Hazleton Rotary President Joan Buffington has announced the 2026 Hazleton Rotary Memorial Scholarship winners.
“It is an honor, as Rotary president, to announce the following students — Mateo Feola, Ava Genetti, Benjamin Assad and Shaniece Brown — have been selected as the 2026 Hazleton Rotary Memorial Scholarship winners,” Buffington said. “Mateo will receive a scholarship of $6,000 per year for a total of $24,000 for four years; Ava will receive $3,500 per year for a total of $14,000; Benjamin will receive $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000, and Shaniece, $1,000 annually for a four-year total of $4,000.”
Mateo, the son of Lynn and Frank Feola of Hazle Twp., has been involved in Future Business Leaders as the president and coordinated the Smiles for Abby Collection, Cards of Empathy Program and Fidgets for the Future. He was a member of the Junior Council Advisory for the Hazleton City Council, selected to represent Hazleton Area in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program, 2026 Executive Council, Student Council and Spirit Club. He was the team captain and a varsity letter winner of the tennis team and a varsity letter winner of the golf team, was in the varsity division of the United States History Bee, and participated in the televised team trivia competition, Scholastic Scrimmage.
In a few comments from his essay on volunteering, Mateo said, “One volunteer initiative I have played an active role in was ‘Fidgets for the Future,’ as part of my Future Business Leaders of America Chapter. This project was designed as a collection drive to donate sensory toys to all 38 autistic support classrooms in the Hazleton Area School District. Through our hard work and communication and thanks to our community, we received over 2,000 items, as well as fidget toys designed by students in our Exploring Business Class. From the planning phase in October to the delivery in February, as well as the meetings with administrators and appearances in the media, this project became my passion. This project taught me the importance of teamwork and communication, as well as the importance of striving to make a difference and to make someone smile. Being able to spearhead this project was an absolute honor and a joy, and I will forever be grateful for the lessons I have learned from it.”
The daughter of Dana and Alan Genetti, Ava is employed at CareGivers of America in Sugarloaf. She has been very active serving as a Drama Club cast member, a winning speaker at Future Business Leaders of America competitions, a member of Junior Academy of Science and Envirothon, and co-chair of the CAN DO Student Action Committee. Ava was also the secretary of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Chinese National Honor Society and a member of the Science National Honor Society and Math National Honor Society. She was also a recipient of the Wilkes Colonial Leadership award and Team Captain of the MMI varsity tennis Team.
Ava wrote in her essay, “At the start of 11th grade, I joined the CAN DO Student Action Committee. I was able to see a different perspective on life through helping other people. I realized that helping other people and being committed to the community is when we finally become successful. Through impacting the community in a positive way, I finally understand what ‘Service above Self’ truly means.”
Benjamin is the son of Susanne and Michael Assad of White Haven, and he is employed by the Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre.
Ben was a 2025-26 Hazleton Area High School Homecoming Court member, a February 2026 Hazleton Area Future Business Leaders of America Member of the Month, member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Spanish Honors Society, and a participant in Future Business Leaders of America, Math-History-Workout, and Ecology Clubs.
Regarding volunteerism, Benjamin wrote in his essay, “In the winter of 2024, I experienced one of the most heartwarming experiences of my life. I was asked to volunteer at Heritage Hill Senior Community as a member of the Junior Leadership Hazleton Class of 2024-2025. My group members and I planned the event, and I was tasked with assuming the role of Santa Claus. As soon as I stepped out in the costume and saw the joy on everyone’s face, I knew, even just for a few hours, that I was more than just a kid in a silly costume. Taking this opportunity allowed me to assist the seniors who were combating loneliness. When I sat down and took pictures with the individuals, I had about four or five seniors tell me stories about their childhood Christmas moments, which I could tell they hadn’t thought of in a very long time. It was beautiful. When I stepped through the Heritage Hill doors that day, I wanted to leave my ego at the door. I wanted to make a difference. If there ever was a moment that was perfect, it was this one. I was surrounded by love, and it’s in those moments, where love prevails, that I think the ‘Service above Self’ idea shines brightest.”
Shaniece Brown, who completed 50 hours of community service for The Valor Clinic Foundation, is the daughter of Selina Brown of Hazleton. She is on the honor roll, named September 2024 Student of the Month, is a National Honor Society member, and earned third place Best Attorney in Mock Trial and was the 2025 winner of the 2025 National Sojourners Award.
Shaniece was assistant coach for the Hazleton Area Middle School girls’ track and field team and assistant coach for the elementary wrestling team.
A 2024-25 graduate of Junior Leadership Hazleton, she is a 2024 graduate of the Elmer C. Hafer Pennsylvania American Legion Starion Police National Guard Youth Camp, a three-time Varsity Letterman in women’s wrestling and a 2024-26 graduate of the Army JROTC.
Shaniece wrote in her essay, “A volunteer service where I played a meaningful and active role is the JROTC Beautification Project, which took place in a huge overgrown area outside the Hazleton Area JROTC room. I have always been creative with many ideas, so I took the initiative to clean this area by myself. When I started this volunteer project by myself, I realized that I would not be able to do it by myself. So, I gave the idea to make this a Community Service cleanup so everyone that helps gets a ribbon and tab. Since I was the one that started this project, I had to lead, which I learned was somewhat of a struggle. What would have taken me weeks by myself only took three days with the help of others. I was the type of person that would prefer working alone than in a group or finishing my projects by myself. This project is what opened my eyes to teamwork and adversity. I chose this project because it not only helped me learn what I need to be better at, but helped me and my classmates bond. When I started this project, I was not expecting much from it. Looking back at it, I never saw how much it shaped my character and values. I learned that being able to meet the needs and understand the diversity of the group no matter what project is, is what is most important.”
Mateo will be pursuing a political science degree from Villanova University or the University of Pennsylvania, leading to a master’s degree. Ava will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. Benjamin will be working toward a bachelor’s degree in business management from Moravian University, and Shaniece has committed to Wilkes University and will major in business with a minor in nonprofit management, and has enlisted in the Army National Guard.
“It is really just so incredible to be able to offer these wonderful opportunities to our scholarship winners to further their education,” said Rotary Scholarship Project Chair Kim McNulty. “Hazleton Rotary heartily congratulates them on all their outstanding achievements. and extends wishes for futures filled with success to each one.”
The winners will be introduced to the Hazleton Rotary membership this summer.