Hempstead Hall was filled with proud families and supporters Saturday night as six students received their well-earned diplomas during the Garrett Memorial Christian School (GMCS) Graduation Ceremony. In her opening remarks, GMCS Administrator Christi Zumwalt expressed appreciation to the families for entrusting GMCS with the education of their children. “It has truly been our honor and our privilege to pour life and truth into your child, and to teach him or her to stand upon the rock that is Jesus,” Zumwalt said. She then shared a heartfelt message with the soon-to-graduates, and expressed the following: “You all, all of you, are truly special to me, and I know in the sovereignty of God that He has great things ahead for you.”
The Senior Charge was given by GMCS teacher Janee Almand who shared fond memories of the students in addition to words of encouragement for the journey in which they are about to embark. In her message, Almand asked that they continue to put into practice the lessons they have learned during their time at GMCS, lessons that consist of more than just reading, math, and history. She emphasized the importance of keeping God first and following His plan. “Love God, love others, and everything else will fall into place,” Almand said. “You will find your place in this world, the place that God has carved out just for you, each one of you. There, you will find some joy.”
Zumwalt then shared scholarship and award info for the students. She said, “This group is talented in many ways: athletically, musically, dramatically, artistically, and certainly academically.” Zumwalt said the GMCS class of 2025 had earned scholarships in the amount of $270,940. She then introduced a number of guests to present scholarships to the students which include (but are not limited to) the following awards: Hope Evening Lions Club Scholarship, Junior Auxiliary of Hope Scholarship, Hempstead County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Danny Lauterbach Memorial Scholarship, and Parker Cooper Memorial Scholarship.
Two co-valedictorians and a salutatorian shared messages as well, and the first to present was Co-Valedictorian Abigail Brewer. In her remarks, Brewer discussed the most important lesson she and her classmates learned during their time at GMCS. “We have learned to think critically and how to study effectively. We have learned not only skills that will help us advance in our college years, but skills that will be contained to our future adult lives, and possibly the most prominent lessons we can take are those we learned from studying in the Bible,” Brewer said. “...We now have a solid combination of biblical knowledge and have learned how to stand for our beliefs against the world.”
Co-Valedictorian Abigail Murphy shared in her speech a similar sentiment. “We started this journey as strangers and we quickly became family. We learned and we struggled, but most of all we grew. We grew in our knowledge, we grew in our friendships, and most importantly, we grew closer to God,” Murphy said. She closed out her remarks by thanking the GMCS teachers, families, and friends for helping her and fellow students learn, succeed, and to grow in their walk with Christ.
Rounding out the student speeches was GMCS Salutatorian Madison Faulkner who discussed the providence of God and His effect on her life. After sharing stories of blessings and special moments, she followed by looking to the future with the same sentiment. “The truth is, we may not exactly know where we’re headed next, but we know who does,” Faulkner said. Then she read her favorite bible verse, the same shared by Abigail Murphy, Jeremiah 29:11. “‘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.’”
For the main event, delighted families looked on as the six seniors walked the stage to receive their diplomas. The applause and cheers for these six was as boisterous as would be for a graduating class of 100, and well-deserved, too, considering their long list of accolades that had been announced earlier in the ceremony. Zumwalt also shared just before the conferring of diplomas that two of the graduates, Landon Dougan and Hunter Robertson, were graduating a year early, another mighty accomplishment worthy of praise. Afterward, as these graduates moved their tassels and stood to leave the stage, they wore joyous smiles filled with pride, and it’s not a far stretch to understand why. A graduation ceremony is a monumental milestone on its own, but based on the speeches of the Garrett graduates, and that of the administration and other guest speakers, these students have shared a common journey of learning all the essentials needed for college and the workforce, as well as a deep abiding love for God.
