Eagles_Eye_2007

EAGLE’S EYE C I N C I N N AT I H I L L S C H R I S T I A N A C A D E M Y M A G A Z I N E Spring 2007 Vo l u m e 9

Making A World of Difference

Making a Difference at Home and Around the World

by Randy Brunk, Head of School

leaders, musicians, and so much more. While the same could be said by many good schools in our We h a nd e d o u t area, what makes CHCA grads unique is that they th our 1000 diploma are raising Godly families, they are mission minded, at the CHCA comthey are gifted leaders, they are helping build the mencement services church of the future, and they are humbly confident this May. Not a bad in what the Lord can do through them for a world milestone for a school that needs Him. that graduated its first set of seniors only To get the sense that our grads have a grasp of twelve years ago. One these concepts, look no further than the words of those early graduof Doug Browne, one of our Class of 2007 Saates, in fact our very lutatorians: first graduate, is Jon “…what I have experienced at CHCA I would nevAdams. Graduating er have been able to experience elsewhere. When I from CHCA in 1995 was choosing which high school to go to I had three and Miami University choices…I chose CHCA, and the experiences that I in 1999, Jon and his had here athletically, academically, socially, and spiriwife Katie are living, tually…could not have happened anywhere else. In working, ministering athletics—baseball my sophomore year, and football and raising two beaujunior year—I had two of the best experiences I have tiful children in Cinever had in athletics. Academically, CHCA has pushed cinnati (son Chase will be a full-day kindergartener me and prepared me for life in college and beyond. next year with daughter Alexis not far behind). Jon Socially, I have great friends that I met here that I and Katie are active in a new church in the Loveotherwise would never have met. But most importantly, land area and are also passionate about numerous CHCA has provided a spiritual component to the last philanthropic activities throughout the community. four years of my life that I believe can’t be matched.

Jon owns a fast-growing digital storage business Chapel, Bible classes, and simply the overall presence which also employs some of our other talented of God in this school have helped me grow spiritually CHCA parents. What makes his story even more in ways that I could not have experienced anywhere compelling is the way he is giving back, serving else. This school has blessed on the CHCA Board of each of us in ways that we Trustees and specifically don’t fully realize or appreciworking on the Athletic ate yet. Every one of us has Advisory Committee to taken something from this ...What makes ensure Christ-centered school that will be with us for excellence in that imporCHCA grads unique is the rest of our lives.” tant part of our school that...they are humbly Doug Browne is ready program. to take on college and life. confident in what the There you have it…the Thanks go to Jon and Doug mission of CHCA coming Lord can do through for taking advantage of the full circle. From his beginCHCA experience, and them for a world that nings at home, learning thanks go to Jon’s parents, from devoted Christian needs Him. Doug’s parents and all the parents about how to other parents who solidify make a difference at home the partnership between and around the world, to school and home. Thanks his life today as a successto founding Board members ful businessman and parent, Jon is humble yet and visionaries for starting a school that is making confident in what God can do through him. As a difference in now a second generation of lives.

I toured his business one day, it was evident that Thanks to our teachers, past and present, for he cares deeply for his employees, his business, fulfilling the CHCA vision in our students’ lives by his family and his potential to leverage his innate “unleashing a passion to learn, lead and serve.” entrepreneurial spirit to make an impact on the Together, we are preparing our students for world around him. the life that awaits them. They are responding Our graduates are becoming doctors, teachers, by choosing to make a difference, both at home entrepreneurs, lawyers, engineers, corporate and around the world.

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Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy is a Christ-centered, Non-denominational, College Preparatory Academy that exists to: prepare students intellectually and spiritually for success in higher education and to impact and influence the world according to their unique gifts and talents.

Making a World of Difference Editor Liz Bronson Stel Kirbabas, Assistant Editor Graphic Designer Kristine Hall, Hall Graphic Design Lead Photographer Judi Alvarado Contributors Stel Kirbabas Liz Bronson Dorian Dostal Margaret Horton Dave Sauve Mona Summers Mardi Weeks Tracy Wolcott

Additional HIghlights

5 PTF Resumes a Tradition at CHCA with Parent/Child Fellowships 8 First Fashion Show 9 New Fine Arts Wing at the Middle School New Playground at Armleder 10 550 Families “Promise” to Invest in CHCA’s Future 12 The Ask: A perspective on fundraising from someone who dislikes it 13 Dr. Nick Takes the Reins as the New High School Principal 16 Sending Students to Their College of Choice 20 Students Experience Marketplace 29 A.D. 22 Jack Hanna Visits for Student Appreciations Day 24 Teacher Cindy Rosser: Gone But Never Forgottern 26 CHCA’s Shining Stars 32 Congrats to the Class of 2007!

