Trinity Today – Winter 2023-24

WINTER 2023—24

VOL . 18— N O. 1

Trinity T O D AY

Loving Your Neighbor C ON N ECTI N G TH E TR I NIT Y C H R I STIAN ACAD EMY C O M M UNIT Y

EDITOR KEVIN MCCONAGHY

DESIGN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR CLARISSA WONG ’19

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE KEVIN MCCONAGHY Director of Marketing & Communication HAVEN BURGOON ’16 Digital Media Specialist CAREY ESTRADA Photographer JAY PARKER Sports Information & Media Manager CLARISSA WONG ’19 Graphic Designer & Publications Coordinator

ALUMNI OFFICE BETH HARWELL Director of Alumni

ADVISORY BOARD DR. JEFF D. WILLIAMS Head of School SCOTT BERTHEL BEV BIRMINGHAM KRISTY KEGERREIS JENNIE KESLER FRAN LEGBAND BECKY LEWIS CHRISTINE METOYER SHAWNNAH PARRILL AMY EDWARDS PRIDEAUX ’89 CAMILLE LANGFORD WALKER ’82 LISA WONG JUSTIN ZAPPIA

BOARD OF TRUSTEES STACEY DORÉ Chair DERIC EUBANKS Vice Chair MARK DYER Past Chair LISA CHOU DAVID HARPER WENDY HERMES BRANDON WADDELL CRAIG WENNING LISA WHITAKER

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 Kevin McConaghy at kmcconaghy@trinitychristian.org and alumni information to Beth Harwell at bharwell@trinitychristian.org.

FOLLOW US FACEBOOK.COM/TCATrojans TWITTER.COM/TCATrojans INSTAGRAM.COM/tca_addison

LOWER SCHOOL PHOTO BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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EDITOR’S NOTE Life can feel complicated. There are constant decisions to be made, problems to solve, relationships to navigate and tasks to complete.

However, at its core, the Christian life is simple. Everything boils down to a couple of closely related instructions: to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Do this, and you’ll fulfill everything God has commanded (Galatians 5:14).

When Jesus talks about love in this way, He is referring not to an internal emotion, but to external actions. After all, no one can command someone to feel a certain way; it is difficult to even tell yourself what emotions to feel. Instead of telling us how to feel, Jesus is telling us what to do—that we should selflessly serve others and consider their interests above our own (Philippians 2:3-4).

This is not something that comes naturally, which is why someone who loves in this way will stand out as being different. It’s what identifies us as being followers of Christ: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). We should be known for our love.

I am continually encouraged by how people in the TCA community demonstrate this kind of love. It shows up in how classmates treat each other, how volunteers serve the community and how alumni minister to the people around them.

It can be seen in outreach efforts overseas and how people from all over the world are welcomed here in Texas. And it’s at the core of everything we do at TCA. Teachers choose to teach because of love. Coaches put in the effort to disciple players out of love. Parents send their kids to TCA out of love. People give sacrificially to help provide children a Christ-centered education because of love.

All of it points to a God who is love (1 John 4:7-16) and who provided the greatest demonstration of love by sending His Son to die in our place (John 15:13). “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and through our actions, we can show God’s love to others.

This edition of Trinity Today highlights just a few of the ways that people at TCA are loving their neighbors. As you read these pages, our hope is that you will be encouraged and challenged to love your neighbor “more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10) and to “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

KEVIN MCCONAGHY Director of Marketing & Communication

contents CAMPUS & COMMUNITY From the Head of School 04 From the Board 05 of Trustees TCA Foundation 06 Parent Teacher 08 Fellowship

FEATURE

FEATURE

Fostering Meaningful 24 Friendships

God’s Path From 28 Ukraine to TCA

Fran Legband

Katie Kilpatrick

Friendships are our most precious resource at any stage of life — and they are a key way in which we live out God’s commands to love one another. How can we be good friends to the people God has placed in our lives, and how do we teach students to do the same?

The Berezhniy family traveled from their home in Ukraine to the United States just days before the war with Russia began in February 2022. Their new neighbors here in Texas have helped them navigate this unexpected transition.

Grandparents Day 10 Honor Roll 11 Good Works 12 Class Acts 18

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“GOD’S PATH FROM UKRAINE TO TCA” PHOTO BY YANA BEREZHNA; “TCA AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS” PHOTO BY CAREY ESTRADA; OTHER PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

FEATURE

TROJAN ATHLETICS

ALUMNI LEGACY

TCA Authors 34 & Illustrators

Soccer & 38 Discipleship

Homecoming 50

Kevin McConaghy TCA students, alumni and faculty have been putting their storytelling and artistic skills to good use in creating illustrated books. Their published works help teach God’s Word, bring generations together and connect kids with their culture.

Tenfifteen FC brings together people from all backgrounds. Some are refugees from countries scattered all over the globe; others are locals born and raised here in DFW. They are united by a love for soccer and a willingness to be and make disciples.

Fall Sports Season 44 Recaps

Alumni Art Show 52 From the Alumni 54 Association President From the Director 55 of Alumni Alumni Spotlight 56 This section highlights how former Trojans are influencing the world for the glory of God in their careers, ministries and other callings. In this issue we profile Rob Satterfield ’93 and Tom Stickney ’93.

In Memoriam 60

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From the Head of School

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s I have been back on the campus each day for the last year and a half, I have so enjoyed getting to know the faculty, staff, students and families that make up this amazing community. The TCA community is united in its love for Christ and commitment to a Christian education that develops the whole child for the glory of God. In getting to know so many of you, one thing that I have come to appreciate is that while we are one community united around our commitment to Christ, we are also diverse in so many ways.

We are not identical: We come from different neighborhoods, countries, cultures and churches. We have different interests; different likes and dislikes; and different hair and skin color, just to name a few examples. Our amazing, creative God made each and every one of us unique in a myriad of ways. But, despite our differences, we are still one in Christ!

While each and every person is unique, that does not mean that any one person is more important than any other. As the Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, all believers are part of one body, and every part is indispensable. God ordained it that way “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:25).

As a family of believers that is one in Christ, we are called to follow our Lord’s teachings on loving one another – both loving our brothers and sisters in Christ and loving our neighbors who may not know His forgiveness yet.

On the first day of school, I challenged the Upper School students with a message based on Micah 6:8. “What is good?

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I have encouraged the students to keep this in the forefront of their minds and live it out by being difference-makers, leading by example, choosing to do the right thing and seeking forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships. These are active, tangible ways that all of us can love each other and love our neighbors.

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As I walk the halls, visit with students in the cafeteria, attend athletic and fine arts events and see the teaching that is going on in the classrooms, I am constantly reminded of how blessed we are to be a part of this community – how blessed your children are to be under the influence of godly men and women who are here because they truly love the students and their Savior so much.

What does the Lord require of the TCA community moving forward? May we be a community that acts justly, loves mercy and walks humbly with our God. To God be the glory.

DR. JEFF D. WILLIAMS Head of School

From the Board of Trustees LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

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egardless of whether you yell Hook ‘em, Gig ‘em, Sic ‘em or Wreck ‘em on a fall Saturday, the Lord tells us to Love ‘em! We, in the TCA community, are different across many areas of life. This year, TCA families live across 83 different zip codes, and we collectively worship at 252 different churches in DFW. Wow! From our ethnic, socioeconomic, political and theological backgrounds, God’s design has marked us in unique ways. Despite all these differences, we are one in Christ and bonded by our faith in Jesus. Regardless of other’s differing convictions, God calls us to love.

We’re told in Scripture to share truth with love, but 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that without love, there’s no foundation for other people to hear truth. Scripture stresses the importance of loving our neighbor, yet it’s easier said than done. By sinful nature, we judge ourselves by our motives and other people by their actions. I, for one, know that I fall short in this area, so I welcome grace when I too frequently don’t love others as I should. But do I extend grace as freely to others as I do myself?

In Matthew 22:36-39, Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Colossians 3:12-13 reminds us, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Over the last few years, our society has grown more divided, even within the church. We’ve seen COVID, politics and theological differences split members of the body of Christ. Sadly, some would say Christians are better at dividing than multiplying. May we not fall for Satan’s trap and get drawn offside when inevitable differences arise with our neighbors. These “neighbors” might be those that live nearby, but also include our classmates, coworkers, fellow parents, teachers/coaches, extended family and even our perceived “enemies” (competitors in business, opponents and referees).

Years ago, I toured the Museum of the Bible. There, I saw a beautiful, 254-foot tapestry that illustrated how the Bible impacted American history. Yet, I noticed on the backside of the tapestry were tangled threads that crisscrossed the fabric. What was strong and beautiful on one side, was messy on the other side. It was an apt metaphor for believers. We are honest about our differences and imperfections, but we are also a strong and beautiful tapestry that points a watching world to Jesus. May we celebrate the different threads that bind us together as God weaves His story through our lives.

CRAIG WENNING Trustee

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BY BECKY D. LEWIS Executive Director TCA Foundation

TCA FOUNDATION

The Joy of Overflowing Love­ A Community of Generosity “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” ­— 1 Thessalonians 3:9

W

hen I reflect upon the TCA community and how well you love each other, I am reminded of Paul’s joy in hearing Timothy’s encouraging report about the church in Thessalonica. Paul goes on to offer a blessing to the church in verse 12: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

Overflowing love — this is my prayer for you, and I see it manifested every day. Your love for the Lord spills over and overflows for each other. One of the powerful ways I see this happen is through your open-handed giving to the Student Tuition Aid (STA) fund.

Each year, you give toward STA and enable the TCA Foundation to help families in our community. Many of these families are experiencing difficult circumstances. Some have lost jobs, some are dealing with long-term health problems and some have lost a loved one. Their children sit beside your children in class, play on the same sports teams and are involved in the same extracurricular activities, yet you may not realize the challenges

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their families are facing. They apply for STA, they pray, and because of your generosity, they can keep their children at TCA in the community they love. Here’s an excerpt from a letter we received from a grateful family:

“Our hearts can barely contain the JOY from knowing our children can stay at TCA, and we are on our knees in thanks to God for His abundant goodness! The TCA community has poured into our entire family. We have not only gained friendships with this godly community, but our faith has been strengthened.

From reviewing memory verses on the way to school, to heart conversations with teachers, to discussing weekly biblical principles and character qualities at the dinner table, to volunteering and having a chance to serve in those hallowed halls…I am constantly floored by the excellence in our community.”

LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

Just as your love overflows to others, the impact of your giving spills over to influence the lives of many. Your gifts provide an opportunity for young people to be educated, nurtured and inspired at TCA. As these young people grow and develop, they influence the lives of the people around them, multiplying the impact of your generosity. What a beautiful example of overflowing love!

Last year, the TCA Foundation granted over $1.8 million in tuition assistance, and we anticipate needing closer to $2 million this year. It is a tremendous goal, but I am continually in awe of the Lord’s provision through the generosity of friends like you. Your gifts are an answer to prayer and have lasting value!

