academy secondary schools
commencement:
A Totally Unique Tool Box
The Rev. Calvin and Maggie Odhner
Calvin:
We are excited to be here, not only because this is the Academy’s 139th
class to graduate . . . but because we’ve paid our last tuition payment!
You know, the first class to graduate in 1876 had only eight graduates.
Look at us now! Can I have all the graduates stand up? Look at these beautiful
people. Let’s give them a round of applause. They’ve earned it!
Maggie:
It’s true. Things have changed since Calvin and I were high school sweethearts,
graduating from the Academy in 1978. (They embrace.) I’ve always wanted
to do that. (Calvin: What?) Maggie: To be on
campus and kiss you!
We used to have the JD where we would
sit in a booth, eat soft pretzels that cost a
dime, and chat – face to face. Now you have
Facebook. We had KOB’s. Remember the slot
in the door that separated the Boys School
from the Girls School?
Now you have Instant Messaging and
Snapchat. Even the “mystery meat” in Bean
Hall has been replaced with a gourmet buffet.
But what haven’t changed are the principles
which started this school: that we worship
and love the Lord together, and to love the
Lord is to love the neighbor. It’s a place where
shunning evils never goes out of style.
What haven’t
changed are the
principles which
started this school:
that we worship
and love the Lord
together, and to
love the Lord is to
love the neighbor.
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