John Nespoli, President of the St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Lehighton and Carbon campuses, was chosen by the Boy Scouts of America Minsi Trails Council to receive its 2022 Carbon County Friends of Scouting Distinguished Citizen award.

Nespoli received the award during a dinner at Blue Mountain Resort on Oct. 27.

Nespoli was chosen for his contributions to the Carbon County community over the last four years in which he oversaw the building of the new St. Luke’s Carbon Campus in Franklin Township, refurbishing and re-purposing of the St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus, decommissioning of the Palmerton Hospital, and constructing a full continuum of outpatient medical care on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton.

Nespoli said he was proud to be selected for the honor and found it appropriate as he developed many of the skills that have helped him in his leadership positions as a Boy Scout in his youth.

Nespoli said Scouting “teaches children to form positive bonds with their community, develop academically and become more self-confident and self-sufficient.”

Nespoli was named president of the Lehighton and Carbon campuses in December 2018.

Joe Guardiani, Director of Development for St. Luke’s, served as master of ceremonies.