Congratulations to HC history teacher, Kevin Sivils, on being honored with the “Excellence in Teaching” award by his colleagues. His peers shared many compliments about him including:

“Kevin is a servant leader.”“He is a quiet intellectual and articulates a knowledge in subject matter that is unsurpassed.”“Kevin is viewed as a mentor to many young people in helping students become mature Christian adults.”“Kevin gives a tremendous amount of time supporting many school activities.”“Underneath that sometimes gruff exterior is a soft, caring, and compassionate heart.”

After a six-month national search, Dr. Eileen Councill has been named the new principal at Houston Christian High School to replace Dr. Suzette Estes, who is retiring after 45 years of service in the field of education. Dr. Councill comes to Houston Christian from New York City as the Head of School at The Geneva School of Manhattan. Previously, she served in both public and private schools in an administrative role at Brooklyn HS of the Arts and Automotive HS in New York. Also, she taught for 12 years every math course possible and all IB courses to grades 7-12 at John Jay HS (NY), American School of Milan (Italy), and United Nations International School (NY).

Dr. Councill grew up in Somers, New York (about one hour north of NYC), the birthplace of the American Circus. One of her favorite childhood memories is when her sister, two brothers, and parents would grab their instruments and have a family jam session around the piano at night. “We

Kevin Sivils Honored with “Excellence in Teaching” Award

Head of School Notes ...................................... pg 2

Class of 2011 Graduation ................................ pgs 2-3

Dad & Grads Breakfast ...................................... pg 4

Astronaut Eugene Cernan .................................... pg 5

Positively Palm Beach .................................... pg 6

Israel Trip ...................................... pg 7

Alumni News ...................................... pg 8

Community Service Day .................................... pg 10

Teachers Receive Summer Grants .................................... pg 11

Central Texas Model United Nations .................................... pg 12

Freedoms Foundation Youth Summit .................................... pg 13

Capital Campaign ............................ pgs 14-15

National Honor Society .................................... pg 16

Essay & Literature Winners ............................ pgs 16-17

Music Awards .................................... pg 18

Art Competition Winners ............................ pgs 18-19

Rachel Moore Named Ann Crenshaw Scholar .................................... pg 19

Mustang Challenge .................................... pg 20

Leitko Shatters Discus Record .................................... pg 21

DeJean Sets State Long Jump Record .................................... pg 21

Sports Honors, Awards, & Wrap-Up ............................ pgs 22-27

...see Kevin Sivils, page 7

INSIDE

Spring 2011 Volume 13, Issue 1

A Newsletter on the Life of Houston Christian High School

...see New Principal, page 5

History teacher, Kevin Sivils (second from left) receives the “Excellence in Teaching” award from Head of School, Dr. Steve Livingston (left), Kurt Nondorf, HCHS Trustee, and Dr. Suzette Estes, HCHS Principal.

Dr. Suzette Estes welcomes incoming HC principal, Dr. Eileen Councill (left), at a luncheon reception given in her honor and hosted by the PTSA.

Dr. Eileen Councill Named New Houston Christian Principal

HCLife

Congratulations, Class of 2011!

Page 2 Spring 2011

Notes from the Head of SchoolDear Parents and Friends of Houston Christian,

With joy and satisfaction, we close a dynamic year in HC history, and I’m happy to report that in so many

ways, HC is fulfilling the Founders’ vision for this school.

First of all, our senior class, though small in size, was big in accomplishment! With offers of over $6 million in scholarships, two service academy appointments, six distinguished scholars and fourteen leadership graduates, this class is poised to lead future generations.

In addition, our school as a whole has several accomplishments we can rejoice together about:

• HCstudentstookarecord274AdvancedPlacementtestsin16different subjects

• Teachersreceivedaccolades,likeChristinaWest’sFulbrightScholarship for studies this summer in Mexico, Linda Oldham’s geophysics/seismologyworkshopattheUniversityofTexas,andAllisonRedmon’sFundforTeachersfellowshiptoEngland

• Dr.EileenCouncillacceptedthepositionasournewprincipalthisfall,replacingourbelovedDr.SuzetteEstes,whoretiredafter45yearsofservicetostudents,andreceivingtheACSILifetimeAchievement Award

• 78%ofstudentsparticipatedin23competitivesportsofferedatHC,21ofwhichwentontopost-seasoncompetition,12athleteswereacademicall-state,and12studentswillplaysportscompetitivelyatthe college level

• TheFiddler on the RoofproductionwonourfirstTommyTuneAwardfor choreography

One of the most exciting things we’ll continue to experience next year is ourcapitalcampaign.ConstructionbeganinMay2011totransformthelibrary into a Center for Scholars and Leaders, which will allow the Passport to Lead and Distinguished Scholars Program to expand and collaborate. As wemovetheunder-utilizedlibrarytoatemporarylocationoncampusthissummer, we’re quietly raising capital funds for an enlarged Student Center which will meet some of our immediate needs, such as more classroom space and facilities for food service and dining.

We’re at a point in time when the significance of Christian education is unparalleled.Humbledbytheprogressmadesince1998,we’velearnedthatHCisamodelforeducatorsalloverournation.Welookforwardto you joining our journey into the next chapter of HC’s story, as we all continuetoestablishHoustonChristianasapreeminentcollege-preparatoryschool in pursuit of truth and excellence to glorify God.

For His Glory, StephenM.Livingston,Ed.D. Head of School

Spring 2011 Page 3

Sixty-three percent of the Class of 2010 was offered scholarships cumulatively totaling over $6,600,000 based on academic merit, athletics, talent, and leadership.

* Indicates scholarship(s) offered at applying schools, but not necessarily school chosen by student.

Bayley Andrews* Baylor UniversityEmilyBaker Baylor UniversityChris Barrett* Baylor UniversityTaylorBirmingham* Texas A&M UniversityReid Bishop* Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyAnna Boucher* University of Alabama-HonorsKatie Brand* Texas A&M University-Mays School of BusinessJoshua Brandt* Mississippi CollegeJason Brown Belhaven CollegeAlex Bui* Baylor UniversityAndrew Cecil University of Central ArkansasPriyaChacko* University of Texas-Plan IIAlex Chaves University of MississippiMary Louise Clawson University of MississippiJordan Cole* Baylor UniversitySamuel Colina Louisiana State UniversitySarah Corder* University of TulsaMarshall Cornett* University of TulsaCarolyn Cotham* Southwestern UniversityCarrie Craft* University of TexasKyle Crawford* Oklahoma State UniversityHanora Cunnion University of MississippiElizabethDavis* Dallas Baptist UniversityRachel Davis Baylor UniversityJordanDickinson* Baylor UniversityZackDotson* University of Texas- Engineering HonorsRebecca Driver Texas Christian UniversityMaya Duna* Southwestern UniversityDrewEarnest* Baylor UniversityWillEpperson* Texas Tech UniversityAndrea Ferguson* Mississippi CollegeHenry Gebhardt Stephen F. Austin University

Arman Gonzalez Texas A&M UniversitySelestina Guzman University of North TexasLee Hanley University of MissouriKaylina Hartman* Baylor UniversitySteven Hartshorn* Roanoke CollegePeyton Head Baylor UniversityJoseph Hernandez University of Texas at TylerSuzann Herrmann Montana TechHannah Holmes* Furman UniversityKirby Holt University of Texas at TylerKatieJackson* Furman UniversityAriel Johnson* Texas Tech UniversityTrevorJohnson* New York UniversityKaimynKinkade* Baylor UniversityKonrad Koenig University of Texas at TylerBecca Langston* Texas A&M UniversityCollinLeitko Colorado School of MinesRyan Lloyd* Auburn UniversityMorgan Long* University of TexasTylerLook* Auburn UniversityParkerMalone* University of TulsaKaitlyn Melton Louisiana State UniversityAnna Meyers* Louisiana State UniversityErinMiller* University of TexasDanielle Milton* University of TexasIles Mitchell* Roanoke CollegeSarah Moll* Samford University-Nursing SchoolTristanMorris* Goucher CollegeRyan Niebes University of Oklahoma- HonorsDaniel Nondorf* Colorado State UniversityChristine Oldham* Texas Tech UniversityAshley Oradat* Baylor UniversityJimmy Osborn Baylor UniversitySarah Ott University of Texas

Kaitlin Panaccione* University of TexasHarrison Paret* Baylor UniversityLizziePenfield-EspinosaTexas A&M University at GalvestonLexi Peterson* Texas Christian University- Honors CollegeJoseph Pidala* University of TexasSarah Rommelmann* University of TexasAlly Ruehlen* Louisiana State UniversityBrian Scheel* United States Military AcademyJakeScott* United States Merchant Marine AcademyKelsey Simmons* Texas A&M UniversityLeah Slavens Pacific Northwest Ballet Graduate ProgramHayden Sneed Abilene Christian UniversityDillon Sorensen Emerson CollegeRobby Springmeyer Louisiana State UniversitySarah Stagg Baylor UniversitySakuraTantzen Boston UniversityLorenThomas* Empower A Child - AfricaJillianThompson Blinn CollegeAndrewTorres* Texas A&M UniversityMarissaTrevino* Art Institute of HoustonChrisTutunjian* Stanford UniversityAlainaUrbantke* Houston Baptist UniversitySam Voncannon* Texas A&M UniversityHayley Walden* St. Edward’s UniversityConnerWalker* University of OklahomaLane Walla* University of South CarolinaDale Wallace Baylor UniversityTyWebre University of MississippiJuliaWeeks* Emory UniversityCorbin Welch Texas State UniversityAmberWhitaker Louisiana State UniversityDinora Ybarra University of Texas at San Antonio

Commencement Honors Class of 2011Congratulations to the Class of 2011, who held its commencement at Houston’s First Baptist Church on the evening of May 27. Ninety-eight seniors received their diplomas and reflected on their lives at Houston Christian. The graduates selected HC Bible teacher, Mr. Stephen Hebert, to share his special memories of the graduates.

Salutatorian Tyler Look reflected on how we all start out as a “blank slate” before our parents and society begin to mold us and form us into who we are today. He gave his fellow graduates some great advice: Live Today. “We all have fond and maybe not so fond memories from years past, and those have made us who we are today, but they don’t restrict or define who we will be tomorrow,” spoke Tyler. “If you live for the future and worry about where you will be in a few years from today, you will miss everything that is happening this very minute.” He concluded by reminding his classmates that the future is not set in stone, and neither should their plans — take it all, one step at a time.

Valedictorian Chris Tutunjian shared stories of making new friends, building close relationships during his four years at school, and his belief that what makes Houston Christian unique is its sense of family. “A family is like a tree,” stated Chris. “Its strength is not measured by the number of its branches, but by the depth of its roots — roots that are nurtured by the rituals we create, the memories we share, the values we cherish, and the love we show one another.” His wish for the Class of 2011 is to stay in contact with one another and to always keep Christ at the center of everything we do.

Mr. Greg Speck, commencement speaker, is a Christian motivational speaker and author who has been working with teenagers since graduating from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota many years ago. In his address to the graduates, Speck gave the graduates some great advice for a successful life including that you are what you are committed to, so commit to Jesus. He told the students to study the Bible — it is the book of life, and to dedicate their lives to something that they cannot lose. In conclusion, Speck encouraged the graduates to be courageous, to have strong convictions built upon the word of God, and to choose to do what is right, even if no one is watching.

Look where your classmates will be heading.

Fifth Annual Dads & Grads BreakfastThe fifth annual “Dads & Grads Breakfast” was held on Friday, May 20, 2011, at the Mustang Corral. Dads of graduating seniors came out early to prepare a southern-style breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and sausage. The graduating seniors visited with classmates and said their goodbyes before the summer break and heading off to college.

Sarah and Stuart Corder and Terry and Bayley Andrews

Tony and Amber Whitaker Emily and Jeff Baker

Selest Guzman, Marissa Trevino, and Taylor Birmingham

Lane Walla, Zack Dotson, and Priya Chacko Russell and Kelsey Simmons

Jason, Sr. and Jason Brown, Jr., and Lee Hanley and his mentor, Judge Robert Newey

Daniel and Kurt Nondorf Dervynn and Ariel Johnson

Peter and Hanora Cunnion and Peyton and Erin HeadAshley Oradat, Lexi Peterson, Rebecca Driver, and Kyle Crawford

Christopher and Pierre Tutunjian

Spring 2011 Page 5Page 4 Spring 2011

Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan Speaks at School Leadership AssemblyOn the 50th anniversary of manned space flight and the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle in space, veteran astronaut Captain (Ret.) Eugene Cernan, U.S. Navy, spoke about his naval pilot and space career experiences to HC students as part of its leadership program. During 20 years as a Naval Aviator, including 13 years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Capt. Cernan left his mark on history with three historic missions in space as the Pilot of Gemini IX, the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo X, and the Commander of Apollo XVII. After flying to the moon not once, but twice, he also holds the distinction of being the second American to walk in space and the last man to have left his footprints on the lunar surface.