Alumni 48 Alumni Notes 51 Class of 95-96 Reunion 52 CHCA’s Alumni Parents Gather for Fellowship, Advice 53 Familiar Faces in CHCA’s Space 54 Successful Alumni Affect Their World

on the inside Spring 2007

Making a Difference

2 Making a Difference at Home and Around the World 4 High School Outreach Trip to Louisiana for Hurricaine Katrina Relief Work 6 Serve-A-Thon a Huge Success 7 CHCA Students Collect Nearly 1000 Boxes for Needy Kids 14 Twenty-Four Choices, Millions of Moments 15 CHCA Students Called to Action in Costa Rica 18 Everybody Counts 21 Popular Kindergarten Teacher Says Farewell to CHCA 23 Locks of Love 26 Two CHCA Families Receive Presidential Service Award 36 High Schoolers Get a Lesson in Saving the World, One Gallon at a Time 54 Successful Alumni Affect Their World

Athletics

37 Metro Basketball League Division Champs & Middle School MVC Champs 38 2006-07 High School MVC & Sectional/District Champions 39 Athletes Named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Teams CHCA’s High School Athletes Who Made it to State 40 College Signings 41 CHCA Diver Goes to China 41 Doug Browne Recognized In and Out of Classroom

Fine Arts

42 CHCA 2006-07 Theater and Music ARTbeat 2007: Draws Big Crowd, Showcases Big Talent 43 All School Musical Revue CHCA at the Movies 44 Fine Arts Shining Stars 45 Off the Cuff: Real Comedy at CHCA 47 CHCA’s Pirates Recieves a Cappies Nod

Making a Difference: Hurricane Katrina

L-r: Sam Powel and Eric Wilber

High School Outreach Trip to Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina Relief Work

by Liz Bronson U.S. Route 190 runs 13 miles between Slidell and Lacombe in southeast Louisiana. The road is long and straight, and runs by Ida’s Seafood Restaurant, a small produce stand and the Honey Island Swamp. It delineates north from south in Slidell, and is a rough divider of who got the worst of the damage from Hurricane Katrina. Take a left onto U.S. 11, and you’ll pass strip malls, offices and fast food restaurants, all of which were the central part of Slidell’s business district. Many of these buildings are now hollowed-out shells, eerily dark and silent, more noticeably so in the light of midday.

But on a side road off of U.S. 190 called East Beech Street, hope is growing where commerce cannot. It is on this little street that fourteen Habitat for Humanity homes are being built, seemingly from nothing, on cleared land that used to be a wooded area. Now foundations and wood frames have sprung up amidst the dozens of knotty oaks, red maples and lodgepole pines.

As each day passes, the structures materialize – four new walls here, a roof there – taking shape from previously inanimate piles of plywood, nails and shingles. Fourteen families will soon be homeowners for the first time, thanks in part to the sweat and labor of 20 students and 11 adults from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.

These students, representatives of CHCA High School’s Student Organized Service (SOS)

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Senior Loren Dearth

Fourteen families will soon be homeowners for the first time, thanks in part to the sweat and labor of 20 students and 11 adults from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.

foundations, destroying belongings and creating outreach group, ventured south on November 1, a lethal mold problem. The group drove past hol2006 to spend five days building homes in areas lowed out homes, churches, libraries and busiaffected by Hurricane Katrina. nesses, and encountered areas where power was “Last year when Katrina devastated the New still not restored. “I was shocked by how entire Orleans region, like most people, our students neighborhoods were destroyed. It just made it and families wanted to do something,” said Karen clear how many people were displaced,” junior Hordinski, CHCA Outreach Director and faculty student David Myers said. Emilee Shidler, also a advisor of SOS. “At that time, we knew it was junior, echoed his sentiment. “It made not safe to bring students to help, so we me want to help every family on that collected money and sent it to the Red Cross. This year we decided to send peo- high school block.”

Both students and adults felt the imple – students, alumni, staff and parents students pact of the devastation, but were also – to continue our support of people who touched by the hope and kindness of lost everything in the hurricane.” the Slidell residents. Students got to The group traveled each day to a site in neighboring Lacombe where eight homes chaperones meet one of the homeowners, Juanita Seruntine, who would soon be movwere under construction, and helped with ing into 26158 E. Beech St. Seruntine tasks like roofing, sheeting, wrapping, truss days thanked the students for their hard work elevation, and foundation drainage. and some through tears and a wide smile.

After working on the builds one day, Hordinski was heartened by the trip, the group toured devastated areas closer changed lives but recognizes that there is still a lot of to New Orleans, including the Upper and work to do. “We learned that many, many more Lower Ninth Wards. It was here back in 2005 volunteers are needed to come to the south and that 20-foot storm surges washed in as the levees help with the rebuilding efforts,” she says. “We and floodwalls containing nearby canals and Lake plan to continue taking groups in the future.”

Ponchartrain were breached. The floodwater remained for 2-3 months in most parts, ruining

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Work in Progress: Habitat for Humanity homes on Beech Street

PTF Resumes a Tradition at CHCA with Parent/Child Fellowships Valerie Wells and her 1st grade daughter Ashley

3rd graders Erica and Gianna McNeal with dad Gary at the Father/Daughter Luau.

The Mother/Daughter Fellowship followed on December 3 with over 130 in attendance.

The girls and their mothers stirred up the Christmas spirit, doing crafts and participating in a huge cookie exchange.

