The Knightly News
North Penn Alumni's Connection to NPSD
In This Issue
Get Your North Penn Alumni Association T-Shirt!
Golf to Give Back: NPSD Educational Foundation 13th Annual Golf Classic
What's New at NPHS: NP Salsa Club
Alumni Spotlight: Phil Hunt '73
Year in Review
Reunion News
Alumni Association Involvement
Quick Links
  

 

  
  
   
  
  Upcoming Events
  
    
NPSD Educational Foundation Charity Golf Classic
Monday, August 18
  
NPHS Homecoming 2014 and
Pre-Game Picnic
Friday, October 10
 5 p.m.
  
North Penn Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame Induction
Saturday, October 11
7 p.m.
Send Us Your Pictures 
 

Help the Alumni Association establish a database of pictures!

 

The North Penn School District uses Phanfare to share photos and videos.

 

NPSD alumni, families, staff and community members are encouraged to submit their photos and videos here

 

For additional information, or questions about how to submit pictures through this site, please contact Chris Doerr at [email protected].

  
Update Your Information
 
Make sure the North Penn Alumni Associaiton has the most up-to-date information by clicking here!   
Let's Stay in Touch
  
Want to know the latest news, events and highlights from North Penn?
  
Click the links below to follow us on Twitter and visit various NPSD websites that showcase up-to-date information.
  
Follow me on Twitter
  
Like us on Facebook
  
   
In an effort to improve communications, the district has created "Say What?!" to provide people with a place to get answers and to address rumors and inaccurate information that sometimes circulate throughout the community.
  
  
Press Releases 
  
  
nptv 
  
Click on the logo above to check out NPTV's media library, photos and video production blogs - new content daily!
  
 Visit our blog 
Check out what is happening at NPHS through the Knight Crier's website.
North Penn Television
 
The man behind NPTV: Bob Gillmer, North Penn Class of '89, sitting in the NPTV control room.
  
Bob Gillmer, a North Penn High School alumnus (Class of 1989) is the Communication Media Coordinator at NPHS and joined the NPTV program in 1993. He and fellow teacher Kyle Berger, who also graduated from North Penn, teach students to produce real television shows, for a real cable channel, with real deadlines.
 
NPTV students can take either television classes or join the NPTV club to learn all aspects of television production: 
equipment, writing, producing, composition, editing and much more. NPTV students film everything from sports games and matches, to concerts, to other special events and produce segments for NPTV, including the weekly Mornings show and other news and special reports. As Gillmer says, "the students are at the core of their own learning."
 
Check out some videos from NPTV's past!
NP Marching Knights at Eagles Game 1987
NP Marching Knights at the Eagles Game, 1987
   
  
1982 NPMK at the Festival of States
1982 NPMK at the Festival of States
A+A+A=Excellence 1999
A+A+A=Excellence, 1999
  
North Penn Marching Knights 1995 The Mass
"The Mass" North Penn Marching Knights, 1995
North Penn Visual Ensemble 1988
North Penn Visual Ensemble, 1988
  
  
NPSD - Our Children Our Future 2002
NPSD - Our Children Our Future, 2002
  
2012 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals - Penndale Middle Sch - Weird Science Div 3
2012 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals - Penndale Middle School

 

Class of 2000 Time Capsule Opening
Class of 2000 Time Capsule Opening

 

 

 

Interview with John Oates
Interview with John Oates, NPHS Class of 1967

 

  
Featured Article: NPAAA 2014 Hall of Fame Class 

The 2014 NPAAA Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 7 p.m. at North Penn High School. The Event is free and open to the public. This year's inductees include: 

  • Greg Moyer, Lifetime Achievement award recipient, North Penn High School, 1971
  • Donald Ryan, Athletic Director, North Penn High School, 1958
  • Stanley H. Geiger, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1974
  • Jason Harken, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1989
  • Dan Dunigan, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1990
  • Scott Walker, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1991
  • Josh Henson, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1992
  • Russell W. McGeehan, Athlete, North Penn High School, 1993
  • Lauren French, Athlete, North Penn High School, 2008
  • 2003 Boys Swimming Team, PIAA State Champions
  • 2004 Boys Water Polo, PIAA State Champions
  • 2004 Boys Swimming, PIAA State Champions
  • 2006 Girls Water Polo, PIAA State Champions

In addition, the North Penn Alumni Athletic Association, as part of its Sports Hall of Fame mission, gives Special Recognition to teams that did not achieve PIAA State Championship level, but won league a championship along with other NPHS league championship teams in any given year; or a team(s) that in the opinion of the NPAAA Board of Directors should be recognized for their unique contribution to North Penn High School sports history. This year they will recognize the following teams:

  • 1985 Girls Tennis Team
  • 1988 Girls Tennis Team
  • 1993 Girls' Tennis Team

  

The North Penn Alumni Athletic Association Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame will honor North Penn High School and Legacy School graduates who have made significant contributions to society in the Arts, Business, Education, Legal, Medical, Performing Arts, Public Service or the Sciences fields of endeavor.

