News
We were deeply honored to welcome Major Ron Beam, United States Air Force (Ret.), to our Veterans Day Chapel today.
A former teacher, coach, and administrator at Fort Worth Christian from 1976–1996, Major Beam inspired generations of students with his passion for history, discipline, and excellence. Before his years at FWC, he served our nation as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, flying more than 500 hours in the F-4 Phantom, including combat missions over Hanoi and Laos.
For his heroic actions destroying an enemy convoy in July 1967, Major Beam was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following his military service, he dedicated his life to shaping young men and women in the classroom and on the field—teaching lessons in teamwork, leadership, and patriotism that continue to impact FWC alumni today.
Now 91 years old and still full of energy, Major Beam remains a beloved member of the FWC family. We are grateful for his service to our country and his lasting legacy at Fort Worth Christian.
Thank you, Major Beam, for your courage, your sacrifice, and your example.
Each year, approximately 1.5 million students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Of those, about 34,000 are recognized nationwide as Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise, and another 16,000 earn the distinction of National Merit Semi-Finalist.
This year, we are proud to recognize Emily Dean as FWC’s National Merit Commended Student.
Emily transferred to Fort Worth Christian from Southlake Carroll High School last January. At Carroll, she was an active member of the French National Honor Society, Carroll Medical Academy, French Club, and Key Club, and she also participated in the volleyball program. At FWC, Emily has competed on our Varsity Volleyball team and is a member of both the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.
A true servant leader, Emily volunteered with the Community Enrichment Center last spring, served as a Finance Intern with White’s Chapel Methodist Church, and contributes annually to their Vacation Bible School program. Next March, she will volunteer with Beyond the Known Ministries during Cardinal Service Week.
Upon graduation, Emily will have completed 23 hours of dual credit through Colorado Christian University. Her rigorous academic coursework also includes AP Language, AP Calculus, AP U.S. History, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP World History, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Macroeconomics.
Emily plans to attend Texas A&M University, where she will major in Biomedical Sciences.
Congratulations, Emily Dean!
- academics
- national merit
- Athletics
- Cross Country
Fort Worth Christian hosted its first on-campus cross country meet in 67 years on Saturday, where the Cardinals made history with strong team finishes, standout individual performances, and a memorable community atmosphere at the inaugural Cardinal Clash.
North Richland Hills, TX - It was a special morning at Fort Worth Christian on Saturday, as the school hosted a cross country meet on its own campus for the first time in 67 years. The event, called the Cardinal Clash, brought in nine schools and nearly 300 athletes to race the two-mile course that wound through familiar spots on campus.
The Cardinals made the most of their home-course advantage. The high school boys’ team took first place overall, placing six runners in the top 10. Kollin Green led the charge with an 11:21 finish, good for second place.
The middle school boys weren’t far behind, finishing second as a team. Cade Lewis stole the spotlight, winning the individual title with an impressive 11:25.
On the girls’ side, Finley Dale ran a strong race for the high school team, crossing in 14:06 to take fourth place overall.
What made the morning even more meaningful was the atmosphere. Parents, students, and staff lined the course that navigated its way through the campus. Running a meet at home for the first time in 67 years made the day feel bigger than just times and medals. For the Cardinals, the day was about more than just the final scores - it was about making history on their own campus and kicking off something new.
Fort Worth Christian School is excited to announce the hiring of Chris Cunningham as the new Athletic Director, following the retirement of Kyle Story. Coach Story is stepping away to spend more time with family as he eagerly anticipates the arrival of two new grandchildren this summer. We are grateful for Coach Story’s leadership and contributions to FWC over the past two years.
Coach Cunningham brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in Texas high school athletics. Most recently, he served as Head Football Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Midland Christian, where he provided strong leadership both on and off the field after joining the school in 2022.
