Maria Pia Aliaga Maldonado gives the graduate address.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College held its 58th Commencement Ceremony on Thursday evening at Mohegan Arena.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Robert Bertoni, LCCC board chair, speaks during the ceremony.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Fanita Pendleton, ‘91, gives the principal address.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Ciaran Bibow of Avoca walks off stage, diploma in hand.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Madison Hayes of Mountain Top poses with LCCC President John Yudichak.
Courtesy of Luzerne County Community College
Luzerne County Community College celebrated 548 graduates at its 58th Commencement Ceremony on Thursday evening at Mohegan Arena.
Students across health sciences, social sciences, technology, business, and skilled and technical trades were awarded 558 total credentials. Graduates ranged in age from 17 to 64.
President John Yudichak welcomed graduates and families and congratulated the Class of 2026 on their achievement. He encouraged graduates to embrace their future with confidence.
“Success in life may not be linear, but for Trailblazers, success comes to those who dare to earn it,” Yudichak said. “Be bold, dare greatly, dream big. You are the authors of your own life story.”
Keynote speaker Fanita Y. Pendleton ’91, M.P.A., returned to LCCC 35 years after her own graduation, sharing her journey from non-traditional student to probation officer and magistrate judge.
“Luzerne County Community College was the springboard for my next phase of life,” Pendleton said. “What will it be for you?”
Pendleton, as well as graduate speaker Maria Pia Aliaga Maldonado, ‘26, A.A.S., spoke on the importance of resilience.
“In our time here at LCCC, we faced many obstacles. Our biggest enemy was ourselves,” Maldonado said. “In the battle of me versus me, what choice do I have but to win?”
“If I am here today, it is because I never, never stopped believing in myself,” she said. “Congratulations for believing in yourself, Class of 2026.”
Graduates were recognized during the ceremony with awards through the Luzerne County Community College Alumni Association. Madison Mary-Katherine Hayes received the Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate Award, and Tricia Womer received the Outstanding Adult Learner Graduate Award.
The Class of 2026 now joins nearly 40,000 alumni of Luzerne County Community College.
Graduates include:
Claire Abbott, Elysburg; Masiel Abreu, Hazleton; Pamela Abreu-Fernandez, Hazleton; Dinah Abreu-Pimental, Hazleton; Benjamin Ackourey, Dallas; Michael Alba, Wyoming; Amanda Alber, Hanover Twp.; Deborah Alexander, Danville; Maria Aliaga Maldonado, Wilkes-Barre; Nicholas Aloisio, Sunbury; Melissa Alvelo, Ashley; Ryan Andress, Shavertown; Ellie Androvette, Williamsport; Marcellinus Anowai, Peckville; Domenic Antoniello, Benton; Jeremy Aquino, Hazleton; Jaydin Arizmendi, Mountain Top; Tafarie Ashraf, Edwardsville; Amanda Aviles Torres, Wilkes-Barre; Michael