 

Do you know a graduate you would like to nominate to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award? Please visit www.npaaa.org for more information.

 

Upcoming Events
    
NPSD Educational Foundation Golf Classic

All alumni are invited for a day on the green at PineCrest Country Club on Monday, August 18. Participants will receive welcome gifts, use of a golf cart, a buffet lunch, course refreshments and dinner. Prizes will be offered for our winners of the on-course games. Proceeds will go to the North Penn Educational Foundation. To RSVP,

please email [email protected].

  
NPHS Homecoming 2014: Alumni Pre-Game Picnic
Show your NP Pride and come to the Homecoming football game on Friday, October 10. Before the game, stop by the Alumni Association Pre-Game Picnic at 5 p.m. to catch up with fellow alumni. More information on ticket sales will be available in August on the North Penn Alumni Association website.
 
North Penn Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame Induction
Celebrate a night of North Penn alumni achievements on Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m. for the 10th Annual Hall of Fame Induction! This year, honoree Greg Moyer, Class of 1971, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Get Your North Penn
Alumni Association T-Shirt!
 

Celebrate your North Penn pride and support the North Penn Alumni Association! The t-shirt designs will be printed on a light blue, 100% cotton t-shirt. Order online or return this order form to North Penn Alumni Association at 401 E. Hancock Street, Lansdale, PA 19446. All orders must be in by July 3, 2014.  

 

**We will contact you via EMAIL when your order is ready. ALL orders are to be picked up in person at the Educational Service Center, 401 E. Hancock St. in Lansdale, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Please allow 4-6 weeks AFTER June 20 for notification about pick-up.**

 

Mail Orders: Make checks (NO CASH) payable to North Penn Alumni Association, 401 E. Hancock St., Lansdale, PA 19446.

 

Questions? Email [email protected] or call

(215) 853-1032.

Golf to Give Back: NPSD Educational Foundation 13th Annual Golf Classic
  

 
 On Monday, August 18, all North Penn alumni are invited out for a day on the green with their friends and family to support a worthy cause. Proceeds from the event will go towards the North Penn Educational Foundation. 
  

For $125 a person, all participants will receive welcome gifts, use of a golf cart, a buffet lunch, course refreshments and dinner. Fabulous prizes will go to our winners of the on-course games.

  

Registration and lunch will be from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Golfers will tee off at 1 p.m. To end the day, a nice dinner will start at 6 p.m. 

  

If you can't join us for the Golf Classic but would like to donate or become a sponsor, contact Christine Liberaski at (215) 853-1020.

 

For more information on the event, and event photos from the most recent Golf Classic, click here.

What's New at NPHS: Salsa Club

 

Photo and quote courtesy of The Knight Crier.
  
The NPHS Salsa Club hosted their first annual Salsa Night on May 9. Students learned the basics of salsa dancing in the NP Gymnasium.

North Penn High School just got a lot spicier.

 

The latest addition of the NPHS Salsa Club brings Latin dance to Lansdale.

 

On May 9, the NPHS Salsa Club held their first annual Salsa Night in the NPHS gymnasium. Student instructors taught willing dancers how to dance the merengue, salsa and bachata, a type of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic.

 

But students didn't just dance for fun; they danced for a cause.

 

"There have been hurricanes in Mexico, so we tried to raise money for that. Also, we tried to raise awareness for our club and provide a dance where people can learn about Spanish music as well," president of the NPHS Salsa Club Darshan Bhalodia, Class of 2014, said.

 

Students in all grades can join the club to learn the basics of salsa dancing and participate in other Hispanic cultural activities.

 

"We hosted a lot of different activities this year, from taco-making to decorating cookies for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). We also had many activities with committed club members," Bhalodia said.

 

Brad Deckel, Class of 2015, serves as Public Relations Chair for the club. He hopes that next year, more students will join the club to enjoy fun times and learn a little something, too.

 

"I hope [the club] is even more successful than it was this year! We had great turn-outs and memories, but hopefully more people will be interested in the club next year," Deckel said.

 

Come fall, students who crave culture and love to learn can join the club for an enriching experience...and add a little extra spice to their North Penn school day.

 Alumni Spotlight: Phil Hunt '73
   

It's always important to remember, and honor, your roots.

