Celebrating Seniors

– Vincent Van Gogh

For the Class of 2024, this spring – and especially May – has been a succession of little (but impactful) things leading to Commencement Day on May 24. We are looking forward to celebrating the 34th graduating class of Trinity School of Midland. 

Today’s Trinity tradition starts with the seniors’ final chapel featuring Mr. Freese as their speaker. The celebration continues with a commitment ceremony. Trinity’s 25 seniors will be attending 20 different colleges across 11 states, and students will be wearing a college shirt to reveal their choices.

The day continues with a family lunch, a parade and a “clap” out. Seeing our youngest students cheering on their older classmates is unforgettable and encapsulates what it means to be in our college preparatory community.  

 

Leading up to commitment day, seniors had applied to 100 different colleges. Of the 200 applications sent to colleges across 32 states, seniors received 146 acceptances to 77 different colleges. This class earned $3.85 million in merit-based scholarship offers. 

When our seniors and their families gather at Petroleum Club on May 18, faculty and staff will share testimonials, a Trinity tradition in which students select the person who will speak on their behalf. This beautiful testament to our seniors underscores the meaningful relationships our seniors have developed with all of us who teach and learn at Trinity. 

Seniors and their families will convene at First Presbyterian Church for a special service to both honor and bless the Class of 2024. Following the conclusion of Baccalaureate, families will receive their seating assignments for Commencement.

Commencement will be held in Beal Gym, celebrating the collective accomplishments of our students. Valedictorian Ezekiel Bajomo and Salutatorian Brock McNeel will address their classmates, and seniors earning awards will be recognized. 

We applaud the many achievements of this class, and look forward to highlighting them throughout these special events.

Trinity School of Midland is proud to announce this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, two Ivy-bound young men whose impact in college and the greater community will be both far reaching and inspiring. Like their peers in the Class of 2024, these Chargers plan to pursue pathways that best fit who they are (and plan to become).  

A student at Trinity since 2013, Ezekiel Bajomo has earned the Dr. Premila Singh Johnson Valedictorian Prize. Ezekiel is the son of Modupe and Victor Bajomo and younger brother to three Trinity alumnae, Eunice ’15, Mary ‘16 and Debbie ’21. 

At Trinity, Ezekiel has distinguished himself in speech and debate, band, track and yearbook. Without question a strong student, he was honored annually as a Trustee Scholar; earned a silver medal and honorable mention in the National Spanish Exam; received recognition as a National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Academic All-American; and became a National African American Recognition Scholar during his sophomore year. He also earned the Servant in Philanthropy award. The founder and president of the African Culture Club, Ezekiel has worked to ensure all Trinity students feel included in campus life and to educate his peers and the wider community about culture and experience. 

Outside Trinity, Ezekiel has studied abroad in Belgium through Lions Club International; experienced hands-on conservation work at the I-20 Wildlife Preserve; volunteered at Midland Memorial Hospital; led young children and shared his faith at Stonegate Church; served as vice president of the West Texas Food Bank Junior Board where he co-organized its first winter formal; and participated on the Teen Leadership Board of the Midland County Library.

Ezekiel’s college application process culminated with acceptances to Case Western Reserve University, Duke University, Northwestern University, Rice University, Southwestern University, Trinity University, The University of Texas at Austin, and seven Ivy League schools, Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. This fall, he will attend Harvard. 

"I aim to pursue a concentration in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology to gain a deeper understanding of life-saving disease treatment methods through the research of gene editing with CRISPR [Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats]," said Ezekiel, "searching for ways to decrease costs and increase access to it worldwide. I plan to pursue this concentration down the pre-medical track, so I can devote myself towards a career that directly supports and saves lives either through orthopedic or reconstructive surgery."

Brock McNeel, this year’s salutatorian, is among Trinity’s “Lifers,” students who have spent at least 12 years as a Charger. Brock’s Trinity education began with preschool and culminates with his salutatory address at graduation. The son of Jennifer and Ryan McNeel, Brock is also older brother to Hudson, a junior at Midland High School.

Brock was recognized in ninth grade with an award for his leadership and kindness, the Speech and Debate Award for the most cumulative NSDA points, and the Trustee President’s Medal for his commitment to personal growth and excellence. He is also an NSDA Academic All-American.

Like Ezekiel, Brock has been an active participant in speech and debate; he was one of the first students in Trinity history to advance to NSDA elimination rounds at the national tournament. He was among the top 30 Public Forum debaters in the nation. Serving as Head Prefect, Brock has also led his classmates as student body vice president and has been part of band and the varsity golf team.   

Brock is busy outside of school as well, working as an assistant director of lobbying at Fasken Oil and Ranch where he has led social media efforts and collaborated on successfully passed legislation. He also served as president of the West Texas Food Bank Junior Board, co-leading fundraising initiatives with Trinity classmates; an organizer for the Beto for Texas campaign; and a coordinator for Gen Z for the Union.

With acceptances from Boston College, Claremont McKenna College, University of Denver, University of Kansas, Occidental College, Rhodes College, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Yale University, Brock’s home this fall will be in New Haven at Yale. He plans to study global affairs with a certificate in environmental studies and engage in public service throughout his career. 

"I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to study at Yale because I cannot imagine a place that is better suited for me to grow into the leader and change-maker I want to be,” said Brock. “I believe that this opportunity to attend Yale will give me a real chance to change the world for the better."