photo by: Elvyn Jones

Veritas Christian School Class of 2016 graduate Katelyn Eveleth and her father, R.D. Eveleth, share tears after commencement Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the Lawrence Free Methodist Church.

Katelyn Eveleth celebrated her graduation Sunday from Veritas Christian School with persistent smiles and tears.

Eveleth was one of nine seniors in the private parochial school’s class of 2016. The tears and smiles revealed her mixed emotions about the day and the ceremony at the Lawrence Free Methodist Church, she said. Eveleth, who started attending the school as a sophomore, said the school’s small enrollment helped foster close-knit relationships with students and teachers.

photo by: Elvyn Jones

Veritas Christian School dean of students Ron Krestan moves the tassel on Alex Tharp's cap signaling his transition from student to alumnus of the school near the end of commencement Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Lawrence Free Methodist Church, while the school's other eight graduates hold their diplomas.

Eveleth plans to attend Johnson County Community College next fall and transfer to Washburn University in Topeka after two years to study sonography.

“It’s an emotional day,” she said. “There are several of us going to Johnson County, but we’ll stay in touch no matter where we are.”

Alex Tharp, class salutatorian, agreed that it was hard to say goodbye to classmates.

“I would say we are closer,” he said. “We have more interactions and experience more thing together. I think we bonded a lot closer.”

Tharp plans to enroll at Kansas State University next year, where he will major in mechanical engineering and minor in military science through the ROTC.

In his salutatorian address to his classmates, Tharp promised them adversity ahead. That couldn’t be avoided even if they were successful in life because added responsibility brings with it the assurance more will go wrong, he said. But he said that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Adversity is the pathway for personal growth,” he said.

In his address as class valedictorian, Jonathon Garrett gave his classmates encouragement that they could overcome adversity and remain united despite going separate ways. The reason was their shared “Christ-centered” Veritas education

“This is imprinted on me and us,” he said. “Veritas has taught us through God’s fingerprints how to make our own fingerprints on the world.”

The commencement’s keynote speaker, Chris Burger, touched on both of the students’ speakers’ themes in his address to the class. A Lawrence attorney and adjunct professor with the Kansas University School of Law, Burger told the class it was now entering the crucible and following the example of Jesus in entering the marketplace.

“We need you in the marketplace to change the world,” he said. “This is not about taking a beatdown; this is about fighting and conquering.”