Worthington Christian School set to celebrate 86 graduates in this year’s class
On Sunday, May 29, 86 young men and women will walk across Worthington Christian School’s graduation stage, signifying their transition from WC students to alumni. The moment of graduation is a milestone with such a sweet sense of celebration and accomplishment. And it is not a solitary event, by any means. It is the culmination of years of daily hard work by students, their families, and their education community. At WC, we hold sacred the individual journey of each graduate leading up to this momentous occasion. Whether a graduate is among the 31 seniors who have been at WC since Kindergarten, or a graduate who joined the WC family as an incoming senior, each of them represents a story like no other–a unique expression of the image of God. It is the hope of Worthington Christian’s leadership and faculty that each student’s journey at WC be one of discovering who they are in Christ and how He is calling them to be a unique expression of His image in the world.
This is a natural time for students, parents, family members, and educators alike to pause and reflect. What has the journey looked like up to this point? How have we witnessed and experienced God’s faithfulness? Where do we see God leading and directing us in the future, moving us ever closer to who He created us to be? It is in the spirit of these reflections that we share a snapshot of the Class of 2022. Join us in celebrating what God has done in their lives and eagerly anticipating what He has in store for each of them beyond Worthington Christian. Though no student or class can be reduced to specific categories, there are three primary areas which provide structure for highlighting this year’s seniors: the arts, athletics, and academics.
The Arts
Whether it is visual, vocal, instrumental, or theatre arts (or some combination of all of them, as is often the case), WC’s Class of 2022 is brimming with talented artists. Some seniors’ artwork has been selected for Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s walls, recognized for its technical excellence and positive aesthetic. Members of the Class of 2022 have participated and competed in many regional vocal and instrumental competitions, including events hosted by the Ohio Music Education Association, Capital University, and more, receiving superior ratings for their individual and ensemble performances. Approximately one-quarter of this year’s graduating class has participated in the school’s theatre department, taking part in as many as 13 productions throughout their high school experience. Multiple graduating seniors have been nominated for Columbus Area Performing Arts (CAPA) Marquee Awards because of their excellence in theatre.
Several of these talented artists plan to continue pursuing their craft beyond high school. Seniors have plans to study Cinema and Media Arts, Animation, Graphic Design, and Choral Education, with emphases such as screen writing and sound design.
Athletics
Just as WC’s Class of 2022 has shone brightly in the arts, this year’s seniors have also excelled in athletics. An average of three-quarters of WC students participate in school athletics, and this year’s graduating class is no exception. Many of our graduating athletes have been recognized for their talent and athletic leadership, receiving local and regional honors in their respective sports.
At least 15 of these talented graduated athletes plan to compete at the collegiate level, many of whom earned athletic scholarships for their achievements. WC graduates have committed to universities to compete in pole vaulting, soccer, tennis, football, bowling, and golf. One WC senior has earned an eSports scholarship and plans to compete in this new and growing college sport.
Several students also plan to study for careers within the world of athletics, including Sports Media, Sports Marketing, Exercise Science, and Sports Management.
Academics
As a college preparatory school, WC has many diligent, disciplined students who excel in academics. This is evident in the rigorous coursework pursued by this year’s seniors. The Class of 2022 has collectively taken in their four years of high school: 96 advanced/honors courses within the school, 80 Advanced Placement courses, and 89 College Credit Plus classes. Over one-third (33 seniors) of the class are members of the National Honor Society, recognized for their outstanding academic performance and high grade point averages. Four 2022 seniors also earned national recognition as National Merit Semi-Finalists, with one advancing as a National Merit Finalist and scholarship recipient.
In recent years, WC’s graduating class has collectively earned an average of three to four million dollars in scholarship offerings. The Class of 2022 is on pace to match or exceed that significant achievement, of seniors reporting their scholarship offerings (approximately three-fourths of the class) based on four years of collegiate study–the total to date is $2,954,460. These scholarship offers are as diverse as the students themselves, representing local scholarships, church scholarships, and university-specific scholarships.
In addition to the athletics- and arts-centered degrees already mentioned, current seniors plan to study a myriad of academic disciplines and pursue a broad range of careers. This recurring phenomenon is true to the infinite beauty and diversity of who God is, and a deep reflection of His image in each graduate. WC’s Class of 2022 will certainly be found both in ministry, marketplace, education, and the sciences. A few students plan to study worship arts and/or attend seminary beyond their undergraduate careers. The realm of business is one of the largest areas of focus for this year’s class, with many declared majors such as Business Administration, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Finance, Real Estate, and Insurance and Risk Management. There is also a significant number of graduates who plan to move into cyber- and tech-related fields, with declared majors like Cyberforensics, Computer Science, and Cybersecurity. Interests in the humanities are expressed through seniors with majors such as anthropology, sociology, museum studies, and linguistics. Several students also plan to pursue nursing. The leading field for the Class of 2022 is the hard sciences: biochemistry, biomedical engineering, biology, and more–with many planning to be on pre-medicine tracks.
At least two students plan to serve in the military, attending universities through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. At least three other students plan to attend trade school, studying to become electricians and technicians. One senior plans to take a gap year, and still another plans to pursue a full-time music career.
Each of these future pursuits will take place across the country, with WC seniors committing to (at least) 33 different higher education institutions. Many students plan to stay in Ohio at schools like Cedarville University, Ohio University, the Ohio State University, the University of Dayton, and Walsh University. And there are many students who will pursue their futures at universities in Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, Vermont, West Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
As WC’s Class of 2022 walks across the graduate stage and walks into their bright futures, we are all eager to see how God continues to move in and through them. Congratulations, seniors!
Images provided by Brian Shindle/Creative Moments