GHCA bestows diplomas

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
THANKS — GHCA graduate Alex McNally gives his mother Sandra a hug and presents her with a rose after receiving his diploma on Saturday.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    The theme of last Saturday’s Greater Houlton Christian Academy graduation held at the Houlton Community Arts Center focused on family and following the right leader.
    Guest speaker Marcia Duff, who was referred to as “class mom,” spoke about each of the nine graduates individually on a humorous and then a sincere note.
    When she was asked to take the junior high study hall — the graduating class — at GHCA, Duff said, “I thought, what can be so hard about junior high study hall? Oh my goodness. I found it was not easy and a challenge set before me. I was unprepared. They pulled the wool over my eyes more than once.”
    As Duff spoke, those in attendance could sense in her voice the affection she had for each graduate and how proud she was of each of them.
    “I have enjoyed watching you grow as a family,” she said.
    Duff recalled when some people may have seen dysfunction, but she can now see as well as others, how each graduate matured.
    “You all care about one another,” said Duff. “There was dysfunction and probably still some. But, in the end when everything is said and done, you care about one another. Perhaps more than any class I have ever encountered. When I say everyone, that’s what I mean. No one is left out.”
    Head of School John Bishop presented diplomas to the graduates and Gail Scovill awarded graduates with scholarships.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
LAST BIT OF HELP — Kelly Fitzpatrick gives her son, Joey Ebner, a last bit of help fixing his tie before his graduation from GHCA.
    “I want to thank my family for always setting a godly example for me,” said Valedictorian Micah Wiley. “Without that spiritual foundation at home, I probably wouldn’t be standing here in front of you today. Thank you mom and dad for believing in Christian education. I’d also like to thank all the teachers and staff of GHCA. The time and energy you invest into your students often goes unnoticed, but I would like to publicly thank you for all the sacrifices you make to help create the unique atmosphere at GHCA.”
    Not knowing quite what to speak on, Wiley settled on a topic many could relate to in Aroostook County … basketball. He gleaned three points from playing.
    “Always listen to your coach,” he said. “A team’s success is often based on the coaching of the team. The coaches prepares the team mentally and physically for the games ahead. As Christians playing the game of life, we have the best coach who supercedes any coach who has ever lived or will live. He has an undefeated record and knows what to do in every situation. When you play on God’s team, you will always be a winner. His team is always prepared for any tough situation they may face. God knows what is right for each one of His players and if we follow Him, He will bless us beyond anything we can imagine. We would be crazy not to listen to Him because He truly knows best.”
    Wiley’s second point was to know the game plan.
    “God has given His followers the perfect playbook, the Bible, with all the necessary game plans,” he said. “Whatever offense or defense we face in life, God has a way to beat it. We are told to memorize and know the playbook like the back of our hand. God’s Word must be the foundation of our future. Our lives will crumble without it.”
    And finally, Wiley said play the game of life with a purpose.
    “Many people in life are going to tell you that the point of life is to have fun, make lots of money, and have status in society. Boy, do they have it wrong!,” said Wiley. “The only purpose we must have in this life is to impact the world for Jesus Christ. He is the only one that can bring true success and happiness.”
    Wiley cautioned those in attendance to not settle for what temporarily satisfies their desires.
    When the time on the game clock runs out and our lives are over, we will stand in front of God,” he said. “He will be the judge of whether we won the game of life or wasted it away. To be truly satisfied and be on God’s winning team it is necessary to know God as life’s coach, to listen to Him, read His word — our playbook —  and above all live life with a purpose.”
    Ethan Holmes, salutatorian, started by thanking people who invested time in his life.
    “To my family, I couldn’t begin to explain how much you have done for me,” he said. “Your love, support, and time have not gone unnoticed. Without the sacrifices you have made, I wouldn’t experience success in the areas that I do. If I could summarize how I was raised in one sentence, it would be this: Always give your best no matter what, and never live with regret.”
    To his fellow graduates, Holmes said, “I owe you more than you know. You let me vent, encouraged me, or just make me laugh when I need to. Whenever I need godly advice, I know who I can turn to.”
    Affectionately referring to his classmates as “the idiots, “Anybody can have friendships with their classmates, but I can’t use any other word than ‘family’ to describe the bond our class has,” said Holmes. “Since we’re family, this bond can never be taken away or broken. We have our squabbles and disagreements, but in the end, we stick together, because that’s what family does. Just as there comes a time when families grow farther apart geographically, so the time has come for us to go our separate ways.”
    To the faculty at GHCA, Holmes said, “The dynamic of our class has taken a different form in the last four years, but we’re still a group of characters. What I appreciate most about our teachers is the productive learning environment they create for us. A comfortable setting where we can take academics seriously, and have fun at the same time has helped me, and if I may speak for my classmates, it has helped all of us.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
IT’S REAL! — GHCA graduate Brandon Gove may have been thinking “Wow, I made it” as he looked at his diploma that he received last Saturday.
    Holmes noted that there was nothing more important than being in an environment beneficial to one’s spiritual walk. “What will never be forgotten or lost is the foundation we have received,” he said. But, he cautioned underclassmen, success begins within each of them individually.
    “Your school, your teachers, and your classes can impact your life far more than you could ever imagine,” he added. “If you don’t let what are you being taught change you, it will be for nothing. Time is far too short. Give everything you have in life, and never regret.”
    “It is these experiences and people that form a family,” said First Honor essayist Joey Ebner of high school. “It is each of us and what we have added to the life of GHCA. We have certainly come a long ways as a class. We proved that we have what it takes to stand out from the rest, by using the gifts and abilities that God has provided us with. Our next journey that we must go on is life itself, and although it may seem wonderful and exciting to us, there will be obstacles to face.”
    Ebner reminded his fellow graduates that wherever they go or whatever they do, each one will continue their education.
    “Despite all that we have been taught, the greatest lessons have not come from inside the classroom, but rather outside,” he said. “We still have so much more that we have to learn – more about life, about work, about relationships, and yes, more about family. When we leave the comfortable confines of our current lives, we will begin to realize how much this school family really means to us.”
    In closing, Ebner noted that each person’s life is a gift.
    “Use it, cherish it, savor it, but above all do not take it for granted,” said Ebner. “In the words of Joy Page, “Dream and give yourself permission to envision a you that you choose to be.” The future is ours … We are the next generation of godly leaders, who will ultimately impact the world for Jesus Christ.”