Image Credit: Miranda Faye Photography

BETHLEHEM, PA – Northampton Community College (NCC) student and veteran, Christopher (Topher) Daniel, says service doesn’t stop once you leave the armed forces. A retired Marine, his work in community service landed him among other honorable veterans and active-duty military members featured on the Austin Dillion car during a NASCAR race held this July.

NASCAR wanted to recognize service members and veterans for their dedication and sacrifice. The No. 3 Dow Salutes Veterans Chevrolet was driven by Austin Dillon at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 9, and Daniel’s work with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led, non-profit humanitarian disaster relief organization, is what gave way to his being honored. “NASCAR donates to Team Rubicon’s organization, which helps us help others,” said Daniel. Approximately 2,000 names were displayed on the vehicle.

Team Rubicon became a huge part of Daniel’s life in 2016 when he first joined. He has completed service projects and disaster relief initiatives in places everywhere from Nebraska to Puerto Rico with his other fellow members, now 145,000 strong. In 2017, he became the city administrative lead, the point of contact responsible for overseeing the efforts of Team Rubicon in 13 counties in Pennsylvania.

With Team Rubicon, Daniel has been able to do many service projects in the Lehigh Valley. He has assisted with food donation at New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem, and he has been a big part of helping individuals in the Lehigh Valley. “One of the residents of Bethlehem, who was also a veteran, was alone after his wife passed away. His basement flooded, and we came in to work on the damage and repair the home through Operation Christmas City Clean-Up.”

When asked what his next step is, Daniel said,“I’d like to establish a club within the community college (NCC) under the same umbrella as Team Rubicon. NCC has allowed us to use their facilities for Team Rubicon training classes and introductory courses to help people see who we are and what we do.”

On September 23, a community enrichment event will be held on NCC’s Bethlehem campus. The event will be full of personal enrichment activities, resources and more, and Daniel, along with Team Rubicon, will be there to discuss resources students and others can use to help the community and beyond.

To find more information about NCC’s resources for military-affiliated students,

visit northampton.edu/military-affiliated. For any questions about joining Team Rubicon, contact Topher Daniel at topher.daniel@teamrubiconusa.org.

About Northampton Community College

With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students each year from 53 counties, 42 countries and 25 states. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on Twitter @NCCPresDaveRuth, and follow the College on TikTok @NorthamptonCC and on Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege. Like us on Facebook at Northampton Community College.