The EC Class of 2021 was celebrated for their many achievements on Sunday, May 23. The twenty-four graduates gathered with family and friends under the huge tent on the Everest athletic field. This class not only weathered the ups and downs of the past year, but also led the entire EC student body with positivity through the challenges of distance learning, cancelled activities, and adjusted expectations. Integer award recipients and salutatorian Theresa Waller shared, “Even though we did not get our Jerusalem trip, we were still able to find ways to bond at the end of our senior year that I never expected possible. The fact that our class retreat was so fun… Even the small thing like working on the senior lounge in the last few weeks have created so many fun experiences that made me understand how truly special our class is. I am so grateful for every single one of you.”
Tony DiSalle, a member of Everest’s board of directors, was the commencement speaker. He shared three pieces of advice with the graduates: 1.) Work like everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God. 2.) We are not called to be successful; we are called to be grateful. 3.) Do not be afraid. Headmaster and principal Mr. Gregory Reichert addressed the graduates. Student speakers included valedictorians Danielle Brown and Stephen Czach as well as Integer award recipients Theresa Waller and Michael McGrath.
Michael also shared three pieces of advice that he learned from coaches during his years at Everest. 1.) “Leave the place better than you found it.” -Coach Pruchnicki and Mr. Cross 2.) “Our talents are God’s gift to us, what we do with our talents is our gift to God.” -Coach Ann Serra-Lowney 3.) “You are who you are when no one is watching.” -Coach Pruchnicki
The Class of 2021 was accepted to 58 colleges/universities. They amassed a total of $4,439,436 in scholarship offers. They completed service to the community despite COVID restrictions. The twenty-two athletes in the class led athletic teams to regional football, boys’ soccer, and cross country titles in the fall, CHSL championship titles in football, cross country, and boy’s soccer, a district title in boys’ basketball, and they are still on the hunt for more. Three graduates received International Thespian honors. The Class of 2021 is prepared to go out into the world and proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15.)
“We are now officially alumni. We are college students, which would usually be a pretty nerve-wracking thing to let sink in, but I think we are prepared. These past four years, this last year especially, heave prepared us for just about anything. How many high school seniors can say that they have lived a whole senior year full of uncertainty and are still confident moving forward?… I’ve seen incredible acts of charity and kindness from this group, and we’re still just kids. Well, maybe not so much anymore, but we still have so much left ahead of us. And even if it it were just based on this past year, even these past few months, I can say with full confidence that this class, these people, are going to do great things.” -Danielle Brown
