WEBSTER, N.Y. -- High school graduations are always full of reflecting on the past, but for the 20 graduating seniors of Webster Christian School, they’re not only closing the door on their past four years, they’re also helping to close the door on the school’s nearly four decades of existence.
“I’ve been to a lot of graduations here and I’ve enjoyed every single one," senior Bethany Riggleman said. “I’ve had a lot of family members go here so it’s kind of nerve wracking to be the last graduation and having to leave an impact like that.”
School administrators announced in May they were shutting down due to financial hardship and low enrollment. For Riggleman, she’s gone to Webster Christian School since kindergarten, and said she is rejoicing in the time she spent there.
“I have such strong friendships here and relationships, and definitely still builds your relationship with the Lord as well because it is a Christian School and that’s not only worked in in bible class, but it’s worked in in every single class because all the teachers are great godly witnesses,” Riggleman said.
Although senior Faith Cymbal joined her class in her junior year, she agrees and believes the school changed her life.
“I just think this place prepared me for life,” Cymbal said. “Being at a very transitional point in my life, it definitely prepared me to go on to bigger and better things. So I know it has prepared me and given me a stronger faith, in my Christian faith, in whatever may come.”
As history teacher Bill Kelly watched from the stage, he too thought back on his 30 years of teaching. He said his wife was also a teacher there and they felt the school was their family.
“It’s our life,” Kelly said. “It’s what we’ve done and it’s meant a lot to meet kids, meet parents, talk with them, have a part in kid’s lives with educating and so forth, but it’s come to an end and we thank the Lord for what we’ve been able to do over the past few years and look forward to what He is going to do in the future.”
While school administrators said they are still considering several options for the building, they are also staying positive about it all.
“We look at it as the opportunity that God closes one door and opens a huge other door for other reasons,” Advancement and Operations director Becky Cymbal said.