I’ll close with another note of appreciation from a family experiencing the blessing of your generosity:

“Our children’s education and experience of life at TCA is an amazing blessing, and God has provided that through your generosity. You are investing in our child’s faith, education and future. The foundation being laid in our child’s heart has encouraged and strengthened us as parents and as followers of Christ. We are forever grateful and will never forget your kindness.”

Support the TCA community by scanning this code and making a gift to Student Tuition Aid.

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PARENT-TEACHER FELLOWSHIP Parents in the TCA Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF) selflessly love and serve others by providing meals, caring for families who are hurting, praying for people and improving the campus. They devote countless hours to making TCA the loving community that it is today.

SHOWING APPRECIATION The PTF annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon was held in November. This luncheon, provided by PTF and the parents, is one of the favorite events of the year for the faculty and staff at TCA, and it would not be possible without everyone coming together with such teamwork. Many thanks to everyone in the TCA community that baked, served or volunteered to make this such a special day. The buffet was headed by coordinators Lindsey Durrett, Danielle Long and Susan Mattox under the leadership of PTF Secretary Wendi Byerly. An enormous thank you for the sacrifice of your time to this event!

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MUM PHOTO AND PTF FLOWER PHOTO BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05; FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON PHOTO BY CAREY ESTRADA

MOMS & MUMS Morgan Gulbas, Julie Wetzel and Sherry Nunnally (pictured left) coordinated this year’s homecoming mum fundraiser for the freshman class. The coordinators began work in the spring, hand-selecting every ribbon and trinket that went on both the mum and garter. Once school started, they organized and led work sessions with other freshman moms to assemble and personalize each order.

This tireless group of volunteers made 452 mums and garters for our Upper School students to enjoy at homecoming.

These coordinators sacrificed so much of their personal time to this project, and we are so grateful. All funds collected from the sales of mums and garters go to the freshman class account to be used for their senior trip.

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A Grand Love CELEBRATING GRANDPARENT’S DAY What a joy it was to host Grandparents Day on November 16, 2023! This special day is a beloved tradition at TCA and a favorite event in the Lower School.

More than 1,100 grandparents and special friends visited students in grades preK through fourth grade. Besides spending time with their grandkids, they were able to meet the teachers and enjoy classroom fun as students shared class projects, artwork and memory verses.

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GRANDPARENTS DAY PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON ’16

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 Graham Akin Carolina Anderson Allie Arthur John Badger Cody Baker Finn Barton Payne Bator Gabriel Bibawi Avery Booker Jacob Brennan Blake Broekemeier Harrison Brown Kassadi Brown Heather Brownlee Katherine Broyles Audrey Bryant Max Burchett Teegan Burgett Nathan Chou Georgia Clay Jared Courtney James Crawford Sneha Daniel Lucy Dennis Zach Dodgen Deacon Dortch Collin Dumas Karalyn Ehmke Owen Ellis Joseph Fitzgerald Cecilia Garner Beck Henry Audrey Hestwood Brooks Higginbotham Haley Janacek Samuel Jenkins Kylie Jones Ivy Jordan Alex Kim David Kramp Ally Lee Annabelle Lee William Lehman Grace Leverton Eliotte Lin Erick Martinez Mycah McKelvey David Meiser Aidan Mills Ava Mills Jake Overmann Luca Palazzo Cate Pou Annika Powers Anna Sharpe Audrey Spence Avery Sulzen Sawyer Tripp Hank Valenta Maddox Vines Riley Wade Andrew Wei Christian Yang Molly Youn

JUNIORS Brody Bacon Hannah Belf Eliot Brookshire Chloe Copeland Benjamin Davis Jackson Dean Ava Dewey Jackson Duke Ryan Elms Ella Eubanks Gavin Farley Julia Floyd TJ Friesen

Anna Garcia Gael Garcia Courtney Haggard Hannah Claire Heflin Emma Helt Alexa Herrington Abby Jun Karys Karlow Elijah Liu Kelsey Long Brooks Loukas AnnMarie Martinez Ava McNaught Sean Meador Claire Millet Sloan Nelson Maya Nguyen Caleb Olson Addy Orozco Tee Parker Lilly Parrill MC Petersen Sophia Pfannstiel Brayden Rice Rachel Rice Shealy Seitz Mae Sharpe Ella Stewart Caleb Su Avery Wells Maddie Wilmotte Ava Wolff Zoe Wong Riley Wright Daniel Yang Ana Sofia Zuniga Sergio Zuniga

SOPHOMORES Hannah Adams Lucy Anderson Olivia Arnold Brent Baker Nicky Bayliss Bliss Bell Clary Bogda Delaney Borud Ella Bricker Caroline Broyles Lucas Cavazos Theo Cheung Tyler Chiang Hannah Grace Coleman Angelina Crook Sophie Dennis Scotty Drake Evie Estrada Grace Fuller Olivia Hammonds Caroline Hatton Boaz Henderson Hayes Hermes Hayden Key Collin Kilgore Chloe Mae Kimbrough Sebastian Lee Reid Lindsay Madison McKenna Mary Mosley Kate Overmann Carsen Prideaux Lauren Prideaux Samuel Qian Taylor Ramsey Libby Smith Avery-Kate Spence Shea Spivey Adysen Thibaudeau Cavanaugh Tripp Kendall Truitt Annie Turner Katelyn Westover Camille Williams Avery Womble Kennedy Wood Elizabeth Woods Nathan Youn Victoria Zuniga

FRESHMEN Hannah Applewhite

Milena Berezhna Lauren Boylan Lily Brewer Caris Collins Lauren Couturier Caroline Craighead Andrew Crawford Grant Daelke Kate Engram Wyatt Gard Brady Grantham Jillian Gulbas Sophie Huang Reid Johannsen Andrea Johnson Evelyn Keramidas Caleb Kim Ethan Lewis Will Loukas Emi Nguyen Izzi Opsal Boyd Pou Allison Rylander McLain Schulte Audrey Volbeda Sarah Wong Isabelle Yiu Zach Zeleskey

8TH GRADE Will Anderson Jordan Macatee Jackson Pattillo Duncan Ramsey Mack Sykes

7TH GRADE KK Ball Henry Dickinson Tatum Giles Parker Lowe Corbin Turner

Magna Cum Laude GPA OF 3.8–4.19 SENIORS Evan Acevedo Natalia Ah Chu Chloe Borud Bretton Brantley Catherine Copple Olivia Cundari Jackson Deuillet Aidan Dortch Bailee Dortch Loni Ekstrom Dylan Eubanks John Henry Flatt Camille Getz Ryleigh Habern Dawson Harper Bruce Hinson Kate Hurley Olivia Ibeto Kennedy Jacocks Lauren Janson Nathan Kim Jan Kruger Jace Lamb Olivia Ledebur Dillard Leeds Quade MacFadyen Sam Martin Harper McFarlane Bobby McLaughlin Niko Michaelides Erick Mills Wesley Moss Lleyton Myers Bree Ramsey Sydney Ridnour Holt Roberts Dylan Rock

Lucy Tredennick Natalie Weissinger Luke West Natalie Wilcox

JUNIORS Emma Ruth Ball Jenna Barker Peyton Boaz Parker Burch Laura Cook Emerson Dale Jamo Dunigan Luke Forrister Carson Harris Annabella Hays Sophia Latham Brynn Lawrence Katherine Lowrey Shelby Martgan Molly Mattox Everett May Nate Miller Luke Oliver Noah Rodgers Lexie Ronde Ella Shaul Gigi Simmons Noah Simpson Hudson Smith Gabe Speck Leighton Thornton Josh Wood Brett Yanof

SOPHOMORES Connor Anderson Caroline Antush Kieffer Barclay Ellery Barton Lacie Betts Sean Brownfield Kevin Carter Reese Cherry Brandon Chou Sarah Chung Brooke Davis Julia Erhart Hunter Flatt Greer Goldenberg Camie Hausz Lily Jeane Hayes Ryan Janacek Dannica Jenkins Annabelle Johnson Caitlin Johnson Pauline Malickal Charlotte March Macie Munoz Samantha Niederhofer Addison Rackley Jaime Ramirez Leyva Ava Solomon Katie Spears Scotland Stewart Landon Studer Olivia Tristan Violet Truly Avalon Wilburn Jonathan Yeh Charlie Zimmerman

FRESHMEN Lilly Bain Chloe Belew Iris Bell Andrew Beumer Nataleigh Brown Preston Dean Zoe Dorroh Zachary Fitzgerald Riley Gadoci Stella Greenwell Presley Griffin Anna Gurganus Hunter Haas Kendall Hamrick Kaki Hanna Kennedy Harris Kate Jackson Natalia Kattan

Trey Lander Brandon Lankford Noah Liu Ellie Lord Lucas McIntyre Kapp McKelvey Kihanna Mellanson Steel Meyers Rylann Mikeska Grayson Morris Carolyn Nguyen Trey Nunnally Drew Parrill Emilia Powers Grace Powers Trent Sedberry Jackson Shaul MJ Smith Austin Sonju Stella Stinson Kat Taylor Cale Thexton Drew Thompson Raylee Toney Josef Vidaud Sadie Wayman Caleb Wenning Andrew West Thomas West Olivia Whorton Hutton Wright

8TH GRADE Nicholas Banderob Sawyer Bland Matthew Carter Nathan Cheung Hayden Dunn Lyla Durrett Bri Eidsvig Molly Ellis Addy Gadoci Abby George Ellie Hammonds Winnie Henderson Lena Hotchkiss Anna Louise Hubbell Mason Kilgore Brady Lee Jayden Lee Natalie Malakoff Ally Matthews Ellie Mattox Greyson McCauley Anya Ouimette Lola Petty Kinley Poole Nathaniel Qian Parker Reed Brynn Sanford Peyton Walton Hank Womble

7TH GRADE

Lillie Kate Anderson Christian Azevedo Brooks Barton Tyler Basom Nicholas Beaty Natalie Carenza Jackson Carrier Caitlyn Collins Sadie Curran Hunter deVenny Scarlett Dougherty Jenna Doyle Drew Fletcher Harper Foley Ella Fuller Isabella Garcia Crosby Gard Rachel George Harper Griffin Camden Haas Charlie Hagan Gavin Hamrick Everleigh Herrell Lila Hulme Anaiya Jackson Carter Johnson Reagan Johnson

Mateo Kattan Stella Key Grace Kim Weston Kutz Lauren Lampe Cole Leuenberger Riley Lindsay Lana Lowe Kate Martin Briana Matthews Shepherd McMullen Adeline Micek Madeline Morrison Anne Charlotte Pittman Isaac Quiroz Griffin Sedberry Cannon Seiferd Ben Solomon Jack Solomon Walker Spence Stella Staszak Channing Stone Olivia Stone Warner Stone Caroline Taylor Chloe Voss Mason Wagers Lola Wagstaff Davis Wenning Sam Whitmire Stephen Woods

