2022 Graduation Pathfinder

CONGRATULATIONS 3

CLASS OF 2022

Nina Azato Margaret Barrier Edward Bullock Panyue Chen

University of Delaware University of North Carolina at Greensboro Washington & Jefferson College University of Illinois

William Crismon Valerie DaBaldo Sabine Danner Teresa De Rosa

University of Delaware Cabrini University Savannah College of Art and Design University of Delaware

Natalie Hamma Toby Harris Abigail Hausheer Canaan Hill

West Virginia University University of Valley Forge University of Delaware Lee University

Jaila Maddrey Dana McKenzie Felicity Negley Lillian Purifoy

University of Delaware Delaware State University Liberty University Eastern University

Daniel Starkey Francesca Tyler Bryan Vasecka

Messiah University Liberty University University of Delaware

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its purpose.
Proverbs 16:1-4a

Andrew Chijioke Justin Chijioke Eric Collins Gabriella Costantini

Employment-Computer Coding Employment Undecided Messiah University

Elliot Dunham Christian Fratacci Navas A’Niya Frazier Logan Hahn

Cedarville University LaSalle Collège (Montréal) University of Delaware University of Delaware

John Hoffert Matthew Kaser Amber King Gavin Lockard

University of Delaware Pennsylvania State University University of Delaware Lancaster Bible College

Daniel Rouvas Caleb Rowles Samuel Seeman John Skiles

Saint Joseph’s University Liberty University University of Delaware Saint Joseph’s University

Wenxin Wang Treasure Wright Xinyi Zhou

University of California, Davis Mississippi State University Rutgers University

Francesca Tyler

VALEDICTORIAN

Family, friends, teach- trying times. The danger, however, in living to impress others is that
ers, administrators, and you will always depend on people for your reward, justification, sense
fellow students, what an of value, or self-worth. The value of something is determined by the
awesome honor it is to price someone is willing to pay.
stand before you today.
On behalf of the Class of As human beings, our value can only be determined by our
2022, I want to thank our Creator. Have you ever…really…considered…the price He paid for
teachers and administra- you? Time is a precious gift, but it comes with a guaranteed – yet
tors for all you have done. unknown – expiration date. We need to be good stewards of the time
The wisdom, guidance, we have been allotted. Since time is precious and uncertain, I think
and advice that you have our lives and our world would be best served by focusing on inspiring
given throughout our high and impacting the lives of others instead of being selfish – although
school years has ushered perhaps impressive – consumers. God does not want us to live for the
us to this very moment. approval and acceptance of others, nor does He want our desire to
The genuine love, care, impress others to be greater than our desire for Him. God does not
and concern that you have even want us to try to impress Him. And really, any attempt to im-
shown are priceless – it is press God is fruitless, for He is the one who gave us our worth, abili-
nothing that tuition could ties, and talents in the first place. God is pleased by our worship, our
begin to cover. Thank you faith, our trust in Him, our obedience, and more. Impactful or im-
for believing your place at pressive – how do we examine ourselves, our motives, and our hearts
Wilmington Christian School to be a ministry and not just a job. We, to know whether we are trying to impress others? We can ask the
your students, have felt your strong sense of mission as you have following questions: Why do you do what you do? What is the
sought wisdom and truth by thinking biblically, and we have motive? Are you looking to impress for the attention of others, or do
witnessed your striving for excellence. Thank you for loving us and you want to make an impact for God’s Kingdom? Honestly answer-
for covering us with your prayers. Thank you for encouraging and ing these questions will reveal if the direction is given to you by God
edifying us, and for teaching from your heart. You see, it is not the to make a difference, or if your need to impress speaks louder than
building, but each one of you, that makes Wilmington Christian His voice. If we look for the “likes,” the compliments, and validation
School so incredibly special, and I consider myself extremely blessed from others, we are most likely on the wrong track.
to have attended this remarkable school for 11 years.
How do we impact? We can impact people with kindness, mercy,
Classmates – at one time our 2022 graduation date seemed so far grace, compassion, understanding, the giving of our time, etc. More
in the future – yet here we are – it’s mind-blowing, isn’t it?! Today, we importantly, how do we impact for Christ? For starters, we need to
celebrate the end of one season in life – yet the beginning of another. ask God to help us see the world through his eyes. We need to ask
Our new season will bring great opportunities to change the world God to share his heart with us. What breaks his heart should break
and to achieve things that other generations have not; and, as gradu- ours and move us to compassion. Not only can we ask God to send
ates of Wilmington Christian School, we have been well-equipped to His laborers to work in the harvest field, we can ask him to send us
do exactly that! We are at the threshold of our new beginning with a into the harvest field. To sum it up, all God requires is a willing heart.
lifetime of choices to make, and we need to be intentional in making We need to give God our whole hearts, and He will take care of the
these decisions. So, for the next few minutes, I would like to speak rest.
about the importance of being impactful in a world completely
obsessed with being impressive. So the real question…why be impressive when we can be impact-
ful? I pray that we will become a generation that longs to be impact-
Social media platforms overflow with selfies, snapshots of our ful rather than outwardly impressive. Any status, fame, wealth, or
dinner plates, pets, vacations, exercise goals and weight loss progress, beauty we may achieve over the years will never impress God. We
special events with family and friends, and more. Some use social were never created to glorify ourselves, rather we were created for His
media platforms to offer their opinions – although no one asked – good pleasure and to glorify and shine for the King of the Universe.
about politics, movies, sports, celebrities, and so on. Let’s be real – we In Matthew 5:16 Jesus said to “Let your light shine before men in
are all human, and we all want to impress others. Some of us are such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence,
applause-aholics while others are people pleasers just longing for and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
affirmation and praise. Who doesn’t want to be on the receiving end
of “good job!” or “you…are…amazing” or “you are so pretty, hand- In the years that follow, how do you want to be seen? Impressive
some, or smart.”The desire to receive a compliment or word of or impactful? One thing is for certain, the choice is yours. If you have
encouragement is not necessarily a bad thing – it may be exactly what a pulse, you have a purpose. As His disciples, we have a common
you need to make your day or to keep pressing on through difficult or purpose -- and that purpose is to be the light and impact…the
world…for Him.

