|
By Marianne Austin For The Beacon
The River View Ministerial Association hosted a baccalaureate service on May 19 in the River View High School auditorium to recognize and celebrate the Class of 2024 .
“ High school graduation is an amazing time to say thank you .” |
Kari Daugherty Pickens
Madison Graham opened the service with a prayer . “ Bless this small group of seniors . Surround them with your grace , asking
|
God ’ s strength as they continue with this new chapter of their lives .”
Brittany Henderson introduced guest speaker Kari Daugherty Pickens , women ’ s basketball head coach at Ashland University . Pickens in 2023-24 is the all-time second-winningest NCAA women ’ s basketball coach in terms of winning percentage , minimum 150 games . She also is a RVHS graduate .
“ It is really exciting to speak to the Class of 2024 graduates ,” Pickens said . “ I was in your place 15 years ago , and so it is a privilege to be able to speak to you today . These men and women are who they are because of the people supporting them . Two things I ’ m going to speak about today : The first is to pause and reflect on the people who helped you to get
|
Marianne Austin
Kari Daugherty Pickens , River View High School alumnus and women ’ s basketball head coach at Ashland University , spoke to members of the RVHS Class of 2024 .
here , and the second is to look forward to a fantastic summer .”
Pickens asked for 20 volunteers to help with an experiment by playing two rounds of rock , paper , scissors . In the second round , the losers had to follow
their opponent around and cheer them on to demonstrate encouraging others .
“ High school graduation is an amazing time to say thank you ,” Pickens said . “ Yes , you want to celebrate you and all that you have done , but you
|
had an entire support system who helped to get you where you are today . They cheered you on ; they challenged you . I want to challenge you guys , during this season that is so easy to be all about you , to set up a time with those people who helped you get here , face to face , and say thank you . You will not regret doing that .
“ Moving forward to what lies ahead , you are about to enter into some of the best times of your life . The phrase God made perfectly clear to me for what I am about to say to you tonight is to be set apart as Christ wants you to be set apart .
“ It is hard to be holy under your own strength . You didn ’ t have to come tonight . It was your own choice to come . I was in your shoes , and I thought
|
that I loved Jesus , but I did not . Before you go into what could be the most exciting time of your life , say to yourself , ‘ Do I want to love Jesus ? Do I want to be set apart for him ?’ I want to leave you with this : ‘ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ; in all your ways submit to him , and he will direct your paths ,’ Proverbs 3:5-6 .”
Josh Branch and Karin Moran then presented the Class of 2024 , and Pastor Mike Jansen from the Coshocton Christian Tabernacle offered a closing prayer .
SEND US YOUR
NEWS ! jsellers @ alonovus . com
|