TToday_Summer2026 WEB

Trinity TODAY

EDITOR

KEVIN MCCONAGHY Director of Marketing & Communication

DESIGN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CLARISSA BERRY ’19 Graphic Designer & Publications Coordinator

ALUMNI OFFICE

BETH HARWELL Director of Alumni

ADVISORY BOARD

DR. JEFF D. WILLIAMS ’88 Head of School

BEV BIRMINGHAM

JENNIE KESLER

DR. FRAN LEGBAND

AMY EDWARDS PRIDEAUX ’89

BRIAN SPENCE ’98

CAMILLE LANGFORD WALKER ’82

CRAIG WILSON

LISA WONG

JUSTIN ZAPPIA

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

WENDY HERMES Chair

BRANDON WADDELL ’97 Vice Chair

DERIC EUBANKS Past Chair

JT COATS

MARK DYER

DAVID HARPER

JOHN HINCKLEY ’00

MARK LAIBLE

LUCKY LOCKETT

HOLDEN LUNSFORD

ADAM MCKELVEY

LISA WHITAKER

ABOUT US

TRINITY TODAY is the official magazine of Trinity Christian Academy.

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.

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NOTE TO PARENTS

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

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL 04

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 05

FACULTY FOCUS 06

PARENT VOLUNTEERS 08

HONOR ROLL 09

GOOD WORKS 10

CLASS ACTS 16

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE 22

SENIOR CLASS 23

TCA FOUNDATION 28

ATHLETICS NEW ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP 31

WINTER & SPRING SPORTS SEASON RECAPS 32

COLLEGE SIGNINGS 40

INNOVATION FEATURES

Discover Week 42

TCA held its first-ever Discover Week this year, giving students the opportunity to discover new interests, learn new skills, explore different cultures and demonstrate the love of Christ through selfless service.

Innovating With Purpose 50

TCA’s Innovation Department equips students to think creatively, solve problems and apply unchanging biblical truths as they engage a rapidly changing world.

Mastering Technology

Wisely 55

TCA students are leading the way on solving future problems today, teaching others how to use AI responsibly and build healthy habits when it comes to technology.

ALUMNI NEWS 58 IN MEMORIAM 60

From the Head of School

Trinity Christian Academy is committed to preparing students for lives of purpose, wisdom and faithfulness. That preparation begins with an unwavering commitment to truth. We believe that God’s Word is true, that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and that students need a strong foundation to guide their path throughout their lives.

That solid foundation matters because the world around our students is always changing, with new technologies, new opportunities and new challenges. TCA strives to help students understand the world they are entering and prepare them to engage it with discernment, courage and faithfulness. Our students are the future problem-solvers the world needs: graduates who will guide the development of new technologies, build organizations that serve others and show through their example how to navigate changes while standing firm on unchanging truths.

Our students don’t have to wait; they are already gaining experiences and making a difference in the world. We have students building a real business from the ground up right in the Upper School. We have students addressing real-world problems and teaching their peers all around DFW how to wisely navigate the world of AI and how to use technology without being ruled by it. Our engineering students are inventing new products to assist families right in our community. With the guidance and mentorship of TCA parents and alumni, we have students learning about future career opportunities through hands-on internships, while others gain new lifelong skills from their teachers during Discover Week. From a young age, students are learning about how to engage with people in the wider world through language and cultural lessons right here on campus, while others see for themselves

firsthand by traveling to places they have never been before. And we have students regularly loving and serving their neighbors — wherever those neighbors may be — through mission trips, service projects and living on mission throughout their daily lives.

I am grateful that our students have so many opportunities to do those things at TCA, and I am grateful for all the people who work and give to make such opportunities possible. Across our campus, students are learning to work hard, think clearly about the world around them and take initiative to make a positive difference. They are discovering interests and talents, and they are building confidence through practice and by persevering through challenges. When students launch a business, design a solution, learn to use new technology responsibly or serve a real need in the community, they are doing more than completing an assignment. They are practicing the kind of initiative and leadership they will need throughout their lives. They are learning what their gifts are and how to use them for the good of others and the glory of God.

As the world continues to change, our mission remains the same: to educate and develop students to the glory of God. I am thankful for the many ways our faculty, staff, students and families continue to live out that mission together.

DR. JEFF D. WILLIAMS '88 Head of School

From the Board of Trustees

From selling school portraits to family members in elementary school, to middle school invention conventions, to starting a lawn mowing business in high school, owning patents and building tech companies — entrepreneurship and innovation have been in my blood for as long as I can remember.

I’ve been blessed to build numerous startup businesses since graduating from TCA in 2000, and every one of them has been rooted in innovation. TCA’s faith-based education, moral lessons, character development and adversity in team sports were all foundational principles cultivated by teachers and coaches who prepared me to step into God’s calling as an entrepreneur.

A few key ingredients for success in entrepreneurship are vision, values and execution. But the hardest part is finding the courage to take a risk and try something new.

TCA introduced some exciting new ways to teach and inspire students this past school year. While less homework was one of the more popular changes, one of my personal favorites was the launch of the coffee shop in the Upper School. Through the Innovation Department, students are taking orders, serving coffee to their peers and teachers, learning how payments work and experiencing how a real business operates — all right here on campus. The pairing of faith, education and real-world problem-solving is a brilliant way for students to put everything they’re learning into practice.

This year also brought TCA’s first Discover Week, where students dedicated an entire week to learning something new outside the classroom. Whether exploring a personal passion, developing a skill or experiencing a different part of the world, students gained fresh perspectives that align beautifully with TCA’s mission to develop the whole student for the glory of God.

As I reflect on the impact TCA has had on my life, and as I watch my own children walk these same halls, I am thankful that TCA has not wavered in its mission — only strengthened it with new approaches. I am energized watching our students expand their knowledge of innovation, exploration and entrepreneurship.

John 15:16 reminds us: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.”

God asks us to trust Him and take a leap of faith when called. I am thankful for TCA’s leadership and its mission, vision and values that are shaping our future innovators and world changers for God’s glory.

JOHN HINCKLEY ’00 Trustee

JOHN HINCKLEY ’00 is a tech entrepreneur with over 21 years of experience founding SaaS companies for the multifamily real estate and student housing sectors. He currently leads Billee, an AI-powered utility billing platform for the property technology industry. A proud TCA alumnus, John graduated in 2000 and went on to earn his BBA from Baylor University. He and his wife Kate have been married for 14 years and have three children currently attending TCA — Ford (sixth grade), Hannah Rose (fourth grade) and Hunter (first grade). His mother, Nancy Hinckley, served as a Lower School teacher at TCA for decades.

John is honored to serve on the TCA Board of Trustees. “Being a student at TCA was foundational to my personal and spiritual growth, and serving on the TCA board is a tremendous privilege. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to a school that has been an extraordinary blessing to my family and to faithfully steward the mission and Christian values that make TCA so special.”

Annette Metz

41 Years

Very few people anywhere can say they’ve worked faithfully at the same place for more than four decades. One of Trinity Christian Academy’s longest tenures of all time comes to an end this summer, as Annette Metz retires after 41 years of service. Annette, a longtime behind-the-scenes superhero of the business department, has garnered a reputation of warmth, kindness, joviality and servant-heartedness throughout her career at TCA.

Although someone in an accounting role might spend more time working with numbers than with people, Annette is also known for her hospitality. Before working in the Business Office, she was already beginning her career of kindness by welcoming Kathy and Dan Russ to TCA, helping them with the transition to private school life in the city. Annette invited Kathy’s daughter over to her house to meet her own daughter, helping her integrate into the school. Moving to a new city and entering into a new school can be difficult changes to navigate for both kids and parents. Without the welcoming transition to TCA facilitated by Annette, the Russ family may have never had the incredible impact on the school that they would go on to have in the following years, including Dan eventually serving as head of school.

As Kathy Russ warmly recounts, Annette knew “the names of everyone in the school and how to spell them correctly.” Annette is also described by many as a prayer warrior for the people in the TCA community. She has prayed for them alongside her husband, Mike Beidel, who also served as TCA’s head of school, and who had a list of every student he ever taught, praying for all of them throughout his ministry to TCA.

“Those little feet of hers, constantly moving without pause, indicate everything you need to know about her,” remembers Ginger Harris, who marveled at Annette’s indefatigable attitude toward those she worked with and the assignments she was given. Even work she was not assigned could not escape her attention; her unsurpassed attention to detail and her proofing acumen

saved many publications from subtle grammatical errors. “There was nothing slapdash about her,” Ginger says, and although Annette was known as a perfectionist, she was known to everyone as “above all, kind.”

“...so many words in these verses remind me of Annette: never lacking zeal, serving the Lord, keeping spiritual fervor, joyful, patient, faithful in prayer, practicing hospitality. What a legacy she is leaving!”

Those little shoes containing those ambitious feet will be, in the words of Chief Financial Officer Tony Van Slyke, “impossible to fill.” He says the Bible passage that best exemplifies Annette’s work at TCA is Romans 12:11-13: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Tony says that “so many words in these verses remind me of Annette: never lacking zeal, serving the Lord, keeping spiritual fervor, joyful, patient, faithful in prayer, practicing hospitality. What a legacy she is leaving!”

Annette will be quickly missed and long remembered as someone who has served with excellence and given much to Trinity Christian Academy.

