Norb Lienhard and Sam Lux - who both serve as tennis instructors at Valley Royale Tennis Club in Lehighton - were recently honored by the United States Tennis Association (USTA)

Lienhard, who served as the boys and girls tennis coach at Jim Thorpe High School for more than a quarter of a century, has been on the staff of Valley Royale since it opened in 2020. He received the USTA 2021/22 EPD Teaching Professional award.

Meanwhile, Lux received the USTA 2021/22 EPD Adult Volunteer award. In his third year as head boys and girls tennis coach at Jim Thorpe, Lux has also been on the Valley Royale staff since it opened. In addition to his responsibilities at the Club, this summer he organized and ran a free week-long youth tennis camp in Jim Thorpe.