ICA graduations continued this past month, including the first-ever online graduation in Iowa.
Almost 200 gathered to honor 28 Ignite Christian Academy graduates on June 1 in Orlando, Florida. The celebration began in the morning as 11 seniors and their families gathered at Pirate's Cove to play some mini golf. Several siblings who are also ICA students attend the event as well. The seniors were able to get to know each other and a few faculty members while they showed off their putt-putt skills. It sprinkled throughout, and then towards the end of the event, it started raining hard. Thankfully, the remaining participants still out on the course had a good attitude about the weather. They were still smiling and laughing as they came into the shelter soaking wet!
After golf, nine seniors joined faculty to eat a lunch together at Friendly's. The seniors sat together at one table and spent more time getting to know one another. At one point during the meal, teacher Ben McCray got up and showed the seniors his favorite dance moves. Everyone had a good laugh! Altogether, 50 people attended the golfing event, and 45 came to lunch afterwards.
The formal celebration began later that evening at the ceremony. The room was packed full of family and friends eager to cheer on the graduates in their success. Some even had to stand in the back because the room was so packed! The ceremony began with two student addresses from Hannah Andersen and CaraMia Pinckney. Next, Rev. Pedro Morales gave the graduate address. He described the ‘Recipe for Success' that students should follow in order to be successful in the future and to be the best followers of Christ that they can be.
On May 25 the first virtual graduation ceremony was held on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Graduates from the United States, Canada, Thailand, and Hungary participated.
The day started in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Day Away where graduates and their families played mini golf and raced go-karts. Later that afternoon, the families that attended the Day Away travelled to Rock Rapids, IA and took a tour of Ignite Christian Academy and were able to meet teachers and staff members.
That evening the ceremony began on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA. The ceremony began with some singing and a special song that some of the teachers and staff members of ICA prepared specially for the graduates. The graduate address was given by Dr. Carl E. Zylstra, former president of Dordt College. He offered encouragement by describing the benefits of living in the real world where God is sovereign and we have been saved by Christ. The ceremony ended with the presentation of diplomas to students attending in person and to the students participating from home.
The faculty and staff of Ignite Christian Academy would like to congratulate all of the graduates of 2012!