Cum Laude GPA OF 3.5–3.79 SENIORS

Michael Aiken Francesca Arenas Carter Bielecki Sam Bowman Sarah Dobry Lindsey Dorman Bobby Fish Christopher Lampe Will Neuhoff Ensley Pounds Steven Ramos Will Schewee Braden Shults Danny Sotelo

JUNIORS

JoVahn Bernard Luke Clark Jonathan Cook Matthew Cortez Katie Craighead Colin Hamilton Sofia Herd Gisselle Mariscal Lucy Massinger Max McConathy Meredith McGraw Brennan McNaught Soren Ouimette Reagan Ramsey Macrady Roeder Elizabeth Rylander Ben Schumacher Maggie Speck Emma Todd Parker Walton

SOPHOMORES

Gabriel Binkley Annie Blocker Pierce Davis Jack Ferem Wagner Graham Mateo Griffin Cameron Ham Annabelle Hestwood Ella Krone Campbell Laible CK Lyons

Charlie Montgomery Nora Newman Sam Pickett Presley Simpson Hope Taylor

FRESHMEN

Tristan Barber Ben Bowman Cohen Carreker Elliana Darwin Elizabeth Furlich Maddie Griffin Audrey Herd Reese Howard Caden Jobe Jordyn LaCour Evan Lee Jo Liethen Grayson May Schaef Muccio Jacob Newton Beck Olinghouse Jackson Rhodes Piper Seely Lyla Swaldi Blakely Wade JP Wilcox

8TH GRADE

Ellen Bang Ryan Chou Davis Crumrine Bennett Daelke Chanel Dolan Christina Dominick Eden Dudley-Berry Caydia Estrada Carter Fagan Hannah Sue Fulford Eleanor Fusch Julien Gean Kennedy Gordon Gage Gruner Knox Grzych Ava Hucklebridge Blake Kruse Bentley Long Cullen May Margaret McClintock Cashdon McKinney Owen Oliver Campbell Quisenberry Elle Rosinski Daniel Russ Max Scott Olivia Spence Sutton Turner Isabella Wallace Leighton Weber Zack Zimmerman Sadot Zuniga

7TH GRADE

Renee Abshire Andrew Antush Abby Applewhite London Boyd Colt Bullough Barrett Butler Ryan Butts Keavy Campbell April Cashin Hillary Cashin Thomas Clack Charlie Dennis Henry French Zale Gibson Knox Giles Avery Hendrix Chloe Ibeto Bryant Lankford Lilly Low Riley Moses Caroline Muccio Henry Norris Kaki Nunnally Michael Pigneri Stella Simpson Opal Stinson Ethan Ullmann Zaneta Wallace

Good Works SEMIFINALISTS

COMMENDED

National Merit Congratulations to seniors Gabe Bibawi, Alex Kim, Eliotte Lin and Molly Youn for being named 2024 National Merit Semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of high school seniors who took the 2022 PSAT. In addition, seniors Jared Courtney, James Crawford, Collin Dumas, Owen Ellis, Ivy Jordan, Annabelle Lee, David Meiser, Aidan Mills and Christian Yang were named National Merit Commended Students. They placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Homecoming Court Each year, representatives for our homecoming court are elected by the student body for embodying Christ-like qualities. Freshmen honor a girl with a gentle spirit, sophomores honor a girl who shows compassion, juniors honor a girl with integrity and seniors elect five who exemplify all three qualities. The queen is then selected from the senior girls. The 2023 Homecoming Queen is Avery Sulzen. The court also included freshman Izzy Opsal, sophomore Camille Williams, junior Chloe Copeland and seniors Carolina Anderson, Ally Lee, Anna Sharpe and Molly Youn.

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Seven TCA students were awarded academic honors through the College Board’s National Recognition Program for scoring in the top ten percent of students who took the 2022 PSAT: Kassadi Brown: National African American Recognition Award Georgia Clay: National Indigenous Award Anna Garcia: National Hispanic Recognition Award Jace Lamb: National Indigenous Award Grace Leverton: National Indigenous Award Adelynne Orozco: National Hispanic Recognition Award Sergio Zuniga: National Hispanic Recognition Award

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...” - Hebrews 10:24

Trojanettes at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade If you tuned in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, you caught a glimpse of some special guests­— and no, we don’t mean Santa! This year, several of our Trojanettes traveled to New York City to perform with Spirit of America Productions in the parade. Fox 4 News spoke with the team before they went to hear about their excitement and preparation for the performance. While they were there, they explored the city and were featured on Good Morning America as they prepared for the big day! They shared their experiences with the hosts and even taught them a bit of the dance they’d be performing. Way to go, girls!

Eagle Scout Eighth-grader Duncan Ramsey recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout as one of the youngest TCA students to achieve this honor! After completing all the merit badge requirements, Duncan worked on his Eagle Scout project to create and donate bags of needed clothing, toys and other items for children in the foster care system. Upon completion of his project, Duncan went before the Eagle Scout Board of Review and was recognized as an Eagle Scout.

Way to go, Duncan!

All-State & All-Region Bands Congratulations to clarinetist Sophie Huang, trumpeter Brian Rodriguez and first chair percussionist Jackson Duke for qualifying for the TPSMEA All-State Band held in Richardson January 25-27.

In addition, six TCA students qualified for the ATSSB High School All-Region Band held in Anna January 12-13: Jackson Duke, Julia Floyd, Sophie Huang, Sebastian Lee, Brian Rodriguez and Avery Womble. Four of these students – Sophie, Brian, Jackson and Julia – were also selected for All-Area, making them eligible to audition for the ATSSB All-State Band.

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Good Works Rowlett 9/11 Memorial Sculpture On 9/11, Jon Millet unveiled a public commission for the city of Rowlett. It is a memorial honoring the 343 firemen who gave their lives on September 11, 2001.

Millet signed on as a tribute to his son, Marshall. Although Marshall has special needs, he is like-minded in both spirit and in character. Millet recruited his eldest son and professional airline pilot, Max, as one of the two bronze firemen in the memorial since Marshall could not sit for the casting. Millet took on the project as a small way in which he could memorialize all the heroes who, in their own way, fight for the dignity and sanctity of life.

Cheer TAPPS Champions Congratulations to the TCA Competition Cheer Team on winning Division II of the TAPPS Cheerleading Championship in Belton, Texas, on Tuesday, December 5! The Trojans dominated the Traditional Small Squad division, garnering a superior rating en route to the program’s first state title since 2015. Several girls also took home individual honors. Lucy Tredennick and Annika Powers earned First Team All-State selections, Ella Bricker won Second Team All-State and Katherine Lowrey earned an All-State Honorable Mention. Lucy Tredennick was also named a top-five finalist in the tumbling competition. Let’s go, Trojans!

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Master Teacher of Invention Education Director of Technology and STEM Lisa Wong was selected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the Master Teacher of Invention Education Program.

As a master teacher, she instructs TCA educators on how to foster invention and innovation in their classrooms.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Loving Your Neighbor

- John 15:12-13

Operation Christmas Child Fourth grade hosted another successful Operation Christmas Child drive this fall! Each year, they lead the school in collecting boxes to share the love of Christ with children who might not receive any other Christmas gifts. This year, they sent almost 1,100 boxes to boys and girls around the globe through Samaritan’s Purse! We are praying that each shoebox we sent out will leave a lasting impact on a child’s life.

Dad’s Club Lower School drop-off looks a little different a few times throughout the year. The LS Dad’s Club shows up early to campus to open car doors and welcome students to school during morning carpool. Their service makes our students’ days, and we’re so grateful for their servant leadership in our community.

DAD’S CLUB AND OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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Be Kind Posters After reading the book “A Friend for Lakota” — a true story about a young wolf who was picked on by other members of the pack until another wolf stepped in to stop them — third-graders discussed what God’s Word says about how they are to treat others and created posters to prevent bullying. Students are surrounded by Scripture references and reminders of biblical truth in the hallways, classrooms and athletics facilities at TCA.

REC With RIF Reach Every Corner (REC), a student-led Upper School club that packs and hands out care packages for people without homes, partners with our Lower School Rooted In Faith (RIF) club to prepare and pray over care packages. The older students explain the importance of caring for those in our community and sharing the gospel while the younger students act out the lessons of service and faithfulness they learn in RIF. Through this mission project, our students learn the importance of working together as the body of Christ to provide for the needs of others.

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LS POSTERS AND REC PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05; DOG TAG AND COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON ’16; THERAPY DOG PHOTO BY CAREY ESTRADA

Honoring Fallen Soldiers On 9/11, our community takes time to remember the events of September 11, 2001, and the resiliency of our nation. Eighth-grade Bible teacher and veteran Chris Thelen uses that day to introduce students to the significance of freedom and the sacrifices made to protect it. He provides dog tags and bracelets bearing the names of fallen soldiers.

Students then learn the soldier’s stories, pray for their families and reach out to the families to express their gratitude.

College Care Packages Once a Trojan, always a Trojan! TCA’s Alumni Association works with moms of the most recent graduating class to send packages to the class of 2023 during their first exam season in college. Nothing like a note from home!

Pet Therapy Senior Ally Lee organizes regular visits from a “Canines for Christ” therapy dog outside the Upper School. The visits give fellow students an opportunity to take a break, decompress and enjoy some puppy love. Alyson says the idea was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the levels of stress and anxiety experienced by many students at that time.

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CLASS ACTS STEM: BLUE-BOT ROBOTS Kindergarten STEM students begin learning programming skills using Blue-Bot robots. Here, a class led by Aileen Vidaud programs a robot to navigate to a specific location on a floor mat.

Lower School

STEM: MARS HABITATS Fourth-grade STEM students work on designing and building models of Mars habitats: miniature versions of structures that astronauts could perhaps one day use to survive on another planet. Because the atmosphere on Mars is much thinner than on Earth and contains no ozone layer, the habitats must be able to protect humans from harmful UV radiation. Students tested the effectiveness of their habitats by placing a tiny UV-sensitive “astronaut” inside.

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LOWER SCHOOL PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05; LITTLE TROJAN PEP RALLY PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON ’16

LITTLE TROJAN PEP RALLY Future cheerleaders and Trojanettes perform at the Little Trojan Pep Rally in September. The girls attended the Little Trojan Cheer and Dance Camp over the summer and got to demonstrate their cheer skills at the pep rally and the varsity football game.

ABC, EASY AS 123!

I don’t know what I’ve been told, kinder’s ABC skills are good as gold!

Kindergarten wraps up their hard work learning the alphabet in ABC Bootcamp with a day dedicated to celebrating letters. We’re so proud of our littlest Trojans tackling the ABCs!

ON TARGET Students practice archery in Target Time, an after-school enrichment class that helps children develop precision, coordination and concentration — all while introducing them to new sports and activities.

