Trinity Today Winter 2021

Trinity TODAY

CO N N ECT IN G

THE

T RI N I T Y C H RI ST I AN ACAD E M Y CO M M U N I T Y

ROOTED AND

GROUNDED

EQUIPPING S TUDENT S TO FLO U R IS H I N T H EI R FAIT H A N D E N GAG E T H E C U LT U R E WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

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Grounded in Faith H OW TCA P R E PA R E S IT S G R A D UAT E S TO E N GAG E T H E CU LT U R E A R O U N D T H E M W IT H A B I B LI CA L WO R LDVI E W

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E D U C AT I N G A N D D E V E L O P I N G T H E W H O L E P E R S O N F O R T H E G L O R Y O F G O D

VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 1

EDITOR/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR KENDALL ELLIS

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE KRISTINA SPEARS, Director of Marketing and Communication MADISON CHURCHWELL ’12, Digital Media Specialist

ALUMNI OFFICE BETH HARWELL, Director of Alumni

A DV I S O RY B OA R D DAVE DELPH, Head of School SCOTT BERTHEL BEV BIRMINGHAM DON ENGLISH BECKY JONES KRISTY KEGERREIS JENNIE KESLER MATT LAMBRO FRAN LEGBAND BECKY LEWIS AMY EDWARDS PRIDEAUX ’89 JEFF SMITH CAMILLE LANGFORD WALKER ’82 LISA WONG JUSTIN ZAPPIA

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MARK DYER, Chair STACEY DORÉ, Vice Chair DERIC EUBANKS DAVID HARPER WENDY HERMES MARK LAYMAN ’84 STEVE NOVAKOVICH WESLEY SNEED CRAIG WENNING

ABOUT US TRINITY TODAY is published two times a year: Winter and Summer.

TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 17001 Addison Road Addison, Texas 75001 972-931-8325 TrinityChristian.org

CONTACT US Send story ideas to Kendall Ellis at kellis@ trinitychristian.org and alumni information to Beth Harwell at bharwell@trinitychristian.org.

FOLLOW US FACEBOOK.COM /TCATrojans

Expressions of faith A S I R E A D T HROUGH T HIS ISSU E of Trinity Today, I am so encouraged by all of the ways our

faculty and staff are equipping our students to be ambassadors for Christ in today’s complex culture. I am also reminded why so many parents are choosing a Trinity Christian Academy education for their children. While a college preparatory curriculum is hallmark of many private schools, what is truly unique about TCA is the way in which we intertwine faith with learning and ground our students in their faith.

In this issue you will learn how our Lower School is “Building STEM Foundations” by teaching our youngest learners how they can use these concepts to solve problems to make the world a better place, how our Middle School is serious about building real faith through authentic Community of Faith Gatherings and how our Bible curriculum is rooting our upper-level students in their faith through discussion, introspection and grappling with the complexities of God’s Word. You’ll also

T WITTER.COM /@TCATrojans

read how our new Trojan Day Camp allowed campers last summer to experience growth in their

INSTAGR AM.COM /tca_addison

relationships with Jesus while having a blast.

Frances Allen’s eighth-grade Studio Art class visits the Trinity Art Gallery with Visual Arts Department Head Jon Millet to discuss the works on display for the 2021 Alumni Art Exhibition.

Photo by Jeff McWhorter ’05

We see changes around campus, including the exciting progress on the construction of our new Middle School and two new additions to our Upper School administrative team, Rachel Armstrong and Fran Legband. But what hasn’t changed is the commitment of faculty, staff, coaches and administrators to make the most of their opportunity to make an eternal investment in the next generation of believers. As just one example, you’ll read about how Bill Bradley continues to be a force for good in students’ lives, appreciative of what God has done during his forty-plus years at TCA. As I look ahead to 2022, I am so grateful for the servants at TCA who are pouring into our kids and mindful of the blessing that my own children have had the opportunity to experience a TCA education.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

—3 John 1:4

K R ISTI NA SPEA RS Director of Marketing and Communication

contents

FEATURES

38 ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN GOD’S WORD TCA’s Upper School Bible curriculum aims to prepare students to engage a changing culture with a gospel-centered, biblical worldview.

Cover illustration by Nicholas Wong ’17

26 SUMMER@TCA Director of Auxilliary Programs Justin Zappia reports on the outstanding job our teachers, coaches, staff and even current and former TCA students did in making our revamped Summer@TCA program a huge success.

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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GOOD WORKS AND THE HONOR ROLLS

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SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE: PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

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TCA FOUNDATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING UPDATE

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CLASS ACTS

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LOWER SCHOOL: BUILDING STEM FOUNDATIONS

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: WHAT IS COFG?

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UPPER SCHOOL: GIFTED GUIDES

TROJAN

SUMMER PHOTO, MR . BR A DLE Y PHOTO & MIDDLE SCHOOL CH A PEL PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05; B U I L D I N G S I T E P H O T O & CO A C H E S B I B L E S T U D Y P H O T O B Y K E N D A L L E L L I S

32 THE AMAZED MR. BRADLEY Assistant Head of Upper School Fran Legband shares how Bill Bradley’s 40 years of service at TCA have helped shape both him and hundreds of his students according to God’s good design.

ATHLETICS

ALUMNI LEGACY

46 EARLY MORNING TRAINING . . .

FOR LIFE

Take a look at a group of TCA coaches who have committed to a spiritual regimen to build and fortify not only their teams but their own walks with God.

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FALL SPORTS SEASON RECAPS

53 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT This column highlights how former Trojans are influencing the world for the glory of God in their careers, ministries and other callings. In this issue

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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI

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HOMECOMING & ALUMNI ART EXHIBITION

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FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

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IN MEMORIAM

we profile DR. HAYDEN MBROH ’12 ,

KEATON SCHAEFFER ’10 and BECKY CUNNINGHAM ELLIS ’04 .

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T P H O T O S CO U R T E S Y O F U T S O U T H W E S T E R N M E D I C A L C E N T E R , G R A N T D A N I E L S & J O N I A N D F R I E N D S

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

W

HEN I WA S CHOSEN TO L E A D TC A for the 2002-03 school year, I

prayerfully considered what I wanted to communicate to the faculty and staff during my first in-service as headmaster. Beginning my 20th and final year as head of school, I chose to charge this year’s faculty and staff with the same message from 2002. It was a great reminder for all of us of the school’s mission and the ministry we have in the lives of our students, parents, community and one another.

Asking our faculty and staff, “Why are you at TCA?” reveals our true purpose and calling from God. Author and social critic Os Guinness defines “calling” as “the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively, that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service,” and that “our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him. First and foremost, we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, fatherhood, or teaching) or to somewhere (such as TCA). Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for Him.” Teaching at TCA is “a calling” not “the calling.” Teaching is our personal answer to God’s address, our response to God’s summons. Teaching matters only because the primary calling of delighting in Him matters most!

For TCA to be what God wants it to be, we all must first choose to be used by Him for His glory. We have the awesome task of providing an atmosphere of love and grace, knowledge and wisdom, safety and security for all who enter our classrooms. Our classrooms should be free from ridicule, coldness, sarcasm and impatience. A young person’s culture today is filled with cutdowns, disrespect, selfishness, rudeness, hurt feelings and mixed messages. Authority is undermined in social media, music and on TV. The classroom, hallway and playing field should be a haven of encouragement, love and respect. Our lessons should be inspiring and life-changing at best, interesting and challenging at least. Planning is important, thinking through not only what to teach but also how to teach understanding our students have varied learning styles. Yes, this can be difficult and time consuming, but an effective teacher does it. Howard Hendricks, former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary writes, “One of the greatest fears I have for my students after graduation is not that they will fail, but that they will succeed at doing the wrong things—that they’ll reach the end of the line and discover that this isn’t the destination they wanted, and it can’t fulfill them.”

I reminded us that we will teach more about Christ by how we act than by what we say. Children are constantly looking at us and their parents, inevitably shaping their image of God. The joy of learning, the joy of the Lord, the joy of fellowship should all be present here. Mother Teresa defined joy as “a net of love by which you can catch souls.” In reading some of former Middle School head Steve Larson’s writings, he says that joyful service means your joy is sincere, not put on; it combines merriment with mercy; and a merry saint is familiar with sorrow while poised for laughter. We want TCA to be known for its joy!

Through my entire 36 years at TCA, I think I delight most in watching and hearing stories of lives changed because of our faculty’s, staff’s and parents’ hard work, devotion and faithfulness—of students gaining the knowledge, skills and wisdom that draw them to love Jesus more and influence and serve others as a result.

What a blessing and privilege it has been to work with some of the most gifted, committed and passionate educators, coaches and support staff who fulfill our mission of developing students for His glory and purpose! Seeing the influence our current students, families, teachers, coaches, staff and alumni have in their world spurs us on to continue the work God prepared in advance for us to do. He has protected and provided for Trinity Christian Academy for over 50 years, and I am confident I will continue to be in awe of what He will do in the future.

Soli Deo gloria!

“Children are constantly looking at us and their parents, inevitably shaping their image of God. The joy of learning, the joy of the Lord, the joy of fellowship should all be present here.”

D AV E D E L P H , H E A D O F S C H O O L

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PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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IT H 2021 IN T HE HISTORY BO OK S, we look forward to 2022, and there are many exciting

things to share with you, our TCA community.

From academics to the arts and athletics, the first half of the 2021-22 school year has been a huge success. It is exciting to see construction progress on our new Middle School building, and we are happy to report that project continues to be on schedule and on budget. If you feel led to make a gift for this important project, please reach out to Becky Lewis at the TCA Foundation. The reports from Amy Prideaux, who leads our admission team, are extremely positive with a strong number of new applicants for next fall—almost double than what we had last year at this time. This fall a team of faculty and administration worked collaboratively on preparing a new Strategic Plan that was approved by the Board of Trustees in November. Much thanks to Kristy Kegerreis, TCA’s director of administrative programs, for spearheading these efforts. In 2022, TCA will be completing a reaccreditation process, and we look forwarding to sharing the results later in the spring. We are thankful for the many hours that our administrators and teachers have committed to prepare for that process.

The accomplishments of this school year are the result of the diligent planning and hard work of our head of school, Dave Delph, and of our administration, faculty, coaches and staff, who continue to work tirelessly to make this school year a success. Thank you to our TCA parents and students who have partnered with our teachers, coaches and administration in this ongoing endeavor.

In the spring we are looking forward to a time of celebration to honor Dave Delph and his years of faithful service, and we look forward to sharing more details in the weeks to come.

While there is much to share this school year, it is important to keep our focus on what makes TCA so very unique. At the center of who we are at TCA is Christ. As we recently celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior and prepare for the New Year, I am reminded that it is our focus on Christ that makes our school and our community so special.

Isaiah prophesized the coming of Christ, writing, “He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). We serve a God who is Wonderful, Mighty and Everlasting and who offers the gift of salvation to all. In Luke 2 the angels appeared to shepherds in the fields tending their sheep, and it is reported that when they saw Jesus, they were compelled to share their story, and all who heard it were amazed. In Matthew 2 it is recorded that when the wise men saw the star leading them to Christ, they celebrated with exceeding great joy, and when they saw Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped him. What makes TCA so unique is not just the fact that we have amazingly gifted teachers and coaches who pursue excellence, but it is the fact that these same teachers and coaches daily share with our students and TCA family the joy that shepherds and wise men experienced over 2000 years ago.

My prayer for our TCA community in 2022 is that we continue to focus purposefully on sharing the hope and joy of Christ our King.

“What makes TCA so unique is not just the fact that we have amazingly gifted teachers and coaches who pursue excellence, but it is the fact that these same teachers and coaches daily share with our students and TCA family the joy that shepherds and wise men experienced over 2000 years ago.”

For His glory,

M A R K J. DY E R , C H A I R M A N , B OA R D OF T RUST E E S

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GOOD WORKS

National Merit Competition

Honor Bands Congratulations to the TCA Band students who made the ATSSB All-Region Band!

Seniors James Badger, Daniel Baker, Cecilia Banderob, Emily Keramidas, Justin Miller, Emily Morris, Katherine Novakovich and Max Wheless were recently named 2022 National Merit Commended Students.

They were among the top 2.5% of the over 1.5 million students nationwide who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2020 PSAT.

Clarinets: Ayla Francis, Dylan Kinley Flute: Lucy Dennis French Horn: Ally Gerard Bass Trombone: Owen Ellis Trombone: Kylie Jones Lucy Dennis and Owen Ellis were also selected for the ATSSB All-Area Band because they were ranked highly in their auditions. They are eligible to try out for the ATSSB All-State Band as a result.

Homecoming Queen and Court Senior Mary Neuhoff was crowned the 2021 Homecoming Queen. Her peers elected her based on the character qualities of having a gentle spirit, compassion and integrity.

The classes also vote for their representatives based on these qualities. The 2021 Homecoming Court also included freshman Ava Dewey (gentle spirit), sophomore Lucy Dennis (compassion), junior Olivia Ouimette (integrity) and seniors Aly Bayliss, Mary Margaret Bell, Katie Reding and Landrie Smith (all three qualities).

North Texas Giving Day Over $675,000 was raised for TCA’s Student Tuition Aid program and the Athletic Booster Club on North Texas Giving Day on September 23. Thank you to all our donors for giving so generously!

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College Commitments Congratulations to these two seniors who will continue to play their sports at the collegiate level. Ben Francis will play baseball for Harding University, and Jack Morrison will play golf at Santa Clara University next year.