Years of Service

We are grateful for the way so many people faithfully devote their careers to making the TCA community what it is. At the close of the 2025-26 school year, we honored these faculty and staff for notable work anniversaries:

30 YEARS

Lynne Klein – PreK Teacher

Dan Mills – Seventh & Eighth-Grade Math Teacher

25 YEARS

Jennifer Barnes – Second-Grade Teacher

Dr. Fran Legband – Chief Academic Officer

20 YEARS

Melissa Foley – ARC Coordinator

Shannon Frantz – Assistant to the Director of Admission

Teresa Rosario – US Math & Innovation Teacher

15 YEARS

Holly Bator – US Humanities

Courtney Bryson '00 – US Science Teacher

Ellen Chock – Fourth-Grade Teaching Assistant, After School Care Coordinator

Kendall Ellis – US Choral Director, PAC Coordinator, Worship Arts Director

Karen Fields – Fifth-Grade Teacher

Jennifer Moore – Education Technology Specialist

Amanda Rogers '88 – Accountant, US/MS

Drama Technical Director

Caryn Thexton – Director of College and Academic Counseling

10 YEARS

Emily Eyre – LS Counselor

Marie Farley – Assistant Band Director

Julie Francis – US Science Teacher

Allison Freet – US Math Teacher

Heidi Hanna – Kindergarten Teaching Assistant

Pam Larson – Executive Assistant to the Head of School

Jessica McCauley – Fourth-Grade Teaching Assistant

Joel Partin – MS Humanities Teacher

Amy Wood – Second-Grade Teacher 30 25 20 15 10 6 5 30 20 15 10 10 5 5

Ashley Ridnour – Campus Events & Volunteers Administrative Assistant

CeCe Scott '00 – MS Science Teacher

Karla Self – Finance Manager

6 YEARS

The following people reached five years of service in 2025 but were not listed in last summer's edition:

Betsy Bunch – Kindergarten Teaching Assistant

Jessica Radovic – Third-Grade Teaching Assistant

5 YEARS

Trisha Baker – MS Math Teacher

Amanda Burgett – Visual Arts Department Aide

Geritt Davenport – Associate Director of Band

Corinda Fellers – US College & Academic Counselor

Jenifer Johnson – PreK Teacher

Megan Mohle – HR Administrative Assistant

Lauren Peterson '09 – First-Grade Teacher

John Price – Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach, PE Teacher

Jennifer Ross – LS Music Teacher

Brooklyn Smith '12 – US ARC Teacher

Jim Spaulding – Security & Safety Officer

Brian Stringfellow – Security & Safety Officer

Parent Volunteers

TCA has many faithful parent volunteers who play important roles throughout the school year, selflessly serving fellow parents, students, faculty and staff. They serve meals, make mums, organize banquets, run concessions, manage uniform resale and lead prayer efforts for the school. We are tremendously grateful for all that they do.

Special thanks to the coordinators of different events and activities:

FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

Décor Coordinator – Kristin Wertz

Kitchen Coordinator – Tiffany Ingram

Volunteer Coordinator – Megan Gean

LS Volunteer Coordinator – Jen Lenz

MS Volunteer Coordinator – Betsy deVenny

HOMECOMING MUMS

Shannon Copeland, Julie Wenning and Mandy Walk

CONCESSIONS

Lindsey Fusch and Shelley Kilgore

SENIOR BANQUET

Shawnnah Parrill

UNIFORM RESALE

Michelle Keramidas and Tracy Zeleskey

MPACT

Chrissy Lankford and Courtney McKendrick

AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THIS YEAR’S PTF BOARD:

President – Wendi Byerly

Vice President – Kristin Gray

Secretary – Shelby Smith

Treasurer – Abbe Womble

Good Works

OUR MISSION

TCA desires to educate and develop the whole person for the glory of God by helping equip each student to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and to become a faithful disciple of Him.

Senior Awards

TCA Good Citizenship Award

Nathan Youn, Chloe Kimbrough

Bible

Gabriel Binkley, Hayden Key

Humanities

Art History: Nathan Youn

Economics: Boaz Henderson

Government: Samuel Qian

Harkness Award: Lucas Cavazos, Violet Truly

Senior Humanities: Chloe Kimbrough, Nathan Youn

Senior Thesis: Olivia Hammonds, Hayes Hermes Innovation

Honors Business Development & Design: Maddie Scott

Honors Engineering Design: Lacie Betts, Boaz Henderson

Leadership: Hannah Grace Coleman

Peer Tutoring Network: Ella Bricker, Brandon Chou

Tech Intern: Chase Griffin

Mathematics

AP Calculus AB: Olivia Hammonds

AP Statistics: Nathan Youn

Finite Math: Avery Bunch

Performing Arts

Band

Band Member of the Year: Sebastian Lee, Avery Womble

John Philip Sousa Award: Owen Smith

Outstanding Musicianship: Brian Rodriguez

Choir

Director’s Award: Chloe Kimbrough, Kendall Truitt

Outstanding Musician Award (Alto): Lacie Betts

Outstanding Musician Award (Bass): Kevin Carter

Theater

Advanced Drama Award: Charlotte March

Director’s Award: Tesla Galvis, Caroline Hatton

Outstanding Theater Student: Caroline Broyles

Science

AP Biology: Chloe Kimbrough

AP Chemistry: Reid Lindsay

Field Ecology: Boaz Henderson, Beck

Neatherlin, Taylor Ramsey

Honors Anatomy & Physiology: Annie Blocker, Olivia Hammonds

Visual Arts

AP Art: Hayden Key, Adysen Thibaudeau

World Language

AP French IV: Olivia Tristan

AP Spanish IV: Nathan Youn

Yearbook

Katie Spears, Camille Williams

National Merit

Finalists

Congratulations to our National Merit Finalists, Nathan Youn and Samuel Qian! Being named a National Merit Finalist places them among the nation’s top high school scholars and reflects their exceptional academic performance, intellectual curiosity and commitment to excellence. We look forward to all they will accomplish next.

Book Awards

Evelyn Keramidas – University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award, awarded to high school juniors who embrace creativity and innovation while demonstrating citizen leadership by working to improve their community

Brady Grantham – Yale Book Award, awarded for outstanding scholarship, character and intellectual curiosity

Grades 9-11 Awards

Bible

9: Drew Fletcher, Lila Hulme

10: Eliana Hammons, Mack Sykes

11: Lily Nugent, Caleb Wenning, Wynne Whitehead

Humanities

9: Tyler Basom, Tatum Giles, Riley Lindsay, Kate Martin, Shepherd McMullen, Davis Wenning

10: Nathan Cheung, Ellie Hammonds, Winnie Henderson, Mack Sykes, Peyton Walton, Leighton Weber

11: Caroline Craighead, Brady Grantham, Jillian Gulbas, Anna Gurganus, Ethan Lewis, Izzi Opsal

Innovation

AP Computer Science: Brady Lee

Game Design: Cale Thexton, Austin Webb

Honors Business Development & Design: Hank Womble

Honors Entrepreneurship: Caden Jobe

Honors Leadership: Caleb Wenning

Honors Python: Harry Stoops, Eli Thomson

Honors Scientific Research & Design — Destination Imagination: Tyler Basom

Honors Scientific Research & Design — Science Olympiad: Sophie Huang

Honors Web Computing: Carter Bovermann

S.P.A.R.K. Award: Hayden Dunn

Eighth-Grade Awards

Mathematics

Algebra I: Trinon Volbeda

Algebra II: Anna Gurganus

BC Calculus: Sophie Huang

Geometry: Kinley Poole

Honors Algebra II: Anna Gee

Honors Calculus A: Lauren Couturier

Honors Geometry: Harper Foley

Honors Trigonometry/Intro to Calculus: Josef

Vidaud

Trigonometry/Intro to Business Calculus: Jackson Adams

Performing Arts

Choir

Outstanding Musician (Soprano): Charlie Cox

Outstanding Musician (Tenor): Christian Azevedo

Theater

Drama I: Kate Martin, Davis Wenning

Drama II: Jordan Macatee

Spring Show Award: Chloe Belew, MJ Smith

Worship Team

Zach Fitzgerald

Science

AP Physics: Milena Berezhna, Wendy Yang

Biology: Riley Lindsay

Chemistry: Isabelle Scott

Honors Physics: Josef Vidaud

Art: Ellie Davis, Leslie Maddox, Cora Scott, Emily Taylor

Band: Hanna Furr, Jonathan Haight, Gavin Wilder

Bible Barnabas Award: Jack Burkett, Abby Tapp

Bible Memory: Emily Miller, Zoe Ramireddy

Choir: Hadley Bland, Luke Boaz, Laine Lockett, Kyla Nelson, Annalisa Palazzo, Brooks Pinkston, Brynn Redmond, Landon Tapella

French: William Sparks

History/English: Kinslee Hays, Taylor May, Emily Miller, Leo Nima, Annalisa Palazzo, Preston Tom

Latin: Emily Miller, Preston Tom

Math: Sean Huang, Chloe Li, Emily Miller, William Pattillo, Preston Tom

Spanish: Katie Ehmke, Karolina Haas

Speech/Drama: Kinsler Balli, Kate Fitzgerald, Haven Gulbas, Kinslee Hays, Daniel Smith, Charlotte Tucker

Technology: Clayton Wetzel

Science: Sean Huang, Emily Miller, Preston Tom

Honors Biology: Harper Foley

Honors Chemistry: Jordan Macatee, Jackson

Pattillo

Physics: Lilly Nugent

Visual Arts

Honors Digital Art: Charlie Cox, Eddie Franco

Honors Drawing/Painting/Printmaking I: Julien Gean, Opal Stinson

Honors Drawing/Painting/Printmaking II: Milena Berezhna, Kate Black

Honors Photography: Lena Hotchkiss, Stella Stinson

Honors Sculpture: London McKinney

Studio Art: Emma Green, Brady Lee

World Language

French I: Tyler Basom

Honors French II: Mae Larsen

Honors French III: Emi Nguyen

Honors Latin II: Andrea Johnson

Honors Spanish II: Parker Reed, Mack Sykes

Honors Spanish III: Andrea Johnson

Spanish I: Drew Fletcher, Riley Lindsay

Spanish II: Ally Matthews

Spanish III: Sadie Wayman

Good Works

National Latin Exam Students Recognized

Congratulations to the 47 TCA students who were recognized for their achievement on the National Latin Exam, including 24 seventh-graders, 15 eighth-graders and eight Upper School students. More than 100,000 students from all 50 states and 26 foreign countries participated.

Special congratulations to Preston Tom (Latin 1) and Andrea Johnson (Latin 2) for achieving a perfect score!

Upper School

Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal): Rachel George, Harper Foley, Andrea Johnson, Maggie Zeleskey

Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal): Chloe Voss

Magna Cum Laude: Isabella Wallace

Cum Laude: Scarlett Dougherty, Olivia Rumpler

Eighth Grade

Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal): Henry Chen, Hanna Furr, Jonathan Haight, Sean Huang, Emily Miller, William Pattillo, Preston Tom

Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal): Luke Dorsey, Kinslee Hays, Chloe Li, Zoe Ramireddy

Magna Cum Laude: Gillian Futrell, Michael Russ, Cora Scott, Destiny Thompson

Seventh Grade

Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal): Margaret Clack, Taylor Ramsey, Sadie Reed, Leah Sutton

Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal): Ryan Foley, Hazel Goldsmith, Wyatt Miller, Clark Wang

Magna Cum Laude: Andrew Azevedo, Makenna Eidsvig, Emery Kephart, Willow Kruse, Blake Lankford, Adeline McClintock, Abigail Philip, Addison Scalzitti, Grant Truitt, Katherine Voss, Connor Wagers

Cum Laude: Brady Knight, Andrey Moskvin, Ryan Ross, Hannah Sykes, Kyla Wallace

ACSI International Math Competition Winners

About 7,000 students from around the globe competed in this year’s ACSI International Math Competition. There were multiple levels to the competition, with only the top students from each level advancing to the next rounds, so that the winning students literally represent the best of the best. Congratulations to Henry Chen for earning fourth place in eighth-grade reasoning, Sean Huang for placing second in eighth-grade computation and Noah Ng for winning first place in fifth-grade computation!

