Pleasant Valley inducts former students, superintendent, AD into hall of fame

They can now call themselves hall of famers.

Pleasant Valley School District celebrated the achievements of its former students, star athletes and staff. The four individuals received their awards at a ceremony held on Jan. 13 during halftime at the boy's basketball game.

Read on to learn more about the winners.

All-star athletic director and coach

Jake Percey is a retired teacher and athletic director from Pleasant Valley School District.

A graduate of Benton High School (class of 1983), he attended Bloomsburg University where he earned a bachelor's degree in science in secondary education with a concentration in earth and space science.

He previously worked within the State College school district as an earth and space science teacher and as a eighth grade science teacher at North Penn school district.

In 1990, he accepted a position with Pleasant Valley and obtained his master's degree from West Chester University.

He later was hired as the athletic director for the district, juggling several roles as soccer coach, assistant junior varsity baseball coach, announcer, event manager, track judge, and scorekeeper.

Percey retired from education in June of 2021, but staff and students may still find him cheering on the Bears at different sports events.

Among his achievements: Percey was Mountain Valley Conference soccer coach of the year in 2000and 2002. Also, as the boys soccer coach he led the Bears to a conference championship in 2001,2002, 2003, and 2004, and in 2002 and 2003 where the team was a District 11 finalist.

When Percey took over as athletic director, he started attending the State Athletic Director Association yearlymeetings, and in 2015 was given the 15-year award for attending consecutive years.

Also, he was selected as athletic director of the Year in 2007, 2012, and 2019 (In 2019, he was certified by PSADA as a master athletic administrator). In addition to his responsibilities at school, he also was an active member in the community coaching for the West End Soccer League.

Recently he was asked by the district to help transition the athletics department while the new director takes over this year.

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Field hockey award winner

Jocelyn Masotti, who graduated in 2008, was a member of the high school's National Honor Society.

As a student athlete, she was a member of the field hockey and track and field teams. She was also a member of the National Scholar Athlete Association, Who's Who Among High School Scholars and Miss Teen of Pennsylvania Athlete Excellence Winner.

Additionally, Masotti received honors from the Mountain Valley Conference (rookie of the year), and All Area first team for field hockey. Awards and more: During her field hockey high school career, she was named most valuable player, and placed second in MVC and fifth in the District 11 in discus throwing in track and field.

After graduating from Pleasant Valley, she attended Lebanon Valley College and received her bachelor's degree in biology. She also continued her passion for field hockey, competing at the collegiate level.

In college, she was a four-year All-American player, and competed in Europe (France, Holland, Belgium, Germany) and in Trinidad.

In 2008, she was named to the NFHCA third-team All-American and only freshman to be named to an All-American squad. In 2009, Masotti made the second-team All-American and led in goals (with 35) and became the firstplayer in LVC to reach 100 career points.

During her junior year, she made the NFHCA first-team All-American and was recognized as the national offensive most valuable player. Additionally, she had 39 goals during the season which was second most in NCAA Division III history.

She finished her collegiate year as the NCAA’s Division III’s all-time leader in goals with 141 and 300 points and wasalso honored being the only Division III player to score 30-plus goals in four seasons.

Lebanon Valley College retired her jersey in 2013 (she was the first female athlete at the school to receive this recognition).

Masotti, who received her master's degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, is currently employed as a Pediatric Physician Assistant with Lehigh Valley Health Network Pediatrics Lehighton.

She continues her passion of field hockey by volunteering as a coach for Pleasant Valley.

Soccer standout

Bob Pipech III is a 2002 graduate of Pleasant Valley School District.

In high school, he was involved with National Honor Society, D.A.R.E. program, and volunteered with the Special Olympics.

As a member of the Bears' soccer team, Pipech earned a varsity letter for his three years with the team. He was also one of the nominees for the Lehigh Valley soccer scholar-athlete of the year.

After high school, he attended Saint Francis University, earning a bachelor's of science in secondary education. In college, he was a four-year starter for the men's soccer team. Saint Francis is a NCAA Division I team.

Pipech went on to play four years of semiprofessional soccer with the PA Stoners and Pocono Snow.