 

North Penn alumnus Phil Hunt, class of '73, and General Manager of WNPV AM 1440 radio station in Lansdale, gives back to the North Penn community through his involvement with the North Penn Alumni Association.

 

With an alumni network of over 40,000 knights and maidens, North Penn School District has a notably impressive alumni community. Hunt, a member of the Alumni Association Planning Committee, hopes to unite current NPSD students with graduates all across the country.

 

"On the committee, we look at the different ideas and avenues to get the Alumni Association's name out in front of the graduates. Whether it's participating in reunions, or whether it's participating in graduation, it's all in an effort to grass root the organization from small to hopefully big in the future," Hunt said.

 

Given the size of North Penn High School alone, Hunt recognizes the need to connect students with alumni.

 

"There's this untapped resource that could be available to North Penn students in the future, that resource being alumni. Whether it's participating in career fairs, or having a graduate come back to speak to specific classes, it can only grow. The ultimate idea is that if we can hook-up students of today with graduates, then it's going to be a win-win for everybody," Hunt said.

 

As a student at North Penn High School, Hunt participated in the Career Study program in the then brand new NPTV studio. He got the "media-broadcasting bug" that he pursued in college, and has since been working at WNPV for over 38 years.

 

"My favorite part of my job is the interaction that the radio station has with the community. For example, we had people work all night during the primary election to give our listeners and the people who cared enough to want to know who won the election, thus who will be running for office in the fall," Hunt said.

 

As a media pioneer in our community and a dedicated NP alumnus, Hunt stressed the value of a North Penn education.

 

"It's so important to not forget where you come from. Once graduates move onto college or get out into the work place, they'll realize that they had an excellent education and excellent opportunities at North Penn. They may not realize it as they're students in high school today, but when they get out and have an opportunity to reflect back, they'll realize that they truly were at one of the finest high schools and one of the best school districts in the country," Hunt said.

 

Check out WNPV AM Radio 1440 here.

Year in Review
  

The North Penn School District students, faculty and staff survived a jam-packed fall; braved a bitterly cold winter; rounded out the year with a busy spring; and now have hopes for a relaxing, sunny summer. Come fall, some NPSD students will move on to the next stage in our district, while the graduating high school seniors will attend college, work or take some time to plan their next steps. But for now, we will look back on the top highlights from this school year and recognize some of our proudest moments!

 

FALL:

  • Inglewood Elementary School started the school year in a renovated building and celebrated their 50th anniversary. Click here for photos of the renovations and ceremony.
  • On Saturday, September 28, the North Penn Marching Knights celebrated their 40th anniversary for the annual Knight of Sound. Marching Knights director Michael Britcher led the band through their high-energy show, called "Unity." Inspired by the sights and sounds of Asia, the show featured fast tempos, tyco drums and tai chi, and never-before-seen visuals. In case you missed the show, you can watch it here.
  • Dr. Stephen G. Somkuti (Class of '78) was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame by the North Penn Alumni Association on Saturday, October 12. Somkuti is one of the few doctors in the nation who specializes in reproductive endocrinology, and is one out of three doctors in the entire country that takes care of this one type of procedure. He serves at the director of the InVitro Fertilization program at Abington Memorial Hospital; is an assistant professional of Thomas Jefferson University Medical School; and has authored two books.
  • On October 19, over 30 alumni joined North Penn High School students at the Homecoming Pre-Game Picnic. Check out event photos by clicking here.
  • In the November 5 election for the North Penn Board of School Directors, three incumbent candidates retained their seats. Newly elected was Republican Josie Charnock, who took the fourth seat.
  • The Class of 1963 celebrated their 50th reunion with a tour of Penndale Middle School, formerly North Penn High School. Representatives from Penndale's chapter of National Junior Honor Society led the alumni on a tour of the school and spoke about being a current student. Read more about the special reunion.
  • On November 12, the school board discussed Hatfield Elementary School renovations. These renovations, set to begin in June, will include an extension of the health suite and main offices; a new parking lot and drop-off loop; and the addition of unisex bathrooms to newly-renovated classrooms. As Hatfield Elementary School will be closed next year due to the renovations, students will attend Pennfield Middle School for the 2014-2015 school year. These students will be housed in modulars while all middle school classes will take place inside the main building.
  • The Board of Directors appointed Stephen B. Skrocki as the new Director of Business Administration in November.  

