Arborlawn's Graduating High School Seniors 2015
George Bean
Family: Adair, George & Natalie
High School: Trinity Valley
Activities & Honors: AP Scholar, football, basketball & lacrosse
Future: University of Missouri
“I am thankful for the positive influence of Abby & Dave, good friends and great times at youth and on mission trips.”
Hannah Brown
Family: Larry
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Varsity tennis, National Honor Society
Future: Texas Tech for Mechanical Engineering
“I thank God for my family who supports me and my friends who are there for me. Always make time for church/youth because one day you won’t be able to. Always take a week of your summer to go on mission trips. They’re unforgettable and grow closer to people and grow your faith.”
Connor Cassady
Family: Quintin, Jill & Molly
High School: Fort Worth Country Day
Activities & Honors: Football, soccer, golf & photography
Future: University of Oklahoma, major in business with a minor in Spanish and photography, eventually go in law school and get an MBA.
“I thank God for my family. My favorite memory is the 2012 mission trip- I really enjoyed going to Galveston and being able to work with everyone. I was able to work on the house with my group and meet many new people.”
Travis Crawford
Family: David, Donna & Matthew
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Football, UIL Accounting, National Honors Society
Future: Texas Tech University, major in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Business construction management.
“I thank God for my amazing church and my friends family and teacher that helped me get where I am today and all the opportunities God has blessed me with. My favorite mission trip was Memphis. I’ll always remember Tom Harkider calling John Grady and I the “Super Smash Brothers” because we were the two lifting the sledge hammers. Even though we were tearing apart the houses, we knew another group will follow behind to rebuild. My memories of Arborlawn with stay with me throughout my life. The mentoring, support and love from the staff and congregation has been a huge support and blessing to me. I’m so lucky to have a church where I feel so loved and I appreciated all of you!”
Ashley Deats
Family: Deborah
High School: Arlington Heights High School
Activities & Honors: National Honors Society, Senior Steering Committee
Future: Texas Christian University for Fashion Merchandising. I plan to move to New York after college.
“I thank God for the ability to move and help. Some don’t have the opportunity to move around and use their bodies to help others. I am healthy and able to help others. When I first came to Arborlawn in 7th grade I remember being welcomed and warm and nice people. Do not take Sunday nights for granted; make these friendships last. Another memory would be senior night at every mission trip. It never fails to make me cry. Those nights and trips are something I will never forget.”
Drake Denison
Family: Michelle, Val, Mike & Donnie
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: 3 time Regional qualifier for Wrestling. All District Junior & Senior year for Football
Future: West Texas A&M University. Full ride to go for football. Go into law and become a sports agent.
“I thank God for every opportunity this youth program brought me, all the blessings so far in my career and life, and all my friends and family. Cherish every moment and new day this youth program brings. Every small group session when my Senior Group went to Chicken Express, I would somehow spill my drink or just completely drop and destroy my cup. In public I was not a klutz, but in small groups I was known for it.”
Lindsey Feldman
Family: Alan, Christine & Josh
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Top 7% of my class, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Habitat for Humanity and the JDRF
Future: University of Texas at Austin in the College of Natural Sciences. I want to become a Pediatric Anesthesiologist.
“I thank God for family, friends and the amazing support I have received from my church family. My favorite memories are attending Mission Trips every year. There are many stories to tell every year you go. It is life-changing and I highly recommend it to everyone.”
John Grady
Family: Lisa
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: National Honors Society, Sports Athletic Trainer
Future: Texas Christian University to become an athletic trainer
“I thank God for all my friends and family and all the opportunities I have been given. I also thank God for my amazing church family and church home. Get involved as much as possible. Do everything you can for others. Don’tever stop creating hilarious memories and stores.”
Nicholas Jerige
Family: Kimberly
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Football (3 year letterman) Powerlifting (3301B District Champion) Wrestling
Future: Texas Tech
“I thank God for family, friends and fellowship. Don’t take your time in high school for granted. The days are long but the years are short. Cherish the small moments.”
Kyle Keiss
Family: Tom, Sharon, Ryan, Whitney & Julie
High School: Arlington Heights High School
Activities & Honors: AHHS Orchestra & Theatre, Marching Band, Jazz Band, National Honor Society, Yellow Jacket Scholar, TMEA All Region Orchestra, Fort Worth Youth Orchestra
Future: Drake University for Musical Theater
“I thank God for my parents, brother and sister, my teachers: Vivian Potts, Sheila Turner, Glen Turner, Janice Whorley and David Wiebers. My girlfriend Lizzie for inspiring me to get my grades up and go to college. My advice is to be open minded. You don’t know what you are capable of accomplishing until you try. Colleges come in all sizes. Pick the one that’s best for you.”
Ryan Mackechnie
Family: Stuart, Jennifer & Kody
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Basketball
Future: Texas Tech and study mechanical/civil engineering
“I thank God for providing me with a great church family and surrounding me with awesome friends and giving me the chance to have fun opportunities.” I remember my first mission trip when Mark Milrany spilled our water cooler so we made up a nickname and called him “The Cooler Killer.” Advice for younger kids is to get as close with your friends as you can before you go off to college.”
Mary Layne Million
Family: Clark, Debra & Sarah Rose
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Radio Shack Scholar, Paschal Society for Academic Promise, Paschal Society for Academic Success, FWISD Director of Athletics Scholar Award, FWISD Academic Letter Sweatshirt, National Honor Society, Paschal Girl’s Gold team, Student Council and Photography Club.
Future: University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK for Business or Belmont University in Nashville, TN for Music Business.
“My favorite church activity was helping with Trunk or Treat”
Woods Pate
Family: Mukherjees, Kuhlmanns
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Cross Country (9th – 11th), National Honors Society, Teen/Artist Project at the MoMA, bat field research for TCU, AP Scholar with Distinction
Future: St. Edward’s University in Austin to study biology and minor in studio art.
"I’m thankful for my friends and church family, who have shown me so much love and selflessness. I’m thankful for the many opportunities to succeed. I’m thankful for my life and hope to make the most of it. I was given the chance to go to Haiti on mission trip. Our group had gone to a cliff to watch the sunset. I sat down, and Pam and Audrey sat down next to me and hugged me for a few minutes. It may seem like a small thing, but to me, it was huge. Even when you feel completely alone, just know you have the whole church family who loves you and supports you 100%. Pam and Audrey helped me remember.”
Tara Tillery
Family: Blair, Dirk & Tate
High School: Arlington Heights High School
Activities & Honors: National Honors Society, DECA, Honors Dance program, Seniors Steering committee, Yellow jacket scholar, Heights Academic Excellence Award, Homecoming Court finalist, Senior Superlative Award Winner for Most Photogenic
Future: University of Texas at Austin to major in education and be a teacher and one day become a principal.
“I thank God for my amazing family, my friends and the countless blessings in my life. Have fun while you can, make the most of your time and if things get stressful, remember God has a plan and things will get better.”
Audrey Young
Family: Pam, Richard, David, Matthew, Roo & Kiwi
High School: Paschal High School
Activities & Honors: Volleyball, PIP Talk Finalist, NHS, Playwright for Festival of the Kid
Future: Texas A&M University, majoring in Animal Science. I want to be a veterinarian.
“I thank God for my parents who are my role models and nothing short of amazing, my two older brothers who push me to do great things and my church family who helps strengthen my walk with Christ, my small group leaders, Becky and LeeAnn and the college interns. I found God is someone you can confide in without being judged. God is here to love and provide support through lots of different people. Church family, small groups, mission trips, Abby and Dave are here and want to help with these things. Have faith in God and your church family.”