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CLASS ACTS THE LATEST BUZZ We welcomed some un-bee-lievable guests to campus this fall! The Middle School partnered with an urban beekeeping company, Alveole, to host a beehive and a pair of wild bee homes as an enrichment to our Middle School science program. We’ve already learned so much from our new friends! Since they’ve been on campus, they’ve been busy, as well, bees…

Middle School

STEM: HIGH-TECH ROBOTICS Seventh-grade high-tech robotics students applied their knowledge of simple machines to design and build miniature carnival rides and games. Here, Miller Walk puts the finishing touches on a Ferris wheel.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM PHOTO BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05; NEWSIES, HOUSE COMPETITION AND TRENCH DAY PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON ’16; BEE PHOTO BY CAROLINE BATSON

NEWSIES Extra, extra, read all about it! Led by Middle School Speech and Drama Teacher Marcelle Hamilton and Choral Music Director Sharla Davidson, a cast and crew of Middle School students put on an incredible production of Newsies Jr., the story of newsboys in New York City in 1899 uniting to create a movement to fight for what’s right. Their performance stopped the world!

HOUSE NEWSPAPERS SHELTERS Nothing says team bonding like paper shelters, right? The yearly Middle School competition between the houses of Honor, Wisdom, Justice and Courage is as strong as ever! One of our favorite challenges this fall was the timed race to create a shelter out of old newspapers that would fit smaller groups of members from each house. We discovered some budding architects as teams collaborated on their temporary homes. Congrats to the house of Courage for taking home the win this time!

TRENCH DAY We love our Trojan Traditions, and Trench Day in eighth grade is no exception! To wrap up their study of World War I and their reading of All Quiet on the Western Front, the eighth grade decks out in camo to spend the day simulating what a day in the trenches would have felt like. Fake trench foot, mess halls, writing letters home to family, battles and a truce made history come to life for our students.

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CLASS ACTS RANGERS DAY We loved celebrating the Texas Rangers’ success in the World Series! Our varsity baseball team played a round of T-ball with Lower School students. We treated everyone to ballpark popcorn and sported our best red, white and blue as we rooted for the Rangers. Nobody cheers louder and prouder than a Trojan! Way to go, Rangers!

Upper School

HONORS LEADERSHIP CLASS Our Honors Leadership class is partnering with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy to equip our students with the tools and skills they need to become impactful leaders in their communities. Throughout the year, they will continue to grow and learn through the resources and experiences they gain in the class. One memorable day was the class getting a complimentary breakfast and visit from the Chick-fil-A cow to celebrate the start of the program!

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FOOTBALL STADIUM PHOTO AND GRAPHIC DESIGN PHOTO BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05; UPPER SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON ’16; RANGERS DAY PHOTO BY JAY PARKER; PEP RALLY PHOTO BY CAREY ESTRADA

HOMECOMING The Alma Mater never sounds as sweet as it does during homecoming week at TCA, and this year was no exception! Upper School students dressed up as Christmas trees, dynamic duos, generations and more before cheering loudly at the pep rally and the big game. Old friends filled the stands as they reminisced on all that TCA means. Homecoming is one of our favorite times of the year because we get to celebrate the meaningful community we’ve been blessed with. Can’t wait for 2024!

PEP RALLIES Nobody does school spirit better than TCA, and pep rallies are our students’ time to shine! Friday pep rallies are full of loud cheers, grade level competitions, drumline performances and thrilling routines as we get ready to show our Trojan pride at that night’s football game. A big shoutout to our band, crew, cheerleaders and dance team who work so hard to create such exciting and fun ways to show our love for the Trojans. Go Trojans!

PAINTING WITH PIXELS Sophomore Evie Estrada uses Adobe Photoshop to manipulate a digital scan of a piece of artwork in Digital Art class. Students in the class learn how to use computers and iPads as art tools, including drawing, painting and animating digitally.

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“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

MARK 12:31

BY FRAN LEGBAND Chief Academic Officer

Fostering Meaningful Friendships I

n the Old Testament story of Ruth, I am reminded of her famous words to her mother-in-law when Naomi wanted Ruth to remain in her home country instead of traveling to Israel. Ruth famously said to her, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

These words are so poetic and powerfully express Ruth’s deep commitment to remain present through the known and the unknown, as well as remaining committed to Naomi’s good.

Many people don’t realize that these words weren’t spoken in a marriage context but rather between two women who were committed to one another in friendship. Rather than words from a wedding, these are words for when the trail ahead is dark and unknown. We all think of those friends in our lives who have weathered the difficulties with us, who have celebrated our joys and who are willing to share frustrations and remain loyal as we “do life” together.

Ruth’s words to Naomi reveal a hidden truth: friendship has the power of transformation baked into it. No sermon or well-written book or podcast has the power to change us by the mere transmission of truth. It is only in relationships that we can actually work out the truths that we are learning.

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THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT In our lifetimes we only make a dozen or so really close friends, sometimes fewer! How should we then steward this priceless resource and, more importantly, how should we teach our children to foster their own friendships? Because Scripture gives us everything we need to know for life and godliness, I believe learning from this rich source will assist us as we navigate our relationships and shepherd our children in theirs.

In Mark 12:28-31, one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus answered that the most important commandment in Scripture was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and then He said that the next commandment was derived from the first: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” In loving God first, and then in loving our

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neighbors as ourselves, Jesus sets up our love for others as the proof of our love for God. John goes on to repeat that same truth in 1 John 4:20, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

So how can we best love the friends that God has put into our lives? What prevents us from being a good friend?

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU Most of our friendship problems are rooted in two things: our own selfishness and idolizing social status. We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves according to Jesus, so this self-love isn’t selfish; it’s healthy. But we all know selfishness when we see it. It looks like seeking our own honor over honoring others.

It looks like putting our own preferences first and considering ourselves above all else. The Apostle Paul gives us the antidote to selfishness when he writes to the church at Philippi, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Imagine how revolutionary this sort of behavior would be for our friendships!

A second root of friendship problems is idolizing social status.

If you watch any movie about school life (“Mean Girls” comes to mind), you will see the common plot of kids excluding those they think will harm their reputations with their peers. You can also see this happen in hallways, playgrounds and cafeterias in any school in America, including TCA. When we view other people as adding to our value or detracting from it, we are using them rather than befriending them. Other issues that stem from idolizing our own social status include creating a sense of rivalry among our friends, fostering exclusiveness and being unkind, which can lead to gossip and even bullying. A good question I ask myself to get at my motives in my relationship decisions is, “Whom am I thinking of first right now? Is it me or someone else?” If the answer is ME, I need to do a quick heart check to be sure that selfish ambition isn’t in control.

The way to avoid selfish ambition in our friendships is to live by the greatest commandments: love God first, and love others in

LOWER, MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

the same way you love yourself. This calls for HUMILITY. How do YOU want to be treated? Treat others in that same way. Stop seeing other people as accessories for your life and see them as God does, as eternal souls worth saving. I love Bob Goff’s admonition to us in his book “Love Does”: instead of having the selfish attitude of “Here I am” when you see your friends, adopt the outward facing attitude of “There you are!” It’s refreshing to live this way.

NO MERE MORTALS In his famous speech “The Weight of Glory,” C.S. Lewis writes about how we should see and treat our friends. He writes, “The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.”

Think about that! All day long, Lewis writes, we are helping each other to glory or to corruption by the way we treat each other. That is a big responsibility, and God designed friendship as the way we help one another to see and know God along with becoming more like Him. Encouraging your children to see their family and friends as eternal beings is a first step in teaching them how to love.

Lewis concludes his speech with these famous lines: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.

Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors…. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”

Your friends are your nearest neighbors. Treat them as you would treat Jesus Himself: lovingly, humbly and carefully! This brings glory to God, draws people to Him and blesses you.

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God’s Path From Ukraine to TCA

3 1 Relatives of the Berezhniy family who are still in Ukraine.

“It’s impossible to convey how much we miss them,” says Yana.

2 Summer in Ukraine, with the Berezhniy children visiting their grandparents. “They live in a village,” says Yana, “amid incredibly beautiful nature.”

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3 The Berezhniy children on a walk outside Radomysl Castle, which houses the largest museum of Christian icons in Eastern Europe.

4 “We loved going mushroom picking with friends,” says Yana.

“Now these forests are mined.”

5 Milena’s class in Ukraine with parents and teachers on a trip, rafting down the river in kayaks.

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BY KATIE KILPATRICK Upper School Humanities Teacher

“We pray for a peaceful sky over Ukraine. We pray for the Ukrainian land to heal its wounds from bombs as quickly as possible and flourish with wheat again.” These prayers from new Trinity Christian Academy parent Yana Berezhna recall her homeland, whose flag consists of a blue band, symbolizing the sky, and a yellow band, symbolizing wheat fields.

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ntil recently, Yana and her husband Vol were a typical family, raising two sons and a daughter while balancing everyday concerns like homework, bills and groceries. Yet in February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine scrambled the Berezhniy family’s plans, sending them on a sprawling escape that brought them all the way to TCA. But amidst their trials, God has been faithful, pouring out His love through Christian families.

“Every time we discuss our journey, it feels like this path was laid out for us by the Lord. Every person was gifted to us for a reason,” says Yana. “We know that if he heard our story, even a non-believer would see the hand of God. We never stop thanking God that our family is safe and we are all together.”

A veritable village of helpers has formed around the Berezhniys, aiding them with everything from household items to business connections to language assistance. Yet, as TCA parent Marvin Karlow recalls, “In God’s economy, you always receive more than you give. I know that the Berezhniy family has been blessed, but we have been even more.”

6 The Berezhniy family’s house in Ukraine, “in a huge park, on the riverbank.”

UKRAINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY YANA BEREZHNA TCA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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Stranded in America The Berezhniy family’s precarious journey started in February 2022, when only the father, Vol, planned to travel to America for business. His daughter Milena remembers that the whole family decided to take the trip to America together, only two days before departure, because ominous clouds of war were on the horizon. “It was very heavy on our hearts,” she says. “None of us really believed that a full-scale war in Ukraine would start.”

Yet at dawn on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a ground invasion of Ukraine paired with an air assault that sent missiles raining down into urban and rural areas alike. Vol and Yana, along with their three children, were stranded in America. An insistent friend invited them to Dallas. “We imagined Texas with cacti, cowboys, ranches, saloons and deserts,” says Yana.

“Imagine our surprise when we were driving away from the airport!” Yana remembers, “The most valuable thing we have received in Texas has been the kindness, support and care.

Because of this, we didn’t fall into despair. Neighbors brought toys and books for the kids to our doorstep.”

9 7 Winter in Ukraine.

8 Riding a bicycle through a forest that is now mined with explosives.

9 The Berezhniy family’s last New Year in Kyiv, in January 2022. “We are all sick of COVID here,” says Yana, “but very happy.”

