Award winners with William J. “Billy” Coyle (from left): Progress Award Winner Will Paschold, Chaplain’s Award Winner Cherry Phan, Valedictorian Reagan Harding, Bishop’s Award Winner Blake Berry, and Head of School William J. “Billy” Coyle.
Christchurch School celebrated its 104th graduation exercises on Saturday, May 24 at 9 am on Bell Tower Hill, overlooking the Rappahannock River.
Head of School William J. “Billy” Coyle delivered the commencement address. This was the third graduation for Christchurch’s 17th Head of School.
Mr. Coyle opened with a welcome and asked all in attendance to observe a moment of silence in honor of Memorial Day Weekend and those who have lost their lives in service to our country.
He then went on to congratulate families of the graduates. “Thank you for your belief in Christchurch School and this partnership that we have formed in guiding these seniors, your children. You entrusted us with your most precious gift and together we have watched them grow into impressive young men and women. He praised the work of faculty and staff, “I am in awe of all that we have accomplished together.”
Mr. Coyle then turned his full attention to the Class of 2025, saying “This class is really, really special. This is my third graduation and my most comfortable. That is because of you and the leadership you brought to the campus. You created an atmosphere that is exciting, embracing, committed and caring. Our community has never felt stronger. This foundation you built will continue to grow year after year. Your leadership has quickly changed our direction. You should all be proud of your soon-to-be alma mater. Thank you.”
He went on to recap what a great year it was, citing performances, creative work, championship play, academic accomplishments, senior speeches, and global travel. He also acknowledged that there were challenging times. “Throughout it all, you persevered and created this strong community with your senior leadership. It has been an amazing ride.”
In a favorite CCS tradition, Mr. Coyle addressed each of the sixtytwo graduates personally, remarking on the special gifts and talents that each brought to the community, sharing with them what their teachers, coaches, advisors, and hall parents had to say about each one of them.
Coyle also noted a bit of history made by the Class of 2025. For the first time ever, the class was split evenly between young men and young women. For a school that opened its doors as an all-boys institution, this is a notable milestone.
Coyle encouraged the graduates, “As you walk away, do so with confidence and power. No mountain is too high, no river is too wide.” He reminded them, “you have incredible support from this entire Seahorse nation. Your classmates, your teachers, your coaches, and most importantly, your parents and family. You can forever pull your strength from this place. From your experiences here, from that river,” he said, pointing to the Rappahannock River in full view, just over their shoulders. “You are unstoppable.”
He shared with them a reading from Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Powerful,” he emphasized.
“Always remember to be thankful. Thank those that have helped you get to this point. Thank your parents, your teachers, your mentors, your friends. And take time to reflect on yourselves, on your own accomplishments. And recognize that you did it. You made it. Whatever your new mascot may be, in your heart you will always be a true, blue and orange, fighting Seahorse.
“Remember this. You didn’t graduate from Christchurch School to be mediocre. Go show the world that you are kind, genuine, and unstoppable.
“May God bless you all. With this very sincere special blessing going out to graduating seniors and their families. Congratulations!”
Coyle, Board Chair Lynne Tatum Little, and Senior Director of Curriculum and Program Donny Pyles conferred diplomas. The school’s musical group, Cantorion, provided music. Following the ceremony, each graduate rang the Second Century Bell as they passed through the Bell Tower. They then made their way through a faculty receiving line, which is always a highlight of the Christchurch graduation.
Graduates included Progress Award winner William Taylor Paschold of Virginia Beach, VA and Chaplain’s Award winner Han “Cherry” Phan of Da Nang, Vietnam.
The school’s highest honor, the Bishop’s Award, went to Blake Douglas Berry of St. Stephens Church, VA. The Valedictorian’s Award was earned by Reagan Elizabeth Harding of Reedville, VA.
Other awards were presented to seniors the previous evening at the Senior Awards Ceremony. Recipients include the following students:
12th Grade Outstanding Student Award: Owen Smiley of Urbanna and Weems, VA
Best All-Around Athlete Award:
Namiyah Andrews of Heathsville, VA
Anthony Dentener of Cape Town, South Africa
Student Life Award: Christian DuNomes of Christchurch, VA
The Performing Arts Prize in Theatre:
Nana Kufuor of Accra Ghana
The Humanities Prize: Maggie Lancaster of Port Haywood, VA
The Science Prize: Reagan Harding
The Mathematics Prize: Reagan Harding
The Valedictorian’s Award: Reagan Harding
Virginia Independent Schools (VISAA) Awards of Merit: Namiyah Andrews
Jorge Cuetara Godoy of Boadilla Del Monte, Spain
Anthony Dentener
CJ DuNomes
Jarlyne Felix Morel of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Chloe Shurr of Christiansted, US Virgin Islands
Students graduating with honors:
Namiyah Andrews (Heathsville, VA), Martina Barrientos Garcia (Madrid, Spain), Dylan Belliveau (Calgary, Alberta), Blake Berry (St. Stephens Church, VA), Amparo Cabedo Llorens (Valencia, Spain), Lucia Castillo Ortiz (Madrid,
Spain), CJ DuNomes (Christchurch, VA), Abbi Fannin (Hayes, VA), Jarlyne Felix Morel (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), Esteban Fernandez Cuevas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), Rafa Garza (Mexico City, Mexico), Reagan Harding (Reedville, VA), Kayla Hatton (Wake, VA), Nhu “Emma” Ho (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam), Graham Isaacs (Folly Beach, SC), CeCe Jablonsky (White Stone, VA), Maddie Janzen (Atlanta, GA), Addie Kosek (St. Stephens Church, VA), Maggie Lancaster (Port Haywood, VA), Leona Li (White Stone, VA), Simone Moss (Oakland Park, FL), Hoang Xuan “Suzie” Nguyen (Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam), Lucia Nunez de la Fuente (Madrid, Spain), Han “Cherry” Phan (Da Nang, Vietnam), Enrique Reid (Tokyo, Japan), Chloe Shurr (Christiansted, US Virgin Islands), Emily Stanaway (Jamaica, VA), Truyen Tran (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), and Hannah VanVelzor (Norwalk, CT).
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