The Bethlehem Area School District held its 10th annual academic signing ceremony June 5 in the Haupert Union Building at Moravian University, as 23 Liberty and Freedom HS scholars signed commitment letters to the colleges and universities they will soon attend. BASD administrators, school board members and families celebrated their achievements with a luncheon and recognition.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy urged them to enjoy the moment, both the with their signing and upcoming commencement services. “This recognizes your academic brilliance and success,” said Roy.

Addressing the students and their guests, assistant superintendent/chief academic officer Dr. Jack Silva reminded them of their resilience throughout their pandemic impacted high school years. “Your legacy will be the degree to which you use that resilience.”

Each scholar introduced themselves telling their higher education destination as well as expected majors. Areas of study such as biological and computer sciences, economics, nursing , finance, geology and aerospace/civil/electrical engineering were mentioned by the seniors. They also introduced their guests and parent Ray Lynn said he felt that academic signings should be held just like athletic signings. “The most important thing is academics,” said Lynn.

Freedom HS scholars and their higher education destinations are: Rachel Baffour-DeSales University, Joseph Bauer-Fordham University, Arun Chhugani-University of Pennsylvania, Brianna Cole-University of Pittsburgh, Jackson Eshbaugh-Lafayette College, Julia Heineman-University of Pittsburgh, Madison Horvath-Muhlenberg College, Krishna Korrapati-Carnegie Mellon University, Kyle Kullman-Penn State University, Ashley McElroy-Lafayette College, Jerry Rivera-Princeton University, and Prajeet Santra-University of Pittsburgh.

Liberty HS scholars and their higher education destinations are: Joelle Dizon-Lehigh University, Surjo Ganguly-Carnegie Mellon University, Christopher Giannaras-Lehigh University, Kaitlin James-Marist College, Kathryn Lynn-Lehigh University, Madeline Mumma-University of Pittsburgh, Benjamin Pfefer-Amherst College, Keller Pooley-Colorado College, Siddhardh Tekumalla-Penn State University Schreyer Honors College, Sruti Tekumalla-Princeton University, and Najow Turk-Moravian University.