
Announcing…Thirteenth Annual
Lackawanna Reads 2023!
One Book, One College
Lackawanna Reads Mission Statement
The purpose of this program is to provide everyone in the college community with an enjoyable and positive reading experience, to promote life-long learning, to reinforce the message that reading is an integral part of the college experience, and to encourage our student body along, with faculty and staff, to read the same book and participate in open discussions across the curriculum.
Lackawanna Reads Objectives
- To introduce and create a united social and academic experience for incoming freshmen, returning students, faculty, staff, and administration… the entire college community.
- To encourage critical thinking skills for the entire student body by open discussion on a common theme.
- To enhance academic and community awareness.
- To provide students with a positive reading experience.

Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School?
By Cary Siege
Order your copy through Amazon!
About the Book
(Image: https://www.amazon.com/didnt-they-teach-this-school-ebook/dp/b00c5um9ma)
Bestselling 5 Star Graduation Gift for both College and High School grads! Why do high schools and colleges require students to take courses in English, math and science, yet have absolutely no requirements for students to learn about personal money management? Why Didn't They Teach Me This in School? 99 Personal Money Management Lessons to Live By was initially developed by the author to pass on to his five children as they entered adulthood. As it developed, the author realized that personal money management skills were rarely taught in high schools, colleges and even in MBA programs. Unfortunately, books on the subject tend to be complicated, lengthy reads. The book includes eight important lessons focusing on 99 principles that will quickly and memorably enhance any individual's money management acumen. Unlike many of the personal money management books out there, this book is a quick, easily digested read that focuses more on the qualitative side than the quantitative side of personal money management. The principles are not from a text book. Rather, they are practical principles learned by the author as he navigated through his financial life. Many are unorthodox in order to be memorable and provoke deeper thought by the reader. Not only an excellent graduation gift for high school and college students but also a great read for any adult.
(https://www.amazon.com/didnt-they-teach-this-school-ebook/dp/b00c5um9ma)
About the Author
(https://www.amazon.com)

The author, Cary Siegel, is a retired business executive.
After earning his MBA from the University of Chicago, he began his career in brand management with Kraft and went on to lead several companies in marketing and sales. He has been the lead speaker at over fifty sales meetings and marketing seminars, and was honored with over twenty awards during his career. Following the principles from this book (along with hard work) allowed him to retire at the age of forty-five.
Cary wrote the book for his five teenage children, but quickly found it was relevant to all adults. Though he still spends much of his time espousing the principles to his children (and anyone who is willing to listen to him).
(Image/Information: https://www.whydidnttheyteachmethisinschool.com/about)
Contact Information:
carysiegel@yahoo.com
727-542-5101
Informative 5-minute Podcasts: https://www.whydidnttheyteachmethisinschool.com/podcast
Media Samples: (https://www.whydidnttheyteachmethisinschool.com/media)
Cary Siegel has been seen on NBC TV, interviewed on Forbes.com and heard on hundreds of radio stations across the country including The WSJ radio network, ABC news radio and Sirus/XM. National radio personalities including Jim Bohannon, Jim Blasingame, Bob Gourley, Ernie Brown and Frankie Boyer have welcomed him on their shows. He has helped thousands of people with the personal money management advice he has given thru his media interviews.
List of Past LC Reads Book Choices
2011 – A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
2012 – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2013 – No Turning Back: One Man’s Inspiring True Story of Courage,
Determination, and Hope by Brian Anderson with Davis Alan Mack
2014 – Saddle Up, Charlie: Charles Wysocki’s Journey from Gridiron Glory into
Mental Illness by C. Terry Walters and Charlie Wysocki
2015 – Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
2016 – I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the
Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
2017 – Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age by Rob
Shindler
2018 – UGH!?! Not Another Diversity Book! “When Multicultural Competence Meets a Real
Reality” by Justin LaKyle Brown
2019 – Note to Self: Inspiring Words from Inspiring People by Gayle King
2020 – Send Judah First: The Erased Life of an Enslaved Soul by Brian C. Johnson
2021 – Look Back to Yesterday by Tara Lynn Marta
2022 – Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
Panel Discussion
TBD
Service Learning
TBD
Help Choose the 2024-2025 LC Reads Book!
LC Reads is looking for suggestions from you! What do you like to read, what are you interested in, what would you suggest to incoming freshmen for 2024 - 2025? Please send your ideas and suggestions to KiehartC@lackawanna.edu or BradiganN@lackawanna.edu by March 1, 2024.
Essay Contest
Responses to the essay prompt will be judged based on a demonstrated ability to think critically about the prompt, responsiveness to the prompt, and grammar. The winner will receive a prize of a $50 Visa gift card. Responses should be no longer than 500 words and can be submitted as an attachment to KurillaE@lackawanna.edu by the deadline of Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Additional guidelines for essay:
- One-inch margins, Times New Roman, 12-point font, 500-word maximum, and double spaced
- Essays should be entirely original work responding the prompt
- Cover page should include your name, title of essay, Falcon’s email, and current cell phone number
Essay Prompt:
Choose 3 personal money management principles that have inspired you to live a prosperous life by making good, sound personal financial decision with a little hard work) and how you might incorporate them in your current life situation.
Poetry Contest
This contest focusses on writing a poem because you want to capture a feeling that you experienced by reading Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School. Just write whatever feels right. Only you experienced the feeling that you want to express, so why not share those feelings through poetry. You’re probably thinking a poem about personal money management? Seriously? I think it could be fun, easy, and exciting! Work with humor or how “not knowing” has influenced your life to this point. Here is a starting point if you aren’t sure where to begin. Life Lessons: Principles 1-12, First Job.
The winner will receive a prize of a $50 Visa gift card. Poem should be no longer than 1-2 pages long and can be submitted as an attachment to FanelliB@lackawanna.edu by the deadline of Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Guidelines for Poetry Entry/Poetry Rubric:
Category
|
Score
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Poetic Devices: A minimum of four poetic devices are used (metaphor, simile, alliteration, etc.). The devices are used correctly (i.e. a metaphor is used as a metaphor).
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______/30
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Organization: The poem is very well organized. One idea or image follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.
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______/20
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Spelling, Grammar, Mechanics, etc.: There are no errors in the final draft. People or place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout. End punctuation, and correct punctuation in general, is used throughout the poem.
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______/15
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Creativity: The poem contains sensory details, figurative language, and descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his or her imagination.
|
______/15
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Title: Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the poem and topic.
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______/10
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Quality Product: The final draft of the poem is typed in a 12-point, readable font and includes the student’s name in the upper-left hand margin with Falcon’s e-mail and current cell phone number.
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______/10
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Total: _______