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Kingwood Christian School senior Rachel Wray hugs her family members during the school’s graduation ceremony on May 24. (Reporter Photo/Neal Wagner)

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – As someone who has hired countless employees during his 40-year career in television meteorology, James Spann has three simple, but important, traits he seeks in potential employees.

While speaking to the 30-member Kingwood Christian School class of 2018 during their May 24 graduation ceremony, Spann said he seeks employees with integrity, a servant’s heart and a passion for what they do.

“We are all equalized by time. Everyone has 24 hours in a day, and how you spend those hours determines who you are,” Spann said. “The world doesn’t need any more jerks. The world teaches us to look out for No. 1 first, and that’s the biggest lie you’ll ever be told.

“When you were saved, were you immediately carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire like Elijah?” Spann added. “I believe the reason God left us here is to help other people. So my challenge to you is to find someone you can help, and now is a great time to start doing that.”

Spann was the keynote speaker during the ceremony, which was held in the sanctuary at Kingwood Church.

During the ceremony, Ruth Gray, who was recently named the KCS permanent headmaster after serving as interim headmaster for the past year, thanked the families in attendance for helping the graduates reach the milestone.

“Without you, this would not be possible,” Gray said. “You had the vision to send your children to a private Christian school and invest in their spiritual wellbeing and their educational future.”

Continuing a KCS tradition, the graduates acted out a skit explaining the path each student took to lead them to graduation day, and each graduate presented their parents with a rose as a token of thanks for their support over the years.

Valedictorians Jada Harris and Elizabeth Jane Sanders encouraged their classmates to always dream big and work hard to make those dreams come true.

“It’s not enough to have a dream, you’ve got to work to make it come true,” Harris said. “Overcoming obstacles will make success so much sweeter.”

“You’ll face so many new opportunities, but they won’t last forever. You’ve got to be bold and meet those opportunities head-on,” Sanders said. “Life is not a spectator sport. If watching is all you’re going to do, then you’ll only ever watch your life go by.”

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