The Lehigh Valley chapter of Travelers Protective Association of America Post L held its annual Altruism Award ceremony event April 13 at Northampton Banquet and Event Center, 1601 Laubach Ave.

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

Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, gave a motivational opening speech. Iannelli also hosts the Business Matters segment on WFMZ 69 News. He shared his rise to success, which started when his father lost the family business that Iannelli planned on taking over. He brought warm and genuine advice for the students.

Patricia Palencar, TPA secretary of the Lehigh Valley chapter, explained the $100 award would be presented to each student by TPA Post L Lehigh Valley President Donald D. Schwartz following a short speech from the student’s nominator.

With the room feeling inspired, the ceremony moved on to honor Northampton Area High School senior Kadee Schrader, who was nominated by Assistant Principal Jamison Barnhart and was accompanied by Principal Luke Shafnisky during the ceremony. Shafnisky described Schrader as a top academic performer and someone who is always giving back to her peers. Despite her part-time job, academic work and athletic obligations, Schrader finds time to tutor other students before her regular school day begins.

In the top 10% of her class, Schrader participates in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse and is also a junior referee and coach for lacrosse.

Schrader will continue her education at Fairfield University as an accounting major. She will also be playing Division I field hockey for the Connecticut-based university.

Much like Schrader, all of the Altruism Award nominees amplified the expectations of current youths with their superb rapport with faculty, staff and peers. Following the ceremony, the room was booming with applause yet humbly quiet as young students’ triumphant and heartfelt stories were shared.

The society has also developed scholarships for specific preferred risk groups, such as the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1975. The benefits from this scholarship would be used for medical equipment and specialized treatment that may be out of reach for the recipients.

During the banquet, Palencar welcomed Nathaniel Moya, of Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit No. 21, to be honored as the 2023 recipient of the Deaf Fund Award, which comes from the scholarship fund.

Moya was accompanied by his teacher, Christine Bloch. The two had worked together for several years and Moya even followed his teacher when she transferred to his current school. Bloch described the endearing relationship between teacher and student.

Moya was given the Deaf Fund Award in the amount of $1,000 to be used toward his college education. His mother, Isabel Ozuna, was present and said she was overwhelmed and joyful by the gracious award from TPA Post L Lehigh Valley.

The 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 organization has since helped society in various ways, such as the implementation of painting white lines on roadways, the promotion of the Absent Voter Act of 1916 with the Absentee Ballot System and more.