BIG SPRING, TX – Runnels Academy held its first ever graduation ceremony last Friday night. Those students for Runnels Academy Class of 2024 are Sam Bryans, Makaya Nichols, Victoria Orsburn, Matthew Toms, and Nicolas Whitmore.
When established in 2018, Runnels only went through seventh grade, but continued to add an additional year as this year’s graduating students advanced. Jenny Bryans, Head of School at Runnels, and Chance Nichols, Head of Secondary School, started the school together when both their children were seventh graders. Their children were among the five graduating students. Bryans said she started her classical teaching career with Big Spring Classical Academy while her son was a second grader. Her son, along with another graduate, were among her second grade class and have basically been her students ever since. She described the journey as a labor of love and said it was bittersweet to watch them graduate.
With such a small school and a class size of only five students, the graduates described themselves not just as close, but “too close – more like a sibling relationship.” They also said students are able to build close relationships with their teachers at Runnels and are always able to get help when needed – even if it’s not school-related – because of the small class size.
“It feels more like a family than a class,” graduating student Makaya Nichols said.
Two graduates plan to attend college, two are pursuing vocations, and one is in flight school and hoping to get hired with Big Spring Fire.
Congratulations to them!
Comments