There were smiles, hugs and some tears as Trinity Lutheran High School bid farewell to 27 graduates Saturday.
During the Seymour school’s 19th commencement, the Class of 2023 entered the gym single-file while band members played “Pomp and Circumstance” for the processional.
The ceremony featured prayer, scripture readings and senior choir and band members performing their last song together.
Salutatorian Adam Everroad began his speech by thanking his parents for their tremendous support in all he has done.
He also thanked the pastors from Trinity’s association churches, board members, faculty, staff and everyone who was in attendance.
“Before entering high school, I was told that high school was the most fun time in your life,” Everroad said. “For the most part, it has been here at Trinity.”
He said as an incoming freshman from St. Peter’s in Columbus, attending a school where you really didn’t know anyone was a little intimidating, but after his first week, he felt very comfortable being there.
“A huge part of that was due to my teachers. Each teacher I had helped me understand what it was like to be at Trinity as well as get to know me on a personal level,” he said. “Trinity’s mission statement is to educate, develop and prepare Christian servants and leaders.”
Everroad said each member of the graduating class exemplifies this statement in some way.
“Whether that has been through sports, academics or fine arts, each student has shown that Trinity has prepared Christian servants and leaders ready to help serve the kingdom of God,” he said. “Let us not forget what we are here for today — graduation.”
Everroad said most of his classmates are going to different places after graduation, but that doesn’t mean they have to forget the memories they’ve made along the way.
“We all have one thing in common — we all are dearly beloved children of God. And as long as we remember that, we have nothing to fear,” he said.
Everroad concluded by reading a verse of encouragement to his fellow classmates: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The Rev. Jonathon J. Lorenz, chaplain (major), delivered the message “We have GRIT: Living in God’s will in Christ.”
Graduation was extra special for Lorenz because his son, Gabriel, was one of the graduating seniors.
Valedictorian Kathryn Whitmore then stepped up to the stage and shared the school theme verse for this year, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
“You can see the message of ‘Do not give up, and you will find a reward’ plastered everywhere in life,” she said. “Wherever you turn, God will remind you to never give up.”
Whitmore said her brother, Josiah, has just started to learn how to walk, but he is not very good at it yet.
“We have all been there at one point trying to stand and take our first steps. No baby ever gets it on their first try,” she said. “They fall down and get back up just to fall back down again. They never give up, and eventually, they take their first steps, which is cute at first, but then they become toddlers.”
She said as a child, we never gave up on something we failed at again and again and got rewarded with the joys of being able to walk.
“We have not only done this as an infant but also throughout elementary and middle school. Through our own effort and our teachers’ patience, we learned how to read and write and do math,” Whitmore said. “It may have been difficult, but God was with us the entire time helping us grow.”
She said they have not given up these past four years, as well.
“The end of our freshmen year can attest to that, as we had faced the mental stress of online learning because of COVID,” she said. “It really messed with our lives and challenged us as students.”
She said there’s also grit in Trinity’s sports teams, and they have been a part of some awesome athletic achievements over the past four years.
“You can see the grit in our extracurricular academics with the Academic Super Bowl math and science teams studying diligently to qualify for the state finals this spring,” Whitmore said. “You can even see our perseverance in seemingly mundane things, as well. For example, someone got their hand stuck in a chair during theology class, and we did not give up until we got it unstuck again with the assistance of Mr. Durham, who had to saw the chair in half.”
She talked about fun times such as prom, winter formals and watching the sports teams and the difficult times they endured through such things as AP and SAT tests and Faith Wilder-Newland’s AP English classes.
“Now, as we go on to the next chapter of our lives, I urge you, the graduating Class of 2023, to never give up,” Whitmore said. “The future will have many trials, whether you go to college, a trade school or straight into the workforce.”
She said when you feel like you are about to give up, never forget Jesus said, “I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“Jesus will always be there for you as his word promises,” Whitmore said. “He will give you the strength to go on so you can reach your goals and accomplish great things. Congratulations, Class of 2023. We did it.”