“High school is the place where we learn to be who we are.” (Isabel Schmidt, 2023 CCS graduate)
And for the Calvary Christian School Class of 2023, finding who they are is inescapably connected to their faith, something they will take with them into their next stage of life.
The school celebrated the commencement of 14 students in a ceremony at Calvary Baptist Church in Bellefontaine on Thursday, May 25.
Principal Ryan Hyde started by recognizing the recipients of three school honors:
- Helena Burns, valedictorian, received the Solomon Award for demonstrating wisdom through diligence in academic endeavors.
- Patrick James was given the Daniel Award for exemplifying bold faith through consistent spiritual growth and discipline.
- Lucy Jarvis earned the Joshua Award by consistently displaying positive participation and leadership in student activities and student government.
Four students were invited to speak, starting with Associated Study Body President Isabel Schmidt, who said her friend and classmate, Lucy Jarvis, first introduced her to the idea of learning who you are in high school.
Senior Class President Hannah Marlow spoke next. “All of our accomplishments … allow us to show areas God has blessed us in,” she said. “But our greatest accomplishment is our testimony.”
Hyde then introduced Gabriel Salmonowicz as the school salutatorian who encouraged his classmates to pursue a life of bold faith and to “be countercultural.”
Helena Burns, valedictorian, the final student speaker, concluded, “The world needs people like us, and I know if we all rise to the occasion we will make a difference.”
Thursday’s keynote speaker was CCS anatomy/physiology teacher Dr. Kyle Gantz, who also attended the school from kindergarten through eighth-grade. Besides teaching and being the owner of Gantz Chiropractic in Bellefontaine, he has served the school as a youth soccer and junior-high boys basketball coach.
Gantz challenged the students to make good choices in doing what is right, finding a church, serving their community, picking good friends and fighting for absolute truth.
He emphasized Joshua 24:15, which states, in part, “Choose this day whom you will serve.”
He finished by saying, “God is not interested in your perception of truth. He is not content with partial obedience. … Choose to serve only the Lord. Choose to obey His voice.”
The students claimed Jeremiah 29:11 as their class verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Of the 14 students, the nine going into college have been awarded scholarships totaling almost $588,000. The rest of the graduates are stepping directly into a career.
The Calvary Christian School class of 2023 will pursue professions in a variety of areas like nursing, film production, education, youth ministry, counseling, real estate, landscaping and cognitive neuroscience/neuropsychology.