Michele and Jerry Musheno

This year's Mighty Oak Award recipients, Jerry Musheno and Michele Catalano-Musheno, have spent decades showing their community what it looks like to lead with both expertise and heart.

Jerry has taught Pharmacy Law at Wilkes University and Jefferson University Schools of Pharmacy since their inception. A graduate of the University of Scranton, Temple University School of Pharmacy, and Temple University Beasley School of Law, he built a varied career that included operating his own pharmacy and serving as Vice President for MAXIMUS Federal Services and Program Director of the Medicare Part D Appeals Program.

Michele earned a BS in Pharmacy from Northeastern University and a Master's in Human Resources Administration from the University of Scranton and served as Pharmacy Director at Moses Taylor Hospital before retirement. During the H1N1 and COVID-19 outbreaks, she personally administered or oversaw more than 2,000 vaccinations, including in underserved communities, and today volunteers as a certified PA MEDI Medicare counselor.

Their leadership has shaped organizations across the region. Jerry has chaired many boards, including the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Outreach - Center for Community Resources, St. Joseph's Center Foundation, the Lackawanna Blind Association, and Lackawanna Pro Bono; and he still serves on several boards. Michele has served as President of the Lackawanna County Pharmacy Association, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association and the Society of Irish Women and is a long-time member of the Junior League of Scranton. She has engaged in fundraising efforts for the Everhart Museum, Scranton Cultural Center, and the Lackawanna Blind Association.

Together, Jerry and Michele are pillars of the Church of St. Gregory, both serving as Eucharistic Ministers and ambassadors, with Michele helping establish the parish's Mental Health Ministry and being actively involved in the We Care Ministry food preparation for those in need. They are also both active with the Kiwanis Club.

Jerry and Michele live in Clarks Summit, proud parents of four grown children and Jampa and Mimi to grandson Declan.

This year's Beth Beh Community Spirit Award recipients, Dr. Dennis and Grace Dawgert, have spent a lifetime showing up for their community, not for recognition, but because that's simply who they are.

Grace, a speech pathologist for 43 years, has given two decades to the board of Catholic Social Services and also served with the Marywood Alumni Association for many years. Denny has practiced pediatrics in Northeastern Pennsylvania for four decades and served on the Pennsylvania Academy of Pediatrics Board. Both built their careers around caring for others, and that same spirit carried into every corner of their volunteer lives. 

At Our Lady of the Snows Parish (OLS), both Grace and Denny have served as Eucharistic ministers and on the parish council. Grace has chaired the Social Justice Committee for a decade and spent 25 years coordinating outreach to the migrant farmworkers who come to Abington each harvest season. Denny has served on the parish's Finance Council and board and taught CCD.

Together, as members of the Order of Malta's Scranton Diocese chapter since 2012, Grace and Denny have served at St. Francis Kitchen, assisted in food and toy distributions with Friends of the Poor, and, since 2022, have donated 100 backpacks stocked with essentials each year to Outreach's Welcome Back Backpacks program for people returning home from prison.

Their partnership extends across continents: through Our Lady of the Snows Parish Twinning Program with the Passionists in Jamaica, Denny has led medical teams to clinics near Mandeville, Jamaica, while Grace and other volunteers from OLS assisted at schools and nursing homes.

As founding members of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in the Scranton Diocese, they now teach weekly classes through the chaplaincy program at USP Canaan Federal Prison and create and direct the monthly spiritual reflection meetings.

And since 2011, Grace has personally supported Outreach's GED, anger management, job readiness, and women's writing programs, quietly investing in the people we serve.

Grace and Denny Dawgert give with their hands, their hearts, and their time, again and again, wherever they're needed most.