SABRATON — When Amanda Darby says the Class of 2025 at Trinity Christian School is worth a million bucks, the principal isn’t just engaging in heartful hyperbole.
That’s how much in scholarships – right at the $1 million mark – said seniors have been awarded for the next phase of their academic careers.
Trinity’s 26 seniors are West Virginia Promise Scholarship honorees and have received plenty of other awards and recognitions for their grades and community service outside of campus.
Come fall, a passel of freshmen with that Trinity connection will answer roll in classrooms from Fairmont State to Stanford, in the next chapters of their academic careers.
“I can’t tell you proud of them I am,” the school principal said Thursday night before the start of commencement exercises at the faith-based school in Sabraton.
Darby, who is a former teacher at Trinity, praised the class for its character, community and work ethic.
“They get along with each other. They’re all friends, besides being classmates. And they’ve grown in their love of the Lord.”
They’ve also literally grown up before each other’s eyes, as most of the class had been together since pre-kindergarten at Trinity – a designation known as “Lifetime Warrior,” at the school.
Ethan Tomlinson couldn’t help but marvel at that, as he was experiencing a first wave of high school nostalgia in his cap and gown,
while milling about with his classmates one final time as everyone awaited the procession.
“Yeah, before we were just little kids in awe,” said Tomlinson, who is bound for the University of Florida this fall to study computer science and business.
“And now we get to look at each other and see who we’re becoming, as adults.”
Rylan Sharp wants to become a force on the volleyball court at Davis & Elkins College, while maintaining honors grades there, as she did at Trinity. She’s on scholarship to play that sport at the school in Randolph County.
Sharp is becoming who she is now, she said, because of that foundation of faith and academic direction gained at Trinity – which will always remain with her, as she put it.
“You benefit from the small class size and teachers who really care about your success,” the senior said.
Family, too, she said.
Before taking to the stage to receive their diplomas, Sharp and her classmates took in a video prepared by the school that was all about them, complete with collages of baby pictures and off-camera voice-overs from proud parents.
“I’ve never known a soul like you,” one mom said. “You’re going to do great things, kid.”
All of the above is what valedictorian Lucas Kniska is packing with him on his cross-country jaunt to California and Stanford, in Palo Alto – as he transforms into a college freshman a cultural world away from Morgantown and Appalachia.
He thanked his teachers and his parents for giving him faith for the journey. Keeping faith is what he urged his fellow seniors to do.
“Lead with purpose,” he said. “And try – even when you aren’t sure how it’s going to turn out.”
