From staff reports
Holy Trinity Classical Christian School senior Ethan Marquardt was presented the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) Bill Simpson Award on Tuesday, May 17 by Larry Watt, former SCISA Executive Director for more than 30 years.
The Bill Simpson Award is the highest honor bestowed each year on the top graduating male and female scholar athletes in SCISA, which boasts more than 100 members. The award exemplifies the academic and athletic ideals that Simpson represented throughout his career as SCISA athletic secretary. The award is based on a combination of SAT score, class rank, academic and athletic achievements, headmaster and coach recommendations, student service record and community service.
Marquardt is an Honor Graduate of Holy Trinity and class Valedictorian. He ran cross country and track for Holy Trinity throughout his high school years.
“Ethan has demonstrated tremendous leadership and integrity throughout his years at Holy Trinity and has had a distinguished career as a student athlete. Ethan served as a cross country captain his senior year and during his time at Holy Trinity he has led his teammates to capture two state titles in cross country,” Holy Trinity Athletic Director Josiah Tobin said in a release. “Ethan has also ran multiple years in the 4X800 meter relay at the SCISA state track meet. During Ethan’s senior year he led his peers spiritually as the vice president of our school’s local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ethan is one of the most mature and selfless students we have ever had at Holy Trinity. We are so proud of Ethan and the way he will run forth with the message of Christ as he goes out from Holy Trinity.”
Marquardt was also active in Holy Trinity’s Theater Program, participating in multiple school plays, including a lead role in this year’s Spring Musical.
“Ethan has a fearlessness and a natural command of the stage that instantly commends him to an audience,” Drama Department Head, Elizabeth Booman said. “His characters are made so rich through his sincerity, passion, and intelligence. He is a tremendous actor independently, but he also supports the show as a whole by the positivity and encouragement that he shows to the entire cast and crew. Ethan has been a delight to work with, and we look to his past with great gratitude, and towards his future with great joy.”
“What a wonderful honor for a remarkable student, and what an honor for our young school!” Holy Trinity Founding Headmaster, the Rev. Chad Lawrence, said. “Ethan has been a great blessing to Holy Trinity Classical Christian School over the past seven years, and we are grateful to have watched him flourish in our midst. His contributions both in and out of the classroom have been manifold, and we look forward in eager anticipation for how the Lord continues to shape and use him. Soli Deo Gloria!”
Marquardt plans on attending the University of South Carolina Honors College in the fall, majoring in business.
Founded in 2012, Holy Trinity Classical Christian School is an independent, non-parochial school which serves more than 400 students in the Beaufort community.