Upper School All-State and All-Region Choirs Congratulations to the following students on their selection to the TPSMEA All-State and All-Region Choirs:

All-State Choir Alto – Sneha Daniel

All-Region Treble Choir

All-State Jazz Band Congratulations to sophomore Owen Ellis for making first chair on both tenor trombone and bass trombone and to senior Joey Fedro for making second chair on drums for the TPSMEA All-State Jazz Band. Owen also made the the ATSSB All-Region Jazz Band on bass trombone. Way to go, Owen and Joey!

II Sopranos: Aubrie Amado, Hannah Ball, Bailee Dortch and alternates Haley Janacek and Hattie Sykes I Altos: Ivy Jordan, MC Petersen, Ella Kate Priest II Altos: Audrey Bryant, Madeline Prescott, Lucy Tredennick

All-Region Choir I Sopranos: Gable Delp, Lexi Meador I Alto: Rachel Mills II Altos: Ryan Berry, Sneha Daniel

II Tenors: John Badger, Jacob Riley and first alternate Cade Trotter II Bass Alternates: first alternate Tex Walliser and second alternate Luke Berglund

Middle School Honor Choirs Outstanding Vocalist Olivia Hammonds scored the highest of all altos in the TPSMEA Middle School Honor Choir auditions in October, ranking first for the alto section of the choir. This fall, she also performed as the mayor’s wife in TCA Middle School’s production of Seussical JR.

Congratulations to these students who made the 2021 TPSMEA Middle School Honor Choir!

Sixth-Grade Choir: Sopranos Sawyer Bland, Gage Gruner, Greyson McCauley, Liam McClain, Kinley Poole, Sutton Turner and Peyton Walton and altos Molly Ellis, Hannah Fulford, William Ledebur, Jackson Pattillo, Miles Pool, Addison Ramsey and Hank Womble Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Choir: Sopranos Chloe Belew, Alli Burau, Grace Fuller, Chloe Mae Kimbrough, Emi Nguyen, Katie Spears, Kendall Truitt and Kennedy Wood; altos Hannah Applewhite, Lacie Betts, Kate Black, Kyla Buskuhl, Reese Cherry, Olivia Hammonds, Charly Hays, Summer Jakubek, Megan McMullen, Emilia Powers, Shea Spivey, Annie Turner, Olivia Tristan and Katelyn Westover; tenors Campbell Laible, Collin Kilgore, Jackson McConathy, Hunter Severson, MJ Smith and Holden Turner and basses Jack Aboussie, Ryan Janacek, Kapp McKelvey, Charlie Montgomery, Trey Nunnally, Beck Nelson, Jaime Ramirez-Leyva, Luke Renwick and Caleb Wenning

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The Honor Roll Congratulations to all these students who made the First Trimester Honor Rolls:

Summa Cum Laude GPA of 4.2 or higher Seniors Favour Abebefe James Badger Daniel Baker Cecilia Banderob Isabela BarrientosFigueroa Ellie Blocker Heath Booker Olivia Brennan Shannon Burchett Alyssa Clemovitz Amelia Corliss Abigail Crane Collin Dewey Lauren Elvebak Ainsley Ferrell Lynnson Fort Ben Francis Ryan Freese Kate Goodman Mary-Michael Graham Riley Hamilton Payton Harper Anna Heidelbaugh Halle Hermes Isabella Jackson Emily Jones Emily Keramidas Brooks Krantz Emma Layman Jack Layman Johnny Lipscomb Katelyn Long Jenna Lowrey Allie Mays Mason Merchant Kayla Meyer Justin Miller Emily Morris Mary Neuhoff Schuyler Noordhoff Katherine Novakovich Luke Peron Madeline Prescott Olivia Priest Josie Raftelis Katie Reding Jackson Rogers Markus Schumacher Caroline Sharp Landrie Smith Preston Spears Luke Tredennick Parke Turner Juliana Voth Lucas Walsh Sydney Wayte Blaire Weiss Mary Lauren Westover Max Wheless Camden Williams Connor Wines Emelie Wong

Juniors Courtney Anderson Kate Barclay Elleanna Berthel Cece Bogda Jenna Branstetter Jake Callahan Matthew Campbell Lauren Deaton Gable Delp Jack Drake

Rose Duncan Ayla Francis Kellen Frye Ally Gerard Bethany Grimm Carly Haggard Kazia Handoko Morgan Hausz Aly Heidelbaugh James Jeter Camie Jobe Richelle Kim Dylan Kinley Caroline Laible Landon Littleton Trinity Martin Emma McIntyre Maddie McMullen Lola McNeill Lexi Meador Evan Olson Olivia Ouimette Gabrielle Parker Seth Pinto Parker Prideaux Dhamar Ramirez Jack Rea Daniel Richardson Jordan Rutledge Sebastian Silva Cara Smith Kate Smith Alana Soileau Joshua Staz Justin Sunwoo Logan Walters Ruby Watts Lily Yassa Andrew Yates Jocelyn Youn Samantha Zuniga

Sophomores Carolina Anderson John Badger Cody Baker Finn Barton Payne Bator Jacob Brennan Kassadi Brown Harrison Brown Heather Brownlee Katherine Broyles Teegan Burgett Nathan Chou Jared Courtney James Crawford Sneha Daniel Lucy Dennis Zach Dodgen Collin Dumas Karalyn Ehmke Owen Ellis Bailey Ellsworth Joseph Fitzgerald Cecilia Garner Beck Henry Brooks Higginbotham Haley Janacek Samuel Jenkins Kylie Jones Ivy Jordan Alex Kim David Kramp Ally Lee Annabelle Lee Grace Leverton Eliotte Lin David Meiser Ava Mills Erick Mills Aidan Mills Jake Overmann Luca Palazzo Steven Ramos Dylan Rock

Anna Sharpe Audrey Spence Avery Sulzen Sawyer Tripp Christian Yang Molly Youn

Freshmen Hannah Belf Eliot Brookshire Lyla Brown Jackson Dean Ava Dewey Jackson Duke Ella Eubanks Lily Gossett Hannah Claire Heflin Emma Helt Elise Jacob Abby Jun Karys Karlow Brooks Loukas Carlos Luna AnnMarie Martinez Ava McNaught Alexis Meyer Claire Millet Ellie Neeman Sloan Nelson Maya Nguyen Caleb Olson Addy Orozco Tee Parker Valerie Perez MC Petersen Sophia Pfannstiel Rachel Rice Noah Rodgers Shealy Seitz Takashi Shaw Ella Stewart Avery Wells Zoe Wong Daniel Yang Ana Sofia Zuniga Sergio Zuniga

Hannah Helt Hollis Jarrell Lila Johnson Jonah Key Annabel Lee Will Martin Derek Martinez Rachel Mills Emma Neeman Rhett Rice Anna Roussos Henry Smith Anna Claire Somich Will Spivey Sheridan Thexton Sterling Wyman

Juniors

Ally Ballard Scotty Drake Grace Fuller Olivia Hammonds Chloe Mae Kimbrough Carsen Prideaux Lauren Prideaux Kendall Truitt Camille Williams Nathan Youn

Will Bowling David Boylan Hannah Buford Tanner Conine Claire Dumas Emma Edmundson William Ferem Caitlyn Hackney Landon Ham Peyton Hatfield Luke Johnston Andrew Lazenby Charley Kate Ledebur Jaxon Liethen Joshua Liu Aidan McCauley Emily Mercer Max Merrifield Wyatt Merrill Sophia Miller Maxwell Morland Blake Muschalek Reed Neatherlin Tyler Osterloh Hailey Parmenter Natalie Perez Lilly Pool Kendall Reding Kathryn Richardson Carson Roach Emma Roos Reese Ryland Mason Smith Kate Solomon Hunter Springer Hunter Stegman Emma Kate Sullivan Collin Truitt Josie Wilder Brian Yates

7th Grade

Sophomores

Jillian Gulbas Andrea Johnson Evelyn Keramidas Elliott Severson

Allie Arthur Gabriel Bibawi Avery Booker Bretton Brantley Audrey Bryant Georgia Clay Luke Doré Lindsey Dorman Deacon Dortch Dylan Eubanks Dawson Harper Audrey Hestwood Bruce Hinson Kennedy Jacocks Lauren Janson Jace Lamb Dillard Leeds William Lehman Quade MacFadyen Trey Malin Sam Martin Erick Martinez Harper McFarlane Mycah McKelvey Lexi Mikula Wesley Moss

8th Grade

Magna Cum Laude GPA of 3.8–4.19 Seniors Aubrie Amado Grace Anderson Mary Margaret Bell Madyson Benschneider AB Burnett Joshua Case Kaylee Connell Avery Copple Charlie Franke

Cate Pou Ensley Pounds Annika Powers Bree Ramsey Lucy Tredennick Cade Trotter Hank Valenta Maddox Vines Luke West Natalie Wilcox

Freshmen Ozzy Abbs Jenna Barker Jaylan Beckley Taylor Clarke Chloe Copeland Ryan Elms Anna Garcia Annabella Hays Alexa Herrington Brynn Lawrence LaTaijah Lewis Elijah Liu Kelsey Long Katherine Lowrey Gisselle Mariscal Shelby Martgan Lucy Massinger Molly Mattox Everett May Max McConathy Meredith McGraw Logan McIntyre Sean Meador Blair Neumayer Luke Oliver Lilly Parrill Reagan Ramsey Lexie Ronde Mae Sharpe Ella Shaul Gigi Simmons Noah Simpson Parker Springer Parker Walton Ava Wolff Josh Wood

8th Grade Lucy Anderson Olivia Arnold Brent Baker Bliss Bell Lacie Betts Clary Bogda Delaney Borud Ella Bricker Caroline Broyles Hagan Casey Lucas Cavazos Reese Cherry Theo Cheung Tyler Chiang Hannah Grace Coleman Sophie Dennis Caroline Hatton Lily Jeane Hayes Hayes Hermes Summer Jakubek Collin Kilgore Kate Kroeger Sebastian Lee Reid Lindsay Morgan Lohr Madison McKenna Madison Parks Addie Rackley Taylor Ramsey Shea Spivey Cavanaugh Tripp Annie Turner Avery Womble Kennedy Wood Charlie Zimmerman Victoria Zuniga

7th Grade Hannah Applewhite Iris Bell Lauren Boylan Lily Brewer Nataleigh Brown Caris Collins Lauren Couturier Andrew Crawford Grant Daelke Preston Dean Zoe Dorroh Kate Engram Riley Gadoci Brady Grantham Maddie Griffin Hunter Haas Kaden Handoko Kaki Hanna Caden Jobe Reid Johannsen Caleb Kim Noah Liu Grayson May Lucas McIntyre Kapp McKelvey London McKinney Schaef Muccio Emi Nguyen Trey Nunnally Izzi Opsal Drew Parrill Elle Pittman Emilia Powers Grace Powers Hunter Severson MJ Smith Katherine Sunwoo Raylee Toney Josef Vidaud Sadie Wayman

Cum Laude GPA of 3.5–3.79 Seniors Aly Bayliss Zoe Binkley Claire Grimes MacLean Hays Katie Johnson Jack Morrison Mark Nilson Cody Polk Gehrig Scott Ben Sorgen Luke Townley

Juniors Mia Amezcua Mac Anderson Hannah Ball Luke Berglund Hunter Daughdrill Rex Day Ajay Goluguri Michael Graham Taylor Hervey JJ Leverton Charlie Nine Jake Nolan Ella Kate Priest Christopher Sharon Nick Wenzel

Sophomores Evan Acevedo Natalia Ah Chu Chloe Borud

Sam Bowman Blake Broekemeier Max Burchett Aidan Case Catherine Copple Olivia Cundari Aidan Dortch Bailee Dortch Loni Ekstrom Camille Getz Ryleigh Habern Nathan Kim Christopher Lampe Olivia Ledebur Sydney Ridnour Tex Walliser Natalie Weissinger

Freshmen Parker Burch John Clark Lauren Greenstein Carson Harris Brennan McNaught Nate Miller Brayden Rice Ben Schumacher Hudson Smith Leighton Thornton Brett Yanof

8th Grade Rivers Amison Caroline Antush Kieffer Barclay Ellery Barton Gabriel Binkley Evie Estrada Hunter Flatt Cameron Ham Camie Hausz Ryan Janacek Caitlin Johnson Ella Krone Campbell Laible Megan McMullen Macie Munoz Dutch Murzin Beck Nelson Samantha Niederhofer Kate Overmann Libby Smith Katie Spears Adysen Thibaudeau Olivia Tristan Katelyn Westover Jonathan Yeh

7th Grade Tristan Barber Chloe Belew Alli Burau Kyla Buskuhl Cohen Carreker Elena Garcia Wyatt Gard Kendall Hamrick Allie Hestwood Natalia Kattan Jordyn LaCour Brandon Lankford Jackson McConathy Grayson Morris Carolyn Nguyen Trent Sedberry Tyler Shaw Harper Sherrard Austin Sonju Stella Stinson Cale Thexton Caleb Wenning Thomas West Olivia Whorton Catherine Wilmer Mary Wood

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

Gift of Gratitude The annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon was held on Tuesday, November 9. It is a joyous day filled with gratitude, and it is one of the faculty and staff’s favorite events of the year.

This luncheon, hosted by PTF, would not be possible without the tremendous help and generosity of all our servant-hearted volunteers. Many thanks to everyone in the TCA community who filled over 240 volunteer positions to bring delicious food, graciously serve or volunteer in a myriad of ways to make this such a special day. Special thanks to coordinator Rachel Taylor, PTF secretary Noel Pierce and coordinator Julie Wenning for their leadership and coordination to make this event a success!