Clockwise from top: Dad Billy Southerland, his son Blake (3rd grade), dad Tim Southerland and his son, William (1st grade).

The Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) Board is comprised of busy mothers. If they aren’t working on a project for CHCA, they are volunteering elsewhere or holding down a job.

They, like most families, spend much of their evenings and weekends running from one activity to another, leaving very little quality time to spend as a family unit. After much discussion within the group about ways to battle this lack of family connectivity, the Parent/Child Fellowship was born…or actually, reborn.

Years ago, the Parent/Child Fellowship was a regular part of life at CHCA High School thanks to parents Angela and Darrell Stutz, but as the years passed, the events unfortunately went by the wayside. This year, the PTF Board decided to revisit this great idea. “We wanted to stay with Angela and Darrell’s original intent, which was to emphasize the parent relationship and give CHCA families an opportunity to strengthen family connections within the context of our school community,” says Jane Haslem, 200607 PTF Board President. What’s more, PTF desired to present fun events that were also low-key and low-cost.

Dana Tongdangjoue and her 1st grade son Max

the Mother/Son Fellowship, was held at Skatetown U.S.A. in West Chester on October 5, 2006. It drew more than 120 guests, including ten families from the Armleder Campus. The boys often out-skated their mothers as they flew around the rink, but there were some priceless moments as boys held tightly to their mothers’ hands for the slow skate.

The challenge of resurrecting the fellowships was left to Julie Willard, PTF Parent/Child Socials Coordinator, who took the Board’s ideas and ran with them. The first event of the year,

Then in April, it was the dads’ turn to spend a fun evening with their girls at the Father/ Daughter Fellowship. The elementary school gym, decorated to look like a luau, served as the backdrop for the Hawaiian themed event.

Dressed in grass skirts and leis provided by PTF, the girls led their fathers (many in Hawaiian garb themselves) onto the dance floor. A dance instructor (an ex-Bengals cheerleader) guided the 300 attendees through dances like the Hokie Pokie and the Chicken Dance.

“Here’s what was great about this dance,” Julie points out.“The dads who at the beginning weren’t dancing at all were the last to leave because they were having so much fun. We actually had to turn the lights out,” she adds with a laugh.

Having two sons herself, Julie was touched watching the dads relaxing with their arms slung over the back of their sons’ chairs as the movie Facing the Giants played on the big screen during the Father/Son Fellowship in May. More than 120 showed up to eat hotdogs, toss back some candy and enjoy a great guys’ movie in the elementary gym.

Julie believes the parent/child gatherings will become an annual tradition at CHCA. “Besides the fact that this was an opportunity for us to spend more quality time with our kids, these events were important because they drew in parents who may not usually have time to get involved at school,” she says. “These were truly fellowship events!”

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Making a Difference: Serve-a-thon 2007

< EBL 1st grader Candace Pfister reads to a resident of Chesterwood Village Retirement Home. A Chesterwood representative wrote later to say “As I looked around the room, I saw so many smiling faces. What a beautiful way to share talents! Thank you, CHCA, for instilling in your students the desire to give to others.”

Seniors Elizabeth Lewis (left) and Sarah Terkosky do their part to clean up the roadway along the Norwood Lateral.

Serve-a-thon7200 a Huge Success: Hours Given To Cincinnati The “serve” piece of CHCA’s motto (“Learn, Lead and Serve”) was brought to life on March 30 when the school hosted its first all-school Serve-a-thon. Over 1600 students in grades K-12, faculty, staff and some parents lent their hands, talents and voices to those in need through practical works of service from Covington to Mason, Mt. Airy to Milford. More than 7,200 volunteer labor hours were donated to 60 local agencies including the Free Store FoodBank, the Salvation Army, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Matthew 25: Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and many more.

Armleder 3rd & 4th graders bake cookies. Clockwise from left: London Montgomery, Kennedi Toney, Sydnei Simpson, Alissha Gatling, Aaron Brown, Sawyer Ray and Raven Hines

One project partnered CHCA High School students with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to clean portions of the Norwood Lateral (OH 562). Kerry Crossen, Program Manager & Director of Litter Prevention at Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, expressed gratitude for the hard work put forth by the group. “When students, teachers and parents reach out in this way to clean up our city, it helps others realize that having a beautiful Cincinnati is something we can all pitch in on,” Crossen said.

Other groups planted trees at French Park, raked away soggy autumn leaves in Mt. Airy Forest, read to senior citizens at Golden Age Retirement Home in North Avondale, and prepared care packages for wounded soldiers recovering in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Eighth grader Abby Brown spent her day at the Stepping Stones Center in Indian Hill working with special needs children. “I learned that those who have learning and physical disabilities are just like us, and that I’m better with little kids than I thought I was,” Brown says. “I had so much fun and I think the kids had fun too!”

