BETHLEHEM, Pa.– Tuesday was College Signing Day for the top high school seniors in the Bethlehem Area School District. The event honors academic achievements ahead of graduation this week.
“These students have worked extremely hard, you don’t get to this position without a lot of nights of studying, a lot of effort,” said Supt. Jack Silva.
The top ten students at both Liberty and Freedom High Schools were celebrated in a special ceremony.
Freedom High School senior Benjamin Rader plans to study International Relations at American University and spend two years abroad in Japan.
“I really enjoy foreign policy and economics. I would hope for at some point to work for the state department. I’m over the moon that I get to be a part of such an awesome opportunity,” Rader told 69 News.
Melisa Okumus and Lilah McClarin, both Liberty seniors, are going to Northeastern University for Industrial Engineering and Finance, and Penn State Schreyer Honors College for Biology.
“We worked really hard to get here. We both played sports. It was a lot, I’m in the band, like balancing it,” McClarin explained.
For Superintendent Jack Silva, it was one last hurrah before graduation at the end of the week and his retirement.
“I’m very proud of these students,” Silva concluded.