Teachers, family and students gathered together Tuesday night to celebrate the academic achievements and graduation of kindergartners, sixth-graders and one graduating senior at the New Life Christian Academy Commencement at the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor on the Troy State University campus.

To begin the evening's program, teacher and principal Polly Laird welcomed the family and friends of the graduates, associate pastor Booker Toney offered the invocation and students Tedric Davenport, Ashley Wheeler and Andrew Wright II presented the flags and led the audience in the pledges to the American flag, the Christian flag and the Bible.

The nursery and kindergarten classes recited Bible verses and sang several songs they learned during the school year before the kindergarten graduates were recognized.

Before the awarding of the sixth-grade diplomas, New Life students from first to eleventh grade sang &uot;I Believe I Can Fly,&uot; featuring Bryson Myhand as a soloist.

Following the presentation of the sixth-grade diplomas, Laird presented sixth-grader Richard Lee with the Citizenship Award.

The remainder of the program was focused on New Life's only high school senior this year, Trent Ivey-Banks.

In his farewell speech, Banks asked his family to stand and be recognized.

He gave them special thanks for their support both spiritually and physically.

He also gave his classmates a few words of advice.

&uot;Always keep a positive mind,&uot; he said.

&uot;And never give up.&uot;

Laird, who is Banks' teacher, principal and cousin, said she was pleased with who Banks had become.

&uot;I know that inside of him God has given him so many gifts and talents,&uot; Laird told the audience.

Banks will attend Miles College in Birmingham this fall and major in business management.

Graduates

K3 graduates are Jamie Sadie Ann Allen, Dnaveya Iveyon Bryant, Jahzarian Dakyran Lampley, Juhmir Devinic Lampley, William Douglas Marsh, Quinton Xavier Pouncy, Jalen Jamaal Psalmonds, Nicholas Trell Pugh, Ambrecia Shanice Smith, Antonio Dwayne Toney, Jaylen Elijah Turner, Kaytlyn La'Joi William, Michael Clifton Culliver, Kaderius Jaquan Johnson, Jayla De'Shanti Lane, ShaQue'lia Elizabeth Lawson, Elisha Uriel Rouse and Da'Kyshun JaQuan Walton.

K4 graduates are Brylin Neville Bennett, Breana Nichole Guice, Shakayla LaPaula Ousley, Tyresius De'Shaun Paul, Coby Gerrell Smith, Sha'ron Diane Smith, Samuel Alexander Bland, Tamaya Camrin Davenport, Bryson Ethan-Lee Gandy, Jazzlyn Alma Hatcher and Derrick Matais Nelson.

K5 graduates are Bradley Morgan Blair, Jada Keana Jones, Kortnee Kennedy Lampley and Jerrell DeNaveya Lawson.

Sixth grade graduates are Richard JuCorrey DeMadre' Lee, Bre'Shad Cortez Penn and Michael Rashad Tyner.