Amber Thomas Named First Female Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year, Awarded $10,000 College Scholarship

Northern Lehigh High School two-sport standout highlights program’s tradition of excellence
amberAcute care hospital network and sports medicine leader Coordinated Health, in partnership with The Morning Call and WFMZ Big Ticket, this evening named Northern Lehigh High School two-sport standout Amber Thomas the 2014-2015 Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year. Thomas’ award and its accompanying $10,000 college scholarship was the highlight of the second annual Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year gala, held at Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest.

The event was the culmination of the Coordinated Health Athlete of the Week in which 36 student-athletes were selected as Coordinated Health Athlete of the Week throughout the past school year, representing 13 sports and 17 high schools in The Morning Call coverage area. Each student recevied a $1,000 scholarship and were honored at the Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year gala.

Thomas, a standout softball pitcher for Northern Lehigh, graduated this month and is headed to Drexel University, where she plans to study biomedical engineering. She earned the top award based on athletic, leadership, and community criteria, plus online voting. She ranked fifth in her class academically and was a member of the school’s student council.

Thomas, an accomplished pitcher who helped lead Northern Lehigh to ten wins this past softball season, has met multiple medical setbacks with an impressive tenacity and perseverance.

“Like many athletes, I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs, but I am just thrilled to accept this scholarship as a testament to the hard work and dedication I put in to my athletics, academics, and my leadership roles in the community; and also my family, coaches, and teammates who supported me,” Thomas said. “I’m excited for my next chapter, college.”

“Amber is a tremendous student-athlete who serves as a role model on and off the field,” said Dr. Emil DiIorio, CEO of Coordinated Health. “She reflects the Coordinated Health values of leadership, excellence, and community participation. We are proud to be associated with Amber and this evening’s other honorees. Coordinated Health has served athletes of all skill levels for more than 27 years and is committed to continuing our tradition of helping all athletes shine.”

Continuing the tradition of excellence, Franklin & Marshall quarterback Zack Bradley, the 2013-2014 Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year selected for his achievements as a Catasauqua High School student-athlete, returned to unveil Thompson as the winner of the second annual award.

The gala, moderated by award-winning WFMZ sports director Troy Hein, also featured New York Giants fullback, Super Bowl XLVI champion and eastern Pennsylvania native Henry Hynoski, Jr. He spoke with the Coordinated Health Athlete of the Week and Year winners about the concept of Greater Than One, which mirrors the theme of Coordinated Health’s sports medicine spring campaign.

Coordinated Health, a 17-location hospital network, is the sports medicine leader in its eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey coverage area. Home to the most fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Coordinated Health provides the team physician plus athletic trainers for more than 30 of the region’s colleges and high schools, more schools than any other healthcare provider.