Kutztown Area School District Education Foundation Announces 2024 Distinguished Alumnus of the year, Jonathan C. Bond, KAHS Class of 1974
The Kutztown Area School District Education Foundation Board of Directors announced the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus of the year, Jonathan (“Jon”) C. Bond. Jon embarked on his artistic journey upon graduation from Kutztown Area High School in 1974. He traveled extensively throughout Europe to study mural painting, which inspired him to focus on creating many “open air” works of art stateside. His career in art has taken him from the use of traditional materials into the age of computer assisted design.
2024 marks the 50th year of Jon’s profession as a painter and graphic artist. Jon estimates that he has created more than 2,500 original paintings and designed 30,000 graphics for private and corporate businesses, as well as government and religious institutions.
Jon has been instrumental in documenting the landscape of Berks County through his art. He has published three books and mounted fifteen solo exhibitions featuring works created in egg tempera, oil, watercolor, and pencil and ink. He founded the Albany Township Historical Society in 1997 as a vehicle to preserve the rich cultural heritage of northern Berks County.
Jon hikes the gentle sloping woodlands surrounding his art gallery in Kempton. He is often alone but never lonesome as he draws inspiration from the rustic unspoiled scenery, the awesome sunsets and atmospherics of the Kittatinny Ridge, and the iconic farmsteads of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Jon Bond will be honored at a reception held at Setter Ridge Vineyards on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 5pm to 7pm. Jon will deliver the commencement address to the Kutztown Area High School graduating class of 2024.
The Kutztown Area School District Education Foundation was founded in 2000 and has received charitable donations in excess of a million dollars. It is an independent, private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enhance educational opportunities in the district’s schools and to recognize the superior achievements of district students and alumni. It has raised more than $1,350,000 for scholarships and it also manages monies received through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. The EITC Program enables the district to purchase technology equipment not covered by local tax dollars. Through the past year, those monies total more than $413,000 in donations.
If you or your company are interested in any of the programs funded or supported by the Foundation, please contact their office at 610-683-7361 ext. 5105 or email us at info@KASDEDFoundation.org.