web1_Hanover-Area.jpg

Hanover Area recoups $243,621 in bus over-payments

web1_Patrick-Kulina-05222019.jpg

Police: Man cuts face to incriminate girlfriend

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The priorities were pretty clear early on. Asked why they were gathered, one student at Heights Murray Elementary blurted out: &#8220;So we can have cupcakes!&#8221;</p><p>Well, cake was involved (sheet, not cups), but the youngsters participating in the SHINE after school program actually gathered in the large meeting room to thank Wilkes University Patrick Leahy and Vice President Anne Skleder for the support Wilkes has provided since the program was brought to Luzerne County.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re very sorry to see you both leave,&#8221; SHINE director Carol Nicholas told Leahy and Skleder as they sat near the children on large, carpeted steps. Nicholas noted Wilkes was instrumental in bringing the program to Luzerne County, serving as a needed educational sponsor, and that Heights Murray was the first school where the program launched.</p><p>Four students offered brief remarks. Third-grader Kaleb Schneider had to stand on steps behind the podium as she waved and said &#8220;we hope you have a good time&#8221; to the two Wilkes administrators heading to new jobs this year. Anastasia Zhovtukha, fourth grade, talked of how SHINE ignited her love of science and art, including second place in robotics in a Science Olympiad competition.</p><p>Leahy and Skleder were given special, framed pictures of SHINE class work, and Heights Murray Principal Melissa Myers noted colleges and universities routinely bestow honorary degrees, and provided &#8220;Honorary Bulldog degrees&#8221; named after the school mascot.</p><p>&#8220;I will hang this in my new office,&#8221; Skleder promised the students, thanking them for the memories they provided.</p><p>&#8220;Since I was just awarded an honorary degree of sorts,&#8221; Leahy said, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to give you my 30 minute commencement speech.&#8221; After admitting he was kidding, he praised the students for their work and urged them to thank Nicholas on the way out of the room.</p><p>&#8220;Now I get to say what everyone wants to hear,&#8221; he finished. &#8220;Let&#8217;s have some cake!&#8217;</p><p>A congratulatory confection awaited in the neighboring cafeteria.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219SHINE2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Anastasia Zhovtukha, a 4th grade student in the SHINE program at Heights Murray Elementary School, speaks about how the SHINE program helped her learn new things. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219SHINE2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Anastasia Zhovtukha, a 4th grade student in the SHINE program at Heights Murray Elementary School, speaks about how the SHINE program helped her learn new things. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219SHINE1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes University President Pat Leahy thanks the Heights Murray SHINE students for their sendoff in advance of his scheduled departure in July. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219SHINE1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes University President Pat Leahy thanks the Heights Murray SHINE students for their sendoff in advance of his scheduled departure in July. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Wilkes president given honorary bulldog degree, and cake</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes president given honorary bulldog degree, cake in SHINE farewell