WINTER:

  • Nine North Penn High School students were named as semifinalists in the 2013-2014 National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC): Stacy Chang, Sam Curlee, Courtney Jirsa, Min Kim, Andreas Kraus, Andrew O'Brien, Monisha Ravi, Ryan Reynolds and Laxmi Yaratha.
  • The North Penn Alumni Association, along with many other NPSD groups, marched in the 63rd annual Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade on November 23. Check out photos from the parade.
  • The violation of fire codes forced the relocation of the traditional North Penn High School Christmas tree.Instead of standing tall in the NP auditorium lobby, the tree was placed outside for the holiday season.
  • The Bridle Path/Montgomery Select String Ensemble performed at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL.
  • North Penn High School's Bill Bartle was nominated by the North Penn United Way as a North Penn United Way 2014 Superhero for Kids.
  • The NPSD Booster Club welcomed the Harlem Wizards to compete against NPSD staff members on January 25 at NPHS. Alumnus Danny Geiger '08 played on the "Dream Team" and represented the North Penn Alumni Association. Click here for photos of the game.
  • North Penn High School seniors in the Engineering Design and Development class, part of the NP Engineering Academy, presented their research at the Philly Materials Day at Drexel University on Saturday, February 2.
  • More than 70 North Penn High School football players participated in the ninth annual North Penn Reading Super Bowl event on Tuesday, February 5. These readers visited all 13 North Penn elementary schools and read to more than 5,500 children in 230 classrooms across the district as part of the reading incentive program.

  

SPRING:

  • Rosemary "Roe" Burbich, Cindy Danko and Barb Sturgeon received the NPSD Superintendent's Honor Roll award for their high job performance and their positive impact on their schools, students and co-workers.
  • Linda Westerlund, NPHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor, was named to the FBLA Adviser Wall of Fame for the Phi Beta Lambda chapter.
  • In April, the North Penn High School Academic Decathlon team was named the Pennsylvania State Champions for the second year in row. The team went on to represent North Penn High School and Pennsylvania at the national competition in Honolulu, Hawaii later in April.
  • The Washington Post and US News and World Report named North Penn High School in their listings of top schools.
  • The North Penn High School theatre program stunned audience members with their rendition of Disney's Beauty and the Beast for the annual spring musical.  
  • North Penn High School Knights Baseball welcomed alumni and family to their first annual Knights of the Diamond Alumni game and Knights of Fame induction. Former head coach Carl Giuranna was inducted into the Knight of Fame prior to the alumni game. Learn more at www.northpennbaseball.org, and click here for photos.
  • The North Penn IRON Knights Elementary Triathlon took place at North Penn High School on Saturday, May 31. Children in grades K-6 swam, biked and ran their way to victory. Click here for video.
  • The North Penn Alumni Association welcomed nearly 1,000 new members as the Class of 2014! Members of the Class of 2014 will go on to study at many prestigious post-secondary institutions including New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, the College of William and Mary and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.Several students are going on to serve in all branches of the military including the Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force. Click here for pictures of graduation. Best of luck with your future endeavors!
Reunion News
  • The Class of 1966 has casual get-togethers the 3rd Thursday of every month. They are at Molly Maguire's on Main Street, Lansdale. Starting time is 5:30-6 p.m.
  • Save the date for the Class of 1965 50th Reunion Weekend on September 18, 19 and 20, 2015. For more information, please contact Kathy (Ziegler) McRoberts at [email protected] or 267-404-2572.
  • Save the date for the NPHS Class of 1964 50th Reunion on November 29, 2014 at Bay Pony Inn from 6-10 p.m. For more information please contact Doug White [email protected] or 215-256-6691 extension 16. 

     

 Reunion information can also be found on the
North Penn Alumni Association website.     

 

Send us your Reunion News by e-mailing [email protected].

 

 

 

Alumni Association Involvement

  

LEAVE A LEGACY: Help establish the North Penn Alumni Association!

 

Four committees are organized under the North Penn Alumni Association board. All alumni are invited to participate on a committee. Committees will meet 2-4 times a year and around alumni events. No experience necessary; just a desire to help and a love for North Penn!

 

Publicity Committee: This committee will work to increase the visibility and knowledge of the North Penn Alumni Association to North Penn alumni, NPSD staff members and the community. Sample events include community days and recruitment events.

 

Events Committee: Members on this committee will plan monthly events open to all North Penn alumni. Events include happy hours, family-friendly events, reunions and the Homecoming Pre-Game Picnic.

 

Fundraising Committee: Those involved with this committee will work to raise money for the North Penn Alumni Association through events and alumni engagement. Funds will support the Alumni Association and will provide the graduating high school senior class with a commemorative gift.

 

Networking/Career Development Committee: This committee will work to connect current NPSD students with alumni through College Fairs, Career Nights and various career planning resources.