Keystone College signs MOU with Scranton School District for STEMM Academy Graduates
Keystone College and the Scranton School District have established a collaborative agreement to offer guaranteed admission to Keystone for students who successfully complete the District’s STEMM Academy. The memorandum of understanding has been approved by the Scranton School District Board of Directors.
In addition to guaranteed admission to Keystone, Scranton STEMM Academy graduates will be offered an annual $1,000 Scranton STEMM Academy Scholarship and priority housing for their first year if they choose to pursue on-campus housing. The first graduating class of the Scranton STEMM Academy will be in June 2027 with matriculation of interested students to Keystone for the Fall 2027 semester.
“We are excited to partner with the Scranton School District to provide this opportunity for graduates of the STEMM Academy,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr. “The academic rigor and student-centered focus that the STEMM Academy offers its students is impressive. That student experience will continue at Keystone and we are happy to provide these students with a pathway to their future educational pursuits.”
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Keystone College. It is vital our students have lucrative, local options to continue their education at respected institutions like Keystone.” said Dr. Erin Keating, Scranton School District Superintendent.
“This partnership is another opportunity for our students to open doors to scholarships, experience, and future opportunities,” said John Coyle, Principal of Scranton High School, where the STEMM Academy is located.
Beyond this agreement, Keystone and the STEMM Academy will continue to collaborate on a week-long environmental science program offered in June on the College’s 276-acrea campus in La Plume. Last year’s program, titled “Exploring the Environmental ‘Ologies,'” was held at the College’s Environmental Education Institute (KCEEI) on its Woodlands Campus. Designed for students in grades 7 through 12, the program offered an immersive outdoor education experience focused on Mammalogy, Ornithology, Herpetology, Entomology, and Dendrology. Participants engaged in a variety of hands-on activities while developing core scientific skills, including observation, data collection, and analysis. A highlight of the week included student-led mini research projects, which allowed participants to investigate environmental topics of interest using real-world scientific methods.
About the Scranton STEMM Academy ~
The Scranton STEMM Academy is a full-day academic program housed at Scranton High School, serving students in grades 7 through 12 within the Scranton School District. Focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine, the Academy offers a project-based learning environment that prepares students for careers in high-demand STEMM fields.
The Academy accepts new applicants entering 7th grade each academic year. Students in grades 7 and 8 who reside outside a 1.5-mile radius of the high school are eligible for transportation. While enrolled, younger students may continue participating in athletics and extracurriculars at their home schools (Northeast Scranton Intermediate School, South Scranton Intermediate School, and West Scranton Intermediate School). Additionally, STEMM Academy students have access to exclusive after-school clubs and enrichment opportunities at Scranton High School.
Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. (left) and Scranton School District Superintendent Dr. Erin Keating (right) sign a collaborative agreement in which Keystone will offer guaranteed admission to Scranton STEMM Academy graduates beginning with the STEMM Academy’s first graduating class in June 2027.
Officials from Keystone College and the Scranton School District met to formalize a collaborative agreement offering guaranteed admission to Keystone for Scranton STEMM Academy graduates. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Adrienne Mellott, Assistant Vice President of Academic Operations, Keystone College; Dr. Vicki Stanavitch, Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Keystone College; Dr. Fran Langan, Special Advisor to the President, Keystone College; John F. Pullo, Sr., President, Keystone College; Dr. Erin Keating, Superintendent, Scranton School District; John Coyle, Principal, Scranton High School; and Katona Miller, Program Supervisor, Scranton STEMM Academy.