Labor of Love

This year the Mum Project was headed by three coordinators: Karie Helt, Susan Mattox and Jessica Rice. These ladies began this past spring designing and ordering supplies to make the mums and garters. They worked tirelessly assembling all the mums and garters with the help of the freshman parents. These ladies sacrificed so much of their personal time to this project, and we are so grateful. We appreciate the great contribution all our volunteers make to our TCA community. All monies collected from the sales of mums and garters go to the freshman class account to be used for its senior trip.

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TCA FOUNDATION

Becoming a Reality . . .

BY BECK Y D. LEW IS, EX ECU TI V E DI R ECTOR, T R I N I T Y C H R I ST I A N AC A DE M Y F OU N DAT ION

F

ROM TOPPING OU T TO C A MPA IGN COU NCIL E V EN TS to

Giving Walls, TCA is celebrating progress on the new Middle School. After breaking ground last June, we hit the midpoint of the construction process, and all is on schedule. Our new Middle

Topping Out! TCA trustees and school leaders as well as representatives from Balfour Beatty, CBRE, GFF and the construction teams celebrated the building progress at the Topping Out ceremony on December 2. TCA leaders, Campaign Council members and all Middle School students, faculty and staff had an opportunity to sign their names on the final beam before it was lifted and placed above the front doors of the new building. Topping Out symbolizes completion of the steel structure and the midpoint of the project.

School is becoming a reality! We are looking forward to welcoming students into

Giving Wall in the new Middle School

the new building for the 2022-23 school year.

The Pursuing Excellence Campaign Giving Wall will be

It has been an exciting and busy season of celebrating the building progress of

in a prominent area of the new Middle School and will

the new Middle School. The TCA Foundation continues to fundraise to complete

recognize all donors to the campaign. Names will be listed

the building debt-free, and I am amazed and blessed by the generosity of the

in alphabetical order, and no gift amounts will be included.

TCA community—thank you! I am grateful for God’s faithfulness and trusting

If you would like to be included on the Giving Wall, you can

Him with the completion of this project.

make a gift at www.tcapursuingexcellence.org.

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PHOTOS: K ENDA LL ELLIS

G I V E B AC K

Pursuing Excellence Campaign Councils The Executive Council and the Leadership Council were established to recognize and thank lead givers to the Pursuing Excellence Campaign. Qualification for membership in the Executive Council is cumulative campaign gifts of $250,000 and above, and qualification for membership in the Leadership Council is cumulative campaign gifts of $100,000 and above. An additional giving wall will recognize members of the Executive Council and the Leadership Council.

Invitation-only council events include private dining experiences and in-home receptions with guest speakers Dr. R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University, and Dr. Linda A. Livingstone, president of Baylor University.

For more information about the Campaign Councils or to

Seventh- and eighth-graders sign the final beam that will complete the new Middle School’s steel structure.

set up a multi-year pledge, contact Becky Lewis at blewis@

A B O V E - Head of Middle School Scott Berthel and Trustee Wesley Sneed

trinitychristian.org or 972-447-4609.

at the Topping Out ceremony

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TCA FOUNDATION

G I V E B AC K

Getting in on the Ground Floor Balfour Beatty, the contractor for the new Middle School, provided TCA students a glimpse into the world of construction science and management. Balfour leaders invited students from the seventh- and eighth-grade High-Tech Robotics classes and the Upper School Honors Engineering Design class to tour the construction site and participate in a series of learning experiences. The first session focused on site preparation for the project, design of the fortified library that will serve as a storm shelter and the construction of the foundation.

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PHOTOS: K ENDA LL ELLIS

Want to hear the inside scoop on all things TCA? Check out the Let’s Talk TCA podcast.

This podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at the people, the purpose and all the things that make TCA the amazing community it is!

We invite you to listen to recent episodes:

Episode 7

The Heart Behind Trojan Football, with Coach Steve Hayes

Let’s Talk TCA is available on Apple Podcasts, Episode 8

What Makes Us TCA, with Director of Admission Amy Prideaux

Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher and also on the TCA website.

Scan this QR code to view all episodes on Apple Podcasts:

Episode 9

Update on the New Middle School from Scott Berthel, Dawn Booth and Becky Lewis – What you want to know!

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Episode 10

The Scoop on the College Admissions Process at TCA, with Caryn Thexton

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Episode 11

Alumni Spotlight with Matt Marks ’14

Episode 12

Meet Incoming Head of School Dr. Jeff Williams

WINTER 2021–22

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CLASS ACTS

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM Best field trip ever! Our second-graders had so much fun at the Perot Museum building in the LEGO Towers of Tomorrow room, learning in the “What’s The Matter” lab, doing fun experiments and enjoying all the awesome exhibits.

SKY’S THE LIMIT As part of their weather unit in science, kindergartners used cloud viewers to observe and identify the kinds of clouds they saw in the sky that week!

14 TRINITY TODAY

F I R E F I G H T E R V I S I T P H O T O & P E R O T M U S E U M P H O T O B Y T C A F A C U LT Y ; C LO U D V I E W E R P H O T O B Y J E F F M c W H O R T E R ’ 0 5

LOW E R S C H O O L COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PreK students have been able to meet our amazing community helpers at TCA and in our community, including members of the Addison Police and Fire Departments, nurse Jessica Megison and local dentist Dr. Michael Solis.

GEOGRAPHY GENIUSES Our third-graders created their own versions of earth to help them learn about landforms. The creative places they made included Artworld (featuring Mt. Brushmore), Candyland, Sportsworld, Video Game World and so much more!

DRESS TO IMPRESS Lights, camera, adjectives! First-grade students strutted their stuff down the red carpet at the first-ever First-Grade Adjective Fashion Show. There were trendy, classic and silly outifts! These students can now confidently tell you what adjectives are and how to use them.

LET US ADORE HIM Fourth-grade student worship leaders teamed up with a few faculty and staff members to bless our Lower School with a beautiful time of praise during chapel time just before our break to celebrate Jesus being born a man to deliver us!

L A N D F O R M P R O J E C T P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F R U T H S T E V E N S ; A D J E C T I V E F A S H I O N S H O W P H O T O B Y M A D I S O N C H U R C H W E L L ; CHRIS TM A S CH A PEL PHOTO BY K ENDA LL ELLIS

WINTER 2021–22

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CLASS ACTS

A NOVEL APPROACH Fifth-grade students enjoyed the verbal artistry of C. S. Lewis’s writing by illustrating the similes and personifications found in his novel The Magician’s Nephew from The Chronicles of Narnia.

POCKET-SIZED CELL MODELS Our seventh-graders had fun creating a “Mint Tin Cell” to demonstrate their knowledge about cell structures.

LEARNING IN THE TRENCHES To conclude their study of World War I, eighth-grade students partipated in Trench Day. They created makeshift trenches out of desks in the classroom, sang “Over There” and wrote letters home, picturing themselves as soldiers as a learning experience and also a way to remember those who served. And they of course wore camo outfits since World War I was the first time soldiers wore camouflage.

16 TRINITY TODAY

M A G I C I A N ’ S N E P H E W I L L U S T R AT I O N S P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F M E L I S S A S M I T H ; C E L L P R O J E C T P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F C E C E S CO T T; T R E N C H D AY P H O T O B Y M A D I S O N C H U R C H W E L L

M I D D LE S C H O O L

ABSOLUTELY “AMAYZING” Middle School students became tiny Whos, jungle birds, mischievous monkeys, sassy kangaroos and all manner of whimsical creatures in their performance of Seussical JR., the musical version of Dr. Seuss’s beloved stories.

DELICIOUS DEDUCTION Sixth-grade students worked on their number sense while they indulged their senses of taste and smell, enjoying some fine dining in their classroom-turnedinto-Italian-eatery. They used math skills from the classroom to calculate their bill, including tax, tip and splitting the check.

S E U S S I C A L P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F B R A D N E W T O N P H O T O G R A P H Y ; S I X T H - G R A D E R E S TA U R A N T P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F WA N C H I LO W E

WINTER 2021–22

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CLASS ACTS SUCCESS IN THEIR FIELD FARCICAL FOUL PLAY

Photo: Julie Francis

This fall our Upper School Advanced Drama class staged one of the most hilarious productions in TCA history, The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery. Congratulations to all our fine comic actors and actresses!

The Field Ecology classes visited John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, learning about the East Fork Wetlands Project, which uses aquatic plants to filter the water and extends our Dallas water supply. Students tested the water quality, found many macroinvertebrates and collected plants to take with them for their class project. The young ecologists had a fantastic time being outdoors and studying God’s creation!

SCIENCE OF FLIGHT STEM Club launched its first meeting of the year by having student pilot Joshua Case explain the basics of aerodynamics. Then the students had a blast applying the principles they learned to design their paper airplanes.

REACHING FOR KINDNESS Upper School Reach Every Corner (REC) Club has been meeting the first Tuesday of every month to create gift packages of snacks, water bottles, hygiene products and other supplies, along with handwritten notes of encouragement, for students to hand out to the homeless in our area. Seniors Mary Lauren Westover and Mary Neuhoff have been instrumental in spearheading the club this year.

18 TRINITY TODAY

M U R D E R M Y S T E R Y P H O T O B Y J E F F M c W H O R T E R ’ 0 5 ; F I E L D E CO LO G Y P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F J U L I E F R A N C E S ; S T E M C L U B P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F L I S A W O N G ; C A R E PA C K A G E P H O T O S B Y D AV I D C H A F F I N

U PPE R S C H O O L

SPREADING SPIRIT Our cheerleaders, Trojanettes dance team and Trojan band helped to energize the student body and cheer on our athletes in pep rallies throughout the fall.

SPARKING THEIR INTEREST For one of their lab activities this semester in Koshy Daniel’s chemistry class, sophomores performed a flame test to identify the metallic ion in the compound.

P E P R A L LY P H O T O S B Y K E N D A L L E L L I S ; C H E M I S T R Y C L A S S P H O T O B Y J E F F M c W H O R T E R ’ 0 5

WINTER 2021–22

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Building

CAMPUS LIFE

STEM

Foundations SEEING

through these classes, our students have

increasingly science-and-technology-driven

ST U DEN TS M A K E

grown in their higher-level thinking skills

world. Students work together to imagine,

R E A L-L IFE

in fun, innovative ways. Our STEM classes

plan, create and test their ideas together

have truly become one of the favorites among

through a variety of hands-on activities. To

our kids. Our vision for STEM has continued

help foster communication, students work

to grow over the years to help students see a

in groups where they learn to express ideas,

bigger picture of using their learning in the

agree or disagree as well as collaborate

areas of science, technology, engineering

with their peers. Students also use their

and math for others’ good. We want to see

limitless creativity to bring their ideas to

our students use their knowledge in these

life. For example, our preschoolers and

areas for the glory of God to help contribute

kindergarteners are constantly building,

to their community. This program, with

exploring and experiencing new science

the help of our teacher, Mrs. Heidi Aiken,

concepts. In first and second grade, we can

consistently raises the bar for our students in

code directions for our robots and then build

grades preK–4.

a maze for the robots to navigate. Students

CON N ECT IONS

to learning is one of the most

BY BEV BIR MINGH A M, ASSISTA N T H EA D OF L OW E R SCHO OL

exciting things in education.

At TCA, we have

the opportunity to provide a wide variety of experiences to help foster these connections.

One area in particular that we have worked to develop is our STEM program. We began to implement STEM classes in our rotation of specials classes about four years ago in the Lower School. With an ongoing commitment to provide hands-on, inquiry-based learning

20 TRINITY TODAY

Through work in the STEM lab, students develop crucial skills necessary in an

can take it further by turning the maze into a community with city streets and working

TOWER PHOTOS BY K ENDA LL ELLIS

LOW E R S C H O O L

Second-graders complete the “tallest tower challenge,” building multiple towers using varying numbers of planks for the foundation and seeing how high their towers can go using 40 planks. Students have to solve problems related to the strength of the foundation and balancing the weight to provide the stability needed for a solid structure.

so her family can survive one more day. We

from the earth, all while learning about the

calculated how many steps we take at TCA

engineering processes in other countries.

to get to the nearest water source in order to

STEM develops important critical

compare data. She carries a jerrycan of water

thinking skills by challenging students to

that holds five gallons, so the students took a

create plans and construct models, then

short walk carrying four gallons of water just

evaluate and potentially even redesign. And,

to understand how challenging this would

even more importantly, we have an absolute

lights. In third and fourth grade, students

be for anyone. From there, we investigated

blast! The student’s enthusiasm for STEM is

build a LEGO frog and then code it to jump or

the process of building wells in areas prone

so exciting! What these kids do every day is

make noise.

to drought. The students were able to see

quite amazing.

One of the most powerful STEM lessons

how life completely changes in a community

As we continue to develop 21st-century

was inspired from the book I Dream of

where there is a well nearby. Children can

learners in the Lower School, this program

Water, which depicts the story of a young girl

attend school instead of fetching water for

will be vital to our students. We are thrilled

who is responsible for collecting water for her

their family. This lesson also addressed

to have such a program at TCA, and we look

family in Africa. In the story the character

implications of not having clean water.

forward to what our students will be able to

walks two miles—8,000 steps—to the well

Students then built models of wells to

give to the world because of the learning that

and two miles back multiple times a day just

begin to understand how water is pulled

comes from STEM.

W AT E R P R O J E C T P H O T O S B Y J E F F M c W H O R T E R ’ 0 5

WINTER 2021–22

21

CAMPUS LIFE

What is COFG?

W H AT IS COFG?

