Student Life
Fall Choir Concert
By Danielle Bartholet
The recent fall choir concert, held on October 11, was a landmark event for both the Incarnate Word and St. Thomas choirs, led by choir director Joshua Wilson and joined by pianist Aaron Hervey. It was the first performance in almost two years that the choir was able to hold, due to the Covid 19 pandemic that kept professional and local performances alike on hold around the globe. This significance became the focal point for the concert, its songs, and its theme, Songs of Healing and Peace.
Each song’s central message was related to the peace and grace of God in times of trouble, and calling on the Lord for comfort in the midst of turmoil. One of these songs, sung toward the end of the concert, In Paradisum by Z. Randall Stroope, was actually written during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic last year. The song was dedicated to the victims of the virus and their families. The song used Latin phrases and traditional melodies from the requiem mass, during which the soul is blessed and departs into the next life to join the Lord. The song evoked a sense of paradise and peace in God, brought to fruition with the beautiful voices of the IWA and STH choirs.
A beautiful moment during the concert was when choir director, Joshua Wilson, invited the audience to sing along on the last verse of the song, Lift Every Voice and Sing by J. Rosamond Johnson, quoting about how it is not a choir concert until everyone is singing. This moment brought the audience together through the music and really showed how it can be a powerful tool to unite the world especially during a period of suffering.
In addition to the wonderful singing, the concert included poetry readings that related to the songs about to be sung. Samples from poems like Caged Bird by Maya Angelou and i thank you God for most this amazing by e.e. cummings, were read by members of the choir and were an excellent addition to the feel of the concert.
There were also harp solos from two Incarnate Word students, Nora Navarro ‘23 and Miranda Rinaldi ‘24, whose beautiful instrumental work completed the ambiance of peace found only in God during the trying times of the ongoing pandemic.
Ann Nguyen
By Sarah Douglass
Ann Nguyen, class of 2022, has shown exemplary performance in her years here at Incarnate Word Academy. Ann has accumulated many accomplishments as a result of her hard work in a competitive school environment. She scored in the top 3% of scholars in all of the National Merit participants and received the Commended Scholar Award from them. She is also a senior co-chair in the school’s Campus Ministry Team, actively participating in spiritual life on campus, as well as an officer for the Teen’s for Unity leadership team. Ann hopes to attend Johns Hopkins University for graduate school and she aspires to become a Physician’s Assistant.
Halloween
Check out all the fun Halloween costumes from this year!
Photos by Alexandra Ganim & Mary Flaherty
A Conversation With Mr. Comer
By Nanea White
Almost everyone here at IWA is familiar with our favorite freshman biology teacher, Mr. Comer. From the nicknames he gives to his students, to the classic rock that can be heard from his room on the second floor, it’s very well known that he is a class favorite.
Mr. Comer started his career at the Harris County Criminal Court House as a deputy district clerk while taking time off college; and soon knew that this wasn’t the path he wanted to take. After reading his favorite biography called I Believe by Grant Teaff (who happens to be Mr. Comer’s favorite football coach), he was inspired to pursue his interest in teaching and helping young people learn and grow. He and his wife quit their jobs and moved to Waco, Texas where he went to Baylor University full time for his degree; and later became the teacher that we know and love.
For him, it's all about how he can impact every student that walks into his classroom and help them grow into the people they are meant to be. Out of all of his past achievements, including impressive feats in football such as the playoff runs, the quarter final games at the astrodome, and the 6A championship game; the greatest accomplishment is the relationships he has developed and the lives he’s gotten to be a part of over the past 36 years. He remains in touch with hundreds of his former students through social media (his first class being in their 50’s), and being able to be a part of their journey through life is one of the things that Mr. Comer values most.
“Getting to be a part of their lives and help them on their journey and watch them develop into some of the best people on earth is my greatest reward and accomplishment.” - Mr. Comer
His caring nature toward his students and the love he has for teaching is part of what has made Mr. Comer one of the most beloved teachers at IWA. Mr. Comer plans to teach at IWA for as long as he possibly can, saying “As long as I can make it up the stairs, and still have the love, enthusiasm, joy, and desire to continue trying to inspire young people about science, then I want to keep doing it.”