After a one-day rain delay, Salisbury Township School District held its 60th graduation ceremony June 9, celebrating 132 graduates.

The commencement ceremony, held in the Salisbury High School stadium, began with an introduction from Salisbury High School Principal Heather Morningstar.

As Morningstar welcomed and congratulated the graduates during her opening speech, she emphasized the importance of kindness as a quality.

“You will assuredly face moments in your life when you can choose to be right, or you can choose to be kind. Choose to be kind,” Morningstar said. “It will open doors, it will build bridges and it will heal wounds that logic and argument never will.”

Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten gave opening remarks for the ceremony, reflecting on her son, who had graduated from college only a few weeks before, and the advice she had given him that she could now share with the SHS graduates.

“Do your best, and make good choices,” Fuini-Hetten said. “My husband always said ‘do your best’... but that didn’t mean being perfect. It meant showing up and giving your whole heart to what matters.”

Salisbury School Board Director Laura McKelvey greeted the audience of teachers, staff, parents, family, friends and the Class of 2025. During her speech, McKelvey highlighted three “ways of being” that she said would lead the graduates toward a meaningful life.

“First, be humble. Humility isn’t self-debasement,” McKelvey said. “It’s viewing yourselves in a way that is true. Be empathetic. Some of us have more empathy as a result of life experiences and genetics, but it can be developed and strengthened in all of us.”

McKelvey finished her speech by stressing the importance of taking a stand when it matters most.

“Be fierce. If you stand up to injustice or ignorance, that anger is fueled into passion and advocacy, into working for larger systematic changes, into creating a benefit not only for individuals but also for communities,” McKelvey said. “Instead of periodic volunteering, you will be leading, organizing, developing and creating.”

Sarah Oswald, the Salisbury director of student activities, introduced the Class of 2025 vice president, Hailey Bender. Oswald noted Bender’s three-year tenure as vice president and her work in the Student Government Association, National Honor Society and theater. Bender will continue her academic career at West Chester University in marketing.

Bender began her speech by joking she specifically ran for vice president because she never wanted to have to give this speech. The Class of 2025 president, Cameron Kubinsky, was the class salutatorian, who also gets the chance to speak at commencement, making the class president’s speech fall to Bender.

Bender reminisced on multiple moments from the past year, such as the return of the Mr. Salisbury competition Bender worked to bring back and the highest prom attendance in over five years. Bender highlighted her class’s spirit.

“This year, we’ve seen what happens when people put themselves out there, and when they take risks and step up,” Bender said. “It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest reward comes when we are willing to step outside of our comfort zones.”

SHS Assistant Principal Jane Brenner gave a glowing introduction to this year’s salutatorian, Cameron Kubinsky. Brenner spoke to Kubinsky’s excellent character, both academically and as a person. Kubinsky had a role in the Student Government Association, Debate Team, Model U.N., the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and volunteering at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Brenner said Kubinsky wasn’t just impressive in school, and that in his social life, he gave the people around him permission to be themselves.

Kubinsky will continue his academic career at the University of Connecticut.

Kubinsky began his speech by thanking the support that allowed his class to get where they are today. He asked his fellow graduates not to focus on endings, but rather on their new beginnings.

“Today is about the start of something new for all of us,” Kubinsky said. “Our lives are going to take us to so many different places.”

Kubinsky noted there isn’t one correct way for people to live their lives and encouraged his peers to adapt and change if need be.

“The ability to adjust and keep going, even when the path shifts, is what is going to allow all of us to succeed,” Kubinsky said. “Accomplishment and success come in many forms beyond our conventional measurement. It can’t be quantified by the grades we had in high school, the jobs we might have or how much money we might make. Success comes from something much deeper than that.”

Morningstar took the stage again to introduce the class valedictorian, Tyler Kuder. Morningstar mentioned the many honors Kuder had earned, such as his participation in the prestigious Lehigh Scholars program. She also highlighted Kuder’s passion for discovery and ability to be a quiet leader. Kuder will continue his academic career at Lehigh University in finance.

Kuder emphasized the amount of time students spend in school throughout the years and said that because of all this time, he always remembers the phrase “you should treat your friends in high school as if they’re your family.

“You spend the same amount of time, if not more, with [your high school friends] than your actual biological family,” Kuder said. “Only recently I began to realize the importance of these relationships and how easily they can be taken for granted. Relationships are our creations to have a better understanding of our friends as well as ourselves.”

Kuder finished his speech by reflecting on whether all the time, energy and patience he put into becoming valedictorian were worth it. Kuder decided that it was.

“No matter what happens, for the rest of my life, I will always have this. Sure, I might have missed the experiences most high schoolers had, and that’s one of my regrets,” Kuder said. “But everybody should have something to look back on and say, ‘Wow, I did that. I’m standing here right now.’ We need those moments of self-reflection, to look back at what we once were to appreciate the journey we’ve taken to get here.”

SHS teacher Tanya Kennedy presented the staff and Salisbury Education Association Awards.

The staff award is chosen by the high school staff and is given to a person who has demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, promoted school spirit and manifests honesty and integrity. The award was presented to Kubinsky.

The Salisbury Education Association, or teachers’ union, gives a scholarship to a student who is graduating and moving on to pursue a career in public education. This year the scholarship had one of the highest applicant rates ever seen. This award was presented to Scarlet Lang.

Rachael Legath, a SHS staff member and alumna, presented the Salisbury Education Support Professional Association Award and the Alumni Award.

The Salisbury Education Support Professional Association Award is a scholarship given annually to the SHS’s top Lehigh Career & Technical Institute senior. This award was presented to Pablo Javier Reyes Martes.

The Alumni Award and monetary gift are given to a graduating senior who exemplifies drive, dedication and determination. The award was presented to Kuder.

Morningstar officially recognized the Class of 2025 as having graduated and students were able to move their tassels and toss their caps in the air.

The Salisbury District Alma Mater was sung by graduates, staff and the audience.

“Ribs” was played during the recessional.

The junior class provided a reception after the ceremony.