Student sings Lord's praises

jtreadway@tribtown.com

In her 13 years of school at Seymour Christian Academy, Morgan Bowman, 18, has focused her life on serving and praising the Lord.

On Saturday, her experience at the academy will come to an end as she receives her high school diploma with the class of 2008. She will, however, continue her service and praise to the Lord as she begins attending Indiana Bible College in the fall. She says her studies will focus on theology and music.

Bowman's teacher, Misty Arrowood, said Morgan has been highly involved during her time at the academy.

"She is excited about everything that she does, and if you're not, she will get you excited," Arrowood said.
Besides being an active member of Student Council, National Honor Society, Praise Team and Apostolic Pentecostal Tabernacle, Bowman sings her praise in the Youth Band and Church Choir. She has also played volleyball for the school.
Her talents have even helped her reach out at a new church in Sellersburg.
"One of the ministers started a church down there, and I go down there and sing and lead the worship services," Bowman said.

Being in a Christian environment is one reason Bowman has enjoyed going to the academy. The other is the people.

"You know everybody and you are just so close, you are all one big family," she said. "We aren't a very big school, so you get to know each person for who they are. In a public school, you don't really get to do that."
What will she miss most?

"The people," she said. "We are so close. Just leaving them is going to be really hard."

She's not completely intimidated about going to college next year.

"There are three girls up there from here that I know, so they will be there," Bowman said of other girls from Seymour. "But it's way bigger than here so it's going to be a big change."

The school recently staged its spring formal to honor the seniors. Bowman said the formal is similar to prom, but it's a little different.

"Everyone dresses up just like prom, but there is no dancing," she said. "They have a really nice dinner and then they give away a scholarship to one of the seniors, and I got it."

The scholarship she won was the Senior of the Year, which is a $1,000 scholarship. Its recipient is chosen by the congregation. The award is given based on the student's involvement and activity within the church.

"I came to the formal and I had no idea," Bowman said of the award. "I was like, ‘what in the world?' I was really thankful, it's really awesome."

The formal was followed by a lock-in for the students at the Columbus ice rink.

Bowman said she is looking forward to the graduation ceremony on Saturday.

"There is a surprise that we don't know about," she said of what will go on at the ceremony. "Travis Riley, our valedictorian, is giving a speech and then our youth pastor is speaking to us."

She said she will also be singing a song during the ceremony.

"It's a song that me and my youth pastor wrote," she said. "We really don't have a name for it, but I would call it, ‘Trust in the Lord.'"

Bowman is the daughter of Scott and Belinda Bowman. She has a 13-year-old brother, Chalen Bowman, who also goes to Seymour Christian Academy.

If you go

-- This year's graduating class at Seymour Christian Academy consists of five seniors: Bowman, Travis Riley, Jordan Dye, Steven Farris and Shanica Bowman.

-- The graduation ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Apostolic Pentecostal Tabernacle.

-- An open house for the graduates will be held in the school's gym immediately following the ceremony.