While the community benefited from the volunteer labor, CHCA’s operating budget was also helped by the money raised from this service project/spring fundraising event. Students sent letters to friends and family asking for sponsorships for their day of service, much like they would for a walk-a-thon. As one grandmother of three CHCA students wrote in the letter that accompanied her pledge, “God bless these children for the difference they are making in the world. And God bless your school for teaching them early in life about helping others instead of being self-focused.”

Sponsors sent in over $130,000 in support of the project.

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CHCA 5th graders build for the Mill Creek Habitat for Humanity chapter. Front row, left to right: Kevin Bao, Josh Mangels, Sarah Morgason, Jordan Mangels, and Delaney Scott. Middle row: Language Arts/Social Studies teacher Mrs. Judy Cox, Zachary Alvarado, Kimmy Bolsinger, Nia Blasingame, Christian Studies teacher Mr. Mike Fite. Back row: Conner Osborne, Logan Hall, Brandon Nobbs, Jennifer Horsting, Stephanie Taylor.

7th grader Cameron Armstrong plants a tree in French Park

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Making a Difference: Operation Christmas Child

Kindergartener Josh Gramaglia

Kindergartener Aanareya Miller adds her donation to the pile at the elelmentary school.

CHCA Students Collect Nearly 1000 Boxes For Needy Kids CHCA students from all grades decorated and filled 996 shoeboxes with toys, candy, personal items and school supplies to be sent to needy kids around the world this past December as part of Operation Christmas Child. This effort, which CHCA has participated in for nine years, brings a message of hope to children in desperate situations through the gift-filled boxes and Christian literature.

“Last year we collected just over 900 boxes,” said Renee Schumacher, a parent volunteer who has led the effort at CHCA for the past five years.

“Student enthusiasm for this project grows each year, as the kids get great joy out of being able to give to other children.” Armleder increased their donations to 90 boxes, 70 more than last year’s contribution. “We expanded awareness of the project and let them know how easy it is to share God’s love with children around the world,” said Dorian Dostal, Armleder’s Volunteer Coordinator, explaining the success of the program there. “So many of our kids have a heart to give and share Armleder’s kindergarteners collected dozens of boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Left to right: Jerimiah Flowers, Malea Jackson, Lydia Hansee, Atallah Jackson, Aniyah Dove, Rhian Solomon

with others, which is something that will stick with them as they grow older,” Dostal added.

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First Fashion Show Brings Together Families, Alumni, Faculty and Friends

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Event Speaker Michelle Munoz inspires a packed house.

Katie Adams, wife of CHCA Class of 1995 alumnus Jon Adams, strolls the catwalk in fashions by Alligator Purse.

As the daughter of Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Lineman Anthony Muñoz, Michelle Muñoz Trenz spent most of her youth in the spotlight, a difficult place for any girl growing up in the face of society’s pressures and influences.

She fought through the same insecurities that most young girls face during those awkward years, and even resorted to bulimia as a means of weight control in college. Through much soul searching and prayer, Michelle has healed into the beautiful, confident woman she is today.

Michelle, who attended CHCA in grades 1-6, shared her story as the guest speaker at CHCA’s first Fashion Show on October 22. She explained how she came to understand what she calls “true, authentic beauty.” She hopes the next generation of daughters and their mothers can learn how to find that kind of beauty in their own lives, and if their story mirrors Michelle’s, that they can see that they are not alone.

“I just want to give hope to girls and moms – I know that when I was in the middle of it, I thought ‘there’s no way to get over this, I’ll never get through it.’ Maybe by hearing my story, they’ll learn that there’s hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.”

As Michelle ended her talk and dessert was served, Tiffiny Vanjohnson models fashions by Tiffiny’s Catwalk Boutique. the 250 attendees at the Manor House event watched as models took to the catwalk to show off featured clothing from Talbots, Christi’s Pure Fashion, and Hyde Park’s Alligator Purse. Thirty exhibitors were on hand to display their handcrafted pottery, jewelry, clothing and home accessories which could be purchased before and after the show. “It’s an event that’s about relationships and fellowship,” said Anne Venters, Development Coordinator and CHCA parent. “The Fashion Show was such a great opportunity to bring together mothers and daughters, alumni and current families, former faculty and current CHCA faculty and friends.”

(L-r) Class of 2002 grad Emily Breitholle, former high school principal Dr. Joan Miracle, EBL Elementary School Principal Sandy Breitholle and Class of 2004 grad Rebecca Breitholle enjoy a Mary Kay consultation.

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Dr. Joan Miracle models fashions from Talbots.

New Fine Arts Wing at the Middle School After years of planning and months of construction and preparation, CHCA proudly unveiled its new middle school Fine Arts Wing on October 26, 2006. The addition includes a new art room, special room for strings classes, expanded instrument storage, an ensemble rehearsal room and a more spacious band room.

“The growth of our instrumental music program, both in numbers and quality, has been phenomenal over the last few years,” said Mona Summers, Director of Fine Arts at CHCA. “We are so pleased to have the beautiful new rehearsal space and classrooms to accommodate this outstanding program. This new space means so much for the future of the fine arts at CHCA, enabling us to hold multiple rehearsals and classes at the same time.”

