The Lehigh Valley chapter of the Travelers Protection Association of America Post L society held its annual Altruism Award Banquet April 14 at the Northampton Community Center. The fraternal benefit society honored select students from 15 local high schools to receive the award for their kind, courageous and giving personalities.

While the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship Fund is utilized to support a specific community, the TPA society also provides scholarship opportunities through its general fund. During the banquet, Patricia Palencar, TPA secretary Lehigh Valley chapter, explained the students receiving the Altruism Award would be given a certificate and a $100 check from the general fund that would be presented by President Donald D. Schwartz

The nominator of each student explained what led to the nomination.

Adam Walker of Freedom HS was awarded the TPA Post L’s altruism award for his friendly character and natural kindness. He was nominated by his vocal music teacher, Jennifer Volpato, who unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremony due to a conflict in her schedule, but had her speech presented by a former TPA president. She described Adam as someone who doesn’t need a reason to express kindness and the first to give up a musical solo to let another student shine.

Adam is involved in numerous activities, including choir, captain of the BASD mini thon, a member of the National Honor Society, and is on his way to earning his Eagle Scout award. Adam will graduate this fall and plans on attending Bucknell University as a dual major in civil engineering and management.

Fallon Ingram of Liberty HS was also honored for her exceptional leadership and ability to support her peers. She was nominated by her Spanish teacher, Jennifer Chomo, who says Fallon is a “gifted and effective leader.”

Fallon is captain of her lacrosse team and has established a lacrosse clinic for inner-city children. In the past, she has organized a fundraiser that aimed to assist students who could not afford to attend prom on their own.

She will be graduating this fall and has plans to further her education in the field of political science. She is considering looking into Boston or Pittsburgh for schools but has not finalized her decision yet.

The TPA Post L was established in 1882 and originally benefited traveling salesmen across America. Over time, the society extended its membership to all persons who qualified as preferred risks and began to implement community outreach programs, such as the famous child accident prevention weeks seen across the nation’s emergency responder units.

The society has also organized scholarships that would aim to assist the members in need, such as the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship Fund. Established in 1975, the fund intended to serve those who had a hearing deficiency but lacked proper resources. Today, the fund has gone on to assist thousands of members gain access to the hearing devices and specialized treatment they lacked.