess game as part of learning about magnetism.
“I was surprised I won the entire tournament,” Liam said. The tournament was designed to reinforce what the students were learning and to be fun too.
“I learned that opposite forces attract and like forces repel,” he added.
The students are also looking forward to the annual Trash Walk, which is held in the school’s neighborhood in the spring. The Trash Walk is focused on Earth Day.
Scranton
Jodielisse De Armas, Scranton (Submitted)
McKenzie Brudnicki, Scranton (Submitted)
West Scranton Intermediate School seventh grader Jodielisse De Armas was named as the school’s scholar of the month for Janurary in the fine arts subject area.
Sixth grader McKenzie Brudnicki was named student of the month in January for being organized.
Scranton Preparatory School
Arna Patel, Scranton Preparatory School (Submitted)
Senior Arna Patel won the best advocate award in Mock Trial for two competitions in a row. The first was in the Mock Trial competition against Dunmore, and the second was versus Abington Heights, both resulting in a win for Scranton Prep.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my four years on Scranton Prep’s Mock Trial team, through all the late nights and long weekends, it’s this: never let them see you sweat,” she said. “But beyond keeping a straight face at the counsel table, Mock Trial has given me so much more! I’ve shared more laughs, inside jokes and last-minute pep talks with this team than I can count. They create such an uplifting environment that even on the most stressful days leading up to trial, our practices are filled with laughter. Then, after months of preparation, we see our hard work come to life in trial, and we know the effort was worth it. I’m incredibly grateful to my teammates, coaches and family for their unwavering support. The best advocate awards I’ve received are truly a reflection of their hard work.”
In addition to Mock Trial, Arna is a member of the diversity council and climate club. She loves to get involved with any kind of service and also does classical Indian and Bollywood dance. After high school, Arna plans to major in neuroscience on a pre-med track.
Valley View
Anthony Cotillo, Valley View (SUBMITTED)
Anthony Cotillo has been selected as senior of the month in mathematics.
A guiding principle for Anthony is the following quote: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)
When Anthony is not in school, he participates in powerlifting and runs his own detailing business. He is also a member of Math Honor Society and National Honor Society.
After graduating from high school, Anthony plans to attend either Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Rochester Institute of Technology to study mechanical engineering.
Western Wayne
Keira Hauenstein, Western Wayne (Submitted)
Eighth grader Keira Hauenstein is an all-around excellent academic student who is involved in a variety of sports and clubs at school. She displays strong leadership qualities and takes pride in all she does, according to school officials.
Keira is the secretary of the school’s National Junior Honor Society, and recently she and her friend, fellow eighth grade student Harper Bell, had artwork chosen to be displayed on a local billboard for the Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne and Pike Counties’ annual February Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month art contest. The entry they created was a picture of an orange butterfly that said “Go Breathe Free.” School officials said Keira and Harper were pleased to create an image to inspire others and offer them hope.
“I really enjoy being involved in all aspects of my school experience, from the work I do in the classroom to the activities I do for fun, including competitive gymnastics,” Keira said.
Keira, a member of Balance Gymnastics who has been involved in the sport since she was 3 years old, enjoys competing with her group, with her favorite event being the floor routine. Keira is also a member of the soccer team, has participated in Cats Club soccer at school since she was 3, and is a member of the track team in her seventh and eighth grade years; her event is the pole vault.
Keira looks forward to her high school career, continuing to participate in sports and having many new challenging experiences in high school, college and beyond.