What we once called our “Chapel Time” we

reflect the many different things we do in

Those letters

now call our Community of Faith Gathering.

this time and place. By simply adding a

represent a core

“Chapel” is certainly not a poor choice of a

comma before the word “gathering” we can

element of our

title, since it refers to a place of worship that

change it from a noun to a verb: we are a

Middle School at

has no pastor or priest and no permanent

community of faith, gathering to sing, to

TCA, something

congregation; indeed, many people in our

learn, to play, to laugh, to serve, to support

we treasure

school still refer to this time as such. But

each other and so on. Whereas one week we

in our Middle

since the word “Chapel” refers primarily to

may have a traditional time of worship and

School world. What is it, you wonder?

a place rather than an activity, we chose to

teaching from the Scripture, the next may

Some significant pedagogical approach or

apply a new title to this aspect of our school.

be an opportunity to apply biblical truth as

curricular standard for educating Middle

This was done for two main reasons.

kids participate in a House competition or

BY SCOTT BERTHEL , HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

School students, perhaps? An acronym

First, it emphasizes the people over

service activity.

As we have changed the title from

representing a certification or special training

the location. We want our Middle School

just for our Middle School teachers? The

students to recognize that they are part

“Chapel” to “Community of Faith

abbreviation for some element of technology

of something larger than themselves and

Gathering” and now include a broader

that is used only with Middle School students?

to learn how to live well in community

range of activities than we once did, it has

No, it is simply an abbreviation for our

because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

also been a joy to see several Middle School

Community of Faith Gathering.

Second, it offers a sense of flexibility to

teachers collaborate to bring this vision to

22 TRINITY TODAY

PHOTOS: JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

M I D D LE S C H O O L

We have created a unique space for the entire community of fifth- through eighth-graders to experience God’s love and then practice extending that love toward each other. reality each week. I asked each one to share

MARCELLE HAMILTON: I just have to say it is

TCA. So, our COFG time is our intentional

some additional perspective about why they

an absolute privilege to work on this team. I

effort to cultivate it.

want to be a part of COFG, why they value it

love the creativity, energy and deep love for

and what their hopes are for it.

our students! I consider this bonus part of

KERRY DeWEESE: I think one of the best parts

my job one of the sweetest blessings!!!

of COFG is how the kids are always looking

BRIAN SPENCE: The thing I love most about

forward to what they will be doing in COFG.

COFG is the way we have created a unique

I think we have done a great job of switching

space for the entire community of fifth-

things up from week to week, which keeps

through eighth-graders to experience

the kids engaged. When we do have a more

God’s love and then practice extending

“traditional chapel,” having different people

that love toward each other. And as no two

speaking about relevant subjects for middle-

students are alike, neither are any two

schoolers has been a real positive. Events

Community of Faith Gatherings. COFG is

such as the Lip Sync competition, Talent

not the classroom, but an extension of it. It

Show and student forums have allowed us

is not church but mirrors it. It is not PE nor

to see what amazing talent we have in the

athletics but often exercises that kind of fun.

Middle School.

Community matters in life, and it matters at

What are we doing next Friday? You’ll have to wait and see!

O P P O S I T E PA G E - The eighth-grade worship

team leading a time of singing for the entire Middle School during a Community of Fath Gathering (COFG) A B O V E - As a way of exercising gratitude during

the Thanksgiving season, middle-schoolers did four projects (one for each Middle School House): writing thank-you letters to Addision firefighters, creating care bags for the homeless in our area and crafting ornaments both for TCA’s SAGE Dining staff and for TCA’s HealthCare Services Group cleaning staff.

Brian Spence (top left) and Kerry DeWeese (top right) lead, teach, encourage and admonish during COFGs.

WINTER 2021–22

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CAMPUS LIFE

GIFTED GUIDES A S A CHR IST I A N SCHO OL , we have

always been very concerned about the well-being of our students and

BY K Y LE MOR R ILL , HEA D OF U PPER SCHOOL

their families, as well as our faculty and staff. However,

we have made a concerted effort over the last several years to be very intentional regarding the well-being of our Upper School community.

There have been rapid changes and challenges that have arisen in our nation’s culture over the past few years. Many of these changes have created great confusion and insecurity in the hearts and souls of adults and teenagers.

In this post-modern world that we live in, truth has become increasingly subjective.

come from her association with the His Story

been such a blessing to all of us in the Upper

Social media and other forms of media have

Coaching and Counseling group as a licensed

School, and we hope that our TCA students

created confusion for many regarding truth

professional counselor, where she has served

and parents will consider her as a first-line

and identity. Many lines have been blurred

as a youth specialist since 2014. Her focus

resource as needs arise.

concerning right and wrong. The Christian/

there has been in the areas of depression and

Much of what Rachel does with teenagers

biblical worldview has become increasingly

anxiety in young people. Rachel is married to

would be described as triage counseling.

criticized and politicized. At TCA, we have

Frank, and they have three little boys—one in

When students are experiencing social or

always been committed to teaching our students

kindergarten, one in preK and a two-year-old.

emotional challenges, she spends one or

Rachel has already established herself as

more conversations with them trying to

equipping them to be able to deeply understand

a very proactive, involved and fun presence

discern the level of concern and possible

their faith and articulate and defend the blessed

in the Upper School. She has teamed with

immediate action steps. She listens and

hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

Dr. Matt Lambro, our director of student

provides valuable perspective. If situations

development, to ensure that we have

appear to be more serious in nature and

more vigilant and focused on the social and

programs and opportunities for our students

more long term in concern, she works

emotional needs of our students as they

to grow in areas that impact their overall

with parents to find outside resources and

solidify their ultimate identity in Christ. To

well-being and social/emotional needs.

counselors who can take a deeper dive into

that end, we are very excited about our new

She has joined with other Upper School

the challenges of the individual student.

counselor, Rachel Armstrong. She has been

administrators as we strategize ways to help

appointed to oversee the social and emotional

individuals and groups navigate through

being as well as the mission of our school

well-being of our student population.

challenging experiences. Rachel combines

is evident in the expertise and care she has

a great sense of humor with keen insights

already brought to her role in the Upper

University and has her master’s in biblical

regarding the lives of teenagers. She is

School. Please join us in welcoming her to

counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary.

very approachable and makes others feel

our TCA community. You are welcome to

Her primary professional experience has

comfortable in her presence. She has already

contact her should any need arise.

the foundational truths of God’s Word and to

In the Upper School, we hope to be even

Rachel Armstrong is a graduate of Baylor

24 TRINITY TODAY

Rachel’s commitment to students’ well-

PHOTOS: JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

U PPE R S C H O O L

Students’ journey through Upper School life under capable and caring direction with the addition of Rachel Armstrong and Fran Legband to the administrative team Also with the goal of providing the best

In our roles as the head and the assistant

an integral part of our Upper School for

educational experience for our students, we

head, Fran and I are considered the “instruc-

so many years and has watched her four

are very pleased to welcome Fran Legband as

tional leaders” of the Upper School. Fran’s

children progress through TCA, she is

our new assistant head of the Upper School.

knowledge of best practices in the classroom

uniquely qualified to step into this position

Fran grew up in the Dallas area and went to

gives her instant credibility and competence

of great importance and influence. She

college at Stephen F. Austin University. She

as she works with our teachers in curriculum

has already positively impacted so many

and her husband, Scott, have four children,

and instruction. Fran also is in charge of

areas of the Upper School and has quickly

all of whom graduated from TCA. Like many

girls’ discipline and our Student Support

learned so many of the ins and outs of our

of us educators, she began her teaching

Team and serves with Dean of Students Bob

school division. We are very blessed that

career in the public school arena. She cut

Dyer heading up our Honor Council.

she has joined our administrative team and

her teeth in some outstanding programs and

Fran is a gifted communicator and Bible

that she will work tirelessly to ensure that

schools before choosing to stay home for a

scholar who has spoken at many women’s

we continue to build on the foundation of

season in order to raise her own children.

conferences throughout the years. She has a

excellence that we have established over

Fran came to TCA in the fall of 2002 as a

great sense of humor, practical life wisdom

these many decades of “developing the whole

part-time history/English teacher in the

and a listening ear. Because Fran has been

person for the glory of God.”

Upper School. She quickly became full time and transitioned into the position of head of the History/English Department. TCA is widely recognized for our outstanding history/English curriculum, which is very distinctive and is more of a liberal arts, great works or Classical Christian approach. We began this method of teaching back in the mid-1980s. Fran has been instrumental in helping to fine tune our curriculum into the great educational experience that it is today.

Besides being a master teacher and outstanding department head, Fran has developed a reputation in the Upper School among our fine faculty and staff as a true leader. Last spring, when Janie Heard announced that she was leaving after seventeen impactful years in the Upper School, many teachers approached me and encouraged me to name Fran as the next assistant head.

The Lord’s timing was perfect. Several years ago, Fran completed her master’s in educational administration and was patiently waiting for an opportunity to expand her role at TCA.

WINTER 2021–22

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Welcome back, SUMMER@TCA!

26 TRINITY TODAY

BY J USTIN ZA PPI A, DIR ECTOR OF AU X I L L I A RY PRO G R A M S

PHO T O G R A PH Y B Y J E F F McW HOR T E R ’05

After most area summer camps were forced to deliver their content virtually during the summer of 2020, in-person summer programs were all the rage during the summer of 2021. Summer@TCA was no exception! We were thrilled to offer a full slate of academic courses for Middle School and Upper School students, several Middle School and Lower School sports camps and an amazing Bible-centered day camp for children in grades K–5. While many people use summer as a time to rest and revitalize, Summer@TCA saw the summer of 2021 as an opportunity to reboot the program in some very meaningful ways. The reset gave us a chance to reflect on our purpose and to enhance the program in ways that would bless people in our community during the summertime.

WINTER 2021–22

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28 TRINITY TODAY / WELCOME BACK, SUMMER@TCA!

Our new Summer@TCA program featured courses and camps for academics, arts and athletics as well as a Bible day camp for grades K–5.

TCA’s summer programs have always been meant to serve our community members by offering high-quality classes that supplement children’s academics. This will always be the case. We recognize the importance of upper-schoolers having a chance to forge ahead, Middle School students getting assistance with summer assignments and children in lower grades having the tools to combat “learning loss” during the extended summer respite. In assessing TCA’s mission during the school year and looking at other summer opportunities for kids in the area, we recognized that a true biblical curriculum for elementary age children did not exist. After discussions with several area camp directors and TCA’s team of school-year Bible curriculum planners, we decided to build the first (as far as we know) comprehensive Bible-based day camp in the DFW area.

In our Trojan Day Camp, students were grouped into ageappropriate teams throughout the week and focused on a new biblical topic each week, such as “Loving Others” or “Spending Time with God,” all under the overarching summer theme of “Running the Race” toward God’s Kingdom. These themes allowed our counselors the opportunity to inject biblical discussion (we had devoted worship and Bible time every day) into the mix of general summer fun, which included water activities, bounce houses, STEM projects, gym games, art activities and more. This all became part of an unbelievable summer experience for students and counselors. Some parents reported that their children loved the intimate nature of

WINTER 2021–22

29

our small groups and that they felt known and cared for.

These are just some of the examples of our summer success

Others mentioned that they appreciated their kids being

stories on the TCA campus. Plans for the future include

in a “device-free” environment where the children were

expanded enrichment opportunities for Lower School

engaged in meaningful ways that brought them joy during

students, continued growth of our sports camps for Middle

their summer weeks. Most importantly, we had several kids

School and Lower School students as led by our amazing TCA

who reportedly gained new knowledge of their walk with

coaching staff and expanded opportunities for summer service

Jesus during their camp experience, and parents told of a

for Upper School students through our Trojan Day Camp.

true shift of heart toward the Lord. Summer@TCA is proud now to continue the amazing work that TCA delivers so well

Be on the lookout for our Summer@TCA brochure, which

during the school year.

will come out in the early spring of 2022. Registration typically opens in early April. If you are an Upper School

One of the greatest new aspects of Summer@TCA 2021 was

student or a recent graduate of TCA and are interested in

how it provided an environment for older students to prove

working as a counselor during the summer of 2022, please

mastery of the content they consume in their classrooms

reach out to Justin Zappia at jzappia@trinitychristian.org

and on the athletic fields by modeling for younger students

to learn how to apply.

and becoming teachers themselves. Oftentimes student modeling comes in the form of Upper School students serving as mentors in a course for younger grade levels or student-athletes assisting a head coach in a sports camp. Both current TCA Upper School and Middle School students and young alumni served as staff and volunteers last summer. In addition, current and former students were hired by the school to serve as counselors in our new Trojan Day Camp. It was a great blessing to be able to provide this employment opportunity to those who might need full- or part-time jobs during the summer months. It was an even greater blessing to witness the fruits of many years of hard work by the students (and their former teachers) who served as camp counselors during the summer! There is something special about the connection an older student can have with an impressionable Lower School child and the lasting impact that is often made.

30 TRINITY TODAY / WELCOME BACK, SUMMER@TCA!

Current and former TCA students who served in the Trojan Day Camp: Blake Birmingham Mollie Birmingham Heath Booker Avery Booker Daniela Figueroa MJ Massinger Olivia Ouimette Samuel Rodriguez Jackson Rogers

“Oftentimes student modeling comes in the form of Upper School students serving as mentors for younger grade levels.”

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The Amazed Mr. Bradley

32 TRINITY TODAY

BY FR A N LEGBA N D, ASSISTA N T H E A D OF U PPER SCHOOL PHOTOGR APH Y BY J E F F McW HOR T E R ’05

If you’ve been around Trinity Christian Academy any amount of time, you hear about our unashamed Christianity, our “small town” community feel and our top-notch college-prep education. And the engine of our academic strength is our beloved faculty. By taking a walk through the halls of the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools, you will find teachers who have been here for decades and many who went to school here! But the teacher with the longest tenure at TCA, enjoying forty-plus years in the classroom, is our very own Bill Bradley.

