Whitehall-Coplay School District honored four alumni as Graduates of Distinction during a ceremony April 21 in the Whitehall High School auditorium.

The Class of 2016 honorees were Donald R. Marushak ‘59, Michael J. Bednar ‘66, Gail Zimmerman Thomas ‘67 and Adam G. Armbruster ‘79. They were chosen based on their personal and professional achievements, which have made significant contributions to their field of endeavor and to society.

Donald R. Marushak: After graduating from Whitehall High School in 1959, Marushak earned a B.S. degree in education from Kutztown University in 1963 and an M.S. degree in biology from University of Michigan in 1965.

In the beginning of his career, we worked for Allentown School District, teaching at William Allen High School and Dieruff High School, until 1969.

He was appointed deputy fish warden for Pennsylvania Fish Commission in 1967 and the first environmental programs coordinator for the City of Allentown, 1970-1975.

Marushak served as superintendent of parks for the City of Allentown, 1976-1996. Under his leadership, Allentown was designated as a Tree City, USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, 1978-1996. He developed and expanded numerous parks, including Trout Creek Park, Lehigh Parkway, Keck Park, Roosevelt Park, Bucky Boyle Park, the Rose Garden and Trexler Park, and aided in the purchase of open space land at Lehigh Mountain and South Mountain.

After retiring, he was a substitute teacher in the Whitehall-Coplay School District, 2002, and an adjunct professor at Lehigh County Community College, 2003-13.

He was named Pennsylvania Science Teacher of the Year, 1968. He received, in 2014, Wildlands Conservancy’s Friend of the Lehigh River Award.

Marushak died in 2014. His wife, Bernadette, accepted the award on his behalf.

Michael J. Bednar: After graduation from Whitehall High School in 1966, Bednar began a career with Lehigh Valley Railroad in various positions, including agent, block operator and yardmaster. He retired as a locomotive engineer with the Reading and Northern Railroad Line in 2007.

He has published 14 books related to railroads especially in the Cement and Anthracite areas of Pennsylvania. He has written 60 articles for various railroad magazines, and his work regularly appears in Railroad Press magazine.

Bednar is nationally recognized as an authority on railroads and has traveled throughout the United States lecturing and presenting seminars on railroad lore and history.

He is a historical consultant to the Ironton Rail Trail and a member of the Lehigh Valley and Hawk Mountain chapters of the National Railroad Historical Society.

In 2011, he received a lifetime achievement award from Lehigh County Historical Society and Pennsylvania Senate for his work in preserving the history of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

Bednar and his wife, Donna, reside in Whitehall. They have two children Pamela Miklesavage and Ken Shupe and two grandchildren.

Gail Zimmerman Thomas: After graduating from Whitehall High School in 1967, Thomas received a B.S. in secondary English education from Kutztown University in 1971 and, later, an M.Ed. in academic support in higher education from Lesley University.

Her career began as a high school English teacher in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. She has served as an academic support coordinator at Holyoke Community College, Springfield College and Smith College, all in Massachusetts.

She founded Elder Voices, a writing program for seniors and an intergenerational arts program used in schools, senior centers, retirement homes and hospitals.

Thomas has published three books of poetry. Her work has appeared in 40 anthologies, and she has served as a writer in residence at Leeds Elementary School, Northampton, Mass., and Swift River Valley Elementary School, New Salem, Mass. She has won countless awards for her poetry.

She is currently a learning specialist, coordinator of tutorial services and an instructor at Smith College, Massachusetts.

Thomas and her spouse, Deborah Lohmeyer, reside in Northampton, Mass. She has two daughters, Molly and Megan, and three grandchildren.

Adam G. Armbruster: After graduating from Whitehall High School in 1979, Armbruster earned a B.S. in business administration from Kutztown University. He continued his education at Durham University, England, where he received a degree in business administration and management in 2001.

Armbruster began his career in marketing and advertising and served as director of retail marketing for Disney/ABC, 1990-2000, and Eckstein Summers Marketing Firm, New Jersey, 2000-present, where is a senior partner.

He appears regularly in national media as an advertising expert and commentator on TV/digital/mobile advertising media trends and how these affect consumers and businesses. His work has also appeared in print publications.

He has been a keynote speaker at state and regional broadcast association conferences and auto dealer summits. He is an advisory board member of B.W.G. Strategies at Lehigh Carbon Community College and a member of New York Broadcasters Association and Illinois Broadcasting Association.

He is active member of several civic organizations and charities in Sarasota, Fla., as well as a Sunday school teacher and usher at his church, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, where he resides.

Armbruster and his wife, Suzanne, have two children, Amanda and Alec.