(Pasco, WA) Over the past two weeks, our NELA community had the joy of celebrating two beautiful milestones: our 8th grade graduation on May 29th and our kindergarten graduation on June 2nd. Though the students were at opposite ends of our K–8 journey, both ceremonies told the same story: God is forming servant leaders here—students who are growing academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually, and who are eager to use their gifts to serve others.
8th Grade Graduation
On the evening of May 29th, we gathered with the families of our six 8th grade graduates to celebrate the completion of their years at Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy. The evening began with a student-chosen dinner of chicken alfredo, shared around tables filled with parents, siblings, and friends. There was so much laughter, story-sharing, and quiet pride in that room—an early glimpse of the adults these young people are becoming. During dinner, we watched a sweet and sometimes silly slide show, featuring baby pictures and early childhood moments, graduation photos, and special memories from their years at NELA—field trips, projects, service opportunities, and everyday moments in the classroom and on the playground. The slideshow was a reminder that growth happens gradually—one day, one decision, one encouraging word at a time.
Student Reflections on Servant Leadership
Each graduate prepared and delivered a speech reflecting on their time at NELA and their hopes for the future. A common theme emerged: servant leadership.
“My goals in life are to become a better person, to always help those who need it… to get a job so I can help my mom and dad with whatever they need… Then I want to keep helping people, especially my family.”
Another student spoke about trusting God to guide each step:
“My goals in life are to go to college and work in architecture to make people happy. I ask God to guide me toward good things and not bad ones… Because He will help me understand and will show me the path I should walk; He will keep His eyes on me.”
One graduate has plans to serve the community through law enforcement and ongoing volunteer work:
“After high school, I plan to attend Walla Walla Community College and become a police officer… I hope to become a police officer so I can help people and make the world a better place. I would also like to continue volunteering at animal shelters and helping dogs who really need a home get adopted.
Others reflected more broadly on what servant leadership has come to mean to them:
“Being a servant leader means putting others before yourself and supporting your team… It can be as simple as helping at home, like washing the dishes without being asked… It also means helping others in need, like in the parable of the Good Samaritan… One experience that stood out to me was volunteering at the food bank. Helping people in need was something I had never done before, and it made me feel proud to give back to my community.”
“In the future, I want to continue using the skills I’ve learned here, speaking up for myself and helping others. NELA has taught me to believe in myself, to speak up, and to support others. These are lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. ‘If I can change, then everyone else should be able to as well. That means no one is worthless.’”
“Servant leadership has been a big—and I mean big—part of my journey here at NELA… To me, servant leadership means putting others before yourself, but not too much, because you need to work on yourself before you can fully help others. I also believe it means striving to help others in a way that teaches them how to grow, so they don’t always have to rely on others.”
“When I leave NELA, I will always remember the people who helped me become who I am today… NELA has helped me build strategies to stay level-headed and to keep moving forward.”
“A servant leader comes from putting others first. A common way to represent servant leadership is the upside-down pyramid, where the people who are most in need are put first… I want to make a difference in this world with everything I do. I want to volunteer at places like Saint Vincent de Paul and help as many people as I can.”
Meaningful Evening of Celebrations
These are the words of young teenagers—and yet they reveal such depth of heart, such a desire to love God and neighbor. This is the fruit of NELA’s commitment to holistic education: strong academics woven together with social-emotional learning, spiritual formation, and everyday opportunities to serve.
The evening concluded with a heartfelt speech from the 8th grade homeroom teacher, who has walked closely with many of these students for four and even five years. She spoke about the deep connection she feels with each student, the ways she has seen them grow-- both academically and as people, and her hopes for their futures. She reminded them to be self-advocates, to persevere, and to keep working diligently toward their dreams.
Finally, each graduate walked to the stage to receive their certificate, cheered on by their families and the NELA community. It was a special kind of joy—quiet, proud, and filled with hope.
Kindergarten Graduation
Just a few days later, on the afternoon of June 2nd, we gathered again—this time to celebrate our five kindergarten graduates. Families contributed to a festive potluck lunch, filling the room with food and conversation. These are the significant moments when school truly feels like an extended family. A slideshow highlighted each child individually, fun and educational moments from throughout the year, and the simple daily joys of kindergarten life at NELA
Becoming "Kinder Heroes"
There was a graduation procession, complete with tiny caps and gowns, and our little graduates took their places on the stage—proud, a little nervous, and so happy. Their teacher spoke passionately about her “Kinder Heroes,” describing each student with a phrase that captured their unique character: “The Brave and Compassionate”; “From Quiet to Confident”; “The Sunshine of Our Room”; “The Gentle Helper”; and “The Thoughtful Servant.” In those few words, she honored not just what they can do, but who they are becoming. Even at five and six years old, our students are beginning to understand what it means to be brave, compassionate, helpful, and thoughtful servant leaders. This year, our kindergarten class participated in a service project at Mt. Badger Fairview Assisted Living Home, visiting and interacting with the residents. Their teacher highlighted how meaningful this experience was, both for the students and for those they visited. She also took time to thank a special parent volunteer,
“Maria, thank you for partnering with us at Mt. Badger Fairview Assisted Living. Your heart for service has been an inspiration to our entire class. You’ve shown our students what it truly means to be a servant leader.”
A Joyful Celebration of Growth
The ceremony also included the NELA pledge, a class song, and the joyful presentation of certificates. It was a beautiful reminder that even the smallest steps matter on the journey of becoming servant leaders.
Closing Reflections
From our youngest “Kinder Heroes” to our confident and thoughtful 8th grade graduates, these celebrations reminded me why NELA exists. We are not only preparing students for the next grade level; we are preparing them for a life of loving God and neighbor, persevering when challenges arise, speaking up for themselves and others, serving where there is need, and seeing every person as valuable and beloved.
I am so proud of our graduates; so thankful to their families for trusting us with their children, partnering with us, and modeling servant leadership at home. I am also very grateful for our NELA team and the countless ways they pour into students’ lives—academically, emotionally, and spiritually—day after day. These two graduation ceremonies were more than events on the calendar. They were blessings of God’s faithfulness and evidence that the seeds of servant leadership, planted and nurtured over time, are taking root in the hearts of our students.