A Day of Well-Deserved Celebration

For this year’s seniors, Commencement 2011 was a day filled with celebration, sweet merriment and just a trace of recognition that their time together was brief.

As they awaited the moment for which they had     worked so diligently, their frivolity was palpable and their camaraderie clear. The years of late night studying, competition in the House System, on the athletic fields, and in debates had created an evident bond. And while upstairs, their mothers made sure tissues were on hand— downstairs, they were singing in raucous karaoke Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, led by their very own mild-mannered valedictorian, Chapin Cavender.

Preparing for their solemn entrance, faculty came over to say their hellos and goodbyes. The seniors’ love and admiration for their teachers shined through their face-splitting smiles and rib-cracking hugs. Then the students lined up and put on their best “Pomp and Circumstance” faces, fully prepared for the hour-long ceremony that would pronounce them graduates of Coram Deo Academy.

Commencement Speaker Matt Chandler’s address is still well remembered and remarked on months later. Salutatorian Landon Hobbs’ and Valedictorian Chapin Cavender’s speeches were well-written and well-presented tributes to the classical Christian education that all 30 graduates had received. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships were presented, diplomas bestowed, tassels turned, hugs most certainly given and the Class of 2011 processed out alumni. Once pronounced and processed, their excitement could no longer be contained and their lively levity continued.

Were they celebrating the two National Merit Finalists and four Commended Scholars in their midst, or the two plus million in scholarships offered, or the acceptances to schools like Pepperdine, The University of Chicago, Maine Maritime Academy, Hillsdale College, Auburn University, and Rice University?  Probably all of these.

But beyond that, as their valedictorian so aptly said, ”Their education at Coram Deo has given them the requisite skills of selflessness and critical thinking that will allow them to succeed at whatever they put their hand to.  It has given them the capability to progress, to impact the culture around them in the name of Jesus Christ.