A variety of CHCA’s talented musical groups were on hand to play in celebration of the new space, and beautiful artwork was on display in the new art room, which occupies the former band room space.

New Playground at Armleder <

Kindergarten Preparatory students Kelli Coleman (left) and Zion Rocquemore (right) hang around on the parallel bars. Armleder students of all ages have enjoyed using the playground’s climbing equipment, slides, par course, green space and basketball hoops, all new this year. < (Clockwise from top left) London Montgomery, Kennedi Toney, Menyada Anderson and Sean Johnson (all 3rd graders) pass their recess on some of Armleder’s new playground equipment.

The playground is located on what used to be an adjacent parking lot.

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550 Families “Promise” to Invest in CHCA’s Future ...and that Number Just Keeps Growing!

Ron Beshear and wife, Mary, welcomed the crowd of over 130 CHCA parents and friends at the Celebration Auction’s Indian Hill House Tour in December. As one of CHCA’s founding families, they often share their stories of the early years at CHCA. As such, they have been an instrumental part in raising awareness of the Promise Campaign in the school and business community.

Looking at CHCA’s impressive North Campus today, it’s hard to believe that only two decades ago it was all farmland. It was in 1987 on that land that a handful of families got together and decided to start a school that provided the best Christian, college-preparatory education in the country. With much faith, some very sacrificial giving and lots of hard work, resources were pooled and the first building (now the middle school) was constructed.

Since then, a small number of families have built upon that solid foundation, giving faithfully to build an elementary school, a high school, athletic fields, and more. Fast forward to today: The Promise Campaign, a $7 million capital endeavor, seeks to build further on that great foundation, ensuring that what was built back then will continue to thrive well into the future. But instead of a handful of families, one of the goals of the campaign is to get every family to invest in the future of this great school we call CHCA. “What those few families started has provided endless opportunities for every child who has walked through the doors at CHCA,” says Brad Trucksis, Promise Campaign volunteer Co-Chair. “What we wanted to do with the Promise is say ‘thanks’ and pave the way for families today, and decades to come.” To this charge, the CHCA community has answered with a resounding voice: over 500 families, grandparents and alumni have stepped up and given to the Promise. That’s more donors than any of CHCA’s other building campaigns, combined. “It’s all about stewardship. More important than raising the money was raising a sense of family and community,” says Linda Trucksis, Brad’s wife and Campaign Co-Chair.

The new spaces planned under the Promise Campaign will provide broader and deeper academic opportunities, with room enough for the creativity and exploration our students need. Plus, increased funding to the Affordability Endowment will ensure that the CHCA experience is available to more families, ensuring a socio-economically diverse student population.

There’s no hint of farmland around Symmes Township anymore – this booming community has grown in ways citizens couldn’t have imagined in 1987. But one thing remains the same: there’s a bright future ahead for CHCA, and the blessings The Promise Pathway will replace the gravel path that connects the elementary and middle school buildings. A section of the Promise that God planted here years ago will continue to Pathway will be paved with bricks that bear the names of CHCA flourish in the lives of the students who learn, lead friends and families who have given to The Promise Campaign. and serve here.

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The Promise Campaign Goal: $

MILLION

From the Promise Campaign’s inception, volunteer Angela Stutz has inspired hundreds of CHCA families with her enthusiasm for the school from where two of her daughters graduated and a third still attends. As one of CHCA’s first families, Angela has a catalog of interesting facts that she is able to share with the rest of the community, making her one of the school’s most popular speakers.

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“The Capital Team”: Making Time to Make a Difference Anyone who has ever been involved in a capital campaign knows that its success depends largely on the people running it. Managing the multiple pieces and parts calls for a sizeable team of dedicated and committed individuals.

If one had to hire the skills and talents necessary to pull off such a feat, the costs would run in to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fortunately for CHCA, 14 members of the Promise Campaign Cabinet are volunteers.

So why would these corporate leaders, company owners, business managers and busy moms and dads step up to raise $7 million, taking on one of the biggest challenges in the school’s history? The answer, in their own words:

Beth Andrews, Chair, Communications Committee Like so many CHCA parents, I believe in our school’s vision to unleash every student’s God-given gifts. The Promise Campaign is so firmly grounded in that vision: it’s specifically and prayerfully designed to enable the promise of our children. That, to me, is much bigger than a capital campaign and it’s truly been a joy to be involved.

Lauri Prescott, Chair, Awareness Committee When I was asked to serve as head of the Awareness Committee for the Promise Campaign I quickly said “yes.” The campaign is important to The Promise Campaign cabinet has been hard at work educating the CHCA community and our family because we feel that the stirring up excitement for this capital campaign. Back row, l-r: Kay Geiger, Lauri Prescott, areas in which CHCA is enhancing Doug Howe, Bob Bowman, Evan Andrews, Head of School Randy Brunk, Barb Brown, DiBrad and Linda Trucksis, Camare critical improvements in allowing rector of Advancement Martha Steier, Brad Trucksis. Front row, l-r: Director of Fine Arts paign General Co-Chairs our students to become well-rounded, Mona Summers, Linda Trucksis, Beth Andrews, Development Coordinator Anne Venters.

