Notre Dame of Green Pond HS graduated 132 seniors June 2 during its 61st commencement exercise. Though a school of faith, the threat of rain forced about 600 people inside. It is also a school of reason. Inside a hot gym, it was standing room only.

Salutatorian Kristina Guth advised her classmates that “even if you procrastinate, put your faith in God. After all, I finished second in my class,” she joked. Valedictorian Erika Antunes added that the “voice of God is always speaking,” but we all could do a better job of listening. Guth will attend Salisbury University , while Antunes is headed to Elizabethtown College.

The other top academic scholars include Milan D’Silva (Temple University), Jane Karam (Drexel University), Brianna Maslonka (Lehigh University), Brian Myers (George Washington University), Kathryn Felix (Drexel University), Michael Santos (Temple University), Gillian MacDonald (Lafayette College), Stephanie Salmento (Catholic University), Shea Elliott (DeSales University), Yunji Sun (University of California, Davis), Maggie Luancing (University of Central Florida) and Kathleen McDonald (DeSales University)

Felix said that her experience at Notre Dame taught her “to stand up for my beliefs. ... I will strive to continue living my life like a real crusader.”

Lehigh County Judge James Anthony, himself a 1979 graduate, was the keynote speaker. A Bronze Star recipient, he talked about the importance of faith He recited a long string of setbacks and personal tragedies for Abraham Lincoln, but said he prevailed because he had faith. Anthony has also seen that quality in families who live their lives in war ravaged Iraq and even in people who turn their lives around after their mistakes bring them before him as a judge

Notre Dame’s graduates have been accepted by 66 colleges. Students have been offered over $2 million in scholarships and awards.

Notre Dame HS is a private, co-ed Roman Catholic high school near Easton, Pennsylvania, in Bethlehem Township. With an enrollment of about 570 students, taught by a 40-person faculty, the school includes ninth through 12 grades.