Bethany Christian Schools celebrated its 69th commencement on Sunday, May 28, 2023, with a class of 34 students.
Head of School, Tim Lehman, welcomed the graduates, friends, and family to the ceremonies followed by a student invocation given by Senper Solomon, an Ethiopian international student who joined Bethany in the fall of 2022. Memories and hopes for the future were given by student speakers Jessa Caffee and Cameron Heinisch. Dr. Gilberto Pérez, Jr., Goshen City Council member, vice president for student life, and dean of students at Goshen College, gave a heartfelt commencement address. He asked the graduates, “Go and find people who want to do justice, show mercy to others, and want to walk humbly with God, for they will help you find your purpose, passion, and calling.”
Senior class officers Ethan Lopez and Rebeka Youngberg presented a gift to Bob Yoder, chair of Bethany’s trustee board, for landscaping in the athletic complex and the future elementary wing. Additional senior class officers include Breece Erickson, Lucca Kauffman, and Samuel Klopfenstein.
To end the ceremony, class sponsors Josh Weaver and Renae Yoder, with the class officers, presented each gradute with a ceramic mug and white carnation. In memory of Richard Rios, a student from the class who died last year, the same gift was given to his family during the presentation.
Students graduating with distinction are the following:
Magna Cum Laude (A+ average)
Bailee Brown
Cameron Heinisch
Samuel Klopfenstein
Avery Rusel
Kiersten Todd
Rebekah Youngberg
Summa Cum Laude (A average)
Jessa Caffee
Breece Erickson
Kolette Kern
Kaden Paul
Cum Laude (A- average)
Dylan Diener
Gabrielle Miller
Olivia Renze
Jordan Ross Richer
Elena Stutzman
Graduating Class
Aussajan Banchasawan
Paulo Barajas Jr.
Gabriel Clark
Jonathan Fleming
Geoffrey Hochstetler
Lucca Kauffman
Conner Liras
Ethan Lopez
Melony Moreno
Julia Moser
Simon Moshier
Annika Nice
Richard Rios
Gabriel Sanchez Jr.
Senper Solomon
Jeffrey Thomas
Justin Thomas
Kairi Vanest
Marcos Vazquez
Links: Dr. Gilberto Pérez Jr. commencement address - link
Students’ speech - link