Moravian Academy’s 2022 class President Favor Ufondu was standing in front of family, faculty and classmates when her phone rang. “Hey, I can’t talk right now, I’m kind of busy. I’m about to give a speech.“

Ufondu, the featured speaker June 4, began in earnest, congratulating the 77 graduates from the Upper School at the Merle-Smith Campus in Bethlehem Township.

Recalling her initial faculty interview president position, Ufondu said, “I thought they would ask me simple things like how often I thought vending machines needed to be refilled or my opinion on campus curfews: instead they asked what I thought our class would be remembered for.” Ufondu admits being stumped for the moment ,but responded, “spike ball.”

Ufondu recalled the unique challenges presented to this class and their commitment to tradition and to learning. Reminding everyone of the school’s mission to empower students to become limitless learners, she spoke of the adaptability and flexibility this class embodied during the pandemic. Her words became that of a wise woman, taking on a maudlin tone as she heeded to her peers to “celebrate the significant little moments of joy, not just the milestones.” She reminded everyone how quickly life can change, as was the case in March of 2020, when COVID changed the world.

“We went from being in class, going for Starbucks, to virtual everything.” She praised her peers for providing continuity for lower classmates who had yet to experience Moravian “live” and help ease everyone into the transition from virtual back to live learning – even though it was new to them as well. Ufondu said the class of 2022 rose to the challenges of the moment, while respecting its Moravian history. Her conclusion? “The grass is green wherever you water it”

Commencement continued as Director of the Upper School Dylan Deal presented the class of 2022. The class was authorized for graduation by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Chistopher Weiler and diplomas were presented by Jeffrey Zemsky.

Zemsky encouraged graduates to “stimulate ideas into action.”

Guests were privileged to firsthand insights into each graduate as teachers had collected thoughts and attributes mentioned of each student read as they received their diplomas.

The traditional elements of commencement, the processional and recessional, were provided by the Upper School Orchestra under the direction of Chase Morrison, and the wind instrumentalist was Richard Fanning. Each senior carried or wore a rose.

All-school Chaplain Reverend Jennifer Nichols reminded everyone, “Open hearts and open minds is what has sustained this school from generation to generation.”

Moravian Academy, currently the ninth oldest independent school in the nation, descended from the Moravian Seminary for girls, founded in 1792. In 1971 the original Moravian Seminary for Girls merged with Moravian Preparatory School to form Moravian Academy.