The Knightly News
North Penn Alumni's Connection to NPSD
In This Issue
Community Mourns the Loss of Mr. Frederick
A Reflection on Senior Year and Graduation
Class of 2009 Graduate was Alaska Bound for Autism
A Family of Knights and Maidens
Year in Review
NPAAA Selects Class of 1978 Graduate to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Finish the Fence
Reunion News
Alumni in the News
Quick Links
  

 

  
  
   
  
  Upcoming Events
  
Knight Out at Prism Brewery
Wednesday, July 31 5-7 pm
  
NPEF Charity Golf Classic
Monday, August 19
PineCrest Golf Club
$125 per person
  
Family Day at Freddy Hill Farm
Saturday, September 7
2 - 4 pm
$5 per person
  
NPEF Charity Luncheon
Saturday, October 6
11 am to 1 pm
Bacco Restaurant, North Wales
Send Us Your Pictures 
 

Help the Alumni Association establish a database of pictures!

 

The North Penn School District uses Phanfare to share its 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 doerrcj@npenn.org.

  
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.
Upcoming Events
 
Knight Out with the Alumni Association
Catch up with old friends with a Knight Out at Prism Brewery on Wednesday, July 31 from 5 to 7 pm. Prism Brewery is located at 810 Dickerson Rd (around back, close to the train tracks) in North Wales, PA. To RSVP, click here.  
  
NPSD Educational Foundation Charity Golf Classic
All alumni are invited to participate in the NPEF Golf Classic on Monday, August 19 at PineCrest Golf Club. Price is $125 per golfer and includes a welcome gift, buffet lunch, 18 holes of golf, golf cart, course refreshments and dinner. Fabulous prizes will be offered for winners of the on-course games. Sponsorships start at $100. For more  information, please call 215-853-1020 or www.npenn.org/foundation
  
Family Day at Freddy Hill Farm
Bring the kids and come spend an afternoon at Freddy Hill Farm  with the North Penn Alumni Association on Saturday, September 7 from 2 to 4 pm. Cost for mini golf is $5 per person and should be paid at Freddy Hill Farm. To RSVP, please click here.
  
NPSD Educational Foundation Charity Luncheon
For just $25 a person, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat luncheon on Saturday, October 6 from 11am to 1 pm at Bacco Italian Restaurant in North Wales, PA. To purchase your tickets, please contact 215-853-1020.
Community Mourns Loss of Mr. Frederick 
The North Penn community suffered a great loss on Saturday, July 20 when former North Penn High School principal and band director, Stephen Frederick passed away. Mr. Frederick touched the lives of thousands of North Penn High School alumni through his love of music and education.
  

Mr. Frederick began his career with North Penn High School in 1972, when he joined North Penn High School as band director and director of the award-winning North Penn Marching Knights. During this time, Frederick and the Marching Knights developed into the nationally recognized team that it is today. Frederick served as band director until 1990. During this time, he instilled a love of music for many of his students. Mr. Frederick left the district for two years for his first administrative position with the Colonial School District. He could not stay away from North Penn, though, and in 1993 joined North Penn Junior High School as principal. In 1994 he returned to NPHS as an assistant principal. In 2000, Frederick was appointed principal of North Penn High School.

 

In 2003, Stephen Frederick ended a 35-year career in education when he retired as principal of North Penn High School. "During his tenure at North Penn High School, Steve dedicated himself to the well-being of the students and staff. He was loved by the student body and staff and provided the school with a drive and focus for excellence," said Mr. Burt Hynes, NPHS principal.

 

In addition to his various positions with North Penn, Frederick has also served as liaison to the Central Montgomery County Vocational Technical School and on the Middle States Evaluation Team. He was an announcer with WNPV 1440 part-time and an adjudicator of band competitions. In addition, he received numerous accolades and awards through the years including the President's Award of Merit and Outstanding Educator of the Year awards from the Lansdale Jaycees, the Outstanding Educator and Service to Community award from the North Penn Chamber of Commerce, inducted in the Cavalcade Bands Hall of Fame and most recently was given the Excellence in Education award from the NPSD Educational Foundation.

