Celebrating Seniors

On May 22, the 36th graduating class of Trinity will cross the stage at the Barbara and George H.W. Bush Convention Center. We are looking forward to celebrating these 28 young people.

As a celebratory last day of school, seniors will begin the day with breakfast and an invitation to join the Trinity School Alumni Association. Throughout the day, we will prioritize some time for the things they loved throughout their time in school: Arts and Crafts, a special chapel with their first grade buddies, and some dedicated time to play their favorite PE games. 

We will also conduct their commitment ceremony, highlighting our 28 seniors attending 17 different colleges across nine states.

The day continues with a family lunch, a parade and a “clap out.” Seeing our youngest students cheering on their older classmates is a beautiful testament to this place and these accomplishments. 

 

Leading up to commitment day, seniors had applied to 133 different colleges. Of the applications sent to colleges, seniors received 192 acceptances to 97 different colleges. As of this writing, the class has earned $7.38 million in merit-based scholarship offers. 

When our seniors and their families gather at the Petroleum Club on May 16, faculty and staff will share testimonials, a Trinity tradition in which students select the person who will speak on their behalf. Without question, our seniors have developed meaningful relationships with all of us who teach and learn at Trinity. 

Seniors and their families will convene at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity for a special service to both honor and bless the class of 2026. Following the conclusion of Baccalaureate, families will receive their seating assignments for Commencement.

Commencement will celebrate the collective accomplishments of our students. Valedictorian Audrey Li and Salutatorian Leila LaFarelle will address their classmates, Mrs. Chali Patterson will share a message with the graduates (including two of her own, Abby and Logan), 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 celebrate this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, two young women who will contribute positively to their chosen college communities. Though we are highlighting just two of these outstanding students, all 28 graduates are impactful, involved people. We wish them the best in the years ahead.  

 

Audrey Li - Valedictorian 

A student at Trinity since 2017, Audrey Li has earned the Dr. Premila Singh Johnson Valedictorian Prize. She is the daughter of Drs. James and Eileen Li.

At Trinity, Audrey has been an active participant in music, from playing percussion in the band to running the Music Performance Club. She was recognized annually as a Trustee Scholar and graduates with the Challenge Scholar designation. Audrey, the beneficiary of the Rhonda Durham Award for exemplifying the ideals of the mission statement and values of Trinity, was also honored as a National Merit Commended Letter winner. The Trinity Charger Alliance Fine Arts Scholarship awardee for her extraordinary talent in the performing arts, Audrey has been recognized multiple times in all-area and all-region for percussion. 

Outside Trinity, Audrey has played ice hockey since fourth grade, most recently on the Dallas Stars Elite Girls 19 and under Tier 1 team. Audrey has competed on the rink with travel teams since fifth grade. She is also a founding member of Davy K, a rock/country band she and her classmates formed. They have played on live television for Basin PBS and for a live audience at the 6th Annual Basin PBS Main Street Live, opening for Wynonna Judd.

Audrey has volunteered at Odessa Regional Medical Center, the West Texas Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels, accumulating more than 100 service hours since her freshman year.

Audrey’s college application process culminated with acceptances to Baylor University, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Rice University, Southwestern University, The University of Texas at Austin (Plan II), Texas A&M University, Trinity University and Wesleyan University. 

“I'm going to study biological sciences on a pre-med track at Rice,” says Audrey. “I'm thrilled to attend Rice because of the great opportunities to research and shadow in the Texas Medical Center, stay involved with hockey through volunteering, and eat great food, but I'm most excited about joining the great community at Rice!”

Leila LaFarelle, this year’s salutatorian, began her Trinity education when she was three. The daughter of Thomas and Beth LaFarelle, Leila is twin sister to Alice and big sister to sophomore Charlie.

Like Audrey, Leila is a four-year Trustee Scholar and graduates as a Challenge Scholar, a designation for students committed to rigor and scholarship. She has also been recognized with a Farrell Scholarship for students who best exemplify integrity, leadership, courage and a strong work ethic. She was also part of College Board’s Hispanic Recognition Program for her sophomore year PSAT. 

Leila is known at Trinity for her work in STEM and as a three-sport athlete. She co-founded the Things That Fly Club, has served as a four-year member of Honor Council and Student Council, volunteered as a student ambassador, and played four years of volleyball, basketball and baseball. She also found time to take the stage in two school musicals. 

Outside school, Leila has played club indoor volleyball and sand volleyball. She is a four-year Midland Belles volunteer for the Symphony League and started a pickle business with her twin sister. Like Audrey, she has shared more than 100 hours of her time in the Permian Basin,

 

With acceptances from University of Alabama - Huntsville, University of Colorado - Boulder, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Maryland, Mississippi State University, Oklahoma State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Virginia Tech, Leila plans to study at UT. 

“I’ll be majoring in aerospace engineering at The University of Texas,” says Leila. “I can’t wait to dive into the science and math that it involves and to just meet new people and start my life!”