Says Brad, “When I first learned prepared Christian leaders. I also unNot pictured: Vicki Fitzgerald, Jack Geiger, Andrea Dixon and Denise Howe. of the campaign, I felt it was imporderstand how important it is to expand tant that CHCA succeed in raising the funds to accomplish its goals. the endowment to offer additional faculty compensation and help families As a relatively young school, we needed to establish a broader base with tuition increases. of financial support and a greater sense of community encompassing Bob Bowman, Chair, Special Gifts CHCA families. When asked to play a role in the campaign, I felt it The answer for me is simple: I didn’t make the decision to become was time to try to step up and give back for the many blessings the involved, I accepted the invitation to participate in God’s work in the Lord had provided our family via CHCA. In doing so, Linda and I Christian community I and my family have had the blessing to be a part have been richly blessed by the experience and the gratifications of of. As a result, I had the opportunity to meet Brad and Linda Trucksis, watching so many people joyfully give what they cannot keep to gain who have selflessly devoted more than a year of both of their lives to what they cannot lose, all for the benefit of our children.” Adds Linda: servanthood, leading us in doing God’s work through the campaign, “By choosing to volunteer on the Promise Campaign I’ve been able to while standing to gain little or no personal benefit for their own family give back to a school that’s become more like a community or family to as a result. The campaign itself is important to me because I firmly us. We have experienced first-hand how CHCA has positively impacted believe CHCA is a place where our children can grow to achieve the our teenagers. We have been a part of CHCA for over ten years and highest in academic and intellectual excellence, all the while underhave seen this school grow and become stronger. As we continue to standing that this knowledge is not nearly as important as opening provide a blend of strong academics with a God-centered environment, themselves to God, understanding the Gospel and living out His plan providing students with the facilities to enhance their educational opfor them and their ministries, as they develop through adolescence to portunities is of utmost importance to me. As a parent, I can’t think young adulthood.

“We are so close to of a more impactful way to participate in bringing our school comreaching our goal of $7 munity into the next phase of our growth than to humbly serve as a Evan Andrews, Chair, Prospect Review Committee million,” says Promise catalyst for communicating to others the difference their financial It’s very simple: Randy asked me. If someone feels you can offer Campaign Co-Chair, stewardship can have on all our CHCA North Campus students.” assistance and that your assistance would be viewed as constructive, Mrs. Linda Trucksis, then you have to do it. Besides, it was the right thing to do. Without standing next to the Jack and Kay Geiger, Co-Chairs, Major Gifts the commitment both educationally and spiritually to our children, thermometer on June 18 We wanted to serve with the hope of making an impact on the sucas the paint dries over our job as parents would be incomplete. cess of the campaign. We had no idea we would be blessed in the ways the $6 million mark. that we have been. The response has been overwhelming as everyone Vicki Fitzgerald, Member at Large we spoke with wanted to contribute to the future of CHCA. Our com I recognize CHCA as a blessing, a gift that has and will continue to enrich the munity is engaged and vibrant and we feel proud to be a part of it. lives of so many children. Working on the Promise Campaign has allowed me to pay tribute to the families before me and to help contribute to the future success Barb Brown, Chair, Recognition Committee of the school and the children that will build and shape tomorrow’s future!

This campaign means a lot to me because the school means so much to me and my family. CHCA has given us so much! A wonderful Christian education Jay Kersey, Member at Large, Board of Trustees Representative is such a blessing and one we try not to take for granted. We feel so blessed to be My wife Lynne and I believe so strongly in the mission of this school. Those at this school and we know that others sacrificed and went out on faith to build it. who came before us paved the way for us. Now it is our responsibility and our We want to see the school continue to blossom and be what God has called it to pleasure to continue that legacy and extend the opportunity for great Christian be. It has been a privilege to be on this campaign cabinet and work with such education to those families that come after us. Plus, we have a real heart for a wonderful and dedicated people. Thank you for the opportunity! tuition affordibility endowment, which this campaign addresses.

Reverend Doug and Denise Howe, Co-Chairs, Andrea Dixon, Chair, Leadership Prayer Team/Authors of Log on & Pray Our children and our whole family have benefited from the promise that the After two decades working with the families of young people in primarily public CHCA founding families made 20 years ago. Honestly, my husband Doug and I are schools, we’re both aware of the need and thankful for the opportunity that Jenelle at the stage of life where we are looking for family opportunities to leave a legacy. and Chad have received at CHCA. Learning about Jesus Christ, gaining a Christian We are carefully considering where we invest our time and the resources that the worldview and having Christian leadership modeled for them is more than worth Lord has provided. That’s why we are involved in the Promise Campaign. the small bit of time we’ve given to the campaign, hoping that more kids will have the chance in the near and distant future.

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“The Ask”

A Perspective on Fundraising from Someone who Dislikes it

While it is a fact that I rarely have time to cook, I own every piece of kitchenware made by Pampered Chef. No home-cooked food means no leftovers, yet my cupboards are overflowing with Tupperware. I use every one of my 50 Longaberger baskets, but my husband wonders aloud why I could not have purchased the Trader’s World flea market version instead.