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New Neighbors

Months later, Vol and Yana rented a house in Plano. By God’s design, they quickly met their new neighbor, TCA Upper School science teacher Micki Wayman. Micki recalls, “One day in the summer of 2022, I was outside watering flowers when I noticed two little boys helping their dad mow the grass. I waved, and the dad walked over to introduce himself.

I went inside to get my husband and two daughters so our families could meet. This began a sweet friendship that continues to this day.”

The Waymans and Berezhniys enjoyed shared meals and rich conversations. The friendship extended to the children as well; Micki’s daughter Sadie Wayman, a freshman at TCA, developed a friendship with the Berezhniys’ eldest, Milena. Sadie says, “My family was able to love our neighbor by answering any questions about school or how things work in the United States. We often talk about our love for art because Milena is a beautiful painter!” The Waymans’ willingness to love their neighbors has meant the world to the Berezhniys. Yana says, “We are also so grateful for Mrs. Wayman. She helped us adapt because everything is new to us... and still helps. We embrace her tightly.”

Micki Wayman and Yana Berezhniy bonded as they shared conversations about family. She notes, “Yana is an incredibly kind, beautiful soul. I always try to ask about her family, including both her and Vol’s parents and brothers, who are still in Ukraine. There have been times when I tear up listening to the heavy weight of worry she carries.”

Because of loving neighbors, the burdens of war have been bearable for the Berezhniys.

“My family was able to love our neighbor by answering any questions about school or how things work in the United States. We often talk about our love for art because Milena is a beautiful painter!”

— Sadie Wayman ’27

10 Milena and Sadie in the Upper School halls.

11 Yana Berezhniy and Micki Wayman.

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All God’s Plan Vol and Yana were happy to find a welcoming community, and their three children, Milena, Matt and Tim, all enrolled in public schools. Their eldest, Milena, made a new friend at Shepton High School named Kirill who also had Ukrainian roots. Through this friendship with Kirill, Vol and Yana Berezhniy were delighted to meet Kirill’s aunt and uncle, Brad and Nataliya Latham. This led to further introductions to Kelli and Marvin Karlow. Both the Lathams and Karlows are TCA parents. Yana reflects on these seemingly random connections, certain that it was all God’s plan. “Nothing in this life just happens,” she says. “I am certain that Shepton came into our path so that Milena could make that one friend.”

Marvin Karlow saw the hand of God in these new friendships as well. He recalls, “Nataliya Latham introduced me to Milena’s father, Vol, because she thought we might have some mutual business interests. It turns out that we do. We started meeting once a week for coffee.

“I learned that his daughter, Milena, was a talented artist. I know the quality of the TCA art program because my daughter, Karys, is in the program. I invited Milena’s family to come for a tour and, not surprisingly, they fell in love with TCA.” On their tour, the Berezhniys noticed a joyful culture at TCA, with close-knit relationships between teachers and students. In Ukraine, Milena had viewed school as “a second home” where she could have “heartfelt conversations with wonderful teachers.” Milena’s parents saw similar loving relationships at TCA and wanted that for their daughter.

God Worked Out the Details Milena’s family was concerned about making it possible for Milena to go to TCA. Marvin Karlow recalls, “We ended up where followers of Christ always do when faced with something beyond our capability—we do our best, then He does the rest. For our family, the Lord made a way for us to send our daughter to TCA, and I believed He would make a way for Milena as well.”

The family commenced a flurry of activity as they applied to TCA. Yana remembers, “Milena prepared for the admissions test at night because there was very little time. Thanks to God and the entire TCA team who believed in Milena and accepted her into their family. We are very grateful to [Upper School Head] Mr. Morrill, [Head of School] Dr. Williams and [Director of Admission] Amy Prideaux.”

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12 Yana is thrilled that, instead of being disrupted by the war in her homeland, Milena can flourish in a strong art program with Christ at its center. “Milena highly values being at TCA,” Yana says. “TCA has incredible teachers whose eyes light up when they interact with children. Overall, the atmosphere is very cozy.

Yes, there are difficulties with the language, but with such good teachers, she will quickly overcome them. We are incredibly happy to be part of the TCA family and will always be grateful for this opportunity.”

Micki Wayman loves that in addition to being neighbors, her daughter Sadie is now classmates with Milena. Each day, Milena rides to and from school with Micki and her two daughters.

For freshman Sadie Wayman, the new friendship with the Berezhniys has strengthened her faith. “I have seen God work in the lives of Milena and her family because even though they had to move halfway around the world, God worked out the details so she could attend TCA!” Reflecting on the incredible way the Berezhniys’ lives have woven together with loving neighbors, Marvin Karlow is sure the Lord ordained it all. “I just believe that the Holy Spirit connects us to other people and gives us opportunities to manifest the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.”

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Prayers for Ukraine As Vol and Yana rebuild their life following the invasion of Ukraine, they are simultaneously grateful and yet grieving for the tragic war raging back home. They ask for TCA families and all Christians to join them in prayer. Yana says, “We pray for families to reunite. We pray for families who have lost loved ones, that God gives them the strength to live on. We pray for the cessation of the loss of human lives. And, of course, we pray that our relatives who stayed in Ukraine will remain alive; we pray to hug them as soon as possible. We pray for Ukraine’s victory.”

Micki Wayman joins the Berezhniys in their prayers for Ukraine, along with her entire congregation. “When the war in Ukraine began, Taylor Davis, the director of music at St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano, incorporated a prayer for peace into our weekly service. Almost two years later, we still say this prayer each week for Ukraine, and now we say it for those affected by the Israel-Hamas war as well. The words resonate differently now that I know Vol, Yana, Milena, Matt and Tim. Here are the words, first written by Saint Francis of Assisi:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

— Saint Francis of Assisi

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12-14 Milena works on a drawing of a traditional Ukranian home at Christmastime.

Micki continues, “I want to console, understand and love this family to the best of my ability because that is what God calls me to do.”

Sometimes loving one’s neighbor means gathering toys for kids fleeing war, setting down the water hose to converse with a new family or scheduling a coffee with a friend of a friend. For Vol, Yana and their children, the Lord graciously sent TCA families to surround and support them as they rebuild their lives in Texas.

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TCA Authors and Illustrators Books can be used to illustrate important truths, teaching people about God and His creation. TCA is known for equipping people as writers and artists, so perhaps it should be no surprise that several TCA students, alumni and faculty have authored or illustrated books recently. Their work shows love for others by connecting different generations, helping parents disciple their children and teaching people to appreciate how God has created them.

Taste & See Books Written by Colby ’11 and Kate Fisher Harold the Hawk Written by Bob Williams & Jackson Schwarz Illustrated by Alyson Lee Magic Stone Mill Written and Illustrated by Alex Kim

Taste & See Books Written by Colby ’11 & Kate Fisher

Hi! We’re Colby ’11 & Katie Fisher, and we’re passionate about sharing Christ with the next generation. Our journey into the world of creating children’s books began while reading to our own children.

As any parent of a young child knows, story time with babies isn’t always relaxing. Their little hands grab at the books. Pages of picture books often end up ripped and torn. Board books aren’t much better: when left unattended, chunks of cardboard will be in someone’s mouth in under a minute.

Over the course of a month, a few key events coincided in our home that sparked the idea for Taste & See Books. First, our almost three-yearold started to “read” us the entirety of his favorite book about 20 big trucks. Next, our ten-monthold started to say spider (“bye-ber, bye-ber, mama”) and bring us his favorite book (“The Itsy Bitsy Spider”). Lastly, our four-year-old began “reading” to her little brothers. That’s when it dawned on us: our children were memorizing and repeating the books we read to them.

This made our parent wheels turn. Our kids were actively memorizing the words in illustrated picture books. Also, it’s our responsibility as parents to teach our children the Word of God.

Colby ’11 and Kate Fisher

TASTE & SEE PHOTOS FROM COLBY ’11 & KATE FISHER

So…what if we developed a series of books that contained illustrated Bible verses for our children to memorize? And what if those books were printed on virtually indestructible paper?

Books that babies could literally chew on to taste and see that the Lord is good? Thus the vision for Taste & See Books was born. It wasn’t long before we set to work creating the first prototypes, illustrating verses and testing out different paper options.

The format of Taste & See Books is simple: each book contains a short (but complete) passage of Scripture. Each page is designed with memorable images that illustrate verses in a quickly recognizable way for children. The books are printed here in the USA on a special synthetic paper and bound with thread binding.

They are durable enough to withstand the hands and mouths of the youngest (and most enthusiastic) readers. Children can’t rip or tear the pages. When a baby inevitably begins to chew on it, parents can rest easy knowing that the books won’t be destroyed. They can even be washed afterward.

It’s been a journey, and we’re excited to see the vision finally become a reality. We launched in August 2023 and have been amazed at the many ways these books have made an impact in the homes of families around the country. It is our hope these books will be used as a tool to introduce children to our Savior Jesus Christ and to His Word and have an eternal impact by fostering a strong foundation for their faith. You can learn more (or order your complete set) at www.TasteAndSeeBooks.com.

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Harold the Hawk Written by Bob Williams Illustrated by Alyson Lee

I’ve always dreamed of writing children’s stories, but never did I anticipate the extraordinary blessings which come from writing books coauthored by my own grandchildren. Starting with the oldest of eleven grandchildren, I have been blessed to engage in writing a series featuring Harold the Hawk as a benevolent, guiding force who saves the cousins from terrifying dangers. In “Harold the Hawk at the Beach,” five cousins drifting from the safety of the shore find themselves desperately needing saving. The next book in the series, “Harold the Hawk at Buzzard B. Barn” places the cousins on a ranch encountering the dangers of Texas wildlife and storms. In each of these books, Harold watches over the kids and dives in at the most crucial time. During the process of writing, I get to inspire my grandchildren to love reading, grow their imagination, covertly teach writing skills and, best of all, instill in them the character and beauty of our Lord. God has divinely inspired each of my grands with story, imagination, wit and will, and it has been my great pleasure to participate in His divine work.

As art has been an integral part of all thirteen years of my TCA experience, it has been an honor to work alongside Mr. Williams and apply all the technical skills and creative solutions the art teachers have taught me. From learning the definition of an illustrator in Lower School to actually illustrating has become a dream come true. Through this process, I learned the necessity of planning and communication, but moreover, I voiced my art as a way to convey emotions expressed “in between the lines” and bring to life Mr. Williams’ vision.

Ally Lee Class of 2024

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I voiced my art as a way to convey emotions expressed ‘in between the lines’ and bring to life Mr. Williams’ vision.

-Ally Lee ’24

Bob Williams Upper School Humanities Teacher

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BOB DYER, ALLY LEE AND ALEX KIM PHOTOS BY CAREY ESTRADA

Magic Stone Mill Written & Illustrated by Alex Kim

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I wrote this book to show them that their culture didn’t have to be foreign, and that they didn’t have to cut off their Korean identity to fit in.

