Cedar Park Christian School honors various students by giving numerous awards at the end of every year, but none quite like this year’s Faculty Staff Scholarship Award.
This award is recognition to one senior that has displayed leadership inside and outside of school. This person must also receive a 3.5 grade-point average or higher and be attending a four-year college in the fall. Every month during the year, all the staff members extend a certain amount of money from their paychecks toward the award. The first Faculty Staff Scholarship award was granted in 1998; over 11 years, the staff has given almost $50,000.
This year, the award, consisting of $8,000, was presented to John Cronkite during the graduation ceremony June 7.
When asked how he felt about receiving the award, his sincere reply was, “I was excited; I had absolutely no idea.
“I’ve always enjoyed being involved in different activities,” Cronkite added. He was student-body president, a member of National Honor Society, information-technology (IT) provider for yearbook, defender on the varsity soccer team and trumpet player in the jazz band.
He paused and stated, “A fact about that — a couple of my friends and I started jazz band and we are the last original members.”
Cronkite not only exceeds expectation at school, but outside of school. His computer skills landed him a job as a full-time IT administrator at Bonanza Press, located in Woodinville. During his spare hours away from work, he sings in the church choir and partakes in Eagle Scout activities.
About once a year, the Cronkite family embark on a major trip around the world. Some of his adventures include: Mexico, Finland, Peru, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Netherlands and England. The amount of history he found in these places, especially in Italy, was inspirational to him, and perhaps sparked the flare to become history himself in school. Next February, his family will set out for Spain, but, unfortunately, Cronkite will be studying at college and unable to participate.
This fall, he will be attending LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where he will be studying computer engineering. Ten years from now, Cronkite sees himself as an IT administrator for a small company.
Cronkite thanks all the teachers at Cedar Park Christian School who shaped him into the man he is today. The most important and significant aspect Cronkite has learned through his 13 years at Cedar Park: “It’s not just a school, it’s a place where they (teachers) try to teach you how to live a life, not just pass in your grades.”
And they’ve also given Cronkite some financial help on his future journey.