Fifth-Grade Roman Forum Raises $2,605 for Feed My Starving Children

TCA fifth-graders hosted the annual Roman Forum, where students created shops, sold their wares and learned about commerce while also practicing generosity. After counting and dividing their earnings, students were encouraged to donate 10 percent or more to Feed My Starving Children. Together, they donated $2,605, enough to provide daily meals for 28 children for an entire year. Students later served at FMSC and presented the donation in person.

Eighth-Grade Nonprofit Winners

Students in Eighth-Grade Bible class took part in a nonprofit competition. Each eighth-grader researched and gave a presentation to classmates on his or her favorite nonprofit. The top 12 were selected as finalists, with those students presenting again to a panel of judges. The judges chose three overall winners, with the winning students receiving $10,000 each to donate to their selected nonprofits, courtesy of a generous TCA donor. Congratulations to the three winners:

• Luke Dorsey and Bonton Farms, which provides food, jobs, housing and wellness programs in South Dallas

• Emily Miller and Big Howdy, which serves international students at the University of Texas at Dallas

• Annalisa Palazzo and The Samaritan Inn, which provides hope for the homeless in North Texas.

Lower School Virtue of the Month Winners

Each full month during the school year, Lower School students learned about a different virtue or character trait. And each month, one student was recognized for best displaying that virtue in the classroom. Congratulations to this year’s virtue winners:

• Faithfulness (September): McClaine Furr

• Confidence (October): Andrew Sellers

• Dependability (November): Caroline Stewart

• Peace (January): Dylan Hollmuller

• Compassion (February): Walker Biery

• Forgiveness (March): Brody Rosales

• Trust (April): Cal Mohle

Lower School Outstanding Readers

Second- through fourthgrade students had an exceptional year of reading through the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. Collectively, they read 223,242,173 words. This year’s Million Word Readers included 43 students who read more than 1 million words, 13 who read more than 2 million, five who read more than 3 million, one who read more than 4 million, one who read more than 5 million and three students who read more than 6 million words!

Teachers also selected AR Outstanding Rising Stars from second through fourth grades, recognizing students who showed a desire to read, made progress toward their AR goals and enjoyed reading throughout the school year. The AR Outstanding Rising Stars were second-graders Viviana Luna, Harper Lunsford, Caroline Hinckley, Ella Snowflack and Luke Hunold; third-graders Luca Smith, Alexander Kent, Lennox Santana, Cooper Potts and Reid Wiese; and fourth-graders Mason Pavey, Kennerly Stover, Tate Rodriguez, Luke Blue and Richard Thatcher.

Good Works

CHOIR STUDENTS

SHINE IN CONTEST

SEASON

TCA choir students had a successful contest season at both the Middle School and Upper School levels. Middle School singers earned 177 superior ratings and 17 excellent ratings at Solo/Ensemble. The sixth-grade choir, 7/8 boys choir and 7/8 girls choir all received superior ratings, which are the highest possible scores, from every judge at the Prestonwood Invitational Contest.

At the Upper School TPSMEA Region Vocal Solo & Ensemble Contest, Charlie Cox, Trey Nunnally, Kendall Truitt and Leighton Weber earned Superior ratings on their solos and qualified for state. Charlie, Trey and Kendall also earned Superior ratings and qualified for state in ensemble, along with fellow ensemble members Andrew Antush, Christian Azevedo, Brooks Barton, Chloe Belew, Lacie Betts, Kevin Carter, Preston Dean, Charlie Dennis, Jax Goldenberg, Charlotte March, Peyton Parks, Walker Spence, James Thompson and Hank Womble.

At the TPSMEA State Vocal Solo & Ensemble Contest, Charlie Cox, Trey Nunnally, Kendall Truitt and Leighton Weber each received Superior ratings. The treble ensemble of Chloe Belew, Lacie Betts, Charlie Cox, Charlotte March, Peyton Parks and Kendall Truitt received an Excellent rating.

TCA Musicians Earn All-State Honors

Sophie Huang and Brian Rodriguez qualified for the 2026 Texas All-State Concert Band, the highest honor a Texas music student can achieve. Approximately 60,000 students from across the state audition, with only the top 3% earning All-State recognition. This marked the second time Brian and Sophie performed with a TMEA All-State organization. Brian and Sophie also earned positions in the TPSMEA All-State Band, and Scarlett Dougherty earned a spot in the TPSMEA All-State Orchestra.

TCA Bands Receive Top Ratings

TCA bands earned top marks during spring contest season. The Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Symphonic Band received the highest possible ratings from all judges at the North TPSMEA Contest, and the Sixth-Grade Beginning Band earned the highest rating possible at the Epic Waters music festival. The Upper School Wind Symphony also received the highest possible ratings from all judges at the North TPSMEA Contest.

Dallas Young Artist Exhibition

Eight TCA Advanced Placement art students were selected to represent the school in Blue Print Gallery’s Dallas Young Artist Exhibition, which included students from 22 local public and private schools. TCA artists selected for the exhibition included Adysen Thibaudeau, Wagner Graham, Annie Blocker, Bliss Bell, Scotland Stewart and Beck Neatherlin Carsen Prideaux earned an honorable mention and a $500 award, while Hayden Key won first place, received a $5,000 award and sold her artwork at the reception. Congratulations to our artists!

Black & White Images Photography Contest

Upper School photography students were recognized in the Fort Worth Country Day Black & White Images Contest & Exhibition, an annual juried exhibition for high school photography students from public and private schools across the DFW area. More than 540 works were submitted by students from 16 schools, and only 50 were accepted into the exhibition.

Congratulations to the following students who were selected for this honor:

• Rachel Sutton – First Place Photo Essay, Honorable Mention Experimental

• Kate Black – First Place Short Film

• Abby George – First Place Photojournalism

• Caroline Hatton – Second Place Photo Essay, Honorable Mention Photo Essay

• Lucy Reynolds – Second Place Short Film

• Sloane Romo – Second Place Still Life

• Sam Whitmire – Second Place Portrait

• Wendy Yang – Honorable Mention Portrait

Future Problem Solving Students Earn State Honors

TCA students earned top honors at the Texas Future Problem Solving State Bowl, showcasing creativity, problem-solving skills and futuristic thinking at the highest level. Five TCA students were named Texas Grand Champions in their divisions, earning the right to represent the state at the Future Problem Solving International Conference; you can read more about their projects on page 55. TCA winners include:

• Texas Grand Champion for Community Problem Solving (Senior Team Division) – Milena Berezhna, Sophie Huang, Caleb Kim and Grayson Tucker won for “Project AI SMART.”

• Texas Grand Champion for Community Problem Solving (Middle Individual Division) – Sean Huang won for “Project Restoring Digital Balance.”

• Second Place in Global Issues Problem Solving (Middle Individual Division) – Sean Huang

• First Place in MAGIC (Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Competition) (Senior Division) – Janet Lu

• Second Place in MAGIC (Senior Division) – Milena Berezhna

• Third Place in MAGIC (Senior Division) – Andrew Beumer and Sophie Huang

• First Place in Most Futuristic Solution (MAGIC Senior Division) – Milena Berezhna

• First Place in Artistic Expression (Middle Division) – Leslie Maddox

• Second Place in MAGIC (Middle Division) – Hanna Furr

Eagle Scouts

Congratulations to Brady Lee, Michael March, Cashdon McKinney and Eli Thomson for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout this year! Earning the highest rank in Scouting requires years of dedication, leadership, service and perseverance, including the completion of a significant community service project. Examples of those community service projects included building large planter boxes for children to use as an outdoor learning space at a church and building mobile STEM carts for students at a school.

Science Olympiad

The TCA Science Olympiad Team placed fourth overall at the Tarleton Regional Competition and earned several top-five finishes in different events. Congratulations to Janet Lu and Mack Sykes for placing third in Water Quality, and to Drew Thompson and Nathan Cheung for placing third in Bungee Drop.

Destination Imagination Team Places Sixth

in the World

TCA’s Destination Imagination team — Tyler Basom, Ryan Butts, Margaret Clack, Jack Solomon, Stella Staszak and Eva Westbrook — placed first at regionals and received the DaVinci Award, which honors teams for creativity, risk-taking and unique approaches to problem solving.

With their win, they advanced to the Lone Star Finals, where they placed third among more than 500 teams from across Texas and earned the High Instant Challenge Award with a perfect score of 100.

At the Global Finals in Kansas City, the team placed sixth in the world overall and also placed in the top 10 in the Instant Challenge. Way to go!

State Robotics Champion

Grayson Tucker won the FIRST Robotics Competition Texas state championship as part of the McKinney Mercenaries STEAM Academy, Team 6369. Grayson serves as lead architect and lead game strategist for the team, which went undefeated, broke the state scoring record and earned the Engineering Inspiration Award.

DECA Students Advance to State Competition

Fifteen TCA students competed at the district level in Texas DECA, which gives emerging student leaders real-world experiences in marketing, finance, hospitality and management through exams and business role-play activities. Congratulations to the six students who did well enough to advance to the state competition: Tyler Basom, Anna Gee, Caleb Kim, Jackson McConathy, Jackson Shaul and Wendy Yang

Prefect Selection

The TCA student body is led by senior prefects, who are chosen at the end of their junior year through an application and interview process and serve throughout their senior year. Congratulations to our new 2026-27 prefects: Head Prefect Zach Fitzgerald, Academic Prefect Sophie Huang, Admission Prefect Evelyn Keramidas, Community Prefect Caroline Craighead, Publicity Prefect Wynne Whitehead, Service Prefect Wyatt Gard and Student Life Prefect Will Loukas.

And thank you to our 2025-26 prefects for their service: Head Prefect Lucy Anderson, Academics Prefect Nathan Youn, Admission Prefect Greer Goldenberg, Publicity Prefect Lauren Prideaux, Service Prefect Olivia Hammonds, Student Life Prefect Ryan Janacek and Unity Prefect Avery Womble.