Mr. Bradley began his career in education at TCA by teaching Middle School Bible before moving over to the History/English Department in the Upper School. He has taught the subject to both sophomores and freshmen, has led as History/ English Department chair and has worked with dozens of teacher teammates in continuing to provide the very best education for all students who walk our halls. But what stands out about Mr. Bradley is not really his tenure or his teaching journey; it is the EFFECT he has on his students in the classroom.

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“Let’s go to the Lord today, class. Let me pray over you Psalm 91 as the noon hour approaches: ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” . . . You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.’” Students in Mr. Bradley’s classes know that he has at least ten favorite psalms he often speaks over them at the beginning or ending of almost every class. They have come to expect it and enjoy it and miss it once they leave his class.

Senior Juliana Voth mentioned how much she loved Mr. Bradley’s prayers in class, as well as his brain neuron cell that hangs in his classroom. “A lot of what Mr. Bradley does and says in class is to make you wonder. I loved looking at that brain cell every day. It reminds me to wonder.”

As a former History/English Department chair and colleague of Mr. Bradley for over twenty years,

34 TRINITY TODAY / THE AMAZED MR. BRADLEY

I sat down with him to discuss his 40 years here at TCA and how one enjoys such longevity in such a taxing but worthwhile field. Bill Bradley loves his work in the classroom, but not so much being praised for it. What he emphasized in our discussion was that he owes his effectiveness as a teacher to the place and to the people who gave him the space to thrive as a life-long educator. He said that the “most significant thing” that contributed to his success as a teacher was the space he was entrusted with to do his work. Without a consistent administration who supported his efforts in the classroom, Mr. Bradley claims that “he would not have stayed this long at this place.” It was their trust that allowed him to unlock “the magic and potential of the classroom.”

He spoke a lot about teaching as magic, but not as much like the tricks of illusionists, but more as the wonder caused by teaching the young to “see the unseen.” Mr. Bradley’s delight with learning and fostering it in others is still strong. He remarked that having leaders who “understood and protected”

the sacred spaces of the classroom fostered his and his students’ flourishing for these decades.

You might find that flourishing in his classroom in the middle of a very ordinary week. It’s Wednesday morning, and as twenty-two half-asleep ninth-graders walk into Mr. Bradley’s first period class, the words of Psalm 42 are projected on the large Promethean touch-screen display.

He begins with the words of the psalm, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” before moving his students into groups to begin a simulation to make early Greek thought come to life. Some students take the role of a politician, while others impersonate soldiers, merchants or farmers. They discuss how their lives in classical Athens are turned upside down by this new teacher Socrates and what happened to him.

Mr. Bradley’s delight in ideas becomes

contagious to learners. Even after 40 years teaching, you will often hear Mr. Bradley say after reading some excerpt from Plato or Virgil, “Isn’t that magnificent?”

In addition to his love for the classroom, Mr. Bradley always speaks gratefully of his fellow faculty, both those in his department and the faculty at large. Mr. Bradley’s strong connections with the faculty and their collaboration benefit his work with students. Mr. Bradley sees all faculty like “the uncles and aunts” of the students, seeing their potential and having the foresight to unlock it. Though not as intimate as parents, we aunt and uncle-like teachers are connected to our students by bonds of affection and spiritual kinship, making us a spiritual family. He suggested that “we share the responsibility” with the parents of rearing the students, and as such are able to help each other along. As a

Even after 40 years teaching, you will often hear Mr. Bradley say after reading some excerpt from Plato or Virgil, “Isn’t that magnificent?”

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D U R I N G A N I M PRO M P T U D I S C U S S I O N

with some former

students, Mr. Bradley shared an image he believes the Lord impressed on him as a message of encouragement: I recently had a strange dream that all these construction guys started showing up at my house. They’re carrying stuff, and they’re unloading stuff, so I come out of the house, and they start asking me a lot of questions, and I answer their questions, but I don’t know what they’re doing. More and more keep showing up, and I start looking for a foreman to ask what it is they’re doing with my house. Slowly I start noticing that they’re hooking onto everything they can hook onto; they’re hooking onto the roof, hooking onto the bricks and even digging up under the foundation. I was really confused, and right as I woke up, I thought—and I honestly think I said it out loud as I woke—“Oh, they’re lifting the whole house!”

I’m on the edge of my bed, thinking, What was that about?

And then I realized that is what the Lord has been doing in my life the last two years. He’s trying to remodel my whole life—Patti dying, and my mom dying before that. I had become a paranurse for my wife, and now I’m adjusting to my role changing because my patient is gone. Have any of you had remodeling in your house—major remodeling? You know, that process gets horrible. Three weeks in or a month in, it gets really horrible. It’s always more extensive than you thought.

And at some point, you think, I wish we’d never done this. I’d go back to the way it was. But then, there’s this joy when it’s finished, and it’s so much better. God sometimes upends your whole life, but in the end, it’s better.

This is just one example of how Mr. Bradley seeks to be authentic with his students about what the life of faith entails.

36 TRINITY TODAY / THE AMAZED MR. BRADLEY

closely connected adult in young lives, Mr. Bradley models a life of devotion and contemplation before his students and invites them into it.

He went on to mention that this faculty community has not only been a force for good in student lives, but also in his own. After walking a long road of suffering with his beloved wife Patti, Mr. Bradley credits his school family and friends with helping to fill the spaces that were left after losing Patti a few years ago.

Mr. Bradley lives his whole life before and around the community at TCA, and this sort of transparency and faith he has exhibited though hardship has strengthened and instructed many. But Mr. Bradley did not let suffering stop him.

Mr. Bradley still seeks a life of adventure. He has been known in the last couple of years to go on weekend camping and hiking expeditions with faculty friends. Recently on a trip to Arkansas, Mr. Bradley, Bob Williams (Upper School history/ English teacher) and Dennis Saffold (Middle School history/English teacher) were all hiking and came to a rushing river crossing their path. Mr. Saffold moved on down the river to look for a safe place to cross, and Mr. Williams saw Mr. Bradley standing on a rock overlooking the river, gauging his chances of success

“The most strange but most wonderful thing after almost 41 years at TCA is that there has not been one single day that I thought about working anywhere else. The quality of teaching here today is nothing short of spectacular!” in leaping across it. Mr. Williams said, “JUMP!” Mr. Bradley has been jumping rivers and forging new trails in the classroom and in his own life for a good long time. Obstacles like rushing rivers don’t stop him from moving into the adventure ahead.

He credits TCA and its people for continuing to fuel his fire for teaching and desire to go further. He said that really “the most strange but most wonderful thing after almost 41 years at TCA is that there has not been one single day that I thought about working anywhere else—no other school.” His continued zeal for teaching and the classroom he credits to his ninth-grade teaching team, Stephanie Burgoon and Bob Williams. Even after so many years, Mr. Bradley thinks of himself as an “average” teacher compared to the people he works with on his team, in his hallway and in the Upper School. “The quality of teaching here today is nothing short of spectacular,”

C A M P I N G P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F B O B W I L L I A M S ; TE ACHING TE A M PHOTO: K ENDA LL ELLIS

he says, and it is this collegiality that continues to push Mr. Bradley to collaborate and innovate with his material and with his methods. “I am as unimpressed with myself as I have ever been,” he says.

But what we say to him as a faculty, as administrators and as an army of former students and parents is “Thank you.” Thank you for not trying to cultivate a false image, but for being willing to live your whole life and therefore your life wholly before us. Thank you for the gift of service, sacrifice, humor, insight, adventure and wisdom. Congratulations, Mr. Bradley, on forty-plus years of service at Trinity Christian Academy!

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38 TRINITY TODAY

ROOTED AND GROUNDED I L LU S T R AT I O N S BY N I C H O L A S WO N G ’ 17

PH O T O G R A PH Y BY J E F F M cW H O R T E R ’0 5

Dr. Matt Lambro, director of student development, Upper School Bible teachers Bob Dyer and Jeremy Gregory and some of TCA’s recent graduates see faith, hope and love in Christ flourishing when we are planted in the rich soil of the truth of Scripture.

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Have you ever considered that we are each a letter known and read by those we encounter? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:2, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts,

known and read by everyone.” As teachers, we feel a responsibility to pen our portions of each student’s letter carefully. Each day, we have students whose lives have different characters, plots and settings outside the walls of our classrooms. As we help to craft each student’s story, we encounter a wide range of literary genres.

Depending on limitless variables, a student’s genre might shift on any given day from drama to adventure to humor. Regardless of where students are on their journeys, we love and equip them for what the future may bring.

Nowhere in the TCA Upper School is this process of equipping students for the future more vital than in our Bible classes. The goal of the junior- and senior-year Bible classes is to equip and encourage our students as they leave their home, church home and TCA to base their whole lives on the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, that is the goal of every area of TCA’s curriculum and every TCA teacher, but the Bible Department is specifically tasked with helping students grapple with the reality of God’s Word—in all its complexities and in all its implications for how we live our lives.

40 TRINITY TODAY / ROOTED AND GROUNDED

BUILDING FAITH by exploring God’s Word

It is the joy and honor of our Upper School Bible teachers to explore God’s Word together with young minds—to discuss, probe and wrestle with life’s biggest questions alongside these teenagers who will soon enter adulthood and face crucial decisions about the paths they will take. Whether they are becoming familiar with the New Testament books of John, Romans or 1 Corinthians or engaging in systematic studies of creation, the Trinity or the atonement and resurrection of Jesus, Upper School Bible teachers seek to partner with parents and the church at large to help students understand and embrace the core, historic truths of the Christian faith. The aim is not rote memorization of Bible facts but training in the life-giving practice of searching the Scripture to learn God’s ways, God’s heart and God’s promises.

Upper School Bible Department Head Bob Dyer shares an insight from theologian A. W. Tozer: “Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of God’s Word.”

Graduates of TCA are not ignorant of God’s Word. Their junior and senior years saturate them in the truths of the Bible. “Under the Holy —UPPER SCHOOL BIBLE TEACHER Spirit’s guidance, we hope to make JEREMY GREGORY learning God’s Word more than an academic pursuit. Our hope and prayer is that these young people would truly take and eat the ‘meat’ that is Truth for their lives—now and forever,” says Mr. Dyer.

“We wrestle with even the difficult passages of the Bible and apply ways to communicate these teachings to ourselves and to others.”

PHOTO: K ENDA LL ELLIS

It’s not always an easy process, but one that is worth the effort. Senior Bible teacher Jeremy Gregory explains, “We dig into the Scriptures to explore the importance of the historical-religious-political context of the text and the power of intertextual references. The Bible is saying way, way more than just a surface reading of the text. In class students give presentations on difficult passages of the Bible and faith—over topics such as theodicy, genocide, homosexuality, men’s and women’s roles and slavery. Together we wrestle with these passages and apply ways to communicate these stories and teachings first to ourselves and then to others.”

Current sophomore at Baylor University Sage Yassa ’20 relates how this approach has affected her life and college career: “My time at TCA absolutely equipped and encouraged me in the faith. I transferred to TCA from public school in my junior year, and learning in a Christian environment for two years helped teach me how to apply my faith to all areas of my academics and life. Bible classes at TCA also acted as an excellent introduction to academic study of Scripture, which would have been a significant learning curve at Baylor. Baylor’s required Christian Scriptures and Christian Heritage courses treat the Bible almost as though it were any other historical text. Though this approach has merit, most Christians do not view the Bible this way, and many students who were raised in a Christian environment react negatively to this new method of study. Bible classes at TCA, particularly Senior Bible with Mr. Gregory, provided me with a gentle introduction to academic study of the Bible. TCA’s approach also demonstrated to me that academic study could contribute to my personal faith journey.”

In Bible class, we create memorable experiences that help to instill a biblical worldview in students and prepare them for how they might live out their faith. One example in the junior year Bible class is an activity that fosters students’

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ability to recognize and understand the “essentials” of the Christian faith. For this project, students research doctrinal statements of churches and various Christian institutions.

The students then develop their own personal doctrinal statement.

This practice promotes an understanding for students to stand firm in their faith in the wake of an increasingly secular, morally relative, pluralistic and “anti-Truth” society. Danielle Parker ’20, shared that this activity not only helped her in her developing faith as a high school —DANIELLE PARKER ’20 student but also when she entered college. “The doctrine project helped me identify theologically sound churches I was interested in when I arrived at Wake Forest University.”

“The doctrine project helped me identify theologically sound churches I was interested in when I arrived at college.”

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FUELING HOPE

by developing spiritual disciplines In a dark and despairing world, the hope that the gospel offers is what we pray shines all the more brightly in students’ lives. Having heard and believed the truth of salvation through Jesus, young people have the opportunity to be light in this world as they are shaped and molded more and more to look like Him. Developing a love for God’s Word is essential in order to fuel a vibrant relationship with Jesus.

We intentionally instill these disciplines in class.

For instance, senior Bible students take some time each class period to meditate on Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.

Mr. Gregory explains, “At the beginning of each class, we read, interpret and apply a small section of Matthew 5–7.

Through this exercise, we seek to model what it looks like to start each day reflecting on some specific instruction

from the Lord and examining our lives in response to that teaching—for example, what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be pure in heart, to avoid anger and lust, to be merciful people and peacemakers, to trust God’s provision in our finances, to give to the needy and to be faithful to our word. Learning from the most important sermon ever will guide students both in their Christian walks and in developing the habit of daily dependence on God’s instruction and direction.”

We are excited when we hear from alumni that their grounding in God’s Word continues to direct them in their spiritual lives. Recent graduate Will McIntosh ’21 shares, “TCA really equipped me well with understanding how to live a fulfilling life based on God’s purpose. It showed me what true Christian community looks like and how to seek it out. And it prepared me well emotionally for handling hard situations by reminding me where I find my joy and helping guide me toward good foundations.”

