By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
On Saturday afternoon, as the flags were marched in and 20 graduates took their seats in the gymnasium at Shepherds College in Union Grove, there were tears.
For some, the tears continued throughout the ceremony. But with those tears were also huge smiles, as those 20 young men and women proved to the world that they did, indeed, have a purpose on Earth.
With commencement speaker Dr. Charles Ware stressing the values of Shepherd’s Ministries – that all are “fearfully and wonderfully” made, and loved by God – graduates from the college’s horticulture, culinary arts and AI (Appropriate Independence) Academy received their certificates of completion Saturday.
The college, which provides a faith-based education for people with intellectual disabilities, had its largest graduation class since it opened in 2008.
And as it was stressed throughout the ceremony, those 20 students had a place in the world.
“Jesus didn’t think you’d be reading about him in the bible,” explained Ware, “I want you to think about your life story. God is writing a story of your life. It is a story of grace.
“This graduation ceremony is a great example of grace in your life,” he added.
The graduation featured several speakers, including Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Dr. William Amstutz, the president of Shepherds Ministries.
Kleefisch, who arrived just as the graduation ceremony began, touched on her travel worries of the morning in her speech. In talking about three key principals she had learned over the years, she said the pilot of her airplane Saturday gave her a great piece of advice.
“There are no clouds if you soar above them,” she said.
Kleefisch said three lessons she’d learned applied to everyone: one, you can have it all – just not all at once, dreams don’t work unless you do, and doing good makes you feel good.
“Don’t ever stop doing things that are good for others,” she stressed.
Student speaker Crystalanne Nystrand – a graduate of the school’s culinary arts program this year – reflected on her time at Shepherds College.
“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young,” she said.
Ware, meanwhile, stressed that all the students at Shepherds had probably asked why they were different – perhaps asking that God cure them.
As an answer, he offered a quote from 2 Corinthians, where Paul asked God to remove a thorn from his side.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Ware stressed that it was the grace of God that brought them to the college, and taught them.
“That’s success,” he said. “That’s victory.”
The college also gave its inaugural Justin Duran Weyns Character Award. Weyns, who died of cancer in April, had been a student at Shepherds before his diagnosis.
The award, set up in his memory, honors one graduate “exemplifying the character traits of diligence, discernment, initiative, integrity, respect and responsibility, and demonstrating a strong desire to pursue appropriate Independence.
Krista Zuiderveen was the recipient.
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