 

In 1995, Mr. Frederick co-founded the Montgomery County Concert Band, a concert band where players come from a variety of daily occupations and backgrounds including education, homemakers, the business world, computer industry, clergy, systems analysts and students. All participants began their musical journey participating in school music programs and the Montgomery County Concert Band allowed them to rekindle their love of playing band music in the concert ensemble setting. Since its beginning the band has presented over 225 concerts for a variety of community celebrations, seasonal/park concerts and holiday events throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

"Steve will be remembered by all who knew him as someone with integrity, compassion and a sense of humor. Both the North Penn School District and the North Penn community are lucky to have worked with such an outstanding man," said Dr. Curt Dietrich, superintendent of North Penn School District.

 

Donations in Mr. Frederick's memory can be made to the following organizations: The Stephen E. Frederick Music Award, an already established scholarship for NPHS seniors going into music education, (Contact: Michael Britcher at 215-368-9800 x 4535); the St. John's UCC Renovations Fund (www.st-johns-ucc.org); or the Montgomery County Concert Band (www.montcoband.org). Click here to for an article honoring and remembering Mr. Frederick in the Lansdale Reporter.

 

To honor Mr. Frederick, there will be a celebration of his life at North Penn High School Auditorium on Saturday, July 27. The receiving line will be from 11 am to 1 pm and the celebration will begin at 2 pm. Please note that there will be limited seating and people are encouraged to arrive early. North Penn High School is located at 1340 Valley Forge Road in Lansdale, PA.   

Frederick with Marching Knights celebrating the 1973-1974 season
A Reflection on Senior Year and Graduation 
Class of 2013 graduates, Julia Boyle and Estefania Maldonado

This article was written by Estefania Maldonado, Class of 2013. Stef will be attending Hofstra University in the fall and majoring in Business.

 

Finally, the year we all had been waiting for had arrived: senior year. Besides keeping up with the school work, a part-time job and other miscellaneous tasks, most of us added another To-Do list to our agenda, which included applying for college, committing to college, going to prom and graduating.

 

Consequently, after the first weeks of school, I started to feel the stress and anxiety that came with the tedious, nerve-wracking task of filling out the various college and Financial Aid applications. But after finally completing all of them, I, happily, checked it off my senior list and moved on to the next task. As I got the many acceptance letters, as well as the many painful rejection letters, in the mail, I made up my mind and chose the college that best fitted my needs. Committing to college: Check! Soon enough, the hallways were full of seniors wearing their college sweatshirts, including myself. Our feelings of satisfaction and happiness after finally knowing where we were going were blatantly written on our faces.

 

Then came May, and with it, prom. All of us were excited about what dress we were going to buy, what heels would match the dress, and of course, who would be the guy, or girl, that would ask us to prom. Finally as that special day arrived, we all had expectations of how the night would turn out, for me, it was awesome! Even though I had gone to prom in 2011, this year's prom was way better. Not only because it was my graduating class, but also because of the great venue. 

 

After that night, I realized there was only one thing left in the list: graduation. It was unbelievable how fast this year had gone by, and now, we were just weeks away from graduating. But the closer we got to our last day in school, the more it started to hit us. We were finally leaving the one place we had spent so much time of our lives in. It had almost become a second home for us. Walking everyday to my next class, I started to realize that this would be the last time I was going to roam the hallways of North Penn High School as a student. And as the days went by, the day of Reflections arrived and I was, once again, struck by feelings of nostalgia and melancholy, stirred up by the performances, especially their last song of the amazing, talented students of our class. I still, vividly, remember seeing my friends on stage performing "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons, one of my favorite songs, and it almost brought me to tears. That night made me think of all of the people I had met in the past three years and all of the great memories we had made. However, although I knew I would miss everyone and everything, there were also mixed feelings of joy and anticipation for what was and is to come next in my life.

