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Parents keep baccalaureates going
Services designed to be more inspirational than religious
By Jim Niemijniemi@herald-leader.com
Graduating seniors at area high schools will have a chance to wear their caps and gowns more than once. The baccalaureate service, traditionally a religious service for graduating seniors, is surviving for at least one more class of graduates.
Because public schools cannot compel their students to attend faith-based events, participation is voluntary and student attendance can be sparse. Parents have taken on the task of organizing the ceremonies. And in doing so, they've backed off from a purely religious message and placed the emphasis on inspiration.
”We're trying to do it without it being an overtly religious ceremony,“ said Todd Porter, acting president of the Lafayette PTSA. ”That can become a little bit tricky.“
About 100 seniors from Henry Clay are expected to attend its baccalaureate, said organizer Gesela Brown.
”The attendance is not what we would want,“ she said. ”But it's probably the most intimate ceremony the students will have all year.“
Brown also said the small group makes the event ”a great opportunity to take personal photos.“
Suzetta Yates, who is helping to organize the event for Lafayette seniors, agreed.
”There's usually limited seating at graduation,“ she said. ”But this is where Grandma and Grandpa can come for pictures and fellowship with the family.“
Lafayette, like the other schools, emphasizes that its event is designed to be inspirational rather than overtly religious.
”We're calling it "Senior Inspiration,'“ Yates said.
Alan Stein, president of the Lexington Legends baseball team, will speak at the Lafayette gathering.
Henry Clay's baccalaureate features former University of Kentucky baseball coach Keith Madison.
”He speaks a lot about his faith, how it made him the person he is today,“ Brown said.
Patti Palmer, senior class adviser at Tates Creek, said WKYT-TV personality Dave Baker will address the seniors at its baccalaureate, also dubbed Senior Inspiration.
”We tell the class that it's open to all seniors, but typically we get about half,“ Palmer said. ”We're a little concerned this year because it's Memorial Day weekend.“
Bryan Station decided late in the school year to schedule baccalaureate. Betty Rodgers, a parent of a graduating senior, agreed to organize the event at her church, Christ Centered Church.
”When I asked about baccalaureate, they said, "Oh, we're not having it,'“ Rodgers said. ”So I said, "Let me check out our church.'“
Freida Tussey, co-president of the Bryan Station PTSA said, ”The pastor is going to take responsibility for the programs, and even make DVDs of the ceremony available to the students.“
Rodgers said the featured speaker will be James Poff, who teaches second grade at Mary Todd Elementary in Lexington and is a spiritual leader and deacon at Christ Centered Church.
Baccalaureate will not be held for two area schools: Paul Laurence Dunbar in Lexington and Madison Central in Richmond.
Gesela Brown hopes Henry Clay will continue its baccalaureate service in future years, even though a fraction of those eligible are likely to attend.
”We've tried to make it a positive, motivating event,“ she said. ”The speakers have been urged to talk about their faith and how they try to give back.“
And she's hoping the event will appeal to more students.
”We'd love to have 300,“ she said.