WOODBURY – 750 miscellaneous faces fade in and out of hallways and classrooms every day at Nonnewaug High School. 750 students go to and from classes, arriving at 7:25 and dismissing at 2:15. It is easy to get lost in the routine, the conglomerate of the student body becoming an indiscernible blur. 

But every once in a while, you get a student of unique stature and character, a refreshing burst of individuality. 

Ray Lomax is a student with a singular reputation. Well known by his peers and teachers for his kindness, his endeavors–and also his shoes–Lomax is his own entity. Lomax can be found after school trying to better himself, either honing his skills with after-school SAT prep, or always being the last one to finish a test due to his attention to details, or maybe you’ll see him in another classroom during the advisory period helping conduct activities with a group of Freshman with The Harbor Program. You might also see him after-school on the Unified Basketball team. Either way, he can be found anywhere where there’s a team to work with or something exemplary to be done. 

According to Lomax, his admirable demeanor comes from his upbringing.

“To be honest, I believe that it starts at home,” said Lomax. “I thank my parents greatly for my social awareness and maturity. Although there is a role on my part in how I act, the way they have raised me and pushed me has been a great factor behind how I carry myself outside of my home. Having exposure to diverse groups of people throughout my life has forged my interest in getting to know people in a way that is respectful.”

With Lomax’s values and magnetic personality, he’s become the face of NHS’ campus during his tenure.

“I would say that I’m outgoing when it comes to getting to know people, hence the fact that most people know me,” said Lomax. 

Most people really do know Ray Lomax, and his peers look up to him. 

“Ray is an excellent student, helpful in all regards, and passionate about the things he loves,” said Spencer Maletzke, one of Ray’s classmates and friends. “He founded the FCA at Nonnewaug and takes a lot of pride in it.”

The FCA, or The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is an after school club. It’s Lomax’s brainchild and Mastery Based Learning Experience, or MBLE, a graduation requirement for Lomax and his fellow 2025 graduates.

“Ray started the FCA as his MBLE [project] , it’s a unique idea,” said Bunovsky, who is the advisor of the FCA and a history instructor at Nonnewaug. “He has a unique ability to command the respect of other kids, but he can joke around with them too, so it runs pretty smoothly.”

Lomax’s qualities as a leader work in tandem with his desire to improve; he works to help himself and those around him.

“Starting FCA was an ambition and goal that I had as I entered my junior year,” said Lomax, who since freshman year has desired to see a club that provides an inclusive environment for student-athletes to work together. “Over the course of my junior and senior year, FCA has really revealed who I am and who I am becoming; FCA has confirmed and strengthened the aspiration that I have to educate and empower those around me, including myself.”

Lomax exudes selflessness, and is humble when it comes to his actions, so much so that he’s not aware of the collective impact that he has on campus. 

“Although I strive to carry myself with love, respecting everyone around me, I never [really] knew that was a way that people saw me; however I am greatly appreciative of it,” said Lomax. “This inspires me to continue to carry myself in that way, being a leader to those around me.”

Lomax’s distinction reaches all of those around him, the distinction of a good and trustworthy person with the life skills to match. 

“Raymond is studious, a leader, polite, respectful, basically everything you want a student to be,” said Bunovsky,. “I think he’s going to go far with those skills, those are good skills to have and he has them.”

Ben Guerette, an English teacher at Nonnewaug, said, “I think Ray might be the only student at Nonnewaug who I’d let borrow my car.” 

“[He’s a] good overall guy, I’m glad I got to meet him,” said Bunovsky. “He’s a level beyond.”