Every summer, a camp for South Korean adoptees is held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many of these children did not feel that they have a clear place where they belonged: their appearances set them apart from their classmates and sometimes even their families, but their upbringing in America also meant they didn’t have any connection to Korea whatsoever. Many wished at one point in their lives that they weren’t Korean. I felt drawn to these kids, and I wanted to show them that they didn’t have to be ashamed of their identities. So, I wrote this book to show them that their culture didn’t have to be foreign, and that they didn’t have to cut off their Korean identity to fit in. Everybody has something that sets them apart, and it’s in those God-given differences that we should celebrate.

Alex Kim Class of 2024

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Written by Kevin McConaghy Director of Marketing & Communication

Featuring Zach and Casey Loyd and Tenfifteen Ministries

SOCCER & D I S C IPLE S HIP

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Zach and Casey Loyd Photo by Tenfifteen Ministries

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

– Romans 10:15

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usband and wife team Zach and Casey Loyd have experienced a lot of success in soccer.

They both played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of North Carolina, with Casey winning multiple national championships and being named national player of the year. They both played professionally and have both represented the United States in international competition, and they each have their own Wikipedia pages about their accomplishments.

However, they now measure success in terms of how they share God’s love with others and disciple people through soccer.

As Zach explains, “I love soccer. I love God. God has given us a passion to use soccer to share the love of Christ with people. And that’s what we’re called to do, right?”

LOVE IS MINISTRY After getting married in 2012, Zach and Casey looked for a way to start serving together in the community. Through their church, they connected with Danny Domingo, who runs an organization called Love Is Ministry in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood of northeast Dallas.

Vickery Meadow is known for its large population of refugees and other immigrants. Having fled hard situations in their home countries, many residents arrive in the U.S. with nothing. They come from all over the world, with different cultures, beliefs and languages. But there is one interest that most of them have in common and one shared language they can understand: the game of soccer.

The Loyds started coaching soccer in Vickery Meadow with Love Is Ministry, leading a team called Vickery United. It was a way for them to share the gospel with and disciple the children on the team. After a few years, that team that began as mostly eighth- and ninth-graders had graduated high school. The Loyds realized that, once kids graduated, they no longer had the support and guidance of an organization like Love Is Ministry. Seeing the need for continued outreach and discipleship among young adults in the community, Zack and Casey started Tenfifteen Ministries.

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TENFIFTEEN MINISTRIES Tenfifteen officially began in 2019 as a summer training program on the TCA campus. It was not limited to just refugees or people from particular neighborhood; anyone who wanted to participate was welcome.

Some of the original players from Vickery United helped lead the training — not just training in soccer, but training in the Bible. A love of soccer is what brought people to Tenfifteen, but the Loyds used that as a way to share the love of Christ. At each training session, they would spend time teaching through a book of the Bible or sharing the gospel. The name “Tenfifteen” came from Romans 10:15: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The summer training program was a big success, with many people attending. But Zach and Casey both had a heart for long-term discipleship. So, the next year, they took the core group of players from the summer training sessions and formed a team, Tenfifteen FC. After having success in different leagues and moving up the ranks, the team now plays in the United Premier Soccer League, or UPSL, which is the highest amateur soccer league in the United States.

Tenfifteen draws people from all backgrounds. Some are refugees; some are locals who were born and raised in DFW. According to Zach, about a dozen languages are spoken on the team. Some players are TCA graduates; others come from Mexico, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and

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Tobago, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Iran, Nepal, Myanmar — literally around the world. It is a picture of how believers are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28) and a preview of fellowship in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

“In the soccer scene here in Dallas, people are kind of divided even in their teams,” explains Zach. “We’re one of the only teams that has all nations on one team, which has been really a blessing from God to be able to have that many backgrounds and people being united in one common goal.”

Tenfifteen FC Photography

by Tenfifteen Ministries

Beautiful Feet Photography

by Tenfifteen Ministries

BEAUTIFUL FEET

“The whole goal of our ministry is to connect the young men & the children to the l o c a l c h u r c h .”

In addition to the summer programs and adult UPSL team, Tenfifteen also has a youth outreach ministry called Beautiful Feet. Beautiful Feet hosts soccer clinics for churches or apartment complexes. Tenfifteen FC players often help run those clinics; one of the requirements for being on the FC team is a commitment to service. The goal of Beautiful Feet is to share the gospel and connect families to a local church for ongoing discipleship.

“The whole goal of our ministry is to connect the young men and the children to a local church,” says Zach, “because that’s what the Bible calls us to: to be raised and disciplined and under the authority of a local church.”

Tenfifteen is also involved in international outreach, beginning with a trip to Costa Rica in 2022. One former Tenfifteen player, Daniel Gamboa, is originally from Costa Rica. After being discipled by Tenfifteen and becoming a coach, he moved back to Costa Rica to bring the model of soccer and discipleship to his home country.

– Zach Loyd

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AT HOME AT TCA Zach says that finding a soccer field to play on in Dallas is “extremely hard and extremely expensive.” Tenfifteen has benefited from having access to TCA facilities for training and games.

“TCA has been a huge help for us. Being able to have access to the facilities the way we do, and the way the school is very generous with us in that, we have been able to kind of have a home. And that is very important. We have a place that guys can come and be comfortable.”

Another benefit of being on the TCA campus, Zach says, is “kind of subliminal.” It comes from the Bible verses and Christian messages that are posted around the athletic facilities. “You see it constantly, and it is working through them and through all of us. Who knows what God is doing with that, with people watching, as the team continues to build and gain viewership?”

And then, as some TCA students and recent alumni have begun to get involved in Tenfifteen, they can have their own impact.

“Being a coach is a different relationship than player-toplayer. So the more players we can get on the team that are all out for Jesus Christ, like they love the Lord—they’re rubbing shoulders with those guys peer-to-peer and they’re going to be having an influence on the players that I will never have because of my position.”

Jack Savage ’17 on Tenfifteen FC; Photography by Tenfifteen Ministries

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Trojan Varsity Boys Soccer Photo by Jeff McWhorter ’05

“If we’re not consistently spending time with Christ, we’re easily going to be distracted. But as you spend time with God, and He reveals to you who you are and why He created you...I’m overwhelmed with the love that I have because God loves me so much. That love just gets poured out to other people. But you’ve got to fill that cup up over and over and over.

“The only way you can truly love someone well is if you’re loved well. If you’re being loved well, from your abiding in Christ, you can actually be the neighbor that God calls you to be.”

ABIDING IN LOVE What drives the Loyds to give so much of their time and effort toward Tenfifteen Ministries? Zach describes it as an outpouring of God’s love for him.

“I had a guy recently who was like, ‘Why are you doing this? It’s not natural. It’s not normal to give all your time to something for free.’ I explained to him, my hope is that everyone on this team would come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, because that is where I find joy, peace and happiness. We use the team to share that love of Christ with them in hopes that someday they will come to find and know the Lord, because that’s the most precious gift we can give anyone. That’s the only reason we do it.”

Zach says that outflowing of love comes from daily abiding with God and focusing on His love for us.

If you want to learn more about Tenfifteen Ministries and how you can pray for and support their efforts, visit tenfifteenministries.org.

“ We u s e t h e t e a m t o share that love of Christ with them in h o p e s t h a t s o m e d ay they will come to find and know the Lord, b e c a u s e t h a t ’s t h e most precious gift w e c a n g i v e a ny o n e .

T h a t ’s t h e o n l y r e a s o n w e d o i t .”

– Zach Loyd

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VARSITY FOOTBALL D

uring TCA’s second year back at the TAPPS Division I level, the Trojans placed third in the district and advanced to the regional playoffs for the second consecutive year. After spending the early parts of the year competing against formidable UIL foes in Vidor and Gunter, the team entered the final month of play with a full head of steam. TCA went on to win two of the final three games while averaging over 27 points per contest.

The Trojans showed flashes of their potential on both sides of the football throughout the year. Defensively, TCA smothered Bishop Lynch, holding the visiting Friars to a season-low six points in a 10-6 win on October 13. Then, on November 3, The Trojan offense erupted on the road versus Nolan Catholic, tallying a season-high 45 points in a dominating 45-14 win in the regular-season finale.

TCA then set its sights on the postseason, where the team competed admirably against a formidable Antonian Prep team that went on to reach the TAPPS semifinals.

Aidan Mills manufactured fireworks in the final game of his Trojan career. The senior quarterback accounted for all 28 of TCA’s points in the 55-28 loss, throwing three touchdowns through the air and scoring once on the ground on the way to 208 total yards.

Despite an injury-shortened season, Mills managed to throw for just shy of 1,000 yards (953) and combined for 15 touchdowns, closing the book on his TCA story with 3,233 passing yards and 28 total touchdowns. Defensive leaders for the 2023 season included senior linebacker Jace Lamb (103 tackles), pass rushers Luke Doré (26 hurries) and Bobby Fish (six sacks) and junior defensive back Ben Schumacher (four interceptions).

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Congratulations to the following Trojans who earned All-District, All-State and team postseason awards.

JOHN BADGER – Second Team All-State, Academic All-State, First Team All-District and Team MVP LUKE DORÉ – Second Team All-State, Academic AllState and First Team All-District JACE LAMB – Second Team All-State, Academic AllState and First Team All-District RYAN ELMS – Second Team All-State, Academic AllState and First Team All-District SOREN OUIMETTE – Second Team All-State and First Team All-District JACK BEHRMAN – Academic All-State and Second Team All-State BOBBY FISH – Second Team All-State and Team MVP MATTHEW CORTEZ – Second Team All-State DYLAN EUBANKS – Academic All-State, Honorable Mention All-State and Second Team All-District MICHAEL AIKEN – Second Team All-District and Team MVP JAYLAN BECKLEY – Second Team All-District BEN SCHUMACHER – Second Team All-District JAN KRUGER – Honorable Mention All-District SAM MARTIN – Honorable Mention All-District JOHN HENRY FLATT – Honorable Mention All-District

VARSITY FOOTBALL PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY T

he 2023 cross country season was one of determination, resilience and noteworthy achievements for both the boys and girls teams.

Despite facing their fair share of challenges, both teams showed remarkable progress and competitive spirit throughout the season, exemplifying the team theme of “Trust Your Training” and the team verse of Philippians 4:13.

The boys rallied through significant injuries and learned to improve as a cohesive unit. Their collective effort led to outstanding individual performances.

Notably, Gabe Speck emerged as one of the standout performers and broke the 18-minute barrier — a feat that had not been accomplished at TCA since 2016.

At the district championships, the boys landed a spot on the podium with a third-place finish. The squad then finished the year with a ninth-place outing at the TAPPS Championships.

The girls team also overcame its fair share of challenges, but the Lady Trojans pushed through and worked extremely hard. They finished fourth at district, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level despite adversity. That perseverance continued at state, where they finished 10th overall.

