From left are, Rick Merluzzi (Class of ’75), Maynard Ahner II (Class of ’84), Dennis Yenser (Class of ’64), and the family of Ret. LCDR Thomas Polk (Class of ’50).
(MAY 17, 2025) – The Lehighton Education and Athletic Foundation (LEAF) honored the four 2024 Graduates of Distinction during a banquet held on May 17th, 2025, at the Lehighton American Legion, Post 314. A total of 45 outstanding graduates of Lehighton Area High School have been named as Graduates of Distinction since the program began in 2016. Each honoree has been recognized for outstanding results in their chosen fields and for unwavering support for community activities and charitable events. These four Graduates of Distinction for 2024 truly reflect the values celebrated by LEAF and we are honored to celebrate their success:
- Maynard Ahner II: A 1984 LAHS graduate, 1988 graduate from West Point and a 1992 Masters Degree graduate from Boston University, he has had a distinguished career in the military and banking, currently serving as the CTO of Commercial Banking Organizations for Wells Fargo. He continues to support West Point as a District West Point recruiter. He and his wife, Jennifer, are very active in church and community activities, including the Salvation Army and Animal Rescue programs.
- Rick Merluzzi: A 1975 LAHS graduate, 1979 graduate from Penn State and a 1983 MBA graduate from Drexel University, he has held various leadership roles in the manufacturing sector. Rick served for eight years as the CEO of Metal Exchange Corporation after which he was name to his current position as the Executive Vice Chairman of MX Holdings. He and his wife, Kathy, also established a scholarship for Lehighton students pursuing STEM degrees.
- LCDR Thomas A. Polk (deceased): A 1950 LAHS graduate and 1978 graduate from Cecil Community College, he served in the US Navy for over 24 years including two tours in the Pentagon as the Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations. LCDR Polk was selected for these important assignments because of his unique perspective as an enlisted member and an officer in the US Navy. He also contributed significantly to local charities and veteran programs after retirement.
- Dennis Yenser: A 1964 LAHS graduate and 1968 graduate from New Mexico State University’s Army ROTC program, he flew helicopters in Vietnam and with the PA National Guard. As a Vietnam veteran, he has actively supported veteran initiatives and community outreach programs, including the highly successful Trees for Troops Program hosted by Yenser’s Tree Farm for twenty years. He co-owned Yenser’s Tree Farm and Sensinger’s Greenhouse for over forty years and was named the Pennsylvania Grower of the Year and Lehighton Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year.
For more information about LEAF’s many efforts to support the students and faculty of the Lehighton Area School District, please browse our website at www.leaf-foundation.org. While exploring our redesigned website, we encourage you to look at our Paver and Brick Program which supports LEAF initiatives. Finally, please note that LEAF has just introduced two new funds – the Graduates of Distinction Endowment Fund and the Lehighton Area High School Alumni Endowment Fund. Both funds were created to support new programs at the Lehighton Area School District.Â
LEAF will continue strive for excellence so that we may provide a great foundation for the youth who will become future, successful alumni from the Lehighton Area School District.