The Saucon Valley Alumni Association recently announced the names of the first three recipients of its Wall of Fame award, which was conceived as a way to recognize the often-overlooked achievements and accomplishments of Saucon Valley alumni.
Nominations for the first Wall of Fame award were sought in early 2015, and from those nominations the following recipients were chosen:
Grant Hoffert (Class of 1942)
Dr. Frank J. Rauscher Jr., Ph.D. (Class of 1949)
Harry Rinker (Class of 1959)
- Hoffert is a former Hellertown Lions Club president and recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award–the Lions’ highest form of recognition for dedication to humanitarian service. He is an active member and vice president of the Hellertown Historical Society, where he’s helped spearhead the restoration of the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill, the preservation of the Pony Bridge and the construction of the society’s pole barn museum. He was also involved with the construction of the Hellertown Area Library and a pump house to improve water supply to Hellertown. He is a member of Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 and the Edward H. Ackerman American Legion Post 397, as well as a board member of the Lower Saucon Cemetery Association and a past president of the Saucon Valley School Board.
- Rauscher discovered the “Rauscher Virus,” a mouse leukemia virus that bears his name. He is a former director of the National Cancer Institute and senior vice president for research for the American Cancer Society.
- Rinker is a nationally known authority on antiques and collectibles. He is an author, appraiser, consultant, lecturer, columnist, educator, private collector and “dedicated accumulator.” He is a frequent television and radio guest and hosts “Whatcha Got?” a nationally syndicated antiques and collectibles radio call-in show. In the past he has made appearances at the Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market.
According to the SVAA, the Wall of Fame award “is presented to alumni who, through their contributions, success and commitment to others, have made an impact on our community and world.”
Each nominee must have graduated from the former Hellertown High School, the former Hellertown-Lower Saucon High School or Saucon Valley High School, and must have demonstrated at least one of the following criteria:
- Outstanding accomplishments in a chosen field
- Significant and outstanding commitment to the community
- Significant positive impact on people, either locally or worldwide
- Acts of service and contributions to humanity
A selection committe composed of a school district teacher, a Saucon Valley community member, a school board or administration member and a SVAA member selected the award recipients from the field of nominees.
A ceremony at which the recipients will be honored will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, during National Education Week, at Saucon Valley High School. The schedule of events is as follows:
Optional tour of the school: 10-11:30 a.m. (meet in Elementary School lobby).
Wall of Fame Awards presentations: 11:45 a.m. in the high school auditorium.
Luncheon: To be held in the high school library following the award presentations for all those attending the event (no charge). A Wall of Fame biography detailing the achievements and accomplishments of each award recipient will be given to the school library for permanent placement in their collection.
After Luncheon: Walk to Wall of Fame Plaque in the High School.
If you would like to attend the ceremony, please contact Ron Reichard (rreichard@rcn.com) or Ken Bloss (kbloss@ptd.net).