HOULTON, Maine — The graduating class at Greater Houlton Christian Academy was able to do something many of their peers were unable to do when they gathered on Sunday for commencement.
Unlike most schools, the Eagles of GHCA were able to hold a somewhat traditional graduation ceremony at Military Street Baptist Church since there were only nine graduating seniors.
But one senior was missing from the ceremony. Ethan Grant, a resident of New Brunswick, was unable to attend graduation because of the border closure.
“It certainly has been some challenging times,” Headmaster Tom Zimmerman said. “Remote-learning all became a blur as joy and relief swept over the small crowd of families reveling in every moment of the Academy’s celebration of its nine graduates [one viewing from Canada due to border restrictions]. I could not have been more proud of these young men and women, their teachers and their parents as I observed and remembered their nine stories of how they arrived at this moment!”
GHCA Valedictorian Teagan Ewings speaks to the audience Sunday, June 7, at the school’s commencement at Military Street Baptist Church. (Courtesy of Gloria Austin)
Senior Olivia Nadeau spoke to her peers before reading a piece of scripture.
“Congrats guys, we made it,” Nadeau said. “This year has been a core shaking, world changing and life altering year that has taught us so much. It was hard to adjust to the new normal this year, and there have been many challenges that have tested our faith.”
Valedictorian Teagan Ewings thanked the many people who helped form her into the young woman she is today and also praised her fellow classmates.
“A big congratulations to my Class of 2020 for overcoming a huge adversity to still be graduating here today,” she said. “I think the biggest lesson we have learned after all of this, is trusting God, even when things seem to be failing. It was not easy having half of our senior year ripped away. We all had plans. And maybe, just maybe, we were starting to figure out our futures, and now it seems like we have to readapt to all of this.”
Salutatorian Kathryn Nightingale said while COVID-19 may have taken away many of the year-end celebratory events, the class had much to be thankful for.
“This is an extra special day, standing here together, facing you all,” she said. “I am very grateful to stand up here, even if it is a small group of people, having the experience of a ceremony instead of getting my diploma in the mail. Most of all, thanks to everyone who has been part of making it possible for us to receive a Christian education.”
Daniel Angotti, a former teacher at GHCA who resides in Florida, served as the guest speaker for the event, appearing before the group via an online presentation in order to limit the number of people in attendance.
“I don’t think anyone expected a graduation quite like this,” he said. “It has been a strange year for everybody and I feel for you seniors. Junior year, I started seeing some big changes with you. My perception of you changed. You made huge leaps in maturity and theology. It was one of my favorite years. You were created to reflect God’s glory.”
