The Salisbury Township School District honored 106 graduates of Salisbury High School at a commencement ceremony June 4 in the school stadium.

Salisbury High School Principal Heather Morningstar welcomed parents, friends, staff and students to the ceremony.

Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten urged graduates to carry the sense of wonder they have. “As you venture into the world for whatever you choose to do next - whether you are entering the military, a trade school, the work force, a 2-year college or a 4-year college – whatever unknown is ahead of you, confront your challenges and approach every opportunity with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for growth. Let your inquisitiveness be the driving force behind your accomplishments and let it guide you to new discoveries and breakthroughs.

“... Take the values that have been instilled in you by your family, your friends, your teachers, your mentors and let them shape the person you will choose to become. Use your education to make a positive impact on the world and be a voice for others who are silenced and to uplift those around you.”

Christopher Freas, president of the Salisbury Board of Education congratulated the Class of 2023 and asked them to show their appreciation for those who have helped along the way.

“You go to the next phase of adulthood; it is exciting, sometimes crazy but it is always filled with learning opportunities.

“ ... There are likely going to be moments where you feel alone. If you find yourself in that place, alone or lost, I want you to remember this moment; those people you just applauded, and most importantly, I want you to remember Salisbury. I think you will find you are not alone. There are people here for you. You can come back to them to help you through the next phase of your journey,” Freas said.

Director of Student Activities Monica Deeb introduced the president of the Class of 2023 Mia E. Bernard. Deeb said Bernard was class president for four years and extremely involved during that time. “I wanted to make sure our class could do what we wanted and what we needed to do,” Bernard told Deeb.

Deeb listed Bernard’s many achievements and activities at the school which included chorus and the theater program. Bernard hopes to continue with theater at Lehigh Carbon Community College and hopes to become a teacher.

“I have had a great experience with everyone,” Bernard said, “Even the silly boys. The rest of the world needs to see the kindness I have seen in them.”

In her speech, she thanked her peers, friends and family for being there. Her highlights of the last 13 years started with everyone coming together in sixth grade in 2016, SMS Live, rubber duck collectibles and middle school dances.

She said their freshman year had many fun things including the pep rally decorating contest and the authentic homecoming dance. She skipped over sophomore year. “Junior year was like a reunion where the class reconnected; senior year has been awesome. I will truly miss every single one of you. This year felt as if we have all just been friends. This year has been positive.

“I want to remind you all to keep your kindness. I will forever cherish the moments and memories we have shared. Please allow the rest of the world to see the kindness in you that I have seen. Allow yourself to dream and remember it is ok to fail. It is ok to change your plans and it is ok to be a little nervous about what is ahead. The future is so bright and I hope you all take advantage of the opportunities that arise. I could not be more proud of us and where we are. Thank you Class of 2023; it has been splendid,” Bernard said.

Assistant Principal Ryan Yurchick introduced this year’s Salutatorian Elizabeth M. Sterner. He said Sterner loves being a member of a smaller school where she felt a connection and strong sense of community. He noted her many school accomplishments, as well as her Girl Scout Cookie selling strategies, especially at school, as being second to none. He also shared her accomplishments with Girl Scouts, as she will soon earn her Gold Award which is the Eagle Scout equivalent working with the Lehigh Valley Zoo to develop a program to address the importance of pollinators and invasive species.

Sterner will attend Lehigh University to pursue a degree in chemical engineering with a concentration in food science.

She credits her mother for helping her get to where she is today. “Thank you to all the families who have been with us on this journey. You are the ones who believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. When we fell, you helped us to find our way up again.”

Sterner reflected on all the advice received over the years such as “Keep your hands to yourself,” “Look both ways before crossing the street,” “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes” and “Always have a Ziplock bag. All valid advice,” Sterner said.

Another piece of advice she received was, “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.” Sterner said “it was a saying learned in kindergarten and applied to when we didn’t get that one cupcake or that special pencil we really wanted. It applies to much more than that.