Prior to his time at Midland, Cunningham served as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Prestonwood Christian Academy for 16 years. During his tenure, he led the football program to an impressive 129-44 record, capturing four TAPPS state championships (2009, 2010, 2015, and 2017) and earning two state runner-up finishes (2013, 2014). As Athletic Director, Cunningham oversaw 29 team state titles and 32 individual state championships across a variety of sports, including boys and girls basketball, baseball, volleyball, boys and girls golf, and competitive cheerleading.
Before his time at Prestonwood and Midland Christian, Cunningham spent 22 years in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, serving as Colleyville Heritage’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for 11 seasons, following eight seasons as Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Coach at Grapevine High School.
Beyond his impressive coaching and leadership record, Cunningham is deeply committed to fostering a Christ-centered, Kingdom-focused athletic culture. “I am thrilled to join Fort Worth Christian and look forward to investing in our coaches and student-athletes,” Cunningham shared. “My heart is in building a Christ-centered Kingdom culture that develops leaders both on and off the field. I’m excited to step into this role and see how God continues to work through athletics to shape lives for His glory.”
Dr. Terry Rodgers, President and Head of School, expressed his excitement about Cunningham’s arrival, stating, “It is an honor to serve in ministry alongside someone as accomplished and qualified as Chris Cunningham. His leadership, experience, and commitment to Kingdom athletics make him a tremendous addition to the Fort Worth Christian family. I look forward to seeing the impact he will have on our coaches, student-athletes, and the entire FWC community.”
Cunningham and his wife, Dana, have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of three adult sons: Caleb, Joshua, and Cade. We are thrilled to welcome Chris Cunningham to the Fort Worth Christian family.
Please join us in celebrating this exciting new chapter for FWC Athletics!
In a heartwarming display of cross-generational learning, first-grade students from Fort Worth Christian Elementary were recently treated to an unforgettable experience at Texas Christian University. What began as a pen pal exchange between Lisa Tackett's first-grade class and her TCU graduate students, blossomed into a full-fledged educational field trip, complete with a surprise visit from TCU's beloved mascot, Super Frog.
Lisa Tackett, a first-grade teacher at Fort Worth Christian, also teaches a graduate-level education course at TCU in the evening. Drawing inspiration from her interactions with both groups of students, she saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between the two educational worlds.
On the day of the visit, the first graders stepped onto the TCU campus, wide-eyed and eager to explore. The graduate students, equally enthusiastic, welcomed their young guests with open arms, ready to share their knowledge and experiences in the field of education.
The two groups engaged in a variety of activities designed to promote learning and interaction. From storytelling sessions to reading games, the students from both classes embraced the opportunity to learn from one another. For the first graders, it was a chance to gain insight into the world of higher education and see firsthand the path that their teacher was experiencing outside of the classroom.
The highlight of the visit came when Super Frog, TCU's spirited mascot, made a surprise appearance, much to the delight of the young visitors. With cheers and laughter echoing across the campus, the students eagerly posed for photos with their newfound friend, cementing memories that would last a lifetime.
As the day drew to a close and the first graders bid farewell to their new friends at TCU, there was a sense of gratitude and excitement in the air. What began as a simple pen pal exchange had blossomed into a transformative educational experience, leaving a lasting impact on all those involved.
- Athletics
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Director of Sports Performance, Cade Garcia, a dedicated and results-driven coach with a proven track record of enhancing athletic performance through tailored strength and conditioning programs.
With a strong foundation in exercise science, sports physiology, and nutrition, Cade is committed to optimizing the physical capabilities of athletes across various sports disciplines. Leveraging a deep understanding of biomechanics and sports-specific training techniques, he aims to empower athletes to reach their full potential and excel in their respective fields.
Cade brings a wealth of experience from his time on the staff of Texas A&M University Strength & Conditioning. Additionally, Cade is proficient in utilizing advanced tools and technology to enhance training effectiveness and performance evaluation.
Cade graduated from Fort Worth Christian in 2018, excelling as a multi-sport athlete, playing football, baseball, basketball, track, tennis, and swimming. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a major in Leadership and a minor in Sport Management, where he also played football.
