QUEENSTOWN — Saturday afternoon, May 18, students who have been homeschooled under the umbrella of Shore Christian Fellowship, were awarded diplomas. The ceremony was held inside Shore Christian Fellowship Church in Queenstown.
Homeschool commencement programs have been held at the church for more than a decade. This year’s graduating class of 10 is the largest class yet. Students in the Class of 2024 are: Cody Blunt, Ashlyn Boyles, Alyssa Jastram, Kylee Koss, Makayla Larson, Mason Patterson, and Hayden Winborne.
Lora Largent, Shore Christian Fellowship’s homeschool umbrella coordinator for many years, made the arrangements for commencement program. All five of Largent’s own children have graduated as homeschoolers.
Largent said, “There were three other students who were part of this year’s class, but chose not to join us for the ceremony. So, we really have 10 graduates this year.”
As part of the program, all seven graduates, individually, got up to the podium to speak, if to say nothing more than thank you to their parents for dedicating themselves to helping them with their educations. Each also selected a verse from the Bible they found impressive and meaningful in their lives. Those verses were shared in a power-point presentation prior to the graduation ceremony.
Several of the parents also spoke at the podium, congratulating their child, and the other graduates.
As for future challenges, each graduate listed what’s next in their lives. Cody plans on becoming an electrician and will embark on training to become a journeyman in that profession. Ashlyn has a late June wedding planned and will be attending River Bible Institute in Tampa, this fall. She is an accomplished ice skater which she’s been doing since she was three. Alyssa will be attending the University of Kentucky this fall, majoring in Equine Business and Management with a minor in Communications. She will be a member of the UK Eventing Team, and hopes to earn a spot of the USA Olympic Equestrian Team. Kylee has many interests, hoping to teach and continue her passion with competitive dancing. Makayla who has been taking classes in dual enrollment at Chesapeake College, was the founder of the college’s mental health club which currently has 28 members, and will be serving as Vice President of the college’s SGA next semester. She plans to eventually earn her PhD in psychology. Mason will also be attending River Bible Institute in Tampa. Hayden plans to find a career in Cyber Security.
Of the students who were interviewed, none of them said they felt they missed out on anything by transitioning to the homeschool program. Kylee said, “I felt homeschool provided me with more opportunities than if I had stayed in regular school classes.” Makayla added, “I needed a more mature setting than what I found in school when I left to do homeschooling. I was still able to have my friends and socialize with them.”
Most of the homeschool student graduates started in public schools, but moved to homeschooling when the pandemic started. They decided to stay with homeschooling when the pandemic ended.
To conclude the commencement program, Pastor Tom Chandler provided “a challenge” to the graduates going forward with their lives. He said, “I’m a homeschool parent. I understand the sacrifices that are made to do a homeschool program with your child. However, the benefits outweigh the sacrifices — we call that, investments in the future. You parents are to be commended for your commitment to your children’s educations.”
He continued, saying “Jesus said, ‘There is no greater sacrifice one can make than to give up their life to another. We all need to remember that in our own lives. Living a life that prioritizes selfless, loving sacrifice for others rather than living for self. Ultimately, living each day to the benefit of the next generation.”
Homeschool programs must be supervised by local public schools to ensure that students of all ages are truly receiving an education at home. Largent said, “We, at Shore Christian Fellowship, serve as an ‘umbrella’ of the homeschool program. We help make sure parents are following the homeschool program as it is designed. We meet with parents, answer any questions, explain anything they might not understand. We make sure their children meet all the requirements to help their children get their education’s properly. You can do it with our help, or do it yourself by going directly to the board of educations to file the proof of learning they are doing at home. Those filings must take place at least twice a year, if you want to do it yourself, rather than ask of help from us.”
Largent also said, “We have more than 100 families registered in the homeschool program at Shore Christian Fellowship who we are helping. It’s the most we’ve ever had.”
There are other families within Queen Anne’s County, who report directly to Queen Anne’s County Public Schools who are not part of the SCF umbrella.
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