He then spoke about the personal sacrifices his mom, Tremaine Tucker, made for him. "For me personally, that sacrifice was made real through my mom. I remember times when she worked extra hours and gave up things she wanted... I know she is a reflection of the sacrifices many of you made. We saw it, and we appreciate it."

   Those are sacrifices Tremaine Tucker says she would make again in a heartbeat. 

The decision to send Khalil to Bishop Noll Institute was an easy one, she said. Her daughter, Nia, was already thriving there. 

   “Being a single mom of an African American boy, I felt it necessary to pair Khalil with a school that would provide a safe environment for Khalil to express his creativity.  I also needed Khalil to be in a space where structure and discipline is prioritized. These things are what motivated me to choose Bishop Noll for him.”

   The sacrifices, most notably time, were plenty as his academic curriculum meant late nights helping him study. She was also an active volunteer as a Noll parent. 

   “Just to see the growth and successes that my children have achieved already, and they haven’t even reached ‘the real world’ yet, it makes me so proud to have been able to give them a Bishop Noll education.”

   The most challenging time came during Khalil's junior year. His sickle cell disease led to monthly hospitalizations, and he began to feel defeated and ready to give up. As his grades slipped, he considered leaving Bishop Noll for a public school. Her own thoughts were conflicted as she debated spending money on private school but she soon realized that Bishop Noll was giving him more than just an education.

   “The outpouring of love and concern for Khalil’s health from the staff, parents and students was amazing. The teachers worked with him, the staff checked on him all the time, and the students sent so much love his way it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life. That is why I chose to keep Khalil enrolled in Bishop Noll.”

   In his speech, Khalil said his mom’s strength and sacrifice were part of the reason he was standing on the BNI stage graduating, and “I know many of my classmates have stories just like mine. From me, the class of 2025, and the entire Bishop Noll family, thank you for your sacrifices, your support, and for your belief in what this kind of community can do.”

   That inclusive environment at Noll was crucial in shaping Khalil into the confident young man he is today, she said. 

   “There were times when Khalil felt left out at school and at home prior to him attending Bishop Noll,” she said. Bishop Noll highlighted his talents and made him feel like he was part of something special. This newfound confidence transformed him into a leader. 

   Beyond academics and personal growth, the school nurtured Khalil’s spirituality. 

   “I know that without the retreats that take place, Khalil would have never experienced the depth of his spiritual side that he has been experiencing. The retreats awakened his senses and put him in a different headspace as it pertains to religion.”

   The retreats impacted Khlail so much that he became a retreat counselor.

   “I would advise any parent considering Bishop Noll to do it,” Tremaine said. “Don’t hesitate. Let your child be a part of an environment that cares not only about your child but their well being and development. I have children that attended public schools and the experience they had vs. the experience my children who graduated from Bishop Noll had were night and day. If you put your child in Bishop Noll you can guarantee you are gaining an extended family for your child and that’s what children need to become outstanding citizens.”