Families, friends, and faculty of New Hope-Solebury School District gathered on the field and bleachers at the high school stadium June 13 to celebrate and send off their cherished graduating seniors.
The bright Class of 2023 said goodbye to their days of being Lions and will face new journeys as undergraduates in higher education or as new members of the workforce. Guests of the commencement walked along the pavement leading to the stadium, which was decorated in chalk by the seniors with their names, pictures, quotes and plans for the future.
The New Hope-Solebury Quintet started to play as administrators, board members, and teachers began to enter the field at 6:30 p.m. The crowd then stood to welcome the Class of 2023, dressed in navy blue and white robes, onto the field.
Once the seniors reached their seats, Principal Patrick Sasse started the ceremony by thanking and welcoming everyone. Afterward, he shared with the seniors, “I want to thank the Class of 2023 for your contributions to the high school and school district over the years. We will miss you here on campus and are eager to hear more about your impact on the community and the world beyond New Hope-Solebury.”
While everyone was still standing, senior members of the chamber choir sang the national anthem. Once seated, everyone listened as two seniors — Eva Houlton and Luke Shonis — each performed a beautiful musical piece dedicated to their class and those who helped guide them over the years.
Principal Sasse then welcomed class officers Sophia Cozza, Samuel Hoffman and Avery Mendola onto the stage as they walked the crowd down the memory lane of their school days. Following, class president Abby Prosser read her address saying, “It was not long ago we walked into these white brick walls, and we had no idea what we were in for. We had a lot to learn, but what we did know was that we were going to support each other no matter what.”
The valedictorian of 2023, Adrian Li, then took the stage telling his class, “I am honored to call you my friends. I hope you find the peace and the happiness that you desire. But most of all, I hope that someday in the future, we can look back on where we started, and be amazed by how far we’ve come.”
Superintendent Dr. Charles Lentz also addressed. “Today is not a culmination but a start to a new journey. Use the knowledge and skills you have been given to become exceptional.”
Finally, the class was awarded diplomas by class advisors Margaret Thompson and Yona Rose. Their supporters cheered and held signs as the students walked the stage. Lentz then returned for the graduation proclamation and 2023 salutatorian Alexandra Scott led the class in the turning of the tassels.
Seniors turned their tassels and tossed their decorated graduation caps into the sky, officially greeting their optimistic futures.
Every year members of the New Hope-Solebury community give awards and scholarships to eligible seniors and this year 26 donors came together to award 31 seniors with over $44,000 in contributions.
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