A student from Liberty and Freedom High Schools will receive 4-years of tuition-free education at America’s sixth oldest college.

Bethlehem, Pa., April 1, 2016—This was a great week for two Bethlehem Areas School District high school seniors. Moravian College President Dr. Bryon L. Grigsby '90 joined with BASD Superintendent Dr. Jospeh J. Roy to visit Freedom High School on Thursday, March 31 and inform student Destiny Rivera and her family members that she has been selected to receive the BASD Superintendent's Scholarship to Moravian College. Today, the two visited Liberty High School, joined by Moravian College admission staff and supporting Liberty students, teachers, and administrators to celebrate the announcement that Alejandra Lara was selected to receive the four year full-tuition scholarship to Moravian College. See the photos on Moravian College's Flickr Page, and the video on YouTube.

The Superintendent’s Scholarship is an outgrowth of an agreement between President Grigsby and Superintendent Roy. The two institutions have a long history of partnership—BASD’s William Penn Elementary is the College’s official Community Outreach school and the school district has long been accepting student teachers (and sometimes hiring them!) from the College. This scholarship, which will be offered to two BASD seniors annually, is a sign of further growth.

“The partnership between the district and the College is something really important for the community to see,” Roy said, standing among members of the BASD school board, Moravian College 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 80 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 College 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 College 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 College, 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.”