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For the 2009 Christian Heritage School graduating seniors, a faith-based education ended with a faith-based graduation ceremony Sunday.

"Without this school, none of us would know each other like we do," valedictorian John Cutter said about the tight-knit and distinguished graduating class that also includes Nicolai Buccino, Jared Finch and Kerry Timmerman. The four boys received a combined total of $163,000 in scholarship offers, college counselor Mary Ann Cutter said.

John Brothers - a former Christian Heritage teacher who is now an associate pastor at Highlands Baptist Church in Henderson, Ky. - was invited back to deliver Sunday's keynote address. Brothers joked that the graduates would have to sit through one last "lecture" from him.

"I caught you on the last day, the last hour," Brothers said.

Brothers gave the graduates a list of metaphorical and conventional tools they will need throughout their lives, one of which was a hammer.

"You must always be builders, and never be bashers. Always build up, never tear down," Brothers said. "This world desperately needs young Christian men of character. ... You have the drive to get the job done no matter what the cost. You are capable because Jesus, who is within you, is capable. You are not alone."

From the musical to the financial, the four graduates have a variety of post-graduate plans. Sunday's speakers asked that the graduates' pursuits, whatever they are, be as focused on faith as their education was at CHS.

"We believe that education without Christ at its center is education without truth at its center," administrator Al Weisberg said during his prayer for the graduates.

Buccino plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall on a $17,000 scholarship for his freshman year. He hopes to travel to Western Europe one day and ultimately become a professional musician.

Cutter will attend University of San Diego on a $70,000 scholarship, where he plans to major in theology and international studies. He also plans to run cross country at the Division I school.

Finch, an avid skier and golfer who won the school's drama award, plans to earn a business degree from Colorado Christian University. Timmerman, the third member of his family to graduate from CHS, plans to attend The Art Institute of America in San Diego. His favorite subject is English.

The class of 2009 presented a "do not enter" sign to Christian Heritage School as its class gift.

"It is our hope that this sign will help the flow of traffic in front of our school," Cutter said as the audience laughed knowingly.