Ackerman receives National Nobel HS Society honor

Dallas High School student Irina Faith Ackerman has been recognized for superior achievement by the National Society of High School Scholars, as announced by Founder and Chairman, Claes Nobel, a Senior member of the family which established the Nobel Prizes.

Irina is the 19-year old daughter of Gina Major and Bill Ackerman of Dallas. Bill is a Pittston native.

Irina was nominated following her selection and participation in the annual United Nations Pilgrimage Summer of 2008, sponsored by the Luzerne County Odd Fellows Organizations, and spearheaded by Tom McHugh.

She spent three weeks on the road from D.C. through Canada, with the highlight being time spent in the United Nations working on issues such as Child Trafficking, and the Global Crisis of Mothers and Children and the massive impact their issues have on all aspects of our world.

Irina has traveled and served as a teacher/volunteer for mission trips into Russia and the Bronx.

Irina devoted her Senior Graduation Project to the needs of local needy mothers and their children, through the offices of Volunteers of America. Irina served her school district as a representative to the 2008-09 Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre Program, and this school year, 2009-10 as a Senior Advisor to a new Leadership Class.

Irina is one of just 16 annual recipients of this year’s Dallas High School Student Achiever Awards, and was recently awarded commendations by both PA Rep. Karen Boback and Senator Lisa Baker.

Irina has served as the Dance Captain of the Dallas High School Dance Team, and as a Dallas Key Club Officer. Irina has won numerous dance awards, including two National Team titles.

She completed a five-year Dance Teacher Apprentice Program at Major Performing Arts Center, and is now in her third year as a Dance Teacher of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, to young children at MPAC and the David Blight School of Dance.

This summer she has been promoted to Counselor in Training at the Nationally known and Award-winning International Sports Training Camp.

Adopted from Russia at the age of ten, Irina, now 19, continues to lobby and speak on Capitol Hill with her family, on behalf of better adoption and foster care, and on behalf of International Childern’s Issues alongside the Directors of Kidsave International.

Irina will graduate from Dallas High School on June 4, wearing the Honor Cord of NSHSS. She will attend LCCC and transfer in 2011 to West Chester University to major in Education and Minor in Dance and Russian.

West Point Grad

Cadet Michael Andrew Moore, son of Dr. David and Ann Moore of Cumming, Ga., graduated from the United States Military Academy on May 22. He is the grandson of Irene White and the late Adam White of West Pittston.

Moore graduated from South Forsyth High School, Cumming, in 2006. While at West Point, he concentrated his studies in Environmental Engineering. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within the Engineering branch and will report to Ft. Hood Texas for his first assignment.

College Graduates

Neely Bridget Holden of Exeter, recently received a bachelor of science in accounting from Lebanon Valley College in Annville. Holden was among 429 graduates at the College’s 141st Commencement on May 15.

Fred A. Pierantoni IV, Dupont, graduated from Wilkes University on May 22, attaining a B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations and Organizational Communication. He is a 2006 graduate of Pittston Area High School. Fred was actively involved in Zebra Communications, Wilkes’ student-run PR agency, serving as board member, office co-manager, and co-editor of the Communications Dept. quarterly newsletter, The Medium. Fred is the son of Atty. Fred and Donna Pierantoni of Dupont. He has a brother, Matt, a student at Pittston Area High School.

Dean’s List

Nicholas J. Kaminski, Pittston Twp., has attained the Dean’s List for the Spring Semester at Carbini College, Philadelphia.

He is a junior with a double major of psychology and sociology. Nick is president of the Psych Club; president of Phi Beta Delta - the International Study Abroad Honors Program; secretary of the Sociology Club; treasurer of Psy Chi – the psychology honors society; secretary of AKD – the Sociology Honors Society; and is a member of the Cabrini Men’s Tennis team and Habitat for Humanity;

Richard K. Rachkowski, Harding, has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Penn State University, Wilkes-Barre.

He has just completed his sophomore year and is an Administration of Justice major. He is a 2008 graduate of Wyoming Area.

Happy Birthday

Elinor Sickler, Exeter Avenue, West Pittston will be 89 years young on May 29.

Happy belated birthday wishes go to Loreann Napkora of West Wyoming who celebrated on May 18

Happy birthday to Stephen Vitek, Port Griffith and Father Ed Michelini, formerly of St. John Evangelist, Pittston and nowof St. Bernadette’s Church in Canadensis. Both will be celebrating May 24.

Happy birthday to Mary Lou Gula, Duryea and her sister Ellen Gibbs, Hughestown, their first cousins Cathy Yablonski, Avoca, Susie Grey, Duryea, all are celebrating on Sunday, May 23.

Happy Birthday to Nipper Nowakowski, Duryea who celebrated on May 19; George Matrone, Duryea, 95 years young on May 27; Mary Reddington of Pittston celebrating on May 27; and Marie Basante, Hughestown, celebrating on May 28.

Welcome

Honor Students

Fifty University of Scranton students were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students in Jesuit colleges and universities, at a ceremony held recently on campus.

The Scranton chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu was founded in 1943 and is the oldest honor society at The University of Scranton. Juniors and seniors who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service are eligible for membership.

The following local students were inducted into the honor society: Krista McGlynn, Pittston and Samuel Calabrese , Exeter.

174 University of Scranton students were inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta, the national honor society of freshmen, at a ceremony held recently on campus.

Inductees are full-time students enrolled in degree program with a grade point average of 3.5 or above who rank in the top 20 percent of their class.

The following local students were inducted into the freshmen honor society: Maria Boris, Avoca; Michael Coco, Exeter; Jonathan Schall, Wyoming.