Gordon College grad makes history at 18
Evangeline Gillard is wrapping up her college education at a time when most are just starting. At 18, she is now one of the youngest graduates in the history of Gordon College in Wenham.
'It didn't affect me too much to be younger than everybody else,' Gillard told Boston 25 News in an interview from her parent's home in Minnesota. 'I could keep up in classes. I made friends normally and easily. I think it was all quite straight forward.'
Gillard said she chose Gordon because of the school's linguistics program and Christian education, both of which were important to her. She graduated May 17th with a bachelor's degree in linguistics.
Gillard was homeschooled as a child, and in her early teens began taking online college courses to supplement her primary education. At 16, she simultaneously graduated high school with an associate's degree earned online from University of the Northwestern.
She then transferred into Gordon College as a junior. It was her first time in a traditional classroom setting, but there were no surprises, she said.
'To be frank, it was pretty much what I expected,' Gillard said. 'The whole college experience, the whole school experience, wasn't too surprising. I think I pictured what it was like pretty well.'
She admits her classmates were surprised when they first learned her age, but they also welcomed her.
'The greatest struggles were probably having to mail things to my parents to sign for me because I was still a minor,' Gillard said.
As for what's next, Gillard is weighing her options. She said she might like to pursue a career in Bible translation, editing, or dialect coaching, but she hasn't ruled out the possibility of grad school.
'I have no concrete plans for the future,' Gillard said. 'I'm going to take at least a year or so to figure things out… and being so young, I have so much flexibility and time to explore those options.'
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Show Dad He's a Blessing to the Family With These Father's Day Bible Verses
The bond between a father and his children is a special one. Not only does he help them with quintessential milestones like learning to ride a bike, throw a ball, and catch a fish—but he also has an abundance of strength and wisdom that benefits the family. That's why when Father's Day rolls around, it's so easy to see why we celebrate him! (Just look at all Ladd Drummond's sweetest moments and Mauricio's adorable times as a new dad.) But when honoring Dad on his big day, it's not always easy to find the right words. If you really want to show pops just how much he means to you, DIY Father's Day cards filled with heartfelt Father's Day messages are the way to go! You can make him feel especially special when you break out the Bible and add a few lines of scripture. After all, fathers are a central theme of His word. From verses about God the Father to passages about your own dad and his role in teaching children the ways of the Lord, you're sure to find meaningful Father's Day quotes to share on June 15. These Father's Day Bible verses are about everything from fatherhood and being a godly husband to familial love. Find girl dad quotes, father-son quotes, as well as Father's Day messages for husbands. Take a look to find the perfect words to show Dad how much of a blessing he is to your family. Proverbs 22:6: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Ephesians 6:4: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Proverbs 20:7: "The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him." Deuteronomy 6:6-9: "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Proverbs 17:6: "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." Proverbs 23:24: "The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him." Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." 2 Samuel 7:14-15: "I will be a father to him, and he'll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I'll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him." Luke 15:20: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." 2 Corinthians 6:18: "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." Luke 15:31: "Then his father said, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.'" Psalm 127:3-5: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." Deuteronomy 1:31: "The Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son." Proverbs 1:8: "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching." Ephesians 5:25-29: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church." Matthew 19:4-6: "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Ecclesiastes 9:9: "Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun." Mark 10:9: "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Psalm 133:1: "Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one." 1 Peter 3:7: "In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together." 1 Corinthians 7:14: "For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Proverbs 30:18-19: "There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don't understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman." 1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." Malachi 4:6: "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." Song of Solomon 3:4: "I have found the one whom my soul loves." Romans 12:10: "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Corinthians 13:13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Joshua 24:15: "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Acts 10:2: "He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." Proverbs 3:11-12: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." 3 John 1:4: "It is the greatest joy of my life to hear that my children are consistently living their lives in the ways of truth." Proverbs 14:26: "Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge" 1 Timothy 5:8: "But if someone doesn't provide for their own family, and especially for a member of their household, they have denied the faith. They are worse than those who have no faith." Proverbs 4:1-2: "Hear, children, fatherly instruction; pay attention to gain understanding. I'll teach you well. Don't abandon my instruction." Proverbs 4:11-12: "I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble." Genesis 18:19: "I have formed a relationship with him so that he will instruct his children and his household after him. And they will keep to the Lord's path, being mortal and just so that the Lord can do for Abraham everything he said he would." 1 Corinthians 16:13: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." You Might Also Like 15 Best Denim Jacket Outfit Ideas to Pull from Your Closet 10 Best Shampoos for Red Hair Like Ree Drummond's
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Good things grow at the Gardens
