Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute Honors Outstanding Student-Athletes

Times News and Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute celebrated local student-athletes during the 21st annual Athlete of the Year banquet on July 30 at Penn’s Peak, Jim Thorpe.

Athletes attending were, front row, left to right: Cara Thomas (Northwestern Lehigh High School field hockey and girls basketball), Abby Dunstan (Northwestern Lehigh High School softball), Nataly Walters (Palmerton Area High School girls track and field); back row: Brenda Banks (Panther Valley High School girls wrestling), Morgan Orsulak (Panther Valley High School volleyball) and Devon Bush (Pleasant Valley High School lacrosse).

Also, left to right: Lydon Patascher (Pleasant Valley High School golf), Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern Lehigh High School boys wrestling), Ryan Burkett (Palmerton Area High School track and field) and Eli Zimmerman (Northwestern Lehigh High School football).Terrence Purcell, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Lehigh Valley Health Network Northwest Region, provided remarks during the celebration.

Twenty student-athletes were honored during the 2024-2025 school year through the Athlete of the Year program.