As part of our 2020 Homecoming Celebration we are highlighting the Class of 2010! We cannot believe it’s been 10 years since these (now) men and women graduated. We are grateful for the opportunity to reach out to a few of them to see where their journey has taken them since leaving Brook Hill and to reflect on their time here. Join us in celebrating the Class of 2010 – we are so proud of their journeys and where they each are now!

Samantha Karam Vimont

Samantha attended Brook Hill for her senior year as a boarding student. She was heavily involved in the boarding program, but also participated in track & field, golf, basketball, and yearbook. She attended Texas A&M University after leaving Brook Hill (whoop!) where she was involved in several leadership organizations, and she graduated from Mays Business School in December of 2013 with a BBA in Marketing. She has been with Reynolds and Reynolds since January 2014, and she currently serves as the supervisor of their Digital Advertising and Social media team. Samantha married Logan Vimont in May 2016 after 7 years of dating, and they’re now living in Buda, TX with their 18-month-old daughter, Nora, with their baby boy, Jack, due in January 2021! 

John Clardy

John came to Brook Hill for his senior year only with his twin brother, Luke, and he says he was welcomed with open arms! His late coming didn’t slow him from getting involved either, as he played on the basketball and tennis teams. He went on to attend Pepperdine University where he studied history, served as the President of his fraternity, studied abroad in Germany, and met his wife, Camilla. He then worked in Los Angeles for a few years in marketing and sales before moving back to Texas to pursue a career in law at the University of Texas School of Law. He graduated this past Spring, and he will begin his newest adventure at Holland & Knight in Dallas beginning in the Spring.

SooYoung Choi

SooYoung moved to Brook Hill from her home country of Korea her sophomore year as a boarding student, and she has been in the States ever since! She played in the orchestra and the drum line during her time at Brook Hill before attending The University of Texas at Austin for college. She moved to New York City after graduating with her BA in Advertising where she now works at an advertising agency doing digital marketing for a luxury auto brand. She loves life in New York with her husband, who she married in Korea during this pandemic (after moving the date three times!), and together they have a furry son named Coco.  

Heath W. Dickey

Heath joined the Brook Hill family in the eighth grade. At Brook Hill, he participated in Track & Field, Orchestra, several clubs on campus, but most notably, football, as he went on to play at Georgetown University after graduating. At Georgetown, Heath double majored in Government and Theology, while still finding plenty of time to explore the nation’s capital! Now, he lives in the capital of Texas with his wife and 16 month old daughter where he works for the Texas Senate. His position under a senator for the Waco area has given him the opportunity to work on issues near to his heart such as bringing an end to abortion. He credits Mr. Dement’s American History class as an inspiration for his interest in policy making and his career path.

Megan Troxell Beidler

Megan attended Brook Hill for sixth through twelfth grades where she was involved in a myriad of student groups and activities. She played the violin in the orchestra, performed in our school plays and musicals, and even played as the only girl on the soccer team her junior year! She moved on to Rice University where, while earning her BA in Psychology, she continued her theater career and stayed involved in multiple student groups. After graduating from Rice, she attended Boston College in their Graduate School of Social Work to earn her Masters Degree in Social Work with a Clinical focus in Children, Youth, and Families. She has since earned her license, and after working a few years, she now owns her own private practice. Megan and her husband, Ben, met as summer camp counselors and got married last summer. They live in Vermont with their rescued cat, Chani, and rescued greyhound, Jet!

It’s been 10 years since you graduated from Brook Hill (Crazy!). How does that make you feel?

“It makes me feel like time is accelerating! It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but when I think of all the things that have happened in my life since 2010, I find it remarkable that it’s only been 10 years.” – John Clardy

“Knock on wood, but–as of now–I’m happy to be older! I’ve always wanted to be a husband and a dad. It seems like everything in life has just been preparing for these roles.” – Heath W. Dickey

When you think about your time at Brook Hill, what are you grateful for?

“People, people, people – I came to Brook Hill straight from Korea, so I did not really speak English or know the culture, but the moment I came to Brook Hill and the dorm, literally everyone was so welcoming, so sweet and understanding and open minded. I honestly could not think of any bad moments.” – Sooyoung Choi

“I’m not sure I could have bargained for a better high school experience. Ten years later, I’ve come to appreciate the quality of instruction at Brook Hill and the importance of the Christ-centered education model.” – Heath W. Dickey

“I am grateful for the people most of all – the friends I made who have continued to be dear friends of mine through the years. The friends I made who I may not be in close touch with now, but who made my time at BH beautiful. The teachers who taught me great academic skills and also lent me a listening ear when I truly needed it.” – Megan Troxell Beidler

“I’m grateful for the community Brook Hill offered that lasts to this day. I came in Senior Year and was welcomed with open arms.” – John Clardy

How did Brook Hill prepare you for your journey? How did Brook Hill prepare you for where you are right now?

