Commencement Ceremony 2025
Commencement Speaker
CDS is pleased to announce Dr. Tracy Jessup as this year's Commencement speaker. Dr. Tracy Jessup is the Vice President for Christian Life and Senior Minister to the University at Anderson University in Anderson, SC, where he also serves as Associate Professor of Christian Ministry and Worship Leadership. He has the responsibilities of overseeing campus ministries, chapel programs, and partnerships with organizations such as Clayton King Ministries, as well as providing pastoral care to the university family and serving on the President’s Senior Leadership Team. Prior to joining Anderson University in August 2022, Tracy served for 30 years at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, most recently as Vice President for Christian Life and Service and Senior Minister to the University.
A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Tracy holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, a Master of Divinity from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and a B.A. in Music Education from Gardner-Webb University. Throughout his ministry in Christian higher education, he has also served as an interim pastor at numerous churches in North and South Carolina.
Tracy and his wife Teresa have been married for almost 36 years and have two children. Their son Christian and daughter-in-law Megan live in Raleigh, NC and are expecting their first child. Their daughter Anna and son-in-law Levi live in Bessemer City, NC.
Calvary Day School’s Valedictorian for the class of 2025 is Preston Redfield. Preston is the son of Darren and Kristin Redfield. Preston has attended CDS for thirteen years. He will also be graduating from Forsyth Technical Community College with a certificate in Programming and Software Development.
At CDS, Preston was a member of the men’s varsity soccer team, who won two state championships. Preston is president of Calvary’s Mu Alpha Theta Chapter, a member of the National Honor Society, the Science National Honor Society, the English National Honor Society, the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, the International Thespian Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society. At Forsyth Tech, Preston is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Technical Honor Society. Preston is also an AP Scholar with distinction and was selected by Spectrum News as a High School Scholar of the Week. For the class of 2024 graduation ceremony, he was a chief junior marshal.
Preston attends Calvary Baptist Church, where he has served in the Production ministry for over 500 hours. His life verse is Romans 12:10.
Preston will be attending North Carolina State University this fall where he will study Chemical Engineering.
Calvary Day School's Salutatorian for the Class of 2025 is Addison Hinson. Addison is the daughter of Matt and Sarah Hinson and has attended CDS for seven years.
During high school, Addison pursued her passions for agriculture and business. She worked in operations for a microgreens manufacturer and marketing for a national engineering firm. She also volunteered hundreds of hours as a farmhand, tending animals and teaching local children about the nuances of North Carolina Agriculture.
At CDS, Addison was captain of multiple varsity sports, earning state individual and team awards in Track and Cross Country. She is co-president of the CDS Girls Service Club, which connects girls to volunteer opportunities across Winston-Salem, and served multiple state-level leadership roles as a part of Youth in Government.
Addison is a member of the National Honor Society and was named an AP Scholar with distinction. She is a member of multiple subject-specific honor societies, including the Science National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, English National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society.
Addison attends Center Grove Baptist Church, where she serves in the children’s ministry. Her life verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Addison will attend the honors college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall as a Morehead-Cain Scholar, where she will study Finance and Public Policy.
