She may have only one arm, but Bethany Hamilton stands among some of the best surfers in the world, currently ranked in the top 10 in the World Qualifying Series. It has been almost 5 years since the shark attack in 2003 that claimed her left arm. Now, Hamilton is 18-years-old and surfing better than ever. This May, she is celebrating another accomplishment – high school graduation – and is featured in a popular graduation gift.
ConGRADulations! Class of 2008, a CD/DVD/gift book highlighting top Christian music artists, includes a video of Hamilton addressing her peers about her high school years. She gives credit to the example and friendship of her youth pastor and talks about how being homeschooled has allowed her to travel the world and surf competitively. She also gives encouragement to fellow graduates, saying:
“I just want to encourage you in your goals – stick with it and give it your all. Have fun now that you’re graduating high school and going out into the world.”
As for the future, Hamilton wants to continue pursuing her sport, saying, “I plan to use my gift of surfing just to show people that you can do it if you set your mind to it. I plan to travel the world and compete in surfing. As of now, I’m just going to play it day by day and just see what God brings to me.”
ConGRADulations! is a new technology resource with messages for graduating seniors aiming at keeping young people connected to their faith once they leave home. It features some of the top artist-songwriters in Christian music bringing songs and video counsel dealing with the key issues of this major life transition: the future, success, friends and personal faith.
“We are pleased not only that Bethany is a part of the ConGRADulations! project, but also that her powerful documentary DVD, ‘Heart of a Soul Surfer’ is being bundled with ConGRADulations! as an even more special graduation gift,” said Allen Weed, president of interlínc, which produces ConGRADulations!.
Along with video clips of 2008 graduates like Hamilton, the DVD features graduates from past ConGRADulations! projects in “What I’ve Learned” videos, offering insightful, road-tested advice. The CD includes music from Switchfoot, tobyMac, Relient K, Flyleaf, Leeland, Family Force 5, Stellar Kart, and more.
New for 2008, the project contains a 48-page graphic gift book with artist song lyrics and quotes from featured graduates, and a customizable gift package for inclusion of personal notes and gift cards. Graduates are encouraged to visit the resource Web site, grad2008.com, which offers an online devotional journal, an online Bible, links to top college and young adult ministries and a year-in-review video.
“We believe that this is way more than a gift,” Weed said. “It serves as a tool to celebrate an important life milestone and to provide a lifeline as grads jump into this pivotal transition.”
With over 1 million copies given to grads by 25,000 churches, ConGRADulations! is the No. 1 graduation gift of this decade. Since 1990, the annual graduation gift has used the language of the era to speak to graduates about life’s important choices. Back then, it was music on a simple audio cassette. Now, it has expanded to a music CD, a DVD, and a gift book, as well as an online component.