Ayala, Mountain Top; Kyle Baldeo, Wilkes-Barre; Jean Banegas, Wilkes-Barre; Mason Barley, Mountain Top; Alexander Barowski, Archbald; Dustin Batista, Hazleton; Kayleigh Baumgartner, Wyoming; Sarah Beishline, Hazleton; Dylan Bell, Luzerne; Zachary Belles, Mountain Top; Roberta Bello, Berwick; Roberta Bello, Berwick; Nicholas Belmonte, Edwardsville; Alyssa Belusko, Hazle Twp.; Barbara Bender, Dushore; Joseph Bennett, Larksville; Christa Berrini, Larksville; Skylar Besancon, Wilkes-Barre; Cora Bevans, Danville; Ciaran Bilbow, Avoca; Chase Biller, Hunlock Creek; Tatianna Bisono, Larksville; Phina Black, Shickshinny; Joshua Blitzer, Scranton; Michael Bogdon, Larksville; Aidan Bonner, McAdoo; Allison Boyer, Shickshinny; Julia Brandenburg, Wilkes-Barre; Yana Brazoban, Ansonia; Saquan Breeden, Wilkes-Barre; Yahnique Breeden, Hanover Twp.; Hannah Brennan, Shickshinny; Cole Bresnahan, Forty Fort; Jarod Briggs, Edwardsville; Dante Brigido, Plains; Gracie Brodhead, Wilkes-Barre Twp.; Katelyn Brodhead, Wilkes-Barre Twp.; April Brogan, Shickshinny; Tavin Brooks, Pittston; Lauren Brown, Montgomery; Lesley Brown, Dallas; Star-Aisa Brown, Edwardsville; Carter Buerger, Shickshinny; Brianna Bullock, Coal Township; Angel Burgos Izquierdo, Wilkes-Barre; Benjamin Burke, Hunlock Creek; Krystal Buscemi, Wilkes-Barre; Tara Butry, Kingston; Salma Cabral, Hazleton; Cristyn Cabrera, Hazleton; Peyton Calabrese, White Haven; Chavely Calderon Bodre, Hazleton; Monica Callacki, Dalton; Carlita Calmett, Plymouth; Gianna Calovi, Berwick; Christian Cambridge, Nanticoke; Dwight Campbell, Glen Lyon; Heather Campbell, Swoyersville; Lady Campoverde, Wilkes-Barre; Nevaeh Canty-Smith, Hanover Twp.; Shawn Canty-Smith, Hanover Twp.; Richard Carey, Wilkes-Barre; Rene Caruso, Larksville; Shirley Carver, Swoyersville; Yenifer Casado, Plymouth; Madison Casey, Mountain Top; Briony Castellanos, Shohola; Logan Charnigo, Freeland; Lindsey Christian, Avoca; Marcus Claflin, Moosic; Benjamin Clark, Tunkhannock; Chelsea Clark, Scranton; Hannah Clark, Pittston; Tanya Clark, Archbald; Kaitlyn Cleary, Edwardsville; Kaitlyn Cleary, Edwardsville; Rebecca Cochran, Abbottstown; Christian Cognigni, Nanticoke; Mitchell Cohen, Dallas; Tyler Collins, Stroudsburg; Maria Concepcion de Castillo, West Hazleton; Talia Condrey, Drums; Jacqueline Congo, Frederick; Zachary Conrad, Berwick; Sabrina Conyers, Wilkes-Barre; Ardith Corter, Hudson; George Cottell, Clarks Summit; Curtis Crowe, Hazle Twp.; Ciana Cruz, Dallas; Caleb Cumberland, Shickshinny; Clairmanine Curtis, Wilkes-Barre; Elizabeth Custer, Berwick; Matthew Daniele, Glen Lyon; Stephanie Davenport, Monroe Twp.; Peyton David, Harveys Lake; Alaine Davis, Wilkes-Barre; Margaret Davis, Mountain Top; Arianna De La Cruz Rodriguez, Hazleton; Raul De la Rosa, Hazleton; Jhonidward De Vargas Bello, McAdoo; Emine Degirmencioglu, Plains; Esthermy Del Orbe Reynoso, Wilkes-Barre; Brianna Delcastillo, Edwardsville; Robert Delescavage, Wilkes-Barre; Alina Deluca, Moosic; Drew Delucca, Pittston; Zeynep Demir, Hanover Twp.; Connor Dempkosky, Mountain Top; Alyvia