Tribute to Timothy

We unexpectedly lost Timothy Dien, our friend, classmate, and student, on Friday, January 7, 2022. 

Students and staff shared cherished memories of their time with Timothy and the impact he had on their lives.

From students: 
“Timothy was the kind of person who was a silent leader. He was also someone who wouldn’t want to be in the spotlight. But once you got to know him, he was the most caring, funny, and selfless person. He would do anything to help others. I remember him making me laugh in PE class because we didn’t want to run and always complained about it. He always knew how to make people feel better. Even though he’s not with us here on Earth, I know that we will all keep him in our hearts and see him again in Heaven.” - Blessing Simamora

“The most memorable moments I have with Timothy I will forever cherish; from our afternoon soccer games to our stressful late study nights, Timothy was always there for me, and I’ll never forget the times we had together.” - Geraldy Marvel

“If we’re being honest, anyone who knew Timothy knew that he wasn’t the most fond of me because I always made him uncomfortable with my jokes. Although, in a way, those jokes made us kind of close. He was honestly a selfless person, and he was always humble. He was smart and sometimes quietly competitive. I sat next to him in AmLit and whenever his answer made it onto the TV screen, he always made sure that I knew because he wanted to compete with our answers to see who had a better one that pertained to the question. All in all, he was an intelligent guy that was a good friend with good morals. I’m gonna miss him.” - Melody Mambo

“Most of my memories with him are when I was in his room doing homework, hanging out, and playing sports with him. He was always willing to help me back into the dorm when I forgot my keycard inside. He was a very intelligent person and had an elite sense of humor. ” - Preston Sturges

“A great memory I had with Timothy, my last in person interaction with him, was just last month while taking him home from church. We were teasing him about having a girlfriend and giving him advice on updating his style. If you knew Timothy his go-to outfit was his gray zip up, cargo shorts, and his Nikes. And although we gave him so many options, he surprised me by saying ‘Nah, I don’t wanna change myself for anyone.’ Timothy was humble when it came to friends, education, and even simple clothes. It makes me want to become more comfortable with myself. Timothy didn’t worry about what others thought of him. And that's something we all could learn. I’m forever grateful my last memory with Timothy was a joyful one. I can’t wait to see him again.” -Abby Waworoendeng

From staff members:
“It was an honor to have been Timothy's Bible teacher. While 7:00 a.m. is an early start time for school, Timothy brought a consistent calm to the room. During our discussions in class, he would always have a wise answer to share. He had knowledge beyond his years, and was well versed concerning the Bible. Within one of his assignments, he had chosen the following as verses which resonated with him, and brought him reassurance and comfort: Joshua 1:9, Jeremiah 31:3, and Nahum 1:7. May these bring us comfort as well, as we hold onto our memories of Timothy and the hope of our Lord's return.” - Nancy Meszaros

"Tim was a quiet scholar. He was in my physics and pre-calc classes. These are hard classes. He never seemed stressed but just kept up a steady pace. Tim was a willing and helpful partner in the labs. In the evenings he worked as a tutor in the dorm for any students who were falling behind. Students appreciated his help in their schoolwork. Tim’s absence leaves a large hole in our hearts and school." - Kent Kast

"Timothy was a good student in my class. He did more than well. He was independent and got his work done. He also achieved the highest typing speed of any student that I have had in class typing 128 words per minute on the typing speed test we had in November. We will miss Timothy and his talent." - Steve Eickmann

“I hadn’t known Timothy for long, but I was privileged to be his teacher for a semester. He was an exceptional student who worked hard and was high achieving. Some qualities I noticed was that even though he was quiet, he was a good influence and a great listener. He led by example rather than words. He was respectful, kind and patient. He often tutored his classmates who needed help, and he was well loved by them for that. He could take a joke and was bashful, but that made for some fun moments in class. I wish I could have taught him more. He was a rare student and one who challenged me to be a better teacher. To all of Timothy’s friends, I know you will feel his loss in your lives. I want to send my love and prayers to all of you and to his family.” - Erin Johnson