“Brook Hill almost gave me too much to even list. It showed me what the real world would be like, taught me how to defend my beliefs, gave me a front-row seat to different cultures, and helped me grow into who I was meant to be.” – Samantha Karam Vimont

“Brook Hill is full of individuals who want to succeed at the highest levels in everything from academics to athletics to arts while keeping God at the center of their focus. Being part of a community with such an orientation gave me a good foundation to structure my own life around.” – John Clardy 

“Two things come to mind – 1) I am indebted to Brook Hill for teaching me the academic skills of writing well and managing a heavy work load.  I felt more than prepared for a rigorous college curriculum thanks to the preparatory experience I was given at BH. 2) A diverse learning experience about culture and religion – the boarding program allowed me to get to know people from places I had not even heard of before coming to Brook Hill and for that I am truly grateful.  The curriculum also encouraged us to learn about other religions and to have an open mind to other’s experience and to see how we all value similar things despite seeing them in different ways.” – Megan Troxell Beidler

What BH faculty impacted you? What would you say to them?

“Mr. Travis, Mr. Ward, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Estes, Mrs. Jubar, Mrs. Godwin, and Mrs. Reason – all of you were more than teachers to me.  You were a safe place when I needed it – wise sages willing to share your musings with a very curious soul.  I know I asked more of you than your job demanded, but I never felt like I was a burden; I felt embraced, appreciated, and like I was taken seriously even when I talked about high school relationship drama like it was the meaning of life itself.  Thank you for your grace haha!” – Megan Troxell Beidler

“Everybody at Brook Hill was amazing and had a great impact on me. Of course, Mr. Dement was wonderful in accepting Luke and me into the community, and people like Mr. Travis, Dr. Ward, and Mr. Bunger all jump to mind when I think of what made my experience so wonderful. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a special thank you to Wally Dawkins for the impact he had on my life.” – John Clardy

“Almost all of them, but Ginger Bell, the Smiths, Laurie Humphries, and Christi Collins all hold a very special place in my heart! You all helped me through the toughest transition I’d experienced and made it a lot more bearable, and even made me say I would do it all again. Thank you for devoting so much love and time into helping me develop and assimilate.” – Samantha Karam Vimont

10 years removed, what wisdom would you share with current students? What is something you would have told your high school self?

“18 is really young to pick what you want to do for the rest of your life. Take a look at what you’re good at, what brings you joy, and what challenges you. Try to think of a career path that has those characteristics and focus your energy on being the best you can be in that field.” – Samantha Karam Vimont

“Just enjoy every moment of your high school year. Those times will never come back but all the memories will last forever. Be good to your friends and be respectful to your teachers.” – Sooyoung Choi

“Take advantage of every opportunity in front of you, and look twice to see what they are.” – John Clardy

When you look back over these past 10 years, what do you feel really proud to have accomplished? What are you still proud of that was part of your BH experience?

“I’m very proud that BH was part of my experience, because I met a lot of good people and good teachers who really taught me how to become a good person and impacted who I am right now. I was away from my parents at such a young age, so all the teachers and faculty members of BH really impacted me a lot on a personal level, and I’m really grateful for that.” – Sooyoung Choi

“I am proud that I have been open to allowing myself to change.  I have been willing to hear the perspectives of others – hear their stories – and let them change me when the truth compels me to do so.  I am proud that I have not held fast to things for the sake of tradition, but have held fast to things because I find them to be true and let go of that which has not withstood the test of time and experience.” – Megan Troxell Beidler

“I’m very proud of how Brook Hill helped me strengthen my foundation of faith.” – Samantha Karam Vimont

What do you hope for the future of Brook Hill and its students?

“I hope that students will increasingly feel welcomed, seen, valued, and loved regardless of who they are, where they are from, what they look like, and what they believe. I believe that Christians are called to love everyone and to show that love without discretion. I hope that Brook Hill will continue to challenge itself to be radical in its love.” – Megan Troxell Beidler

“I hope that Brook Hill continues to thrive and provide a Christian community to its students.” – John Clardy

“I hope Brook Hill maintains its Christian focus, and that it never apologizes for its values. Academia at the collegiate level is in a sad state: dissenting voices are silenced, degeneracy is celebrated, and virtue is ridiculed. I hope Brook Hill stands fast against the sweeping cultural shifts of our time.” – Heath W. Dickey