Lower School

THIRD-GRADE WAX MUSEUM

Welcome to our Third-Grade Wax Museum! Our students brought history to life by impersonating their chosen historical figures for family and friends. After researching their historical figures, each student memorized a speech to share about that person’s life and impact. They even had a special visit from their kindergarten pen pals!

PREK FEET WASHING

Following Jesus’ example, our preK students practiced serving one another by washing each other’s feet. Through this simple yet meaningful act, they learned that true leadership begins with humility, kindness and a willingness to put others first.

FIRST-GRADE CULTURES WEEK

Our students had a fantastic time “traveling” the world and exploring different continents and cultures. Along the way, they learned about regional traditions, geography and history, heard from Mr. Tong about his childhood in China and enjoyed math tricks taught by Bennett Awbrey’s grandmother. It was a memorable week of learning and discovery.

FOURTH-GRADE TRIBUTE TO TEXAS

As the culmination of their study of the great state of Texas, our fourth-graders performed a “Tribute to Texas.” Led by Lower School music teacher Jennifer O’Brian, the students wrangled the audience for a spectacular concert!

KINDERGARTEN AFRICAN MARKET

Students wrapped up their study of Africa with their very own African Market! After learning about this beautiful continent God created — including the animals, cultures, people, geography, missions and more — kindergarteners had a great time buying and selling crafts, trinkets and fruit.

Middle School

HOUSE LIP SYNC COMPETITION

Middle School students are placed into houses — Courage, Honor, Justice and Wisdom — and face off against other houses throughout the year in friendly competitions. There was plenty to cheer for in the annual Lip Sync competition, with students showing off their hard work, talent and creativity (but not their singing skills).

SEVENTH-GRADE TICKET TO ROME

Our seventh-graders earned their Ticket to Rome! This cross-curricular experience brought Latin, Science and History/English together for an incredible day of hands-on learning. After weeks of designing and engineering their own chariots, students put them to the test in an exciting race. They also enjoyed a Roman-style progressive feast, performed plays retelling classic myths and competed in Olympic-style games before wrapping up with festive closing ceremonies.

EIGHTH-GRADE SOCK HOP

Welcome to the 50s! As a culmination of their historical study of the 1950s, our eighth-graders attended our annual Sock Hop to experience a slice of teenage life from this iconic decade. After a diner-style lunch of hamburgers and fries, students had fun learning dances and wearing 50s attire.

EIGHTH-GRADE PLANET PRESENTATIONS

The Astronomy Project is a cornerstone of the eighth-grade science curriculum, sparking curiosity and deepening students’ understanding of our solar system. Through research and inquiry-based learning, students explore planets, stars, moons and Kuiper Belt objects while developing critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.

SIXTH-GRADE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD

Our sixth-graders “traveled the world” for a day! Students boarded a simulated flight and explored continents as they journeyed from country to country. Along the way, students shared research presentations with their peers and sampled traditional foods from around the globe. This engaging experience served as the culminating project for their English research unit and launched their upcoming flight unit in science.

Upper School

BLACKOUT PEP RALLY

Our

Our

SPRING MUSICAL FOOTLOOSE

Everybody cut footloose! Our Upper School spring musical of Footloose was a huge success. Drama students loved bringing this rocking musical to the stage, and we could not be more thankful for such an incredible cast and crew.

ENGINEERING DESIGN PROJECT

Honors engineering students designed custom devices to help a three-year-old with a rare genetic condition navigate everyday life. From a specialized bath chair to interactive play equipment, these student-built solutions bring comfort, accessibility and joy to the family of TCA alum Nick Hauser ’07. The project shows how students apply innovation and problem-solving in ways that serve others.

BIOLOGY BUG PROJECT

Students got out of the classroom and into the field to experience the exact, detailed methods used by real biologists. By studying the immense variety of insects that make up 80% of the animal kingdom, students synthesized a semester’s worth of taxonomy, classification and structural biology. The project helped students develop lifelong academic skills while they marveled at the tremendous creativity of God’s design.

ART AND CULTURE

With the idea suggested by senior Nathan Youn, AP Art History and AP Spanish teachers came together for a cross-curricular lesson on Indigenous American art. Mrs. Azzi taught the historical contextualization while Mrs. Azevedo shared how culture and language impacted the early American tribal art and architecture. The cross-curricular endeavor allowed the students to glean perspectives that deepened their understanding of Aztec and Incan cultures.

Graduates of Trinity Christian Academy Are Equipped To:

FOLLOW CHRIST

TCA graduates are taught biblical truth and brought up to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves.

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.’” – Matthew 22:37-39

COMMUNICATE CLEARLY

Graduates know how to speak and write confidently, correctly and winsomely, sharing wisdom and truth.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6

THINK DEEPLY

Trojans use discernment to distinguish truth from error, considering issues from all angles and solving complex problems.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. – Philippians 1:9-10

LEAD AND SERVE

TCA graduates humbly and joyfully serve their communities, stepping up to lead as faithful stewards of the gifts they have been given.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10

DELIGHT IN LEARNING

Our graduates are lifelong learners who remain curious and actively search for understanding and wisdom.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. – Proverbs 1:5

Class of 2026

Trinity Christian Academy sent forth its 56th graduating class on May 15, 2026. Our new graduates now move on to the next step in their journey. The 130 seniors earned a total of 632 acceptances to 98 different colleges and universities, receiving over $14 million in scholarships.

Congratulations to the class of 2026! We are proud of all your achievements so far, and we look forward to seeing all you will accomplish in the future.

Class of 2026

Last First Day of School

It was a day of both beginnings and endings for our seniors, as the class of 2026 arrived for the first day of their last year at TCA in style. Decorated cars paraded into the senior parking lot, and senior students proudly wore their senior uniform shirts for the first time while taking “first day TCA” photos for the last time.

Senior Pep Rally

Seniors showed their school spirit, and fellow Upper School students showed their appreciation, at the senior pep rally in the fall. At this special pep rally, the Upper School celebrated the hard work and achievements of the senior class prior to the last home football game. Senior members of the band, drumline, cheer team and pom team performed, with senior football players joining the cheerleaders and pom team for classics like the fight song.

Senior Parade

As they approached the end of the school year, seniors took a stroll down memory lane by parading through the Lower School hallways. Wearing college shirts declaring where they are headed after graduation, they waved goodbye to old teachers and the classes that “adopted” them for the year while Lower School students and teachers cheered them on.

Uniform Desecration Day

On the last day of school, seniors showed up in a different dress code. Their senior uniforms were barely recognizable after being adorned with the colors, mascots and sayings of their chosen colleges. The students then signed each other’s shirts as a memento of their lasting friendships. The mix of college logos and TCA plaid was colorful and creative, but it also represented how TCA is woven into the fabric of their lives as they head into the future.

Class of 2026

Senior Banquet

At the spring Senior Banquet, each senior received a “Royal Envelope,” which is a keepsake filled with heartfelt letters from family and friends. Each senior was also presented with a character quality, which is a positive trait that best describes that student’s character. The character qualities were written by faculty or staff members who, after spending years in the classrooms with the students, know each of them well.

Senior students chose Upper School Humanities Teacher Grant Waldron as the faculty speaker for the event, which also included a video presentation and memories shared by students Boaz Henderson and Katie Scott

Thank you to Senior Banquet Chair Shawnnah Parrill, along with the entire committee, for all their work to make this event such a special night for the seniors and their parents.

BY

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Our Vision: A Campus of Excellence

An exciting and bold new chapter in Trojan athletics is here! The Pursuing Victory Campaign is a transformative initiative to elevate TCA athletic facilities, personnel and programs for every athlete’s experience, to strengthen the spirit of our entire community and for the future of our school.

The growth and strength of TCA today are the direct result of families in earlier generations who gave generously, led boldly and trusted God’s call. Their faithfulness shaped the TCA we are blessed to enjoy. Now, it is our turn to invest — so students today and those yet to come experience a campus that inspires them to thrive.

To steward this vision, the Board of Trustees and school leadership have prioritized the Pursuing Victory Campaign — a strategic investment in enhancing the athletic facilities for students, families and the future of our school.

Upgrading TCA’s athletic facilities is not about turf and lights, seats and concessions. It’s about the sacred spaces where students are molded and inspired, challenged and encouraged to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Just as our classroom curriculum seeks to integrate the story of redemption and grace into each lesson, our athletic programs provide hands-on experiences for students to live out their faith, to give their best for an audience of One and to sacrifice personal gain for the betterment of their teammates.

Phase 1: $6.8 million – Projects Completed

• Tom Landry Stadium

Installed state-of-the-art turf with professional-level concussion pad and installed a new Trojan blue track and base pad.

• Baseball

Installed state-of-the-art heat-absorbing turf; the infield turf plays like clay, and the outfield plays like grass. Also moved the outfield fence, redesigned the bullpen angle, added LED lights to allow evening practices and competitions, and installed flagpoles in the outfield.

• Softball

Repositioned and leveled the field, installed state-of-the-art heat-absorbing turf, added LED lights to allow evening practices and competitions, and installed flag poles in the outfield.

• MCB Gym

Resurfaced the gym floor and added two new digital video scoreboards to enhance the experience for basketball, volleyball and wrestling practices and competitions.

TCA FOUNDATION

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

God is giving us an opportunity to invest in the eternal Christ-centered work through TCA for our current students and the next generation. It is a privilege, and truly a form of worship, to invest in something of eternal value. We invite you to be part of what God is doing at TCA, to pursue victory with us.

Recognition Wall

A Recognition Wall will be part of the stadium enhancements. This space will honor those who give sacrificially to all of the projects within the Pursuing Victory Campaign at the following levels:

Founders

Cumulative gifts of $1,000,000+

Legends

Cumulative gifts of $500,000–$999,999

Champions

Cumulative gifts of $100,000–$499,999

Phase 2: $20 million

• Tom Landry Stadium

Transfer the TCA home side to the west side of the stadium (currently the visitor side) and expand to create a beautiful and inviting space to gather as a community.

Lower Level: new grandstands providing seating for 1,800 fans (including 300 reserved seats with chair backs), concessions, restrooms, Victory Commons Plaza, donor recognition wall, girls' locker room and training room, offices for coaches, a meeting room and storage.

Upper Level: press box, film deck, coach boxes, multi-purpose/hospitality room and open-air patios.

