Palmerton Area High School's finest received their just due at the Class of 2010 Top Ten Percent Dinner.

Sponsored by the Palmerton Exchange Club, the event was held recently at the Terrace Restuarant in Walnutport.Thaddeus Kosciolek, junior high school principal, thanked the Exchange Club, students, and parents for making the event possible.Carol Boyce, superintendent of Palmerton Area School District, lauded the Exchange Club for their commitment to the students."Thank you for showing them the way," Boyce said. "This community sends you off with a great deal of spirit and love."Anna Strohl, president of the Exchange Club, then recognized high school Social Studies teacher Audrey Larvey with a certificate of appreciation for her years of support to the district."It's been said she runs her class with an iron fist," Strohl said. "But, she has more compassion for her students than anyone can imagine."As part of the event, a scholarship was given out to one student that meets the Exchange Club's criteria to further their education, a check was given out to a Carbon Career and Technical Institute student from the district, and an eighth grade Student of the Year received a plaque and certificate.The students who comprised this year's PAHS Top Ten Percent were Danielle Bissell, Jessica Fegley, Courtney Gruber, Stephanie Gursky, Frank "Jay" Hall, Daniel Haney, Tyler Holland, Robert Keyser, Madeline Koller, Marcus Pitts, Jesse Reis, Kassidy Stauder, Kimberly Varano, and Jennifer Villa.Bissell will attend Arcadia University, where she will major in BFA & Graphic Design. She is the daughter of Robert and Patricia Bissell.Fegley will attend Penn State University, where she will major in Landscape Architecture. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Cherie Fegley.Gruber will attend the Lehigh Carbon Community College Honors Program, where she will major in Sociology. She is the daughter of Lyman and Peggy Gruber.Gursky, who was unable to attend, will attend Penn State University, where she will major in Secondary Education/Math. She is the daughter of Randy and Tracey Gursky.Hall will Franklin & Marshall College, and while his major is undecided, he said it will likely include Pre-Med. He is the daughter of Frank and Theresa Hall.Haney will attend Bucknell University, where he plans to major in English. He is the son of Vicki Haney.Holland will attend Wilkes University, where he will major in Engineering. He is the son of Terry and Linda Holland.Keyser will attend Drexel University, where he will major in International Area Studies. He is the son of Peter and Carol Snyder.Koller will attend Mount St. Mary's College, where she will major in Biochemistry. She is the daughter of Ronald and Lisa Koller.Pitts will attend Susquehanna University, where he will major in Business Entrepreneurship. He is the son of Theodore and Maryann Pitts.Reis will attend Penn State University, where he will major in Marketing. He is the son of John and Pat Reis.Stauder will attend Penn State University, where she will major in Division I Undergraduate Studies (Pre-Med). She is the daughter of William and Kimberly Stauder.Varano will attend Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, where she will major in Vocal Performance. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Lori Varano.Villa will attend the Lehigh Carbon Community College Honors Program, where she will major in Communications. She is the daughter of Gerald and Sharon Villa.Ashley Hahn was recognized as the Carbon County Technical Institute's Student of the Year.Hahn will attend Bloomsburg University, where she will major in Graphic Design. She is the daughter of Thomas Hahn.Joshua Evans was recognized as the Palmerton Area Junior High School 8th grade Student of the Year.Evans is involved in the National Junior Honor Society, ACE Team, Envirothon, Gifted, Cross Country, and Wrestling. He is the son of Brian and Adelaida Evans.After the awards were given out, high school guidance counselor Vicki McHugh thanked the Exchange Club, and more specifically, Strohl, for their role in the event."On behalf of the Palmerton Area School District, we would like to thank the Palmerton Exchange Club for their generosity in recognizing our students," McHugh said. "A sincere thank you to Anna Strohl for all her hard work putting this evening together."Ironically enough, Strohl said the day marked 55 years to the day that she and her husband, Willard Strohl, proudly graduated from PAHS."Palmerton School District is one of the best," Strohl said. "Don't you think so?