More than 215 guests joined Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation Sept. 12 to publicly honor nine outstanding Northampton High School graduates. These nine individuals have been chosen to be recognized on the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Honor located in the lobby of the high school. Due to the past year’s health concerns, the celebration was held this fall to honor two combined groups of honorees.

The 2020 Wall of Honor inductees are:

• Daryl Amey (Class of 1962) - businessman; community/church volunteer; member/leader of Lehigh Township Lions Club for more than 50 years; recipient of Melvin Jones Award from Lions International for outstanding community service

• Dr. Edgar Balliet (Class of 1968) - Northampton area veterinarian; volunteers and supports local 4-H/public school student programs; adjunct professor at LCCC; advisory board for Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College vet tech programs

• Dr. Linda Koch (Class of 1965) - educator/administrator at multiple higher education institutions: community volunteer/leader; member/leader of various professional councils/programs; recipient of Woman of the Year, Lock Haven Chapter of American Association of University Women

• Leo Livengood (Class of 1957) - businessman; sponsored/donated to local community recreation programs/community church memorial monument; Contractor of the Year recipient; recognized for community service by Lehigh/Northampton counties and U.S. Senate

• John Mauser (Class of 1965) - NASD teacher for 28 years; community volunteer member/leader of various environmental organizations/projects throughout the Lehigh Valley; recipient of many awards for environmental work, including the John Mauser Nature Education Trail System

• Larry Oberly Jr. (Class of 1963) - Nazareth Area High School teacher for 35 years; local government/ church member/leader; board member of Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum/Northampton Area Historical Society; recipient of various awards for outstanding service, teaching and scholarship

• Lois Grace Bauer (Class of 1970) - retired professor of English/creative writing at University of Nebraska-Lincoln; published writer of six books of poetry; board member/presenter/facilitator of various writing societies/competitions; Book of the Year Award recipient from Midland Authors

• Daniel Heist (Class of 1979) - director of internal audit at Pennsylvania State University; volunteer member/leader of local/state/national American Cancer Society, including chair of national board of directors; recipient of American Cancer Society’s St. George National Award for Outstanding Community Volunteers

• Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito (Class of 1980) - businesswoman; mayor of the borough of Bath; volunteer/leader of various community/church/school organizations, including Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; recipient of Mayor of the Year Award and Women of Influence Award

The celebration, held at Woodstone Country Club and Lodge, 3777 Dogwood Road, Danielsville, included a VIP reception and a buffet dinner for the invited guests of family, friends, colleagues and community members. The highlight of the evening was the recognition program and induction of the nine honorees. The personal and professional post-high school graduation achievements of each distinguished alumnus, as well as each honoree’s individual commitment to community service and volunteerism, were shared with the guests. Each honoree then had the opportunity to address the audience and recall a few of their memories of experiences as students in NASD that influenced their post-graduation lives. Their recollections of specific teachers, classes and experiences were particularly noteworthy and entertaining.

A plaque for each of the nine honorees will be installed this month on the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Honor located in the lobby of Northampton Area High School. The plaques include the professional achievements, as well as the individual commitment to community service and volunteerism of each honoree, a recent photo and their high school graduation photo. The 2018 and 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award plaques are already displayed on the wall, serving as an inspiration to all students and as a source of pride for the entire community of NASD’s proud education tradition and commitment to service to others.

During the celebration, remarks by Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kovalchik focused on challenges and achievements of the district, as well as the cooperation and support of the foundation in providing additional educational opportunities for students throughout NASD.

The success of the celebration as a fundraiser is credited to the support of all those who attend the event, as well as the generous Distinguished Alumni Award sponsorships of Bruce Lack and St. Luke’s University Health Network; Black & Orange sponsorship of Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors; Konkrete sponsorships of David Jaindl and Mr. and Mrs. John Milander; K-Kids sponsorships of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Heist, D’Huy Engineering Inc., ESSA Bank, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Krupa, Lehigh Township Lions Club, Mortgage America Inc., Reichel Funeral Home, Schisler Funeral Home, Shulman Law Office PC, Dr. Louis Sportelli and the numerous local individuals/businesses who gave monetary/gift/service donations.