• Baseball and Softball

Baseball: Install a player development area with a multi-use, covered facility with retractable doors and four hitting/pitching bays.

Softball: Install a player development area with two covered batting bays and add coverage over the home and visitor dugouts to provide protection from weather elements.

• Field House Renovation

Enhancements include a new boys locker room, spaces for team meetings, a media room, a stateof-the-art weight room (currently located at the ATC), a boys training room, coaches’ offices, athletic administration and operations offices, and storage.

Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift to the Pursuing Victory Campaign

Every gift makes a difference. It is the collective strength of every gift, from every family — current parents, grandparents, alumni, alumni parents and friends — that makes this possible. Your participation is both valued and needed. Make a gift now or a two-year commitment over 2026 and 2027.

Give generously, give joyfully and help propel TCA forward into our God-designed future!

How can I make a gift to the Pursuing Victory Campaign?

There are three different ways you can give:

• Scan the QR code or visit trinitychristian.org/givepv to make a gift online.

• Mail a gift in the enclosed envelope.

• Make a gift from your donor-advised fund or stock gift. Transferring appreciated securities to the TCA Foundation can provide you with significant tax savings and support the campaign goal.

For more information, contact:

Henry Morris, Chief Development Officer

Trinity Christian Academy Foundation hmorris@trinitychristian.org 972-447-4609

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How long will it take to build the new west grandstands?

Construction is expected to take approximately 15 months. Completion date to be determined once construction begins.

What is the timeline to renovate the Athletic Field House? Approximately 3-6 months.

Can I make a multi-year gift to the Pursuing Victory Campaign?

Yes. You may make a pledge to the campaign and fulfill over two years (2026 and 2027) including a scheduled annual installment, monthly recurring installments or other options.

Can I make a stock gift for the Pursuing Victory Campaign?

Yes. Transferring appreciated securities to the TCA Foundation can provide you with significant tax savings and support the campaign goal. For more information, please contact Henry Morris at 972-447-4609.

What are the future plans for the TCA campus?

The Pursuing Victory Campaign is a multi-phase project and part of the TCA campus master plan transforming TCA’s 40-acre campus. Future phases might include an addition to the Middle School 7/8 Building, athletic center, visual arts center, parking garage, administration building and other campus components.

Beck Brydon

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Coach Beck Brydon joins TCA as Executive Director of Athletics after 28 years in Christian education in Texas. A leader defined by faith, humility and perseverance, Brydon is passionate about redeeming sports for Christ — one heart, one team and one event at a time — and helping student-athletes view competition through a Christian worldview.

Most recently, Brydon served as director of student impact and varsity head football coach at Second Baptist School in Houston. In three seasons leading the football program, he guided the Eagles to the state semifinals and two consecutive state championship games. Even more meaningful to him was seeing several players baptized during that same time. In his student impact role, he helped integrate a Christian worldview into student life and established service trips to Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Before that, Brydon spent more than 25 years at Regents School of Austin, where he helped launch the middle school football program and became the school’s first varsity head football coach. He later served as director of advancement and director of athletics.

Brydon also serves on the executive board of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools and has been a TAPPS district president for 18 years.

Brydon and his wife, TCA alum Trish (’90), have been married for 31 years and have three adult children: Will Tyler, Annie and Benjamin.

Ashley Kelly

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S ATHLETICS

Coach Ashley Kelly joins TCA as Assistant Director of Women’s Athletics, bringing extensive experience as an athletic administrator and coach in independent and Christian schools. She is passionate about building programs where student-athletes are inspired to lead boldly, compete with integrity and view athletics through a biblical lens.

Kelly most recently served as Director of Athletics at Hathaway Brown, a leading all-girls school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Under her leadership, the athletic department received the Bruce Brown Award of Excellence in 2026, recognizing its commitment to high standards, integrity and best practices in athletic administration.

Previously, Kelly served as Associate Director of Girls Athletics at Liberty Christian School, where she helped lead the school to the overall TAPPS Girls State Championship and the TAPPS Henderson Cup. She also served in TAPPS leadership for six years, including roles on the Executive Board and Athletic Executive Committee.

Kelly and her husband, Kyle, will celebrate 20 years of marriage this year. They have three children: Amaiya, KJ and Elijah.

Nic Giblin

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Coach Nic Giblin brings more than 15 years of experience working with professional, collegiate and high school athletes to his role as TCA’s Director of Athletic Performance. He is passionate about developing the complete student-athlete by creating a culture rooted in Christ-centered leadership, purposeful mentoring and the pursuit of excellence on and off the field.

Giblin most recently served for six years as athletic performance coordinator at Calvary Christian High School, where he led year-round training for football and volleyball and developed in-season and offseason programs for multiple sports. Under his leadership, the school’s athletic performance program was named a National High School Strength and Conditioning Association Program of Excellence in 2023. In 2025, Giblin was named the NHSSCA Florida Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

He and his wife, Catie, have been married for 15 years and have three children: Nicco, Camille and Cai.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Trojan basketball program put together another strong season, finishing 22-13 and placing second in district behind eventual state champion Parish Episcopal School. TCA then defeated Prestonwood in the playoffs to advance to the state quarterfinals for the second time in three years.

Senior captains, chaplains and co-MVPs Christian Cox and JJ Price helped lead the way, with both earning First Team All-District and Second Team All-State honors. Ericksen Appel, Kayden Daniels and Drake Smith earned Second Team All-District honors, and Brooks Barton received Honorable Mention All-District.

“This team showed tremendous resilience, toughness, and unity throughout the season,” says Coach John Price. “Our seniors helped establish a standard of excellence both on and off the court, and we are incredibly proud of the legacy they leave behind.”

WRESTLING

The TCA wrestling program continued to grow and improve this season, with the Trojans showing steady progress in competition and in the development of the program.

Austin Sonju led the way for TCA with an outstanding postseason run. The junior placed second at the TAPPS State Championships, finished fourth at the Texas Prep State Championships and qualified for the National Prep Championships, earning the opportunity to wrestle at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Mo Crum also had a strong showing at the TAPPS State Championships, advancing to the consolation semifinals in his weight class.

“All our wrestlers continue to make progress and grow in their faith,” says Coach Andrew McBride. “I’m looking forward to next season to see what our young men can accomplish.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lady Trojan basketball continued to show that the program’s future is bright. TCA earned a hard-fought spot in the playoffs with a roster that blended experience and emerging talent. The varsity starting lineup featured one senior, one junior, one sophomore and two freshmen, giving several younger players valuable experience in high-pressure moments.

The team played with a team-first mentality throughout the season, competing hard while balancing the demands of academics, school events and service opportunities. Coach Rodney Belcher praised the way the students remained deeply committed to their academic and spiritual growth and how they competed not for individual glory, but for each other and for a higher purpose.

Five Lady Trojans earned TAPPS postseason recognition. Addi Guiler and Jordyn LaCour were named First Team All-District. Abby George and Kendall Truitt earned Second Team All-District honors, while Rachel George received an AllDistrict Honorable Mention.

BOYS SOCCER

Trojan soccer earned significant postseason recognition after a competitive season in TAPPS Division I District I. TCA opened the season with four straight shutout victories and was dominant at home throughout the year, finishing the regular season 7-2 at Tom Landry Stadium (by a combined score of 17-4) and earning a spot in the playoffs.

Nine Trojans earned TAPPS all-district honors. Connor Anderson, Tristan Barber and Jackson Rhodes were named First Team All-District, with Rhodes also earning District Goalkeeper of the Year recognition. Lowell Summey and Gray May were named Second Team All-District. Cohen Carraker, Zack Fitzgerald, Luke McClain and Charlie Montgomery received Honorable Mention All-District.

TCA also was represented on the TAPPS All-State roster, with Anderson being named to the First Team All-State roster and Rhodes receiving an All-State Honorable Mention.

SWIM

Trojan Swim wrapped up its season at the TAPPS state championships in San Antonio, where the team delivered improved times across the board along with a standout performance from junior Reid Johannsen.

Johannsen qualified for state in two individual events after placing second in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the TAPPS North Regional Championships. At state, he finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.37 and fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.99.

The quartet of Johannsen, Drew Fletcher, Hayden Dunn and Jon Ross also earned a trip to state in both the boys 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays. They managed to cut six seconds from their entry time in each event, finishing the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:52:17 and the 400-yard in 4:17:44.

GIRLS SOCCER

Led by nine seniors, Lady Trojan soccer had a standout season, finishing with 12 wins and capturing the program’s first district title in eight years. The Trojans clinched the district championship with a 2-0 shutout win over Nolan Catholic.

“The two things we worked all season to control was our attitude and effort,” says Coach Truman Blocker. “These girls came together after a tough district loss with a mindset to finish strong.”

TCA’s 12 All-District selections set a new school record. Hannah Adams was named District Goalkeeper of the Year, and Caris Collins was named Defensive Player of the Year. Adams, Collins, Lilly Nugent and Peyton Walton earned First Team All-District honors. Hannah Applewhite, Phoebe Brantley, Evelyn Keramidas, Lauren Prideaux and Shea Spivey were named Second Team All-District, and Iris Bell, Annie Blocker and Hannah Yeager received Honorable Mention All-District recognition. Adams, Collins and Nugent also earned Second Team All-State honors, while Walton received Honorable Mention All-State.

TENNIS

Trojan tennis put together a memorable spring season. TCA went undefeated against district opponents during the spring season, and the girls team won district for the first time in years.

Lily Brewer and Lauren Boylan repeated as district doubles champions and went on to finish third at state, a personal best for the duo. Josh Standard debuted his TCA career with a winning record in district matches; he finished third in boys singles at the district tournament, qualifying for state and placing fifth overall. Caitlyn Collins also had a strong first season, finishing second at district as a freshman and qualifying for state. At the JV district tournament, Nic Beaty and Charlie Hagan won the boys doubles title, while Connor Clarke and Cashdon McKinney placed second. Collins and Parker Matthews also received sportsmanship awards at district, and Coach Kathryn Smith was named District Coach of the Year for girls tennis.

GIRLS GOLF

The TCA girls golf program built a strong foundation with a young roster made up entirely of freshmen: Victoria Arnold, Ingrid Blackson, April Cashin and Peyton Parks

The season was an important step for the program as the Trojans developed confidence and consistency in competition. With every player eligible to return, TCA girls golf has a promising foundation in place.

Arnold, Blackson, Cashin and Parks also were recognized together as Girls Golf MVPs at the Spring Athletic Awards, reflecting the collective effort and growth of the group.

