MOSES LAKE — The seven students in the Moses Lake Christian Academy class of 2017 ended their high school careers with a ceremony before an overflowing crowd at the Moses Lake Civic Center Saturday.

The class of 2017 had its ups and downs, said MLCA director Stephanie Voigt, but worked through them together. “I’m truly proud of them,” she said.

Valedictorian Abigail Greiner agreed with Voigt’s assessment of ups and downs. The class of 2017 has been successful in its service projects locally and in its mission and service trips statewide and internationally. They’ve been successful at school, in school activities like band and school sports. But they’ve also had their failures, she said, and both have helped shape the students.

“We’ve grown a lot in our school,” she said. The seven people in the class came from different backgrounds. “Within each of us, we have a story,” she said, and God wound those stories together, memories that will stay with them. But it’s time for the next chapter, discovering God’s purpose for each of them. “We have so much more to look forward to.”

Each year a staff member is chosen to give a speech as well. Angela Lopez is the class advisor and an MLCA alumna. Each student brought something to the class, she said, spirituality and encouragement, leadership, determination, humor and creativity.

Daniel Timofeyev, a 2007 MLCA graduate, was the guest speaker.

Timofeyev cited the Old Testament story of Nehemiah, and how Nehemiah couldn’t get the plight of his country Judea and its people off his mind. It caused Nehemiah pain, Timofeyev said, and spurred him to make efforts to help them. “What pain do you hold?” he asked, the pain that prompts individuals to help others. “I wonder what you have to offer,” he said. And while they should work to help others, he said, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help themselves, when they need it.

The MLCA choir, Stretto, performed a song, followed by music from a trio of 2017 graduates.

The class of 2017 consisted of Ryan Seal, Benjamin Caballero, Abigail Greiner, Kyersten Hunt, Claudiu Szocol, Dawn Jones and Jeffrey Holm.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].