Lehigh Carbon Community College has named the Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation as this year's recipient of the Collegiate Award of Distinction. The award will be presented to the Bermans' daughter Nancy Berman Bloch.

The LCCC Collegiate Award of Distinction is presented annually by the college's board of trustees to recognize a person or organization for unique contributions to the community, service and dedication in support of education, and to honor those who have demonstrated their commitment to the college and its students.In 1966 Muriel Berman was elected a founding trustee of LCCC and later served as chair of the board, serving on the board until 1982. She was also founding director of the LCCC Foundation.During their lifetime, both Philip and Muriel Berman honored the college by donating to the college exquisite artwork, which includes pieces by artists as notable as Picasso and Dali.The Berman Collection will serve as a rich academic resource for the college's art program and will be the core of a permanent display. This collection is only a part of the legacy of art that the Bermans generously provided to many educational institutions.Highlighting this list is the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University, a professorship of Jewish studies at Lafayette College and the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College.The Bermans' business pursuits included trucking and heavy-equipment, and later the Allentown department store Hess's.Philip Berman died in 1997, and Muriel Berman died in 2004.Continuing her parents' legacy, their daughter Nancy Berman Bloch, as president and CEO of the Berman Foundation, this year has provided funds to frame the artwork.Past winners of the LCCC Collegiate Award of Distinction include:1991: George Southworth, former LCCC trustee and Chamber of Commerce president1992: Fred Masenheimer, publisher of The Times News of Lehighton1993: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Fuller, who donated the land upon which the college is situated1994: Don Mershon, vice president of Lutron Electronics1995: Herman Clegg, chair of the LCCC Foundation Board1996: Ellen Millard Kern, vice president of Allentown-Lehigh Co. Chamber of Commerce1997: State Rep. Don Snyder1998: Edward Donley, former chair of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.1999: John (Nick) Watters, Jr., one of key founders of Family Business Center at LCCC2000: Ron Blisard, HR Director at Kovatch Corporation2001: Raymond Suhocki, President and COO, LVEDC2002: Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director LVWIB2003: Larry Wittig, CPA2004: Anthony Boyle, chair of Boyle Construction2005: George W. Elison, former LCCC Dean of Instruction2006: Sen. James J. Rhoades, chair of Senate Education Committee (died 2009)2007: Dale and Ruth Roth2008: Steven C. Seyer, retired faculty member LCCC2009: Morgan Foundation, instrumental in establishing John and Dorothy Morgan Center2010: Velia Rothrock, alumna/1978 graduate, friend and supporter2011: Lisa Jane Scheller, president and CEO of Silberline Manufacturing Co.2012: Dr. Clyde K. Hornberger, former LCTI Executive Director2013: Mrs. Marlene "Linny" Fowler, fervent advocate and friend of LCCC (died 2013)2014: Kovatch Organization