This year, Great Hearts Anthem [1] will celebrate a meaningful milestone with the graduation of its first group of students to complete their entire K–12 journey within the Great Hearts community. These 12 seniors in the Class of 2026, that we have ceremoniously named Legacy Seniors, began their academic careers as kindergartners in the same academy.
They have grown up together, reading classic literature, solving math problems by asking questions, reciting poetry, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue in their Humane Letters seminars. From their earliest handwriting lessons to their final thesis defenses, they’ve been shaped by the principles of a classical liberal arts education.
Oliver A.
[2]
Oliver will study health sciences at Northern Arizona University [3] and plans on becoming an anesthesiologist. He ran track and played both soccer and football, as well as being an honor roll student. Oliver received the NAU Lumberjack Scholars Award, a highly competitive, full-tuition merit scholarship for incoming Arizona resident freshmen attending the Flagstaff Mountain campus.
Madison D.
[4]
Madison plans to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) at Arizona State University [5] to study fashion merchandising with a minor in marketing or art history. She played varsity volleyball her junior and senior years and club her sophomore and junior years with the Anthem Prep girls. She says her favorite class was art with Ms. Chumley. While an Archway student, she remembers rides, games, and dancing at the Sock Hop and Fall Fest, field day competitions, the Alice in Wonderland party, and the Greek party.
Madison H.
[6]
Madison plans on going to Ottawa University [7] to major in nursing as well as continuing her basketball career. Her goal is to be ER nurse after college. “I’ve made so many amazing friendships, some that started when I was five years old in kindergarten and are still solid to this day. Along with my classmates, the teachers have been amazing and especially after being here for 13 years. It’s still fun to walk around the archway hallways and see some of my old teachers! I am really looking forward to graduating but not being able to see the people every day that l’ve gone to school with since kindergarten is not going be easy,” she said.
Vanessa H.
[8]
Vanessa plans to attend Baylor University [9], where she received a $100,000 merit scholarship. She will be majoring in nursing. “I could not be more grateful for my experience at Anthem Prep. As challenging as this curriculum was, it pushed me beyond limits I never knew I could reach. Apart from academics, I have made so many lifelong connections throughout all 13 years of my life,” she shared. “My favorite memories would have to be from every field trip we’ve taken throughout the years. Whether it was the science fair, pioneer village, or Washington DC, I made so many memories and connections with my classmates that will stick with me for a lifetime. These friendships supported me through every late-night study session and hardship. Lastly, I give all the credit to my teachers. Each teacher has encouraged me through my educational journey, and I truly believe I would not have received these deep connections elsewhere.”
Abigail K.
[10]
Abigail has committed to Grand Canyon University [11] and plans to study nursing. She hopes to either be an ER nurse or a surgical nurse, as well as move to the East Coast. “Anthem Prep has given me such valuable friendships throughout the years. It really is so special to be able to know people in my graduating class since kindergarten,” she said. “The teachers at Anthem Prep have also been such a blessing, it’s so special to have such a small school and be able to have teachers that truly care about their students and what they teach. I know I will miss being able to have seminars about the classic books we read but I am so grateful I was able to read them with people that cared to talk about them. As exciting as graduation will be, I know I will miss having such a small community and having these classmates and teachers.”
Lydia L.
[12]
Lydia will attend the Ingrim Honors College at Grand Canyon University [13] and major in theology. She was a mentor at the academy since sixth grade, which led to her attending a trip to the World War II Museum in New Orleans with a World War II veteran [14]. Lydia built the schools Archway and Prep library, with a selection of over 8,000 books. [15] Her favorite book was Pride and Prejudice.
Margaret O.
[16]
Margaret has been admitted to Midwestern University’s PharmD [17] dual admission program and recently presented a research poster on behalf of Anthem Prep and Midwestern University at the Drug Development Conference in San Diego. A PharmD is a doctorate degree program in pharmacy that is a terminal degree that leads to a pharmacy license. This Conference built upon her Calculus 2 project on Pharmacokinetics at Anthem Prep, gave her a forum to present her research, and allowed her to make professional contacts in the pharmacy industry.
Brighton P.
[18]
This fall, Brighton will be attending Cedarville University [19] in Ohio. She will major in biology and Minor in biblical studies. One of her memories from kindergarten was when the teacher announced that if you were obedient, each week good students would be eligible to win a “Ticket to the Moon.” Brighton tried as hard as she could to be good each week. Finally, the teacher announced “Brighton Pillsbury” as the ticket winner! She was so excited because Brighton thought she was actually going to the moon! She couldn’t wait to tell her family when she got home. However, she unfortunately told her older brother first about the amazing trip. Tyler quickly crushed her dreams with the reality that the ticket was no good and would not actually get her to the moon. Brighton burst into tears. Her first big dream was shattered by reality.
Jack S.
[20]
Jack will be attending Grand Canyon University [11] in the fall to study theater. “I am eternally grateful for the education I received at Great Hearts Anthem,” he shared. His favorite thesis book was Les Miserables.
Joshua S.
[21]
After graduation, Joshua plans to attend Grand Canyon University [11] and major in cybersecurity. He hopes to pursue a career helping law enforcement with cybercrime investigations or working in the private sector and is excited to explore where that path leads. Some of his notable achievements include building his own computer, participating in multiple mission trips to Mexico to help build homes for families in need, working at Fry’s Food Stores for the past two years, being a member of concert choir, and performing in two school musicals.
Ella T.
[22]
Ella is on to UCLA [23] in the fall to study classical civilization. She loved reading Anne of Green Gables and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Nicholas V.
[24]
Nicholas will attend Miami University [25] in Oxford, Ohio, where he received the RedHawk Excellence Scholarship. He was accepted into the Farmer School of Business [26] with a major in finance. Nicholas is a four-time Individual State Qualifier for tennis in Division III. He earned Section Player of the Year 2024-25 (Doubles), Second Team All Region Football in 2023, and the Elks Student of the Year Award 2025. Nicholas plans on using his finance degree to start a non-profit for Veterans.
[27]
Great Hearts Anthem [1] honors these students for blazing a trail that others will now follow. Their example is an inspiration to younger scholars walking the same halls they once did, reminding us all of the power of consistency, community, and a rich education rooted in Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org [28].
Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/ [29].