HOULTON, Maine — The 2018 graduates of the Greater Houlton Christian Academy began their transition into their next phase with humor, music, passion and love.
Nine high school students marched to the stage at Military Street Baptist Church and were welcomed along with the audience by Head of School Tom Zimmerman. Reverend Robert McNutt of Centreville Baptist Church offered the invocation and was followed by senior Kenan Grant with the reading of the scripture.
GHCA graduating senior Alex Walker performs a comedic song for his class during the school’s graduation ceremony Saturday morning. (Contributed)
Those in attendance were encouraged to join in as the Centreville Baptist Church Worship Team lead by senior Alex Walker sang “We Won’t Be Shaken.” Alex was also First Honor Essayist and performed a song that he had composed about his classmates. As he accompanied himself on the ukulele, there were plenty of smiles, chuckles and outright guffaws.
Salutatorian Bridget Hill noted that, “This is a beginning, not an end… it’s hard to imagine where we’ll end up.” She pointed out that they can make a difference and that it’s scary to turn their lives over to their faith, but well worth it. She left them with the thought, “Things don’t just happen, you have to make them happen.”
Valedictorian Grace Graham examined some of the most common phrases offered to graduates: “Follow your heart,” “With great power comes great responsibility,” etc.
“Follow your heart is the absolute worst advice to give someone.” Hearts lead people to their desires and can lead people astray. She urged her friends to follow Jesus and put their faith in God.
The Commencement Address by Taylor Jo Quint began with the thought, “What to say to kids who taught me so much?” She decided to focus on the five W’s: who, what, why, when and where. Leaving them with, “We neither make nor save ourselves.” “You have a lifetime ahead of you to learn, to follow, to have faith.”
After receiving their diplomas each graduate presented their parents with a rose. A slideshow offered glimpses into the journey that each of the nine had been on to this point in their lives. Then it was time for nine graduates to take their leave of the sanctuary and accept best wishes for their futures.
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- Greater Houlton Christian Academy seniors, from left, Bridget Hill, Ashley Shaw and Isaiah Shaw, burst out in laughter as they listen to a comical song from classmate Alex Walker during Saturday morning’s graduation ceremony. (Contributed)
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- GHCA graduating senior Wesley Ganglfinger, middle, accepts an award from Headmaster Tom Zimmerman during Saturday’s graduation ceremony. Looking on is Alex Walker. (Contributed)
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- Kenan Grant adjusts his tassle before reading from the scripture at Saturday’s Greater Houlton Christian Academy graduation. (Contributed)
