Whitehall High School senior Samantha Nino was selected to receive the Travelers Protective Association (TPA) of America’s Altruism Award April 6 for her natural leadership and volunteer service work, both in the school and the community.

The award ceremony was held at Northampton Banquet & Event Center, Northampton.

Chad Stefanyak, a counselor at Whitehall High School, spoke on Nino’s behalf, saying she excelled academically as well with a GPA over 4.0 and with a rank in the top 50 in her graduating class.

Nino is a member of National Honor Society and a leader in the SERVE and Leo clubs at her high school, in addition to her dedication to the tennis team. In the community, she volunteers her time at an animal shelter and serves on the advisory board for the local library, as well as the local Habitat for Humanity. She also has focused on investing in her future career by attending conferences including Women Helping Girls Succeed and Challenges of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Schools.

While other high school students may have been spending summers relaxing on vacations, Nino spent her summer attending math and science camps to further her potential and expand her knowledge and skill set.

The TPA Altruism Award honors those with a selfless concern for the well-being of others, and the staff at Whitehall High School unanimously determined Nino was the best example of altruism at the high school.

Northampton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Samuel P. Murray was a guest speaker at the award event. Murray presides over civil and criminal trials and is an associate judge of domestic relations. Murray thanked Nino and her fellow peers for their service and dedication to the community and for serving as an outstanding example for her peers to follow. Murray offered well wishes and career advice for the recipients in their future endeavors.

The TPA Post L in the Lehigh Valley is a national nonprofit organization and the largest post of the Pennsylvania division. TPA also has a Post L Deaf and Near Deaf Trust Fund, and at this year’s altruism event, a check was presented to Liberty High School senior Carlo Perugini. Perugini, a wrestler at the high school recently, won the District 11 Class 3A Championship Title.