It’s because I am a certified home partygoer. I love the fellowship of the home party and I always leave with a purchase. I have one rule for the hostess: never, ever ask me to host a home party.

Why? The party throwers are those so comfortable asking others to buy their products that they can make a living at it. At their very core, they are salesmen and women who can push a product simply because they believe in its value. The partygoers are people who dread asking others to part with their money. With glad hearts, the partygoers support the party thrower via a purchase, but the thought of hosting a party themselves causes them to break into a nervous sweat.

For a partygoer like me, one would assume that working in the world of fundraising at CHCA, where soliciting money from others is a way of life, compares favorably to a tooth extraction. Long ago, I analyzed this conundrum and came to realize what I have in common with my party throwing friends that makes “the ask” palatable to the partygoer in me. Like them, I am a die-hard supporter of my product, and that makes it possible to ask others to support it, too.

My product is a CHCA education.

More than a few parents have questioned why, with the tuition costs where they are, the school needs to have fundraisers. The simple answer is that CHCA does not charge enough in tuition to cover the true cost of the education provided. This intentional strategy is not unique to CHCA. Log on to any private school website and the rationale for setting tuition below the real cost is the same. First, schools value economic diversity and by charging a lower tuition, they hope to draw a more diverse student population. Second, schools believe that people who can afford to will give more so that other Christian families who cannot afford to pay more can still benefit from a Christian education. Third, tuition is not tax deductible; but a gift to the school is, so paying the difference via a gift vs. higher tuition benefits everyone.

Until recently, the Development Office assumed it was doing an adequate job of educating the school community on the how’s and why’s of CHCA fundraising. That thought was dispelled last month when at an all-school fundraising meeting, only one of the 30 or so parents in attendance had any idea as to why there was a gap between tuition costs and the real education costs and how that gap was closed. I was the least surprised, based on my own giving record prior to working at CHCA. It was in March 1997, our family’s second year at the school. I was still working in private industry at the time. We had just finished dinner when the phone rang. It was a CHCA dad calling to ask for our donation 14 12

by Stel Kirbabas

to the Annual Giving Campaign. Frankly, I was annoyed support CHCA’s fundraisers is based on the answer by his call. He thanked me for last year’s gift (which, to this question: is the product worth the price? As honestly, I did not recall making) and asked if I would with most of us, I’m sure there are times when you support the campaign in the current year. I grudgingly think not, because you are upset with a teacher for a committed to $50 just to get off the phone. I then told grade or you disagree with the way the school handled my husband about my magnanimous gift to which he a situation. Any place run by human beings is going to replied, “Geez, couldn’t you have have its problems and CHCA is no gotten away with $25?” exception, but look at the big picture. Have you had a chance to sit in We were sure the money being While fundon Dr. Lu Taylor’s elementary school raised from these fundraisers paid raising will never science lab where the very youngfor extras like new bookshelves or be at the top of a list est children are learning chemistry? playground equipment. It was not Talk to the middle schoolers after of fun things to do, until I began working here in July of returned from a Mexico Mis2000 that we came to understand I will continue to do they’ve sions trip or paddled down a river it was actually the rest of what was it because I believe to collect samples in Mrs. Payne’s needed to cover my share of the so strongly in what class. Interview any four high school operating costs. kids after their J-term experiences. this school has to One thing became very clear in Attend a senior chapel to get just an last month’s fundraising meeting with offer. inkling of how much love these kids our school families: you want us to have for the Lord and each other. quit soft peddling the facts and do Talk to graduates of the class of 2007, who are heada better job educating the school community on this ing off to universities like Yale and Princeton. Then if issue of fundraising. In our quest to do just that, here you are still not convinced, chat with Ryan Kloster or are the facts.

Wren Blessing, alumni who have gone on to become > The shortfall between the cost of tuition and the Christian leaders in the world’s business community real cost of a CHCA education is $1,300 per student. and are out spreading the gospel.

When we talk about the “gap” per student, that’s A close friend of mine (a senior VP for Microsoft) is the number we are referring to. regularly frustrated with me because instead of spending > Families are asked to participate in two fundraising money to fly to Vail with her to ski, my husband and I activities annually to eliminate that current year’s put our treasures where our hearts are: in Christian operating budget shortfall. The fundraisers are: education. Recently she asked me this question: “How 1. Annual Giving Campaign (AGC), and as its name will you know if it was worth it?”