Cernan related to the students that about 60 years ago, he was in the same place as they are now. He grew up in the Chicago area, was a three-sport letterman, and graduated in the top two percent of his senior class at a high school of 4,000 students. “I grew up in a blue collar family in a blue collar neighborhood during WWII,” recalls Cernan, “and the aviation icons of that time inspired me. I had one dream at that time – to fly airplanes off of aircraft carriers.” He thought it would never happen. Cernan’s father also had a dream – his son would get the education he never had a chance to get. Cernan attended Purdue University and was selected to the Naval ROTC. In 1956, he graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy (Reserve), and was accepted into flight school. Both of their dreams came true.

Capt. Cernan said he never dreamed about being in the space program and shared with the students that the impossible does happen if you commit yourself to what you feel is really important in your life. One of his most memorable experiences as an astronaut was when he trained with Commander Alan Shepard as his back-up pilot for Apollo XIV. “I learned more about commitment from Alan Shepard and the challenges he overcame to become commander of that flight,” Cernan shared. “I learned that there isn’t anything you cannot do if you set your mind to it.”

To grasp the reality of how far technology has grown since he was active in the U.S. space program, Capt. Cernan pulled out his iPhone and told the audience that there was more technology in his one hand than he had in both his hands landing the lunar module on the moon. “Going to the moon is the greatest human endeavor ever because we were not afraid to fail,” declares Cernan. “It is a testimony to American ingenuity.”

“Flying around Earth is very different than flying away from Earth to the moon,” Cernan shared. “This earth of ours is too beautiful and has so much purpose to have happened by accident. It is the acknowledgement of a creator.” Apollo XVII landed in a valley on the moon where the mountains are higher than the Grand Canyon is deep. “We were on the moon for three days, and the lunar rover allowed us to explore areas that were quite distant from the lunar module. When you are on the moon, you are someplace that no human being has seen before,” states Cernan. “The moon has one-sixth the gravity of Earth, which means I could cross this entire stage in two steps,” Cernan explained. “It’s wonderful!”

Capt. Cernan said that before he left the moon for the last time, he looked at his footprint, wished he could push the “pause button,” and asked himself, “What did it mean to be here?” He reflects that he is still searching for that answer. In his conclusion, Cernan expressed to the students, “God gives us opportunities that we never dreamed of. Go out and dream the impossible and make the impossible happen.”

Houston Christian freshman Carson Taff with his grandfather, Eugene Cernan.

New Principal continued...

also had awesome neighborhood kickball games and tag,” Councill remembers. “There were 15-20 of us on a good night.”

After graduating from Somers High School, Dr. Councill attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and earned a B.S. in Mathematics Education. She earned her M.A. in Education in Instructional Technology at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut. Dr. Councill also has a M.S. Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Baruch College in NYC. Last year, she received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Fordham University in NYC.

Dr. Councill loves to travel and is thrilled about moving to Texas. “I love that Christian philosophy is combined with excellence in education at HC,” states Councill, “and I love to travel and invest in the lives of teenagers, so the programs offered by HC hit on my passions.” She says that there is a constant humor and enjoyment being around students. One of her funniest memories was walking into a second grade classroom where she needed to discipline a student (and he was told that she was arriving). “The child stood up and with all the possible gusto of a diva and with his hands held high, yelled, ‘but I am too young to die!’” she recalls. “I had to walk out of the room momentarily as I was laughing so hard I was crying!”

Councill says that she has so many memorable experiences throughout her career, but she gets very excited about seeing her faculty transition to educational leadership because of her encouragement. “I want to return the favor for those who invested and encouraged me and pass it on to others,” she states.

Dr. Councill’s greatest passion is scuba diving. She also loves photography, both under and above water. She is an avid runner, loves to hike, and loves to travel to new places. Dr. Councill has visited over 60 countries, so far. She recently experienced another exciting event — she married her husband, Brown, on April 30, 2011. “He is a superb athlete, a fierce competitor, and a super sweet and funny guy,” describes Councill.

Twenty HCHS students spent their winter break where Christmas began, traveling through Israel and visiting many of the sites they have studied in their Bible classes. The students traveling to the Holy Land included Katherine Allison, Mary Brown, Paula Brown, Janice Byth, Sam Colina, Salomon Colina, Alexandra Constantinou, Bryce Dixon, Will Epperson, Andrea Ferguson, Sarah Floris, Reghan Gillman, Suzann Herrmann, Parker Malone, Kaitlin Panaccione, Mary Grace Russell, Wes Rutherford, Matthew Schwartz, Alaina Urbantke, and Dinora Ybarra; chaperones were Mr. Tom Wilson and his wife, Nancy, Mrs. Cathy Doxtater, and Mrs. Shonda Majors.

Their adventure took them to the ancient Mediterranean harbor town of Caesarea; to Mount Carmel, where Elijah encountered the 400 prophets; to Nazareth and the Synagogue where Jesus learned to read the Scriptures; and then to the Sea of Galilee. They visited the Mount of the Beatitudes, the Jordan River, went to Qumran and saw the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and floated on the Dead Sea. In Jerusalem, the students visited many

sites, but one of their favorites was the trip through Hezekiah’s tunnel where they had to walk in single file with a flashlight in water up to their knees.

The most exciting part of the trip, according to several of the students, were the camels. “Watching everyone get up on the camels was very funny,” expressed Andrea. Their camel ride took them “back to the ancient time” where they visited a Bedouin camp, talked and dined with “Abraham,” and experienced Middle Eastern hospitality.

The students had many memorable moments during the trip. The boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and watching the demonstration of how the fishermen made their daily catch 2000 years ago was a memorable moment for Janice, Salomon, and Matthew. Andrea, Kaitlin, and Mary Grace will never forget being baptized in the Jordan River. Katherine’s viewing of the Sea of Galilee outside her hotel window was unforgettable. “I’m never going to forget reading my Bible and looking out the window to see where it all happened,” reminisces Katherine. “It was incredible knowing that I was standing exactly where Jesus had walked and being in the places that he had visited and performed miracles.”

Kaitlin was surprised to see that so many people were extremely welcoming to Americans, and that they were excited to hear about her culture, lifestyle, and school. Andrea said that she never expected the land to be so diverse, considering it is only the size of New Jersey!

A big challenge was keeping up with all the interesting facts from their tour guide. “It was hard taking in all the information at once,” says Mary Grace. For Salomon, his challenge was not using his hair gel daily.

“During the trip, I learned how important it is to understand where my religion comes from and why I believe in it,” reflects Kaitlin. “Everything I saw was related to my spiritual life, and I feel like I have a much better understanding of Christianity now that I have seen the actual sites where Biblical events occurred.”

Page 6 Spring 2011 Spring 2011 Page 7

Over470guestsattheHCPositively Palm Beach gala and auction enjoyed a wonderful evening offun,fellowship,anddancingtothebigbandsoundsofFifthAvenue.Thebiddingwasintensethroughoutthenight,andmorethan$450,000wasraisedfortheschool.Specialthankstoeventchairperson,NancyTutunjian,andco-chairs,FranBuchananandLauraClawson,andallthe volunteers who made the evening a great success.

HC parents, Chris & Lisa Webreand Kelly & Mike Handel, HC Trustee

Gala Co-Chairs, Laura Clawson and Fran Buchanan, surround Gala Chair, Nancy Tutunjian.

Palm Beach Soirée Packs the House

HC grandparents, Mary & Sam Daffin, former HC Trustee

HC parents, Kate & Shaun Clark,and HC mom, Ann Hopper

HC moms, Kaye Kelleher, Heather Camfield, and Laura Davis

HC parents, Michael & Donna Treu and Linda & Gary Warner

HC parent, Felix Cantu, and HC alumni parents, Trish & Paul McElroy

HC parents, Alan & Ann Earnest, and HC mom, Patti Trieglaff

HC moms and gala volunteers, Karen Rand and Cindy Barrett

HC parents, Melissa & Warren Matthews

HC moms, Sara Bettencourt and Kellie Leitko

HC parents, Stuart & Lisa Corder

Houston Christian Students Walk Through Biblical History on Trip to Israel

Kevin Sivils continued...

Sivils, a 27-year veteran educator and coach and a published author with over a dozen non-fiction books to his credit, has taught U.S. History, American Government, World History, Economics, the History of the Vietnam Conflict, and the History of World War II as a high school teacher.

Sivils grew up in Baton Rouge, graduated from Episcopal High School, and attended Greenville College in Illinois where he was a member of the men’s basketball team. He earned a B.A. in Education from Greenville, has an M.S. in Sport Psychology from LSU, a Sports Management Certification from the U. S. Sports Academy, and is working towards a Master’s degree in Military History.

Sivils met his wife, Lisa, when they were students at Greenville College. They have three children, Danny, Katie, and Emily. They are also the proud owners of three dogs, Angel, an All-American, and two Italian Greyhounds, Alec and Berkeley.

Sivils has traveled extensively around the world including trips to the Central African Republic, Chad, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, and most of the United States.

Prior to starting his tenure at Houston Christian, Sivils was a classroom instructor and the highly successful boys varsity basketball coach at Runnels High School in Baton Rouge. His teams have produced over 400 varsity wins in 18 seasons and 16 state play-off teams, two of which advanced to the state semi-finals. He has also been named “Coach of the Year” eight times.

“It was quite a surprise to win,” reflects Sivils. “To be honored by your peers is always a significant achievement. Once the shock wore off a bit and I had some time to ponder what it meant to receive this award, I realized that with it comes some pressure, even if only self-inflicted. I now have to live up to the standard in perpetuity that comes with this award. When you follow the previous recipients, who are all magnificent teachers, you begin to realize you have your work cut out for you to maintain the high level of excellence that these teachers have established. I hope I am up for the challenge of maintaining the standard set by these master teachers.”

Posing in the Jordan River after being baptized or rededicated are (from l to r) Mary Brown, Paula Brown, Kaitlin Panaccione, Wes Rutherford, Katherine Allison, Suzann Herrmann, Mr. Tom Wilson, Andrea Ferguson, Parker Malone, Alaina Urbantke, Reghan Gillman, Bryce Dixon, Sarah Floris, Matthew Schwartz, Mary Grace Russell, and Will Epperson.

Dinora Ybarra (front) and Kaitlin Panaccione clearly show their feelings about riding on a camel.

Houston Christian celebrated its cultural diversity and demonstrated its pride in the many heritages represented by the students, faculty, staff, and parents at the third annual “MultiCultural Assembly” in January. “The purpose of the assembly is to show how much we value each culture and to respect the values and uniqueness each culture has,” states Mr. Sam Mendizabal, Foreign Language Department Chair and Spanish teacher at HCHS. “Everyone has a great time and is very supportive of the event.”

The program began with senior Reid Bishop playing the bagpipes in traditional Scottish attire. The audience was then given a warm welcome by foreign language students who greeted them in Mandarin, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Vietnamese. An orchestra ensemble delighted the crowd with the traditional Japanese folk song “Sakura” (Cherry Blossoms) arranged by Michael Story, followed by sophomore Jacob Farris singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” (also known as “The Black National Anthem”) by James Weldon Johnson.

After Latin and French classes recited Psalm 23 in their respective languages, a Chinese flag was presented to Houston Christian by representatives from the Chinese Consulate. Romania was represented by sophomore Hope Johnson singing “Frunza Verde,” senior Amber Whitaker recited a poem she wrote entitled “The Broadened Horizon,” and the audience was on their feet dancing to the music of the Spanish band from Mundo Pentecostal Church.

Guest speaker, former Mayor of Houston Lee Brown, spoke to the students about the experiences of his life and career and stressed that it doesn’t matter where you come from or how much you have, and no matter how far-fetched your dreams seem, you can achieve them.

Senior Dinora Ybarra performed a traditional Mexican folk dance and the assembly ended with The Lord’s Prayer by the Mandarin class. After the

assembly, everyone was treated to traditional food from China, Cuba, Ghana, the Mediterranean, Mexico, South America, and Romania, as well as American “Soul” food.

