The top 10 academic scholars from both Freedom and Liberty high schools were recognized at the fifth annual academic signing ceremony June 5, which was held in the Bethlehem Area School District’s Education Center. Students in attendance and their parents heard words of appreciation and encouragement from both Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy and Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jack Silva, and received some advice from Dr. Robert Flowers, provost of faculty affairs at Lehigh University, who related some of his own experiences when he headed off to college.

Parent Felicia Pompa attended with her daughter, Freedom High School senior Isabella Pompa, who will attend Boston University and major in pre med.

“I’m very proud and excited,” said Pompa about attending to witness her daughter’s signing, “I’m excited to see the future.”

Students and parents enjoyed a luncheon at the ceremony’s conclusion.

Students recognized for their academic achievements at Freedom HS (with their collegiate destinations in parentheses) were: Linda Adodoadji (University of Pittsburgh), Abigail Badman (University of Pittsburgh), Ryan Brown (Rochester Institute of Technology), Peter Docteroff (Temple University), Gisselle Lopez (University of Southern California), Linda Mao (Yale University), Ashley Morales (Princeton University), Isabella Pompa (Boston University), Nada Younies (Lehigh University) and Andrew Youwakim (Lehigh University).

Liberty HS students who received recognition were: Bryton Altenbach (Washington & Jefferson College), Grace Dunham (Alfred University), Caroline Hawk (Widener University), Lucy Kitch-Peck (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Steven-John Kounoupis (University of Pennsylvania), Olivia Lunger (Rhode Island School of Design), Liam Murray (Boston University), Elena Myalo (Lehigh University), Chaihong Nah (Lehigh University) and Eleni Prodes (Pennsylvania State University).