Veritas 2014 graduates bound by family and faith

AREA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS

Free State High: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the school’s football stadium. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Allen Fieldhouse on the Kansas University campus.

Lawrence High: 7 p.m. Wednesday at the LHS football stadium. Allen Fieldhouse is also the backup site for Lawrence High in case of inclement weather.

Bishop Seabury Academy: The traditional graduation and “stepping up” ceremonies are scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday in the school gymnasium.

Veritas Christian School administrator Kelli Huslig got a little choked up when she called her own daughter’s name during graduation ceremonies Sunday. And dean of students Ron Krestan had an emotional moment when he handed a diploma to his own son.

“The thing about a small school is that every year, graduation is such an exciting time because they’re family,” Huslig said. “All of these kids are family.”

Although the Veritas Class of 2014 included only four graduates, nearly 100 family members, friends, schoolmates and family members turned out for the ceremony at the United Methodist Church West Campus.

The school says its mission is to provide a “Christ-centered, Biblically-based” education by applying those principles to every aspect of life.

Teri Huslig, valedictorian and daughter of Kelli Huslig, said the senior class had chosen as its theme this year a verse from 2 Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

“God calls us to stare life and the future in the face and say I’m ready because I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me who gives me power, love and self control,” said Teri Huslig, who plans to attend Kansas University next year.

Adam Krestan, salutatorian and son of Ron Krestan, paid tribute to all the teachers who’d guided his education since he began at the school in second grade.

“Only by the grace of God did I listen to my elementary school teachers,” said Krestan, who will attend Trinity Christian College in Illinois. “And through their influence, my heart was changed in small increments every year, every day after class, leaving a portion of my old self behind, and every day the spirit of God fitting that much more snugly in the vessel of my body.”

Jim Jarrow, an attorney who has served on the Veritas board of directors, gave a keynote speech urging the students to commit to being leaders. “Serve others in the name of Christ, lovingly,” he said.

Also graduating Sunday were Jesse Moore, who plans to attend Sterling College in south-central Kansas next year, and Robert Brodrick Robinson, who plans to attend Ambassador Bible Center in Ohio.

VERITAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CLASS OF 2014

  • Teri Huslig
  • Adam Krestan
  • Jesse Moore
  • Robert Brodrick Robinson