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New page for MVL grads

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School graduates 49 students at its 2018 Commencement Service May 27. Students walk out of the school gym in pairs after receiving their diplomas.

NEW ULM — Forty-nine Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) High School students spent their final minutes in high school before sharing graduation feelings with schoolmates, family and friends outside the gym doors May 27.

“Four years of hard work, dedication and maybe just a little stress in a caring venue,” said Class of 2018 Co-Valedictorian and class speaker Blake Fosburgh of Mankato. “I met a lot of great people, creating friendships that will last forever. High school was very colorful experience.”

Fosburgh said students overcame challenging obstacles to get to where they are.

“High school is challenging. That’s life,” Fosburgh said. “The best part about challenges is solving them. By God’s grace, we solved high school.”

Class speaker Anna Natrakul of Mankato said high school graduation is only the start of a new chapter in life.

“Success is subjective. It means something different for each one of us,” Natrakul said. “We may be so used to MVL, we may not realize how special it is. We have the power to overcome challenges and obstacles that are not part of our plan. We are part of something bigger than ourselves. As believers, we have eternity in mind.”

Pastor Jeremy Glowicki read Deuteronomy 31:8: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

“No enemy can defeat God’s people,” Glowicki said. “Many of you will be venturing out alone for the first time. You’ll be more alone than you have been.”

Glowicki told graduates there will be plenty of reasons to be discouraged. They may realize deep sorrow. Challenges will be emotional and spiritual. People will challenge their faithfulness to the Lord. They’ll be challenged by arguments on why God is a sham.

He told students that the Lord will be with them always, to the very end of the age.

“There will be temptations to say sinful things and act in sinful ways,” Glowicki said. “Jesus’ sandals walked the dusty gravel in front of you. You have eternal life. Go out and conquer the world. Be a force for good. Beam Jesus brightly in all the new places you go. Let the Lord fight the battles for you.”

He told students to be lifelong students of God’s work and pack their bibles when they move on to college.

“You are not alone. The Lord will never leave you. He will never forsake you,” Glowicki said. “Be strong and courageous. Attack the goals and plans you have.”

Magdala Diersen of New Ulm was the other Class of 2018 Valedictorian. Isaiah Koepsell of New Ulm was Class Salutatorian.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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