2022 Distinguished Alumni and Founder's Awards
Mr. Mike Kopp (left), recipient of The Founder's Award; and Mr. Kevin O'Donnell (right), recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Allentown Central Catholic High School, as presented by Principal Mr. Randy Rice, honored our 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award to Mr. Kevin O'Donnell; and The Founder's Award to Mr. Mike Kopp, on Thursday, June 2 during Baccalaureate Mass at St. Thomas More Church in Allentown.
2022 Distinguished Alumni - Kevin P. O'Donnell
Kevin O’Donnell is a 1971 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic. He is married to Diane M. (Diersing) O’Donnell, also a 1971 graduate. They will celebrate 45 years on June 25, 2022. Kevin earned an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences and a Funeral Service Education License from the Northampton Community College Funeral Service program in 1986. After licensure, he succeeded his father, William J. O’Donnell Jr., as the owner operator of the O’Donnell Funeral Home in Allentown, which was founded in 1953. Working with him at the funeral home are his three sons: Daniel, Connor, and Sean. Kevin has actively chaired the 1971 class reunion committee since graduating from ACCHS. While raising his family with Diane, he assisted in coaching the Cathedral CYO programs. He is a past President of the Men of the Cathedral and is active in many social functions at his church. He is a former coach and member of the Board of Directors at the West End Youth Center in Allentown. In 2006, Kevin and Diane were honored as the King and Queen of Allentown’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Kevin and Diane are the proud parents of nine children and currently sixteen grandchildren. All nine of their children attended the Cathedral School, Allentown Central Catholic High School, and many various colleges. They are: Lt. Col. Michael W. O’Donnell, US Army SF ‘98, Allison M. Guzley ‘99 (wife of Bryan Guzley ’99), Patrick M. O’Donnell ’01, Kathleen M. Grant ’03, Daniel K. O’Donnell ‘04, Maura B. Cubeta ’07, Caroline D. Pratt ’09, Connor J. O’Donnell ’11, and Sean P. O’Donnell ’13, and their adoptive son, Sean Paul McGreevy O’Donnell.
2022 Founder's Award - Mr. Michael Kopp
Mike Kopp graduated from Notre Dame Green Pond in 1970. He and his wife Debbie celebrate 47 years of marriage on July 19, 2022. Mike and Debbie are the proud parents of three children: Joshua married to Mandy, Matthew married to Libby, and Aaron; and they currently have four grandchildren. Mike received his BS in Education from Bloomsburg State College in 1974 and began his teaching career at St. Theresa School in Hellertown, where he taught from 1975-1982. Mike served Allentown Central Catholic as a math teacher from 1982-2002 and as Athletic Director from 2002-2015. Under Coach Kopp’s leadership, the ACCHS Girls’ Basketball team won five PIAA titles, 22 district titles, and 18 conference championships. The Vikettes are the only team to win four straight PIAA titles, from 2001-04. They also won 28 straight district games and 11 straight titles from 2000-2010. In January 2020, Mike became only the third scholastic coach in Pennsylvania to reach 1,000 career victories. The Vikettes reached nine PIAA title games under his leadership. Additionally, Mike has amassed impressive honors during his coaching career, including (but not limited to): induction into Lehigh Valley Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001; the 2003 & 2004 Associated Press Pennsylvania 3A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year; Pennsylvania’s All-Time Winningest Basketball Coach in 2010 with his 802 victory; and the 2014 National High School Coaches Association Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. Mike retired as the Girls’ Basketball Coach at the close of the 2021-2022 season after 46 years, 42 of them at ACCHS (1980-2022) and four years at Notre Dame Green Pond (1977-1980), finishing his coaching career with a record of 1045-277.