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Dayao, Ham top GCA elementary graduation
Dayao, valedictorian
Arvin S. Dayao and Jim Michael Ham were conferred with Grace Christian Academy’s top honors during elementary commencement exercises held last Thursday at the Navy Hill school’s auditorium.
Dayao also received awards such as a runner-up for the Eagle Award, highest GPA in the sixth-grade class, Consistent Principal’s List, first place in Bible Trivia, and Perfect Attendance.
Ham also received awards for the Eagle Award, Consistent Principal’s List, NJFL Regional Winner, and second place in Original Oratory, second place in Extemporaneous Speech, second place in duet acting for the Thespian Regional Winner, and Bible Trivia.
Ham, salutatorian
Three other students received awards as top honors: Tae Yong Kim, Martin Angelo Pangilinan, and Calia Mona Lieto.
In receiving his award, Dayao said his parents were the source of his inspiration.
“They have provided me a Christian education so I would be a God-fearing person,” Dayao said.
He added that his family did the “right thing, that is, building a foundation of faith, love and relationship with Christ Jesus.”
In Ham’s remarks, he quoted Confucius that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.”
“Our graduation ceremony today marks the start of that single step. Whatever that single step may be, we could have never gotten here today without the help and support of our families, our teachers, friends, and most of all, our Almighty God,” Ham said.
Dayao’s parents are Crispin and Mirasol Dayao and Ham’s parents are Jimmy and Armela Ham.
GCA’s board chair and senior Pastor Rev. Raymond Kinsella presented the graduates with their respective awards.
The commencement exercise, which had the theme “I Will Follow You,” also featured a class slideshow, a presentation to parents, and students singing their graduation song.
The other graduating students are Catheryne Arroyo, Ja Min Elliott, Jerielle Francisco, Eun Syu Hahn, Byung Kim, Esther Kim, Sejin Kim, Sung Hyun Kim, You Sun Lee, Hyunin Noh, William Sang, Robert Schorr, and Lanz Victoria.
