Latham Christian Academy is privileged to have four graduating seniors during the 2020 – 2021 school year. Half of those in the Class of 2021 have attended LCA for a long time, and all four have become good friends during their time here. We will be highlighting one of the seniors each month in an article published in our Knightline newsletter. We begin this week with senior Caleb Desnoyers.
Caleb has been a student at LCA since K5 with Mrs. Mein. He and fellow senior David Arthur have been together for nearly 13 years as students here.
Caleb’s family plays a central role in his life. Caleb’s mother grew up in Stowe, Vermont. His grandmother was a psychiatric nurse technician who transferred into long term home-providing for special needs individuals. This desire to care for others was certainly passed along to Caleb’s mother who also worked in hospice care for many years and now serves as the Activities Director at the Warren Center for Rehabilitation.
Caleb’s father grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. (Now we all understand why the family is New England Patriots fans!) Caleb’s grandfather was a chemist at GE and worked as the head of a large department there. Caleb’s father was serving on the pastoral staff in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, when he met Caleb’s mother. They married in 2001.
Caleb has two older siblings. His brother is a stonemason who lives in Stillwater and his sister works as a supervisor at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont.
Caleb came along in 2003, born in Morrisville, Vermont. When he was only six months old, his father accepted the pastorate of Highway Tabernacle and moved to this area. Pastor Desnoyers continues his ministry there and is now the longest serving pastor in the history of this church.
During his years at LCA, Caleb has certainly packed away many special memories. He especially remembers being in Mrs. Parker’s class, describing her as “flamboyant” and remembering all of the extra-curricular activities and especially her many field trips. Caleb also remembers classes with Mr. Fry, describing those classes as engaging.
A former classmate of Caleb’s, Xavier Courtwright, also stands out in Caleb’s memory. He recalls that they got in a lot of trouble together in 6th grade for “stuff” and that they like to wrestle and have healthy scuffles!
Of course, Caleb will always remember classmate David Arthur as well, having been together for nearly 13 years now! Caleb describes David as a “room brightener,” someone who makes a crowd turn around whenever he enters the room.
Having grown up in a pastor’s home, Caleb always knew of his need for salvation. He accepted Christ as his Savior in 6th grade after his grandmother passed away. He remembers, “I had to make sure.” He was baptized a few months later by his father at Highway Tabernacle. Caleb has been very involved at his church, working in the sound system for many years and now being involved in community outreach, working in maintenance, and filling in wherever he is needed during a service. Caleb serves faithfully here at LCA as a prayer group leader, a role he has held since 11th grade.
Caleb has also been very involved in athletics, but baseball and basketball have been his favorites. Caleb began playing baseball in Little League when he was 6 years old and has played nearly every year since then, usually as first baseman or catcher with some time pitching as well. Here at LCA, Caleb has played basketball each year since 6th grade and hopes to be able to finish out here this year.
Caleb works hard, working in landscaping for two summers and then as a general laborer and a carpenter’s assistant for Cross-Country Telecommunications last summer.
As Caleb prepares for graduation in a few months, he will look back on many good years at LCA. The Bible classes have been special, especially starting in 9th grade with Pastor Sam when the big group of senior high boys bonded quickly. Caleb plans to enlist in the Marines after graduation where he hopes to pursue a career in military intelligence, although he knows he actually will go wherever he is ordered! He hopes to become an officer in the Marines eventually.
Caleb’s advice to the underclassmen here is to enjoy each year as you have to work harder each year to come. He has two special Scripture passages. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Caleb also loves the comfort of Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.”