 

Wednesday, June 19th. That morning seemed like any ordinary day. But at 6:00 pm, everything changed. It was finally happening. We were led outside and into Crawford Stadium, which was overflowing with proud family members and friends of all of the graduates. After sitting down and hearing the moving speeches from our valedictorian, Lijia Xie, our salutatorian, Jeanne Shi, and our Class President, Alexandra Simon, names started to be called out. Then, as my row started to stand and line up to get the diplomas, it dawned on me that all of the hard work had paid off and I was overcome by a great feeling of accomplishment. As I took my diploma, and went back to my seat, I couldn't help but smile. We, the Class of 2013, had finally graduated.

Class of 2009 Graduate was Alaska Bound for Autism Awareness 
Jimmy Wittmer on his trip to Alaska

This summer, class of 2009 graduate, Jimmy Wittmer found a way to combine his passion for motorcycles, traveling and special education into one. Jimmy made the 18-day, 7,500 mile trip to Juneau, Alaska and then back to Lansdale, Pennsylvania in support of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Research Center (SPARC).

 

"I knew that I wanted to go on a trip to Alaska for a while. But when I was teaching individuals with disabilities on the impoverished Island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas during my spring break, I met Dr. Corinne Murphy, executive director of SPARC," said Jimmy. "I was telling Corinne that I wanted to continue keeping special education on the forefront of my mind and we thought about mixing my trip and autism awareness. It brought a real meaning to my trip."

 

After a few months of intensive planning, Jimmy departed on May 30. During his trip, he averaged about 700-750 miles a day, traveling only one day for over 1,000 miles. He spent the evening at hotels, hostels and campgrounds. He also stopped at several destinations to meet with professionals studying autism and visited clinics for children with autism. He made stops in Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, British Columbia and Juneau, Alaska.  

 

Jimmy's Bike on the Road

When asked about entertainment during his long days on the road, Jimmy said he listened to books on tape, specifically the Twilight Saga. "I wanted something that was very light but still entertaining," he said. He laughed and said that he was Team Edward.

 

He returned home safely on June 15. "Overall, this trip was a trip of a life time for me. While I may have done some things differently, I had the most incredible experience. I met some incredible people and had amazing conversations about autism," said Jimmy. "I also was fortunate to see how individuals with autism receive services all over. And, in the end, we raised over $2,300 and counting."

 

Jimmy is already brainstorming ideas for his next trip, when he wants to cover the continental United States, specifically the Florida Keys and Grand Canyon. Learn more about Jimmy's trip through his Alaska Bound for Autism blog. For more information or to donate to SPARC, please click here.

 

Professionals at GABA Vancouver and Jimmy.
A Family of Knights and Maidens 
Clair "Butch" and wife Arlayne, Alicia and her husband Tom and their daughter Aimee are reflected in a mirror past family photos. Photo by Mark C Psoras\The Reporter
Graduation is always a proud time as parents, siblings, grandparents come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduate. For the Class of 2013, they mastered academics, sports and most importantly, the walk from K-Pod to A-Pod in under four minutes.  
  

This year's graduation ceremony had a little extra meaning as Aimee Clemens, the youngest child of Tom and Alicia (nee van der Berg) Clemens, graduated from North Penn High School, the same school her parents graduated from in 1977. Tom's parents, Arlayne Gottshall Clemens and Clair "Butch" Clemens also went to North Penn area schools. Arylayne graduated in 1950 from Hatfield Joint Consolidated High School, which later merged with Lansdale High School and North Wales High School. Butch attended J. Henry Sprecht School on Forty Foot Road in Towamencin Township until 10th grade, when he left to join the family business.

 

North Penn pride runs in this entire family. Arylayne and Butch had five children, all of whom graduated from North Penn High School and many of their children went on to graduate from NPHS, as well. Tom and Alicia have four children, who also went to NPHS - Bradford (2000), Elizabeth (2003), Alicia "Sissy" (2006) and Aimee (2013).

