NATCHEZ &045;&045; Keeping faith in and a relationship with Jesus Christ will sustain graduates into the future, speaker Billy Stewart told the senior class at Adams County Christian School Friday night.

Fifty-five students celebrated their commencement from ACCS in graduation ceremonies at First Baptist Church.

&uot;The decisions you make will determine … your future,&uot; said Stewart, who is dean of community services at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson.

He advised graduates to choose a career they love &045;&045; &uot;because life is too short to do something you hate,&uot; he said.

Graduates also heard from salutatorian Ryan Harrigill, whose birthday happened to be Friday as well.

Harrigill told the story of a bike ride he took to the Natchez Trace earlier in the week when he was writing his speech.

&uot;Life is a lot like that bike ride,&uot; he said. &uot;It may seem like it’s uphill both ways …but you can make it.&uot;

He advised fellow graduates to have a positive attitude toward learning.

&uot;We should always work harder towards our goals,&uot; he said.

Valedictorian Kelcie Messer told graduates about three keys to success &045;&045; perseverance, patience and commitment.

&uot;Success is not simply the amount of money one makes or the position one holds,&uot; she said.

Cathedral High School

Exhorting graduates not only to do well as they begin a new life journey but also to do good, the Most Rev. Joseph Latino, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, gave the Cathedral High School Class of 2005 words to ponder in his address Friday at St. Mary Basilica.

Latino told graduates the time has come to go forward with their lives. &uot;Some of you have been in Cathedral School for 12 years and have gone as far as Cathedral can lead you,&uot; he said, adding that some had completed those years with ease and some with struggle. &uot;Now it’s time to continue on with your life.&uot;

He went on to remind the 44 graduates that the purpose of developing a student’s mind and intellect is to help him or her do well in the world. He asked the seniors to think about what is important in life.

&uot;Jesus Christ assumes you will do well but commands you to do good,&uot; Latino said. &uot;You’ve known joys, disappointment, success, failure; but there is no failure you’ll ever regret if you commit yourself to doing good.&uot;

Helping the less fortunate in the world and looking for the essence of Jesus in everyone they meet will lead to fulfilling God’s purpose, Latino said.

The 157th commencement of Cathedral School, the 2005 ceremony included addresses by Drew Belle Zerby, salutatorian, and Will Carter, valedictorian.

Zerby advised classmates to expect storms in their lives but to rely on what they have learned from teachers and parents to weather the difficult times.

&uot;The next time the lightning flickers … step out onto the front porch and learn to love the storms,&uot; she said.

Carter took life lessons from a pet dog to illustrate advice he had for the seniors, including that, like a loving dog, they should always love one another when they return home. &uot;Cathedral will always be our home,&uot; he said.

Obedience and respect for authority are other lessons to take into the world from high school, he said. &uot;And it’s always OK to run, roll over and play dead,&uot; Carter said. &uot;Learn to relax and enjoy the blessings God has given us.&uot;

Be available when friends and family need you, he said. And &uot;be loyal to one another with binding love and friendship.&uot;

Sister Deborah Hughes, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, told graduates to go out into the world and make a difference.

She reminded them that because of their Catholic education they should know &uot;a relationship with someone who will always be with you. …Sometimes you don’t always know that God is with you. Sometimes you look back and realize that He was there.&uot;

The Rev. David O’Connor, pastor at St. Mary, opened the graduation ceremony with the invocation after the traditional march into the church to &uot;Pomp and Circumstances,&uot; played by

organist Dr. Patrick Doherty.

O’Connor prayed that the graduates will heed the words of the prophet Micah, saying, &uot;This and this alone is what God asks of you, to live justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God.&uot;

Pat Sanguinetti, principal, welcomed the families and friends who filled the pews at the basilica and made closing remarks. The Rev. Paul Kunnumpuram, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia, La., gave the benediction.

Natchez High School

Salutatorian Courtney Green started her speech with the clear, strong voice of a professional orator.

She spoke fluently of pep rallies, homecoming, the first day of school and the unknown future to come.

In the same authoritative voice she encouraged her classmates to continually push for their best.

It wasn’t until the part about remembering her Natchez High School friends and letting go of the past that she cracked.

A long pause and a shaky voice later Green returned to her seat wiping the tears from her eyes.

Rest assured Green’s tears weren’t alone.

Green joined valedictorian Stephanie Carter and Student Council President Ashleigh Irving in delivering speeches to the 337 NHS graduates and their supporters.

&uot;I can remember our first year and how nervous we were,&uot; Irving said. &uot;We are about to experience one of the greatest changes in our lives as we leave behind the familiar faces of Natchez High School.&uot;

Carter told her classmates that high school was about learning life lessons that will take them into the future.

&uot;I’ve learned we can spend our entire lives struggling for material things, but those things will never bring contentment,&uot; Carter said. &uot;Many of us will have definite plans for the future, but the future is still uncertain.&uot;

Carter said no matter what life brings the class should maintain a positive attitude and steer their own futures.

Principal James Loftin said the senior class has already earned $1.5 million in scholarship money, a number that is continually growing.

Of the graduates, 66 graduated with honors and eight graduated with distinction. Graduates with distinction must have a 4.0 or above GPA.