Highland High School celebrated their first baccalaureate service in several years on May 15, with much gratitude from the Highland community.
Baccalaureate is a religious service, to celebrate the graduating class. The service is the first one that anyone can remember in Highland’s history, making it a historic event.
Pastor Dan Wilson, of Chesterville United Methodist Church, contacted Principal Nate Huffman, requesting Highland to begin this new tradition. In response, Highland recruited a team of students led by senior, Paige Cole, and advised by principal, Nate Huffman and Pastor Dan Wilson.
Paige Cole, the head of Highland’s baccalaureate committee, says,” It was an opportunity to start a new tradition,” on her role in the creation of this event.
However, since this was the first service in possibly decades, the group had very little examples to follow, leaving the large and fine points of the service in the dark. Highland overcame the adversity, creating a service that inspired the current graduating class and the upcoming class, the highlight being “the passing of the torch ceremony”.
“We received a lot of positive feedback from students and parents,” says Huffman on the reaction towards the service, “But, it was the student’s service.”
This leadership from students has now created a tradition that will leave a lasting impact on the Highland community for generations of graduating classes. Huffman says he is willing to work with students who have big ideas or want to take hold of an established event school function.
“This is a very special group of seniors that are going to be missed by Highland High School, and they definitely left their mark,” said Huffman in reflection.
Highland held celebrates the graduating class of 2016 at the baccalaureate ceremony.