Two standout athletes, Eliot Brookshire and Gabe Speck, received All-District Honors for outstanding performances. The tandem also moved up the TCA alltime performance lists. Speck moved to sixth on the TCA All-Time Boys 5000m, and Brookshire moved to third on girls 500m and fifth on the girls Two-Mile Top 20. Additionally, Lucas Cavazos moved to 18th and Jake Overmann moved to 20th on the boys 5000m list, and Audrey Herd and Reese Howard moved into the top 10 for the girls.

Both Brookshire and Erick Martinez were later named Cross Country MVPs at the Fall Sports Award Ceremony at the end of the season. Way to go, Trojans!

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VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

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T

he Trojan Volleyball varsity team displayed tremendous growth during a season of change. Trinity Christian Academy won six games under new head coach Megan Elgie, with the highlight of the season being a three-game win streak in August where the Trojans outscored foes seven sets to one.

On August 31, in front of a packed crowd celebrating Little Trojan Night, TCA rallied from an eight-point deficit in the opening set against The Episcopal School of Dallas for a dominant 3-0 sweep of the visiting Eagles. The big home win instilled confidence in the Trojans, as they spent the remainder of the season competing hard and developing their skills for the years to come. That hard work resulted in a pair of TAPPS All-District selections for Karys Karlow and Olivia Whorton.

Karys, a junior, was named to the All-District Second Team, and Olivia, a freshman, garnered an All-District Honorable Mention. Karys was also named a TCA Fall Sports MVP alongside teammate Zoe Wong.

“This season was a wonderful building year, for both me as a new coach and for the eight newcomers who joined the varsity team,” said Coach Elgie. “Next season will be promising with many varsity volleyball players returning and another season to focus together as a team.”

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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ALUMNI

Homecoming 2023 TCA’s annual homecoming dinner was a success!

We had our largest turnout ever with approximately 600 guests attending our homecoming dinner in the Upper School Commons and the patio. It was wonderful to see our alumni back on campus enjoying the many festivities.

The evening started off with a celebration on the Tom Landry football field for our 1991, 1992 and 1993 state football championship teams led by previous head coach Barry Morgan. We had close to 25 players and coaches attend the recognition on the field for the three championship teams. All alumni football players received a replica of the metal sign that has been in the locker room for years.

Then alumni came to the annual homecoming dinner sponsored by Texas de Brazil and Sky Ranch.

We are so grateful for their support year after year.

While eating a fabulous meal, alumni watched the Trojan football game via livestream. We also had a face painter and games for the children.

We unveiled our new digital composite software and monitor in the Upper School. Our alumni enjoyed being able to pull up their class’ composite picture and the ability to zoom in on classmates.

The Alumni Art Show kicked off its exhibit with a reception in the Upper School Trinity Art Gallery (TAG) while the Trojans played the Prestonwood Lions on the football field. The game was packed with fans including many alumni cheering on the Trojans.

We loved having our alumni and their families back on campus and are already looking forward to next year’s homecoming!

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HOMECOMING PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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TCA Alumni & Family Art Exhibition For the past six years, faculty and alumni associated with the Trinity Christian Academy Visual Arts Department have been creating pieces to display in the TCA Alumni Art Exhibition in the Trinity Art Gallery (TAG). This year was special because it was the first year to open the show to current family members of TCA, such as spouses, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. In addition to opening participation to a wider audience, we hired Clare Milliken ’08, who is the assistant curator at the Modern Museum of Art in Fort Worth, to award $2,000 of prize money to three winners. We had a high turnout this year with 51 participating artists submitting 99 total works of art.

It is our hope to be a consistent space for artists and to grow and develop. This exhibition fosters contemporary art that grapples with the mystery of being human by curating, cultivating and celebrating work that explores our faith and spiritual questions.

This year, Isabelle Heldenfels ’18 received first place for her oil painting, “Sherwin,” receiving $1,250 as the Best in Show. After completing a Bachelor’s of Architecture with a minor in Philosophy from Pratt Institute in 2023, she has since returned to her painting practice based in Brooklyn. In her painting, Heldenfels explores familial relationships through fragmented, overlapping and recontextualized portraiture, inspired by her own unconventional family structure and her conservative background. In “Sherwin,” Heldenfels stitches together many images that make up a single moment or many moments in order to illustrate a particular relationship.

Second place was awarded to David Connolly ’93, former TCA art faculty from 2002-2018, for his series of six delicate graphite drawings titled “Sketches.” Now living in Tulsa with his family

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of five, David is teaching and creates artwork out of his home studio with his wife, Janice. In his simple drawings on graph paper, filled with text that suggest GPS coordinates and imagery such as a matchbox on fire, “Sketches” alludes to the painful and transformative process that an individual goes through in order to give his or her life for Christ. The drawings are daily meditations on the beauty that is often found in hope and self-sacrifice. They are suggestive of journal entries where we often wrestle with life’s poignant questions, such as, “Am I living my own dream?” or “Am I living God’s dream for me?”

One of the ceramic pieces by Lael Burns ’97, “Garden Vase,” received third place. Airy pinks and bright yellow-greens set this work apart in the gallery as something seemingly positive. On further investigation, you see drawn unusual forms, buried beneath oozing iridescent glazes and textural relief, referencing gnarled roots or seed pods. Burns uses biological and organic forms as a representation of her inner self, constructing these vessels to communicate the tension between what is ugly and beautiful. It is through the studying of nature that Lael Burns processes life and is able to find beauty, alluding to the transformative and healing work of Jesus in our lives. Living in Fort Worth, you can find Lael, homeschool teacher extraordinaire, taking nature walks with her own three kids in order to ultimately ignite curiosity and discovery.

We hope that this exhibition will encourage support and future contribution from an even wider selection of artists, both those working as art professionals and others dedicated to their craft. If you or anyone that you know would like to be involved in the 2024 exhibition, feel free to contact our gallery director, Frances Allen, at fallen@trinitychristian.org.

ALUMNI

1

1ST PLACE Isabelle Heldenfels ’18, “Sherwin” 2ND PLACE David Connolly ’93, “Sketches” 3RD PLACE Lael Burns ’97, “Garden Vase”

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ALUMNI ART PHOTOS BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05 AND FRANCES RUSSELL ALLEN ‘10

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ALUMNI

LETTER FROM THE

Alumni Association President

T

he TCA Alumni Association has been fortunate over the past two years to have been guided by Brandon Waddell ’97 as our president. Brandon led with conviction, humility and patience, and I wish him the best of luck as he begins a new leadership role within TCA as a member of the Board of Trustees.

With Brandon’s departure, I was asked to step into the role of president of the TCA Alumni Association Board. This is my second stint leading the Alumni Association, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to serve again. My first term as president was during the heart of the pandemic. They were a tough two years, and I often felt that, like many at the time, the Alumni Association Board was reactive in our operations. Each day presented new challenges, many of our goals went unaccomplished and we were focused on staying operational. However, it also allowed us to reflect on what we could do better.

When the opportunity to lead the Alumni Association Board again was presented, I considered myself blessed to follow the example left by Brandon Waddell and be able to lead during a time when we, as a group, could be more proactive. One of our first goals was to maximize our membership on the board, and I am happy to report that we have a full slate of board members for the first time since 2015. These new members have brought our team a refreshed enthusiasm and many new ideas. With these new members, we were able to put together a historic homecoming celebration with the highest number of alumni returning to campus for the festivities and dinner in our history. The anchor

event for homecoming was a celebration on the field before the game of the 1991, 1992 and 1993 state champion football teams on the 30th anniversary of their three-peat. Seeing the former football players and their families reminisce with their coaches about their shared history and love of TCA was terrific.

Another goal was to split our board’s focus into pillars to mirror our mission statement: to strengthen, serve and advance the TCA community by connecting alumni and alumni parents relationally, professionally and spiritually. Each member is actively working on plans in his/her respective pillar committee that will materialize in more ways to reconnect alumni and bring them back to campus. We want to be proactive through future industry networking events; an increasing number of legacy family get-togethers; a better-defined partnership with athletics and admissions; and higher levels of communication.

I would love to speak with any TCA alumni with ideas about how we can increase our reach. Please feel free to contact me at Lane.Conner@ParkHub.com. The Alumni Association Board is excited about bringing more programming to our community!

LANE CONNER ’99 Alumni Association President

TCA ALUMNI BOARD 2023-24 LANE CONNER ’99 President

REBECCA BECKETT COHENOUR ’04

TYLER GALVIN ’15 President-Elect

MATTHEW GALVAN ’16

HALEIGH LEE MANHKONG ’09 Vice President of Community

NICOLE SWISHER LYLES ’14

MICHAEL NOVAKOVICH ’13 Vice President of Data and Administration

KATE LYNCH ’97

PATRICK REA ’14 Vice President of Professional Development

JUSTIN RIDNOUR ’90

JUSTIN ARNETT ’02 ASHLI BURBRIDGE AVERY ’98 MEREDITH WAIT BIERY ’04

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CHRIS MILLET ’82 ALYSSA WELDON STACEY ’03 BETH HARWELL Director of Alumni

T

CA equips graduates to be successful—not just in the way that the world defines success, but successful in living out all that God calls His followers to do. We always enjoy hearing from alumni who are using their talents and gifts to serve others. TCA alumni are out daily loving their neighbors in many parts of the world, from Addison to Austin to Africa.

In this issue, we are highlighting two members of the class of 1993. Both were on the three-peat state champion football team of 1991-1993. Both were friends at TCA and remain in touch today. And both have devoted their lives to loving and serving others through vocational ministry.

We hope you are encouraged by their stories of how God is working in and through their lives.

BETH HARWELL Director of Alumni

ROB SATTERFIELD ’93 Senior Yearbook Photo

TOM STICKNEY ’93 Senior Yearbook Photo

ALUMNI PROFILE

Rob Satterfield ’93

R

oasting coffee in Istanbul. Winning state football championships. Snow skiing in Breckenridge.

Each little boy or girl walking the TCA campus represents the exhilarating promise of future possibilities, but for Rob Satterfield ‘93, God has woven together disparate experiences from Turkey to Colorado to Austin into a beautiful story of loving neighbors through discipleship and ministry.

The Satterfield family first came to TCA when Rob’s mother Adrienne became a sixth-grade reading and English teacher. Rob joined his mom on campus as a kindergartener and followed in his sister Paige’s footsteps to graduate as a “lifer.”

“TCA teachers and coaches have their fingerprints all over my life and ministry,” says Rob. “I am so thankful for those Christian men and women at TCA who poured into me and discipled me.

