With the world going one way, the Lehigh Valley Christian HS’s class of 2018 was told to go another.

“Our culture is mostly focused on promoting ourselves,” Royce Seifert, a teacher at the institution, told graduates during the school’s 30th year commencement June 9 at Calvary Temple Church in South Whitehall Township. “Even on this day of accomplishment, life is not about you,” he said.

Rather the 15 graduates were told ultimately their lives should center around God’s vision and not theirs.

To illustrate the point, Seifert took the initials of the school - LVCHS - as a framework for his speech and how the students should personally conduct themselves and strive for as they embark on the next chapters of their lives.

L – Loyalty; V – Victory; C – Changed; H – Humility; S – Service.

The graduates, with boys dressed in black caps and gowns and girls wearing red caps and gowns, were told to be beacons of light into a world that at times is dark. Seifert added their lives “must be dedicated to Jesus Christ.”

Following the processional, the hymn “To God Be The Glory” began the program, followed by an invocation by the Rev. Ray Ricketts, senior pastor at Calvary Temple. The class of 2018’s secretary, Helen Crush, offered a scripture reading, followed by welcoming comments made by Hannah Mickley. The afternoon then moved to various speeches.

“We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, but most importantly we’ve grown,” said salutatorian Emily Mikhaiel during her address. “Most of all, we should focus on today and take every opportunity to show God’s love to others.”

The graduating class understands that many challenges await them and it won’t always be smooth sailing.

“The most radical changes are often the ones that make us strongest,” noted valedictorian Amy DePretis.

After the commencement address, it was time for what Bob Walsh, the head of school, called “the reason we came today.” As each student’s name was called, a montage of photos, videos and music selected by each of the graduates are shown or heard. In addition, Walsh read a selection of scripture especially meaningful to each student.

The students then heard a closing prayer by the Rev. James Heimbach of Bethlehem First Church of the Nazarene. It is that location where LVCHS will be relocating to this summer and opening for the 2018-19 school year. The move will be the first in the school’s three-decade history.

While endless possibilities stand side by side with worry and doubt for the graduates, DePrentis reminded them of the message from Proverbs 16:9:

“In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” - NIV

The Class of 2018

Seth Althouse,

Molly Buehler,

Helen Crush,

Amy DePretis,

Travis Faust,

Ashley Gaudreau,

Bryce Gehman,

Linda Houck, H.

Melissa Kish,

Hannah Mickley,

Emily Mikhaiel,

Nyjar Palmer,

Justin Sackey,

Zhaoyou Sun, and

Wuzehao Xia.

“What will you miss most about high school?”

“The people. My friends. I’m going to miss them a lot.”

Seth Althouse

“The people, definitely. Especially at such a small school the friendships that you make here just mean so much. You grow so close to the people in four years and I’ll miss them a lot.”

Emily Mikhaiel

“Probably just the friends. I spent a lot of time with them. A lot of them I’ve been with since kindergarten and I’ve known them a while.”

Travis Faust

“Social life. Because it’s easy to socialize at school.”

H. Melissa Kish

“My friends.”

Justin Sackey

“People. The people.”

Zhaoyou Sun