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, 1601 Laubach Ave.

The fraternal benefit society honored select students from 15 local high schools to receive the award for their kind, courageous and giving personalities.

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 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.

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 LV chapter secretary, explained the students receiving the TPA Altruism Award would be given a certificate and $100 check from the general fund that would be presented by President Donald D. Schwartz. The student also received a small speech from their nominator explaining what led to their nomination.

Katherine Medina, of Salisbury High School, was nominated to receive the altruism award by her guidance counselor, Michael Anderson. Katherine encouraged her nominator to use this time as an opportunity to speak about her parent’s achievements.

Immigrants of Ecuador, her father currently works at B. Braun Medical Inc. and her mother works for the Lehigh Valley Health Network. During his speech, Anderson mentioned Katherine attributes all of her success to her family and that attests to the kind character she holds.

Katherine is looking to broaden her horizons in the world of real estate and is hoping to become a Realtor after high school.

The students honored at the banquet reminded the room that simple acts of kindness touch the hearts of many and create impactful and inspiring change within the community. The room was humbled by the courageous acts performed by high school students and many left feeling honored to know that strong, genuine characters would go on to be the next societal generation to build and create a better tomorrow.