One of my teachers, Marsha Eubanks, was a major influence. As a kid, I loved sports, so coaches like Coach Morrill, Coach Johnson and Coach Morgan really made a big impact on my life. One of my favorite memories was winning back-to-back state championships in football.” But even more than fun and brotherhood, TCA coaches provided Rob with spiritual challenges as well. “When I was in the seventh grade, Coach Johnson asked to meet with me at 7:30 a.m. once a week to study the Bible,” Rob remembers. This habit changed the trajectory of Rob’s spiritual life as well as his career, setting him on a course to continue biblical studies in graduate school and as a pastor. “My life has been spent studying and teaching others the Bible,” Rob says, a pattern with roots at TCA. Friendships and leadership development opportunities forged at TCA also made a lifelong impact on Rob. “Serving as a Sky Ranch counselor was not just a wonderful memory, but it was one of the earlier times in life that God used me to impact others for Him,” Rob recalls. Other trips, including snow ski trips to Breckenridge, Colorado, and water-skiing lake trips, created deeply rooted bonds of Christian community, as well as developing a lifelong love of skiing in Rob. “I was voted most likely to be a ski bum in the class of 1993,” he remembers. “I now take my own children snow skiing, and we wake surf each summer on lakes near Austin.” One of Rob’s dear friends at TCA was Tom Stickney ’93, also featured in this issue of Trinity Today. “Tom and I played football together for years. He was on those ski trips and sleeping on the floor of my house many nights growing up. It is so neat that we both entered ministry careers after TCA.” When it came time for college, the rigorous curriculum at TCA had set Rob up to find success at Baylor University. “I am so thankful for the upbringing and academics with which TCA

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prepared me,” Rob recalls. After graduating from Baylor, Rob sensed a clear call from God to take a job as head of marketing for a company in Istanbul, Turkey. “This company allowed me to be present near a college campus where I could blend my love of football with sharing the love of Jesus,” Rob remarks. “I started two companies while in Turkey, each focused on loving my neighbors for Christ in a natural way. After two years of being in Istanbul, I was hooked on ministry. I prayed, fasted and asked the Lord to lead me each step of the way, because His plan is so much better than my own.”

Eventually, Rob realized that if preaching, teaching and discipling was the calling on his life, he needed further preparation. “I went to grad school trying to get the shortest and fastest master’s degree possible, but I ended up getting the longest master’s and then another one, all with the goal of training me to help others in their walk with Christ. TCA helped prepare me for this work, spiritually and academically. It was God’s calling, and TCA helped prepare me to thrive.”

Rob met his future wife, Kristie, during graduate school. After celebrating their wedding and his graduation, they moved back to Turkey. There, Rob ran a gourmet coffee-roasting business that allowed the couple to travel all over Turkey sharing their faith.

The Satterfields’ two children, Shiloh and Judah, were both born in Turkey. “Kristie and I are passing on to our kids what many at TCA passed on to me,” Rob says.

Currently, Rob pastors Oak Hill Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, and his family lives in Dripping Springs. “My life and calling has not changed. We have traveled the world, but now we are happy to pour into our kids and love our neighbors through our church. I begin each day asking the Lord what He wants my

“I want to love God a n d l o v e o t h e r s l i ke Christ loves me. It is amazing to watch God bring people i n t o y o u r p a t h .”

day to look like. My day is His. That is such a fun and exciting way to live life.”

At a very young age, Rob observed others at TCA loving their neighbors, and he strives to do the same now as a pastor. “I heard it said once that a young man overestimates what he can do in a short time, but an old man underestimates what he can do over a lifetime. I want to love God and love others like Christ loves me.

It is amazing to watch God bring people into your path.”

Rob has also seen God move powerfully through His Word.

“Last week we checked off a bucket list item goal as we have officially completed the teaching of the entire New Testament, word for word,” Rob says. “We have also taught about 20 books of the Old Testament. My hope and prayer is that I can teach through the entire text of the Bible at Oak Hill. It is fun to watch the Lord use His Word to change people from the inside out!”

Grateful for the grace of God that has woven his story together across continents, Rob Satterfield joyfully remembers his roots back at TCA. “TCA helped develop me into someone who could thrive in life, but also impact others,” he says. “My heart and life are dedicated to being a disciple of Christ who makes disciples of Christ.”

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Tom Stickney ’93

N

ot many TCA graduates remember riding an elephant to elementary school and back or sharing breakfast bananas with monkeys. But Tom Stickney grew up with these unique experiences as a missionary kid in Nairobi, Kenya, where his father had founded African Christian Outreach in 1980. Then, when Tom was in the fifth grade, his parents moved to Dallas to take care of their ailing parents. They enrolled their son, reeling from a major cultural transition, in Trinity Christian Academy for sixth grade.

Right from the start, the Lord used TCA to bless Tom with rich friendships, easing his transition to America. Tom says, “I met Greg Sevadjian, the goofy kid from peewee football, just a few weeks after arrival. Greg and I are still close to this day; very few Fridays pass that we don’t meet for lunch or talk on the phone.”

On the first day of sixth grade, a teacher named Mrs. Minor introduced Tom to Jordan Moore, another soon-to-be close friend who showed Tom the ropes. Like many middle-school-aged boys, friendships came through activities and sports. Tom recalls, “It was on the basketball court where I forged lifelong friendships during those early days. Even today, my friends from the TCA class of 1993 continue to text each other regularly. Rob Satterfield, Todd Pietsch, Andrew Graham, Coleman Ward, Chad Maness, Jason Wallace, Chris Waddell and countless others became my tribe.

The years before our graduation flew too quickly, but the memories from my time at TCA remain a strong bond with friends. Despite not seeing each other for years, we always manage to pick up right where we left off.”

Tom has many favorite memories from his years at TCA, but they mainly revolve around loyal relationships. Years after graduating

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from TCA, he spent time with an Executive Life Coach named Katy Orender Asker, who happened to be a TCA graduate from the class of 1994. Tom recalls, “Katy helped me recognize that TCA was a key element in developing my current passionate commitment and allegiance to people and purpose. For example, the unwavering support and investment from my coaches—Barry Morgan, Bob King, Curtis Blagburn, David Johnson and Gaylon Huck—allowed me to play an active role in relationships in the form of teams that achieved consecutive football state championships.”

There were many moments of joy and productive challenge during Tom Stickney’s years at TCA. He says, “Instances like painting the rock, learning to avoid ‘verbal garbage’ during Dr. Brunson’s presentations and receiving guidance from Rob Waples in the athletic training room only begin to scratch the surface of the profound impact relationships and experiences at TCA had on shaping me as a person.” After heading to college, he realized anew what a strong academic foundation he had received at TCA. “I came to recognize that the academic challenges I faced at TCA, such as research papers I had struggled with at the time, had actually positioned me ahead of my fellow students.”

During his summers in college, Tom worked in the Ozark Mountains with longtime TCA teachers Hank and Diane Harmon.

The Harmons retired in May 2023 after decades of ministry with generations of TCA students in Bible and government classes, on the Wilderness or Mexico mission trips and at Kanakuk Kamps.

After college graduation, Tom entered full-time ministry as an ordained student pastor. “I was still mischievous enough to plan a good time; I listened well, and I knew relationships would open up the Truth for which mankind is constantly searching,” he remembers.

Tom married “a beautiful blond-haired teacher and coach” named Kerry, promising her that “if she married me, we’d never leave American soil.” However, after Tom’s father passed away, he “felt a tug” to move to Kenya to continue his father’s ministry, African Christian Outreach, where he now serves as Executive Director. He confessed his longing to his wife. “Fortunately,” Tom says, “she loves me but adores Jesus. Plus, she’s never met a challenge or adventure she didn’t want to dominate.” They took over African Christian Outreach and moved to Nairobi, bringing their two children Sydney Grace and Nathan-Raegan along for ten years of ministry in Nairobi.

When Tom and his family landed in Kenya, African Christian Outreach (ACO) had one or two staff members working on two university campuses. Today, ACO serves as an umbrella organization, encompassing six different ministries that work in unison, with over 50 indigenous staff members serving across ten east African countries. ACO has learned that “loving your neighbor” is not just a local command of Jesus, but a global one as well. “The hands and feet of our Savior were just as powerful as His words,” Tom says, and his ministry brings practical help and evangelistic witness to east African people.

One ACO ministry, the Pamoja Community Centers, creates networks that connect young entrepreneurs and innovators.

Another ministry, the New Beginnings Crisis Pregnancy Centers

in East Africa, revolves around equipping women to thrive as single mothers. It provides training programs and mentorship that extend past the deliveries of their babies to help them succeed in careers so they can excel in both their parenting and professional journeys. A third ACO ministry, Student Discipleship Ministries, evangelizes on university campuses. Tom says, “Our aim is to cultivate a generation of followers of Jesus who are proactive problem-solvers and conscious leaders.” ACO staff create strong bonds with students, then equip them through Christian discipleship, social entrepreneurship programs, leadership development and grassroots community initiatives. ACO is loving its global neighbors in east Africa, bringing the gospel while meeting felt needs just like Jesus did.

Tom Stickney’s deep roots at TCA continue to influence his ministry. “In fact,” he says, “a little kid, who used to be just the younger brother of my girlfriend’s best friend, now sits on the African Christian Outreach Board of Directors. Hunter Dehn ’97 has become an influential figure in my life, and together with his colleague Blake Fusch ’98, they gather their friends (many of whom are current TCA parents) each year to raise funds for our New Beginnings Crisis Pregnancy Centers.” More information about the ministry may be found at africanchristianoutreach.com.

“ We l o v e o u r n e i g h b o r s a s o u r s e l v e s a t AC O by s e e k i n g t o e n g a g e , equip and empower E a s t Af r i c a n s .”

In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment in the law of God. He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.” He then continued: “This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” To Tom Stickney, these words drive his career in ministry. “We love our neighbors as ourselves at ACO by seeking to engage, equip and empower East Africans, offering them resources to create a meaningful impact on the global future,” Tom says. “We strive to develop a dynamic generation that loves first, can drive positive change and will contribute to a brighter tomorrow.”

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In Memoriam HOWARD PARNELL BYRNES JR. ALUMNI PARENT February 24, 2023 CAROLINE TERRY MAY (TAHA) ALUMNI PARENT March 21, 2023 SCOTT ALAN COLLINS ALUMNI PARENT July 3, 2023 ELIZABETH “LIBBY” DIANE MILLER ALUMNI PARENT July 3, 2023 DONNA SHORT MCBRIDE PAST FACULTY MEMBER & ADMINISTRATOR August 1, 2023 KEATH “KAY” BARNETT BARRETTA ’82 August 24, 2023 PEGGY SUE BROWNING ALUMNI PARENT September 26, 2023 DARLA JEAN DODSON ALUMNI PARENT October 14, 2023 MELISSA MADELINE GOODMAN ALUMNI PARENT October 27, 2023 PRISCILLA NICOARA ALUMNI PARENT November 5, 2023 MELISSA GOODMAN ALUMNI PARENT October 27, 2023 ROBERT “ROB” LEAUMONT ’82 November 6, 2023 CONNIE NIXON PAST FACULTY MEMBER & ALUMNI PARENT November 26, 2023 DORIS GREEN ALUMNI PARENT December 1, 2023 STEPHANIE SCOTT ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL & PARENT December 28, 2023

LAST WORD Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

— 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

TCA HOMECOMING PHOTO BY JEFF MCWHORTER ’05

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