Communities in Schools Graduates Gather at Annual "Ready, Set, Graduate!" Event

Presented by Olympus, Students Celebrated In-person for the First Time in Two Years Due to Covid-19.

Students and families from eight high schools in Lehigh, Northampton, and Berks counties packed The Aster Event center on Tuesday, May 24th to celebrate their journeys on the road to graduation. The annual Communities In Schools Eastern Pennsylvania (CIS) “Ready, Set, Graduate!” celebration honored high school students from William Allen, Dieruff, Liberty, Freedom, Easton, Emmaus, Wilson (Berks County), and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.

Four-time USA Track & Field medalist, Joetta Clark-Diggs gave the keynote presentation, focusing her message on perseverance and investing in yourself. CIS also awarded a total of $6,000 in scholarships to four deserving seniors. The annual Joan Benner Fuller scholarship for $1,500 was awarded to Alazae Knoble of Building 21 in Allentown. The inaugural Chandler-Barnes Scholarship was awarded to a total of three students who received $1,500 each. The 2022 recipients are Raissa Borrero of Building 21 in Allentown, Kiara Carrion of Liberty High School, and Liz Vasquez of Dieruff High School.

One of the many students honored was Ty Manno from Easton Area High School. "CIS made me more confident and allowed me to be myself more often, and do what I need to do at my full capability," said Manno.

Corporate and individual sponsors included Olympus; Bob & Sandy Lovett; PPL Corporation; Lehigh Valley Health Network; BSI Corporate Benefits; Northstar Construction; Nordson Corporation Foundation; Step-by-Step Learning; Crayola; John & Kathleen Hart; Tyler & Jenna Papaz; Kristie Bietler & Mosebach Funt, Dayton and Duckworth; Cohen Feeley Altemose & Rambo; The Martin D. Cohen Family Foundation; ASR Media Productions; People First Credit Union; Your Part-Time, Controller, and M&T Bank.

CIS specializes in addressing the non-academic barriers that prevent students from being successful in school. CIS serves 40 schools in 10 school districts in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County. Site professionals in these schools work one-on-one with students on their attendance, academic, and social-emotional needs.