When Grady Lawrence graduates from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland on June 6, he will be carrying on a family tradition that began in 1965 when his grandfather, Roy Kilby, graduated from the Trinitarian-sponsored all-boys school.
The graduating senior said his grandfather “was the main reason why I decided to attend because of the great things he said about it. Now that I have been at DeMatha for four years, I realize that he was right. DeMatha is a great place.”
The tradition will continue after Lawrence leaves – he has twin brothers who are sophomores at DeMatha.
The son of John and Erin Lawrence of Davidsonville, Maryland, Lawrence played varsity soccer for his school. As captain of the team, he helped lead DeMatha to the championship games last fall, but the Stags lost in the finals.
“I have gained a lot of discipline, teamwork skills and leadership skills while playing,” he said of his time on the field.
He earned a scholarship to Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, and plans to major in sports management and minor in business. He said that after college he would like to become a soccer coach because “I enjoy being around soccer, and coaching it as my job sounds like a dream.”
Lawrence, who attends Holy Family Parish in Davidsonville, was an altar server at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Owings until he was in the eighth grade and his family relocated to Davidsonville. In recent years, he has been an altar server at DeMatha for school Masses.
“Attending a Catholic high school was a great choice, and it has helped me through my high school years,” he said. “It played a huge role in strengthening my Catholic faith, keeping me surrounded by people who share my faith, instilling important principles in my life, and helping me use those principles to succeed.”
Outside of the classroom and off the soccer pitch, Lawrence
participated in various community service events, mainly at Kingdom Cares in Calverton, Maryland, which assists less fortunate families in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County with groceries. There, Lawrence worked mainly as a stocker and a checkout worker.
“I was able to help out, but more importantly connect with these families and even have in-depth conversations with them,” he said. “The experience was great and helped remind me of how good I have it, and also how important it is to help out in your local community. All the volunteers were extremely nice and selfless, and I often got a chance to get to know some of the families.”
Noting that his four years at DeMatha “have flown by,” and that he is “very excited to move on to the next chapter” of his life, Lawrence said he recognizes the value of the education he received at the school.
“It may be harder than your traditional high school, but it instills in you important values and prepares you for your future,” he said. “The main things I take with me for the rest of my life are the importance of hard work, patience and gratitude, always approaching life with a thankful heart, and a determination to succeed. DeMatha has taught me how to truly become a faith-filled gentleman and scholar.”