Pipech was later hired by Pen Argyl Area School District as a mathematics teacher. Most recently, he has taken on a leadership role as math department's chair at Pen Argyl.

He holds two master's degrees from Wilkes University (in classroom technology and instructionaltechnology.

Most recently, he completed his Pennsylvania Administrative Certification from Delaware Valley University. Professionally, he holds certificates in technology, Google Level 1, Google Level 2, Ed Puzzle coach, and EdPuzzle flipped.

Due to his professional development in classroom technology, Pipech has had the honor to present at “Spring into Technology” conference at East Stroudsburg School District and at the 2018 Parkland teach tech conference.

He also founded, and is the current director of, Dominate the 18 Goalkeeping and Soccer Training.

Among his soccer achievements: On the high school soccer team, he had 22 career shutouts, five consecutive shutouts, and in 2001, Pipech had 10 shutouts for a career record of 59-10.

In college, he was also honored for his many as a soccer standout in Division 1.

He had the most shutouts in a season (seven) and most shutouts in a career (15 in total) and having the best goals against average (0.78).

In addition he was seventh in the U.S. in 2005 for his save percentage, and ranked 19th for his goals against average.

Pipech came in 13th in the 2003-04 season for saves per game. He is currently the assistant woman’s soccer coach at Muhlenberg College.

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Cheering for the Bears

A former basketball and cheerleader, Marie Conklin Young is a 1969 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School.

In her senior year, her fellow Bears cheerleaders selected her as co-captain.

Additionally, she was a member of the National Honor Society, school chorus, girls ensemble, county chorus, and year book staff. Young attended West Chester University were she received her bachelor's of science in music education with a vocal/chorus concentration. She continued her education at Cornell University, University of Scranton, Ithaca College, and Millersville University.

Professionally, Young taught music education at Palisades, Stroudsburg, and Pocono Mountain school districts.

She continues her joy of music education by offering private tutoring to students in piano and voice.

School district honors: As an educator, Young kept busy outside of the classroom by directing specialensembles and concerts in the community.

In 1972, she choreographed Pleasant Valley's High School first musical, “The Ballad of Braun Michael.”

Young also worked as camp counselor for the highs school's overnight band camp and has been adjudicator for The National Federation of Music Clubs music festival held at East Stroudsburg University since 1990.

In addition to her work in education, Young was a chairperson on at the Monroe County Historical Association and founder/chairperson for the association's fundraiser, “Raise Your Glass and Support the Past.”

Young was also a committee member for Monroe County Cancer Society, board member for the Pocono Mountain Concert Series, and Buck Hill Community Services committee and treasurer.

Arnold's achievements: Educator to receive A. Mitchell Palmer award

Public recognition

Pleasant Valley's public recognition inductee Douglas C. Arnold is a 1974 graduate of the high school.

In high school, he served as president of the National Junior Honor Society, and a member of the National Society, and was recognized by Who's Who. He attended Kutztown University where he received his bachelor's of science in special education and elementary education and graduated summa cum laude. He also played football and was named the school’ scholar athlete. He received All-League honors and was a team captain.

Arnold also earned his master's of education from East Stroudsburg University and his Ph. D. in education administration from Marywood University (he received the McGowan medal for excellence indoctoral studies).

During his career, Arnold worked in several different teaching and administrative positions, but his most recent,prior to retiring, was as Pleasant Valley’s superintendent of schools from 2007-2013. He is currently the executive director of the national association of pupil services administrators and its state affiliate, the Pennsylvania association of pupil services administrators.

He also served on the national association of elementary and secondary school principals, and the association for supervision and curriculum development.

Community leader: Arnold also involved in several initiatives with the Salvation advisory board, where he served aschairman for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and West End park and open space commission, where he also served as chairman.

Arnold, vice president with the Monroe County Historical Association and the Monroe County Children’s Roundtable, received the A. Mitchell Palmer Award (the highest community service award given to a person within Monroe County) and the William Booth Award (by the Salvation Army).

Arnold was also inducted into the East Stroudsburg Meritorious hall of fame in 2008 and the family and community service award from the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs.

A Bears fan, he coached high school football for 20 years and was a part of nine championship teams.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pleasant Valley School District inducts new members into hall of fame