Spring 2011 Page 9Page 8 Spring 2011

Rachel Mercer (‘06) completed her first year of graduate school at the VCU Brandcenter. She is interning this summer at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, which has been named “Agency of the Year” 13 times in trade publications and was dubbed “Interactive Agency of the Year” by Advertising Age last year.

Ashley Mitchell (‘07) and Alex Zumberge (‘07) were engaged in January. They met at HCHS and have been dating since their sophomore homecoming dance. Ashley and Alex will be married in the spring of 2012.

Joe Swain (‘07) and Charlie Hasenbank (‘08) attended the 25th All Military Ball in December 2010, which is held each year to provide a chance for all the military academy cadets and midshipmen from the Gulf Coast area to be recognized for their service to our country.

David Worth (‘08) is a junior at Texas A&M University

majoring in Biomedical Science. This past year, he served as the tour executive for MSC Hospitality – the official host committee of Texas A&M. David will begin his first year in the DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program this fall at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

April Patrick (‘99) completed her Ph.D. in British Literature at Texas Christian University and recently moved to New York to work as the English/Language Arts Director for Blue Engine (www.blueengine.org), an educational nonprofit that puts high-dose tutors into the classrooms of underprivileged high schools.

Katie Jarl (‘03) lives in Washington, D.C. and works for The Humane Society of the United States as a Public Relations Specialist. The HSUS, humanesociety.org, is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, backed by more than 11 million Americans. Katie travels across the country working with the news media on dogfighting and cockfighting raids, undercover farm animal abuse investigations, and animal-friendly state legislation.

Devin Miles (‘04) earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Florida A&M University

and worked in Investment Banking at JP Morgan in New York. She has decided to switch careers and is back in Houston taking prerequisites

towards a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, a holistic, alternative medicine that seeks to cure the body naturally, without the side affects often experienced when taking prescriptions.

Ginny Blecher (‘06) recently received her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. She returns to Houston to begin her nine-month clinical fellowship working with children with speech and language disorders.

Blake Brown (‘06) recently graduated from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington with a degree in Parks and Recreation Management. He is working for the town of Davidson, outside of Charlotte, NC.

Melinda Hodges Ferguson (‘06) recently earned her graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and finished an internship at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Pediatric ICU in Houston. She plans to go into the mental health and counseling field. In December 2010, Melinda married Jeremy Ferguson, whom she met while attending Stephen F. Austin University. He is an eighth grade history teacher in the Cy-Fair school district, is working on his Master’s in Education, and plans to become a school principal. Let us know what’s been happening in your life since graduating from HC. You may

update your information via the HCHS website at www.houstonchristian.org or contact Paige McInturff at 713.580.6055 or pmcinturff@houstonchristianhs.org.

TheMustangSocietyisanassociationofHCHSgraduatesdedicatedtomaintaining the friendships and camaraderie that began while attending HC.

Devin Miles

JoeSwainandCharlieHasenbank

Melinda and Jeremy Ferguson

Alex Zumberge and Ashley Mitchell

home

comi

ng r

euni

on 20

11ho

meco

ming

reu

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2011

reunion classes

more details to come http://hchsalumni.org

contact Paige mcinturff at 713.580.6055 to help

plan class reunions.

homecoming Football game

Become our Facebook friend at mustang alums.

more details to come http://hchsalumni.org

contact Paige mcinturff at 713.580.6055 to help

plan class reunions.

Become our Facebook friend at mustang alums.

‘76, ‘81, ‘88, ‘91, ‘96, ‘01, and ‘06

reunion classes

‘76, ‘81, ‘88, ‘91, ‘96, ‘01, and ‘06

Friday, september 30, 2011

Christie McWilliams-Abendroth (‘90) is married and livingin Michigan serving as the Director of Programs and Student Admissions at the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. She soon will complete her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from theUniversityofHouston.

Jennifer Bonds Warren(‘94)hasbeenmarriedsince1997andhasfourchildren–twoboysandtwogirls.Sheisastay-at-homemomand attends Houston’s First Baptist Church.

Mike Wolfe(‘95),HarrisCountySchoolTrustee,recentlyannouncedplans to run for re-election in 2012. As a countywide electedRepublicanofficial,Mikeisfulfillinghisclasstitleas“mostlikelytobe a politician.”

NWA Alumni NewsHave you had a recent change in your career, family, or life? We want to know about it. You may update your information by contacting Paige McInturff at pmcinturff@houstonchristianhs.org or 713.580.6055 with the news you want to share.

Northwest Academy Alumni — Tell us what’s been happening in your life!

homecoming Football game

Friday, september 30, 2011

HC Celebrates Diversity at Annual MultiCultural Assembly

Senior Reid Bishop plays the bagpipes in traditional Scottish attire.

Mandarin class students, freshman Drew Hendricks, sophomore Sam Herrera, and junior Brianna Busby, recite The Lord’s Prayer.

MikeWolfeandSarahPalin

In Memoriam Rebecca RothRebecca “Becca” Jean Roth (‘07)recentlywenthome to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our prayers and condolences go out to

her family and friends. Becca graduated from StephensCollege inColumbia,Missouri, onMay 7

where she receivedaB.S.degree inMarketing:PublicRelationsand Advertising,with aminor in Event Planning. Becca had a powerful way of entering a room or a friendship and never leaving it the same! She was a lover of people and life, a connoisseur of fine foods and gourmet cooking andmost certainly a loverofthefinerthingsinlife.Beccawasknownforhercompassionand the manner she frequently honored friends and family with unexpectedgifts.Inasingleword,shewasDETERMINED! Becca is survived by her parents, Stacey Richardson Roth, and Jeffrey andRosemarieRoth; andbrother and sister-in-law,AndrewandSamantha Roth. Donations may be given in Becca’s memory to StephensCollege,1200E.Broadway,Columbia,MO65215;ortotheBriarwoodSchool,12207WhittingtonDr.,Houston,TX77077.

Spring 2011 Page 11Page 10 Spring 2011

community service day at Hc

AfteraweekinFebruaryofspecialguestssharingtheirexperiencesinservingothersduringdailychapelservices,MissionsEmphasisWeekendedwithstudents, faculty,andstaffspendingadayworkingatavarietyoftasks(e.g.,mentoringyoungstudents,pullingweeds,pickinguptrash,paintingbuildings,andpackingricebags,justtonameafew)atBrookwoodCommunity,EcclesiaChurch,GenerationOne,HarrisCountyAgriculturalCenter,TheHoustonFoodBank,MissionGreenspoint,TheParishSchool,SpringBranchElementary,TerraceElementary,TreasureForestElementary,WestwoodElementary,TheWildcatWaySchool,andYellowstoneAcademy.

From right clockwise, seniors Rachel Davis, Anna Boucher, Emily Baker, Carolyn Cotham, Jordan Cole, and Taylor Birmingham take a break at the end of a busy work day at The Parish School.

Seniors Trevor Johnson, Danielle Milton, Kaitlin Panaccione, Sarah Ott, and Zack Dotson sweep around the new location of Ecclesia Church.

Juniors Zach Evans, Ben Boucher, and Drew Peters fill bags of rice at The Houston Food Bank.

Juniors Hannah Shearer, Lindsey Scott, Malachy Lyons-Letts, and Matthew Schwartz work the assembly line at The Houston Food Bank.

Juniors Eric Hopper, Max Brown, and Taffeta Burleson inventory school uniforms at the Yellowstone Academy.

Seniors Anna Meyers and Erin Miller (top) and Tristan Morris and Kaylina Hartman (bottom)scrape off old paint and fill in cracks with caulk in preparation of painting the new Ecclesia Church.

Seniors Peyton Head, Morgan Long, and Maya Duna pick up trash under the I-45 and I-10 interchange while working at Ecclesia Church.

Sophomore Jessie Skinn gathers art supplies for the students at Westwood Elementary.

Freshmen Ashley Richards, Taylor Newhouse, Brian Peyton, and Lauren Nugent pick up trash in the Third Ward for Generation One.

Freshmen Jessie Bell, Mike Bettencourt, MaryEvans Attwell, Amanda Brock, and Chantay Best rake leaves at the Harris Country Agricultural Center.

Many thanks to all the ladieswho donated theirbeautiful hair at the Locks of Love Seventh Annual HaircuttingCeremonyonTuesday,March8.Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children whosufferfromlong-termmedicalhairloss.

Showing off their braids are:Front Row (l to r): Rachel Craft, Sydney Brown (LaurelBrown’ssister),MelanieReyes(EllieChaves’friend), Ellie Chaves (Alex Chaves’ sister), andHayley Hartzog;MiddleRow (l to r): AlainaUrbantke,Mrs. PaigeMcInturff,KayleyWhite(Mrs.Enderson’sdaughter),NathalieSimoes,AshtonBinkley,andRachelMoore;BackRow(ltor):LaurelBrown,SuzannHerrmann,Mrs. Kathleen Coussens, Claire Hill, and Kathryn Quandt.

A new addition to the ceremony was introduced this year – Random Acts of Service. Students, teachers, and staff are nominated for their acts of service within the HC community and outside the HC community throughout the year. Recipients are selected by a committee of teachers and staff members.

“WithinOurWalls”recipientsincludeAlexBarrett,ChrisBarrett,AnnaBoucher,PriyaChacko,SarahCorder, Drew Earnest, Suzann Herrmann, TrevorJohnson, Kaimyn Kinkade, Ryan Lloyd, MorganLong, Tyler Look, BradMcClintic, AnnaMeyers,Grace Munford, Mrs. Donna Navarro, Christine Oldham, Mrs. Linda Oldham, Brian Scheel, Kyle Schmid, Neima Seirafipour, Dillon Sorensen, AndrewTorres,andDaleWallace.

“BeyondOurWalls”recipientsincludeJaniceByth,CarrieCraft,WillEpperson,AndreaFerguson,Mr.Stephen Hebert, Mrs. Amy Lindsay, Mr. John Lister, ParkerMalone,JamesWatts,andCol.TomWilson.

Three HC teachers were recently awarded grants to fund research for their studies during the summer. Spanish teacher, Christina West, was awarded a grant from the Fulbright-Hays Program; Band director and music teacher, Allison Redmon, received a grant from Fund For Teachers; and History and Government/Economics teacher, Suzan Phenicie, won the opportunity to attend a U.S. Congressional workshop at the Dirksen Congressional Center.

The Fulbright-Hays Program, founded in 1946 by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. “I was thrilled to find out that I’m part of the program this year!” exclaims West. “I am passionate about traveling to other countries and learning about other cultures, and this trip seems like a unique opportunity to experience parts of Mexico that are far off the beaten tourist trail.” She will travel with 15 other teachers from the U.S. to eight different states in southern Mexico where they will study the role of indigenous cultures in the development of Mexico. As part of the requirements for the program, West will develop a series of lesson plans that can be used in Spanish classrooms at various levels. “I am hoping specifically to bring back videos and pictures of several significant sites which we study in our Spanish III curriculum,” says Mrs. West. “I am also hoping to share with my students a vision of Mexico that is different than the one we hear about daily on the news.”

Fund For Teachers awards fellowships for the personal and professional growth of teachers by recognizing and supporting them as they identify and pursue opportunities around the globe that will have the greatest impact on their practice, on the academic lives of their students, and on their school communities. Mrs. Redmon and her husband, Andrew, the band and choir director at Grace School, are interested in early music and will spend three weeks in England attending concerts and events that will expose them to high quality performances by some of the best early music performers in the world. They hope to take what they learn back to their students and collaborate on an early music performance next year consisting of Allison’s high school students and Andrew’s middle-school students. “We want to bring back a lot of resources to our students, which we hope will inspire them to appreciate earlier forms of music and possibly spur them to go to a classical concert with their families, pick up an early music instrument at the Texas Renaissance Festival, or download a set of medieval dances to their iPod!” states Allison.

The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. The Center, named for the late Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen, is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization devoted to the study of Congress and its leaders. Suzan Phenicie was awarded the opportunity to attend the “Congress in the Classroom” workshop at the Dirksen Institute in Illinois which covers how the legislative branch operates and the best ways to teach students about the U.S. Congress. “I am so excited for the opportunity to improve my craft and to meet other professionals and learn how to develop creative ways to teach about Congress,” states Phenicie. “I cannot wait to share what I’ve learned with my students.”