Denardi, Harding; Benya Diaz Matos, Wilkes-Barre; Haniyf Diyn, Drums; Shelline Duberry, Tobyhanna; Skylar Duffy, Wapwallopen; Caitlin Dushanko, Mountain Top; Raylynn Dyson, New Milford; Eileen Echavarria Diaz, Wilkes-Barre; Melvin Egbeto, Wilkes-Barre; Ashley Ellett, Carbondale; Cassandra Engel, Williamsport; Kimberly Eppley, Nicholson; Tiffany Eroh, Northumberland; Julliana Esparza, Wapwallopen; Cristidaliz Espiritusanto Sanchez, Pittston; Stephanie Evans, Nanticoke; Christy Fairchild, Saint Johns; Ashley Faux, Kingston; Kilee Favors, Glen Lyon; Dominick Fazzino, Shavertown; Dominick Fazzino, Shavertown; Catelyn Feeney, Pittston; Lidia Feinen, Catawissa; Cora Fenner, Wilkes-Barre; Ethan Ferdinand, Sugarloaf; Deby Fernandez Rodriguez, Wilkes-Barre; Merrik Ferron, Scranton; Ashley Ferry, Mountain Top; Lidia Fetfatzes, Scott Twp.; Evan Finn, Mountain Top; Barbara Firestone, Throop; Ryan Fisher, Nanticoke; Trinity Fithian, Wilkes-Barre; Esmailen Florentino Mercado, Nanticoke; Brandan Fontaine, Nanticoke; Morgan Ford, Berwick; Connor Foster, Walnutport; David Furcal, Mountain Top; Spencer Gabriele, Trucksville; Brian Gallagher, Scranton; Hailey Garafola, Scranton; Aimee Garcia, Mountain Top; Juan Gaskins, Kingston; Sydney Gebhardt, Catasauqua; Yamilex Genao Castillo, Downingtown; Aspen Gennaria, Bloomsburg; William George, Dallas; Jackson Giordano, Swoyersville; Anthony Gomez, Berwick; Emely Gomez, Hazleton; Keliel Gonzalez, Hanover Twp.; Yanitsa Gonzalez, Wilkes-Barre Twp.; Andrew Goodrich, Dallas; Mackenzie Goyne, Exeter; James Grady, Hanover Twp.; Rebecca Graves, Hazleton; Tanner Greco, Mt Carmel; Raven Griffiths, Clarks Summit; Nathan Grisom, Nescopeck; Erica Gritzen, Swoyersville; Madison Groff, Exeter; Cameron Gruden, Plains Twp.; Suzanne Gurley, Duryea; Enmanuel Guzman, Drums; Natka Habibi, Kingston; Annika Hahn, Sugarloaf; Chadwick Haines Jr, Nanticoke; Sarah Hallberg, Pittston; Sarah Hampton, Hanover Twp.; Thomas Hannon, Wilkes-Barre; Elaine Haraschak, Berwick; Danielle Harris, Hanover Twp.; Jeremy Hart, Mountain Top; Rachel Harvilchuck, Brackney; Shayne Hawk, Mountain Top; Madison Hayes, Mountain Top; Madilyn Heckman, Forty Fort; Isabel Henicheck, Drums; Emma Herman, Larksville; Gladynette Hernandez, Kingston; Gladynette Hernandez, Kingston; Eddy Hernandez de la Cruz, Kingston; Tiffany Herr, Elysburg; Marina Hitchcock, Gouldsboro; Amanda Hladasz, White Haven; Melissa Hobbs, Luzerne; Ashley Hofstede, Honesdale; Patricia Hoger, Waymart; Louis Holbeck, Scranton; Christian Holmes-Daniels, West Pittston; Caden Holtsmaster, Kingsley; Danae Howie, Plymouth; Michelle Hryvniak, Charlotte; Jorge Huapaya, Hanover Twp.; Raheem Humes, Plymouth; Caden Hummer, Hanover Twp.; Miles Hunter, Plymouth; Kimberly Hylton, Orwigsburg; Lori Ianneillo, Orangeville; Trevor Inman, Mountain Top; Megan Insinga, Kingston; Taiesha Irizarry, Wilkes-Barre; Mariam Iukuridze, Hanover; Laura Jackloski, Wyoming; Renee Jackson, Kingston; Emily Jacobus, Shohola; Angie James, Plymouth; Logan Jasnoski, Mountain Top; Andrew Jimenez, Wilkes-Barre; Saul