 

The whole Clemens' Family is one of many families with a long history relationship with North Penn High School. Their story was featured in the Reporter, which included the family's view points on the school, common memories and experiences they had. To view the Reporter article, please click here.

 

The North Penn Alumni Association classifies families where a parent and child have both graduated from NPHS as a "legacy family." If your family is a legacy family, please send us pictures of your North Penn graduates to bergmamv@npenn.org and your picture will be featured on the North Penn Alumni website.

Year in Review
As each school year ends, it is the perfect time to reflect on all the many accomplishments that North Penn School District's staff and students accomplished. Here is a review of our proudest memories!
 
Fall
  • North Wales Elementary School received a bronze medal from the US Department of Agricultural as part of the Healthier US School Challenge. 11North Penn High School students were named in the National Merit Scholarship. Later in the year, it was announced that two students would go on to receive the scholarship.
  • NPHS Japanese teacher Noriko Coyle received the Teacher of the Year Award from the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) in the K-12 category.
  • Gerson "Gus" Rosenberg, Ph.D (Class of '62) was named into the North Penn Athletic Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame. Rosenberg is the C. McCollister Evarts, MD Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering; Chief of the Division of Artificial Organs, and Co-Director for the Biomedical Engineering Institute at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He has over 35 years of experience in the design, development and application of various circulatory support and heart replacement devices.

Winter

  • Lijia Xie (Class of '13) was named a semifinalist of the 72nd annual Science Talent Search, sponsored by the Intel Corporation and the Society for Science & the Public, the nation's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. He presented his project on "Abberant Methylation of the RASSF1A Gene as a Biomarker for the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma."
  • The North Penn Alumni Association released the 2013 Alumni Directory and held its first planning committee meeting.
  • North Penn School District was named the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Spring

  • North Penn High School was named a top nation's top high school by national publications including, the Washington Post, US News and World Report and Newsweek.
  • The NPSD Educational Foundation honored 5 individuals and groups at its Cinco de Mayo Silent Auction and Fiesta. Honorees included Dan Reavy as Supporter and Friend, Jim Finnemeyer(Class of '64) as Outstanding Alumnus Award, Stephen Frederick with the Excellence in Education Award, the North Penn Technology & Engineering Department with the Exemplary Educators Award and Carol Fink with the Heart of the Foundation award.
  • The North Penn Alumni Association hosted its first Knight Out at Bacco Restaurant for NPSD staff members who graduated from the high school.
  • Over 990 members from the Class of 2013 joined the NP Alumni Association by graduating on Wednesday, June 19.
NPAAA Selects Class of 1978 Graduate to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

The North Penn Athletic Alumni Association's Board of Directors selected its Third "Lifetime Achievement" Hall of Fame Inductee. In 2011, the NPAAA established a "Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame" that is installed at North Penn High School. The NPAAA has now expanded its mission to honor all North Penn High School and Legacy School graduates who have made significant contributions to society in the Arts, Sciences, Law, Medical, Business, Performing Arts, and Public Service or Education fields of endeavor.

 

The NPAAA Selection Committee has named Dr. Stephen G. Somkuti, North Penn High School Class of 1978, as its Third Inductee. Stephen will be honored at the Ninth Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony at 7:00 pm on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at North Penn High School.

Dr. Somkuti is a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist who completed his training at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is an attending physician at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, PA, and Medical Director of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Program at the hospital's Toll Center for Reproductive Sciences. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Jefferson Medical College, a visiting scientist in the Department of Biology at Lehigh University and Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences in the School of Medicine at Temple University.

 

All alumni are invited to attend the Ninth Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at NPHS to help recognize Dr. Somkuti, the eight Hall of Fame athletes, and two PIAA State Championship teams who have distinguished themselves and North Penn High School. The Event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit  www.npaaa.org.

Finish the Fence 

North Penn School District is proud to announce a special initiative to raise funds to finish the fence at the NPHS baseball field. The NPHS Knights won the PIAA State Championship in June and the school board is confident there are local businesses who would not only like to congratulate the Knights on their successful season, but reach the Knight's vast fan base and beyond, by purchasing advertising space on the baseball field.

