FPCA graduates largest class

FPCAs class of 2012 included; Tera Alston, Andie \Arrington, Nadine Baluyot, Tavelyn Coleman, Kathryn Dixon, Hunter Gillon, Vaughn Head, Emily Hickey, Deja Horsley, Bryant Kim, Michael Lovelady, Damian Osborne, Pipen Patel, Rodney Riley, Brittany Rozier, Carson Smith, Justin Stanberry, Justin Stuart and Aaliyah Wilson

DSCN1258 — FPCAs class of 2012 included; Tera Alston, Andie \Arrington, Nadine Baluyot, Tavelyn Coleman, Kathryn Dixon, Hunter Gillon, Vaughn Head, Emily Hickey, Deja Horsley, Bryant Kim, Michael Lovelady, Damian Osborne, Pipen Patel, Rodney Riley, Brittany Rozier, Carson Smith, Justin Stanberry, Justin Stuart and Aaliyah Wilson

“I see in each and every one of you a strong moral compass that will point you in the right direction,” Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams told the 19 seniors graduating with the First Presbyterian Christian Academy’s class of 2012.

“Now you have the opportunity to blaze your own trail with all your worldly knowledge and confidence,” the commander of Fort Stewart said.” Let the journey begin.”

First Presbyterian Church was standing room only for the commencement Saturday morning.

Head of school Sammi Hester said the class of 2012, the school’s largest ever, set the example for the rest of the school in a year filled with challenges and change.

“We changed, created and implemented many new things this year at FPCA…and this group of seniors was on board for everything I asked them to do or try,” she said.

Abrams advice was, “Life is filled with opportunities … Sometimes they are cleverly disguised as difficult challenges but there will be opportunities all along the way for you. They are not all safe. Some will only appear once. some will only appear for a short period of time. You have to decide which ones to take on … Give it your best.”

Salutatorian Rodney Riley said his class was like a family and that he was indebted to the hours his educators spent molding their future.

“The school motto is family by choice and this accurately conveys the tight-knit feel of FPCA,” he said.

Valedictorian Justin Stuart said it was incredible to think that his classmates are now walking separate paths that he expected to lead to success. He credited the FPCA staff and thanked them for helping him become valedictorian.

“At this time I would like to share my favorite quote regarding education by William Butler Yeats, ‘Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire,’” Stuart said.

Class President T’era Alston noted how the school also shaped many of the student’s faith in their abilities.

“I know that each of you will go on and do great things and even though you may face some obstacles remember to keep God first and he will bring you through, because He will never give you more than you can handle,“ Alston said.