Eighteen vocational students were honored at the Bridges Foundation’s Celebration of Excellence ceremony at the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School on May 4. The high-achievers were chosen from sixty applicants for scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Judson Freidl received the top honor with a $5,000 Walter Dealtrey Distinguished Scholarship. The Freedom High senior is enrolled in the Academy for Applied Engineering at Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School. Freidl plans on attending Cornell University with a dual major in chemical engineering and business as steps toward his goal of obtaining a Ph.D. in chemical engineering.

The award was named in honor of the late Walter Dealtrey, chairman and founder of the Bridges Foundation. This and the other vo-tech scholarships can be applied toward post-secondary education or for the acquisition of tools to get started in business.

Other exceptional vo-tech scholars receiving awards include:

Brooke Adams was awarded a $3,500 Elizabeth Thun Affiliate Scholarship. The

senior at Bethlehem Catholic is a member of the Academy of Medicine Science Program and plans on attending Moravian College for Nursing.

Amr Asran received a $2,500 Porsche Automotive Scholarship. A Liberty High senior enrolled in the Automotive Technology Program, Asran plans to continue his education at Northampton Community College for automotive technology and business.

Tyrus Bahrman was given a $1,000 Albarell Electric Scholarship and a $1,000 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. The Northampton High senior is enrolled in the Academy for Applied Engineering and Electrical Construction program at BAVTS. A member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Bahrman intends to pursue a career in electrical engineering.

Alexandra DaRoja was awarded a $2,500 Benjamin Knauss Memorial Scholarship

The Northampton High senior studying Baking and Pastry Arts at BAVTS, plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY in the baking and pastry arts and food management programs.

Olvin Espinosa received a $1,500 King, Spry, Herman, Freund, and Faul LCC. Scholarship and a $1,000 Bridges Scholarship. The Liberty senior is enrolled in the Protective Services Program at BAVTS. Espinosa looks to complete two years of his general studies at NCC, then pursue a career in the United States Air Force as a pararescue jumper.

Kayla Hart got a $3,000 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. She is a senior from Saucon Valley and enrolled in the Health Careers program. Hart hopes to begin a career at St. Luke’s Hospital, as well as attending St. Luke’s School of Nursing to obtain her RN.

Eric Hernandez received a $1,500 Mr. & Mrs. Albarell Scholarship, a $500 Bridges Foundation Scholarship, a $1,000 Luke & Barbara Cunningham School to Career Scholarship. The Freedom High senior is a top student in the Electrical Construction Program and plans on attending NCC to study electro-mechanical technology.

Kayla Marsdale was awarded a $4,000 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. The Saucon Valley senior is in the BAVTS Cosmetology Program and plans on attending NCC, then transfer to a four-year institution to earn a teaching degree.

Kevin Michels was given a $4,000 Dale Kochard Leadership Award Scholarship

The senior at Bethlehem Catholic is enrolled in the Academy of Medical Sciences at Bethlehem Vo-Tech and plans to continue his education at a four-year school majoring in biology.

Ruth Sharga was honored with a $3,500 Adam Fink Memorial Scholarship. The Northampton High senior is a Video Media Arts student who plans to further her education at NCC in the Television and Radio program. Sharga hopes to continue her cinematography education at a four year college.

Dawson Silfies received a $1,000 Porsche Automotive Artisan Award and a $1,000 Bridges Foundation Artisan Award. The senior at Northampton Area High School is an Automotive Technology student at BAVTS. Silfies will continue his studies in the Ford Asset program and has been accepted into the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of Automotive Technology.

Andrew Sottilare got a $2,500 Bridges Foundation Artisan Award. The Freedom High senior is enrolled in the BAVTS Automotive Technology program. Sottilare is a volunteer firefighter at Nancy Run Fire Company.

Mackenzie Strunk was awarded a $1,500 Elizabeth Thun Affiliate Scholarship and a $500 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. The Northampton High senior is a member of the Health Careers program. She plans on attending Cedar Crest College to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Alyssa Trudniak was granted a $1,500 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. The senior at Saucon Valley, enrolled at BAVTS in Health Careers and Athletic Health and Fitness program, plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Genna Wetzel was awarded a $3,500 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. A senior at Northampton, Wetzel studies Graphic Communications at BAVTS and looks to attend Antonelli Institute for graphic design.

Ouhua Yan received a $1,500 Bridges Foundation Scholarship. Enrolled in the Web Design Program at BAVTS, the Nazareth senior plans on attending NCC in a technology related field, then transfer to a university.

Jason Zimmerman was given a $1,500 Risbon Family Scholarship. The senior at Freedom has been an Automotive Technology student at BAVTS for the past three years. This year, Jason was also accepted into BAVTS’ Academy for Applied Engineering and will continue to study Engineering at NCC. Afterward, Jason plans on transferring to a four-year college to major in mechanical engineering, with a minor in business.

Retiring chairman Dale Kochard was presented with the 2017 Dale Kochard Leadership Award for his service with the Bridges Foundation since its inception in 1999. Kochard became chairman of the foundation when founder Walt Dealtrey passed away in 2002.