Page 30 - 2020-Women and Teens of the Year Program Booklet

TEENS OF THE YEAR

G ABRIELL A P ALERMO

Meet Gabriella Palermo, a whirlwind of interests, abilities,
and facts. “I am a drummer. I know basic American sign
language. I have danced for 10 years. I survived a horseback
riding accident. I swam with dolphins,” she says.
She continues, “I’m captain of my high school tennis
team. I’m certified in baby sitting and CPR/First Aid. And
I performed in Hawaii with a WWII veteran.”
And there’s lots more to the Liberty High School student.
Not only does she work at the Gem Shop in Bethlehem,
but she volunteers at Camelot for Children, Big Brothers
Big Sisters, Special Olympics, Music in the Parks/County
Chorus, multiple elementary school caravans, and Liberty
High School Clothing Closet which was started by Palermo
when she was a Freshman. She noticed that some students wore the same outfits every day
so she first began the "Clothing Closet" by donating some of her own clothing. From there
it grew to a closet/store housed at Liberty High School. Students can shop anytime during
the school day and take whatever they need at no cost.
Palermo who has a five-year-old German Shepherd intends to major in Integrated
Health Systems and Nursing in college.
Palermo also has a host of hobbies: cooking and baking, playing musical instruments,
hiking, photography, archery, reading, and video gaming.
And at the top of her many accomplishments, she says, “I make the best key lime pie.”

Z OEY REIFINGER

Every year, Zoey Reifinger fits quite a lot into her life:
school, two jobs, several hobbies, a dog named Thunder,
and a major fundraising event .
The Liberty High School student holds down jobs
at both Moravian Village of Bethlehem and the YMCA
Bethlehem as a lifeguard. She also engages in sports,
music, the outdoors, shopping, and, amazingly, juggling,
which she loves.
Reifinger and her twin sister Hana join their mom to
run a family fundraiser for the Pulmonary Hypertension
Association, in memory of her late father, Charles
Reifinger. “This started,” says Reifinger, “as a school
project to make a difference in my community. And now
we’re going on year seven.”
But this isn’t her only volunteer activity. Reifinger is also involved in the ESY (extended
school year) summer program; the Northeast Middle School; the Bethlehem Police
Explorer Post; and the Special Olympics.
Reifinger intends to major in public relations and communications in college.