“It Has Boosted My Confidence.”

The Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP honored local high school students at the 67th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner Feb. 19 when they were recognized before an audience of about 160 people at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Hanover Township. Ashanti Littlejohn, Devante Littlejohn, Kristina Conaway, all from Freedom High School and Liberty High School students Troi Pitt, Imanni Gaye, Rachel Anson and Ka’yon Ross were honored by the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP. Each were competitors Jan. 19 in the NAACP's Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. ACT-SO includes 26 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, business, and performing and visual arts. Kristina Conaway, a senior at Freedom High School and one of the honorees said she has been competing in the ACT-SO program since she was 12. “It has boosted my confidence,” said Conaway. She won a bronze medal for a drawing. Several representatives of the Bethlehem Area School District attended the ceremony, as did David DiGiacinto who is a member of the Bethlehem City Council. “It’s important to be here because the NAACP recognizes kids as part of the community,” said DiGiacinto. BASD Superintendent Joseph Roy, Liberty High School Principal JoAnne Durante and Freedom High School Principal Michael LaPorta attended in support of their students. “The NAACP is important in the community,” said Roy. “We are happy to be here to support them.” “We’re here to see our students recognized by the community,” said LaPorta. “We are here to recognize our students,” said Durante. “The NAACP and Liberty High School has a good partnership in the community. Liberty is proud to have Junior NAACP Council. “This is a very important branch,” said Hilary O. Shelton, the NAACP Washington Bureau Director, the keynote speaker, speaking of the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP. “The NAACP continues to do great work in the struggle for all Americans,” said Shelton. Shelton said that Lee is well known for her hard work and strong believes and her willingness to give her time. “She is well known nationwide,” said Shelton. According to Lee, the ACT-SO winners will go to Huston, TX for a national competition in July.