The Coshocton County Beacon May 30, 2024 | Page 20

20 • The Beacon May 30 , 2024

Pickens encourages RV graduates to say thank you

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 .
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Congrats Grads !

Kodie Andrew Albaugh Ila Louise Allen Liah Shelbie Alloway Rilee Nicole Ambler Skyler Grant Angle Nickolaus Matthew Art Dyllan Zane Austin Abrianna Kaye Barone Amiyah Jayani Barthalow Desean Mikel Barthalow Kaylee Marilyn Belt Landon Nicholas Belt Rylee Michelle Berg Conner Owen Blakley Zander Chase Brenneman Rayanne Mariee Bryant Corey Allen Burt Mason Anthony Colvin Connor Eugene Cox Trey Eugene Cox Connor Robert Cutshall Braiden Lee Daugherty Kaleb Lee Daugherty Maelyn Nicole DeGrange Emma June Dobbins

Class

RIDGEWOOD of 2024

Kaleah Renee Jean Dreher Allison Kristine Edie Samuel Allen Jeffrey Ellis Zachary Gordon Evin Logan Isaac Fechuch Dawson Wesley Ford Donovan Luke Foster Jeffrey Allen Freetage Jr . Robert Alfred Gaston III Koner Reese Goldsboro Elexia Rayann Gress Pyper Rochelle Guthrie Lillian Kay Hall Drayvn Rayne-Lyn Hardesty Ashton Cole Hill Hailey Abigale Hoover Connor Rhys Hostetler Aiden Joseph Iceman Alexia Brianne Jennings Trinity Jade Jones Kendall Grace Jurin Dakota Joseph Kealiher Amy Leigh Keim Hayden Todd Kilchenman Cooper Thomas King
Haylee Rae Kinsey Mattalyn Isabelle Kiser Collin Lucas Ladrach Trinity Allysen Larrick Destiny Nichole Larrison Keaton Layne Latham Camron Douglas Lousha Aviana Jozi Lowe Megan Marie Mainwaring Brooklyn KayLee Maleski Kya Alexis Masloski Lexxi Dawn McComber Luke Matthew McCune Ian Michael McCurdy Andrew Edward McGuire Raiden Matthew Medley Alivia Kay Miller Cody Thomas Miller Tori Colvin Milligan Isabella Annalynn Moore Tarryn Nichol Morris Gage Michael Oliver Shayla Rylee Patterson Graisyn Catherine Pence William Bradley James Perkins
Sydney Elizabeth Perrico Christopher Lee Michael Phillabaum Emma Lynn Rettos Victoria Elizabeth Ann Robinson Rose Charmaine Seich Karie JoLynn Sells Selene Akasha Dawn Shepherd Thomas Paul Snodgrass Camden Ryan Stanton Carter Jeffrey Stanton Elijah Daniel Stroup Alaina Nicole Swiney Cloe Layne Thornsburg Kyna Lyn Warne Blake Preston Wells Teagen Joseph Wilkie Madison Kay Wilkin Bailee Caryn Williams Braden Marcus Wilson Johnathan Dean Woodward Karson Bradly Wright Damian Marvin Yoder Blake Allen Young