The teachers at The Franciscan School are thoughtful and intentional, but they often don’t realize their impact can create ripple effects with their students. For alumni Nathan Sopko, two teachers in particular made that type of impact on him. “Mrs. Giannini sparked my passion for history so much that I am now a history minor at Gonzaga. I can thank her for beginning my history journey.” Similarly, Mrs. Dellasega became Nathan’s Confirmation sponsor, and he felt that in the classroom, she cared about the whole student, not just their academics. 

Nathan attended TFS from kindergarten through 8th grade and graduated in 2018. He went to Cardinal Gibbons High School and graduated in 2022. He is now a junior at Gonzaga University, a Catholic university in Spokane, Washington. “Moving across the country led to unique and unanticipated challenges to overcome,” shares Nathan. “ Yet, I have met people that I know will be my friends for the rest of my life and have had experiences that are unique and special, such as College Gameday.” Nathan has enjoyed playing intramural sports with his friends and creating relationships with faculty, especially his Business Law professor.

Nathan is majoring in Finance with a minor in History. He has many ideas and aspirations for what’s next after he graduates from college in a few years. While at Gonzaga, he enjoys utilizing all of the great outdoor activities around the school, such as skiing, hiking, and going to the nearby lakes.

Over the last few summers, Nathan worked at Brier Creek Country Club and interned at State Farm Insurance. After six years in the Boy Scouts of America, Nathan earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He held the positions of Den Leader, Patrol Leader, and Scribe. He also spent many years playing high-level baseball with Team Elite Baseball and Purpose Driven Baseball.

TFS played a pivotal role in Nathan’s life, setting the foundation for all he enjoys and achieves. “TFS means many things to me, but one of the greatest things is the long-lasting relationships, both with the teachers and the students, many of whom I am still close with today.” 

One of Nathan’s favorite memories of his time at TFS was all nine years of field days. Whether they were inside because of the weather or outside, he enjoyed every minute of them. “Mrs. Bigelow and Mr. Watson always knew how to make the most of the day,” Nathan shares. He also enjoyed attending the Shamrock Basketball Tournament in Charlotte during his eighth-grade year, competing against other Catholic school teams around the state. “This tournament made all the hard work to make the team worth it,” he says. 

When thinking about what to share with current students at TFS today, Nathan tells us, “Meet as many new people as possible. You go from seeing your friends every day for 9 months to them going to different high schools seeing them maybe once a week, to then only seeing them when home for breaks. It goes fast, so go up to that person you are nervous to talk to or introduce yourself to a teacher that you have not introduced yourself to yet. Those relationships might blossom into something much bigger than you could imagine.”