TCS Introduces New High School Club
Annual Fund Ambassador Club
By Samantha DePriest
This school year Trinity Christian High School is introducing a new club for students in grades nine through twelve. The Annual Fund Ambassadors Club is led by Mrs. Tiffanie Teel who coordinates Donor Relations and Stewardship alongside Mark Northcutt, Director of Donor Services. Trinity's Annual Fund Team has long included staff, volunteer parent ambassadors, and a small group of high school student ambassadors. The new Annual Fund Ambassadors Club is made up of high schoolers who already love TCS and are learning to tell its story of generosity in their own words, to students, to families, to the wider Trinity community.
As the staff liaison for the new Annual Fund Ambassadors Club, Mrs. Teel has a unique perspective on the opportunities this experience will provide for students:
What is the primary purpose and mission of the Annual Fund Ambassadors?
At its heart, the Ambassadors' mission mirrors this year's Annual Fund tagline: enriching the Trinity experience for every student, everywhere on campus. Their job is to help the Trinity community see and feel the difference Annual Fund giving makes, and to take a direct hand in building a culture where generosity is normal, visible, and celebrated. They're not fundraisers in the traditional sense; they're storytellers and stewards, connecting the dots between a gift given and a moment made possible on this campus.
What does it mean for a student to serve as an Annual Fund Ambassador?
Serving as an Ambassador means representing Trinity's Annual Fund with the same heart Trinity asks of every donor: gratitude first. Ambassadors show up at events, help thank donors, share what Annual Fund giving has made possible in their own experience at Trinity, and carry the “All In” spirit into hallways and classrooms where an email newsletter can't reach. It's a position of trust, and these students carry it so well.
How do you hope this experience will help students develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills?
I pray TCS students identify their passions and God-given calling, so they can step off this campus ready to make a Kingdom impact. Every part of this role builds self-awareness, self-confidence, and leadership by doing, not by lecture. Ambassadors have to plan, speak in front of adults twice their age, coordinate as a team, and represent Trinity in settings where their words matter. Communication skills grow because storytelling is the job. Teamwork grows because none of it works if the club operates as individuals instead of one unified voice. My hope is that students leave this experience more confident, more articulate, and more comfortable leading; prepared for whatever comes next off this campus.
Annual Fund Ambassador Club meeting
What has excited you most about serving as the Staff Advisor for this new club?
Getting to be the staff advisor for this club is quickly becoming the highlight of my week. I spend most of my time thinking about how to help donors see the impact of their giving, and now I get to watch students discover that same truth from the inside. Watching them get excited about a story, or ask a sharp question about why Annual Fund giving matters, reminds me why this work is worth doing in the first place.
If you could give one message to TCS families, alumni, grandparents, and friends about why supporting the Annual Fund matters, what would you want them to know?
The Annual Fund fills the gap between affordable Christian school tuition and a campus that meets every student's needs; it's what makes it possible to enrich the Trinity experience for every student, everywhere on campus. Every gift lands somewhere specific: a classroom, a program, a student who needed exactly what that gift made possible. Trinity families, alumni, grandparents, and friends make that possible every single year, and their generosity is never invisible, even when it isn't loud. If there's one thing I want every giver to know, it's this: Trinity sees it, Trinity is grateful for it, and Trinity is better because of it.
What do you hope our students will say about their experience as Annual Fund Ambassadors when they look back on this year?
When these students look back, I hope they say this club taught them what it means to be “All In”, not just for TCS, but for Christ and anything worth investing in. I hope they remember the donors they thanked, the stories they told, and the confidence they built. And I hope they carry Trinity's spirit of generosity with them long after they've walked the stage at graduation.
Annual Fund Ambassador Club students filming Annual Fund video.
Annual Fund Student Ambassador Leadership Team
(Pictured left to right) Payton Keroack, President, and Andrea Binegar, Vice President, serve in the 2026-2027 High School Annual Fund Ambassador Club.
The Annual Fund Ambassador Club students voted into leadership Payton Keroack and Andrea Binegar as president and vice president. They share their thoughts about the opportunity to serve their school:
What made you want to become involved in the Annual Fund Ambassadors Club?
Payton: When I first heard about the Annual Fund Ambassadors Club, I thought it was just simply a club where I could serve alongside my friends. But once I learned more about the Annual Fund, I realized it was so much more than that. It allows high school students to show our Trinity community how generosity directly impacts our everyday experiences. From new equipment and vans for away games to the walkway that keeps us dry on rainy days, we get to see the difference Annual Fund giving makes all across campus. I love that we aren’t just asking people to give, but we’re sharing the stories behind what their generosity makes possible.
What did it mean to you when you were chosen by your peers to serve as President/Vice President?
Payton: Being chosen by my peers to serve as President this year has truly meant the world to me. I have a genuine passion for this club and recognize how much potential it has to make an impact at Trinity. Since we officially received club status this year, I’m especially excited to help build a strong foundation for the club and see it continue to grow in the years ahead. Knowing that my peers trusted me to lead this club is an honor, and I want to make the most of that opportunity by helping our members share the impact of the Annual Fund and make a difference in our Trinity community.
What have you learned about the Annual Fund and its impact on our school since becoming involved?
Payton: Being involved in the High School Annual Funds these past three years has taught me just how much of an impact generosity can have on our school. I’ve learned that the Annual Fund isn’t just about raising money; it's about giving students opportunities and improving their everyday experiences at Trinity. Whether it’s new equipment, transportation, campus improvements, or opportunities for students, so much of what we experience at school is made possible through the generosity of our community. It has really opened my eyes to the importance of giving back.
What are you most excited about as you begin this new club at TCS?
Payton: I am so incredibly grateful that we were able to achieve official club status this year! I’m most excited for the opportunity to build something new at Trinity and create a strong foundation for the Annual Fund Ambassadors Club for years to come. It gives students a chance to be recognized for the work they do, but importantly. It gives us a platform to share the impact of the Annual Fund with our school community. I’m excited to see more students get involved, tell the stories behind Annual Fund giving, and help make generosity a bigger part of our culture at Trinity.
What does leadership mean to you, and how do you hope to demonstrate it through this role?
Andrea: I believe that leadership means being not only helping yourself well, but being a foundation that allows others around you to thrive. I have learned that leadership is not just a title or the idea of being in charge, but small actions like taking initiative, staying put together, or being willing to listen to others. As Vice President of the Ambassadors club, I hope to foster a Christ centered community emphasizing organization, creativity, and consistency. I am hoping to lead by good example and take responsibility for things needing to be done. Overall, I desire to be a Vice President who can turn ideas into actions that will continue to improve our school community.
When you look back at the end of this school year, what would make you say, “We made a difference”?
Andrea: When I look back at the end of this school year, I would say our club made a difference when I see the work we did actually benefited our school and the students in it. As vice president, I do not want our club to be just about raising money, I want us to be a team that sees our school’s needs and works together to make them better. When we are able to use the money we have raised for things students and teachers genuinely benefit from, raise more awareness about our cause, and overall leave the school better than we found it, I believe we could look back and say our club truly made a difference.
If you could leave the TCS community with one message about generosity, leadership, and investing in our school, what would you say?
Andrea: If I could leave our community with one message about generosity, leadership and investing in our school, I would specifically note that generosity is really choosing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. When you invest in our school, you are helping create opportunities for current people as well as the people to come. I believe Jesus represents a perfect example of leadership, modeling these ideals so well, using what He had to serve others and making a lasting impact on them. Whether through time, resources, or even being willing to step up, I hope it is visible that what we give to the school has the potential to shape the community we leave behind.