BOYS GOLF

The 2026 TCA Varsity Boys Golf season was defined by growth, resilience and a strong foundation for the future. Despite returning just one starter from last year’s state championship team, this young group competed at a high level against strong competition across an ambitious national schedule that included eight travel tournaments and trips to California and Arizona. Along the way, the Trojans earned impressive finishes, including third place at the Glen Rose Dinosaur Classic and runner-up at the Legacy Christian Green Jacket Invitational.

Beyond the success on the course, the team developed depth, leadership and unity throughout the season. Different players stepped up in key moments, and the season was filled with unforgettable memories and meaningful moments that strengthened relationships both on and off the course.

Most importantly, the team represented Christ well through its sportsmanship, perseverance and character throughout the season. With a talented core returning next year, the future of the program looks bright.

TRACK & FIELD

The Trojan track and field season was highlighted by strong postseason performances, individual growth and multiple TAPPS state qualifiers. The girls team finished as TAPPS 6A District 1 runner-up, while the boys team placed third overall.

District champions included Ethan Lewis in the 200 meters, William Radovic in the 110-meter hurdles, Lyla Swaldi in the 100-meter hurdles, Court Hatton and Lizzy Furlich in pole vault, Addi Guiler in high jump, Lilly Nugent in triple jump and the girls 4x400 relay team of Nugent, Caitlyn Collins, Tatum Giles and Harper Griffin

At regionals, Lewis, Hatton, Furlich, Guiler, Nugent, Swaldi, Jack Aboussie, Kevin Carter, Mason Kilgore, Izzi Opsal, Phoebe Brantley and both girls relay teams qualified for the TAPPS State Championships. Nugent led TCA at state, finishing as state runner-up in triple jump with a personal-best 35 feet, 5 inches. Several Trojans added top-seven finishes, and Coach Marcus Moore praised the team’s growth, effort and character throughout the season.

BASEBALL

The 2026 baseball season was a journey defined by perseverance, growth, faith and teamwork. After battling through a slow start caused by injuries, the Trojans found their groove during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. That trip became a turning point for the season and the program, giving players the opportunity to share the gospel, serve others, play the game they love and grow closer as a team. TCA returned home with renewed energy and purpose, finishing as district runner-up and area finalists. The season also included a memorable no-hitter from Ryan Janacek in a 14-0 win over Parish Episcopal.

Eight Trojans earned TAPPS postseason honors: Janacek, Zach Zeleskey, Caden Jobe, Noah Liu, Beck Nelson, Grant Daelke, Trent Sedberry and Chase Griffin

“I could not be prouder of this group,” says Coach Pat Leach. “We expect players to play in a way that honors our Lord and puts the team before themselves, and they truly embraced this expectation.”

SOFTBALL

A young Lady Trojan softball team battled throughout the season while continuing to compete hard and grow in character. Coach Mike Yanof lauded the players for their resilience and grit, saying that the team “worked hard every day to control controllables such as effort and attitude — in wins and losses, ups and downs, this team never wavered in giving maximum effort with a great attitude. A team with senior leadership that not only led the team but taught the young players how to practice, play and compete the right way.” Several student-athletes were recognized for their achievements: Everleigh Herrell and Ella Krone were named First Team All-District. Hannah Coleman, Ellie Hammonds, Kate Overmann and Peyton Walton earned Second Team All-District honors. Hannah Adams, Sadie Curran and Olivia Stone received All-District Honorable Mentions.

CHEER

The TCA Cheer program continued its strong run as one of the top programs in TAPPS, finishing as state runner-up at the TAPPS Cheer Championships in Waco.

The season also included meaningful growth beyond competition. Varsity cheer served with the Adaptive Training Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports individuals who have experienced life-altering injuries. The experience gave athletes an opportunity to hear stories of perseverance and reflect on how God remains faithful in difficult circumstances.

Several Trojans earned individual recognition this season. Ella Bricker and Addy Gadoci were named First Team All-State, Katie Spears earned Second Team AllState honors, and Katelyn Westover received Honorable Mention All-State. Bricker and Spears also were named Academic All-State. Bricker, Gadoci and Westover also earned NCA All-American recognition, along with Willow Kruse, Ayla Spence, Lizzy Furlich and Kennedy Wood

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

Three TCA seniors committed to continue their athletic careers at the college level this year. Football’s Collin Kilgore signed with Division I Davidson College, becoming the 24th Trojan football player to commit to play college football since 2015.

Boys basketball also celebrated two college commitments. Christian Cox committed to Adams State University after earning All-District, All-State and team coMVP honors this year. Cox also joined the 1,000-point club, making him one of only 20 TCA players to surpass 1,000 career points.

Fellow All-District, All-State, co-MVP and 1,000-point club member JJ Price committed to Dallas Baptist University. Price broke every 3-point record at TCA, including the records for career 3-pointers, single-season 3-pointers and single-game 3-pointers.

Cox and Price give TCA six college basketball signees over the last five years, continuing a strong run for the Trojan basketball program.

DANCE

Trojan Pom represented TCA well at the state and national levels this season. At the TAPPS championships in Waco, the team earned a superior rating, and four dancers received All-State recognition. Olivia Arnold was named First Team All-State, Lena Hotchkiss and Sophie Shoults were named Second Team All-State, and Lila Hulme received Honorable Mention All-State.

The varsity pom team then traveled to Hawaii for a national competition, where the Trojans finished as runner-up in their division and third runner-up overall. Their team novelty routine received the Crowd Pleasers Award, and the Trojans were voted by other competitors as the “Most Admired” team.

The season concluded with the TCA Dance Spring Show, “Grow,” a celebration of the work, development and accomplishments of both the Upper School Pom and Middle School Belles programs. The season also marked the team’s first full year training in TCA’s new dance studio, providing an exciting new home for rehearsals, growth and team development.

DISCOVER WEEK

TCA held its inaugural Discover Week in February 2026. Discover Week is an interim term, a week set aside for specialized study and hands-on learning, giving Middle School and Upper School students the opportunity to discover new interests, learn new skills, explore different cultures and demonstrate the love of Christ through selfless service. Students were able to take unique on-campus classes, travel domestically or abroad, gain real-world experiences through internships, serve on mission and worship our Savior together.

For one week, the normal rhythm of school looked a little different. The purpose of the week was not to pause the regular academic schedule, but to expand it. Discover Week gave students opportunities to try things they might not encounter in a traditional classroom, discovering more about God’s world, their own gifts and the needs of others. They were encouraged to see learning not only as preparation for tests or transcripts, but as preparation for a lifetime of curiosity, creativity and faithful engagement with the world around them.

MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS

• Travel Experiences

• Washington, D.C.

• Orlando, FL

• On-Campus Class Tracks

• Performing & Literary Arts

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• Fitness & Health

• Creation & Craftsmanship

• Food & Culture

UPPER SCHOOL OPTIONS

• On-Campus Classes

• Professional Internships (Grades 11-12)

• Local Missions

• Travel Experiences

• Europe - Italy

• Latin America - Peru

• Los Angeles Missions

• Baseball Team - Dominican Republic

ON-CAMPUS CLASSES

Discover Week stretched the definition of a classroom. Each teacher continued to teach, but the subject matter varied as widely as their imagination. Classes were offered in the arts, literature, sports, cooking, culture, science, technology and so much more. As eager as students were to dive into new subjects, the teachers were just as excited to go beyond their usual subject matter and teach about their personal passions and interests. In a way, Discover Week was not just an opportunity for students, but also an opportunity for teachers to go outside their standard lesson plans and share about something they love.

In the Middle School, the Shark Tank class, led by Math Teacher Camryn McGee, stole the show with an engaging entrepreneurial experience in which students invented and pitched new business concepts to investors. STEM Teacher Leslie Richenberger ’18, who also served on the Shark Tank team, knew this theme would bring out the creativity and energy of the students. “It was so fun to see what students are capable of when they are given the time and the task,” she said. Mrs. Richenberger appreciated that Discover Week — and Shark

Tank specifically — allowed the students to experience a new way of learning where, she cheered, “the creativity, leadership and initiative were so impressive!”

The Upper School’s Discover Week offerings gave students remarkable flexibility within their interests. Students could choose from outdoor athletic camps, indoor reading camps (with coffee, of course), grilling, chess, fishing, coding, fashion and so much more. The name “Discover Week” could not be more fitting, as every day students were engaging with new ideas and experiences that they would then take with them throughout life.

As an example of the classes available, “Grilling With Groezinger” was one popular choice. Jason Groezinger has long been heralded as the master of the grill at TCA, and this year, he shared all his grilling secrets with eager students who ate it all up. Mr. Groezinger remarked that, unlike many processes in education, “we got to teach kids something and immediately reap the rewards for our labor.” The students

got to eat what they grilled and judge for themselves whether they had succeeded or failed. “I think it was education at its purest form,” he remarked, noticing the distinct advantage an interim term offered by having a full week to focus on one subject with the ability to quickly measure results and immediately alter performance. The residual effect of his course was what every teacher could ever hope for: one student approached him in the following weeks, saying, “Let me show you what I made last night on the grill!” Discover Week courses created many of these moments, as students taking The Art of Chess found themselves playing more games in free moments in the school day, students in the Sustainable Fashion course walked away with upcycled garments they would (literally) carry with them for years to come and the Exploring AI course pulled back the curtain on machine learning.

INTERNSHIPS

Students who chose to spend their Discover Week in an internship filled out a survey about their career interests before the week arrived, allowing each student to be matched with a business which could give them a weeklong internship in a relevant field. Brady Grantham, a rising senior with an interest in engineering, was chosen to intern with Teague, Nall and Perkins (TNP), an engineering consulting firm. Like all Discover Week interns, Brady was paired with a mentor — in his case, Justin Walton (husband of Humanities Department Head Diane Walton), a team leader at TNP.

Brady, along with many other students participating in internships, found himself in both familiar and unfamiliar waters. Although he may have felt right at home as a young Gen Z student in the computer design programs, he was stretched through learning about the legal processes and on-site operations. He traveled with TNP to a new location where development was planned but not yet begun, and he was able to see the plans for the whole development over the next few years.

Students participating in internships during Discover Week learned both the particulars of the specific jobs and things that are universally true about the workforce. They saw plans and actions, board rooms and worksites. No job is exactly what a student (or new employee) expects, and this was no different for the Discover Week interns, who got to experience what their future careers might really be like and make more informed decisions about their college majors and career paths.

TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

“ energy to help the homeless and disadvantaged in the secondlargest city in the nation.

Life-changing” were the words soon-to-be-senior Lizzy Furlich used in describing her Discover Week travel experience. She was part of a group that traveled to Peru on a trip that explored history, ecology, culture and language, including a hike to Machu Picchu, a visit to the floating islands of Titicaca and serving in an orphanage. The trip had a marked impact on Lizzy, as someone who had never before been out of the country. Nataleigh Brown and Kate Jackson joined her in expressing their excitement after returning to the States. Both praised the grandeur of the mountains, the unique beauty of the shoreline and the clarity of the ocean. As they eagerly showed their photos, the smiles on their faces confirmed just what the Discover Week trips were aiming to accomplish in students: a new experience that deepened faith, awakened wonder and broadened understanding of the world.

Students on other Discover Week trips were just as excited to express the impact of their travel experiences. The Upper School trip to Europe — which, this year, was to Italy — allowed students to see a country with more Christian history than almost any other, along with some of the most spectacular architecture and art found anywhere in the world. Students were guided through renowned locations like the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Florentine Duomo. While students were at the Vatican, home of one of the largest museums in the world, they also explored St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church building and one of the most impressive architectural marvels of the Western World.

Not all of the trips were overseas. As students abroad discovered new pieces of art, new vistas and horizons, students on the mission trip to Los Angeles saw and served the needs of many of their fellow citizens living on the west coast through the Dream Center ministry. The discovery of service changed the hearts of many who offered their time and

Logan Prettyman, a new Bible teacher at TCA this year, immediately offered his services to the school by volunteering to attend alongside other faculty and staff members. He noticed that the comfort of school life in Dallas stood in stark contrast to the many who had lived lives far less fortunate. Mr. Prettyman watched as the students on the LA trip learned the importance of service and sacrifice. They passed out food, prayed with local residents and worshiped God through the giving of their time. The week showed them that it is truly better to give than receive.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TRIPS

• Washington, D.C.

• Orlando, FL UPPER SCHOOL TRIPS

• Europe - Italy

• Latin America - Peru

• Los Angeles Missions

• Baseball Team - Dominican Republic

SERVICE

Service was a key part of Discover Week, including on and around our campus in Addison. One of the Upper School offerings was a Local Missions class, led by College and Academic Counselor Tracy Bartholomew. Students took part in local service trips to Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, Minnie’s Food Pantry and Bonton Farms. They visited with residents at local retirement homes and volunteered with the Town of Addison to make improvements to local parks.

On Friday, all Discover Week students on campus participated in a pair of big service projects. All fifthgraders gathered in their classrooms to assemble care packets for the Scottish Rite children’s hospital. They packaged up art supplies, games and toys to be given to the pediatric patients. They also wrote and illustrated notes of encouragement to include with each packet and spent time praying together for each recipient.

Students in grades 6-12 spent that time serving Hope Story, a nonprofit that helps medical professionals and parents navigate Down syndrome diagnoses. After learning about the ministry and its mission, students assembled, packaged and loaded 15,000 “Hope Kits” that will be delivered to medical professionals across the country. The Hope Kits will help those doctors and nurses deliver the news of Down syndrome diagnoses to parents with hope, connecting those parents with advocates who will come alongside them and support them. The 15,000 Hope Kits from TCA students will cover 100% of Hope Story’s kit needs for a year or more. In a bit of a full-circle moment, Hope Story was one of the winners of TCA’s eighth-grade nonprofit presentation competition in 2025, and the resulting $10,000 donation — provided by a generous TCA family — helped pay for the materials used in the Hope Kits.

WORSHIP & COMMUNITY

Each day during Discover Week, students on campus gathered for community time. They heard messages from faculty, offered worship to God, and enjoyed the unique gifts and talents of fellow students and faculty in a special talent show segment. Clarissa Berry and Sam Huynh, who usually serve behind the scenes through graphic design and technology support, led worship on stage. In the Upper School, each Bible faculty member, organized by Bible Department Head Jeremy Gregory, gave a brief message on the heart, the ear, knowledge and wisdom. Brent Baker ’26 amazed the crowd with his magic, and Duncan Ramsey found his familiar place on stage with his guitar, along with many other students.

Friday was a special day for morning community time, as Jeremy Gregory and Jason Groezinger dressed up in glittering apparel to entertain the students with a fun game of Family Feud. Students were called at random to participate on teams, and TCA-specific prompts had the entire crowd laughing along; it was clear the comedy duo was meant to be.

To cap an amazing week, Dove Award winner and Grammy-nominated singersongwriter Brandon Heath performed for the students at TCA. Heath, well-known for his hit singles “Give Me Your Eyes” and “I’m Not Who I Was,” offered up worship to God through his musical talents. The surprise performance was a great way to close out a week of worship.

MORE THAN A WEEK

From unique classes to real-world internships, travel, service and worship, TCA’s inaugural Discover Week gave students opportunities to learn new things in memorable ways. The week stretched the idea of what a classroom can be, allowing students to explore interests, develop practical skills, encounter different cultures, serve meaningful causes and grow together as a community. Students learned new subjects from their regular teachers, learned about future careers from professionals in the community, learned how they can meet real needs

through serving with different ministries and learned about other parts of the world through firsthand experience.

Discover Week accomplished what its name promised, helping students discover more about the world God has made, the people He calls them to serve and the gifts He has placed within them. The true impact of the week will be seen in the new skills students put to use throughout life; the curiosity, creativity and love of learning they carry with them; and the ways they use what they have discovered to serve Christ and the world around them.

INNOVATING WITH PURPOSE

TCA teaches students how to be creative, how to think critically and how to serve others by solving problems. Our Innovation Department provides classes and experiences that prepare students to make a positive impact as future leaders in fields such as technology and business.

As with everything at TCA, our innovation program is grounded in unchanging truths from Scripture. Through our classes, students learn how to apply these truths in an ever-changing world and how to wisely use new technologies.

True innovation begins with mission,” explains Chief Innovation Officer Lisa Wong. “At TCA, we are continually asking how we can create experiences that deepen learning, strengthen character, and equip students for faithful service. When we dream about innovation, we are really dreaming about students — who they are becoming, how they are growing and how God may use their gifts in the world.”

The Innovation Department offers a wide array of courses tailored to individual interests and abilities. From Python coding and JavaScript to entrepreneurship and leadership, students are trained and equipped to steward well the opportunities God gives them.

PHOTOS BY JEFF M c WHORTER '05 “

GROUNDED COFFEE CO.

The Upper School’s new coffee shop, Grounded Coffee Co., is perhaps the most anticipated innovation to TCA’s campus in 2026. The Honors Entrepreneurship class, led by Nikki Stinson, spent all year planning, constructing and launching this new business in the Upper School. The studentcreated and studentrun coffee shop opened in May and serves “Big Brew” coffee, a unique blend chosen by the class.

“...pivot, adapt and persevere through real-world obstacles.”

The name “Grounded” was chosen by the students based on Ephesians 3:17-19, which talks about being “rooted and grounded in love.”

Those verses also helped inspire their mission statement, to “serve with excellence and integrity, creating a student-led space where the community comes together to enrich faith.” Although it has only been open for a few weeks, that sense of community and bringing people together over a shared love of coffee has already been evident.

Besides learning all the aspects of how to develop and run a business — branding, profit margins, inventories, quality control, scheduling, and more — students also gained experience in the problemsolving that comes with such an endeavor. Mrs. Stinson teaches her students that “not everything goes according to plan,” and the heart of entrepreneurship — and the theme of her class — is “to pivot, adapt and persevere through real-world obstacles.”

The elegance and excellence of the new in-school shop is truly a testament to the constant determination and grit she instills in her students.

INNOVATING TECHNOLOGY

Kent Pendleton’s Upper School computer science program is a staple at TCA, and he has served “the next generation” through multiple generations. With the way technology constantly changes, he continually innovates in his classes to stay at the leading edge, including teaching students how to wisely use AI. Mr. Pendleton says that, instead of relying solely on AI in his classes, “students develop apps using a mix of approaches — some traditional, some automated,” so that they not only prepare themselves for the future, but make themselves irreplaceable in the professional world. As Mr. Pendleton says, “they are marketable when they leave

TCA, without being clueless about what’s happening under the hood” of the programs they are learning. Responses to this change have been overwhelmingly positive, and students leave Mr. Pendleton’s classes with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

“they are marketable when they leave TCA, without being clueless about what’s happening under the hood”

BUILDING CONFIDENCE & CREATIVITY

In the Middle School, students learn how to innovate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) classes. New STEM Teacher Leslie Richenberger ’18 was eager to express her praise for the program and the many ways “these classes deepen students’ understanding through design challenges.”

Ultimately, the goal is “to build confidence, encourage creativity and help students discover a passion for STEM.” Even

outside of the STEM program, Mrs. Richenberger says, “the Middle School’s educational philosophy is grounded in innovation.” Innovation includes honing that which has already been made; adjusting, correcting and supplementing the decades of experience the school has in educating young minds for the future. The lessons learned in Middle School help prepare students for the many options available to them in the Upper School.

“these classes deepen students’ understanding through design challenges”

INNOVATING FROM THE START

“Curiosity, creativity and discovery.” According to STEM teacher Aileen Vidaud, these are the three pillars of the Lower School’s STEM program. Even in the Lower School, students are introduced to innovative technologies like robots and 3D printers, igniting their creativity with the tools of the next generation. Mrs. Vidaud and her fellow TCA faculty are “developing confident, resilient, forward-thinking innovators who are prepared to lead, create and shape the future with courage and imagination.”

“...developing confident, resilient, forward-thinking innovators who are prepared to lead, create and shape the future with courage and imagination.”

The innovative new World Languages and Cultures class engages the minds of Lower School students through songs, storytelling, movement, conversation practice and hands-on cultural explorations. Language contains the history of cultures from time immemorial, and yet anyone visiting a foreign country realizes that culture transcends the language the native citizen speaks. In this class, cafes, markets and other

“cultural vignettes,” as Mrs. Vidaud calls them, “move beyond traditional vocabulary instruction to make language learning joyful, memorable and engaging.” What students receive in this approach to language and culture informs how they will relate to the world around them throughout their entire lives.

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE

At TCA, innovation is about equipping students to think wisely, create boldly and serve faithfully in a rapidly changing world. Whether students are learning to code, launching a business, solving engineering challenges or exploring new cultures and languages, they are being prepared to use their gifts for God’s glory and the good of others. Through the work of the Innovation Department, TCA students are learning not only how to navigate the future, but how to shape it with wisdom, excellence and Christ-centered purpose.