Three Houston Christian Teachers Receive Grants for Summer StudiesLocks of Love and

Random Acts of Service

Christina West and Allison Redmon

Juniors Michael Dunn, Eric Hopper, Kathryn Quandt, and Devon Sills took a trip back in history as participants in the American Leaders Youth Summit, sponsored by the Freedoms Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching young people the principles upon which our nation was founded. The three-day conference, which was held in March in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, gives high school students the opportunity to interact with experts on citizenship, democracy, the free enterprise system, the judicial system, and the American political process. The program includes thought-provoking lectures, historical tours, and experiential workshops, all designed to develop leadership skills and deepen an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of engaged citizenship. Michael, Eric, Kathryn, and Devon joined over 100 students from around the nation for this life-changing experience.

“It was a phenomenal trip that elevated my level of understanding and critical thinking,” states Michael. “The Youth Summit taught us how to represent the new generation of Americans, how to maintain America’s identity, how to improve our nation as a whole, and how to become effective leaders.”

“My experiences at Valley Forge – leadership lessons, Constitutional lectures, mock Congress, and free enterprise challenges – further cemented my desire to learn about the government,” states Devon. “I met students who felt strongly against some of the views that I hold, challenging me to adequately state and defend

my beliefs, which is something that I have never been truly forced to do in the past,” recalls Devon. Her favorite part of the summit was the mock Congress, which offered her the opportunity to analyze how legislative bills can promote or harm the rights of its citizens.

Kathryn’s favorite part of the trip was the presentation by the

historical figure actors giving their views about the Constitution. “While most history is presented in textbook or lecture form, watching and listening to two men actually take on the roles of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson gave me a new understanding of the persons behind the Constitution and the biases and conflicts that went along with constructing such a document,” recalls Kathryn. Her most memorable moment was learning more about the faith and culture of two other students. “Though letting go of preconceived notions was slightly difficult at first,” notes Kathryn, “I appreciated the opportunity to learn about another worldview, and they sincerely appreciated an attentive listener.”

Eric enjoyed the presentation by the two actors, as well, and was able to see the many different (and often opposing) thoughts and opinions that were molded together in order to form the Constitution. After the mock legislative session, Eric not only realized how difficult and frustrating the job of a congressman can be, but also the delicate balance of security and liberty that our Constitution must equilibrate. “Overall, the trip to Valley Forge was a memorable learning experience in the very setting that the history took place,” comments Eric.

Spring 2011 Page 13Page 12 Spring 2011

HC seniors Parker Malone and Tyler Look were named Outstanding Delegate and Honorable Mention Delegate, respectively, at the 2011 Central Texas Model United Nations Conference (CTMUN) held on the University of Texas campus in January. “Recognitions are minimal and competition is fierce at MUN,” states Mrs. Christine Metoyer, HC Social Studies Chairperson and world history teacher. “Our team was established through the Global Affairs class whose objective is to promote global citizenship, and I am so proud of all our students who stood out amongst the brightest and best delegates from all over Texas!”

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy, and the United Nations agenda. Every year, about 500 high school students from Texas debate issues of global importance at the CTMUN conference. “The conference consisted of five committee sessions where the objective was to pass a resolution regarding the topic being discussed,” states senior Christopher Tutunjian. “I definitely got a taste of international diplomacy and politics and a better understanding of how committees work within the UN.”

The participants role-play as diplomats representing a nation or nongovernmental organization in a simulated session of an organ (committee) of the United Nations, such as the

Parker Malone and Tyler Look Receive Delegate Awards at Central Texas Model United Nations

Tyler Look and Parker Malone

Freedoms Foundation Youth Summit Offers a Walk Through History for HC Students

From left to right, juniors Michael Dunn, Kathryn Quandt, Eric Hopper and Devon Sills surround HC English Department Chair and Teacher, Diane Creekmore, at the Youth Summit conference sponsored by the Freedoms Foundation.

Security Council or the General Assembly. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems. “This experience allowed me to recognize the difficulty that world leaders have in making strong demands to obtain their nation’s needs while offering some concessions in order to avoid alienating other states,” recalls Parker.

During the conference, participants must employ a variety of communication and critical thinking skills in order to represent the policies of their country. These skills include public speaking, group communication, research, policy analysis, active listening, negotiating, conflict resolution, note-taking, and technical writing. “The exchanges with other members of my committee were the most exciting part of the conference,” notes Parker. “It was challenging trying to sway the opinion of others, especially the students who were most prepared.” Tyler agrees that through learning new skills, his committee enjoyed working together towards a favorable outcome.

The conference provided an impactful memory for Tutunjian. “In my committee, we had to decide on whether we were going to support a resolution calling for war,” states Christopher. “Having to make this decision opened my eyes to the difficult moral questions that arise when one has to determine the best thing to do in drastic situations.”

“I would highly recommend students to get involved in Model UN,” encourages Parker. “It enables you to have an experience in which you are pushed out of your comfort zone because you are required to continuously explain your rationale regarding a topic, which could be a very sensitive one, in order to gain the support and backing of other people.”

HC students who attended the conference included seniors Reid Bishop, Carolyn Cotham, Carrie Craft, Zack Dotson, Drew Earnest, Suzann Herrmann, Trevor Johnson, Kaimyn Kinkade, Tyler Look, Parker Malone, Tristan Morris, Lexi Peterson, Dillon Sorensen, Christopher Tutunjian, and Conner Walker, and juniors Susannah Mohrmann, Grace Morris, Beth Powell, Hannah Shearer, and Waverly Walla.

Senior Julia Weeks recently participated in the Texas Poetry Out Loud state competition in Austin and placed as a Top 5 finalist. Julia competed against 10 other contestants, reciting her three chosen poems: “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask,” and “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold. Students were evaluated based on criteria such as physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, and level of difficulty.

Produced on a national scale by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, the Poetry Out Loud program provides scholarships to high school students and cash to winners’ school libraries to purchase poetry books. The Texas Commission on the Arts organizes the statewide program, with the assistance of Badgerdog Literary Publishing, providing participating schools with Poetry Out Loud lesson plans, resources, and the opportunity to work with Texas poets or theatre artists. Students choose poems to memorize and recite from the Poetry Out Loud anthology. Schools hold competitions to determine their school winner. State winners are represented at the national competition in Washington, D.C. in late April; the winner of the national competition receives a $20,000 scholarship.

Senior Julia Weeks Selected as a Top 5 Finalist in Texas Poetry Out Loud Contest

JuliaWeeks

Dr. Suzette Estes with her long-time assistant, Julie Bainum.

Dr. Suzette Estes Honored at Retirement Reception

On Sunday, May 22, family, friends, teachers, students, parents, and alumni gathered together to honor Dr. Suzette Estes for her many years of service at HC and to shower her with love and warm wishes as she embarks on her next phase of life – RETIREMENT! One of the first things on her retirement “To Do” list is escaping the Houston heat by embarking on an Alaskan cruise, a gift given to her by Houston Christian.

Among the many messages Dr. Estes received, The Association of Christian Schools International sent the following message in appreciation for her years of service at HCHS:

“‘Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep.’ Dr. Suzette Estes lives these directives that our Lord imparted to Peter as she feeds the HCHS Mustangs with God’s Word to strengthen and nourish their souls and minds. She carefully tends the teachers, ensuring their needs are met in order for them to teach God’s Truth. During conversations and conferences with faculty and/or parents, Suzette feeds the adults as she encompasses all directives with His Word.”

Bless you, Dr. Estes, and have a wonderful retirement!

Page 15Page 14

Student Center Interior Rendering

Capital CampaignHouston Christian High School

Center for Scholars and LeadersBy transferring library services into the new student center learning commons, the Amelang Library building will be transformed into a center including:

�Agrandlecturehallwithseatingforapproximately150students.

�Twoconference-styleclassrooms.

�Facilities to house the Distinguished Scholars and Passport to Lead programs.

�Break-outareaswithfunctionalarchitecture,AVintegration and furniture that promote creativity and collaboration.

Tofulfillthevisionofservant-leadershiptrainingandcommunity impact, the Center for Scholars and Leaders wouldalsobeavailableforusebythepublicafter-hours.In March 2011, the Board of Trustees of Houston Christian High School approved the launch of

a capital campaign which will increase space for academic and co-curricular programs, provide food service and dining facilities, and create innovative learning environments to serve our

Performing ArtsAn important aspect of the project is to repurpose the classroomsintheDrakePerformingArtsCenter(DPAC).Classes currently held in the DPAC, which are not fine arts, will move to the second floor of the student center. As a result,theseclassroomswillbere-modeledtoprovide:

�Individual practice rooms

�Men’s and ladies’ dressing rooms for theatre

�Small group rehearsal rooms

�Music classroom

�Video and Audio recording studio

�Offices

Student CenterAthree-story,approximately35,000squarefootstudentcenter will be a powerful force for student interaction by effectively integrating library services, technology, cafeteria and classrooms in a learning commons that is now only seen atcollegesanduniversities.Thecenterwill:

�Convert the traditional library into a learning commons with a technologically progressive hub.

�Provide informal gathering area with coffee bar for the schoolcommunityandseatingfor120.

�Accommodate a food preparation/service area and cafeteriaseatingforapproximately170students.

�Connect to the McNair Gymnasium providing direct access to restrooms.

�Create eight additional classrooms and a custom designedsix-roomDiscovery program suite.

Center for Scholars and Leaders Interior Rendering

Floor Concept – Center for Scholars and Leaders Floor Concepts – Student Center

1st Floor

2nd Floor

CAPiTAL FundinG HiGHLiGHTSTheobjectivesforacapitalcampaignaddressimmediateandcritical needs for classroom space, facilities for food service, athletics and performing arts, and areas for collaborative learningwithstate-of-the-arttechnology.

�Construct a student center with dining facilities, classrooms, and a learning commons integrating library services and technology.

�Transform the existing Amelang Library into a state-of-the-art center with lecture hall and collaborativeconference areas for Passport to Lead and Distinguished Scholars Programs.

�CompletetheDrakePerformingArtscenterbyrenovatingcurrentclassrooms intopractice rooms,anaudio-videorecording studio, dressing rooms, and rehearsal space.

NOTE: All architectural concepts and renderings are subject to change without prior notice.

Juniors, Anthony Farfan, Rebecca James, Megan Keller, Sophie Molzan, Faith Redding, and Lindsey Scott, and sophomores, Alyssa McKinzie and Ariana MorganhavebeenselectedasTexasstatefinalistsin the2011 “LettersAbout Literature” contest, anationalreading-writingcontestsponsoredbyTheCenter for the Book in the Library of Congress.To enter, readers in grades 4 through12write apersonal letter to an author explaining how that author’sworkchangedtheirwayofthinkingaboutthe world or themselves.

Ariana wrote to William Shakespeare about hisstory, The Merchant of Venice, and how much it taught her about mercy and forgiveness. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, taught Alyssa how to be a stronger person through tough times. Faith Redding learned how to become a strong and independent woman from Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle.

Megan and Rebecca both wrote about the book, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. Meganwrote her letter to the story’s main character, Chris McCandless, and how she related her own experience to being out in the wilderness and realizing how material possessions do not matter as much as one might think. Rebecca learnedthat adversity builds strength and character in a person’s life through overcoming trials.

Thecontesthasthreecompetitionlevels,accordingto grade levels. Letters are read by a panel of judges that includes publishers, authors, teachers, and librarians. Nationally, approximately69,000entrieswere received;over5,200Texas studentsenteredthecontest,about100statefinalistswereselected for each Level, and eight of the finalists fromLevelIIIareHCstudents.Thelettersfromallstate winners advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Nation’s Largest High School Essay Contest Includes Three Winning HC Students

Spring 2011 Page 17Page 16 Spring 2011

Houston Christian students recently won an unprecedented number of medals in the 2011 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Harris County. In its second year of participation in the contest, the HC English department submitted its highest number of entries and received its highest number of medals.

Of the thirty entries submitted, fifteen pieces received awards. Freshmen Amanda Brown, Jackie Bruegging, and Rachel Craft won silver key awards for their personal narratives. Juniors Reghan Gillman, Eric Hopper, Ashley Mack, and Kathryn Quandt won gold key awards for their personal and persuasive essays, and junior Kaitlyn Hirschbuehler won a silver key award for her personal essay. Seniors Priya Chacko and Dillon Sorensen won gold key awards, Priya in the persuasive category and Dillon in the humor category. Seniors Reid Bishop, Trevor Johnson, Parker Malone, and Sarah Ott won silver key awards for personal and persuasive essays, and senior Tyler Look also won a silver key award for the school’s sole entry in the original poem category.

