By Tim Leeds
Suzie Anderson and Grace Jackson, both of Havre, were among 17 home school graduates in a ceremony held at the University of Great Falls Theatre during the biannual Montana Home School Educators State Convention.
The ceremony was held the afternoon of Sunday, May 21. A capacity crowd watched as each parent presented their child's diploma. After presentation of the class of 2000, the graduates lit candles and left the darkened auditorium while the popular song "Go Light Your World" was played. A reception was held at the university cafeteria afterwards.
Lois Gilge was pianist for the prelude. Kent Gilge gave the opening prayer and the commencement address. Suzanne Anderson was the soloist, and Skip Wahl gave a prayer after the diplomas were awarded, and presented the Class of 2000.
The convention began Friday morning, May 19. More than 36 workshops were offered Friday and Saturday, along with more than 60 curriculum vendors displaying their merchandise.
A banquet was held at the Great Falls Civic Center Friday night, with Ken Sande of "Peacemaker Ministries" as guest speaker.
Saturday evening 112 students attended the formal "Teen Night Banquet." The banquet was catered by Colleens Restaurant, with testimony and entertainment by Matt Schvaneveldt. A private party was held at Little Lanes Bowling afterwards, with a midnight pizza party ending the night's entertainment.
There are four regional Montana home school graduations this spring. The Eastern Regional Graduation was in Billings, the Western Regional Graduation in Missoula, and the Helena graduation.
For more information about these graduations or about home schooling, contact Kent and Lois Gilge at 262-9755, David and Lynn Rydell at 262-9769, Doug and Betty Boyce at 265-6957, Keith and Leslie Echols at 265-3395 or Les and Bernie Anderson at 265-2129.
