Students, family and faculty gathered May 25, 2021 to celebrate the first graduating class of Amazing Grace Academy in Palmer, Alaska.
The senior class invited their teacher, Louis Melchor, to be the graduation speaker. Melchor and the seniors took turns sharing important lessons learned from an unforgettable moment during their first day of school, their freshman year.
It all started during PE class. The students were doing squats. By all accounts, they were pitiful-looking squats, so Melchor decided to demonstrate the proper way to do the exercise. As Melchor descended into position, a huge ripping sound tore through the gymnasium. Sadly, his dress pants did not withstand the demonstration. Suddenly leaving the building with a shred of dignity became more important than teaching proper exercise technique and Melchor made a hasty exit.
In addition to laughing over their first-day together, Melchor presented the seniors with gifts. Each graduate received a roll of quarters to use in the college dorm laundry room to help them make good-smelling first impressions on their classmates and teachers. And to encourage them not to spend all the quarters in the snack vending machine, the students were each gifted a box of ramen noodles to hold them until breakfast at the cafeteria.
Each of the five graduates gave a short speech highlighting their unique personalities. The Alaska Conference and AGA congratulates Kadin Bailey, Emily Miklos, Kendra Burtch, Ian Olson and Joshua Hernandez.
Amazing Grace Academy and the Alaska Conference congratulates the school's first graduating senior class (from left): Josh Hernandez, Emily Miklos, Ian Olson, Kendra Burtch and Kadin Bailey.
(From left): Principal Dane Bailey and Brian Bailey, school board chair, award Kendra Miklos her graduation diploma.
Graduate Ian Olson receives his diploma from principal Dane Bailey (left) and Brian Bailey, school board chair.
AGA graduate Emily Miklos.
AGA graduate Ian Olson.
AGA graduate Josh Hernandez.
AGA graduate Kadin Bailey.
AGA graduate Kendra Burtch.
