The 2019 Zephyr Graduates of Distinction for Whitehall-Coplay School District were recognized May 2 at a ceremony at Whitehall High School.

Robert L. Gilly, Class of 1966; F. Todd Polinchock, Class of 1981; Kristine Marakovits Roddick, Class of 1992; and Douglas M. Lieberman, Class of 1993, were all recognized for their personal and professional achievements.

Gilly attended Kutztown University and Lehigh University. He also received his principal certification and superintendent’s letter of eligibility from Lehigh University.

Gilly worked as a science teacher at Northampton Area High School. He was the kindergarten through 12th-grade director of planetarium, assistant football coach and coordinator of offseason football weight conditioning.

He conducted science and planetarium classes for Boy and Girl Scouts and facilitated research and field experiences for students and community members.

He also worked as an administrator in various capacities in the Northampton Area School District for several years. He was the superintendent for Brandywine Heights Area School District from 1997 to 2004. Gilly retired in 2004 and joined D’Huy Engineering, Bethlehem, as an educational specialist. He recently retired from D’Huy.

Gilly was a co-founder of Lehigh Valley Writing Project at Penn State Lehigh Valley and coordinated the Northampton Community Educator Program. He also serves as a board member of the Downtown Bethlehem Association.

He has received the National IDEA Distinguished Administrator Award twice. Other awards include the Debby Award for volunteerism, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Partner Award and inclusion into the 1966 Whitehall High School baseball team hall of fame. He was awarded Bethlehem’s key to the city.

Gilly and his wife, Danielle, live in Northampton. They have five children and 10 grandchildren.

Polinchock attended the United States Naval Academy and St. Joseph’s University.

Polinchock served as a commander and naval aviator for the U.S. Navy. He flew more than 75 combat hours over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. After 20 years of distinguished service, he retired and pursued a career in real estate.

Polinchock served as CEO, team leader and business adviser for Keller Real Estate from 2005 to 2011. He was president of Bucks County Association of Realtors in 2009 and president of Pennsylvania Association of Realtors in 2016. In 2010, he was a board chairman for Suburban Realtors Alliance. Polinchock has been the president and owner of Absolute Acquisition Services Limited Liability Services since 2013. He received several awards for his work in real estate.

In 2018, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 144th District.

He was a past chairman of Warrington Township Veteran Affairs Committee and a volunteer coach for both youth football and wrestling. He is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3258, Chalfont, and Knights of Columbus, Chalfont.

He resides in Chalfont and has two children.

Roddick attended Rutgers University and Villanova University School of Law.

Roddick worked in numerous capacities in the Monroe County court system. She joined King, Spry, Herman, Freund and Faul in 2004, where she was named a partner and chair of the special education law practice group. She was the first woman and youngest attorney to be elected a managing partner in 2016.

She donates her time and legal experience presenting to educational professional associations.

In 2014, she was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star by Philadelphia Magazine, an honor only 12 attorneys under the age of 40 have received. Lehigh Valley Business named Roddick a Woman of Influence in 2015, and she was on the 2017 list of selected lawyers in Lehigh Valley Style.

She is a board member for the Center for Humanistic Change and was a past president, secretary and former Region 8 director for Pennsylvania School Board Solicitors Association.

She lives in Catasauqua with her husband, Brian.

Lieberman attended DeSales University and University of Maryland.

Lieberman focused his career on finding solutions and designing and delivering Enterprise IT and Cyber solutions to technology companies.

He was a director of operations, director of research and other positions for various global companies. He was vice president of global engineering at Leidos, formerly Lockheed Martin.

He serves as a senior technical adviser for many international programs and designs complex solutions for customers and governments around the globe. He was a frequent speaker at leadership forums, government events and conferences.

He received the Lockheed Martin Celebration of Excellence Award for leadership, the NOVA Award for international business growth and the President’s Bronze Award for community service.

Lieberman served as a board member of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. He provides community outreach through Erie Innovation District and is a volunteer with intramural community sports and Boy Scouts.

Lieberman lives in West Chester with his wife, Melanie, and their two children.

Nominees for this award must have graduated at least 10 years before nomination, must have excelled in his or her career or made an outstanding contribution to society and may be nominated for achievements in academics, music, the arts, civic or military service, community service or a significant personal achievement.

The selection committee includes Phillips Armstrong, Lehigh County executive and retired teacher; Nancy Buckno, Judy Ott and Cheryl Sommer, all retired teachers; Joyce Wheeler, co-chairperson and former school board member; and Dr. Barbara Chomik, co-chairperson and facilitator.