East Linn Christian Academy’s Class of 2025 celebrated their last day at the campus when the school graduated 26 students on June 7.
Seniors Blake Knurowski and Parker Adams recited “Remember Whens,” calling forth memories from the class’ time at ELCA. They recalled the funny moments, the scary moments and all the little events that made their time at the school memorable – camping overnight on campus, duck taping a student to the wall, using voice changers during online class, racking up 71 tardies in one school year, teachers taking students to the hospital or picking students up when their car broke down during lunch period, sports and field trips, and more.
Valedictorian Gabe Schlabach expressed his gratitude for the memories he made during his time at ELCA, and for the opportunity to attend there. During his education, he was surrounded by mentors and friends, and he saw growth in both himself and his peers, he said.
“I believe that East Linn has a very unique sense of community and intimacy among peers that is hard to find elsewhere,” he said. “…It is a community that invests beyond the academic. It invests in the growth of its students in a plethora of both spiritual and personal ways.”
As they go forth into the world on their own, Schlabach said, he encouraged his fellow graduates to continue their pursuit of and growth in Christ.
Dean of Students Allie James recited the “Roll Call,” an introduction of the class when each of them began at the school. Chaplain Jonathan Bartlow presented the invocation and gifting of Bibles. Teacher Elliott Dixon gave the benediction.
It was English teacher Jennifer Davis who was chosen by the class to give the commencement speech. She commended them for the seemingly mundane daily tasks that could be considered “good works,” daily works that she, herself, was blessed by from them for the past four years as she taught and got to know them.
It’s the repetitive tasks, the “daily grind,” she said, that can take a person to their successes – the “big things.” Daily things can also provide peace and mercy to others, or simply carry them through the hard times.
“There’s beauty in the little things we do,” Davis said. “The day-to-day good work we do to live life can be beautiful work.”
The mundane can be a beautiful act of worship, she said. Have gratitude for the chores – the vacuuming, because you have a home to vacuum; the cleaning of dishes, because you had your fill that day; the laundry, because you worked all week in them.
“And for goodness’ sake, heavens to Betsy, make your bed,” Davis said.
After receiving their diplomas, each student presented a rose to their family, and Technology Director Jen Dix played a slide show of the graduates. The recessional gave students a chance to exit with pops of confetti, high-fives, chugging soda, playful hand shakes and poses, or even leap frogging down the aisle.
“The road you are about to begin will be your greatest adventure, for it is the adventure of life,” Dixon said in her benediction. “May the Lord guide your steps. May you walk as he walked. As you embark on your next adventure, whatever it is and wherever you go, may Yawheh Shalom bring you peace.”
