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A love for climbing

CCS students share in a couple’s experience

October 22, 2025 by Michelle Hollenhead, Correspondent

Thanks to a family’s love of climbing, Concord Christian School students are experiencing a whole new world.

CCS teacher Cari Welsh and her husband, Rick, founded Concord Climbing Club two years ago — an effort the outdoor-loving couple first discovered at Paideia Academy, where Cari previously taught.

“Because [Paideia] was small, there were limited competitive athletics,” Cari explained of the origins of that club, which was founded by David Leach.

“We started participating as soon as it was offered when our oldest, Lilly, was in sixth grade,” she said. “Rick helped coach while our daughters climbed there.

“We were really excited when they offered it as a co-ed extracurricular activity because of our previous experience with climbing.”

Based on that previous experience, Cari said the couple wanted to start the club at Concord “because [ultimately] climbing encourages camaraderie and school spirit.”

Lilly has since graduated, and now, younger daughter, Piper, a CCS sophomore, is a member of Concord Climbing Club, making it a true family affair.

Cari, a native of Kingsport, said she began climbing at River Sports in her “early 20s, and loved it. It was just a great way to challenge myself and have fun.”

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Plawchan receives P.E.O. STAR Scholarship

October 22, 2025 by Staff Reports

Farragut High School graduate Sofia Plawchan, who spent her senior year in residence at The Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, recently was selected to receive the competitive STAR Scholarship of $2,500 from the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood.

P.E.O. Chapter AH of East Tennessee recommended and sponsored Plawchan.

“The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional women, in their final year of high school, to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the USA or Canada during the next academic year,” a P.E.O. press release stated. “The STAR Scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success.

“Sofia leads with her musical talents, sharing her skills on bass clarinet and saxophone in Farragut High School marching bands, concerts and plays during her high school career,” the press release

stated. “As a leader in music, she also won many awards at state and national competitions. Her community service included over 50 hours through the National Honors Society.”

Additionally, Plawchan received high praise from a local middle school for her work with their musical instruments, supplies and especially her work with the youth, encouraging their interest in music.

“Her physical talents and leadership skills also shined on the soccer field, where she played as a team member for many years and later became a certified referee and member of USSF Referee Association, Tennessee Branch.

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