Hal Cunningham

Hal Cunningham is Lucy Cunningham-Schultz's father and a steady source of support when she faces a difficult school assignment. Lucy has been chosen to write a report about evolution for a district newspaper, but she believes God created the world and worries that completing it will betray her convictions. Hal does not decide for her or demand the safer choice. Instead, he returns the responsibility to Lucy, giving her room to think, pray, and accept the consequences of her decision. His trust helps her take ownership of what she believes. When Lucy tells her teacher she would rather receive a failing grade than write against her faith, she acts with the independence her father's guidance has encouraged.