Just because they've laid an educational foundation doesn't mean they should rest on their laurels.

That was the message given by Mike Shafer, of Manager Quality Compliance, US Quality Assurance, to a group of Palmerton Area Junior High School students.Shafer served as guest speaker to the students at a banquet held recently at the Blue Ridge Country Club in Palmerton.As part of his speech, Shafer told the students that they should appreciate the moment to the fullest."This night is about the path for success you all set for yourselves," Shafer said. "It is a milestone."However, Shafer noted this particular accomplishment shouldn't be the end, but rather, the start."This isn't what you're working for," he said. "Your presence here tonight tells me you've already learned the importance of building a strong work ethic."Shafer told the students they've "already set the bar so high for yourselves; you won't settle for anything less.""I'm looking for a person who looks for a challenge," he said. "That person with that kind of work ethic will be much better than the person who relies on their intelligence."Shafer said it was important for the students to grasp the "enormity of effort it took for you to get here.""You've taken advantage of those opportunities," he said. "Look around; these people have worked just as hard."Shafer told the students it "fills me with hope to see you all here tonight.""Take tonight to reflect; step back from what you do on a daily basis, and thank your friends for being there with you," he said. "You've all done an outstanding job; never stop doing this kind of work."Thad Kosciolek, junior high school principal, and Kevin Carroll, were in charge of the awards presentation.Seventh grade honorees were Seth Andress; Brynn Boehler; Briana Caravello; Benjamin Everett; Tanner Fahringer; Lila Goodhile; Miranda Green; Shaelyn Heft; Tyler King; Owen Miller; Brock Moyer; Kendra Pekurny; Devon Santos; Gavin Scott and Jenna Wallace.To be selected, the students had to be among the top 10 students in the seventh grade class and/or first in their respective working sections as of the end of the third marking period.Eighth Grade honorees for the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence were Kristen Ahner; Madeleine Bush; Lauren Campbell; Charles Debski; Sarah Frohnheiser; Isaac George; Eliza Good; Jenna Haydt; Bruce Hettler; Amanda Hodes; Macie Hourt; Kylie Machinski; Madison Mummey; Lyndsey Nemeth; Katlyn Parsons; Dominic Shivone; Lindsay Stasko; Kaitlyn Stevens; Janel Tracy; Arissa Wertman; Kelly Westermann; and Jacyln Wood.The Sen. Argall Good Citizenship Award was presented to Matthew Semmel and Kelly Westermann.To be selected, each student had to average at least a 90-percent grade for the first three marking periods of eighth grade and scored advanced in Math and Reading on the PSSA.