Five students finish high school careers at Mission Valley Christian Academy
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Mission Valley Christian Academy sent five more high school graduates off to make their way in the world in a Friday evening commencement ceremony at First Baptist Church in Polson.
MVCA Director Chris Bumgarner introduced the graduates and recognized Taelor Conrad and Brenden Conrad as two outstanding servant leaders among the graduating class, although “all of these seniors are servant leaders,” Bumgarner said.
Cum laude graduate and high school rodeo star Riley Scott DeLong had some advice for the younger students in the audience, drawing a chorus of chuckles as he addressed the new sophomores: “Congratulations — but you have three more years.”
To his fellow graduates: “If you have a desire, if you have a goal … go for that goal,” DeLong said. “Walk with courage and by the grace of God, that is how an achievement is reached.”
DeLong had special words of thanks for his grandparents for “being his parents” since seventh grade, as did Brynn Slack for her family.
“You taught me that being myself is all I ever really have to do,” she told her parents, tears taking over for a few moments before Slack returned to her seat amid the applause of classmates.
Taelor Conrad plans to earn her personal trainer certification at Flathead Valley Community College, while Brenden Conrad has been accepted to the University of Montana, where he plans to study business and music.
“I want to let God direct me where I need to go after college,” Brenden says.
DeLong said he plans to attend Montana Tech in pursuit of a civil or petroleum engineering degree — and he’ll continue to rodeo.
Julia Maddy hasn’t chosen a school yet but plans to go into pediatric nursing or teen counseling, and Slack says she’ll keep working in Polson and then “see what God has planned for me.”
