Seven Northampton High School alumni were publicly recognized as the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award honorees during a Sept. 17 celebration sponsored by Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation. The honorees are LeRoy Brobst, Class of 1965; Martin Fella, Class of 1968; Joseph Kovalchik, Class of 1986; Dr. Roseanna Neupauer, Class of 1985; Ronald Newhart, Class of 1973; Arthur Schisler, Class of 1958; and Monica Jurasits Weninger, Class of 1988.

The celebration, held at Woodstone Country Club and Lodge, 3777 Dogwood Road, Danielsville, was attended by 164 people - family, friends and colleagues of the honorees, as well as community members and local business leaders. The highlight of the recognition program that followed dinner was the plaque presentation, when each honoree had the opportunity to address the audience and recall a few of his or her memories of experiences as a student in Northampton Area School District that influenced post high school graduation lives. The recollection of specific teachers, classes and experiences was particularly noteworthy and entertaining.

In 2018, the foundation, in partnership with NASD, established the Distinguished Alumni Award to help increase the awareness of NAHS students, graduates and community members of the outstanding graduates and role models produced by NASD. The foundation’s goal was to establish the Distinguished Alumni Award Wall of Honor, which now exists in the main lobby of NAHS.

For each of the 28 award honorees already selected since 2018, a plaque has been installed on the wall. The plaques include the professional achievements, as well as each honoree’s individual commitment to community service and volunteerism, a recent photo and a graduation photo.

The plaques of this year’s honorees will be installed on the wall later this fall, and, like the other plaques already displayed, will serve as an inspiration to all students and as a source of pride for the entire community of NASD’s strong education tradition and commitment to serve others.

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 Foundation Benefactor Sponsorship of Bruce Lack; the Distinguished Alumni Award sponsorship of St. Luke’s University Health Network: Dr. Linda Koch, the Distinguished Alumni Award Friend sponsor; the Black and Orange sponsor, Mortgage America; the Konkrete sponsors, D’Huy Engineering Inc., Jerdon Construction Services, Larry Oberly and his wife and Schisler Funeral Homes; and the K Kids sponsors, including Eckley E. Patch Post 470 Home Association, First National Bank and Trust, Dudley Mann and his wife, Shulman Law Office PC, Steve Miller and his wife, Dr. Rodger Berg and his wife, Darrell Crook and his wife, Tim Tepes and his wife and Tim Tepes Real Estate.

In addition to these sponsors, the foundation acknowledges the generosity of the following individuals and businesses for their gift certificates, monetary donations and services: Foster Jewelers, Blue Ridge Real Estate Company, Dun-Rite Electrical Service Inc., Fella Studios/Marty Fella and his wife, Miller Supply ACE Hardware, Barbara Demchyk, Mike Bodnar and his wife, AfFORDable Pet Care, Dr. Donald Newhart, Konkrete Creamery, Becky’s Drive-In Theatre, Bob Gilly and his wife and Marianne Grabarits.

Nominations for next year’s Distinguished Alumni Award are due by March 24, 2024. Nomination information/forms will be available in October at konkretefoundation.org or by calling 610-767-7824.

Save the date: The next award celebration will be held Sept. 24, 2024.