OKLAHOMA—On May 16, nearly 250 friends and family took seats in the John Amos Field House to watch 11 seniors graduate from Imperial Academy.

Speeches, dances and a choir performance were followed by awards and the conferring of both kindergarten and senior diplomas. 10 of the graduates were able to attend the ceremony live. Senior Cayli Messier attended live online from her home in British Columbia, Canada. A retrospective slideshow introduced the audience to photos of the graduates from the time they were young to the present day.

As G. F. Handel’s “Largo” from Xerxes began to play, the gym doors opened, and the graduates filed in careful not to trip on the temporary floor covering.

Senior Stephen Drake gave the student address, talking about the lessons he had learned from IA, as well as his classmates’ differences binding them together. “We all have struggled at times,” he said, “but we always get up and fight.”

Principal Joel Hilliker introduced the ceremony with his invocation address, mentioning that as of this year Imperial Academy has graduated 142 students, 114 of which have been accepted to Herbert W. Armstrong College. The Imperial Choraliers performed Ryan Malone’s arrangement of a song called “Family,” also performed by the Young Ambassadors, Armstrong Concert Choir and Imperial Choraliers in 2009.

The awards ceremony included certificates for positivity, good behavior, sportsmanship, work ethic, musical development and more. Onliners who received their rewards turned their cameras on to be shown on the large projector that was set up towards the front of the room. The kindergarten class of three went on stage to receive their diplomas from Mr. Hilliker and school mascot, Roy L. Ram. The audience then turned their attention back to the projector to watch the slideshow produced by broadcasting manager Dwight Falk.

Mr. Hilliker once again took the stage to give a commencement address, specially curated for the senior class. He spoke of the unseen investments that IA provided the seniors, the foundation of their future. When he finished his speech, the seniors lined up side-stage to receive their diplomas. Just as in previous years, the principal announced that all the seniors had completed the Herbert W. Armstrong College Bible Correspondence Course. As the seniors crossed the stage, they shook the hands of both Mr. Hilliker and assistant principal Cole March. The projector was again fired up to show Messier’s face, live from her home, as her name was announced. As G. F. Handel’s “La Rejouissance” from Music for the Royal Fireworks began to play, the seniors marched out of the gym with smiles on faces and diplomas in hand, ready for the celebrations, hugs, cards and gifts associated with graduating.