Page 75 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

EXCEPTIONAL SENIORS

a resource center in Prague that needed to amass Science professor and researcher at Texas Tech, and was
microscopes and other science equipment for missionary immediately captivated by her vision. When Michelle
families homeschooling their children. Many of the thought of Dr. Murimi, she begged us to “Tell her
donations came from West Texas and were shipped story instead of
overseas in a large container. She remembers anxiously mine.” Senior Link
awaiting its arrival for six long weeks. When the doors recognized the
opened, a small gift from home, “a good ol’ West Texas value of honoring
tumbleweed” rolled out. Friends were puzzled by the both influencers/
tears in her eyes, but for Michelle, it represented a piece educators. Don’t
of home at the start of her new adventure. miss Dr. Murimi’s
amazing story
She continued her work with students from all over that immediately
Europe and the world, not just as a teacher, but also follows this
as an educational consultant for missionary families one. Thank you,
throughout the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. Michelle, for
She coordinated college fairs in Budapest, Vienna, continuing to
Prague, Madrid, and other cities across Europe. She teach, inspire, and
conducted studies of many European public schools point us toward
to advise missionary families regarding the national opportunities to
schools. serve.

After 12 years of mission work, 2006 seemed like a good
time to transition back to the States. This time, she’d be
coming home, not to raise support, but to stay.
Trinity Christian High School was happy to
reinstate one of their favorite Science teachers.
For the last 18 years, she taught Honors Biology
and Honors A&P at TCHS where she also served
as Freshman Class sponsor and coordinator for
multiple mission trips, including to Poland and
Israel. She completed that rewarding chapter of
her life when she retired in 2023.

Her former students have nothing but respect and
admiration for Ms. Baxter. One student had this
to say: “Michelle Baxter did not fit the stereotype
of the traditional ‘sweet and precious’ Christian
schoolteacher. She was comfortable with who she
was—no pretense or facade. She was passionate
about science and about her faith, without
sounding ‘forced.’ She is the kind of real Christian
I wanted to model my life after.” Interestingly,
that student went on to earn a Biology degree
from TTU.

Since retiring, Michelle enjoys gardening, travel,
deep sea fishing, and hopes to learn pickleball.
Most notably, however, she has a new passion.
It is the Top of the Hill Girls Secondary School in
a village outside of Nairobi, Kenya. She became On behalf of the alumni of Trinity Christian High
School, we would like to publicly thank
acquainted with Dr. Mary Murimi, a Nutritional Michelle Baxter for her tremendous influence,
inspiration, and impact at TCHS.

Lubbock Senior Link 75