A Milestone

Students finished final exams at PHC today.

This evening, the seniors invited their family and all their friends to "Senior Night." Short worship time was followed by clips of video footage and a slide show of stills from the last four years. The video included footage from the dedication of the main building and the singing of the PHC Hymn by the inaugural class. The program included a few words about one of the seniors who wasn't able to graduate, due to his reserve unit being called up. And, of course, there was thanking of the families and friends that brought them this far.

Tomorrow morning, following a commissioning service with only the seniors, their families, the faculty, and other key personnel, there will be the college's first "real" commencement ceremony. While it is no realer than the past two commencements, it will be the first to include students that have attended PHC all four years. And, naturally, this will be the largest commencement to this point, with just over 40 students walking.

This is the end of an era. This marks the exit of the bulk of the inaugural students--the pioners, the ground-breakers, the risk-takers, the gamblers. The leaving of this class marks the real beginning of the natural turn-over of students experienced at every college and the memories lost with each class.