Catasauqua High School holds 158th commencement<\/p>\n
Family and friends filtered into the Catasauqua High School gymnasium, toting flowers, gifts and big smiles to celebrate the Class of 2026. The 158th CHS commencement was held May 30.<\/p>\n
The audience members gathered together before the ceremony, pointing out names and achievements in the program, which featured cover art by Class of 2026 member Juliana Burgos. The lively conversation abated as the CHS band, under the direction of Robert Arnold, played the processional songs and the national anthem.<\/p>\n
The invocation to open the commencement ceremony was read by Lennon Murray, a student-selected speaker and the class vice president.<\/p>\n
Salutatorian Dakota Velas talked about the past. She reflected on their transformations over the last four years, noting they learned patience, resilience and how to handle pressure. Their time was spent learning, adapting and moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter the challenge, we learned to fight for what mattered to us,\u201d Velas said.<\/p>\n
She told her classmates to remember the little ordinary moments and the inside jokes, which helped shape who they are. She noted these small moments matter most and don\u2019t limit their future.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter where life takes us, this chapter is ours,\u201d Velas added.<\/p>\n
Hailey Jenkins, class secretary and faculty-selected speaker, shared her thoughts on the present and how bittersweet this moment is for them. She told her classmates to treasure the moment before it is gone. She mentioned they spend so much time worrying about the future, they can forget to live in the present.<\/p>\n
She encouraged her peers not to worry as much about the future and embrace life as it comes \u2014 mistakes and all.<\/p>\n
Kayla Davis, class historian, introduced Annette (Marhefka) Englert, who represented the Class of 1976. She shared recollections of when they were graduating seniors 50 years ago, noting it was the country\u2019s bicentennial year, which made it special for them. Englert remembered looking back at the 50-year grads then, and now, she and her classmates are those honored guests.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo into the world and do good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
CHS Principal David Todd took time to recognize the board of education members and district retirees. He thanked the teachers, administration, staff and larger school community for their support of the students and their future.<\/p>\n
He then addressed the members of the Class of 2026, saying he wanted to impart some final lessons to them as they leave high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the end \u2014 it\u2019s the beginning of who you\u2019ll become,\u201d Todd said.<\/p>\n
He shared a personal story about a low time in his life when he was ready to give up and was fighting to continue pushing forward. He said this life journey led him to CHS in 2023 when he joined the staff as principal. According to Todd, he was told about the \u201cspecial sophomore class\u201d when he started.<\/p>\n
That class is now preparing to take their next steps into the future. He told them this is their moment to write their own future.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve made me a better person, a better principal, and I\u2019ll carry you with me moving forward,\u201d Todd said in an emotional final thought to the Class of 2026.<\/p>\n
Todd took time to recognize and honor the class valedictorian \u2014 Brianna Abbott \u2014 and Velas as the salutatorian. He shared details about their accomplishments and accolades.<\/p>\n
He then named the 29 students who earned 16 straight honor rolls during their time in high school.<\/p>\n
Class Treasurer Nikoloz Kemashvili reported the Class of 2026\u2019s remaining funds will be donated to support the school\u2019s athletes and sports programs.<\/p>\n
Davis was the student-selected speaker to reflect on the future. She mentioned the future is uncertain and unexpected. It doesn\u2019t always follow the plan, and you don\u2019t always become who you thought you\u2019d be, and that is fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerfection isn\u2019t promised, but progress is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Davis told her classmates to look back and embrace the last four years since those moments led to this one. Those moments helped shape their path forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake choices you can be proud of,\u201d she urged her peers.<\/p>\n
Class President Chris Wellington was the student-selected speaker to deliver the farewell.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually made it through high school,\u201d he said to his classmates. \u201cLook at us \u2014 caps and gowns and diplomas in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
He talked about how much they\u2019ve learned and grown over the years, not just as students but as human beings. Wellington also noted the Class of 2026 is one of the most successful in CHS history, highlighting a number of accomplishments and achievements attributed to them.<\/p>\n
He asked them all to always remember the bonds formed and encouraged his peers to make mistakes, change their minds and explore as they move on to their next chapters.<\/p>\n
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling shared her pride in being able to take part in the graduation ceremony and help celebrate the \u201ctremendous achievements of the Class of 2026.\u201d She noted they not only excelled in the areas of athletics, academics and the arts, but they\u2019ve forged meaningful connections in the community. She said she cannot wait to see the promising future impacts these students will make.<\/p>\n
Cheers and whistles echoed throughout the gymnasium as each of the approximate 120 graduates crossed the stage and received their diplomas.<\/p>\n
After the playing of the alma mater, student-selected speaker Hamaad Jenkins gave the final remarks and benediction. He asked his classmates to go forth with gratitude, knowledge and courage and to remember their blessings and that being a Rough Rider means having friends and a community.<\/p>\n
Wellington once again stood before his classmates.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s make it official,\u201d he said. \u201cMove your tassels from right to left.\u201d<\/p>\n
Todd then encouraged the new graduates to take part in the \u201ctime-honored tradition\u201d of the Grand Catty Line. The Class of 2026 circled the edges of the court and, with claps and cheers, took their final act together as a class and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of their accomplishments.<\/p>\n
Aalin De Aza De La Rosa displays her diploma during the May 30 Catasauqua High School graduation ceremony in the school gym.<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTOS BY DONNA GEWERTZKevin Morales Cordon fist-bumps a fellow graduate as he crosses the stage.<\/p>\n
Catasauqua High School Principal David Todd signs \u201cI love you\u201d to the Class of 2026.<\/p>\n
The Class of 2026 forms the Grand Catty Line to toss their caps, officially signaling them as graduates.<\/p>\n
Class Historian Kayla Davis and President Christopher Wellington lead the procession.<\/p>\n
Gathering for the last time as high school students, a group gets themselves ready for the Catasauqua High School graduation May 30.<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTOS BY DONNA GEWERTZA group of seniors are all smiles before the graduation ceremony.<\/p>\n
Class Vice President Lennon Murray provides the invocation.<\/p>\n
An excited Seamus Deibert receives a congratulatory hug while receiving his diploma.<\/p>\n
The proud family of graduate Aiden Hill celebrates his accomplishments and graduation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Catasauqua High School holds 158th commencement Family and friends filtered into the Catasauqua High School gymnasium, toting flowers,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":209688,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-209687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}