A team of Northampton Area High School students won the High School Ethics Bowl at DeSales University two years in a row, receiving a total of $100,000 in DeSales University scholarships and $5,000 in cash.

The students also received an impressive trophy, which they displayed at the Northampton Area School District Board of Education meeting Feb. 10.

Four of the five NAHS team members - juniors Ashley DiOdoardo and Kyla Kospiah and seniors Cassandra Borzillo and Sophia Passarella - were honored by the school board. Suhas Yalamarti, a senior, was unable to attend.

Accompanying the students were their team coaches, Tara Mrazik, NAHS business, computer and technology teacher and Distributive Education Clubs of America adviser, and Ryan Brobst, NAHS school counselor.

The High School Ethics Bowl is a way for high school students to learn about business ethics by presenting their ethical views on a business case study before a panel of faculty and business executives, according to the website of DeSales University’s Fleming Institute for Business Ethics, which sponsors and runs the contest, inaugurated in 2018.

Teams from 10 high schools in the region competed in the Nov. 20, 2019, contest at DeSales.

Each member of the NAHS team received a $500 cash prize and a $2,500 four-year scholarship to DeSales University.

Passarella, as a member of the NAHS team both years, received two $2,500 scholarships for a total of $5,000 and a total of $1,000 in cash.

“Sophia’s (Passarella) dream has been to go to DeSales for nursing,” Mrazik told school directors.

“It just goes to show another example of our students’ academic achievements and how hard they work,” NASD Superintendent Joseph S. Kovalchik said.

School Director Chuck Frantz also lauded NAHS Konkrete Kids football team members who received recognition for their academic grade-point averages.

School Director Chuck Longacre lauded the NASD winners in the SkillsUSA contest Jan. 29 at Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex. Of the 75 Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School student contestants, including those from Saucon Valley School District and Bethlehem Area School District, NASD had 10 of the 42 students who placed, including four of the 20 first-place winners, who qualify for the state competition, planned for April 15-17 in Hershey, as well as five of 11 second-place winners and one of 11 third-place winners.

The school board next meets 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the meeting room of the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.