Northampton Exchange Club capped its Service to Youth program, lauding a female and male Northampton Area High School senior. The club selected Nicole Somers and Chase Clapp as Youths of the Year.

The awards program was held June 20 at Northampton Banquet & Event Center. Each recipient received a $500 scholarship and a plaque from the Exchange Club.

Dr. Rodger Berg, program chairman, said Somers and Clapp were also the September Youth of the Month honorees. The criteria for the Youth of the Year took into account academic and extracurricular achievements, community involvement and a heavily graded essay set by the National Exchange Club.

Lauding their hard work and diligence and a commitment to service, Berg added Somers and Clapp “have a burning passion inside them,” which will serve them well as they go on to college and careers that will follow. The honorees not only make the high school and Exchange Club proud on how they lead their lives, but their parents are credited for their roles in the success Somers and Clapp have already achieved, Berg said.

Somers is part of National Honor Society, chorus, Distributive Education Clubs of America, German Club, Drama/Theatre Club, girls lacrosse, girls swimming, P.E.A.C.E. Club, PE Club, peer tutor program, Power for Cinema, SADD, Student Athlete Character Council and Volunteer Club and is a stage and lighting crew representative.

Clapp is part of National Honor Society (president), Scholars Program (Lehigh University), Innovative Leadership Club (president and founder), Student Council and Keystone Cement Community Advisory Board and is a Northampton anti-bullying contest winner.

Also at the event, Moriah Reith, a NAHS graduating senior, was awarded a plaque and a $500 scholarship as the club’s 2018 A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) award.

The club said $500 scholarships were also awarded to the following NAHS graduating seniors: Aliza Bodzin, Austin Frey, Lane Markulics, Margaret Mullen and Laura Rex, all recipients of the Students of the Month award.