Berman Foundation Receives LCCC Collegiate Award of Distinction

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has named the Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation recipient of the Collegiate Award of Distinction, which is determined each year by the college’s Board of Trustees. The award will be presented to the Bermans’ daughter Nancy Berman Bloch.

The LCCC Collegiate Award of Distinction is presented annually by the college’s Board of Trustees to recognize a person or organization for unique contributions to the community, service and dedication in support of education, and to honor those who have demonstrated their commitment to the college and its students.

In 1966 Muriel Berman was elected a founding trustee of LCCC and later served as chair of the board, serving on the board until 1982. She was also founding director of the LCCC Foundation.

During their lifetime, both Philip and Muriel Berman honored the college by donating to the college exquisite artwork, which includes pieces by artists as notable as Picasso and Dali. The Berman Collection will serve as a rich academic resource for the college’s art program and will be the core of a permanent display. This collection is only a part of the legacy of art that the Bermans generously provided to many educational institutions. Highlighting this list is the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies at Lehigh University, a professorship of Jewish studies at Lafayette College and the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College.

The Bermans’ business pursuits included trucking and heavy-equipment, and later the Allentown department store Hess’s. Mr. Berman died in 1997, and Mrs. Berman died in 2004. Continuing her parents’ legacy, their daughter Nancy Berman Bloch, as president and CEO of the Berman Foundation, this year has provided funds to frame the artwork.

Past winners of the LCCC Collegiate Award of Distinction include:

1991 George Southworth, former LCCC trustee and Chamber of Commerce president

1992 Fred Masenheimer, GM of The Times News of Lehighton

1993 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Fuller who donated the land upon which the college is situated

1994 Don Mershon, VP of Lutron Electronics

1995 Herman Clegg, Chair of the LCCC Foundation Board

1996 Ellen Millard Kern, VP of Allentown-Lehigh Co. Chamber of Commerce

1997 State Rep. Don Snyder

1998 Edward Donley, former chair of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

1999 John (Nick) Watters, Jr., one of key founders of Family Business Center at LCCC

2000 Ron Blisard, HR Director at Kovatch Corporation

2001 Raymond Suhocki, President and COO, LVEDC

2002 Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director LVWIB

2003 Larry Wittig, CPA

2004 Anthony Boyle, Chair of Boyle Construction

2005 George W. Elison, former LCCC Dean of Instruction

2006 Sen. James J. Rhoades, Chair of Senate Education Committee (died 2009)

2007 Dale and Ruth Roth

2008 Steven C. Seyer, retired faculty member LCCC

2009 Morgan Foundation, instrumental in establishing John and Dorothy Morgan Center

2010 Velia Rothrock, alumna/1978 graduate, friend and supporter

2011 Lisa Jane Scheller, President and CEO of Silberline Manufacturing Co.

2012 Dr. Clyde K. Hornberger, former LCTI Executive Director

2013 Mrs. Marlene “Linny” Fowler, fervent advocate and friend of LCCC (died 2013)

2014 Kovatch Organization