Jonah Lawrence is one of LCTI’s schoolwide award winners for the Class of 2026.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Outstanding Career & Technical Education Senior Award is Lehigh Career & Technical Institute’s most prestigious accolade. Students selected to receive it are the best of the best at LCTI.

One of this year’s two Outstanding Career & Technical Education Senior Award winners is Jonah Lawrence, a Northwestern Lehigh High School student in LCTI’s Pre-Engineering & Engineering Technology program. Director of Curriculum & Instruction Kat Murray honored Jonah on Thursday (May 28, 2026) at PPL Center during the school’s annual Senior Recognition Night.

Catherine Tomkiel, his Pre-Engineering teacher, said Jonah has been a standout student since day one. He always goes above and beyond on assignments or projects, steps up to help other students, and even served as a resource for her when she was new to LCTI.

Tomkiel said of Jonah, “He will definitely go as far as he wants when it comes to his education and future career in engineering. It has been an honor to help him along his path, and I am very proud of him as his teacher.”

Jonah, 17, stepped into the role of National Technical Honor Society vice president this year, helping with the group’s fundraising efforts for Peaceable Kingdom and other nonprofit organizations, Murray said. The Weisenberg Township resident also collaborated with the NTHS advisor and other student officers to plan their annual induction ceremony. Outside of school, Jonah runs a small engine repair business because he is fascinated by mechanical devices and machines, Tomkiel said. He often works on lawn equipment and sometimes uses computer-aided design software to draft and then 3D print his own replacement parts — a skill he developed at LCTI.

Last summer, Jonah went to the Summer Engineering Institute at Lehigh University and took full advantage of the opportunity, Tomkiel said. He established professional connections through networking and learned about the role of research in higher education. After high school, Jonah plans to work on an engineering degree so he can become a mechanical engineer.

Congratulations, Jonah. This is how we achieve! #weachieve