TMI grads celebrate successes
MAY 21, 2021–TMI Episcopal held its 123rd graduation ceremony Thursday, May 20, on the school’s Howell Field.
The student speaker, chosen by the faculty, was Dylan Pegg, who was editor-in-chief of The Muse literary magazine and will be attending Rochester Institute in the fall to study Game Design and Development.
Diplomas were presented to 81 graduating seniors by the Rev. Scott Brown, Head of School, and senior awards were presented by Dean of Students Sherry Brown.
Yu “Nikki” Fang was the recipient of the Bishop’s Cup, presented to the student who has demonstrated the finest qualities of Christian citizenship and has shown due regard to the rights and needs of others. She was a company officer in the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets, communications officer in TMI’s chapter of the National Honor Society and leader of the Spanish Club’s fundraiser for the Border Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, who will be attending Carnegie Mellon University.
Joshua Thayil was the recipient of the Founder’s Award, which honors the Rt. Rev. James S. Johnston, who founded the school in 1893, and is presented to the student who best embodies the mission of TMI — a student who is dedicated to excellence, cares deeply for others and is motivated to be a servant leader. He was battalion commander of the Corps, a National Merit Commended Scholar, Honor Council member and an Academic All-State swimmer, who will be going to Baylor University.
Members of the TMI class of 2021 were offered a total of $10,120,235 in scholarship funds for all four years of their college education. In state, they will attend colleges and universities including Baylor, Southern Methodist University, Southwestern, Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas Tech, Trinity and the University of Texas at Austin. Out of state, TMI graduates will matriculate at colleges and universities including Arizona State at Tempe, Boston University, Brandeis, California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Harvard, Howard, Louisiana State University, Purdue University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California; and internationally at Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of Chester (UK).
Of this year’s graduates, 22 were designated Alpha Omega for having attended TMI from sixth through 12th grade. Another 32 qualified as members of the National Honor Society. Class of 2021 graduates also were represented as National Merit Commended Scholars, Advanced Placement Scholars and in the National African American and National Hispanic recognition programs.
Five TMI alumni have signed National Letters of Intent to play college sports as follows: Christian Cuellar plans to play tennis for the University of the Incarnate Word; Patricio Parra, soccer at Cornell; Sydney Serratos, soccer, Cal Tech; Tristan Smith, soccer, University of Chester; and Pato Wray, baseball at Hardin-Simmons. Two students will be attending the United States Air Force Academy: Jack Basil and Teddy Lopez.
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Graduation Senior Awards
THE EDWARD P. DROSTE AWARD
Presented to Teresa Lei – member of the National Honor Society and a top-place winner in the American Mathematics Contest; will be attending Boston University.
Presented to that individual in the current graduating class who has gained those qualities…̏a desire to know, seeking for the reason why, a search for the truth”…attributed to West Texas Military Academy by General Douglas MacArthur in his autobiography Reminiscences. The student’s name is inscribed on a permanent plaque. A smaller inscribed plaque is presented to the student.
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THE LEONARD A. AND IRMA G. DUCE AWARDS
Presented to
Patricio Parra – All-District soccer player, member of the Upper School Student Leadership Board and WorldQuest international relations competitor; will be attending Cornell University.
Jessica Mims – member of the Upper School Student Leadership Board, a member of the National Honor Society and a Junior Classical League competitor; will be attending Baylor University.
Presented to the male and female seniors who, in the judgment of the faculty, have exemplified outstanding student achievement at TMI. The requirements for the award are two years attendance at TMI, academic excellence, leadership in student activities, participation in athletics, good character and reputation, social and spiritual maturity, and a definite contribution to the overall quality of TMI as an independent, church-related school.
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THE FRANCIS L. NEMECK AWARD
Presented to Jackson Spears – Company Executive Officer in the Corps, contributor to The Muse and member of the award-winning Orienteering Team; will be attending New Mexico Military Institute.
This award is presented to the student who, during the current year, has shown the most improvement. The award consists of a cup and a brochure explaining the intent and significance of the award.
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THE PANTHER CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Presented to Chloe Harthan – winner of multiple Scholastic Art Awards, member of the National Latin Honor Society and Junior Classical League competitor, varsity cheerleader and championship-winning Robotics competitor; will be attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Panther Citizenship Award is presented to the upper school student who best represents TMI Episcopal of Texas in every way. This student encourages others while holding himself or herself to a high standard of personal excellence. The recipient of this award abides by TMI’s high standards of conduct, represents TMI as a leader throughout the campus, and actively supports all types of TMI activities. This student is a model of the kind of person TMI strives to develop.
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THE BURLESON PRIZE
Presented to Chloe Harthan – winner of multiple Scholastic Art Awards, member of the National Latin Honor Society and Junior Classical League competitor, varsity cheerleader and championship-winning Robotics competitor; will be attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
This prize is named in honor of Reverend Allan W. Burleson, Doctor of Divinity, first Rector and Headmaster of West Texas Military Academy, from 1893 until 1910. The Burleson Prize recognizes the senior whose chapel talk has best exemplified the spirit and mission of TMI. The winner is chosen by the faculty. The Burleson Prize consists of a check for $500, to be applied toward college expenses, and a plaque.
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THE BISHOP’S CUP
Presented to Yu “Nikki” Fang – Company Executive Officer in the Corps, who was also elected Communications Officer of TMI’s chapter of the National Honor Society. As a member of the Spanish Club, she led the effort to raise funds for the Border Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas; will be attending Carnegie Mellon University.
One of two long-standing awards, traditionally given to graduating seniors as an important part of the graduation ceremony, the Bishop’s Cup recipient is also chosen by the faculty and is presented to the student who has demonstrated the finest qualities of Christian citizenship, shown due regard for the rights and needs of others, and is dedicated to the service of God.
The Cup is a memorial to Charles F. Turbiville, who served as a Board member of TMI from 1961 to 1963. All three of Mr. Turbiville’s sons graduated from TMI, and the family is extremely proud of their continuing association with our school. The recipient will have his or her name engraved on the permanent Bishop’s Cup which resides at TMI. He or she will also receive a replica of the cup and a Bible inscribed by the Bishop of the Diocese of West Texas.
The Bishop’s Cup recipient this year is a servant leader who, in the judgment of the faculty, epitomizes the spirit of servant leadership that is embedded in our school’s Mission.
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THE FOUNDER’S AWARD
Presented to Cadet Lt. Col. Joshua Thayil – Battalion Commander, who is also a National Merit Commended Scholar, an Honor Council member and an Academic All-State swimmer; will be attending Baylor University.
One of two long-standing awards, traditionally given to graduating seniors as an important part of the graduation ceremony, the Founder’s Award honors Bishop James Steptoe Johnston – the founder of TMI in 1893. This award is presented to a student who, in the judgment of the faculty, best embodies the mission of TMI – in other words, a student who is dedicated to excellence, who cares deeply for others, and is motivated to be a servant leader. The recipient receives a TMI Captain’s Chair.
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Founded in 1893, TMI Episcopal is the flagship school and only high school of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. TMI is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional military (JROTC) and boarding programs. For information, visit http://www.tmi-sa.org or call (210) 698-7171.
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