This week, we will have two great opportunities to say hello and wave goodbye to our incredible class of seniors: This Wednesday night at family dinner starting and 5:15 p.m. and Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the main service at FPCF.
These are bittersweet moments for moms and dads (and Angies and Jareds), but also a great opportunity for our younger students and parents to see what a “job well done” looks like. Obviously these opportunities are about honoring our graduates, but they are also about saying “thank you” to a few other incredibly important people: Carrie, Tom, Kristen, Todd, MaryAnn and Jeff.
On a personal level, as a parent myself, I’m inspired by all of them.
Honestly, it would be hard to imagine a more awe-inspiring group of young people. What you’ll read below seems almost too good to be true. Even though I’m calling them The Fantastic Four, this is a heroic work of non-fiction, I assure you.
Angie and I have had the pleasure of watching all four of these incredible students since they were Alice’s age; and, to be honest, it would be the dream of all dreams for our children to turn out like any one of them.
So, without further ado, the FPCF Class of 2023:
Abby Burkhardt – Flushing High School
From the time she was in elementary school, there was just something special about this one. Angie could always count on Abby to step in when she needed help, or to help get the other kids where they needed to go. Abby is a go-getter with ambition and an incredible work ethic ( traits found in her other siblings as well).
Need proof? Abby was a full-time sister, with a part-time job, and still found the time for all this:
- President of the student council at Flushing High School
- Student representative for Flushing Community Schools Board of Education
- National Honor Society
- Editor and chief of the yearbook
- Varsity swim team
- And seriously a whole bunch of other stuff — it’s completely bonkers.
In the fall, Abby will attend Grand Valley State University to study Cardiovascular Sonography. (This is ironic because Angie and I used to call her the “baby whisperer.”)
We are so incredibly proud of Abby. She deserves all of her success and so much more.
Hannah Burkhardt – Flushing High School
Hannah is grace personified. She has an incredible heart for service and has the respect and admiration of everyone who knows her.
She is so full of love, kindness and humility. Who could not love Hannah? Impossible!
At Flushing, she was the vice president of student council, captain of the varsity swim team, secretary of NHS and a member of National Art Honor Society and numerous other academic and civic organizations. (Seriously, without Hannah and Abby, can there even be a Flushing High School anymore?)
Did I mention she was also homecoming queen? (I think I still have some candy left over from that parade.)
In the fall, she will attend the University of Michigan-Flint to study Biology.
Hannah has overcome every obstacle she has faced in her life and we are confident she will continue to inspire us as she begins the next chapter of life.
Stella Hufton – Lake Fenton High School
One of my earliest memories of helping Angie with the children at FPCF was on a Sunday morning on the fourth floor (yes, there used to be a floor above The Grove). Angie wanted me to get photos of the kids at First Prez (at the time, there weren’t very many). I think the first photos I took were of Tommy and his little sister, Estella (thereafter Stella).
As someone who has never had style, I have an appreciation for people who do. Stella has it.
Stella was always so faithful, involved in everything, and was a student other kids looked up to. And, like Abby and Hannah, she was one of the students we could always count on to set a good example for others.
At Lake Fenton, Stella really came into her own as an athlete (she is an excellent runner), a performer (she had two leading roles in the theatre) and in music (she was the drum major her senior year.)
In the fall, Stella will attend Saginaw Valley State University to study communications.
We have no doubt Stella will continue to find herself in new and exciting experiences, and to showcase her amazing talents (maybe even some new ones we didn’t know she had, like singing!)
Styles for miles, Stella!
Scott Mignerey – Flushing High School
If you’ve ever had the chance to watch Scott play sports, I think you’d agree that there’s one word that truly describes him on the court or in the field: focused.
I’ve been so impressed with his ability to focus on the task at hand, but not to lose sight of the most important aspects of sports: being a good teammate and having fun.
Even though Scott is one of the most respectful and level-headed teenagers you’ll ever meet, he’s also one of the most vociferous kids in the dugout — always supporting his teammates and having fun.
In addition to being a four-year varsity tennis player with a league record of 41-0, Scott played two years of varsity baseball for the Raiders. He was also a champion in the classroom as well.
Scott was a member of Math Honor Society, the president of Science Honor Society, National Honor Society and will finish high school with a 3.99 grade point average. He also had a part-time job for the last two years at the Coffee Beanery.
In the fall, Scott will attend Wayne State University to study Biochemical Engineering.
You will see other photos of Scott, but I chose the one above because it speaks to the kind of young man he is. Imagine a teenager, with lots to do, taking the time to come see a seven year old play soccer.
He’s simply the best!
The Pipe 