Leadership Lackawanna

05/28/2026

THROWBACK THURSDAY – May 2026

Benco Dental employees who are alumni of Leadership Lackawanna recently came together to reconnect and celebrate their shared experience. This company strongly believes in the mission of Leadership Lackawanna and, over the years, has supported the development of 21 employees by sending them through our various programs. Benco Dental team members consistently benefit from the Leadership Lackawanna experience, remaining engaged and committed long after graduation.

We are truly grateful for Benco’s ongoing support and dedication to community leadership development!

Pictured - Left to Right
Taylor Carito
Linda Tregea
Erin Williamson
Chris Pahoski
Elizabeth Warrick
Mike DePietro
Nicole Gilligan
Amy Hnat
Lauren Rusen
Pam FisheR

ADDITIONAL BENCO LL alumni include:
Keely Brazil
Mike DePietro
Pam Fisher
Nicole Krape
Rob Krukovitz
Michael Kohut
Wendy Miller
Joe Paulowskey
Linda Tregea
Kathleen Bird
Amy Hnat
Taylor Carito
Walter Cross, III
Nicole Gilligan
Alex Mojica
Christopher Pahoski
Marcy Petrucci
Anthony Pitarra
Lauren Rusen
Elizabeth Warrick
Erin Williamson

05/27/2026

Today was ribbon cutting day at the Friendship House Autism Center for the Leadership Lackawanna team A Room to Grow! Thank you to all our donors, supporters, advisors the Friendship House staff and our team! The model kindergarten classroom looks great!!!

05/26/2026

Please join us June 8, 2026 at 11:30 am at Forest Acres Preserve (on the corner where Forest Acres Dr and Beaver Pond Rd meet) for our ribbon cutting ceremony.

Parking is roadside parking.

Countryside Conservancy

05/24/2026

Please join us in celebrating two of our Tomorrow's Leaders Today (TLT) graduates who were chosen as America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholars. The skills Anthony and Ava learned through our TLT program helped set them apart from more than 1,800 applicants across Pennsylvania and earned them big scholarships to further their education!

Both Anthony and Ava were honored by Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania dignitaries at recent ceremonies celebrating their scholarly selection. We're proud of both members of the TLT Class of 2025 and we cannot wait to see how these young leaders shape the future of Pennsylvania.

05/21/2026

Calling all LL Alumni!

Interested in forming a team and participating in the The Garbage Olympics? Set for Saturday, May 30th from 10:30AM to 2:30PM, it will l begin with an Opening Ceremony at 815 Smith St in Scranton followed by a 2-hour community cleanup around West Scranton.

Afterwards, be sure to hang around for the Closing Ceremony and afterparty where there will be a live DJ, food, and prizes for teams who collected the most trash, found the strangest item, and more.

For more info and registration, visit: https://www.scrantontomorrow.org/scrantoncitypride-garbageolympics

05/18/2026

On today’s Mission Monday, we hear from the individual who knows Leadership Lackawanna the best – our very own Nikki Morristell! Here is what Nikki has to say about her work with and leadership of LL:

“After 18 years serving as Executive Director, my passion for this work remains as strong as it was on day one. The mission of Leadership Lackawanna continues to make a meaningful impact throughout our community—visible in the people we empower, the places we touch, and the projects we bring to life.

I feel this way about Leadership Lackawanna because I’ve had the rare opportunity to witness its impact not just from a distance, but from within—year after year, person after person.
Each year, we have the privilege of engaging hundreds of individuals through our programs, equipping them to lead and serve.

On a personal level, Leadership Lackawanna has strengthened my belief in the power of community and collaboration. It has connected me with passionate, driven people who inspire me every day...specifically our amazing alumni!! And it has given me a deep sense of purpose—knowing that the work we do creates a ripple effect far beyond any single program or project.

I am incredibly proud to be part of this organization and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving alongside so many dedicated individuals who believe in making a difference. It has reminded me that leadership isn’t about titles or positions; it’s about service, growth, and the willingness to invest in others. Being part of this organization for so many years hasn’t just been a role—it’s been a defining part of who I am.”

05/18/2026

Mark your calendars for our Leadership Lackawanna alumni meet up event! This Wednesday, May 20th, 2026– we look forward to seeing you! ☕️

Sign up link: https://form.jotform.com/260885966467175

05/15/2026

We are looking forward to next year’s class selection for TLT! Thank you to our applicants, as well as school principals, guidance counselors, and staff who support our program year after year. We are so grateful! Stay tuned!

05/14/2026

Major congratulations to our 2026 TLT Class! We celebrated our graduation event on Friday, May 1st, at the Hilton Scranton. It was a wonderful time reflecting on our 70 students’ growth in leadership, community, and service throughout the seven months spent together. We also had students help honor our 2026 grant recipients, an initiative through the Scranton Area Community Foundation in which each TLT class works to select grants that are awarded to local nonprofits supporting causes the students are passionate about within their communities.

This year, checks were presented to Friends of the Poor & Catherine McAuley Center, Providence Pregnancy Center, Lacawac Sanctuary, and the WRC.

We will miss this amazing group of students as they finish out their junior year of high school, but we feel confident in the skills they’ve developed individually and collectively in serving their community, raising awareness for issues that matter, and growing in their willingness to lead. Thank you for a great year — we wish you all continued success as you look ahead to your senior year and beyond. Congratulations!

A special thank-you as well to our sponsors in attendance, including NBT Bank, for supporting and celebrating our students throughout this journey.

05/11/2026

Shoutout to our amazing alumni and volunteers who braved the gloomy weather on Saturday morning to give back to our community and help clean up Parker Path in Scranton!

Despite the rain, this incredible group made major progress — clearing leaves, planting fresh flowers and herbs, and picking up trash along the path. We are so grateful to everyone who came out to lend a hand and show just how much they care about our public parks and local community. Thank you for making a difference!

05/10/2026

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Entrepreneur Camp for students living in Lackawanna County between the ages 11–14 on August 4 & 5 from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the newly renovated TekRidge Center in Jessup.

Throughout this hands-on camp experience, students will explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and business development while learning directly from local entrepreneurs and businesses involved in The Chamber’s IGNITE Program. Students will participate in interactive activities focused on creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, branding, and pitching business ideas in a fun and engaging environment.

This program is designed to introduce students to entrepreneurship as a career pathway while helping them build confidence, communication skills, and creative thinking abilities.

Camp Details:

DATE: August 4 & 5, 2026
TIME: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: TekRidge Center, 50 Alberigi Dr, Jessup, PA 18434

Free for students ages 11–14

Registration and additional information can be found here:

Entrepreneur Camp is a two-day, hands-on career exploration experience designed to introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn what it takes to start and grow a business while working directly with real entrepreneurs from The Chamber’s IGNITE program.