 

Advertisements start at $1,000 for a one-year contract and go to $2,400 for a three-year contract. Each year, ads in the field will be seen by the thousands of people who attend home baseball games. Additionally, since anyone attending an event at Crawford Stadium must walk past the baseball field, advertising in this location will also be seen by tens of thousands of others attending football games, commencement, track and field competitions, Knight of Sound and other large-scale events.

 

Proceeds from ads sold for the baseball stadium will be used to fund the cost to complete a fence around the field. Currently the fence is located only in the outfield, and this final phase of construction will complete the facility. NPSD is committed to pursuing alternative sources of revenue, such as advertising, to continue the quality programs for which NPSD is known.

 

Advertising with the North Penn ADvantage Program is easy. Contact Erin Crew at creweg@npenn.org or 215-853-1027 or click here for further details.

Reunion News

Class of 1988 will be holding their 25th Reunion on Saturday, November 30, 2013 from 7 to 11 pm at PJ Whelihans in Blue Bell, PA. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Ticket price includes drink specials, North Penn Knights punch bowl fountain, hors d'oeuvres and North Penn photo booth. A DJ will also be on site and a band will be announced. For more information on the reunion, payment information and hotel accommodations, please click here.

 

Class of 1973 will be holding their 40th Reunion on September 28, 2013 from 7 to 11 pm at Revivals Restaurant in Perkasie, PA. The cost is $55 per person and includes appetizers, mini-buffet and desserts. There will be a DJ, dancing and prizes. Deadline for reservations is September 1, 2013. Contact Debbe Bergey Baker for information or to buy tickets at 215-855-4892 or deborah_baker@merck.com.

 

Class of 1968 will be holding their 45 year Reunion at Center Square Golf Course on Saturday, October 5. Center Square Golf Club is located at  2620 Skippack Pike in Norristown, PA. Cost is $55.00 per person and includes a buffet, cash bar and entertainment. Mail check payable to North Penn Class of 1968 to: Maxine Detweiler,1529 Morris Road, Lansdale, PA 19446.


Send us your Reunion News by e-mailing nphsalumni@npenn.org
Reunion information can also be found on the
North Penn Alumni Association website.  

Alumni in the News

Kevin Brown, Class of 2003, is currently an associate producer for NBC Sports, where he has covered five Stanley Cup Finals, four Tour de Frances and the London Olympics. As of next football season, Brown will be promoted to tape producer on Sunday Night Football. Congratulations Kevin on this exciting promotion!

 

Congratulations to Alison Geib, Class of 2006 and Greg Coppola, Class on 2005 on their marriage! The couple and their unique love story were featured in the Lansdale Reporter. Their romance started at a NPHS favorite - when they met standing in line at the Cookie Corner.

 

Check out former NPHS student, Tyler Gjurich, who is on the roster for the Buffalo Junior Sabres Ice Hockey team and took the Ontario Junior League by storm this season! Click here for his spotlight.

 

Congratulations to Brandon McManus, Class of 2009, who was recently drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Click here for more information about his career stats and accomplishments.

 

Charles "Rick" Moore, Class of 1971, was recently elected to the National Association of Minority Contractors Hall of Fame. Moore currently serves as the vice president of Community Relations for Swinerton and serves as a board member of the Swinerton Foundation, the company's non-profit charitable giving arm, through which he facilitates involvement with outreach organizations in the communities in which Swinerton lives and builds.

 

Gabby Pakhtigian, Class of 2009, was nominated for the NCAA Women of the Year award. She was also recently named a 2012-2013 Atlantic 10 conference co-Scholar-Athlete Athlete of the Year. Pakhtigian served as the goalie for LaSalle University, where she is majored in nursing with a minor in Spanish.

 

Send us your good news! Have you gotten a new job or recognition? Send your update and photos to nphsalumni@npenn.org and you may be featured in an upcoming newsletter.