Silver key awards were given to junior Logan Zoelle for her self-portrait painting, junior Henry Britven for his sculpture, and senior Sarah Ott for her portfolio in the art competition.

The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), as regional sponsor for these awards, celebrates the outstanding talent of young writers and artists throughout Harris County. Each fall, schools and districts submit students’ best artwork and writing to HCDE for competition at the regional level. After these entries are judged by panels of highly qualified judges, selected pieces are recognized locally, and prizes are awarded to acknowledge exemplary work. Gold key award winners then go on to competition at the national level. In 2010, 36 young artists and writers from Harris County were honored in New York City for earning National Gold or Silver Medals.

HC Students Win Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Harris County

2011 Scholastic Writing Award winners include, from left to right, (front row) Amanda Brown, Rachel Craft, Reghan Gillman, Kathryn Quandt; (middle row) Ashley Mack, Kaitlyn Hirschbuehler, Priya Chacko, Sarah Ott; (back row) Trevor Johnson, Parker Malone, Dillon Sorensen, Reid Bishop, Eric Hopper, Tyler Look. Not pictured is Jackie Bruegging.

2011 Scholastic Art Award winners include, from left to right, Henry Britven, Logan Zoelle, and Sarah Ott.

Three Houston Christian students beat out more than 24,000 other participants for top spots in America’s largest high school essay contest conducted by the Bill of Rights Institute, an educational nonprofit based near Washington, D.C. Representing the South Central Region, junior Kathryn Quandt earned third place and $500 in the fifth annual “Being an American Essay Contest.” Juniors, Eric Hopper and Devon Sills, both earned Honorable Mentions and $100. Kathryn’s and Eric’s sponsoring teacher, Mrs. Susan Perry (English), received matching cash prizes, as well as Devon’s sponsoring teacher, Mrs. Suzan Phenicie (History).

The “Being an American Essay Contest” encourages students to see how vital it is to the future of our country and Constitution that they live out key civic values every day. To participate, students were asked to share their thoughts on American citizenship by answering the following question: “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?”

Kathryn selected “duty” as her civic value topic and thought Robert E. Lee, Confederate General and Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, most embodied that American characteristic. “Though my duty to education may seem incomparable to the

national duty described in Washington’s Inaugural Address or the state duty demonstrated by Robert E. Lee, all three are connected. Because each level of duty introduces different American civic values under

various circumstances, Americans’ feeling of moral obligation to their country, their

state, and their own principles deepens and strengthens,” wrote Kathryn.

“Moderat ion” was the civic

value topic Eric selected and believed George Washington, general in the American Revolution and the country’s first President, most embodied that civic value. In his essay, Eric wrote, “Unlike many of his contemporaries, Washington showed an excellent ability to moderate his own ambitions when they conflicted with national interest…he took his executive power in moderation, allowing the fledgling nation to settle into its republican system.”

Devon thought Thomas Paine, Founding Father and author of Common Sense, most embodied the characteristic of “resilience.” She wrote, “Leaders throughout American history have exhibited and relied on resilience to maintain America’s status as a prosperous nation. Presently, resilience acts as the prerequisite for all other resulting civic values…without [it], other civic values provide only a partial basis for the success of a true American.”

Founded in 1999, the mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America’s Founders, the liberties guaranteed in America’s Founding documents, and how the Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society. To date, nearly $500,000 in prize money has been awarded to winning students and their teachers of the “Being an American Essay Contest.”

Eric Hopper Devon Sills Kathryn Quandt

Eight HC Students Selected as State Finalists in “Letters About Literature”

“Letters About Literature” Texas finalists include Anthony Farfan (top) and Sophie Molzan, Megan Keller, and Lindsey Scott (bottom, l to r). Not pictured, Rebecca James, Alyssa McKinzie, Ariana Morgan, and Faith Redding.

The HC National Honor Society installed 27 new members during the Candlelight Induction Ceremony on February 22. Students must qualify based on scholarship (have an overall average of 93 or higher), character, leadership, and service to become a member of the NHS. New members include senior Hayley Walden; juniors Katie Garbarino, Jack Kellner, Taylor Ratkiewicz, Faith Redding, Devon Sills, and Adrianna Thompson; and sophomores, Ramsey Al-Azem, Rachael Barnett, Katrina Benwell, Liz Constantinou, Shelby Corder, Madison DeLuca, Brendan Ehrenstrom, Joseph Embrey, Chris Evans, Katie Flores, Kyle Garman, Karina Giron, Meg Goode, Sam Herrera, Ariana Morgan, Nathalie Simoes, Gianna Tiedemann, Michael Vaughan, Ricky Wolfe, and Jordan Zeal.

New officers were also installed during the ceremony and include juniors Eric Hopper, President; Lauren Schulz, Vice President; Kathryn Quandt, Secretary; Chris Mosser, Public Relations; and Sarah Floris and Matthew Schwartz serving as Chaplains.

Mrs. Cathy Doxtater, HC Mathematics Chair, teacher, and NHS Advisor, spoke to the audience about the meaning of the National Honor Society, with the focus on “Honor” and using the term as an acronym to describe the qualities found in every member: H – Honesty, Humanity, and Humility O – Obligation to God, Self, Others, and the Organization N – Nurture and Niceness O – Own Up to Your Commitments R – Respect and ResponsibilityShe challenged members to live up to the expectations of their peers in the NHS and within the community and to become a leader who is worthy of leading.

Mrs. Christine Metoyer, HC Social Studies Chair, world history teacher, and keynote speaker, addressed the new members and audience on the values that the NHS embraces – Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Mrs. Metoyer stressed that scholarship is not solely honor rolls, scores, ranks, and GPAs , but that it is the process of learning from our successes and failures. She encouraged students to gain new knowledge daily and to cultivate a love of learning in their lives.

Mrs. Metoyer continued by reading a list of leadership qualities that she gathered from students and those found on a Google web search. She noted that an important trait not found on these lists is how great leaders are often measured by how they react to mistakes. “Many poor leaders want to avoid failure to the extent that they refuse to admit that something went wrong,” she stated, “and all the intelligence in the world will not fix it.” She encouraged students to think about how they handle setbacks and to embrace an honest and enthusiastic approach to leadership based on the decisions and choices they make daily.

“Like scholarship and leadership, service is the sum of many small actions cultivated over time. Are you serving for the right reasons?” asked Metoyer as she continued through the NHS values. “The Bible tells us ‘for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).’ I encourage you to reflect on your blessings and invest in the lives of others as He did for us. Then, you will be a servant.”

For Metoyer, character is the most important of the four traits, and it is the toughest to develop. “Your true character is defined in your heart and is revealed through your thoughts and actions, your choices and decisions, whether you are alone or in a crowd, in the midst of adversity or celebration,” explains Metoyer. “Make sure your actions are in line with your words, speak with conviction, and pursue the truth to build character.”

new Members installed at Annual national Honor Society Ceremony

Spring 2011 Page 19Page 18 Spring 2011

Congratulations to all students and volunteers of Fiddler on the Roof for receiving the 2011 Tommy Tune Award forBest Choreography. Haylee Hoelscher and Katie Brand (pictured above with Morgan Kanaly), accepted the award for Houston Christian at the awards ceremony on April 20at theHobbyCenter. “Receiving thisaward isa truetestamenttothehardworkofallourcastandproductionteam,” states Courtney Sanders, HC dance instructor and head choreographer. “The choreography would gocompletely unnoticed if it was not for how well the cast executedit.Theydidagreatjob!”

TOMMY TunE AWARdS Best Choreography

TOMMY TunE AWARdS Best Choreography

Congratulations to junior Rachel Moore for being named the 2011 Ann Crenshaw Fine Arts Scholar. Rachel was awarded this merit scholarship in recognition of excellence in the fine arts and received a monetary award to be used towards pursuing her music aspirations. “I am honored to receive this award,” states Rachel. “I am especially grateful to Mrs. Crenshaw and the others who make it possible every year for a student to be given this opportunity.”

“Rachel’s hard work and commitment to excellence in everything she does contributes greatly to the overall quality of our Orchestra,” states Karen Kline, Orchestra teacher and Fine Arts Chairperson. “Her gentle spirit of service and compassion blesses us and models for us true leadership and servanthood and encourages us to follow her example.”

In addition to her music-related activities at HC (orchestra, band, and musicals), Rachel plays softball, is a co-captain of the field hockey team, is a mentor in the “Writing Across the Curriculum” program, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, Rachel performs with the Angelus Harp Ensemble, and she has won highest honors in the Gold Cup Piano competition for the past six years. At her church, she sings in the youth choir, plays in the youth handbell choir, and assists with many of the children’s activities. Rachel is also a recipient of the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award; her project involved teaching music to impoverished children in Peru.

“I attribute my success to all my music teachers and to many other people who have guided me through my musical training by helping me to cultivate the talents God has given me,” reflects Rachel. When asked about her future plans, Rachel responded, “Although I’m not totally sure about my plans after high school, right now I am looking into majoring in elementary education in college.”

Mrs. Ann Crenshaw (left) congratulates Rachel Moore and her parents, Bill and Susan (not pictured), for receiving the 2011 Ann Crenshaw Fine Arts Scholarship.

Rachel Moore Awarded 2011 Ann Crenshaw Fine Arts ScholarshipArt Students Place Second and Third in

7th Congressional District Art Competition

SeniorAnnaBoucherplaced2nd with her acrylic painting entitled, “Indigo,”andjuniorLoganZoelleplaced3rd with her Prismacolor® drawingentitled,“SundayStroll,”in the 2011 CongressionalArt Competition for the 7th

Congressional District of Texas(Rep. John Culberson). Thisunique competition provides members of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives an opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of high school students within their districts. Since the first competition in 1982, thousandsof high school students have been able to participate; the winning art entry from each participating district is displayed in theU.S. Capitol for a periodof one year.

Logan Zoelle with “Sunday Stroll”

Anna Boucher with “Indigo”

Art Students Place Second and Third in

7th Congressional District Art Competition

Houston Christian Music Students Receive Top Ratings at Respective CompetitionsCongratulations to all HC music students who participated at numerous competitions throughout the region and state. HC Choir students who earned First Division awards at the annual Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) State Solo Contest include Brianna Busby, Hope Johnson, Ariana Morgan, and Sarah Stagg. Second Division award recipients include Emily Baker, Carolyn Cotham, Carrie Craft, and Parker Malone. Brianna, Hope, and Ariana were also recognized with the Judges Choice Award.

In March, the Concert Choir traveled to New York City to perform as the featured choir in the Choral Spotlight Series at Carnegie Hall. They also sang John Rutter’s “Requiem” in a combined choir with students from Hampton Dumont High School, Iowa, in the Isaac Stern Auditorium, the largest hall at Carnegie Hall. “Singing at Carnegie Hall was a dream come true!” exclaims sophomore, Hope Johnson. “The moment you walk on the stage and look out into the audience, your heart starts to speed up and you get a burst of energy. It was just amazing to be singing in the place where all the greats have performed before you.” The Concert and Show Choirs also received top awards at the Bluebonnet Festival in San Antonio in April.

The HC Band won Sweepstakes in the Houston Symphonic Band and Sight Reading Contests which were held on March 29. The percussion students also received an overall rating of I from the judges. The band recently attended Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida, on April 1-3, and received a rating of “I-Superior” from all of the judges in the competition. The band played Level 4 music (most difficult), competing on a national level with other public and private high school bands across the country.

The HC Orchestra won Sweepstakes in the Houston Symphonic Band and Sight Reading Contests. They received Division 1 (Superior) ratings from all the judges in all categories. Special judges’ recognition was given to Rachel Moore (harp); Sam Herrera (piano); the cello section – Rachel Lim and Rebecca Moore; and the bass section – Mark Driscoll and Chris Mosser. Students who received Superior ratings on their solos include Maya Duna, Rachel Lim, Rebecca Moore, Chris Mosser, and Marissa Trevino; and Superior ratings for ensembles went to Brianna Busby, Howard Cheng, Maya Duna, Lauren Evans, Arman Gonzalez, Rachel Lim, Rachel Moore, Rebecca Moore, Matthew Stagg, Marissa Trevino, and Courtney Vacker. Brianna Busby also received an Excellent rating on her solo, and Jeremy Biar, Mark Driscoll, Maya Duna, and Chris Mosser received an Excellent rating on their ensemble. The Orchestra also competed at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida, and received Excellent ratings from all judges.

