A Graduation Celebration

This past week our middle child (not a child anymore), Russ, graduated from Hamilton Christian Academy.  We've always said that our most important and primary crop grown on Our Maker's Acres Family Farm is our children.  So in effect, Friday night was harvest time - or at least a good chance to assess the health of the crop that we planted years ago.  We're very proud of Russ.  He was one of the valedictorians and won several scholarships.  Hamilton Christian had an honors night in which they honored the graduates for their achievements.

There were 29 students in Russ' graduating class.  They announced that the graduating class scored above the state and national average in both GPA and standardized test scores.  In all the 29 students amassed $1.2 million dollars in scholarships.  That was pretty impressive. 

The most impressive thing, however, was the bond between administration, teachers and students at Hamilton Christian.  As a small school, there is more of an opportunity for one on one teacher-student involvement.  It was a touching and emotional evening as teachers spoke blessings over the students and prayers were prayed over them.  We were blessed to have been able to send the kids to HCA.

Our family at HCA Honors Night 2013

Honors night was a joyous time for all.


Russ with my Mom and Dad

The very next night, graduation night, each of the students constructed display boards with pictures and things that mean a lot to them.  Parents, friends, and family members are able to walk around before and after graduation, view the boards and be able to get to know the students a little more.  Here is Russ' board:


Russ' Senior Memory Board

As Pomp & Circumstance played, I jumped out in the aisle and captured a shot of our graduate marching toward the podium with a $100 smile on his face.

Russ walking the aisle for graduation

Four valedictorians and a salutatorian gave their addresses to a jam packed crowd.  They actually had to bring additional chairs into the auditorium for the overflow crowd.

Finally it was Russ' turn to give his address.  He told us that he was very nervous, but it didn't show in his delivery.  He gave statistics showing that a large percentage of students entering college abandon the faith and challenged his fellow graduates to join a good church as soon as they get on campus and to continue reading their Bibles and praying and living according to the values taught in their homes and at Hamilton Christian.

Furthermore, he challenged them (Matthew 5:16) to "let their lights so shine before men, so that people might see their good works and give glory to our Father in Heaven."  Be lights in a darkened world.  A good challenge for all of us.


The Speech

Each of the 29 students created a brief video that showed on the big screens that had voice overs by each student telling people important to them how much they appreciated them.  While the video was playing, the graduates brought roses to those important people in the audience.  It was a moving experience.  Once that was done, the graduates received their diplomas.  Here is Russ receiving his diploma from Dr. Shawa, HCA principal.  

Diploma

Russ is shown posing by his Senior Memory Board.  He's wearing a lei since one of his classmates is of Hawaiian descent and presented all of his fellow graduates with a lei after the ceremony.  Pretty cool!

After graduation, we had an "After Party" at our house in which family members from Corpus Christi, Spring, Pearland, and Dallas, Texas and from Kinder and New Orleans, Louisiana all attended.


Sonnier - Garcia family honoring the graduate

All sorts of good food including brisket, boudin, homemade chicken salad, fruit trays, cookies, nuts, quinoa salad, chips and dips were served and people enjoyed visiting and eating.


The buffet line

Fish stories being told



Albert going back for seconds, smiles and laughter

Good times

As a Dad, I am very proud of Russ.  His plans are to attend Louisiana State University and major in Agriculture.  I think he has a bright future in front of him.  Two 'kids' in college.  Wow!  It will be good that Laura Lee is there as she'll be able to show him around and they can support one another.

I started to recall the 1967 movie, "The Graduate" in which Dustin Hoffman plays a recent graduate.  At a party, he was asked what he wanted to do with his future, his life.  He mumbled that he didn't quite know.  A gentleman came and told him that he had one word to tell him.  Do you remember that word?  Plastics.  Of course, the gentleman was giving him career advice to help him get his financial footing and be successful.

I've thought long and hard about one word I would tell Russ.  I think that word would be, "Tools."  To use them.  Throughout Russ' 18 years on this earth, parents, teachers, family, friends, pastors, scout leaders, and coaches have given him tools, the figurative kind.  Tools like Faith, virtue, values, work ethic, honesty, integrity, etc. One of the graduation gifts we gave him with a symbolic meaning was a Craftsman Tool Kit - literal tools that will remind him of the figurative ones that he's been given.  His tool bag is full.  As he leaves the sheltered environment of our home and the campus of HCA, it will be his decision whether he'll reach into that bag of tools and actually use them.  We pray that he does.