For Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin it was nice to hear of young people doing community service for altruistic reasons-not because a judge ordered them to do as part of their sentencing procedure.

"It's a refreshing thing to be with students who are doing well and have a bright future," said Martin, the guest of honor at the annual Altruism Awards ceremony where high school seniors from across Lehigh Valley were honored for performing altruistic acts in their schools or communities.

The students, who were nominated by their high schools, received $100 and other gifts from the Lehigh Valley Travelers Protective Association Post "L" at a recent ceremony in Northampton.

"I'm tired of going out in the middle of the night seeing 17 and 18-year olds dead," Martin said.

The D.A. urged his young audience to be good influence on their friends and to be aware of who they associate with. He said gangs are moving out from the city into the suburbs and that the drug culture is a big problem.

"Be better informed as to who your associates are," he said. "You are lucky to have strong, caring parents and teachers."

Martin briefly addressed the issue of violence in schools, saying violence in local school districts have been "isolated incidences."

"We haven't seen the level of [school] violence [compared to other areas]," Martin said.

"The interest and concerns resulting from Sandyhook have waned to some degree," he said referring to the school massacre in Newtown, Conn.

"There are not too many people in law enforcement who think gun control will end violence," said Martin, a leading figure in the local Republican Party. "The real answer is to do something about mental health."

"School safety is on all our minds," Martin said, "especially the educators here. I don't think anyone has a bromide or a solution."

He urged the 90 students, parents and educators attending the event to be vigilant, to report suspicious activity to law enforcement, teachers or to parents.

Students who were present to receive the Altruism Award: Gavin Sonntag, Salisbury HS; Frank Alvarado, Liberty HS; Kendra Smith, Northwestern Lehigh HS; Daniel Little, Wilson HS; Eston Deily, Saucon Valley HS; Miguel Strunk, Easton HS; Kate Polles, Nazareth HS; Lauren Pluchinsky, Catasauqua HS; Kathleen Twiggs, Central Catholic; Kevin Garrity, Northampton HS; Ryan Carrig, Bethlehem Catholic HS; and Eston Deily, Saucon Valley HS.

The following awardees didn't attend the ceremony: Elyse Kistler, Lehighton HS; Stephanie Bernal, Louis E. Dieruff HS; Mary Paige Nesteder, Notre Dame HS; Maria McDonald, Southern Lehigh HS; and Chloe B. Musselman, Whitehall HS.