Grounded in tradition, prepared for the future, Moravian Academy Seniors took their places as high school graduates on Saturday.

“Today, we are officially adding 67 young men and women to the Moravian Academy Alumni Association,” said Head of School Adrienne Finley Odell. This class will be represented at 49 different institutions of higher learning in 17 different states and Canada. Twenty-six members of this class are “lifers;” students who have been at Moravian for their entire educations.

Class of 2023 President Elana Capobianco nostalgically spoke of, “Core memories, the memories we will hold dear, and remember even when we are 95. She said her Aunt Helena is 95 and can’t remember what she had for dinner last night, but can accurately and vividly recall specific memories from her youth.

Capobianco said, “Graduation is a milestone, just like getting our first keycard and lanyard, or no longer wearing the plaid jumper but being old enough to wear khakis, the candlelight at vespers or the first spikeball game of spring.”

She encouraged her peers to stay positive. “My Aunt Helena says, ‘Life is something to smile about.’” She spoke of the importance of the friendships we make today and the long-term impact they will have on us as our first batch of core memories.

Director of the Merle-Smith Campus presented the class of 2023 as Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher Weiler authorized the granting of diplomas. Finley Odell presented the diplomas and said something about each student.

Senior Kendall Bolden was presented his diploma by his mother, who had also attended Moravian; Sarah Connors was presented her diploma by her father, who is director of facilities; Sofia Eckman was presented her diploma by her father, who is the chairman of the History Department; Moriah Mitchell and Jack Perrucci was presented their diplomas by their father and mother, respectively, who are trustees. mother who is a trustee at Moravian.

Concluding the program, Finely Odell told the new graduates, “We are forever changed by you and you by us.”

Of the 67 graduates, seven will be attending colleges in the Lehigh Valley. They are Michael Alchaer – Lehigh University, Gabriel Borsuk- Lehigh University, Ryan Hart – Lehigh University, Devin Klotz – Northampton Community College, Nabeel Rifai – Lehigh University, Rafi Sanjuan -Moravian University, and Trey Sheeler – Lehigh University.