About 65 Long County High School seniors — more than a third of the Class of 2016 — attended a baccalaureate service May 15 at the school.

Several members of the ministerial association were on hand to offer prayers and challenging messages to the graduates.

Also on hand was Norma Miller, widow of the Rev. William Miller, a pastor and past participant in the service, who died around this time last year.

She presented Bibles to the graduates and, after words of praise from the Rev. Eric Rentz, her husband received a standing ovation.

Rentz, pastor of Ludowici First Baptist Church, encouraged the students and concluded by saying, "Graduates, go change your world."

The crowd, believed to be the largest at a baccalaureate in recent years, sang several hymns during the service.

Students who participate do so voluntarily.