“Through these 13 years of school, we’ve been assigned papers, group projects and presentations that we didn’t want to do but we did anyway. We would show up to school to take that test we didn’t believe we were prepared for. We finished a game even if a ref wasn’t being fair. We completed science fair experiments within 48 hours of their due date and we wrote 10 papers including their citations within the night. We may have not liked the situation we were put in or the situation we got ourselves into with the help of procrastination, but we got through them with determination. Determination to be better. Determination to keep going. Determination to have your little siblings look up at you and say they want to be just like you when they grow up. Determination to make it to today, our graduation.

“This is not the climax of our lives,” Sterner said. “Life will throw stuff at us that we don’t want to deal with whether it be school problems, work problems, relationship or societal problems. No matter what you face in life, face it with your head held high. Remember Salisbury, you are not defined by the cards you are dealt but how you play the game with the cards you are given.”

Morningstar introduced the Class of 2023 Valedictorian Jackson Thomas Kramp. He will attend Lehigh University in the Eckhardt Scholars Program with an intended major of political science.

In addition to excelling in academics as well as taking classes at Lehigh University, Kramp was involved in soccer, swimming, tennis, debate and Model UN.

Morningstar said Kramp’s words of wisdom include challenge yourself, push beyond your comfort zone and embrace the multitude of opportunities that await you. Kramp encouraged students to get involved and said anything is possible with dedication and determination.

Kramp congratulated his classmates on their many accomplishments as he began his speech.

“Salisbury is a place filled with diversity – diversity of race, class and background,” Kramp said. He talked about the diversity of expectations. Specifically, the expectations about graduation.

“I am eternally grateful that my parents put me in a position where not only was graduation an expectation but it was something I never needed to worry about. I know for some people that is not the case. Graduation is not an expectation and for some it is not even a goal. Regardless of your expectations for graduating you are here today and you did it.

“It’s important to remember you aren’t successful because you go down the path everyone else tells you to follow, you are successful only when you go down the path that is right for you. The expectations that led you to this moment are no longer that important. ... Now it is about what you are going to do with your education, not just that piece of paper.”

Looking for inspiration for his speech, Kramp quoted his favorite speech by Jim Valvano at the ESPY Awards who said, “Each day you should laugh, you should think and you should cry.”

“While I don’t think I did all three of those every day during high school,” Kramp said, “I’m sure there were some days I did and when I think about those days, specifically I realize those were the most important and perhaps most memorable moments from high school where I truly became me. Whether I was laughing, crying or thinking, I’m sure those were the moments where I grew the most and I’m sure others can say the same about themselves.

“So just as Coach Valvano said, remember to do all three every day and I’m sure you‘ll find yourself becoming a better and more complex version of yourself.”

Tanya Kennedy presented the staff and Salisbury Education awards.

“Thank you to the students,” Kennedy said. “There is so much about you that goes home with us every single day. We learn so much about ourselves when we teach you in the classrooms, we learn so much about life as we deal with all the things you bring to us. We are so proud and happy to be a part of that process. So thank you.”

The staff award is given to a student who shows leadership in school, activities, school spirit, personal enthusiasm and support for the school and the students and manifests the characteristics of honesty and integrity. This student also demonstrates maturity and individuality. The award was presented to Kate Smith.

The Salisbury Education Association provides a cash award to a student pursuing a career in public education. Kennedy said this award was extremely important this year because in Pennsylvania there has been a decline of 66% of people graduating from college with a teaching degree. The award was presented to Isabella Natosi.

Dawn Cressman presented the Salisbury Educational Support Professional Association Award to the highest ranking academic scholar who has attended Lehigh Career & Technical Institute to Emma Martinez.

Rachel Legath presented the SHS Alumni Award to a graduating senior who exemplifies drive, dedication and determination. This year the award was given to Kramp.

Senior chorus members performed “Long Live.”

Following the awarding of degrees, the Class of 2023 was declared graduates with the moving of tassels and tossing of caps.

The alma mater was sung by graduates, staff, family and friends.

The junior class provided light refreshments after the graduation ceremony.