The sun came out just in time for the New Testament Christian School Class of 2012 graduation Thursday night. Six seniors received their diplomas at Cole Memorial Chapel on the Wheaton College campus.

New Testament students spent hundreds of hours doing community service this year in area shelters, churches and other areas of need. Some of their work included helping out in Guatamala orphanages and inner city mission work. Norton resident Michael Pundt and Attleboro resident Aaron Bonaguide were honored for such work. 

Bonaguide in particular earned the Great Commission Award by clocking in over 300 hours of community service over the past four years by serving on short-term mission assignments and assisting with community activities while serving his home church. He was also named as the class salutatorian. 

The class valedictorian is Nina Jobert.

Steven Todaro, a member of the School Board, was the keynote speaker. Todaro spent about 20 years teaching at the school.

"You may be leaving this place, this school, but you will not leave our hearts," he said. "It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve the lord with you."

While the graduates were at the forefront of the ceremony, principal Lynne Brennan shared news of the school's progress this year as well. New Testament Christian School was accredited March 7 of this year by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and was given institutional membership. Last week, on May 31, the school was also granted a full term of accreditation by the Association of Christian Schools International.

"This full accreditation provides assurance of our school's commitment to ongoing improvement on behalf of our students as we strive to meet our mission," Brennan said.

The following is the list of graduates and the awards they received:

Bell's parents, John and Mary Ellen, were presented with the K12 Award for parental commitment to Christian education.