Another way we develop students’ ability in their study of Scripture is to regularly provide them opportunities to teach biblical content after studying texts. We believe one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it. One example is the “Encounters with Jesus” paper, which allows the students to relate their personal story of faith with a character from Scripture. Bob Dyer explains, “With guidance and parameters, each student is encouraged to think through his or her life in Christ. Did the student first meet Jesus as a skeptic, like ‘doubting’ Thomas? Or maybe he or she approached Jesus like the rich young ruler, filled Senior Bible students (above and below) worked on a project in which they each selected a contemporary ethical issue to research and gave a class presentation on the topic, defining the issues, describing the history and context of the issue, laying out the various points of views (typically conservative and liberal), critiquing both views as a Jesus follower and then lead in a question/response time as students in the class wrestled with the issue.

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with pride and eager to do some work of righteousness to be approved by God? Some have shared seeing themselves like the woman who washed Jesus’s feet with her tears—broken by their sin and overcome by Jesus’s love and forgiveness.

We have read stories of victory and heartbreak in these testimonies, each unique to the individual but common to the plight of man.” Not only are the students able to reflect on their own journey of faith in Christ in a meaningful and powerful way, but they are also able to develop the skills of communicating biblical insights to others.

EXERCISING LOVE in confronting cultural issues

At TCA, we encourage students to ask tough questions, push back, be honest with doubts, and do it with civility, kindness and patience. Students wrestle with the issues of our world through a biblical lens, including topics such as abortion, cancel culture, homosexuality, #MeToo, social media, transgenderism, tribalism and more. Jeremy Gregory shares his heart for what it looks like to engage secular worldviews as Christians: “The aim in the lectures and presentations is to learn other points of view, listen (because listening is foundational on how to show love to our neighbors) and respond lovingly in word and deed to others—yes, with our biblical convictions, but also with our Christ-like compassion.”

Will McIntosh relates an occasion he had recently to do just that: “I have had the amazing opportunity presented by the Lord to take an atheist friend to church for the first time, and because of how we studied different worldviews last year, I feel well equipped to answer his questions about my relationship with God and be a loving person.”

Nicholas Wong ’17 is a recent graduate from the University of Texas, where he double-majored in art and pre-med

44 TRINITY TODAY / ROOTED AND GROUNDED

programs. When considering how TCA readied him for the culture he experienced in college, he shared, “I quickly found that being surrounded with people who stand for different things but communicate and aspire through a common medium sets the stage for healthy discourse and fosters an empathy that circumvents conventional conversation. Rubbing elbows with people who do not share your beliefs offers a unique opportunity to strengthen your convictions and develop skills to communicate with those people effectively. TCA was formative in reinforcing my faith development, and UT allowed that faith to be tested, shared and owned.”

The work we see God doing in the lives of alumni is the fruit of our labors, for which we are so grateful. “I am thankful for TCA, because it is a place where I can teach my younger brothers and sisters in Jesus to love God and love others by the way we live out our lives with a deeper understanding of God’s Word and of God’s world. By modeling and teaching empathetic love, truth and justice as is embodied in Jesus, TCA students will take the aroma of Jesus into our broken and beautiful world,” says Mr. Gregory.

Bob Dyer adds how we must be dependent on God in this —UPPER SCHOOL BIBLE DEPARTMENT endeavor: “There is no perfect HEAD BOB DYER family or perfect parent or perfect church; yet, as imperfect parents, imperfect pastors, imperfect teachers and imperfect mentors we are commanded to be God’s instruments in the process of delivering the gospel to our young people and instructing them in the way of righteousness, that they

“We encourage each student to take up the high calling of being an ambassador of Jesus Christ personally and professionally in the future.”

Upper Room, Nicholas Wong ’17 and those whose lives they touch may be transformed by the Holy Spirit.”

Our aim at TCA is not to curate each student’s journey into a picture-perfect story or to insulate them from challenging thoughts or controversial topics found in today’s culture. Instead, we appreciate the epic expeditions our students find themselves launching into. We take seriously the responsibility of writing God’s truth on their hearts and preparing students with a biblical and theological foundation for the adventure of unknowns that lies ahead. We send them out as living letters, carefully written by God’s wisdom, authority, creativity and passion and by His grace expressing His infinite love to the world.

This painting is my meditation on the book of Acts—specifically God’s design for his early church and how a body of people under Christ ought to operate: complementing one another in strengths and weaknesses like that of a living organism. I was thinking about the tension between individuality and anonymity as it pertains to the beauty of the Whole Body or the Church.

This piece was special to me because it was one of the first times I could speak freely with my peers about Christ and Scripture through the vernacular of art discourse. Through class critiques, we bypassed the formalities and safeguards of a cold conversation and spoke openly about the themes of Acts in a surprisingly welcoming and curious atmosphere.

I haven’t been able to strike up natural conversations like this outside the bounds of art with my fellow classmates without being weird, so I’m thankful for the access that this piece granted.

Upper Room was among the works featured in the 2021 TCA Alumni Art Exhibition, which ran from October through December in the Trinity Art Gallery.

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ATHLETICS

Early morning

TRAINING

. . . for LIFE

D

ID YOU KNOW that every Wednesday morning several

BY DON ENGLISH, B OYS AT H L ET IC DI R E CT OR

Each fall we begin studying a book from the Old Testament and then

TCA coaches huddle together in the Field House conference

transition to a New Testament book in the spring. Once a passage of Scripture is

room from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. to study God’s Word? This

read, most of the hour is focused on discussing what we’ve learned, how we can

important time together undoubtedly feeds our coaches

apply what we’ve learned and ultimately how we can better teach, mentor and

spiritually in order to more deeply pour into our Trojan athletes.

Coaches Outreach is an organization that produces Bible studies specifically made for coaches. Founded by former NFL player Tommy Maxwell, Coaches

coach the student-athletes God has placed in our care. Each session ends with prayer for our kids, their families, our school and our great nation.

Robbie Rice, a TCA father, former TCA coach and husband of Middle School

Outreach is designed to “impact communities through the Christ-like leadership

teacher Robin Rice, shares why he’s committed to the study: “Our group is a

of coaches transformed by biblical truth.” Currently there are over 5,000

great weekly reminder of my need for other men in my life who remind me that

coaches and 600 studies that meet across the country. Coaches Outreach has

my identity is in Christ, that I am not alone in my struggles and that my purpose

three simple goals: study the Bible from a coach’s perspective, create a more

is greater than a paycheck or human accolades. I also enjoy the laughter

unified staff and help develop strong, moral character in coaches and student-

and banter!”

athletes. Through the efforts of retired coaches and lay leaders like TCA parent

Scott Polk adds, “There is a difference between learning and knowing. It is

Scott Polk, who willingly give of their time volunteering, hundreds of coaches

great learning more of God’s Word, but it’s even more awesome to have the

have been impacted for the Kingdom of God. In turn, these coaches challenge

connection and fellowship with these other men! It has impacted me to know

their athletes to live and compete more like Jesus!

that the coaches leading our boys are godly men.”

Thirteen years ago, Scott Polk began leading the TCA Coaches Outreach study

Steve Mercer, longtime Upper School physics teacher and assistant head

and for the past decade has been leading a core group of eight coaches who have

varsity football coach, shares, “Coaches Outreach Bible study has been a part

been faithfully studying God’s Word and discussing best methods of living it out

of my weekly routine since I started working at TCA seventeen years ago. The

through their coaching. A former Texas A&M football standout, Scott is married

Bible study lessons are great, the fellowship with the other coaches is excellent,

to Stephanie, a former TCA trustee, and is father to TCA senior Cody, Becca Polk

and the accountability involved in helping each other stay in God’s Word is very

Smith ’14 and Shelbi Polk ’11. Having coached youth football for many years, Scott

helpful. We have deep conversations that encourage us to be become better

genuinely identifies with coaches and has a keen understanding of the many

coaches and better men because we can all share the wisdom and lessons that

challenges they face on a regular basis. He has a unique ability of knowing how

we have learned along the way.”

to have fun yet unapologetically pushing his guys to new heights in their faith.

This fall as we studied Joshua, we kept coming back to the clear, concise

His humility is evident in that he quickly admits to a weakness and consistently

and consistent theme of victory and have learned that victory requires

is willing to share a difficult moment in his walk with Christ. I can speak for our

courage, teamwork, faith, recalling God’s faithfulness and our identity in

group and say that the key to our successful tenure is Scott’s enthusiasm and

Christ, consistent obedience, discipline, comebacks, humility, vision, grit and

faithfulness each week.

purpose. Ultimate victory results from God’s presence, God’s promise and God’s

This fall our group has been studying the book of Joshua, Moses’ successor,

planning! God still calls His people today to “be strong and courageous.” It’s

who faithfully led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Like the

encouraging to know that our strength and courage can grow incrementally

Israelites, we are reminded that we have much to learn regarding God’s

from consistently submitting to a holy, sovereign and trustworthy God, and that

faithfulness and our obedience to a loving yet holy God.

He can use us mightily in the lives of others for their good and His glory!

46 TRINITY TODAY

T ROJ A N LI F E

PHOTOS: K ENDA LL ELLIS

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Trojans Claim Division V League Championship A F TE R S TA RTI N G TH E Y E A R with losses to state-ranked China Spring and ESD, the

Trojans reeled in nine consecutive victories to finish the season 9-2. TCA handed Dallas Christian, the Division II District 2 champions, their only loss of the season. They also defeated the Division II District 1 champions, Fort Worth Southwest Christian, and perennial Louisiana football powerhouse Evangel Christian en route to the Division V league championship game against undefeated TMIEpiscopal from San Antonio. TCA defeated TMI 67-0 and left no doubt that they were the top team in Division V. The Trojans averaged 44 points a game behind outstanding offensive performers CAMDEN WILLIAMS , who led all private schools in the metroplex with 2820 yards passing and 31 touchdowns, and MARKUS SCHUMACHER , with 535 yards rushing and 724 yards receiving. This success came behind an offensive line anchored by seniors CODY POLK and JAMES BADGER . Defensively, TCA held opponents to 20 points a game behind outstanding performances by safety PRESTON SPEARS (73 tackles), corner LUKE TREDENNICK (40 tackles, 1 int, 11 PBU) and defensive linemen MAC HAYS (27 tackles, 1 sack) and MASON MERCHANT (60 tackles, 6 sacks).

Congratulations to the following players for earning state and league awards: JAKE CALLAHAN – First Team All-League, Academic All-State

James Badger – First Team All-League, Academic All-State Mason Merchant – First Team All-League, Academic All-State CONNOR WINES – First Team All-League, Academic All-State

Markus Schumacher – First Team All-League, Academic All-State

VARSITY FOOTBAL

ATHLETICS

Camden Williams – First Team All-League, Academic All-State BROOKS KRANTZ – First Team All-League, Academic All-State

Cody Polk – First Team All-Leagu, Academic All-State CHANCE SNYDER – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State

Preston Spears – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State LUKE DORÉ – Second Team All-League

Luke Tredennick – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State CHARLIE FRANKE – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State BEN SORGEN – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State JOHN BADGER – Second Team All-League MICHAEL GRAHAM – Second Team All-League, Academic All-State DYLAN EUBANKS – Honorable Mention All-League

Mac Hays – Honorable Mention All-League RHETT RICE – Honorable Mention All-League KYLE CAUSEY – Honorable Mention All-League HEATH BOOKER – Honorable Mention All-League WILL BOWLING – Honorable Mention All-League TRIPP ARTHUR – Honorable Mention All-League LUKE JOHNSTON – Honorable Mention All-League

48 TRINITY TODAY

PHOTOS: JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

TH E VA R S IT Y G I R L S A N D BOYS CRO S S COU NTRY TE A M S teams

competed well this season despite being very young. The girls team finished in the top three in three of their first five meets, including two first-place finishes.

They finished third at 6A TAPPS District 1 Championships and 13th at the 6A TAPPS State Championships. RACHEL MILLS and KATE SOLOMON were awarded AllDistrict honors. The highlight of the season for the girls team was the first-place finish at the Ennis Invitational.

The boys team finished in the top four three races this season. They received third place at the 6A TAPPS District 1 Championships and 11th at the 6A TAPPS State Championships. LUKE TOWNLEY and RYAN FREESE earned All-District honors. The Celina Invitational race was one of the highlights for the boys’ season, with each athlete setting new personal bests.

Congratulations to these runners who received team awards: Winning Redefined (Most Christlike) Rachel Mills, HUDSON SMITH MVP - EMILY JONES, , JAKE OVERMANN Most Improved - Kate Solomon, JOSH WOOD The team’s chosen theme and Bible verse was “Stand firm” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY

S P O R T S B E AT

ATHLETICS

S P O R T S B E AT

and exciting 2021 season. The team started the year with an amazing team bonding trip to the ranch where the girls grew closer as a team. The team then ventured down to Austin for the Georgetown tournament, getting to play some of the biggest public schools from the area. The team played some great matches, beating some great 5A schools. They ended up in the gold bracket and tied for seventh place. It was a great experience to start the season.

Next, the team headed to the Allen tournament, facing some of the largest public schools from the area, like Plano West, Allen and Plano East. In an exciting match, the Trojans beat Plano East to get into the gold bracket and competed against the top teams in the tournament. The team tied for ninth in the tournament.

Heading into district, the team was ready to compete and head into playoffs. In what was a very strong district this year, the girls competed strongly in every match they played!

In a sudden-death match to break a tie in the district, the Trojans came up victorious and headed into the playoffs. In a match against St. Agnes, who went on to win the state title, the Trojans battled back and forth in an exciting game. The team ended up losing in four sets, thus ending a very exciting and fun-filled season.

