Commencement
Join us for the 72nd commencement of Bethany Christian Schools on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3pm in the Bethany Christian Schools gymnasium.
The commencement address will be delivered by Rebecca Stoltzfus, speaking on the theme "A Sacred Fabric." Student speakers Luna Calderón and Benji Fleming will share reflections on behalf of the Class of 2026. The ceremony is sponsored by class sponsors Edgar Silva and Cheryl Mast.
Head of School Tim Lehman opened the ceremony by welcoming graduates, families, and friends, calling the moment a symbolic crossing into a more independent chapter of life. He urged the graduates to carry with them the call of Jesus to love God and neighbor, and to be instruments of God's love and peace in a world full of need. Josh Weaver offered the invocation, and Matt Miller gave the prayer of blessing.
Student Speakers
Student speakers Luna Calderón and Benji Fleming reflected on four years of growth, community, and friendship. They traced the class's journey from freshman orientation at Camp Mack through championship seasons, challenging coursework, and a senior trip to Tennessee. Luna closed with Colossians 3:23, describing the class's commitment to working with their whole hearts for what they believe is right. Benji offered a send-off in the spirit of previous Bethany Upper School principle Hank Willems: "Be kind, be helpful, and always be respectful."
Commencement Address: "A Sacred Fabric"
The commencement address was delivered by Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus, president of Goshen College. Dr. Stoltzfus brought deep roots in global health, scholarship, and servant leadership to her remarks, drawing on poetry, science, and scripture to challenge the graduates with six messages for life beyond high school.
Weaving together the imagery of thread and fabric, Dr. Stoltzfus urged graduates to hold fast to who they are: "There's a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn't change"—while recognizing that their thread is part of something larger. She spoke of photosynthesis as a sign of sacred connectedness, of mercy as the Bible's word for fierce commitment to community, and of sadness as the emotion that moves us toward one another. She named real tears in the fabric of the world (division, separation, the loss of 15 million trees each year) but assured the graduates that God is constantly reweaving it, and that their generation is part of that work.
She closed with a poem and an invitation: "Go ahead. Open the door. No one can explain how to love the world. It doesn't happen all at once. But you can start here."
Her three parting words to the Class of 2026: Never let go of your thread. Be faithful. Love mercy.
Class Gift and Ceremony of Sending
Class officers Jenny Rios, Eviella Sefu, and Vannia Torres presented the class gift to Kris Shenk, chair of Bethany's Board of Trustees. Following the prayer of blessing offered by faculty member Matt Miller, class sponsors Edgar Silva and Cheryl Mast joined the class officers in presenting each graduate with a ceramic mug, handmade by Bethany trustee Justin Rothshank.
Academic Honors
Students graduating with the Indiana Academic Honors Diploma: Marcos Alvarez, Gretchen Bateman, Marta Brill Bergstresser, Adrienne Chupp, Corinne Chupp, Kendra Kern, Evelyn Lopez, Tobias Mast, Gideon Miller, Jude Miller, Dominic Ramer, Christian Ramos-Manríquez, Emily Swartzendruber, and Elena Unzicker.
Students graduating Cum Laude: Trey Caffee, Margaret Finnigan, Benji Fleming, Evelyn Lopez, and Mira Yoder.
Students graduating Magna Cum Laude: Marcos Alvarez, Gretchen Bateman, Luna Calderón, Adrienne Chupp, Kendra Kern, Jude Miller, Ellie Morris, and Eviella Sefu.
Students graduating Summa Cum Laude: Sawyer Beachy, Marta Brill Bergstresser, Corinne Chupp, Tobias Mast, Gideon Miller, Dominic Ramer, Christian Ramos-Manríquez, Emily Swartzendruber, and Elena Unzicker.