Jimenez, Hazleton; Lindsey Jones, Millville; Amber Joseph, Blakely; Devin Kantz, Wilkes-Barre; Kristian Keefer, Lewisburg; Bobbi Mae Kelder, Springville; Cheryl Kerlavage, Drums; Austin Kimelewski, Mehoopany; Mya Kirton, Pittston; Gavin Kishbaugh, Shickshinny; Jody Kiwak, Swoyersville; Hannah Kline, Dallas; Amber Kocher, Harveys Lake; Frank Kocher, Dallas; Shawn Kohl-Laurin, Mocanaqua; Jessica Kolbush, McAdoo; Andrew Koonrad, Wilkes-Barre; Rebecca Koons, Shavertown; Ian Kopczynski, Shavertown; Joseph Kopko, White Haven; Eden Koprowski, Dupont; Nicholas Kosek Jr, Shickshinny; Harley Kostanesky, Freeland; Brittanianne Kotula, Kingston; John Kovach III, Plymouth; Crystal Kozick, Hudson; Odessa Kramer, Northumberland; Jacob Kubricki, Wapwallopen; Alisa Kuhar, Wilkes-Barre; Kelsey Kulak, Mountain Top; Kelsey Kulak, Mountain Top; Summer Kuratle, Bloomsburg; Joao Lacerda Christino, Dallas; Shannon Lai, Laurel Run; Patrick Lakkis, Mountain Top; Carolina Lantigua Castillo, Wilkes-Barre; GiaNina Larson, Wyoming; Talia Lasota, Kingston; Jessie Learn, Catawissa; Dajuana Lee, Kingston; Jenna Lemons, Middletown; Erica Leonard, Sunbury; Vanessa Leonard, Kingston; Pamela Lewis, Wilkes-Barre; Alex Lian, Dallas; Bernadette Lieback, Pittston; Kalie Lindbuchler, Harveys Lake; Eidylanea Listina Sanchez de Adames, Avoca; Kevin Lloyd, Kingston; Corbin Lockhart, Mountain Top; Anissa Lockwitch, Wilkes-Barre; John Long, Pittston; Daeisha Luciano, Wilkes-Barre; Lauren Mackey, Dallas; Monica Mackie, Scranton; Samantha Manjone, Nesquehoning; Salvatore Mansi, West Pittston; Karl Marcellus, Mahanoy City; Ryan Martin, Falls; Franco Martinez Charamello, Hughestown; Maria Marx, Drums; Neil Massaker, Kingston; Anastasia Matatics, Scranton; Lisa Mather, Montrose; Christine Matias, Kingston; Asael Matos, Hazleton; Lauren Mazzarella, Wilkes-Barre; Stephanie McCauley, Kingston; Tammy McCauley, Wilkes-Barre; Sean McCoy, Wilkes-Barre; Quinn McCracken, Bloomsburg; Justin McCue, Mountain Top; Brynne McGoff, Pittston; Audra McGrady, Plains; Jason McKeown, Wilkes-Barre; Isabella McLaughlin, Jefferson Twp.; Egypt McLeod, Wilkes-Barre; Osiyah McRae, Kingston; Joshua Mease, Dupont; Victor Medina Cruz, Hanover Twp.; Danielle Menotti, Equinunk; Kendra Mensch, Orangeville; Emily Mestlin, Ranshaw; Jill Mestlin, Ranshaw; Brandon Miller, Danville; Gabriel Miller, Hazleton; Shelby Miller, Muncy; Micheal Millett, Wilkes-Barre; Nicholas Milz, Tunkhannock; Devin Minich, Dallas; Euris Minyetty, Hazleton; Charity Miscavage, Shamokin; Michelle Mohyla, Factoryville; Adam Molick, Berwick; Yeimi Molina Del Cid, Dickson City; Begyan Mongar, Scranton; Kailey Moore, Milford; Taneshia Moore, Kingston; Jeannat Moquete Suero, Wilkes-Barre; Evelin Morales, Wilkes-Barre; Emil Morales Murray, Hazleton; Michael Moran, White Haven; Bryan Moreno, Kingston; Silas Moreno, Ashley; Mackeenan Morgan, Anchorage; Gabriela Morillo Frias, Hazleton; Valentine Mourne, Wyoming; Michael Mowery, Stillwater; Nicholas Moza, Tunkhannock; Jordyn Mozeleski, Hanover Twp.; Nicholas Mros, Wilkes-Barre; Jessica Mullins, Shickshinny; Nicole