Nine Northampton Area High School alumni were publicly recognized as this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award honorees during a celebration Sept. 28 sponsored by Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation. The 2025 honorees including the following.

• Dr. Frank Tanczos, Class of 1935 (deceased) — research chemist who served in the U.S. Navy as technical director of research and technology, NASA Research Advisory Committee Consultant; author/co-inventor of several propulsion/missile patents; awarded the U.S. Navy Superior Accomplishment Award

• Gordon Bartholomew, Class of 1958 — health, physical Education and safety education teacher in Northampton Area School District; wrestling coach; fitness championship team coach; Bath Borough Council; Bath Borough Zoning Hearing Board; church Sunday school teacher, council member/leader; Manoquesy Lodge member

• Ruth (Raub) Miller, Class of 1966 — notary/tax preparer/insurance agent/broker; owner of Ruth M. Miller Agency; member of Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce; Northampton Ambulance Corps; den mother for Boy Scouts; Northampton Volunteer Fire Department; church and hand bell choirs member

• Daniel Barrett, Class of 1968 — cofounder/owner/senior mortgage banker of Mortgage America Inc.; Kutztown University alumni adviser/vice president; Mortgage America Educational Foundation; marathon participant in New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing leader

• Robert Barrett, Class of 1968 — cofounder/owner/senior mortgage banker of Mortgage America Inc.; Chamber of Commerce; Jewish Community Center of Lehigh Valley treasurer; Community Citizens Award; Mortgage America Educational Foundation; Northampton Community College board member and vice president

• Debbie (Oswald) Seiple, Class of 1970 — East Allen Township Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and municipal manager; Seiple Farms LLC management/support staff; Northampton Area Public Library board; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate; citation in recognition of service

• Chris Druckenmiller, Class of 1984 — Pharmaceutical Sourcing Group Americas’ senior information management consult; St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church/St. John’s Lutheran Church vicar; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church/St. Peter’s Lutheran Church pastor; NAHS band parents board member; Moore Township PTA’S Lifetime Membership

• Kristen Pittman, Class of 1992 — CyLutions LLC Executive Director/President (custom application and software development); Lehigh Valley All Star Football Classic for Ronald McDonald House board member/president, Hall of Fame inductee; Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation founding board member

• Trisha (Pittman) Santelli, Class of 1995 — B104, WAEB, WZZO Radio AM news/traffic reporter; KDKA Radio and TV (Pittsburgh); WPXI TV (Pittsburgh) AM traffic/anchor; American Heart Association fundraising board; March of Dimes’ Achievement in Radio; National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences’ three Emmy Awards

The celebration, held at Woodstone Country Club and Lodge, was attended by 157 family, friends and colleagues of the honorees, as well as community members, school district faculty, administrators and board 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 share with the audience some of their experiences as NASD students who impacted their careers, accomplishments and commitment to community service.

The shared memories of the nine honorees about the impact of faculty members, classroom experiences and extracurricular activities were often humorous, surprising and most appreciated by the audience.

Each honoree received a formal plaque including their professional achievements, as well as their individual commitment to community service and volunteerism, a recent photo and a graduation photo. These plaques were installed Oct. 13 on the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Honor, located in the NAHS main lobby, which already displays the plaques of the 43 previously selected honorees. Like the other honorees and their plaques, these will serve as an inspiration to all students and as a source of pride for the entire community of NASD’s proud education tradition and commitment to serve others.

To highlight the impact of the celebration as the major foundation fundraiser and the generosity of all the sponsors and donors have on students throughout NASD, a video, produced by Jamie Horvath, the districtwide technology lead teacher, was shown, focusing on the thousands of students who benefited from the grants funded by the foundation during the 2024-25 school year, for a total cost of $40,112 to the foundation. The video showed K-12 students involved in many hands-on, problem-solving, individual and cooperative learning experiences utilizing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) equipment and materials. Guests also saw students interacting with recognized authors, artists and scientists, as well as utilizing an outdoor learning space at the high school, and students competing in the DECA National Championship and the Science Olympiad — programs that enhanced the learning opportunities that support NASD’s K-12 curriculum.

Since 2015, the foundation has provided approximately $330,000 in funding for grants impacting thousands of K-12 NASD students, and it has already approved 15 grants totaling $47,154 for the 2025-26 school year. The celebration guests also learned about the foundation’s support for the dual enrollment program — a partnership between NAHS and Northampton Community College — that enables 11th- and 12th-grade students to enroll in college-level courses while still enrolled in classes at NAHS. Since 2009, the foundation has provided more than $160,000 to defray costs for students enrolled in the program, and this past year, 48 students received a total of $15,142.

All the celebration sponsors and donors were acknowledged following the video presentation. These included the foundation’s major sponsor for the past six years — Bruce Lack, owner of Woodstone Country Club and a 1969 graduate of NAHS. Mortgage America Educational Foundation and its cofounder, Bob Barrett (Class of 1968), were also recognized for the extremely generous sponsorship this year. Also thanked for their continuing sponsorships were Dr. Linda Koch, Larry Oberly and his wife, Edward Pany and his wife, Dun-Rite Electrical Service Inc. and Eckley E. Patch American Legion Post 470, as well as the impressive donations of Foster Jewelers. Other financial donors included LeRoy Brobst, Darrell Crook and his wife, Dalton Lorah and his wife, Robert Madden and his wife, Reichel Funeral Home, Schisler Funeral Home, Shulman Law Office, Daniel Tanczos and his wife and Tim Tepes Real Estate.

This year, more than $3,300 in prizes and monetary contribution were donated for the annual raffle by 41 individuals and businesses. With 20 prizes valued for at least $100 each, the raffle and the 50/50 drawing helped to make this year’s celebration the most successful fundraiser for the foundation and for the K-12 NASD students.

The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization created by a group of volunteers in October 2009. Any individual — whether a NASD graduate or not — is welcome to join the group in its mission to “raise funds to promote, enhance and supplement educational and cocurricular programs” for the benefit of NASD students.

Contact C. Shulman at 610-767-7824 for volunteer opportunities.