We would like to give special recognition to our seniors, ANNA HEIDELBAUGH, JOSIE RAFTELIS, SYDNEY WAYTE, MARY NEUHOFF, KAYLEE CONNELL, LYNNSON FORT and ALYSSA CLEMOVITZ , and thank them for their leadership and

for upholding the traditions of TCA volleyball. Good luck to them in the future, and GO TROJANS! Congratulations to the following volleyball players for earning state and district awards: Anna Heidelbaugh – First Team All-District, Honorable Mention All-State, Academic All-State TRINITY MARTIN – First Team All-District,

Academic All-State

Josie Raftelis – Second Team All-District, Academic All-State Sydney Wayte – Second Team All-District, Academic All-State

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

TH E TROJ A N VO LLE Y B A LL TE A M had a fun

COURTNEY ANDERSON – Honorable Mention

All-District

Mary Neuhoff – Honorable Mention All-District

50 TRINITY TODAY

PHOTOS: JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

Giving it our ALL So far this school year, because of your support through the Athletic Booster Club, we have been able to equip our student-athletes and programs with the following: Practice gear for girls basketball

Sideline jackets for girls soccer

Mats for cheerleading

Workout equipment for ATC

Sponsorship for dance team trip to Orlando

Locker room branding for boys basketball

Drone for football

Flash timing camera system for track

Dressing room wall wrap for Field House locker room

Attack volleyball machine

Thank you for your continued support!

ALUMNI

Letter from the Director of Alumni

T

HE PA ST FE W MON T HS have been busy in

the TCA alumni world. We have hosted several events and are busy planning more for the spring. I am very honored to work with the

TCA Alumni Association Board that represents our alumni.

The board meets monthly to plan and execute events and projects that connect TCA with alumni. Our mission statement is “to strengthen, serve and advance TCA’s overall mission by connecting alumni and alumni parents relationally, professionally and spiritually with the TCA community.” Let me introduce you to our new Alumni Association Board for 2021-22.

SPRING ALUMNI WEEKEND 2022 F R I DAY N I G H T, A PR I L 2 2 7 PM –10 PM AT T H E S TA R I N F R I S CO

We are kicking off the weekend with a party to celebrate all our alumni.

Come see old friends, teachers and coaches at our event. It will be a night to remember!

S AT U R DAY, A PR I L 2 3 1 PM - TCA VARSITY BASEBALL VS. THE ALUMNI BASEBALL TEAM

Bring your family to cheer on the alumni team. We will have games for kids, a food truck and snowcones. If you are interested in playing in the baseball game, please email Beth Harwell at bharwell@trinitychristian.org .

ALUMNI BOARD 2021-22 BR ANDON WADDELL ’97, PRESIDENT LANE CONNER ’99, PAST PRESIDENT KATE LYNCH ’97, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

S AT U R DAY N I G H T, A PR I L 2 3

ASHLI BURBRIDGE AVERY ’98, VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGACY FAMILIES

Class agents will be in touch with plans for reunions for individual years. All reunions that were missed because of COVID will be held as part of our weekend festivities.

• Reunions missed from Spring 2020: 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 • Reunions missed from Spring 2021: 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 • Reunions for Spring 2022: 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017

JO ANN FERRELL HODGES ’87, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNIT Y EVENTS JACKIE SCHIMMER HARRISON ’86, VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI ADMISSIONS TYLER GALVIN ’15, VICE PRESIDENT OF SENIORS ANNIE ARMES WOOD ’14

MICHAEL NOVAKOVICH ’15

JOHN BUNDREN ’10

JUSTIN RIDNOUR ’90

HALEIGH LEE MANHKONG ’09

ERIN VITTETOE HAMMONDS ’97

CHRIS MILLET ’82

Some of the projects we plan during the year are big events like the Homecoming Alumni Dinner and Spring Alumni Weekend, but we also do smaller events like the alumni parent lunches, care packages sent to the most recent graduating class, college visits to see our alumni in person and legacy family events during the year. Plus, we work on ways to better communicate with alumni by publishing quarterly newsletters and alumni profiles for Trinity Today, updating and gathering your contact information and posting alumni updates on social media.

Currently, we are working on plans for the Spring Alumni

S U N DAY, A PR I L 2 4 2 PM - TC A PE R F O R M I N G A R T S C E N T E R

Bring your family to the matinee performance of the Upper School drama production of Matilda the Musical!

Registration for the weekend will begin in February at www.trinitychristian.org/alumni.

Many thanks to our volunteer board members for the hours they spend working on events and projects that keep TCA connected to our alumni! If you ever have any suggestions or would be interested in serving on the TCA Alumni Association Board, please email me at bharwell@trinitychristian.org. We welcome your feedback!

Weekend on April 22–24. We are so excited to finally hold it after having to cancel it the past two years due to COVID-19. All alumni and their families, including alumni parents, are invited to our weekend festivities. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in person!

52 TRINITY TODAY

BET H H A RW E L L Director of Alumni

A LU M N I S P OTLIG HT

Dr. Hayden Mbroh ’12 C LI N I C A L P S YC H O LO G I S T

E

V EN W HEN SHE WA L K ED T HE TC A C A MPUS A S A ST U DEN T,

Dr. Hayden Mbroh ’12 dreamed of serving in the pediatric mental health field as a psychologist, and the academic and faith foundation she found at TCA helped launch her dreams into reality as she now serves teens and young adults who are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Hayden finds deep purpose in what she describes as “providing a safe space” through mental health care and is continually inspired by the stories of the youth she serves.

Hayden considered many undergraduate universities for pursuing her education in psychology. However, she describes her visit to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, as a “God thing” once she realized Furman offered a minor in poverty studies that would specifically enable her to better prepare to serve the mental health needs of underserved populations. The minor in poverty studies featured unique interdisciplinary coursework and internships for undergraduates as well as study-abroad trips. An in-depth trip to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe provided Hayden with opportunities to blend studies in psychology, sociology, photography and history to better understand multifaceted contributors to global inequality and also celebrate cherished aspects of various African cultures.

“God is an inevitable part of the story of how I got into Furman and why I decided to go there,” she says.

Hayden’s decision to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology led her back home to Dallas via graduate school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She began her doctoral studies right after undergraduate graduation, a rare feat she credits to God’s gracious provision.

She also was the recipient of the Cultural Diversity

PHOTO COUR T E S Y OF UNI V ER SI T Y OF SOU T HER N C A LIF OR NI A V I A W IK IMEDI A COMMONS

LE G AC Y

Scholarship, which is given to one first-year clinical psychology doctoral student who is passionate about serving underserved pediatric populations.

This scholarship provided opportunities for conducting research projects and participating in clinical work specifically dedicated to this population.

Hayden has learned to share her faith in academia through a commitment to integrating her love for Christ with her love for science. As part of one of the studies that Hayden helped conduct as Cultural Diversity Scholar, published in the respected Journal of Child and Family Studies, she assisted with the development of a culturally-tailored suicide prevention program for Latinx teens in partnership with a community mental health clinic. Amid the pain of many ofher patients’ stories, Hayden finds encouragement in knowing that while the patient may be currently experiencing “the darkest dark, I’ve also seen people come back into the light.” Similarly, her dissertation focused on posttraumatic growth (positive psychological change resulting from a traumatic experience) in pediatric solid-organ transplant recipients and their caregivers.

Hayden is a firm believer that helping her patients recognize their unique Godgiven gifts and strengths is imperative to her role as a psychologist.

After graduating with her doctorate in 2020, Hayden moved to California for a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles that matches her heart for serving underserved pediatric populations, including young people experiencing homelessness and youth with chronic medical conditions. This work is deeply fulfilling for Hayden: “For me, God is a huge part of this work. Because of my faith, I pray for my patients.”

The COVID-19 pandemic brought much of California to a full lockdown just as Hayden moved to Los Angeles. It can be challenging to find Christian community when church is only online. However, sharing the ways in which her faith has influenced her career and overall perspective within the academic medical community allows her to be a gentle yet confident witness: “I have to bring up God to tell the story of my professional journey. I’m not afraid to testify that way; I’m not afraid to bring that up.”

Looking back to life at TCA before her 2012 graduation, Hayden points to joyful memories like senior trip, Homecoming week, being in Les Misérables, the eighth-grade Wilderness trip and the sixth-grade Sky Ranch trip as treasured experiences for which she will forever be appreciative. She felt completely prepared for college academically but is particularly grateful for the foundation TCA provided for her life as a disciple.

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ALUMNI

Keaton Schaeffer ’10 CO - F O U N D E R , H O M AG E CO F F E E S O U RC E

K

E ATON SCH A EFFER ’10 H A S FOU N D what so

many Christian business leaders seek: a way to build a company that blesses people in need while remaining a successful for-profit enterprise.

As a young entrepreneur with a heart for saturating his business with a Kingdom mission, Keaton weaves his faith and entrepreneurship skills together daily in the coffee industry.

Keaton is a lifer who “lived at TCA” as his mom worked at TCA in several roles. Remembering his life at TCA, he credits football position coaches such as Brandon Graham, Kerry DeWeese and Steve Mercer for serving as father figures. “They loved on me well, held me to high standards and meant it when they said to call if I ever needed anything.” Keaton “can’t say enough good things” about how his TCA football and basketball coaches discipled him, calling them “formative in the person I have become.”

Keaton laughs as he jokes about his academic life at TCA. He says he was not a very engaged student, and his top priority

54 TRINITY TODAY

was not schoolwork as a teenager, but he links his success in business today with values formed in him while at TCA: “A significant factor in my work ethic today comes from TCA football.” He also points to the impression twelfth-grade literature with Fran Legband made on him, despite being “not much of a reader” during his senior year. He remembers Mrs. Legband as a wonderful teacher who was “fun and exciting because she made things come to life.” Like so many alumni, he had an awakening about the value of his TCA academic background after entering college. “In high school, I was mainly interested in being an athlete, but I didn’t realize until college how rare my education at TCA was. I was better equipped than kids from other high schools, and I had been taught to think. I didn’t realize how special it was that I had teachers who loved me. They were for me. My TCA teachers loved me just because they loved me, because they loved the Lord.”

P H O T O S CO U R T E S Y O F G R A N T D A N I E L S ; CO F F E E B E A N S P H O T O CO U R T E S Y O F J A K E S M I T H

A LU M N I S P O T LI G H T

At Texas A&M, Keaton discovered a love for economics classes, fascinated by the “trends and pragmatic nature of economics.” He “wanted to start a business to serve people, to facilitate relationships and community.” For a time he studied the process of opening a restaurant but realized the significant obstacles involved. Keaton and a friend stumbled upon coffee roasting and bought a roaster, producing coffee in a backyard shed in College Station for two or three years.

During that time Keaton declared a major in agricultural economics and attended classes literally across the hall from the office of World Coffee Research, leading Keaton to research the coffee supply chain and realize “there could really be a significant opportunity for ministry” to coffee farmers in tropical locations at high elevation. He developed coffeerelated business plans as projects for several classes, and his business partner lived for over one year at a “coffee washing station” in Burundi, developing direct relationships with many coffee producers.

Finally, in 2017 Keaton and his business partner founded Homage Coffee Source, a coffee import/export and sourcing business. They desire to “equip and empower” farmers in Burundi, and now Uganda as well, by providing farmers with fair prices and access to markets, serving as their logistics and sales arm. Burundi, an “underdog” in the coffee supply chain, is passed over by larger exporters who are scared off by political instability. Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries, but Homage “builds trust [with farmers] by doing business fairly and generously” with the goal of “farmers driving change

in their own communities.” Homage is special in its highly transparent operations, resulting in high traceability for roasters who buy its imported coffee.

In 2020, Keaton and his business partner added a second company; Frame Coffee Co. roasts and sells coffee, differentiating itself with “higher quality at a good price—a well-roasted, bold, smooth cup of specialty coffee that is more accessible” than luxury brands but a big step up from the lower end of the market. “Ultimately, we want to be good stewards of the supply chain, because coffee should be simple, accessible—and can be purposeful, too.” Homage and Frame Coffee Co., both headquartered in the Dallas Design District, blend business with Kingdom mission, as Keaton and his colleagues are rooted in the belief that “Jesus is the reason for everything we do.”

Reflecting back on how TCA prepared him for business, entrepreneurship and a commitment to serving others, Keaton feels deeply grateful for the faith formation and wisdom he learned at TCA. He humbly reflects that “as a teenager, the high standards felt like just rules, but later I realized the structure was really good for me—the boundaries kept me from so many bad decisions.

Now I can see how my education helped establish a firm foundation of faith, honesty and perseverance that has served me well in my career.”

Keaton Schaeffer ’10 and business partner Jake Smith tour the washing station at Manafwa Specialty Seed in Manafwa, Uganda, with coffee farmer Picasso Nduwayo.

Keaton considers Picasso not only a supply partner but a close friend and trusted extension of Homage Coffee Source for projects in Uganda and Burundi.

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ALUMNI

Becky Cunningham Ellis ’04 JONI AND FRIENDS SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR TEX AS

A

T A ROU N D AGE 12, Becky Cunningham

Ellis ’04 experienced two life changes that would echo through her future for years to come: she started attending Trinity Christian Academy, and she began volunteering with her family at a summer camp for people with disabilities through the ministry Joni and Friends. After more than a decade of volunteering, Ellis was hired at Joni and Friends in what she calls “God-ordained timing.” Becky is celebrating ten years as a full-time employee at Joni and Friends, currently serving as senior director for Texas.