Nardozzi-Cosimo, Larksville; Paige Nastawa, Wilkes-Barre; Emilee Naus, Nescopeck; Connor Nealon, Mountain Top; Benjamin Nicholas, Olyphant; Richard Norris, West Milton; Tyler Nowakowski, Duryea; Miquan Nowell, Wyoming; Alan Nunez, Hazleton; Amanda O’Day, Wyoming; Vegan O’Donnell, Dallas; Jeffrey O’Neill, Scranton; Levi Oakley, Berwick; James Ogle, Shamokin; Sydney Ogle, Kingston; Hayley Ohl, Berwick; Jesse Olver, Milanville; Osaruyi Omigie, Old Forge; Christine Ondish, Mountain Top; Karen Ortiz, Hazleton; Krista Oshinski, Mountain Top; Kayla Otero, Wilkes-Barre; Edward Ovalle Paulino, Wilkes-Barre; Dionicio Pacheco, Ashley; Steven Padula, Peckville; Samantha Pallay, Shavertown; Elizabeth Parker, Selinsgrove; Jacob Parker, Shavertown; Christopher Parra, Wilkes-Barre; Rosalyn Partington, Wilkes-Barre; Gena Pascucci, West Pittston; Hiren Patel, Hazleton; Nicholas Patton, Drums; Adrian Pena, McAdoo; Melina Pena, Nanticoke; Jonathan Pena-Arias, Wilkes-Barre; Wenyulie Peralta, West Hazleton; Tanya Pereira, Berwick; Danna Perez Vasquez, Luzerne; Sarah Perkins, Shickshinny; Joshua Petrey, Mountain Top; Stephen Plaza, Wilkes-Barre; Christopher Pohl, Orangeville; Karolyn Polanco Gutierrez, Hanover Twp.; Kegan Polastre, Berwick; John Prater, Wilkes-Barre; Jonathan Price, West Pittston; Hannah Pugh, Hanover Twp.; Joshua Punchak, Stroudsburg; Yarielys Puntiel Adames, Nanticoke; Autumn Purcell, Coal Township; Patricia Quintana, Hazleton; Keirstyn Radzwich, Sugarloaf; Rosbely Ramos Guzman, Hazleton; Amber Ransom, Scranton; Madelyn Rarig, Catawissa; Jason Rattigan II, Wilkes-Barre; Ryan Reilly, Kingston; Mario Reyes, Wilkes-Barre; Tiffany Reyes, Scranton; Yoselyn Reyes, Hazleton; Andrew Richards, Mountain Top; Jessica Richmond, Wilkes-Barre; Kinara Risher, Wilkes-Barre; Carlos Rivera, Edwardsville; Kristin Roberts, Pringle; Kristin Roberts, Pringle; Yohanna Robles Abreu, Hazleton; Rebecca Roche, Plymouth; Adolfo Rodriguez, Wilkes-Barre; Luiza Rodriguez, Nanticoke; Yarissell Rodriguez, Hazleton; Ruth Rodriguez Vasquez, Nanticoke; Kaylee Roebuck, Wilkes-Barre; Sarah Roman, Nanticoke; Caroline Romero, Larksville; Katherine Romero, Hazle Twp.; Nicole Rominski, Tunkhannock; Jean Rosario, Wilkes-Barre; Stacey Rosario, Freeland; Dawn Rossignol, Lake Ariel; Molly Rubincan, Kingston; Christine Rudaski, Hanover Twp.; Whitney Ruiz, Wilkes-Barre; Laura Russell, Forest City; Jayden Rusyn, Wyoming; Kevin Ryan, Harveys Lake; Ariana Rysz, Swoyersville; Willy Sanchez, Wilkes-Barre; Angel Santana, Nanticoke; Bridget Sarnosky, Hanover Twp.; Madison Sauers, Nanticoke; Chelsea Saullo, Hazle Twp.; Olivia Schwartz, Larksville; Kenneth Scott, Dupont; Christina Scutt-Forte, Edwardsville; Mykala Seigfried, Shickshinny; Stephanie Sepko, Plains; Derek Shemanski, Nanticoke; Kristina Shemanski, Sugarloaf; Jean Shields, Hazleton; Noelle Shoemaker, Hanover; Kyle Shumosic, Wyoming; Ty Sica, Wilkes-Barre; Cristian Silfa, Hazleton; Charles Silves, Wilkes-Barre; Angelica Simet, Hazleton; Vonetta Simmons, Plymouth; Auston Simonson, Shickshinny; Serenity Simpson, Wilkes-Barre; Abigail