Several Northern Lehigh School District students have been touted for their academic and athletic prowess.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link shared their accomplishments with school board members at Monday’s meeting.

The Slate wins awards

Link said that on Monday morning, he was notified by Christopher Barnes, Northern Lehigh High School English language arts teacher and adviser to The Slate, the high school newspaper, that they were selected for several impressive awards by the Pennsylvania Press Association.

He said they include:

• Editorial - Honorable Mention, “One Step Ahead,” A Proactive response to school shootings.

• Feature Story - First Place, Lily Groover, “All they want: The struggle of being a LGBTQ student at Northern Lehigh.”

• Cartooning/Art - Honorable Mention, Keona Dyer, “Thinking About College?”; Honorable Mention, Keona Dyer, “No Pictures, Please!”.

• Single-Page Front Layout - First Place, Editorial Staff: Lily Groover, Susan Gilsbach, Caitlin Kirk and Maddy Mack.

“Congratulations to all members of The Slate staff,” Link said.

What’s So Cool

Link also on Monday praised the Northern Lehigh Middle School’s What So Cool About Manufacturing Team for the video they produced for this year’s competition.

He said that middle school Principal David Hauser, Tonia Stoker, and he attended the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? Awards Ceremony, and that it was a great experience for the school’s team.

Link noted that for the first time, it was held at the Stabler Events Center, because it outgrew the venue at the Steel Stacks in south Bethlehem.

“Although the team did not get the outcome we all wanted, please know we are extremely proud of the video they produced,” Link said. “Each one of the students represented their classmates, and the entire school district in a way that demonstrated essential skills, such as teamwork, leadership, perseverance and goal setting.

“I hope that they found the experience beneficial and time well spent in crafting a product that both NLSD and B. Braun can take pride in.”

Link said this years team members consisted of Lauralie Ayala-Barreto, Ethan Binder, Bria Everett, Brooke Glaze, Charles Frystack and Michael Pepe, along with their adviser, Mary Frank.

Scholarship Award Winner

Also on Monday, Link noted that he, along with Dr. Tania Stoker had the privilege of seeing high school senior Ainsley Behr, be notified that Cedar Crest College selected her as one of their scholarship award winners.

Link said that a representative from Cedar Crest came to Northern Lehigh High School to notify Ainsley of the scholarship ($1,000 for four years).

“It was a wonderful surprise for Ainsley and her family who were also in attendance,” Link said. “It is a great feeling when our students are recognized for their hard work.”

Player of the Year

Finally, Link acknowledged high school senior Aubrey Pollard for being selected the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Link noted that Pollard is a 1,000-point scorer and ending her career with 1,426 points.

He said Pollard was also recently named the MVP and Scholar Athlete of the Lehigh Valley Senior All-Star Basketball Classic.

Pollard will continue her academic and athletic career at DeSales University.