Northside Christian School hands out 23 diplomas

Earlier in the school year, Northside Christian School made the decision to move its graduation ceremony to Sunday, May 18, citing the likelihood that its baseball team may be busy in the state baseball tournament that weekend.

That decision paid off in spades for the school. As Principal Randy Trahan pointed out, not many people can say they won a state championship on Saturday and graduated on Sunday. Now members of Northside Christian’s class of 2014 can.

Holding graduation ceremonies at 3 p.m. Sunday, Northside Christian handed out 23 diplomas to an impressive class that featured 20 Beta Club graduates, seven honor graduates as identified by the Louisiana Board of Regents and three valedictorians with a 4.0 grade point average.

Recognized as honor graduates were Tyler Langley, Natalia Hayes, Dylan King, Hunter Rivera, and the 4.0 valedictorian honor graduates, Gavin Dietz, Hannah Douget and Alyson Woodard.

The ceremony featured Rev. Cullen Clark, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Crowley, delivering the annual commencement address.

Clark joked that his address wouldn’t serve as a “second sermon” as he was certain everyone had been to church earlier in the day, instead his comments would brief.

He focused the address on what belonging to God means to graduation. For Clark, it means three things – working toward excellence for God, pursuing a life of pleasing God and remembering those who have led the way for the graduates. He also relayed the story of Obadiah.

“The lord is not going to let anything miniscule happen to you,” he said. “People are going to come against you. People are going to fight against you. They don’t want you to succeed. They don’t want your dreams to come true. And, when that happens, by the power of God’s grace and his spirit, look at that person and tell them, ‘You have struck me as if with roses’; and go about living the life that God has called you to.”

The graduation also featured three more special speeches, one from each valedictorian

After thanking parents, God, teachers and classmates, each had their own special reflections.

“This whole last year has been great and exciting,” said Dietz, reflecting on his senior year with his classmates.

While Dietz hoped his speech would be profound and memorable, he realized that he was just another student full of questions about the future and searching for answers, just as his classmates are. He wished his classmates the best of luck before relinquishing the microphone.

Next to speak was Douget, who opened her speech by talking about what an honor it was to be one of three valedictorians this year. Her reflections also hit on more of a reflective note.

“It’s weird to think I won’t be able to walk into a classroom again with all of you (my classmates).”

Last to speak was Woodard, who also thanked everyone in attendance for celebrating the special day with the class. She also talked about how graduation is the crossroads of life for the class.

Woodard had one final plea for her classmates: “Let us not forget God’s plan.”

It wasn’t just speeches and diplomas Saturday as Northside Christian’s graduation ceremonies also serve as part of the senior awards program. Not only were Dietz, Douget, Woodard, Katelyn Jones and Dylan King recognized as Distinguished Christians but Trahan awarded two Principal’s Awards this year.

Citing Mathew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven,” as what he believes the award represents, Trahan presented the award to Woodard and Trent Martin.

A.J. Jones of American Legion Post 15, also presented the American Legion award, the Legion’s highest honor for a civilian, to Woodard and Dietz

Several special guests also helped Trahan present scholarship recognitions to the following:

• Crowley Kiwanis Club scholarship was presented by Sam Sonnier to Mallory Vincent.

• Judge M’Elise Trahan, representing the Rotary Club of Crowley, awarded the club’s scholarship to Woodard.

• The Crowley Lions Club Albert Zock Scholarship was presented to Nicholas Zaunbrecher by Nancy Loewer.

• Woodard was also awarded the Pink Ladies Scholarship by Esther Henderson.

• Douget was awarded the Crowley Solitic Club’s scholarship.

• The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office awards one scholarship per year to a graduating senior in the parish. It also recognizes alternates to the scholarship with a certificate. Woodard was recognized as an alternate for the award at Sunday’s ceremony.

• Tyler Langley was awarded the inaugural Pat Stanford Legacy Scholarship.

• Dietz was recognized as the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen winner for Northside Christian.

The afternoon ceremony’s highlight was the awarding of diplomas. Rev Ryan Post read each student’s name aloud as Trahan handed him or her the diploma and a sunflower to present to a family member.

The Northside Christian School Class of 2014 is Jacob Paul Atkinson, Kimberlon Conn Brown, Kristen Rene’ Clement, Gavin Scot Dietz, Hannah Shayne Douget, Devin Lee Freeland, Natalia Janae Hayes, Katelyn Alyse Jones, Adam Lance Kershaw, Dylan Patrick King, Tyler Austin Langley, Breanna MargaretLoewer, Heather Marie Loewer, Trent Laine Martin.

Yoan Resendiz Martinez, Jordan Marshal Monte, Jordan Elizabeth Putman, Hunter Lindsey Rivera, Joseph Dale Trahan II, Mallary Clare Vincent, Tracy Lynn Wilridge Jr., Alyson Elizabeth Woodward and Nicholas John Zaunbrecher, who earned a laugh after taking a “selfie” with his diploma immediately after receiving it.