Moravian University Announces Winners of First BASD Superintendent's Scholarship Program
Two students from Liberty and Freedom High Schools receive 4-year tuition-free education in surprise ceremonies
For Destiny Rivera, Thursday, March 31st was like any other Thursday: wake up, get ready, have her mom Lori drop her off for another day of senior year at Freedom High School. Except something was different that morning; her father, Jose Rivera was also a part of the morning routine.
“I’m usually at work by now,” he said, sitting at the head table in Freedom’s school library, where his daughter would be entering any moment to receive the biggest surprise of her life.
Not one to miss a beat, Destiny questioned his presence. “We’re, uh, going to breakfast!” Lori said, jumping in keep from spoiling the surprise.
“Great! Where are we going?”
“You’re not going!”
The end result was worth the white lie: In a series of surprise ceremonies, Destiny and Alejandra Lara of Liberty High School received the first pair of Superintendents’ Scholarships, a partnership that will send two students—one from Freedom, and one from Liberty—to Moravian University on a four-year full tuition scholarship.
The Superintendent’s Scholarship is an outgrowth of an agreement between Dr. Bryon L. Grigsby, President of Moravian University, and Dr. Joseph J. Roy, Superintendent of Schools, BASD. The two institutions have a long history of partnership—BASD’s William Penn Elementary is the University’s official Community Outreach school and the school district has long been accepting student teachers (and sometimes hiring them!) from the University. This scholarship, which will be offered to two BASD seniors annually, is a sign of further growth.
“The partnership between the district and the University is something really important for the community to see,” Roy said, standing among members of the BASD school board, Moravian University Office of Admission, and a group of Destiny’s teachers, all awaiting her arrival. He would play the same waiting game just 24 hours later, when Liberty’s Alejandra Lara would be surprised by a group of her family, friends, teachers, counselors and the like. “When President Grigsby came to me with this idea in one of his many visits with me, I knew it was an opportunity to make a difference and change the lives of two deserving students.”
Proud of their products, school board members and administrators alike are happy to see students continuing their educations locally. “This scholarship is a way of encouraging our students to attend their local universities and give back to their community,” said Maureen Leeson, assistant principal for Freedom High School and a Bethlehem native. “How many students end up working where they spend their undergraduate career? A lot. I like the idea of keeping our students and creating a strong workforce in Bethlehem.”
In its first year, the Superintendent’s Scholarship program received over 70 applications from seniors at both BASD high schools. Candidates brought great grades and an impressive list of extracurriculars to the table, but Roy and the selection team were looking for more than just a stellar GPA. “We’re looking for students with a compelling life story; students who have a vision for his or her future and demonstrate determination in pursuit of their goals,” he said.
From what was gleaned during each surprise ceremony, it seems the selection committee achieved their goal. Destiny, though overwhelmed by her moment in the spotlight, is an academically-driven young woman with artistic talent and a flair for languages—when she’s not preparing pottery pieces for her school’s art show, she’s staying after school for Freedom’s French Café. She was drawn to Moravian University for its size and feeling of student pride, and is now able to pursue her many interests without the burden of debt. “Being a middle-class family, school is such a huge stressor for us, so this really means the world to our whole family,” Lori said, moments before the announcement. “We don’t know what her major will be, but we know she’s going to try things she wouldn’t normally try.”
Moravian University was also the top choice for Liberty’s Alejandra Lara, who recently received her green card after a challenging upbringing and her eventual adoption by BASD teacher Michelle Bosak and her husband, Jeff. When the Honduras native lost her mother to cancer when she was in fifth grade, the Bosaks became her legal guardians and supported her as she flourished academically and socially. Alejandra currently has a taste of college life as a dual enrollment student at Moravian University, but knew she wanted to be a Hound for good after witnessing a typical Friday night display of student camaraderie and community on the quad.
“She’ll be a really good leader,” Michelle says, anxiously awaiting Alejandra’s arrival to Liberty’s art gallery, where her surprise ceremony took place. “She got the travel bug last summer, so I know she’ll want to travel the world and study abroad."
We could wax poetic about Alejandra’s many accolades: her academics, her creative flair and yearning to find a way to change the world, her hope to one day give back to Honduras and her knack for being a good listener. But her humility and selflessness—two traits Hounds past and present pride themselves on—can best be displayed by the few but touching words she delivered to a standing ovation.
“It feels like I can repay my parents for everything they’ve done for me,” she said, fighting back tears. “And I just want to say thank you to all the teachers and everyone who supported me.”
