MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Academy held its 111th commencement on Sunday morning in the pavilion on the Academy grounds. Before taking their seats on the stage, the 30 graduating seniors took a circular route through the audience and then lined up and marched slowly to the stage to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
“There aren’t too many institutions [or] schools that can welcome you to the 111th anything,” said Ohio Conference President Raj Attiken in his welcoming remarks. He thanked parents of Academy graduates and students for their support, and said that he hoped the 2008 graduating class would go on to make the world a better place.
Danika Ouzounian, president of the graduating class, presented a few thoughts to her fellow graduates as well. “Today is probably the last day we’ll all ever be together as a class,” said Ouzounian, before fighting back tears. She spoke of how she had been looking forward to this day, and now that it had arrived, she wished for just a little more time at the Academy. “We’ve spent the last four years wanting to get out of this place, and now we feel the want to stay just a little bit longer,” said Ouzounian.
Graduating senior Aisha Robinzine then introduced Pastor Herb Montgomery to give the commencement address.
Montgomery began by saying that he didn’t remember the commencement address from when he graduated from the Academy. “As I thought about the commencement address that I heard 15 years ago, I have to honestly confess that I don’t remember one word that was shared,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery continued, and spoke about the 2008 graduating class aim, which was a quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Montgomery questioned the graduates, “I want to ask you, how are you going to do that? How are you going to be that change?”
“This world does not need more people who claim to be Christians, who see God as vindictive and arbitrary, judgmental and critical. What this world needs is a generation of Christians who see that God is love,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery then returned to speaking on the theme of the class of 2008’s aim, saying that he was impressed that a quote from Gandhi was chosen. “What made Gandhi so special is he saw what Jesus was trying to show us,” said Montgomery. “I hope that you,” continued Montgomery, addressing the graduating class, “can be the Christian[s] that Gandhi wanted to see.”
Interwoven through the program were also several musical selections performed by the graduating class, as well as scholarship presentations to many of the graduating seniors.
Before each graduate walked to receive his or her diploma, Linda Tabor, vice principal, spoke about each of the graduate’s plans for college.
