Good News - June 2020

OUT AND ABOUT 30 JUNE 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Calvary Christian Academy (CCA) seniorsdrove toschool one last time the evening of Friday, May 22 for a “drive-in” graduation experience thatmarked theendof their high school journey. Each senior student had theopportunity to walk across an outdoor stage and have their moment of recog- nitionwhilemaintaining social dis- tancing protocol. The Class of 2020 and their closest family members and friendsparked their carsona large grass field to experience the live ceremony. To hear and see the program, they tuned into an FM frequency on their car radios and turned theirheads toward the large screensoneachsideof thestage. CCA seniors were parked closer to the stage. When it was their turn to walk across it for the conferral of diplomas, they were chauffeured to the stage, exited their vehicle, walked across the stage when their name was called, had their picture taken, and re-entered their vehicle to re- turn back to their parking spot. “We wanted to give our sen- iors themost authentic, safe, and memorable graduation experi- encepossible considering the cir- cumstances,” saidCCA’sHeadof School, Dr. Jason Rachels. “This is an exceptional class that de- served an exceptional send-off.” CCA’sClassof 2020wasac- cepted to more than 50 colleges and universities throughout the country, earnedmore than$2mil- lion in scholarships, completed more than 41,000 community service hours, and included three National Merit Finalists, four Miami Herald Silver Knight nomi- nees, 21 AP Scholars, 12 com- mitted collegiate athletes, four international students, as well as one United States Air Force Academy Cadet. The valedicto- rian and salutatorian had the op- portunity to address their peers in person from the stage’s podium. “I didn’t think I’d be able to share my speech from a live stage with everything going on,” said Kaitlyn Tully, CCA’s Class of 2020 valedictorian. “I was so sur- prised and excited when I found out that I would be able to experi- ence amemory I was really look- ing forward to having.” The formal ceremony was followed by a car parade reces- sional. As the graduates and in- vited guests exited the school’s property honking the horns of their decorated vehicles, their faces beamed with joy. “There was no shortage of excitement and your traditional pomp and circumstance at this commencement ceremony,” said Aaron Mills, CCA’s high school principal. “The creativity and col- laborationof our dedicated faculty and staff at CCA and our parent church, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale,madeall of theevent logistics a successful reality. We’re delighted to have received such positive feedback from our graduatesand their families. They not only felt loved, but also sensedGod’s presence through- out theevent.Weultimately thank Him for giving us great weather and allowing this in-person grad- uation experience to happen. It will be one for the history books, that’s for sure,” Mills said. Event plans were de- signed in accordance with City of Fort Lauderdale social dis- tancing guidelines. Calvary Christian Acad- emy is a Pre-K–12th grade Christian school in Fort Laud- erdale, Florida that partners with parents to nurture a child’s mind and soul. At CCA, chil- dren grow spiritually, academi- cally, and socially in a rich learning environment devoted to excellence in academics, athletics, arts, science, tech- nology, and leadership. CalvaryChristianAcademyHosts “Drive-In” SeniorGraduation (L-R) Calvary ChristianAcademy's High School Principal AaronMills , Cal- vary Chapel Fort Lauderdale's Lead Pastor Doug Sauder , Calvary Chris- tianAcademy's Head of School Dr. Jason Rachels , and Calvary Christian Academy's Director of Discipleship Steve Mayo listen to Zachary Webb deliver his salutatorian address to Calvary ChristianAcademy's graduating Class of 2020, who listened from their vehicles parked facing the stage.