At the TPSMEA Instrumental Region Contest, Brianna Busby (violin), Rachel Lim (cello), and Rebecca Moore (cello) earned Division 1 (Superior) ratings on their solos and qualified to compete in the State Contest. Rachel and Rebecca also earned a Division 1 rating for their duet. At the State Contest in May, Brianna received a I (Superior) rating on her violin solo.

In the Digital Music Composition category at the Texas Media Awards, Jillian Thompson placed second for her music video, “I.L.Y. but I.D.K. Why,” and JP Hennessey and Lindsey Scott captured third place for their music video, “Disappear.” It is the first time any HC students have entered the annual, statewide competition, which promotes excellence in amateur media production and its importance in life-long learning since 1988. School-aged Texas residents may submit their pieces in a variety of categories including animation, black and white photography, color photography, digital music composition, graphic design, multimedia presentation, video recording, and web design.Lindsey Scott and JP Hennessey placed third and Jillian

Thompson placed second in the Texas Media Awards Digital Music Composition category.

2011 HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO ARTTaylorBirmingham–RedRibbonforClay SculptureAnna Boucher – Red Ribbon for Prismacolor DrawingBen Boucher – White Ribbon for Clay SculptureBuckyDesadier–RedRibbonfor Prismacolor DrawingAva Finstuen – Red Ribbon for Prismacolor DrawingSteve Hartshorn – Red Ribbon for Clay Sculpture

Kendall Maddox – Red Ribbon for Clay SculptureGrace Morris – Red Ribbon for Prismacolor DrawingSarahOtt–“BestinShow”forClaySculptureMorgan Sparrow – White Ribbon for

Prismacolor DrawingLoganZoelle–“BestinShow”for

Prismacolor Drawing

VISUAL ARTS & SCHOLASTIC EVENT - STATE (sponsored by Texas Art Education Association)KaimynKinkade–GoldMedalfor

Sculpture

HC Students Earn Art Awards Congratulations to all HC students who earned awards for their talent in their respective art competitions.

Kaimyn Kinkade

Sarah Ott

Spring 2011 Page 21Page 20 Spring 2011

Sophomore Amie Leitko surpassed one of her track and field goals at the first competition of the year by setting a new school discus record for women with a throw of 112 ft. at the HC Invitational meet with St. John’s and Incarnate Word Academy on February 11, 2011. Eight days later on February 19 at the HC Dual meet with St. John’s, Amie shattered her own record with a throw of 121 ft. 6 in. “I was shocked and so happy at the same time!” exclaims Amie. With her record-breaking distance in discus and shot put record (34 ft. 4.25 in.) last year as a freshman, Amie now holds both female throwing records at HC. Previously, the school’s discus record (109 ft. in 2007) and shot put record (32 ft. 5.5 in. in 2008) were set by Jacqueline Helms.

Later in the season at the Mickey Riggs Relays on March 26, Amie’s throw of 127 ft. 5 in. broke her previous discus mark by over six feet. Her throwing accomplishments this season placed her on the ESPN Rise Dyestat State Elite List, a listing of all state high school athletes competing in track and field events; her highest ranking of the season was 22nd in the state. At the state meet on May 6, Amie set another school discus record with her 127 ft. 6 1/2 in. throw.

“Amie is the most disciplined and coachable thrower I’ve worked with,” states Jason Shepherd, HC Assistant Track & Field Coach and Bible teacher. “She has been training almost daily since October and is now beginning to see results from her hard work. She still has a lot of work to do, which means she has the potential to throw much farther.”

Amie has been throwing shot put and discus for about six years. “I started throwing because I knew all my friends were going out for track, and I wanted to participate, too,” remembers Amie. “I’m not a very good runner, so I decided the best thing I could do was to throw. I picked it up quickly and enjoyed it, so I stuck with it.”

According to Coach Shepherd, Amie is one of the sweetest and most competitive girls he has ever coached. He attributes Amie’s success to her drive and training regimen. “I practice every day after school, working on discus for an hour and then shot put for 30 minutes, and then switching them the next day,” says Amie. “I also lift weights on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school.”

Amie also sets a goal of how far she wants to throw before every meet. “I always try my hardest to reach that distance,” states Amie. “At the meet where I threw the record, my goal was to throw at least 110 feet, and luckily, I threw a little bit farther.”

When Amie is not throwing, she likes to spend time with her friends and family, as well as playing on the HC junior varsity volleyball team this year. She is considering majoring in education or nursing when she graduates at a college where she can throw and hopefully, get a scholarship.

Amie’s goal for the season was to capture the State Championship in discus, and she came very close to her goal by placing second in discus at the state meet in May. Coach Shepherd believes that with her drive and discipline and the distances she has produced this season, Amie could very likely attain the State Championship title in discus next year.

Sophomore Amie Leitko Shatters School discus Record for Women Four Times

AmieLeitko

ThirtyteamscameoutonaperfectdaytocompeteinthethirdannualMustangChallengeonSaturday,May14.Men,women,andcoedteamscompetedinaseriesof10eventsincludingrunninga3-milecross-countryrelay,obstaclecourserelay,wheelbarrowrace,atimedjump-ropeevent,bikerace,tentbuilding,standinglongjump,softballthrow,a100-meterdash,andagrueling1600-meterrelay.Teamsshowedgreatenduranceanddemonstratedexcellentstrategies.JonathonBravoandKirbyHolttook1st place, Michael Vaughan and Sam Voncannon came in 2ndplace,andSamKaestnerandBrianScheelcaptured3rd place for the men. Winners for the women’s teams were Mary Louise Clawson and RebeccaDriverin1stplace,AshtonBinkley,KatyCraft,andHayleyShortin2ndplace,andLaurenEvansandGraceMumfordin3rdplace.TheteamofEricHopperandLaurenSchulztook1stplaceforthecoedteams,withPatrickMulveyandHopeJohnsonfinishingin2nd place. First place forthefacultyteamwenttoAmandaMellor,JoeMellor,andDrewZeiler.Manythanksforthegreatsupportfromparentandstudentvolunteers.

team competition Heats up at third annual “mustang challenge”

Sophomore Jacob Farris retrieves his tent after a gust of wind blew it over the fence.

Sophomores Esther Wilmot and Sage Nguyen pick up their pace in the wheelbarrow race.

Sophomore Amanda Blanchard revs up her speed in the bike race.

Junior Sam Kaestner takes a flying leap over a hurdle on the obstacle course.

Sophomore Ricky Wolfe uses his acrobatic skills to nail the long jump.

Participants and volunteers gather to pray before the start of the challenge.

Sophomore Chris Evans masters his technique in the jump rope competition.

Freshman Lauren Evans peaks the “hill” during the cross-country relay.

Freshmen Ian Hopper, Lizzie Downs, Erica Swain, and Cameron Duffy are ready to take on the softball throw.

Junior Michael McColloch, sophomore Michael Vaughan, and senior Sam Voncannon race towards the finish line in the 100m dash.

Freshman Jaela DeJean set a new state long jump record of 18 ft. 4 in. at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 5A State Track and Field Meet in Waco, Texas, on May 6. The jump secured the championship medal for Jaela in the 5A Division Girls’ Long Jump competition. Jaela was very surprised that she could jump that distance. “The officials started measuring my jump as soon as I walked out of the sand pit, and when I saw the number ‘18,’ my mouth just opened wide. I couldn’t believe it!” exclaims Jaela. “I looked over at my coaches in awe. It was a great feeling. I was so surprised, and I honestly don’t know where that jump came from.” Jaela continued her winning streak at the meet and placed third in state for girls’ high jump at 5 ft. 2 in., which tied the school record.

Jaela started jumping in the sixth grade when her middle school coach introduced her to the sport. “I’ve loved it ever since,” reflects Jaela. “The thing I like most about long jump is the feeling I get when I’m in the air. It feels like the world has slowed down, and I’m just floating.” She trains two to three times a week, starting with a couple of run-throughs to make sure her mark is good and that her foot is on the board. Then, she does two or three pop-ups to get the correct jumping form. “After I’ve done that, I do three or four actual jumps, and then I’m done,” states Jaela. When asked about her goal for next year, Jaela exclaims, “I want to beat my own State record and jump 19 feet!”

Jaela’s jumping experience also comes in handy on the basketball court during the winter sports season as she is an All-District guard for the HC girls’ varsity basketball team. “Jaela is a truly gifted athlete, and what sets her apart from other great athletes is her willingness to learn, her care and concern for others, and her tremendous work ethic,” states Rusty Rogers, HC Athletic Director and Head Girls Basketball Coach. “She is just a high school freshman, and if she continues to be true to these qualities, she will be one of the greatest student-athletes Houston Christian has ever had.”

Freshman Jaela deJean Sets new Long Jump Record at State Meet

Jaela DeJean practices her long jump.

Spring 2011 Page 23Page 22 Spring 2011

Senior Athletes Play College Sports

congratulations to these fine graduating athletes who will participate in college sports next year!

Bottom Row (left to right)

Tristan Morris - lacrosseGoucher College (Maryland)

Hayden Sneed - footballAbilene Christian University

Reid Bishop - baseballMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Mary Louise Clawson - soccerUniversity of Mississippi

Hannah Holmes - cheerleaderFurman University (South Carolina)

Elizabeth Davis - golfDallas Baptist University

Jason Brown - baseballBelhaven College (Mississippi)

Top Row (left to right)

Drew Earnest - footballBaylor University

Iles Mitchell - lacrosseRoanoke College (Virginia)

Kirby Holt - baseballUniversity of Texas at Tyler

Steven Hartshorn - lacrosseRoanoke College (Virginia)

Konrad Koenig - baseball University of Texas at Tyler

Andrew Cecil - baseballUniversity of Central Arkansas

CHAMPION DANCE2ndPlaceOfficerContemporary3rdPlaceOfficerNovelty1stPlaceTeamPom1stPlaceTeamJazz1stPlaceTeamNoveltyJudges Award Officers*JudgesAwardTeam^Presentation Award

BestinClassPrivateTeam

CROWD PLEASERS1stRunner-upOfficerContemporary1stRunner-upOfficerNovelty1stRunner-upOfficerJazz

2ndRunner-upOfficerGroupTexasStateChampionTexasStateChampionTeamNovelty

TeamSuperiorCircle♦OfficerEliteCircle□

*90orabovefromallthreejudgesforallthreeofficerdances^90orabovefromallthreejudgesforallthreeteamdances ♦85oraboveonallteamdances □90oraboveonallofficerdances

Membersoftheaward-winningSilversSpursDanceTeaminclude(bottomrow) Dinora Ybarra, Katie Brand, Bayley Andrews, Hannah Rae; (second row)MorganKanaly,KaitlynPanaccione,KierstenKoenig,SakuraTantzen,MichelleChaney,MayaDuna;(thirdrow)LindseyScott,CarolineTaylor,LaurenMcGee,MadisonDeLuca;(backrow)AllisonSmith,SavannahCoe,Katie Flores, Lizzie Downs, Mallory Moore, and Rachel Craft.

Silver Spurs Capture 16 Trophies in Dance CompetitionsCongratulationstotheHoustonChristianSilverSpursDrillTeamoncapturingatotalof16trophiesinthetwodance competitions in which they recently competed.

Houston Christian High School has established an endowed scholarship in memory of former HCHS lacrosse coach, Andrew McCue “Drew” Webb. “The Mustang Scholarship” will serve one or more young men on an annual basis who demonstrate some of the same special abilities as Mr. Webb, and are in need of financial assistance. Webb impacted Houston C h r i s t i a n ’ s fledgling lacrosse program by joining his former high school coach, Pete Lehle, and serving as an assistant head coach in its second year. He made an immediate and lasting impression on the players, who went on the following year to play for the Texas Division 2 lacrosse championship.

The HCHS community recognizes that Drew’s life was the kind of example they want for current and future students at this stage in their development. Webb graduated first in his high school class, earned his Eagle Scout, and achieved success as a premier lacrosse player both at Episcopal High School and Cornell University. He received the Boy Scouts’ highest honor, the Honor Medal, for saving a fellow scout’s life while putting his own life in danger as he pulled him out of the swirling waters of Buffalo Bayou on a canoeing trip.

