Graduation Week at SBEC

This is Graduation Week. For seniors, the activities of this week include final exams, a number of lunch get-togethers, several family open houses and parties, graduation and baccalaureate practices, and signing their 2012 year book, which is in full color his year. These fun activities, however, are sandwiched between the senior chapel at the beginning of the week and two significant and serious recognitions at the end of this week.

During the senior chapel on Monday, the entire senior class led the singing of praise songs. Some seniors sang and played special songs while others spoke on the significance of their time at SBEC. Jakin Delony, Salutatorian of the class, spoke on the spiritual support he received from so many faculty members and staff. Class President Matt DeBerry challenged Will Tobermann, president of the class of 2013, to lead his class next year to honor God and to do everything for the betterment of the class and school. Probably the most significant part of senior chapel occurred toward its end when the seniors were called to the front of the sanctuary by the grade in which they began at SBEC. Most students began their SBEC career in kindergarten through the elementary grades. As later grades were called, more seniors joined their classmates. After all the seniors had assembled at the front of the sanctuary, the faculty and staff came forward to surround groups of seniors to pray for them. It was a significant time of prayer.

On Friday of this week, the seniors will participate in the Baccalaureate Service beginning at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary of Broadway Baptist Church. Dr. Sam Brassell, father of senior Philip Brassell and Senior Pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, will present the Baccalaureate Message while David Galante and his son, Sebastian, will give the Prayers of Blessing for the seniors and their families. Students and families will be challenged to use the knowledge and lessons learned at SBEC to live for the Lord and His kingdom. On Saturday, May 12, beginning at 11:00 AM, the seniors will receive their diplomas at the Commencement Exercise. As a part of this ceremony, Jakin Delony will deliver the Salutatory Address and Wesley Pena will give the Valedictory Address.

The seniors have chosen CRAVE as their class theme and Psalm 63:1 as their class verse,

O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.