She lives in Dallas with her husband, Ross, and her two daughters, Cannon (4) and Kaiya (1). Becky’s role involves developing the ministry to serve more families, investing in her employees and fundraising, and the Texas staff recently rejoiced as the ministry grew to open an office in Houston.

Joni and Friends is named for its founder, Joni Eareckson Tada, who suffered a diving accident as a teenager in 1967 that left her a quadriplegic. In the forty years since, Tada has shared the gospel through a bestselling book, movie, radio show and even evangelizing an audience of over 100,000 people at a Billy Graham Crusade in Budapest, Hungary. Her international organization seeks to equip churches to provide disability ministry. In addition, Joni and Friends provides outreach to families touched by disabilities, which includes taking the entire family to summer camps. A second program

56 TRINITY TODAY

provides camps for families of wounded veterans, and a third program called Wheels for the World has provided specially fit wheelchairs for people with disabilities in countries with very high levels of poverty, delivering the 100,000th chair in Ghana in 2014.

Becky says that what she loves most about Joni and Friends is the ministry’s alignment with the mandate in Luke 14 to “go out into the streets and the alleyways, to find the poor, the blind, the lame and the crippled . . . to bring them in so that my house will be full.” Sharing why she believes this is so important, she says, “The disability community is the most unreached people group. Even here in our own backyard, families living with disabilities are turned away from church. At Joni and Friends, we desire to break down those barriers so that people affected by disability are not only welcomed but also seen as an integral part of the body of Christ.” Becky finds inspiration in the words of Joni Eareckson Tada herself: “God permits what he hates to accomplish that which he loves.” She finds comfort in the knowledge that “we may not understand the why of suffering, but we can rest in the knowledge that He is with us through it all.”

Around the same time Becky started volunteering side-by-side with her mom at the Joni and Friends summer camp, Becky transferred to TCA in seventh grade and “loved it,” finding fast friendships by playing all the middle school sports. Her favorite memories of life as a teenager at TCA involve teachers who invested in her, including

P H O T O S CO U R T E S Y O F J O N I A N D F R I E N D S

A LU M N I S P O T LI G H T

science class with Mr. Blagburn and history/English with Mr. Saffold. She became very close to Hank and Diane Harmon, Upper School Bible teacher and Upper School government teacher, respectively, who have invested in TCA students for several decades, and she is thankful for the blessing of Mrs. Harmon being a mentor to her. Becky also recalls the influence of former Upper School Bible teacher Steve Williamson: “Mr. Williamson had a very special connection with my class as a whole, especially after senior trip.” Becky explains that at TCA, “small classes created the opportunity to really get to know the teachers. TCA was all about relationships, which prepared me for my career.”

As graduation approached, Becky secured a volleyball scholarship to Ouachita Baptist University, where she majored in sociology. She remembers the TCA academic curriculum as rigorous, “which made college easy.

Some friends in college struggled, but I was so wellprepared, which allowed me to handle being a college athlete.” Growing up in a Christian home meant that the discipleship she found at TCA was not new, but Becky is grateful that her TCA “Bible classes strengthened an already solid foundation” provided by her parents. As an adult looking back on those formative years, she had a realization: “I don’t struggle with compartmentalizing or segregating my faith from the rest of my life, because TCA taught me to incorporate faith in all of life—TCA normalized that for me.”

That syncretism of faith and career was on display in 2020. Right before the pandemic began, Becky traveled to Brazil for a Wheels for the World outreach trip. She watched as a young mother, about Becky’s age, carried her 12-year-old son up to a wheelchair distribution site.

“He wasn’t small,” she remembers, “and you could tell she carried him everywhere.” After receiving his very own wheelchair, Becky describes that “the look in his eyes was priceless. Not only were we able to provide him and his mom with the gift of mobility, but we were able to provide him with dignity. Here in America, we are so blessed with so much. My time with Joni and Friends continues to remind me every day of the blessings we have been given.

And to whom much has been given, much will be required. I see Joni and Friends not only as my job but an opportunity to advocate for families who are desperate for hope.”

O P P O S I T E PA G E - Becky Cunningham Ellis ’04 with one

of the children who received their first wheelchairs during the Wheels for the World outreach to Cuba

T O P L E F T - Becky with the founder of Joni and Friends,

Joni Eareckson Tada, during the ministry’s leadership summit T O P R I G H T - Becky with her lifelong friend Steve at

Joni and Friends Family Retreat

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ALUMNI

W

HOMECOMING

E ENJOY ED SEEING A L L OF T HE A LU MN I

who came to our Homecoming festivities on October 8. This year we served over 400 meals,

donated by Texas de Brazil, to our alumni and their families at our annual Alumni Homecoming Dinner. We moved the dinner to the Upper School Commons this year, and it was a great success!

We had a face painter, games for the children and snow cones for everyone, which made for a fun evening of food and fellowship for all our alumni and their families! Thank you to our sponsors Texas de Brazil and Sky Ranch for their support!

The dinner location change made it easy for many of you to walk upstairs to the Trinity Art Gallery and enjoy the Alumni Art Exhibit reception in the Upper School. The exhibit featured thirty-seven former and current faculty and alumni from graduating classes 1978 to 2020.

Thank you to the alumni cheerleaders who came out to cheer with our varsity squad during the second quarter of the football game. The evening ended with the Trojans defeating Beaumont Kelly 61-23. Way to go, Trojans!

58 TRINITY TODAY

PHOTOS: JEFF McWHORTER ’ 05

ALUMNI DINNER

WINTER 2021–22

59

ALUMNI

HOMECOMING F

OR T HE PA ST FOU R Y E A R S,

faculty and alumni associated with the Trinity Christian Academy Art

Department have displayed their work in the TCA Art Alumni Exhibition in the TAG (Trinity Art Gallery). The work of this year’s exhibition defines both the consistency and diversity of the beloved art department throughout the years. This show’s artists include multiple former and current faculty and span graduating classes from 1978 to 2020.

When we started doing this exhibition four years ago, it was our hope to create a space for artists such as these to return to TCA, a place that served as a foundation for their growth and development [1]

[2]

as both artists and professionals.

The exhibition, which showcases 37 artists and 74 works, debuted on October 8 and continues through December 10. The exhibition typically does not have a theme, so artists can submit any piece they have created in the past year. Although the method of artmaking changes, all pieces are imbued with personal meaning and serve as a testament to the Lord working in these artists’ lives and the lives around them.

In recent years, you may have seen alumnus Jeffrey McWhorter ’05 around campus photographing the students in various capacities for promotional materials. Outside of Jeff’s day job, which touts clients such as the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Morning News, his heart lies with telling the stories of a group of immigrants at Thomas Jefferson High School.

[3]

T H I S PA G E - [1] Katie Baker Babb ’07, Arise and Distracted; [2] Kimberlea Krueger Bass ’91, This Old House; [3] Jeff McWhorter ’05, The Time We Have Here; O P P O S I T E PA G E - [4] Rod Morris, Frog; [5] Lori Miller Giesler ’80, A Glimpse of Truth

60 TRINITY TODAY

A LUNNI A RT SHOW PHOTOS: JEF F McWHORT ER ’ 05; A RT WORK PHOTOS: K ENDA LL ELLIS

ALUMNI ART SHOW In 2017, he met these individuals while doing outreach to student-

[4]

athletes through Northway Church, where he serves as an elder.

Over the next two years, Jeff spent countless hours documenting the journeys of two key students, César Escobar and Bryan Gámez, and their families and friends. The resulting project, The Time We Have Here, represented by 14 photos and accompanying text, was shown as part of the alumni show this year.

Another show highlight includes work by former Lower School teacher and head (1975–2015) Rod Morris. Returning to TCA as artist, Rod’s quirky sculptures reflect a former time when he crafted various learning toys for his own classroom. Rod Morris is well represented by three free-standing sculptures that interact with one another and the work around them. The most affecting is “Frog” which is made of various gears, turned wooden pieces, and even has a tongue that extends far enough to catch a spring loaded fly in its vicinity. The playfulness of the work combined with the high level of craft has garnered great attention and has quickly become a fan favorite of alumni and the TCA community.

This show is one of the faculty’s favorite shows to curate because it gives the current student population a chance to view past students’ works as well as their teachers. During the school week, the various art classes are taken to the gallery to discuss the work’s historical context as well as its role in the world today. It is also fun to introduce the students to different art professions and opportunities. In addition, the students see that their teachers are working artists as well. What they are learning in the classroom, they get to see in real life.

“There’s such a wide variety of abstract as well as representational pieces and a wide spectrum of media,” art instructor Frances Allen said. “Everything from woodwork to ceramics, photography, printmaking, painting. Everyone has different interests in art and different styles, and I think this exhibition

[5]

really represents that.”

We hope that this exhibition will encourage support and future contribution from artists, both working as art professionals and as those dedicated to their craft. We hope to engage with many more artists and hopefully others will come back or join us for this opportunity in the future.

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ALUMNI

LE G AC Y

Letter from the Alumni Association President

I

A M HONOR ED TO SERV E as the new president of

the TCA Alumni Association. Having served on the board for four years, I’ve had the opportunity to observe the leadership of Stephen Konstans ’83 and our past president, Lane Conner ’99. Both Lane and Stephen led with a strategic wisdom that was inspiring. I especially want to thank Lane for his leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the Alumni Association was not able to hold several annual events, Lane set goals for the association and enabled us to be in a position to accomplish much more.

The Alumni Association Board’s mission is to strengthen, serve and advance TCA’s overall mission by connecting alumni and alumni parents relationally, professionally and spiritually with the TCA community, and we are working diligently to accomplish that mission. But our mission cannot be accomplished alone—we want you to be involved. When I reflect on my time at TCA, there are so many things to be thankful for: the spiritual guidance, the outstanding education, the caring faculty and our athletics and fine arts programs. However, one thing that still resonates is the friendships. It is always a pleasure to reconnect with classmates, and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to see your classmates once again. Our Homecoming events were an absolute success, and we are eagerly looking forward to Spring Alumni Weekend.

One of the greatest testaments to the strength of TCA is the number of legacy families and students. Currently, we have 100 alumni families with 194 students enrolled at TCA. We happen to be one of those families—with a daughter, Willa, in the fourth grade, and our son, Eli, will hopefully be in the class of 2037. Our return to TCA has been nothing short of amazing, and we are excited to take an active role in the continued growth of TCA for years to come. As I consider my time as a student through the lens of a TCA parent, I’m more aware now of the things that I took for granted. Our daughter LOVES TCA and is always excited for school. Our experience in the Lower School has truly been incredible. The teachers are dedicated to the students’ individual growth academically and spiritually, and our daughter has thrived.

I’m thankful for all those who have dedicated their careers to enriching and educating our children, but as a parent, I now have a greater appreciation for the entire TCA community. As a student, I saw my parents make lasting friendships with other parents, and

62 TRINITY TODAY

my mother was always actively involved in the school as a volunteer.

Now, Stacie and I have developed those lifelong friendships with other parents who pray for our children and provide a fellowship that is priceless. There is simply no substitute for a community of Christ-centered parents who care for one another and are collectively raising children in these current times.

“As I consider my time as a student through the lens of a TCA parent, I’m more aware now of the things that I took for granted. Our daughter LOVES TCA and is always excited for school.

Our experience in the Lower School has truly been incredible.”

We are also excited to see the progress on the new Middle School, which will provide a new home for seventh- and eighthgraders that will rival the facilities of any other school in Dallas while providing a state-of-the-art learning experience for our middle-schoolers. If you have children and are looking for a school, I strongly encourage you to come back home.

I’d like to thank our director of alumni, Beth Harwell, and our entire Alumni Association Board for their selfless service and strategic vision. I look forward to serving you, and may God continue to bless TCA.

B R A N D O N WA D D E L L ’ 9 7 Alumni Association President

IN MEMORIAM WINTER 2021–22

Donald Harold Relyea Sr., alumni parent, TCA Board of Trustees, 1987–92 May 25, 2021

Sherry Nell Davidson, alumni parent July 31, 2021

Robert Russell Warren ’90 July 31, 2021

Trevor Boone Majors ’86 August 29, 2021

Daniel Shelton Goode ’13 September 10, 2021

Kaethe (Katie) Marie Weaver, alumni parent September 16, 2021

Bradley Lynn Horn ’80 September 22, 2021

George Owens Ferrell, alumni parent September 24, 2021

Becky Lou Broyles Crews, alumni parent December 12, 2021

Linda Massinger, alumni parent and TCA staff member January 2, 2022

LAST WORD

ONE LAST PERFORMANCE . . . UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN Linda Massinger, beloved pianist and unsung hero of the TCA Performing Arts Department, performed with the Middle School and Upper School Choirs for their Christmas concerts in December, no one but the Lord knowing that this would be the last time she would perform on the TCA stage before her passing on January 2. Linda shared her musical gifts with TCA for 21 years, always with a bright smile, a warm hug or an encouraging word to bless the students, directors and faculty she worked with. Knowing Linda was taking a break from accompanying for TCA, students shared thank-you notes with her during the Christmas concerts and gave her flowers to express their gratitude for what she meant to them. We trust that in God’s goodness Linda knew what a mark she made on the TCA community through her talent, kindness, servant’s heart and unwavering committment to the Performing Arts program. She will be dearly missed by all.

Go to venue.streamspot.com/096a2e2a or scan this QR code to watch the Christmas choir concerts.

PHOTO BY K ENDA LL ELLIS

NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

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NOTE TO PARENTS

If this publication is addressed to a graduate who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify Kendall Ellis at kellis@trinitychristian.org of his or her new mailing address. Thank you!

© 2022 TRINIT Y CHRIS TIAN AC ADEMY, PRINTED BY MILLE T THE PRINTER , DALL A S, TE X A S

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