FLORENCE Life Center Academy’s 31 seniors took a leap of faith into the future when they received their diplomas at the school’s annual commencement Friday.
By:Vanessa S. Holt
Graduating seniors said they valued their experiences at the school, which included a senior class missionary trip to Peru this year.
Small class sizes and a feeling of personal attention and interaction among students and teachers were among the reasons seniors said they appreciated their LCA education.
Valedictorian Ruth Phillippi addressed the class during graduations, describing how she had learned that "life doesn’t always turn out how you expect it to."
Ruth said she learned during her years at the school that "if you can make the best of a situation, it can become better."
She plans to attend Grove City College in Pennsylvania, where she will study English or pre-law.
Salutatorian Danielle McKenna just moved to the area from Buffalo, N.Y., last year and said that it was easy to get to know everyone and get involved at LCA.
The senior class mission trip to Peru was an "eye-opening experience," said Danielle, who spoke at graduation about the importance of determination and belief in oneself.
"It was easy to get to know everyone here," said Danielle. "I thought it would be hard, but they were really nice and very open."
Graduating senior Katie Jackson, who will study elementary education at Eastern College in Pennsylvania in the fall, said she now appreciates the benefits she reaped from the small school.
"They paid attention to each person individually; graduation reflected that." Katie received the $1,000 Women’s Ministries Teaching Scholarship in honor of the late Rev. Evelyn M. Graban.
A total of nine scholarships were awarded during commencement last week. Other scholarship recipients were Sarah Parker, Ryan Altschul, Ruth Phillippi, Danielle McKenna, Falon Moore, Tia McGill, Olivia Wicks and Christa Beseler.
Graduates in the Class of 2001 are: Ryan Altschul, Marissa Bellan, Christa Beseler, Cray Bony, James Brown, Denise Brumley, Colleen Daly, Andrea Davis, Chisom Ezenekwe, Matthew Gens, Katie Hall, Debbie Henry.
Also, Rachel Holland, Katie Jackson, Michael Johnson, Jesse Loyer, Justin Lunetta, Tia McGill, Danielle McKenna, Falon Moore, Ivy Moyer, Bethany O’Neill, Steven Orner, Nathanael Padgett, Sarah Parker.
Also, Amanda Partyka, Derek Perriero, Ruth Phillippi, Justin Simcox, Jared Vichko and Olivia Wicks.
Eighth-grade graduates for the Class of 2005 are: Naomi Anastase, David Antolic, Ashley Birney, Shea Bodrog, Matthew Boudwin, Talvis Brooks, Maryanne Brown, Jeffrey Couch, Alan Ford, Katie Forest, Deadra Gladden, Chris Guindin.
Also, Alexandra Hartz, Jonathan Keane, Matthew Lloyd, Michael Marino, Matthew McDonald, Jesse McKenna, Trisha Morgan, Amanda Murdock, Brian O’Neill, Helen Papadopoulos, Andrew Reiner, Christina Rinaldo, Rafael Rodriguez, Corin Wells and Jessica Yates.