Support for this scholarship comes from all over Houston and the state, as Drew’s reach went far beyond the lacrosse community. The fund is hosted and administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, in compliance with IRC sec. 4945 (g).

Donations may be sent directly to:

The Mustang Scholarship in Memory of Drew Webb

Greater Houston Community Foundation4550 Post Oak Place Dr., Ste. 100Houston, TX 77027-3143

lgardner@ghcf.org (713) 333-2200www.ghcf.org

Houston Christian High School was named a finalist in the Class 3A/PrivateSportsmanship Category at The Touchdown Club of Houston’s sixth annualSportsmanship Luncheon, presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. RepresentingtheHCMustangsfootballteamare(fromltor)HeadCoachMikeJohnston,SamVoncannon,DaleWallace,DrewEarnest,ConnerWalker,DanielNondorf,MustangsgameannouncerLarryOrlando,andParkerMalone.

TOuCHdOWn CLuB of HOuSTOn

HC Establishes Mustang Scholarship in Memory of Lacrosse Coach Drew Webb

Congratulations to John and Sherry Crawford (pictured with their sons, Keith and Kyle) for being named Athletic Booster of the Year.

Congratulations on Houston Christian High School’s

“Texas Private School Coaches Association

South All-Star Football Team”

selections. Senior graduates, Dale Wallace, Drew Earnest, and Hayden Sneed are to be congratulated for making the

South Team.

Drew Webb

graduating seniors selected to all-star Football Team

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

HC ATHLETiC BOOSTER OF THE YEARHC ATHLETiC BOOSTER OF THE YEAR

Spring 2011 Page 25Page 24 Spring 2011

HC Male Athlete of the Year – Dale Wallace

HC Female Athlete of the Year – Danielle Milton

Mickey Riggs Scholar Athlete of the Year–ChristopherTutunjian

Janie Neighbors Scholar Athlete of the Year–PriyaChacko

U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Awards – ParkerMaloneandSarahOtt

BASEBALLVarsity ReidBishop–All-District2ndTeamJonathan Bravo – Mustang Award; All-District1stTeam;All-StateHM

Andrew Cecil – Pitcher of the Year; All-District2ndTeam

David Holewyne – Most Improved Player

KirbyHolt–MVP;All-District1st Team;All-State1stTeam

Konrad Koenig – Pitcher of the Year; All-District1stTeam;All-State2nd Team

MitchellTraver–All-District2ndTeamHaydenTreu–All-District2ndTeamBrianTrieglaff–PlayeroftheYear;All-District1stTeam;AcademicAll-State;All-StateHM

Junior Varsity RamseyAl-Azem–MustangAwardDerekDevine–MostImprovedJasonMcCormack–MustangAwardHudsonTreu–MVPBrandon Warner – Offensive Player

of the Year

BASKETBALL (MEN)VarsityKyleCrawford–All-District2ndTeamZachEvans–MustangAward;All-

District HMConnorKelley–All-District2ndTeamRyanLeiss–MostImproved;All-

District HM Ryan Niebes – Mustang Award; All-District2ndTeam

DrewPeters–MVP;All-District1st Team;All-State2ndTeam

Junior Varsity BlueJohnClarke–MVPMax Morris – Mustang AwardBrian Peyton – Most ImprovedDex Robinson – Most ImprovedMichael Vaughan – Mustang Award

Junior Varsity WhiteKevin Chin – Most ImprovedTroyEverist–MVPStephen Hirschbuehler – Mustang

AwardJasonMcCormack–MVP

BASKETBALL (WOMEN)VarsityPriyaChacko–MustangAward

mustang Winter and spring sports honorsMorgannDavis–All-District1st Team;All-StateHM

JaelaDeJean–MVP;All-District2nd Team

Kandis Harding – Most ImprovedKaitlyn Hirschbuehler – Mustang

AwardDanielleMilton–MVP;All-District1stTeam;All-StateHM;AcademicAll-State

Shique Singleton – All-District2ndTeam

Junior VarsityAdrienneBarakis–MustangAwardMadison Sheehy – MVP EricaSwain–MostImproved

CHEER AWARDSVarsityShelby Corder – Mustang Award;

NCAAll-AmericanTeamBryce Dixon – Miss CongenialityAndrea Ferguson – NCAAll-American

MascotSuzann Herrmann – NCAAll-American

Mascot Hannah Holmes – NCAAll-American

TeamBecca Langston – Cheerleader of the

Year;NCAAll-AmericanTeamAngelaPidala–NCAAll-AmericanTeam

Laura Valby – MVP;NCAAll-AmericanTeam

AmberWhitaker–MostImprovedRickyWolfe–NCAAll-AmericanTeam

Junior VarsityLauren Lewellen – MVPAshley Richards – Mustang Award

GOLF (MEN)TurnerBatdorf–MVP;All-District1stTeam

AlexCrook–MustangAwardPatrickMulvey–All-District1stTeamRexWallace–RookieoftheYear;All-District1stTeam

Spencer Winn – Most Improved

GOLF (WOMEN)JaniceByth–AcademicAll-StateGraceCraven–MostImproved;All-District1stTeam

ElizabethDavis–MustangAward;MVP;All-District1stTeam

MadelineDavis–RookieoftheYear;All-District1stTeam

LACROSSE (MEN)VarsityBuckyDesadier–All-District1stTeam StevenHartshorn–All-State1stTeamBrooksLehle–All-District1stTeamMalachyLyons-Letts–MVPIlesMitchell–All-State1stTeamConnorPryor–All-DistrictHMHayden Sterling – Most Improved Sam Voncannon – Mustang AwardDale Wallace – Mustang Award; HonorableMentionAll-District

Junior VarsityKeith Crawford – Most ImprovedSimon Doucet – Mustang Award Kyle Malia – MVP

LACROSSE (WOMEN)TaffetaBurleson–MustangAwardSuzann Herrmann – Defensive Player

of the Year Grace Morris – Most ImprovedGraceMunford–RookieoftheYearHannah Shearer – Offensive Player

of the Year

SILVER SPURSBayley Andrews – Outstanding SeniorKatie Brand – Miss Silver SpurMichelle Chaney – Outstanding Junior RachelCraft–MostExcelledMadison DeLuca – Outstanding

SophomoreMayaDuna–BestTechniqueKatieFlores–MissHighKickMorgan Kanaly – Most SpiritedHannah Rae – Outstanding

Showmanship CarolineTaylor–Outstanding

Freshman

SOCCER (MEN)VarsityKeith Crawford – Outstanding Forward;All-DistrictHM

ChrisEvans–All-DistrictHMSteven Hartshorn – Mustang Award ThomasLink–All-DistrictHMPatrickMulvey–OutstandingDefender;All-DistrictHM

BrianScheel–MVP;All-District1st Team;All-StateHM;AcademicAll-State

Karl Stuewer – Outstanding Midfielder

Junior Varsity Joshua Baudin – Most Improved David Buzali – Outstanding MidfielderSimon Doucet – Outstanding ForwardMalachyLyons-Letts–MVPAndrewSofka–Outstanding

Defender

SOCCER (WOMEN)Varsity Kaitlin Handel – Mustang Award; All-DistrictHM

Christi Harrison – Defensive MVP; All-District1stTeam

KaitlinPanaccione–TeamMVPDevonSills–All-DistrictHMMadeline Sneed – Offensive MVP; All-DistrictHM

SOFTBALLAnna Boucher – MVP KaddyBrown–MustangAward;All-District2ndTeam

KrissyBrown–MustangAward;All-District2ndTeam

AshleyConsolvo–MustangRookieRachel Davis – Most Improved

SWIMMINGRachael Barnett – Coach’s Award; All-StateHM(400FreeRelay,200MedleyRelay)

Jonathan Bravo–All-StateHM(400FreeRelay,200MedleyRelay,200Freestyle)

JackDetiveaux–Coach’sAward;All-State HM (400FreeRelay,200Freestyle)

TreyDuPree–All-StateHM(200Medley Relay)

RandyFaulk–HighPoint(Boys);MVPBoys;All-State1stTeam(100Fly)andAll-State2ndTeam(200IM);All-StateHM(400FreeRelay,50Freestyle,200FreeRelay); AcademicAll-State

AllisonFehrenkamp – All-StateHM(200MedleyRelay,400FreeRelay)

Doug Ferrell–All-StateHM(200Medley Relay)

Sarah Floris – Mustang Award Austin Matthews – Freshman of the Year;All-StateHM(200MedleyRelay,400FreeRelay,200Freestyle)

ElisabethMosvold–HighPoint(Girls); All-StateHM(400FreeRelay,100Backstroke,200Freestyle,200MedleyRelay);AcademicAll-State

GiannaTiedemann–All-StateHM(200MedleyRelay,400MedleyRelay)

TENNISMenZackDotson–AcademicAll-StateEricHopper–MVP:All-State;AcademicAll-State;TAPPS3-5ATennisAthleteoftheYear

Ian Hopper – Most Improved

WomenPriyaChacko–AcademicAll-StateCassie Cater – Most ImprovedHope Johnson – MVPMorgan Long – Mustang Award

TRACK & FIELDMenMax Brown – Mustang Award Jacob Farris – MVP RunningEvanKirkland–MostImprovedCollinLeitko–MVPFieldEventsMichael McColloch – Most Improved

WomenMary Louise Clawson – Mustang Award;AcademicAll-State

JaelaDeJean–MVPFieldEvents;State Champion Long Jump

AmieLeitko–MVPFieldEventsDanielleMilton–MVPFieldEvents;AcademicAll-State

Callie Parish – Most ImprovedKathryn Quandt – MVP Running; StateChampion3200mRun;AcademicAll-State

Cong

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Danielle Milton – HC Female Athlete of the Year

Dale Wallace – HC Male Athlete of the Year

Christopher Tutunjian – Mickey Riggs Scholar Athlete of the YearPriya Chacko – Janie Neighbors Scholar Athlete of the Year

Daniel Nondorf

HC Courage Award

(with HCHS Athletic Director Rusty Rogers)

Jaela DeJeanTAPPS 5A State Champion

Long Jump

Kathryn QuandtTAPPS 5A State Champion

3200m Run

Parker Malone and Sarah Ott (not pictured)U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award

Eric HopperTAPPS District 3-5A

Tennis Athlete of the Year

WOMEn’S LACROSSE The women’s lacrosse program continued to make positive strides in 2011 by winning three games and qualifying for its first-ever postseason game. Fielding a roster that included just two seniors (Suzann Herrmann and Ashley Oradat), the Mustangs knocked off Stratford (14-11), Katy (12-8), and The Village School (15-6) to highlight the campaign. A playoff loss to Kingwood ended the season. Juniors Taffy Burleson, Sophie Molzan, Hannah Shearer, sophomore Jordan Zeal, and freshmen Savannah Head and Grace Munford had exceptional seasons. The squad expects to return 15 players for 2012, giving the team high expectations for continued growth in the young sport.

MEn’S SOCCER It was a challenging year for men’s soccer at HC as the Mustangs looked to replace eight key players from the 2010 squad. The squad finished with a 6-11 record and failed to qualify for the postseason after a disappointing 1-5 mark in TAPPS District 3-5A play. Their lone victory in district was an impressive 6-3 defeat of St. Pius X. Unfortunately, a 4-3 loss to St. Pius X one week earlier cost the Mustangs a playoff spot. First-year coach Geoff Wilding will have to overcome the graduation of key senior players Brian Scheel and Steven Hartshorn for next year. Optimism is high, however, with the return of the talented sophomore trio of goalkeeper Patrick Mulvey, Karl Stuewer, and Keith Crawford.

WOMEn’S SOCCER The women’s soccer team got it done when it counted the most as they defeated district foes Incarnate Word (3-0) and St. Pius X (4-1) in back-to-back games to secure its third consecutive TAPPS 5A postseason playoff spot. Overall, the team finished with a 6-9-2 record and a 3-5 mark in TAPPS District 3-5A under first-year coach Josh Haney. The Mustangs faced Dallas Ursuline in the TAPPS 5A State Tournament opening round and lost a hard-fought 6-0 game. Ursuline went on to win its 21st consecutive TAPPS soccer state title two weeks later! Senior Mary Louise Clawson, an Ole Miss signee, missed the entire season after suffering a knee injury before the campaign started. Her goal-scoring was missed greatly as juniors Madeline Sneed and Devon Sills picked up much of the load. Sophomore Christi Harrison was the team’s top defender; seniors Sarah Rommelmann

Page 26 Spring 2011 Spring 2011 Page 27

fifth in their respective state competitions.