Logan Hahn

SALUTATORIAN

Hello, my fellow graduates and audience sometimes it may be a bit scary, we must
members. For me, it was eight years ago that I always remember the most important thing
came to WCS and I still remember walking and that is that God is always right there next
into fourth grade and seeing Mrs. Pitman’s throughout all our lives and He loves us
smiling face. I remember having class pet rats, always. As
doing Market Day, and wacky little science Paul says in
experiments, and then going into middle Romans 8:38-
school with Mr. Karmeris and having him 39 “For I am
drill into my mind five paragraph essays. I re- sure that nei-
member seeing the Statue of Liberty, and ther death nor
going on field trips to DC, Blackrock, the life, nor angels
Medieval Festival, and Williamsburg. I re- nor rulers, nor
member the new classmates who came and things present
some of the old ones who left. nor things to
come, nor
Then came high school, going to Keswick powers, nor
each year, and having Mr. Bird tell us one of height nor
his many, many stories. And then I slowly depth, nor any-
started to think about college for the first thing else in all
time. At the start of freshman year someone creation, will be able to separate us from the
told me that high school was going to go by love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So
in the blink of an eye. Back then I didn’t even though change and growth may be
believe them; it felt kind of slow, moving from uncomfortable, it is necessary to become that
one homework assignment to the next. But at beautiful butterfly that spreads out its wings
the end of each school year, without fail, it felt to fly on to its next adventure.
like school had only started a month or two
earlier. And standing here today I fully agree For us as graduates, it’s time to move on
with what that person said. to that next stage of life. To start to branch
out and create our own new lives. And to all
Time is a fleeting thing, sometimes you my fellow graduates, shoot to be as big as the
don’t notice how quickly something has gone sun, but even if you miss, at least you still end
by until it’s over. And although it may be sad, up amongst the stars.
especially for our grads who will have to leave
behind people they have grown up with all
these years, it isn’t all that bad; it’s necessary,
and moving on is a part of life. Even though

W BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Lesley Aulick
WCS Mission Statement Chris Dito
Wilmington Christian School provides a distinctively Christian, Brett Dorsch

innovative education that effectively develops Godly Michelle Matthews
influencers who are well prepared for life after high school Michael McCudden

and who impact the culture for Christ. Bruce Rettig
Building on the foundation of Scriptural truth, we teach Kevin Schneider
students to grow in Christian character, to excel in academic Christopher Vincent

proficiency, and to value mentoring relationships. ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Roger Erdvig

Headmaster

Melonie Fetterman
Associate Headmaster

Gwen Campbell
Lower School Principal

Douglas Haas
Upper School Principal

Mike Ingram
Director of Operations

2022-2023 School Verses

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise
him, my salvation and my God."

Psalm 42:11 - (ESV)

Pathfinder 2022
Robin Foster, Editor
Tammy Kater, Designer