What did you do after Valley? Where did your life take you? 

Right after Valley, I attended ASU. During my time as a Sun Devil, I had a pastoral internship with a local church in Tempe and was commonly in the front row of the student section at football games. It was also during this time that I met my future wife, Danni.

Tell us a little about your daily work:

I serve as the Spiritual Life Director at Scottsdale Christian Academy. The position entails overseeing our annual high school missions trips and retreat, weekly chapel and small groups, heading the Bible department, leading faculty devotions, and more!

What’s one surprising thing we don’t know about you?

While a student at Valley I was once on a pickup basketball team that beat a team comprised of Timmer, Hanzal, and Haags. They may all conveniently have no recollection of this. However, if you check the gym security videos (circa 2004) the truth will be exposed.

While you were at VCS, which teachers, coaches or classmates had the biggest impact on you?

There were two corresponding realities at play during my time at Valley:

1. I was a very difficult student to have in class.
2. Every teacher I had, and I mean every teacher, met me with compassion and grace every single day.

My four years at Valley were filled with daily encounters with Christ through the posture and lives of the faculty.

How do you stay connected with your friends from Valley and with VCS?

I have lifelong friendships that go all the way back to high school. We’re all “grown up” now with families and kids, and its been a blessing to now have our young children become friends.

Now-a-days I “connect” with VCS mainly through being on the other side of the bleachers during rivalry games rooting on my Eagles from SCA! Joking aside, its been really cool building a relationship with Dr. Tonkinson and connecting the VCS and SCA spiritual life students. This past year we swapped chapels. Valley led chapel at SCA, and then SCA led chapel at Valley. It was such an amazing way to be united as Christian schools.

What’s one lasting memory you have of VCS?

Soccer at Valley was so formative for me. There are too many memories to share from my time in the soccer program. However, I do remember scoring last-minute, game-winning goals against NCS and PC both in the same season at Benson Field!

Do you have any advice for current students?

In Christ, you have nothing to prove and no one to impress.