Planting Day at Gardens of Hope this year was heavier on the weeding than the planting, but after a hard day's work, and more that followed, the land is once again prepared to serve as a source of inspiration – and nourishment – to the community. 'It's the most beautiful gift,' said Gardens of Hope founder Karyn Wahsontiiostha Murray. 'To see it come alive after the dormancy of winter and waiting for spring to pass and all the bugs to come back and hatch, and then you just see people at work in there, it's the first beat of hope of the season. I'm so excited to see whatever's going to come.' Around 40 people came out for Saturday's event, which began with a consecration to the land and was capped off with a barbecue. While there were some community members on hand, Murray focused on rallying the garden's partners to avoid burdening the community. 'My aim for Gardens of Hope is never to take from the community, it's to give to them,' said Murray. 'If people want to come because they want to enjoy nature or be part of it or because it's good for them too, they're welcome to come, but never do I want people from Kanesatake to have to work there to gain anything.' For those who attended on Saturday, the hard work didn't dampen the mood. The clouds were floating overhead, the breeze carried the sound of laughter, and, in Murray's words, the trees sounded like they were just listening. 'There was a moment where I showed up with a few more plants, and just seeing all these people having a great time and just working together, it really warmed my heart to see the project, the way I have the model set up, works,' she said. One of the nonprofit's partners is the Christian organization InterVarsity in Quebec, which brought six students to spend nine days visiting the community and camping at Oka Park. They've spent roughly half of their time pitching in at Gardens of Hope. Aware of her own church's role in establishing and operating residential schools, and having grown up as a settler on Akwesasne territory, Foster saw a need to familiarize students with Indigenous realities. 'When I came to work with students, I was aware that students, especially Christian students, did not understand the role of the church in colonization and Christianization, nor was there any effort among Christian students to make amends for that or to make that right or even to learn. That was the genesis of this camp,' said Jill Foster, a campus minister based at Concordia University with the organization. The camp is also inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. 'One of the calls to action we're trying to fulfill, apart from the learning, is to contribute financially and in-kind to a healing project that is community initiated, community led, and community directed,' she said. Alongside connecting with community members who show the students around the community and teach them about Kanesatake culture and history, the group has laboured at the Gardens of Hope. 'Every time for some reason we end up with students who are so open and have hearts that are good and understand what's happening,' Foster said, noting the students' desire to be of service to the community and their joy in connecting with the land. 'It's been a great experience,' said Rebecca Estimé, a student from Haiti who will be attending Concordia in the fall and is participating in the camp for a second time – it's InterVarsity in Quebec's fourth year bringing students to Kanesatake. 'Seeing the garden as a pillar of hope and just giving back to the community is something I personally believe, that I like to practice a lot in my everyday life,' Estimé said. 'Seeing that on a big scale in this garden, just harvesting everything not just for somebody's profit but for everybody's profit is something I hold dear in my heart, and I would just like everybody to see that and be able to take part in this work that is being done in the Gardens of Hope.' To Murray, this is all in the spirit of what she is trying to accomplish with the nonprofit project, which she founded shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. She continues to find ways to contribute to the community, whether through providing plants for local students' fundraising efforts, as she did recently, or holding no-cost markets to feed Kanehsata'kehró:non. 'I'm just grateful that I get to steward the land and that people can benefit from it,' Murray said. 'That's the gift of multiplication. That's the gift of preservation.' Some of her goals for the year include setting up a food forest in the middle of the field, where fruit trees will be introduced. 'People can just go and pick their pears right next to their apples and their blueberries,' Murray said. This year the community can expect different types of corn, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, and ancestral beans. Murray also wants to learn more about the practice of seed-saving. Besides her own plans, she is pleased to see other agricultural projects flourish in the community, such as the community gardens at the Kanesatake Health Center farm, which was also set to have a planting day at the same time, but which was postponed to tomorrow, Saturday. 'We're all in with the same aim – sustainability, sovereignty,' said Murray. 'I really think it's going to help us in the future Those kids are all going to grow up re-learning all these basics that it seems in the last 40 years have just sort of vanished.' marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
D-Day veterans mark anniversary to ‘remember our friends who never came home'
A chaplain whose grandfather fought in the Second World War commemorated the 81st anniversary of D-Day by warning 'we forget it at our peril'. The Rev Simon d'Albertanson, a Royal Navy chaplain and the chaplain for the Spirit of Normandy Trust, led a memorial service at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, describing D-Day as a 'seminal moment in history'. He reminded veterans, officials and members of the public that the legacy of D-Day was vitally important given the conflict and 'troubled times that we live in'. The Normandy landings took place on June 6 1944, when Allied forces opened a Second Front by invading Nazi-occupied France. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'This was a seminal moment in history, and we forget it at our peril. 'There's a legacy that builds from the different conflicts, and we live in very troubled times right now, and we need men and women who are fighting for peace. 'As a Christian, one of the lines in the Bible is 'Blessed are the peacemakers'. 'We're called to make peace and sometimes that means we have to bring violence, but that's the last resort. 'We want to be peacemakers.' Two of the chaplain's own relatives fought during the Second World War. His grandfather, Fred Hawker, joined the Royal Marines in 1942 and served on a number of ships including HMS Ark Royal, while his great-uncle, a Royal Navy sailor, lost his life during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'It's an absolute honour and a privilege to be a part of this. 'This is all about the veterans and honouring the fallen, those who gave their lives, for our freedom. 'Being here brings it to life. 'It makes you realise what you're involved in, the men and women of the armed forces today – and as chaplains we go with them.' One veteran in attendance, Ken Hay MBE, 99, was just 18 when he landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer on D-Day +5. He was captured on the night of July 7-8 and was taken to Zabrze in Poland where he worked as a prisoner of war in a coal mine. As the Russians approached, the prisoners were taken to a new location, approximately 1,000 miles away, during which many of them died. Eventually they were liberated by American troops and Mr Hay returned to the UK via Reims, arriving on May 4. He laid a wreath at the memorial service in Ver-sur-Mer alongside other veterans. Mr Hay said: 'Even though the 80th anniversary has passed, we veterans still feel it is our duty to come back here and remember all our friends who never came home. 'We get applauded, even though they are the ones who gave it all. 'Sharing my stories with children in the UK and France is something I am very passionate about. 'We are the age of their great-grandparents – we experienced it, understand it and know that it should never happen again.' Defence Secretary John Healey also attended events commemorating D-Day, alongside politicians from the United States and France. He said: 'We forever owe an enormous debt to the British and Allied forces who landed in Normandy 81 years ago today, determined to defeat Nazi tyranny and restore peace to western Europe. 'As we reset the nation's contract with our armed forces, we will continue to remember all those who served to defend our values.' Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in France on D-Day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with General Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces.
