n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 4
(See excerpts from the Commencement Address by Colin Cole, the
Valedictory by Hyanook Suh, and the Farewell from President Kristin King,
beginning on page 322. Hundreds of graduation photos in various categories
(thanks to the heroic work of Serena Sutton and Jason Buss) and a video of
the commencement exercises have been posted at www.brynathyn.edu.)
academy secondary schools commencement
SERENA SUTTON
The Academy Secondary Schools graduated 57 students on June 7, including
27 from the Girls School (13 with honors), and 30 from the Boys School (7 with
honors). The students represented seven states: Georgia, Indiana, Maryland,
Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, plus one from Canada,
and three from China. (A great many photographs, thanks to Serena Sutton,
have been posted on Facebook and at www.ancss.org.)
Commencement Address
The commencement address was given by Gregg
Asplundh, father of graduating seniors Cheyanne
and Myrta.
Gregg graduated from the Boys School in 1982
and was one of the first winners of the Stanley F.
Ebert Award for athletics, scholarship and character.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence
University. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the
Academy and serves on the Academy Board of
Trustees. He is Executive Vice President of the Asplundh Tree Co. He and
his wife, Camy, have five children – all graduates of the Academy Secondary
Schools. They live in Huntingdon Valley.
Gregg spoke from notes so there is no written text. After congratulating
the Class of 2014 he paid special tribute to the faculty as the “keeper of the gate”
for New Church education, and for stimulating the growth and broadening the
horizons for the girls and boys – developmentally, physically, intellectually and
most importantly, spiritually. The faculty was given a rousing standing ovation.
Gregg told a story of a health crisis in their family that “opened our eyes
to the extreme chill of reality,” but also was reassuring to them because of
the tremendous support they received from family and community. It was a
time for him and Camy to reflect on their days at the Academy – the truths
they learned and the network of support they developed, the teachings about
Divine Providence and life after death. That all helped them through the kind
of crisis that can strike anyone, at any time. Happily, it has been successfully
resolved, and he thanked God and His Threefold Word, their “family strong”
culture, and a supportive community – what everyone needs to lean on in
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