Sims, Luzerne; Jenna Skibitsky, Plains; Charles Sleyo III, Dallas; Jennifer Slodysko, Marion Heights; Melissa Smith, South Williamsport; Paige Smith-Schwartzer, Yatesville; Myrheesha Snead, Berwick; Lindsay Snook, Hanover Twp.; Daniela Solorzano, Hazleton; Jessica Sosa, Wilkes-Barre; Jessica Sosa, Wilkes-Barre; Kelvin Sosa, Wilkes-Barre; Timothy Sosa, Ashley; Nero Sosa-Amigon, Wilkes-Barre; Angelica Sotelo, Wilkes-Barre; Daniella Soto, Trucksville; Jose Soto Hernandez, Hazle Twp.; Abigail Souder, Nanticoke; Glenn Stackhouse, Bloomsburg; Devin Stahl, Drums; Jacqueline Stalica, Scott Twp.; Nathan Stanski, Sweet Valley; Nathan Stanski, Sweet Valley; Lindsey Stanton, Harveys Lake; Jacob Starosta, Shavertown; Delainey Starr, Bloomsburg; Avalon Starrie, Pittston; Azim Stash, Plains; Tiffany Staskiel, Pittston; Zita Statsman, Dunmore; Nicolas Stein, Scranton; Cah’mier Stephenson, Nanticoke; Johnathan Steve, Shavertown; Anna Stibick, Mountain Top; Anna Stibick, Mountain Top; John Stochla, Larksville; Kara Stoltzfus, Wilkes-Barre; Rachel Stone, Roaring Branch; William Stubblefield, Henryville; Matthew Sturgill, Courtdale; Karin Suerken, Paxinos; Tyler Suiters, Wilkes-Barre; Miranda Surdel, Larksville; Gianna Tallo, Scranton; Connor Tattersall, Nanticoke; Renny Taveras, Wilkes-Barre; Zoe Taylor, Catasauqua; Yolanny Tejada Duran, Kingston; Adora Thomas, Kingston; Melissa Thomas, Coal Township; Jocelyn Thompson, Edwardsville; Jadon Tlatenchi, Wilkes-Barre; Jessica Tocket, Kingston; Julian Torres Morales, Wilkes-Barre; Mariela Torres-Martinez, Wilkes-Barre; Juliana Tosi, Dallas; Brandon Toter, Kulpmont; Mary Jude Ulmer, Carbondale; Daisy Urbaez-Rivera, Hatfield; Tommy Valenzuela, Wilkes-Barre; Caroline Vargas-Morataya, Plains; China Vavrusa, Berwick; Jasper Veloso, Forty Fort; Frank Ventura-Aguilar, Wilkes-Barre; Karen Verbickas, Wilkes-Barre; Kiena Vest, Trucksville; Ashley Vicchitto, Swoyersville; Nicole Vogel, Pittston; Lukas Volpetti, Pittston; Magdaly Wassaff, Drums; Jasmen Watt, Plymouth; Liam Webber, East Stroudsburg; Alexandra Wesolowski, Avoca; Jessica Wesolowski, Avoca; Emma Wheeler, Sugar Notch; Kiyanna Wheeler, Luzerne; Michael Wickiser, Mountain Top; Michele Wilke, Shamokin; Brian Williams, Hazleton; Emily Williams, Pittston; Nicholas Wilson, Wilkes-Barre; Tricia Womer, Noxen; Brittney Wood, Hudson; Maria Wood, Noxen; Nathan Wright, Hanover Twp.; Maci Yech, Wilkes-Barre; Ryan Yocius, Mountain Top; Sasha Young, Swoyersville; Audrey Yuhas, Peckville; Helena Zadeh, Springbrook Township; Michael Zamonas, Weston; Sarah Zaremba, Ashley; Maylyn Zaruta, Wilkes-Barre Twp.; Suzanne Zick, Factoryville; Madison Zielinski, Olyphant.
Early College:
Tafarie Ashraf, Edwardsville; Mason Barley, Mountain Top; Cameron Gruden, Plains Twp.; Rachel Harvilchuck, Brackney; Patrick Lakkis, Mountain Top; Madison Sauers, Nanticoke; Serenity Simpson, Wilkes-Barre; Delainey Starr, Bloomsburg; Juliana Tosi, Dallas; Michael Wickiser, Mountain Top; Nathan Wright, Hanover Twp.; Michael Zamonas, Weston.
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