Ministerial Alliance hosts baccalaureate service for class of 2015

By PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press

 

Graduates will soon be starting their life after high school and the Copperas Cove Ministerial Alliance’s 2015 Baccalaureate Service will help set them on the right path for that journey.

 

The service, which was held Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church, began at 3 p.m. and ran until 4 p.m. Mark Kemp, First Baptist pastor and the President of the Ministerial Alliance said that the church has hosted the event for seven years now and said he expected there to be between 80-100 participants. 

 

Kemp said, “[The Baccalaureate]’s an important chance to acknowledge God and his blessing in their lives and to encourage them that God is with them and that they can look to him.”

 

2015 graduates, Michael Nisly, Stormi Hall, Coleton Tuiasosopo, Joanna Legare, Hannah Legare and Ross Alexander all participated in the service. Byron Weathersbee, the Vice President for Student Life at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor was the guest speaker for the event.

 

Weathersbee said, “I think it’s important to slow these students down long enough to reflect on where they’ve been, and reflect on what God’s done in their life, and pray for a blessing for their future.”

 

Weathersbee’s speech focused on what is valuable. He said 10 years from now, students would only remember the important things in life. He stressed the most important things in everyone’s lives are the relationships they build both with the people around them and with God. 

 

“As you journey, just know that it’s ok to fail,” he added. He said everybody fails sometimes and everyone gets hurt, but the most important thing is that you get back up.

 

The most important question isn’t, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” but “How do good people respond when bad things happen?”

 

“Hang on,” said Weathersbee. “The best is yet to come.”

 

“As high school draws to a close, we’re kind of stuck in limbo. We’re not a child, but we’re not an adult…It’s time to put aside childish pursuits and to pursue God as he intends us to,” said Joanna Legare as part of her Baccalaureate speech. “In the coming years, on whatever path God decides we should approach it as one of his abundant blessings.”

 

“He has a plan and a purpose for all of you. Never forget that God has a special plan for each and every one of you…You will achieve more with God than you ever will without him,” said Joe Burns, CCISD Superintendent of Schools. “Change is always present, but so is the Lord…Be a positive change for those less fortunate…Do something with the skills and talents that the good Lord has blessed you with.”

 

After the service, there was an air of excitement as parents and students gathered to take photos and talk about their upcoming graduation.

 

“We’re longtime Covites and I want her to get the full experience graduating, and go to everything,” said Leah Miller whose daughter, Mikayla Miller, is part of the graduating class. She said that she likes the Baccalaureate because it gives people an opportunity to pray for the graduates, make sure that they are prepared for the graduation ceremony, and send them off in the right way.

 

Ross Alexander, class valedictorian, volunteered to be a part of the service. He sang “One Thing Remains” during the service and chose the song because he said that as the students move on after graduation, the one thing that remains steadfast in their lives is God.

 

“I’m definitely looking forward to [graduating]. It should be a lot of fun. I’m excited about college, it should be a hard but good challenge,” said Alexander, who plans on going to A&M to get a degree in aerospace engineering. “I’ll remember all of my wonderful friends that I’ve made and all the experiences I’ve had here in Cove. It’s been a great place to grow up. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s been a really good experience and I’ll always remember it.”