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Nathaniel Moya honored as recipient of TPA Deaf Fund Award

Published May 04. 2023 10:24AM

By CASSANDRA DAYOUB

Special to The Press

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of Travelers Protective Association of America Post L had its annual Altruism Award banquet April 13 at the Northampton Banquet and Event Center.

The fraternal benefit society honored select students from 14 local high schools to receive a monetary award for their embodiment and moral practice of altruism.

Before that ceremony, the TPA Post L Lehigh Valley welcomed a local deaf student to be the recipient of a monetary award from the organization’s Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship Fund.

Patricia Palencar, TPA secretary of the Lehigh Valley chapter, announced that Nathaniel Moya of Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, and the Parkland School District, was to be honored as the 2023 recipient of the scholarship.

Nathaniel was accompanied by his teacher, Christine Bloch. The two had worked together for several years and Nathaniel even followed her when she transferred to his current school.

Bloch described the endearing relationship between teacher and student before returning the microphone to Palencar for the ceremony.

Nathaniel was given the scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to be used toward his college education.

Guest speaker Tony Iannelli was present and gave a motivational opening speech.

Iannelli is the president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and hosts the “Business Matters” show on WFMZ 69 News.

He shared his rise to success story, which started when his father lost the family business that Iannelli planned on taking over.

He brought warm and genuine advice for the students before moving on to the award portion of the evening.

TPA Post L was established in 1882 and initially benefited traveling salesmen across America, but has extended memberships to those who are considered preferred risks.

The society has gone on to develop scholarships for specific preferred risk groups, such as the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship fund which was established in 1975.

Benefits from this scholarship would be used for medical equipment and specialized treatment that may be out of reach for the recipients.

Nathaniel and his mom, Isabel Ozuna, were overwhelmed and joyful by the gracious award.

PRESS PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA DAYOUB Patricia Palencar of the Travelers Protective Association Post L Lehigh Valley is the secretary, treasurer, Altruism program leader, communications and membership director, and the director of the Deaf and Near Deaf Trust Fund. Palencar is largely responsible for organizing the yearly Altruism Award banquet ceremony.
President Donald D. Schwartz, Jason Price, Nathaniel Moya, Josiah Peters, Jessica Esch, Carlee Ziegenfus, Emma Schultz, Leanne Villante, Lauren Bjelobrk, Madelyn Mack, Olivia Burnett, Kadee Schrader, Lauren Woods and Cara Magliochetti at the Travelers Protective Association of America Post L annual Altruism Award banquet April 13 at Northampton Banquet and Event Center.
Pat Palencar and Nathaniel Moya from Carbon Lehigh Intermediate. He was the recipient of the Deaf Fund award.
Isabel Ozuna (mother) Nathaniel Moya and Christina Bloch (teacher) join Nathaniel after he received a cash award of $1,000 to go toward his college fund.