Cross Over the Hill graduates first class

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Even without Tyler Nygren’s performance, Thursday evening included a touch of magic as the first-ever fifth-grade class of the Cross Over the Hill program graduated in the S.F. Goedde Building gymnasium.

Although it was warm and muggy in the gym, a large contingent of parents, grandparents and Cross Over the Hill and school officials were on hand to celebrate the success of the voluntary release-time children’s Bible study program, as well as the first year for the new elementary school building.

Cross Over the Hill Board President Shaun Putman emceed the event and the program, which also featured songs sung by the Van Wert Area Boychoir, in addition to Nygren’s magic, and also doubled as Van Wert Elementary School’s fifth-grade graduation ceremonies. Pastor Clark Williman of Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert provided the invocation.

Guest speaker for the evening was Van Wert County Youth for Christ Executive Director John Wanner, who provided an updated version of the well-known Bible story about David and Goliath. Wanner’s version included a “dude” or two, and also featured a professional wrestler standing in for the Philistine big guy, but otherwise provided a faithful rendition of young David’s victory over the Goliath.

Noting that David was just the age of a sixth-grader when he killed the giant warrior, Wanner stressed that young people can also have an impact on their community.

Graduating fifth-graders received a diploma and Bible, which were distributed by Cross Over the Hill teachers Caralee Campbell and Sarah Hostetler. Pastor Keith Stoller of Trinity Friends Church was a substitute teacher for Cross Over the Hill.

Students who graduated included the following:

Campbell’s class: Spencer Adams, Alysia Adkins, Alaina Arney, Hannah Barnes, Maci Barnhart, Tanner Barnhart, Harrison Bartley, Ciara Becker, Makenzie Bowers, Keaton Brown, Peyton Carter, Ryan Chen, Parker Conrad, Jasmine Contreraz, Jenna Covey, Alayna Cripe, Alexis Dunn, Clay Ellerbrock, Vanessa Espinoza, Gavin Flickinger, Stephanie Geething, Ali Gemmer, Hunter Gile, Katie Hauter, Jerica Huebner, Mya Isbel, Brendan Karl, Kaylena Kelly, Molly Kientz, Madison Krick, Sydney Maller, Ben McNeal, Katie McVaigh, Sydney Moore, Tavis Moore, Mason Moreno, Allison Morrow, Alexis Nice, Savannah Nygren, Clayton Proffitt, Travis Reynolds, Brooke Saam, Grace Spoor, Brittanee Stant, Gabriel Steyer, Rachel Verville, Aisha Watson and Emma Witten.

Hostetler’s class includes: Kimberly Adams, Savannah Alfaro, Payton Amweg, Kristen Baker, Gavin Barnes, Kolby Barnhart, Brianna Bebout, Alex Black, Gabriell Bollenbacher, Madison Bracken, Ben Brown, Tracy Brown, Lydia Carter, Nicholas Carter, Kirsten Clay, Destiny Contreraz, Corbin Dawson, Olyvia Deam, Taylor Dickerhoof, Delaney Eyanson, Zane Fast, Nicholas Faster, Seth Fuerst, Cody Gamble, Alexa Glossett, Angelina Haller, Courtney Hawn, Issac Hawn, Brianna Jemison, Kaylee Jennings, Cameron Keith, Aaron Kelly, Jacob Kremer, Josh Lane, Amy Li, Jacob Lyvers, Austin Maple, Evelyn McKeddie, Payton Money, Mackenzie Morgan, Nicholas Muter, Michael Nash, Zander Newman, Shannon Nice, Kaylee Okuly, Charlie Pauquette, Hannah Perani, Freddie Pfau, Caylee Phillips, Colin Place, Kendall Rauch, Katrina Runyon, Kole Schaffer, Logan Senters, Andrew Spaeth, Hannah Springer, David Stant, Shane Stevens, Brady Temple, Ashlyn Thomas, Arianna Thompson, Taylor Vaughn, Brice Waldron and Carley White.