TRACK & FiELd The Mustang track and field teams had an outstanding season and acted as hosts of the TAPPS 3-5A District meet and the Dallas/Houston Regional meet, where the squad qualified in nine events for the State meet held at Baylor University. Junior Kathryn Quandt (3200 meter run) and freshman Jaela DeJean (long jump) came home as state champions and led the women’s team to a 5th place overall finish. Sophomore Jacob Farris was the lone male state qualifier and he turned in a sixth place finish in the 110 meter hurdles. Records fell all season long (nine in all), highlighted by DeJean’s TAPPS 5A State meet and HC school record long jump of 18 ft. 4.75 in. Quandt , who also finished third in the State meet 1600 meter run, broke the school record in the

1600 (5:20.36) and the 3200 (11:22.80). Sophomore Amie Leitko established a new mark in the discus (127 ft. 6.5 in.), finishing second in the State meet. The remaining new records were compiled by DeJean in the high jump (5 ft. 2 in.), freshman Madison Sheehy in the 100 meter hurdles (18.24), senior Danielle Milton in the triple jump (36 ft. 7 in.), and the relay teams of junior Morgann Davis, senior Mary Louise Clawson, DeJean, and Milton in the 4 x 100 meter relay and Clawson, Davis, DeJean, and Quandt in the Sprint Medley. Clawson, a two-time State champion in the 400 meter run, now holds records in three individual events and three relays to hold more records than any HC athlete all-time. Other 2011 State meet results included third place finishes by Milton in the triple jump and DeJean in the high jump and fifth place finishes for Clawson in the 400 meter run and the 4 x 100 meter relay team of sophomore Alyssa McKinzie, Clawson, DeJean, and Milton.

and Kaitlin Panaccione and junior Kaitlin Handel were other key performers.

SOFTBALL First-year coach Mayra Mitchell got her first taste as a head coach of the powerful TAPPS 3-5A District softball competition and it proved to be a tough season for the Lady Mustangs. Three district foes reached the State final eight, with St. Agnes losing a close championship game finale to Victoria St. Joseph and St. Pius X advancing to the final four. Overall, the Mustangs did have its best showing ever at the 5A level with several tightly-contested games. Junior twin sisters, Kaddy and Krissy Brown, put together an outstanding season for the Mustangs. The Lady ‘Stangs will dearly miss senior pitcher Anna Boucher in 2012.

SWiMMinG Swimming made a splash on the HC athletic scene in 2011. The boys finished 11th and the girls wound up 12th at the TAPPS Division I State Championships in San Antonio. Junior Randy Faulk was the big winner for the Mustangs as he placed third in the 100-yard butterfly and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley. He also was a member, along with freshman Austin Matthews, sophomore Jack Detiveaux, and junior Jonathan Bravo, on the 7th place 200-yard freestyle relay and the 7th place 400-yard freestyle relay teams. Junior Elisabeth Mosvold garnered the most points at the TAPPS state meet by finishing 9th in the 200-yard freestyle and 10th in the 100-yard backstroke. She also participated with junior Allison Fehrenkamp and sophomores Rachael Barnett and Gianna Tiedemann to place 8th in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

TEnniS Tennis continues to shine as one of the school’s outstanding sports. The men won its second consecutive TAPPS District 3-5A championship and sent all six athletes on to the state meet where they earned a 4th place finish. Junior Eric Hopper led the squad by winning the district tournament and finishing third at the state meet. Senior Ty Webre finished second at district and ninth at state, while the doubles teams of senior Zack Dotson and junior Ryan Reeter (fifth at state) and freshman Ian Hopper and sophomore Wesley Rutherford (ninth at state) added to the team’s final point tally. On the women’s side, sophomore Hope Johnson and the doubles team of senior Priya Chacko and junior Westleigh Cutts qualified for the state meet after leading the team to a runner-up finish in the district meet. Both entries finished

BASEBALL For the first time in school history, the Houston Christian baseball team was led by someone other than coach Ron Mathis. First-year coach Joe Rodden helped the Mustangs maintain their winning ways (25-19), but ran into a difficult TAPPS 3-5A District that saw both St. Pius X and St. Thomas earn trips to the state tournament final four. St. Thomas won its second consecutive State crown by defeating Dallas Bishop Lynch who knocked off the Mustangs in the first round. Senior Kirby Holt turned in a sensational season with a school-record .528 batting average. Fellow seniors, Konrad Koenig and Andrew Cecil, proved to be the aces of the pitching staff. Koenig finished the season with a 6-1 record and a 1.76 earned run average, giving him an outstanding 16-1 record over the last two campaigns. Cecil was the Mustangs big game hurler and finished with a team-leading seven victories. The future looks bright as four juniors, Jonathan Bravo, Mitchell Traver, Hayden Treu, and Brian Trieglaff received post-season all-district recognition, along with senior Reid Bishop. Bishop hit .376 and stole a team-high 26 bases in 28 attempts.

MEn’S BASKETBALL With just two seniors on its 2010-11 roster, the young Mustangs won 14 games and earned a spot in the TAPPS 5A State Tournament field of 16 teams. The ‘Stangs dropped their opening round game to Dallas Bishop Dunne (who went on to earn a spot in the final four), but during the course of the season provided plenty of promise for the future. Solid finishes in the consolation brackets at the San Antonio Christian Tournament and Forth Worth Nolan Catholic Invitational proved the team could play with the best of Texas’ top private school competition. Junior Drew Peters was the catalyst for the success of the team, and seniors Kyle Crawford and Ryan Niebes made significant contributions to the Mustangs’ winning season. Connor Kelley was one of two freshman varsity starters for HC with the other being Preston Drake.

WOMEn’S BASKETBALL The women’s basketball team solidified its place as one of the premier private school programs in Texas with 25 victories (including a school-record 18 in a row) and a Top 10 ranking in the Texas Association of

Basketball Coaches (TABC) private school state rankings. The 81 victories in the last three seasons are among the best in Texas over that period and the senior class of Priya Chacko, Danielle Milton, Sarah Ott, and Jillian Thompson enjoyed 99 total wins over their four-year Mustang careers! Among the 25 victories were championship wins in the Mustang Classic (57-50 over Second Baptist) and the Southwest Christian Tournament (61-13 over Southwest Christian). The Mustangs placed second at the Diamond State Classic in Delaware after defeating Cape Henlopen, 62-44, in the semi-final. (Cape Henlopen went on to a state championship game appearance in the State of Delaware.) Other big victories came over SPC rivals Kinkaid (53-47) and St. John’s (50-46). Both teams made the SPC final four with Kinkaid narrowly losing the title contest.

Milton ended her decorated career by becoming the school’s all-time leader in points (1,360), rebounds (788), steals (408), and three-point shots (85). Junior Morgann Davis was the team’s leading rebounder and shot-blocker. The Lady Mustangs will return 11 letter-winners next season.

GOLF It was a great year for Houston Christian golf as first-year head coach David Leiss and assistant Seth Thornton provided expert instruction and a competitive schedule of

Wrap-up of HC Athletic Achievements for Winter and Spring Sports

tournaments for the youthful team. Nine underclassmen were among the top ten male and female golfers in the program, and the lone senior, Elizabeth Davis, who signed a letter of intent to golf at Dallas Baptist University, will be difficult to replace next year. She completed an outstanding career at HC by earning all-state honors (her second) with a ninth place finish at the TAPPS 5A State Championships. The women’s team finished a very strong sixth place at the state meet led by Elizabeth and her freshman sister, Madeline Davis. Freshman Grace Craven and junior Janice Byth performed well at the regional and state competitions to help the team to its best state finish since beginning competition at the 5A level in 2008. Juniors Turner Batdorf and Alex Crook battled all year for men’s medalist honors, while junior Jack Kellner, sophomore Patrick Mulvey, and freshman Rex Wallace rounded out a varsity squad that just missed a berth in the state tournament. Sophomore Robert Webre and freshman Spencer Winn competed as medalists at the district and regional competitions. MEn’S LACROSSE The men’s lacrosse team backed up its 2010 appearance in the Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL) Division II State Championship game with an incredible 2011 campaign for the first time at the Division I level. In just its fourth year of existence, the Mustangs advanced all the way to the Super Regionals in Austin, just one step away from the Division I State Final Four. Overall, the ‘Stangs compiled a 21-3 record and brought home the championship trophy from The Woodlands Mudslinger Tournament on February 19. The Mustangs also dominated in a four game sweep of southern Florida over Spring Break. The team’s 8-2 district mark qualified them for post-season play where they defeated St. John’s in the first round (8-7) and then dropped an 8-4 decision to the Episcopal School of Dallas. The team’s other defeats were to The Woodlands and Kingwood. Key victories over Stratford, Memorial, Cinco Ranch, Kinkaid, and Episcopal highlighted the season. The Mustangs graduated nine seniors including five that have been with the team since its inception (Iles Mitchell, Tristan Morris, Daniel Nondorf, Robby Springmeyer, and Sam Voncannon). Steven Hartshorn and Mitchell will take their lacrosse talents to Roanoke College, while Morris will compete at Goucher College.

by HC Athletic Director Rusty Rogers

Sophomore Jacob Farris hands off the baton to sophomore Karl Stuewer in the regionals boys relay.

FreshmanJaelaDeJeanjumpshighforalay-upagainst Second Baptist.

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uPCOMinG EVEnTS

August15 FirstDayofSchoolAugust17-19 FreshmenCampMustangAugust20-22 SeniorRetreatAugust22 SophomoreandJuniorRetreatsSeptember2 FreshmenParentsDinnerSeptember5 LaborDayHolidaySeptember15 GrandparentsDaySeptember30 HomecomingGameOctober1 HomecomingDanceOctober4 OrchestraandDanceFallConcertOctober10 ColumbusDayHolidayOctober14 CollegeDayatHCHSOctober25 ChoirFallConcertNovember3-5,10-12 FallPlayPerformancesNovember10 VeteransDayAssemblyNovember21-25 ThanksgivingHolidaysDecember1 Band/OrchestraChristmasConcertDecember5 ChoirChristmasConcertDecember19-January3 ChristmasHolidays

NOTE:Eventslistedabovedonotreflecttheentiretyofschooleventsandaresubjectto change without notice. Scheduled school events can be accessed via the HC website at www.houstonchristian.org/calendars/index.aspx. For details regarding activities and events,pleasecallusat713-580-6000.

Houston Christian High School (HC) is an independent, coeducational, day school, which educates studentsingrades9-12.Theschoolwasfoundedin1996andbeganofferingclassesinAugust1998.

MISSIONHoustonChristianHighSchoolisacollege-preparatoryschooldedicatedtothehighestacademic standard for the development of moral character, the enrichment of spiritual lives, and the perpetuation of growth in Christian ideals.

VISION Inspiring young people to lead by uniting faith, intellect, and gifts to reach their greatest promise.

HCHS STATeMeNT Of fAITHToensuretheperpetuationofthesebasicconcepts,itisresolvedbythefounders of the school that all those who become associated with Houston Christian High School asatrustee,officer,administrator,facultyorstaffmembermustbelieveandpubliclyacknowledgehis belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible, that God created the world out of nothing, that Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the preexistent Son of God and was born of a virgin, that He died to pay the price of the sins of all people, that He was bodily resurrected from the grave, and that, by repentance and acceptance of and belief in Him, by God’s grace, the individual is saved toabundantandeternallifeinthepresenceandpoweroftheTriuneGod.Itisfurtherresolvedthat the teachings of this school shall never deviate from the above principles.

ACCReDITATION & MeMBeRSHIPS HC is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), the Southern Association ofCollegesandSchools (SACS),and theTexasEducationAgencyunder theumbrellaof theTexasEducationPrivateSchoolAccreditationCommission(TEPSAC).Theschoolisanindependent,Texas,nonprofit corporation.

Theschoolisamemberof:American School Counseling Association Association of Christian Schools InternationalCouncilforAdvancementandSupportofEducationEducationalRecordsBureauHouston Association of Independent SchoolsIndependent Schools Association of the SouthwestNational Association of College Admissions Counseling Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsSouthern Association of Independent SchoolsTexasAssociationofCollegeAdmissionsCounselingTexasAssociationofNon-PublicSchoolsTexasAssociationofPrivateandParochialSchoolsTheCollegeBoard

Houston Christian High School admits students of race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded and made available to students. HCHS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarships, athletic, or other administered programs.

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