Mastering Technology Wisely

“The use of smart devices and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, or AI, presents new opportunities — and also new problems to be solved.”

From a technological perspective, today’s students face a very different world than students from a generation ago, and the coming years look to bring even more changes. The use of smart devices and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, or AI, presents new opportunities — and also new problems to be solved. Any tool is only as good or bad as its user, and while these new technologies are widely available to almost everyone, they come with zero training on how to use them wisely.

At TCA, some students are working to solve that problem through the school’s Future Problem Solving team. “If the goal of education is to teach students how to think, not just what to think, then Future Problem Solvers (FPS) is the gold standard,” explains STEM teacher and FPS sponsor Aileen Vidaud. The program “helps students build critical thinking, creativity and curiosity” as they address real-world topics and challenges.

Through two separate projects, these TCA students are helping people throughout the broader community develop healthy habits and

use technology responsibly. They’ve done such a good job of it that they were named the Texas Grand Champions for Community Problem Solving in both the Senior Team and Middle Individual Divisions, earning the chance to represent Texas at the Future Problem Solving International Conference in Indiana.

Being AI SMART

In the Future Problem Solving Senior Team Division, Upper School students Milena Berezhna, Sophie Huang, Caleb Kim and Grayson Tucker have founded a nonprofit named AI SMART, which stands for “Students Mastering AI Responsibly Together.” The students realized that, while the overall use of AI tools was growing rapidly, most people had little to no guidance on how to use those tools ethically and effectively. They created AI SMART to bridge that gap, providing guidelines and practical frameworks to teach other students how to use AI to enhance learning, not replace it. “Our goal is simple,” explains Caleb. “We want students to master AI with purpose and integrity and help shape a smarter, more responsible future.”

The AI SMART team teaches students to use AI as a tool for research, brainstorming and idea development, while preserving what they call “core tasks” such as writing and problem-solving that require and develop independent thinking skills. The idea, according to Grayson, is that “AI can help you learn, but it can’t do the learning for you.”

After researching best practices and interviewing teachers, students and leaders in education across North Texas, the AI SMART team has created a set of educational resources and training sessions for students. They built an educational website called learnaismart.org, which provides helpful information on using AI responsibly and

understanding the risks of AI. They have presented workshops throughout the area and have spoken to the school boards of multiple local cities. They also provide take-home guides that help students write AI prompts in a way that enhances their learning rather than providing a shortcut.

“We want students to master AI with purpose and integrity and help shape a smarter, more responsible future.”

Through it all, the students’ message is that AI is not something to be avoided, but to be used wisely. Like many things in life, AI can be a positive or a negative depending on how you use it. “While AI can cause concern, it is an incredibly helpful tool if used wisely,” Sophie says. “I hope the AI SMART initiative will give students and even teachers the chance to understand how AI really works and teach them how to use it with purpose.”

The students hope to shape the future of AI and how it is used. “We need to recognize that AI is here and rapidly evolving,” Caleb says. “It’s a technology we must master, not avoid. The best way to shape the future of AI is to engage with it and help guide where it will go.”

Restoring Digital Balance

In the Middle Individual Division (for grades 7-9), Sean Huang has created Project Restoring Digital Balance to help other students build healthier habits when it comes to recreational digital usage, such as time spent on social media apps, gaming or video streaming. Based on Sean’s research, over 50% of teenagers nationwide spend four or more hours per weekday on recreational screen use. Such high usage, Sean says, can be both physically and mentally unhealthy. He also found that over 70% of respondents “often” or “always” spent more time than they planned on their device, which suggests that they could use help in learning how to limit their screen usage. After his own experience in successfully reducing his own screen time, Sean set out to teach others to do the same.

Sean says he defines “digital imbalance” as “using technology in such a way that it takes more away from your life than it gives back.” Restoring digital balance means “using technology intentionally, maintaining healthy boundaries so devices support daily life without overwhelming or replacing it.”

Project Restoring Digital Balance teaches teens digital mastery through the MASTER initiative, which stands for Monitor screen time, Avoid Distractions, Set boundaries, Take healthier breaks, Engage offline and Reflect on usage. In addition to giving presentations and hosting a Project Restoring Digital Balance booth at a conference, Sean gets the

message across through distributing MASTER cards, bookmarks and other resources at places like public libraries, as well as at projectrdb.com.

The goal of Project Restoring Digital Balance is to help teenagers everywhere develop mastery over technology — not to stop using it, but to use it intentionally, build healthy digital habits and choose meaningful ways to spend their time.

Together, these TCA students and their two projects have already impacted thousands of people. They are leading the way on teaching others how to wisely navigate technology today and into the future.

“Restoring digital balance means ‘using technology intentionally, maintaining healthy boundaries so devices support daily life without overwhelming or replacing it.’”

Alumni News

THE TCA ALUMNI BOARD'S MISSION is to strengthen, serve, and advance the TCA community by connecting alumni and alumni parents relationally, professionally and spiritually.

Each year, the TCA Alumni Association hosts events that reflect our three foundational pillars: Relationships, Professionalism and Spiritual Growth. These gatherings invite alumni back to campus to reconnect with old friends, beloved teachers, coaches and teammates. They offer meaningful opportunities to reminisce, spend time with family and build new connections within the TCA community.

Below is a highlight of the events we hosted during the 2025-26 school year:

PREK AND KINDERGARTEN LEGACY DADS’ BREAKFAST

LEGACY BREAKFAST – 144 legacy families with 269 students and seven third-generation families

HOMECOMING 2025 – honored the 1999 District Champions and the 25th Anniversary of the Class of 2000 Varsity Football State Championship

ALUMNI ADMISSIONS PREVIEW – exclusively for TCA graduates

FALL PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING EVENT –entrepreneurship panel featuring Trey Bowles ’95, Caroline Nix ’87, Nick Pavey ’07 and John Hinckley ’00

COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND LUNCH – for the class of 2025 and their moms

ALUMNI BASKETBALL RECOGNITION DINNER – honored the 2000 Boys Varsity and 2001 Girls Varsity Basketball State Championship Teams

SENIOR TREATS – treated our seniors to Chick-fil-A chicken minis as the countdown to graduation began

SPRING PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING EVENT – wealth management panel featuring Ryan Long ’98, Craig Hodges ’82, Adam Goldenberg and Barry Beal

ALUMNI BASEBALL GAME AND ALL-SCHOOL CARNIVAL

SPRING COLLEGE VISITS WITH OUR ALUMNI – visited Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, University of Texas and Baylor University

UPPER SCHOOL DRAMA PRODUCTION OF FOOTLOOSE ALUMNI MATINEE – alumni and their families received free tickets specifically for this performance

SENIOR LINKEDIN CLASS – to prepare them for college and their future careers

SENIOR LUNCH AND FIRST ALUMNI T-SHIRTS – seniors were treated to hamburgers and blizzards while showing off their first alumni T-shirts a week before graduation

GRADUATION – presented each graduate an alumni pin as they walked off the stage

THE TROJAN TRADITION – our quarterly electronic newsletter plus social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to keep alumni connected

All sponsored by the Trojan True Alumni Association led by our TCA Alumni Board.

Welcome, Class of 2026 –Our Newest Alumni!

We officially welcomed the class of 2026 into the TCA alumni family. At graduation, they were presented with a new gold alumni pin by two alumni from the class of 2025, MC Petersen and Hudson Smith. With 130 graduates, this marks the beginning of their lifelong connection to the TCA community. We are excited to see the impact they will make, and we will be cheering them on every step of the way. We look forward to seeing them back on campus at their first Homecoming Alumni Dinner on October 2!

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS

Our fall calendar is full of exciting opportunities to celebrate Trojan spirit together. Mark your calendars and join us for these special events!

LEGACY BREAKFAST

Thursday, September 24

7:15–8:30 a.m.

All legacy families are invited to join us for breakfast and fellowship. Students will receive their legacy T-shirts to wear to school that day. Lower School students will be picked up from the MCB gymnasium at 8 a.m. and escorted to class, allowing parents additional time to connect with fellow alumni.

HOMECOMING 2026

Friday, October 2

Upper School Commons and Patio

Join us for an evening of celebration! Alumni and their families are invited to attend our annual Alumni Dinner and Alumni Art Show before enjoying an exciting night of football. All events are complimentary and open to the entire TCA alumni community. We will be recognizing the 30year anniversary of the 1996 State Championship Varsity football team at the football game — more details to come.

CLASS REUNIONS

Saturday, October 3

We are celebrating milestone reunions for the Classes of 2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 and 1976. Reconnect with classmates, share memories and celebrate the lasting impact of your TCA experience.

ALUMNI ADMISSIONS PREVIEW

Thursday, October 20

9:30–11 a.m.

Alumni Board Members 2026–27

Haleigh

Galvin ’13

Hayden Freeman ’13

Craig Fusch ’00

John Hale ’95

Dalton Heath ’13

Claire Holder ’13

Ross Hurt ’11

Hutton Lunsford ’08

Matthew Young ’16

Stephanie Mastor

Wallace ’11

Lane Wells Wiggins ’04

This exclusive admissions event is designed for alumni considering TCA for their own children. Hear from fellow alumni parents, learn about the admissions process and tour the campus from a unique alumni perspective. Registration information will be available online.

ALUMNI NETWORKING EVENT

Thursday, October 22

Upper School Commons

Connect with fellow TCA alumni and professionals during an evening of networking and conversation. Featured topic and speaker information will be announced soon.

In Memoriam

DAN MAJORS

TCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER, ALUMNI PARENT

January 23, 2026

DONALD H. WILLS

TCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER, ALUMNI PARENT

January 23, 2026

ERIN JOHNSON DUNLAP ’80 ALUMNI

February 8, 2026

CELESTA GOLDEN VAUGHAN ALUMNI PARENT

February 20, 2026

HARRY JACQUEMIN HARDING JR. ALUMNI PARENT

April 3, 2026

JAMIE SMITH COLVIN ’91 ALUMNI

April 5, 2026

RITA RAINS RAMIREZ ALUMNI PARENT

April 20, 2026

DONALD EUGENE GRIMM

TCA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER, ALUMNI PARENT

May 22, 2026

“I am

making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

- Revelation 21:5

17001 ADDISON ROAD

ADDISON, TX 75001

NOTE TO PARENTS

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