By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message[img_assist|nid=8134|title=Like a group of brothers|desc=LC senior baseball players Colton Cole, Jordan Meisner, Justin Reed and Greg Uzee celebrate their graduation together.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=427]
PINEVILLE – As they huddled together for one final picture, Louisiana College baseball players Colton Cole, Jordan Meisner, Justin Reed and Greg Uzee were celebrating their greatest victory yet: their college graduation.
These four young men who had come from different places – Cole from Texas and Meisner, Reed and Uzee from across Louisiana – were now leaving with a common bond: graduates of LC.
“Four or five years ago, we had never heard each other’s names, seen each other or had any idea any of us existed,” Meisner said. “Now we’re like a group of brothers.”
“Graduating with your fellow teammates is something every student athlete dreams about,” Reed said. “The time and dedication we put in together allowed us to build a special bond unlike any other. I’m so proud of each of my teammates who graduated this year because I know they’ve put in countless hours of hard work to get where they are now.”
Though they may not have been as close to the other 138 undergraduates and 23 Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students who crossed the stage on Saturday, May 12, at Guinn Auditorium, Cole, Meisner, Reed and Uzee share the distinction of having been part of the 152nd Commencement Class of Louisiana College.
“What we celebrate is a great accomplishment – an accomplishment that sits before us today,” LC President Joe Aguillard said in addressing those who attended the ceremony. “These young men and women are ready to engage the culture, to go out and change world for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The graduates, who came from 10 different states and one foreign country, were given their charge in the Commencement Address that was delivered by Gordon Fort, Vice President for the Office of Global Strategy for the International Mission Board.
Dr. Fort used the words of Jesus Christ from Matthew 19:26 “… With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” – to form the foundation of his message to the graduates, that through Christ all things are possible.
“It’s not who you are, the point is who is with you,” Dr. Fort said. “Our prayer is this – that you may go out and make a difference for the Kingdom of God – not because of who you are, but because of who is with you.”
With that thought in mind, the four baseball players said they are prepared for the next challenges in their lives. Meisner is beginning a career in broadcast journalism, Reed hopes to teach and be a coach, while Uzee and Cole will pursuit careers in business.
The four along with two other teammates who received their degrees – Josh Foster and Stuart Morgan – will always share one more distinction: alumni of Coach Mike Byrnes’ LC Baseball program.
“My best memory from LC will definitely be the days I spent on the baseball field with my teammates,” Reed said. “I will never forget the blood, sweat and tears we all put in together each and every day. These are memories I will cherish forever.”
“I’m as close to that group of guys as anyone,” Meisner said. “My teammates are my heroes, and those guys mean the world to me. I wouldn’t want to share this moment with anyone else.”