SENIOR PRESENTATIONS, CONTINUEDplace in the school. They are open toquestions and assistance, and thatmakes it easier for students to communicatewith the faculty.While at <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong> High<strong>School</strong>, I lived with a host family forthe first semester. Living with a hostfamily allowed me to settle down in anew city and try to adjust to a new community.During my second semester atLMH, I moved into Graybill ResidenceHall. Being a dorm student was a differentexperience that I truly enjoyed.Close friendships and bonds wereformed as we lived together and spentseveral hours a day together. Dorm studentscome from places as far away asNorth Korea, Ethiopia, Cameroon,Rwanda and Japan, while others comefrom York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.<strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong> High <strong>School</strong>allowed me to look into my spiritualTop photo: Nicole Simpson uses a PowerPoint presentationto give her senior presentation. PHOTO: GEOFF GROFF. Abovephoto: Eileen Darby poses with her parents—James andColleen Darby—after her evening presentation.PHOTO: DENNIS KAUFFMANlife and question my beliefs as well asaccept the beliefs of others. In the oneyear I attended LMH, I’ve learned a lot.I’ve found friendships that I will holdon to, and the residence hall andadvanced classes definitely prepared mefor college.Nicole SimpsonI have attended a <strong>Mennonite</strong> school allmy life, but I’m not <strong>Mennonite</strong>. Forkindergarten through grade eight, I washome-schooled some of the years andattended Linville Hill <strong>Mennonite</strong><strong>School</strong> for the rest. For high school Iwent to <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong> <strong>School</strong>.Some of my extra-curricular activitiesat LMH were JV soccer my freshmanand sophomore years and FFA for partsof my sophomore and junior years.As I look back through high schoolI am really grateful for all the artclasses LMH provided. I loved drawingsince I was a little girl, and theart classes at LMH have helpedme improve my skills greatly.I took artbeat, drawing, painting,2-D, and advanced studio.I have also entered many piecesof artwork in the Solanco Fair,and I won one first place ribbonand two second place ribbons.I also entered artwork in theScholastics/Young Artist competition,and this year I won myfirst Gold Award. If it weren’tfor Mrs. Ciacca saying I shouldenter my boot drawing, I neverwould have won that GoldAward, because I had forgottenall about that piece.Some of my personal interestsare art and hunting. Huntingwill always be one of mypassions. I have gone dove andwhitetail hunting. Hunting is agreat way to observe God’s creation,and a great way to learnpatience. It is also a great wayto spend time with family.I plan to attend Penn StateBrandywine for my first twoyears of college and then transferto University Park. I plan tomajor in Animal Bioscience orsomething that has to do withbiology. My plans are to go tovet school to become a largeanimal veterinarian. I also want to continuewith art. In addition, I hope to goon mission trips and maybe go huntingin other states.“When I stepped on the campusof <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong>, it justfelt right.”Eileen DarbyI attended St. Leo the Great Catholic<strong>School</strong> from kindergarten to eighthgrade and spent my freshman year ofhigh school at <strong>Lancaster</strong> Catholic.Despite being in a Catholic environment,I was unhappy and needed achange physically, mentally, and spiritually.After shadowing my churchfriend at <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong> in thespring of 2006, I made a huge andunexpected transition by transferringto LMH for 10th grade. Who wouldhave thought a Catholic girl wouldcome to a <strong>Mennonite</strong> school? It soundscorny, but when I stepped on the campusof <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong>, it just feltright. I received smiles from studentsand teachers I didn’t even know, andI felt welcomed.Over the past three years I’ve mademany lasting friendships through activitieslike sports, newspaper, music, anddrama. My friends, as well as my family,have helped me through some roughtimes during my high school years.I tore my ACL in my left knee in myjunior year, ending my basketball seasonearly that year and quitting for goodthe following year.They often say that when one doorcloses, another opens. Though I’vealways been interested in theater, Inever went beyond my comfort zone totry it. When I quit the basketball team,I auditioned for the musical and had agreat time meeting new people andimproving my acting skills. I am graduallylearning that while life isn’t easy, itdoesn’t have to be hard. I credit LMHfor helping me learn these life lessonsthat will assist me in my future.I plan to attend De Sales Universityas an English major in the fall. I can’twait to see what God has in store forme. ■4 BRIDGES • SUMMER <strong>2009</strong>
COMMENCEMENT <strong>2009</strong>Know whose you areAt the school’s 67th commencement on May30, guest speaker Dr. Kim Phipps, presidentof Messiah College, told the 194 graduates thatbuilding an identity with Christ will carry themthrough life’s challenges and guide them in makingimportant decisions.“You will have confidence because your identityrests in Christ, not in life’s circumstances or in livingup to the expectations of others.“So, welcome the difficult challenges, theunexpected opportunities, the painful failures,the glorious successes and the epiphanies that lifehas in store for you. Be hopeful because you knowwho you are and, even more importantly, whoseyou are.”The class of <strong>2009</strong> already knows somethingabout difficult challenges. On April 8 they lostclassmate Micah Berthold who died from injuriessustained in a vehicle accident. During the commencementceremony the class placed on Micah’schair a picture of him along with his cap andgown. Micah’s father, Josef Berthold, accepted hisson’s diploma as the audiencesurrounded the family with along supportive applause.At Friday evening’sClass Dedicationprogram, threesenior speakerscentered theirtalks aroundJoshua 1:9, theclass verse: “Have Inot commanded you?Be strong and courageous. Donot be terrified; do not be discouraged,for the Lord your Godwill be with you wherever yougo.” The student speakers were(pictured above, left to right):Matthew Wier, Kaela Landis,and Andrew Kreider. ■Top photo: LMH seniors file into the school for theirMay 30 commencement ceremonies. Bottom photo:Dr. Kim Phipps delivers the commencement address.Forsheysgraduate 10thFor Jean and Ernie Forshey, the scoreis now 10-0. As of May 30, all ten oftheir children have graduated fromLMH. The Forsheys’ 22-year relationshipwith <strong>Lancaster</strong> <strong>Mennonite</strong> began in1986 when their oldest daughter,Melanie, learned about the schoolthrough a middle school friend. Onevisit to LMS was all she needed.“Melanie just loved the school whenshe came to visit,” Jean said. “LMHwas a great place for her to build friendships,and it prepared her well for furtherschooling that resulted in herbecoming an attorney.”Jean, who teaches family consumerscience at LMH, says the school’s academicstandards “have proven to bevitally instrumental” for all of her children,named here with their grad yearand current work or school:The Forshey family pictured at commencement are front row, left to right: Clay; Laura; Melanie;Neil; and Mark. Back row: Wendy Stauffer, married to Jason; Jason; Kiima Cox, married to Lee;Lee; Jean; Amber; Ernie; and Jason Stewart, married to Melanie. Craig and Brett were unable toattend Amber’s graduation.Melanie, 1991: senior staff attorney atthe law firm of Wilmer, Hale, LLP in Washington, D.C.Brett, 1993: virologist researching tropical diseases in theAmazon River Valley in Peru, near IquitosJason, 1995: author and internet booksellerMark, 1996: senior engineer at Lockheed MartinLaura, 1998: operations and sales manager at VOTG, aninternational shipping firmLee, 1999: Geographic Information Systems analystNeil, 2003: completing an engineering degree at Drexel Universityin PhiladelphiaCraig, 2004: studying business administration while workingfor VerizonClay, 2008: pre-med sophomore at LaSalle UniversityAmber, <strong>2009</strong>: entering Messiah College to study biology ■BRIDGES • SUMMER <strong>2009</strong> 5