“As Director of Sports Performance, Cade will continue to uphold our commitment to excellence in athletic development and ensure that our athletes receive the highest quality of training and support to excel in their endeavors”, said Kyle Story, Athletic Director.
Cade said, "I'm incredibly honored to return to the school that shaped me and invested in my development as an athlete and a person. Now, I am excited to have the opportunity to give back and help develop the next generation of athletes, just as FWC did for me."
Please join us in welcoming Cade Garcia back to FWC!
This year’s Valedictorian is Nicole Stroud. Daughter of Andrea Brownlow of Fort Worth, Nicole has attended Fort Worth Christian School since Little Klubhouse and has been a true model student since she arrived. Nicole has been a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Chess Club, and the FWC Academic Team. She also has been active in the band since Lower School. Nicole was named to the 1st Team All-District Volleyball team as a senior. She also was 2nd Team All-State Volleyball and Academic All-State her junior year. During the school’s annual Cardinal Service Week, she recently served locally during Cardinal Service Week at Southside Church of Christ and Community Crossroads helping the community with food insecurity. Nicole will attend The United States Military Academy at West Point where she will compete as a collegiate athlete in volleyball. Congratulations, Nicole, on being named Class of 2024 Valedictorian!
This year’s Salutatorian is Luke Reed. Son of Dan and Julie Reed of Colleyville. Luke’s father, Dan, graduated from FWC in the Class of 1990 and Luke is one of 12 Legacy Cardinals in the Class of 2024. Luke has been at FWC for 15 years. He is an active member at The Hills Church. He served in Detroit for Cardinal Service Week his junior year and just returned from Denver last week volunteering with the Dry Bones ministry. Luke has been on the Academic Team all 4 years. He is also a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Crossword Club. Luke has participated in tennis throughout Upper School. He placed 2nd in Men’s Singles All-District in Tennis last year. This year Luke helped lead the cross country team to its first District Championship in 11 years. Luke was named a National Merit Commended Scholar in the fall. He plans to attend the Craig and Galen Brown Engineering Honors Program at Texas A&M University. Congratulations, Luke, on being named Class of 2024 Salutatorian!
Mr. Nick Hinrichsen, Upper School Head of Fort Worth Christian School, is proud to announce Luke Reed has been named National Merit Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented to this scholastically talented senior.
“I am thrilled for Luke to receive this well-earned National Merit recognition. Luke embodies what FWC looks for in its students. He is strong in his faith and consistently demonstrates what it means to be a well-rounded student-athlete who always strives for academic excellence. In this way, he exhibits the mission of FWC. Our faculty and the entire FWC community are extremely proud of him for his accomplishment. I am honored to have had the opportunity to get to know Luke over the past four years.” said Mr. Hinrichsen.
About 34,000 Commended Students nationwide are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although not continuing in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
The son of Dan and Julie Reed of Colleyville, Luke started at FWC in preschool in 2009. Luke is an active member of the Class of 2024, participating in soccer, academic team and serving this year as captain of the Cardinal tennis team and serving as captain of the Cross Country team his junior and senior years.
Luke’s Cross Country coach, Scott Latham ‘17, congratulated Luke on this high honor. “Throughout my time knowing and coaching Luke, I've had the privilege of watching him evolve into the tremendous leader and athlete that he is today. Cardinal Cross Country will surely miss Luke's leadership, wisdom, and kindness upon his graduation in the spring. Gig'em!”
At this time, Luke plans on attending Texas A&M University majoring in aerospace engineering.
In addition to various extracurricular activities, Luke is also a member of the of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. For Cardinal Service Week, Luke served locally his freshman year, in Austin and Detroit his sophomore and junior years, and will serve in Denver in March.
Luke’s sister, Jill ‘21, was also a National Merit Commended Student. Luke is also one of a dozen second or third-generation Legacy Cardinals in the Class of 2024. His father graduated in the Class of 1990 from Fort Worth Christian School.
Congratulations Luke!
