Northwestern Press

Northwestern Lehigh’s high school science team placed eighth at the State Science Olympiad Competition at Juniata College this spring, ranking higher than they did last year, and earning the highest rank of any high school in its region.

“We took 15 competitors and a couple of others that [participated in] some trials,” teacher and club advisor Bob Biese said. “The top six teams from each of the six regions get to go. We were first in our region.”

“The kids did real well,” teacher Dave Moyer said. “We took eighth place in the state.

As students wrapped up another school year, science teacher David Moyer was wrapping up a 28-year career of teaching science at Northwestern Lehigh.

“When I first moved into this room I had all brand-new equipment,” he said looking around for one of the last times. “We made candy canes in the lab but they were all white.

“I did the firefighting lab and those were sort of a culmination of the course.

“We would go outside and set fire to diesel fuel in the ball field.

The warm June day dissolved into the perfect evening for the start of this year’s Kempton Fair.

After last year’s cancellation, it was game on for the three-day event, June 15, 16 and 17, despite intermittent showers on the last day.

While local residents munched on everything from walk away tacos to waffles and ice cream, they were treated to an antique tractor parade which signaled the start of the fair last Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, kids soothed their goats, sheep and pigs before presenting them for judging in the animal barn.

The call of the Navy and Marines has beckoned three Northwestern Lehigh grads to make a life-changing commitment.

Alex Schneck is one of two 2017 graduates who heeded that call, joining the United States Navy.

Schneck said he volunteered for submarine duty, inspired by a family trip when he visited a submarine in Groton, Conn., in his sophomore year.

“I thought it was really cool,” he said. “I actually like tight spaces [so] I wanted to get stationed on a submarine.”

Members of Northwestern Lehigh’s Class of 2017 walked out of Stabler Arena June 3 ready to begin their lives in new ways.

At least three of them had already committed to starting their future in the United States Army.

Niko Fager, who earned a full scholarship to Valley Forge Military College for two years, is one of them.

“It’s called an Early Commissioning Program,” Fager said. “[We’ll] get everything done in two years.

“They’re going to push us hard [so] we need to work twice as hard.”

The dance floor at Blue Mountain was a swirl of color and styles as the Class of 2017 celebrated one of the most memorable events of their lives, but selecting the perfect attire for the event required hours of shopping and planning.

“The prom is the ultimate dress up party,” Class Adviser Steph Dunbar said. “It lets the kids get the chance to dress up and be grown-ups.

“When they dress up they have a whole different attitude.”

It’s no wonder what to wear was the hot topic in the days and months leading up to the big event.

Just before the members of the Class of 2017 close the book on the first part of their lives, they added another chapter titled “prom” and now that, too, is forever recorded on pages tinged with Northwestern’s colors.

“The prom is the last formal get together where the kids see all of their classmates at a party atmosphere before graduation in a fun and interactive way,” said Steph Dunbar, one of the class advisers.

Meghan McGorry has earned a much sought after Freddy Award nomination for outstanding performance for an actress in a small ensemble role. McGorry is being acknowledged for her portrayal of Brooke Wyndham in Northwestern Lehigh’s production of “Legally Blonde.”

McGorry said she learned the news with her fellow cast members.

“We all met in the library and watched the announcement on WFMZ 69,” she said. “I didn’t really process it at first. I felt kind of shocked.

“It was completely overwhelming. Then my friends turned around yelling and screaming.

People in the know say the success of any reality show hinges on three top ingredients: ego struggles, a gang of best friends and clichéd activities.

The annual Mr. Northwestern contest seems to fit the bill but the fun and camaraderie of the event makes it a reality show that is one of the most beloved traditions in the high school.

The high school debate season ended at Saucon Valley on April 25, when Pennridge argued the negative and Salisbury argued the affirmative on “Resolved: The United States should implement a DNA database for all criminal suspects.”

Northwestern’s semifinal team had its last debate just a few weeks earlier.

This year’s semifinalist team included Kyah Harding, Ben Fry, Sommer Farthing and Jason Woolley.