Bristol Woman Among College Alumni Association Honorees

Bucks County Community College recognized four graduates last Thursday.

The alumni were honored at the annual Alumni Achievement Awards ceremony that was held in historic Tyler Hall on the community college’s Newtown Township campus.

The awards were presented by the Bucks County Community College Alumni Association to note former students for exceptional contributions to their professional fields, communities, and the community college.

The 2026 award recipients and their honors are:

Alumni Association President’s Distinguished Award: Walter Stoertz Jr., Class of 1977

Community Service Award: Edward Tokmajian Jr., Class of 1997

Centurion Award: Steven Coyne, Class of 1973

Professional Achievement Award: Sydney Brooks, Class of 2021

More about those honored:

Alumni Association President’s Distinguished Award: Walter Stoertz Jr., ‘77

Walter Stoertz, Jr., ’77, of Washington Crossing, is recognized for his distinguished record of public service and civic leadership in Bucks County. He currently serves on the Bucks County Community College Board of Trustees and previously served on the College’s Foundation Board of Directors and as president of its Alumni Council.

Stoertz built a 35-year career with the United States Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, rising to senior leadership positions including administrator to the chief judge of the U.S. District Court, chief deputy clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and acting clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. During that career, he completed the Judicial Fellowship Program of the Institute for Court Management, earning designation as a Lifelong Fellow; served on the Human Resources Advisory Council of the Judicial Conference of the United States; and received an Outstanding Service Award for his contributions to the federal judiciary.

Since retiring, Stoertz has remained deeply engaged in civic life. In addition to serving on the BCCC Board of Trustees, he serves on the boards of Foundations Community Partnership, the Bucks County Playhouse, and the Bucks County Herald Foundation. He is also a member of the New Hope Historical Society and a volunteer with the United Way’s Bucks Knocks Out Hunger program.

Community Service Award: Edward Tokmajian Jr., ‘97

Ed Tokmajian, Jr., ’97, of Bensalem, has spent decades serving the Bensalem and Bucks County communities through public service, volunteerism, and a commitment to education.

Tokmajian has served two terms on Bensalem Township Council and is currently Council President. He has also served on the Bucks County Planning Commission since 2021 and is a longtime member of the Bensalem Lions Club. He has volunteered as an assistant coach with the Bensalem High School Mock Trial program and mentors veterans through American Corporate Partners.

His commitment to Bensalem began nearly three decades ago with the Central Park Task Force, helping shape the vision for the municipal park.  Today, he remains an active and visible presence in the community, working to help residents address neighborhood concerns, preserve open space, and support the township services residents rely on, including public works, police, fire, and other essential services.

While a student at Bucks, Tokmajian earned the President’s Cup in recognition of his contributions to the College community. In 2024, he was appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees, and currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee, bringing his professional experience in finance and management to help strengthen the College and support its mission.

Centurion Award: Steven Coyne, ‘73

Steven Coyne, ’73, of Feasterville, is recognized for his leadership skills and engagement with the community as a College employee. After graduating from Bucks County Community College in 1973 as a Health and Physical Education major, Coyne completed his four-year degree at West Chester University and his master’s degree at The College of New Jersey. He taught at several institutions in the Philadelphia area before returning to Bucks County Community College as a faculty member in 2006 until his retirement in 2026.

Coyne has shown dedication to his alma mater by sharing his passion with anyone who crosses his path. He served as head coach of the men’s basketball and tennis teams for several years. He has served as a Coordinator in Sport Management and Intramural Director. He also helped develop courses for the Sport Management program and Open Educational Resources in the department.

Coyne is certified in Mental Health First Aid and as an instructor in American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED. He has also collaborated with the community by placing interns in the surrounding areas. His students have gone on to become teachers, coaches, and even saved the lives of other people. Some students have worked with various professional sports teams such as the Phillies. He has also been recognized as an outstanding basketball official for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) for over 20 years. He helped create the first scholarship for the Kinesiology and Sport Studies students in honor of a former student who passed away from cancer.  

Professional Achievement Award: Sydney Brooks, ‘21

Sydney Brooks, ’21, of Bristol, is recognized for her achievements as an award-winning emerging filmmaker and her contributions to the Bristol Borough community.

Brooks produced the short film Óménàlà, co-created with fellow Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) alumna Stephanie Byron-Ene, which won the drama category at the 45th College Television Awards, a program of the Television Academy Foundation — one of the most prestigious honors available to student filmmakers. The film tells a coming-of-age story rooted in Igbo burial traditions and family legacy.

Brooks’ path to filmmaking began in Bristol Borough when as a teenager in 2016, she helped her grandfather Craig Whitaker produce video content for the national campaign that helped Bristol Borough win the $500,000 top prize in the Small Business Revolution: Main Street contest — a win that spurred the revitalization of Mill Street. That experience shaped her career path and led her to found 1681 Digital Media, a local video production business serving Bristol-area small businesses, named for the borough’s founding year.

Brooks continues to give back to her hometown. She and her grandfather are currently producing a documentary marking the 10th anniversary of Bristol Borough’s Small Business Revolution win. She has credited her Bristol upbringing with giving her the confidence to pursue a filmmaking career on a national stage. 

The Bucks County Community College Alumni Association is open to graduates and former students who have completed at least 30 credit hours. Additional information is available online at bucks.edu/alumni, by email at alumni@bucks.edu, or by calling 215-968-8416.