In today's Middle School Chapel, our counselor, Mrs. Stewart, spoke on the theme of being "Faithful in Christ." This year, the middle school has introduced three character traits, known as F.W.C., to complement our existing C.A.R.D.S core values. Today students were recognized with the "Faithful in Christ" Pillar of Character Award.
The focus for this particular month is, of course, "Faithful in Christ." But this is only the beginning of a year-long journey, with a new trait being highlighted each month. To foster a culture of character development, we will hold a special recognition chapel on the last Friday of every month. During these gatherings, we will honor students who exemplify the monthly character trait. The aim is to celebrate and encourage those who go above and beyond in embodying these values in their everyday lives.
So, what does it mean to be "Faithful in Christ" in the context of our middle school community? It's about more than just attending chapel. It's a call to live out our faith in every aspect of our lives. It's about being honest, dependable, and showing unwavering commitment to our beliefs, our friends, our families, and our studies.
As we embark on this journey, let us remember that faithfulness is not measured by grand gestures but by the small acts of kindness and dedication we exhibit each day. By living out the values of "Faithful in Christ," we can create a more compassionate and harmonious school community, one that truly reflects the values we hold dear. So, let us embrace this opportunity to grow, to learn, and to be faithful in Christ together, one month at a time.
Congratulations to the recipients of the Faithful in Christ Award. Here’s what their teachers had to say about them.
Gwen Pitre - Coach Helm
Gwen Is always striving to do what is right. She reflects Christ. Her service to others and character shine through.
Kaelyn Barrett - Mrs. Zagala
Kaelyn displays her faith by her willingness to volunteer to pray in front of her peers. It takes a lot of courage for a sixth grader to express their faith in such a public way.
Reagan Smeds - Mrs. Glover
Reagan is always encouraging others. Gracious with her classmates and looks for opportunities to serve. Her actions, words and attitude point others to Jesus.
Brady Cone - Mrs. Wallis
Brady is kind and always looks for ways to be helpful. He chooses to be honest even when it is difficult.
Lexi Doyle - Mrs. Wallis
Lexi is observant and thoughtful and chooses her words carefully. When she sees others in need, she speaks out to care for their needs.
Elle Andujar - Mrs. Rosenstein
Always the first to step forward to be of assistance - volunteers even when not asked.
Grace Bennett - Mrs. Fulbright
Grace is thoughtful in answering questions or providing feedback. Her responses about our subject matter always includes a reference to God and his creative power. She sees God in everything.
Alexis Kelly - Mrs. Wallis
Alexis has a heart for serving, and she has stepped up to serve as chaplain for House Council this year. She is always willing to lead us in prayer whether it is in the classroom or in meetings.
Lauren Jennings - Mr. Anderson
When I see Lauren, I see the throughline “Image Bearing.” You can tell by her actions that she is faithfully intentional and wanting to positively impact those around her.
Dani Guillen-Esquivel - Dr. Hart
Dani is seen often in my classroom helping others, she shows a great deal of respect to her teachers and peers !
Briley Griggs - Dr. Hart
Briley has a kind and compassionate spirit, she is always willing to help others both inside and outside of the classroom.
Dylan White - Mr. Wallis
Dylan is kind to his peers and treats everyone with respect. He humbles himself and thinks of others first.
James Bankes - Mr. Wallis
James looks out for those who are in danger of being left out and includes them. He owns his mistakes and makes changes that demonstrate his soft heart.
Nate Williams - Mrs. Docken
Nate is kind and welcoming to new people, he shows faithfulness to Christ by being a good friend and serving his community.
Bison Lott - Mrs. Tenery
Bison is kind and encouraging to his classmates. Even as a new student, he has stepped into a leadership role in class and looks for ways to shine his light and be Christ to his peers.
Kaitlin Christian - Mrs. Tenery
Kaitlin has been in my Impact Group for the past year. She has offered to pray on behalf of the group on several occasions. Her willingness to lead our group in this way is a great example of her faithfulness to Christ.
- character
- middleschool