NPSD set to induct Knights of Honor, Class of 2022

Joel Brown (’97), Don Ryan (’58), Ted and Bonnie Knauss, and Francis Jeyaraj make up the Class of 2022 Knights of Honor

L-R: Dr. Francis Jeyaraj, Don “Doc” Ryan, Joel Brown, and Ted and Bonnie Knauss

LANSDALE – North Penn School District has selected the Knights of Honor Class of 2022. This year’s nominees include alumni, community members, and former staff members who have had a significant impact on the North Penn community and continually give back to others. The ceremony will be held on May 5, 2022 at 6:00 pm in North Penn High School, 1340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale. 

Joel Brown is a NPHS graduate, class of 1997. He was a student in the beginning years of North Penn Television (NPTV), and helped shape it into what it has become today. Brown currently works as a news anchor for ABC 11 Eyewitness News in North Carolina.

Donald “Doc” Ryan, NPHS class of 1958, is the former athletic director at North Penn High School, who retired in 2015 after serving 46 years in the district. Under Ryan’s leadership, the North Penn athletic programs grew in both size and success.

Ted and Bonnie Knauss are the President and Secretary of the International Friendship Committee, giving students the opportunity to study abroad and bringing foreign students to North Penn. Ted also serves as a trustee on the North Penn School District Educational Foundation, providing grants and funding to teachers for projects that enhance educational opportunities. 

Francis Jeyaraj, M.D. is a pediatrician who has provided medical service to thousands of children in the North Penn community. He is also a founding member of the International Spring Festival, an annual event celebrating the diversity of the community.

During the 2015-2016 school year as part of the North Penn School District’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, the district introduced the Knights of Honor Program. The purpose of this “Hall of Fame” is to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the school district, community and/or their chosen career, and therefore bring great honor to the NPSD. The program is designed to recognize notable North Penn community members, former staff members and alumni who have brought honor and outstanding service to the district. The goal is to pay tribute to these important people and their contributions and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

The ceremony will be held May 5, 2022 at 6:00 pm in North Penn High School and is open to the public. The ceremony will last approximately an hour with a short reception to follow. Attire is business casual. Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP at https://www.npenn.org/our_district/knightsofhonor/knights_of_honor_r_s_v_p/