Nine area high school seniors, who were selected by the faculties of their respective schools to receive the Annual Bo Tkach Under the Helmet and Hat Foundation scholarships, were honored during a scholarship recognition luncheon held this week at Macaluso’s Restaurant, Nesquehoning.

James Snell, a member of the foundation’s board of directors who oversees the scholarship committee, said the foundation members “are pleased to honor these outstanding students who have met the criteria of the foundation.”

Each of the scholarship winners will receive $1,500 from the foundation. The awards will be made at each school’s end-of-the-year awards ceremonies.

Snell and board member Abbie Guardiani took turns recognizing the students, acknowledging their qualities with comments offered on them by their respective school leaders.

Board member Bill O’Gurek served as master of ceremonies for the program and told the students and their parents, “Selected by the faculties in each school, the recipients of the Bo Tkach Scholarships represent the ideals of school spirit, community mindedness and concern and kindness for others, traits that exemplified Bo Tkach.”

Tkach, a son of Jim and Sandi Tkach, Lehighton natives, took his own life in 2007. The Tkachs, who were unable to attend the luncheon due to illnesses, founded the foundation following Bo’s death to raise awareness of obsessive compulsive disorder and mental health issues; fund various youth programs for the betterment of children in the community; and to provide scholarship awards to deserving students who possess the ideals that Bo possessed.

Regarding the scholarship program, Snell said, “The recipients should have firm plans to attend a college, university, technical or vocational institution. They do not need to be athletically or academically talented, but they do need to be extraordinary in other ways. They should be well-rounded and have a sincere concern for others; and be someone who would defend those who could not defend themselves. The scholarship rewards the recipient for helping others while expecting nothing in return.”

The 2022 scholarship winners include:

Kyle Nothstein, son of Jacob and Kimberly Nothstein, Carbon Career and Technical Institute.

Michael Fellin, son of Michael and Helen Fellin, Marian Catholic High School.

Kyle Sebelin, son of Aaron and Terri Sebelin, Palmerton Area High School.

Carsen Rosenberger, daughter of Mark and Christine Rosenberger, Jim Thorpe Area High School.

Matthew Frame, son of Shawn and Lorrie Frame, Northern Lehigh High School.

Jessica Cabrera, daughter of Jessica Cabrera, Panther Valley High School.

Zander Bauer, son of Danielle Ems, Lehighton Area High School.

Elijah Dellicker, son of Kevin and Susan Dellicker, Northwestern Lehigh High School.

Timothy Maguschak, son of Keith and Victoria Maguschak, Weatherly Area High School.

The $13,500 in scholarships presented by the foundation brings to date a total of $98,750 in scholarships that have been awarded by the foundation since its inception.