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Kristin Michelle Thomas

The first annual Karen Minner Scholarship has been awarded to Kristin Michelle Thomas, a 15-year-old sophomore from Manassas, Va. The award was presented at Highland View Academy's Alumni Homecoming Saturday, May 4, 2002. The $1,000 scholarship will be credited toward Kristin's tuition for the 2002-03 school year.

Kristin was chosen by the faculty because of her commitment to Christian leadership on campus and her academic record. Her cumulative grade-point average is 4.0.

She has served the Student Association as Religious Vice President during the 2001-02 school year, and was re-elected to that office for 2002-03. A member of the girls' varsity soccer team, Kristin is also in the drama group, Highlanders (choir), and bell choir.

"I've heard a lot about Karen," said Kristin, "and from what people have said, she sounds like the kind of person I've always wanted to be. So I'm kind of in awe that people would look at me and see a little bit of Karen."

Kristin is the daughter of Kevin and Susan Thomas, members of the Manassas Seventh-day Adventist Church. She graduated from Fairmont Christian Preparatory School, which is operated by that church. She has an older brother, Kevin, and two younger brothers, Stephen and Jonathan.

She identifies J.R.R. Tolkien as her favorite author, but she also enjoys C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Newsboys and Michael W. Smith are the recording artists she listens to most.

Her career goals have shifted a few times--presently, her vision centers on pediatric nursing.

"The faculty felt Kristin came the closest to personifying what Karen meant to HVA," said Jennifer Payne, English teacher and Karen's sister. "It was a consensus choice."