The CAN DO Student Action Committee officially began its 2025-26 fiscal year on August 26, 2025, with an orientation designed to welcome and prepare a new class of junior and senior representatives. These students are selected from the area’s local high schools to serve as non-voting members on CAN DO’s Board of Directors.
Senior representatives for this year include McKenna Gerhard (WHS), who will serve as Student Chair, Ava Genetti (MMI), Alena Lombardo (MHS), Ariamdalys Ramos Alvarez (HAAS), Mia Harmonosky (HAAS), and Sharan Parikh (MMI). Junior representatives include Hernan Arias Jr. (HAHS), Yevhenni (Eugene) Hradil (HAAS), Isabella Lenker (HAAH), Madeline Rhodes (WHS), Griahnny Santos-Urena (MHS), and Amanda Stoffa (MMI).
The orientation gave students the opportunity to connect with staff and board members through an interactive icebreaker activity called ‘Common Ground Flags.’ In this activity, students, CAN DO staff, and board members were divided into groups to identify their shared interests and experiences.
Each group then created a flag representing what they had in common and presented it to the rest of the committee. The session concluded with a presentation on CAN DO’s mission, history, and core values, providing students with a foundation to guide their work throughout the year.
During the fiscal year, the students will actively participate in community-focused events such as Operation: CAN DO, CAN DO Community Christmas, the CAN DO Community Park Tree Lighting, and the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress’s Wassailfest & Downtown Hazleton’s Holiday Night Market. Members will also visit local businesses and industries, providing them with first-hand exposure to career opportunities within the region while developing their leadership skills.
For more information about the Student Action Committee, please contact CAN DO’s Program Coordinator, Ana Perez at aperez@hazletoncando.com or (570) 455-1508.
