Evangelyn Graduates with Honors!

Time is racing away, and it seems I can barely keep up!  Evangelyn has reached another milestone in life and this Mama can hardly believe that she is already grown and out of high school!  Where have the years gone?  Well, I must write of other matters, lest I become too teary-eyed to type.  :`( 

We arose rather early Saturday morning in preparation for Evangelyn's graduation from the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, an online public school based in Columbus, Ohio.  The ceremony was to be at the Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University campus in Columbus at 2:30 in the afternoon.  Pursuant to the actual graduation was an induction ceremony for those accepted into the National Honor Society.  Evangelyn and Nathan both received these honors Saturday morning, and were given awards to cherish and keep for years to come.  I am very grateful for their accomplishments! 

Two-thirty arrived, and finally the moment came we had all been waiting for:  The graduates walked into the arena from all four corners.  It was heartening to see so many at one time!  There were 968 graduates present at the ceremony and 2,300 who were eligible to participate, but some couldn't make it for various reasons.  ECOT (as it is known) has the largest graduating class in the nation!  Next year they expect to have as many graduates as there are students in the Cincinnati school district! 



Evangelyn receiving National Honor Society Awards



National Honor Society Awards

Evangelyn and Nathan with ECOT's high school principal, Jim Condron

Ready for the ceremony

Waiting ............

Jim Condron, High School principal, speaking

Evangelyn receiving her diploma (too far away)

Confetti and fireworks

Confetti!

It's over!

Our newest graduate and Grandpa Baker

Evangelyn, Grandpa, and Uncle Jim and Aunt Marilyn (James' mom's sister and husband)

Our family with Grandpa Baker

Evangelyn and Grandpa and Grandma Rish

Our family with Grandpa and Grandma Rish

Schottenstein Center at OSU in Columbus, OH

Our Beautiful 2011 Graduate!

Brotherly Love!!  (couldn't resist ~ on the way home)

Unknown to us, the Governor of Ohio, Governer John Kasich, was the invited speaker. Normally, I don't enjoy sitting and listening to long, drawn out speeches, but this was so different!  I was VERY impressed by the words Governer Kasich shared with those in attendance.  He gave a short synopsis of his life:  Impressive, to say the least!  He definitely has "backbone" and a voice that is not ashamed to speak the truth!  Few Holiness Christians are as bold as he!  May God help us!  He proceeded to encourage the students to seek the Creator's plan for their life and to follow it!  I was thrilled that ECOT had chosen such a person as their Graduation speaker!  Following the longggg line of students receiving their diplomas, we all awaited the BIG moment!  When the turning of the tassells were announced, fireworks went off and confetti fell over the Graduates!  It was a beautiful sight!  Congratuations Evangelyn!  We are proud of you!