Koehler, Ryan share honor of being Elliot Christian valedictorian

By Julie Z. Giese
News-Sentinel staff writer

Grace Koehler and Elisabeth Ryan have much in common.

Grace Koehler

They both have brown hair. They’ve participated in choir and drama and share a strong Christian faith. And they both earned exactly the same academic marks.

With 3.9 GPAs, the two teens shared the honor of being Jim Elliot Christian High School’s valedictorian for the Class of 2002.

Koehler didn’t expect to get any special recognition for her grades while Ryan had her sights set on being the top student.

“I never thought in the world I would come this far,” said Koehler, 18, who enrolled in Elliot after completing her studies at Galt Christian School.

Ryan came to Elliot two years ago after being home schooled and felt perfectly at home on the campus. The pair said they liked the small school setting at Elliot and the spiritual focus of the campus. Both Koehler and Ryan credit their success to a strong Christian faith.

“I couldn’t have done it without God. He gave me the strength to do it,” Ryan said.

Elisabeth Ryan

Koehler agreed.

The two teens said they’ll miss their friends and teachers after leaving high school.

“I’ll miss being a little kid,” Koehler said.

“I don’t want to grow up,” the pair lamented in unison, then burst into laughter.

Koehler will attend San Joaquin Delta College in the fall to learn about fashion design and marketing while Ryan plans to attend Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, Mo., to major in biblical studies and elementary education.

Koehler lives in Galt with her parents, Scott and Sara, and five siblings.

Ryan is a Lockeford resident. Her parents are Jack and Anna Ryan. She has an older brother and a younger sister.