The answer to this question goes back to the heart suggests, it is done annually. This campaign begins in October, at which time a packet of information about of how a partygoer like me can get through the stress the campaign accompanied by a pledge card is mailed of “the ask.” It comes down to our kids. My daughter Delaney, going into fifth grade, asked Mrs. Anderson in to your home; and first grade if she would pray with her so she could ask 2. A Spring Fundraiser: Celebration Auction, which is held in the spring of Jesus into her heart. My fifth grader, Trevor, wrote to even-numbered years. It is a dinner-auction that brings Mr. Gullett at the behest of his teacher consoling him together hundreds of CHCA parents and friends for a on his admittedly poor chapel presentation. Trevor night of fellowship and fun, and a chance to take home wrote, “You stopped in the middle of chapel to pray for God to give you the words and it was like He blew some great auction items; or His breath in your ear and then the words came to Serve-a-thon, which is held in the spring of odd-numbered you.” When my father broke his hip in February, it was years. Students, faculty and staff serve at over 60 agenTrevor’s twin Conner who comforted my dad when cies on a given day, and money is raised via sponsorships his pain was unbearable, reminding him to trust in the from friends, acquaintances, and family members, much Lord because God does not give us more than we can like a walk-a-thon. The difference is that the community handle. After having Michelle Barron as a teacher his benefits from thousands of hours of CHCA’s service. freshman year, my high schooler Alec, who hates to > The money raised from these fundraisers is used for read and write, wrote a literary piece worthy of a coloperating expenses like teachers’ salaries, paying the lege student. When a teacher took enough interest in electric bills and maintenance costs. If the school does my seventh grader, Tyler, to nominate him for Student not raise that money by June 30, the school ends the of the Month and he won, you would have thought year in the red. that he had received the Nobel Prize. He spent the > While many other worthwhile fundraisers benefit rest of the year trying to win it again through acts of our students by enhancing the CHCA experience kindness to other students. (like those done by Boosters, Fine Arts, PTF, and Here’s my point: while fundraising will never be at school service organizations like Student Organized the top of a list of fun things to do, I will continue to Services), only Annual Giving, Celebration Auction and do it because I believe so strongly in what this school Serve-a-thon support the annual operating budget. has to offer. I have firsthand proof of its worth in the When you get right down to it, whether or not you reflection of my children’s eyes.

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“Dr. Nick” Takes the Reins as the New High School Principal in 2007-08 When principal Burr Storrs announced to Head of School Randy Brunk that this would be his last year at CHCA, Randy’s thoughts immediately turned to Dr. Dean Nicholas as a possible replacement. With eleven years of teaching experience at CHCA under his belt and nine of those as Chair of the High School Christian Studies Department, Nicholas seemed like a viable candidate. When the Board of Trustees’ Education Committee dug a little deeper, they realized just how perfectly suited he was for the job.

“Dr. Nick”, as he is referred to by his students, has impressive credentials. He I am looking double majored at Wheaton, getting a forward to the new B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies and a B.A. in Ancient Languages. He went challenges and right into Wheaton’s graduate program, completing his M.A. in Old Testament opportunities in Studies. From there, he attended Hebrew my new role. We Union College where he earned his Ph.D. in Bible & the Ancient Near East. have much to be as critical are his strong leadership proud of at the high andJust communication skills, his understandschool. ing of CHCA’s academic philosophy, a biblical integration mindset, and an established relationship with students, staff and parents. More importantly, Dr. Nicholas understands the mind of the high school student and connects with this age group, and that’s half the battle. “Over the past eleven years, I have been amazed. Their ability to think in dynamic and brave ways has been stunning. So many of the cultural constructs which limit our thinking as we grow are less fixed in young minds. While some see their thinking as hopelessly scattered, I often see glimpses of brilliance as they struggle to shape the boundaries of their reality,” he says.

While there are many areas on which Dr. Nicholas intends to focus, two that pertain to students and families directly are of paramount importance to him. “I plan to be an active supporter, encourager, and cheerleader for a student population that must believe it can achieve things and become people that they could not even envision at this point of their lives,” Dr. Nicholas states. “When it comes to the parent community, my role as liaison between them and the school is to help them understand our program and walk alongside them in support as they raise their children.”

He recognizes the responsibility he has to lead his high school team in providing what the students need to succeed in today’s world beyond high school. “In giving students an education that prepares them to succeed in the global community of the 21st century, a number of factors must be taken into consideration,” Nicholas says. “First, as has been demonstrated numerous times, math and science educa-

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tion must be first rate for many of the careers that a global economy will demand. Second, students must be challenged to move beyond a ‘task’ mentality and pushed to think and reason in more complex ways. Third,” he continues, “in our technological age, students must be able to find, assemble, and evaluate information for its importance and reliability. The face of research is changing radically at all levels of education. Fourth, collaboration must be a key feature of any relevant education. Students must learn to work with classmates on extended, complex tasks. Ideally, students could learn to work together with ‘virtual classmates’ anywhere in the world.”

Why work with students around the world when classmates are across the hall? “We must be globally minded as an academy. We have begun to send students around the world through Winter Term and other venues. We must begin considering what it looks like to bring the world into CHCA. And finally,” he says, outlining his final key to continuing excellence at CHCA, “all of these demands on students raise the pressure and anxiety in their hectic lives. Students need a place of security and support, where they can mature as people and develop into women and men who are confident in themselves and even more importantly, in a faith that both roots them to a foundation and guides them into their futures. The home is the primary place for that security and support, but schools are taking on that role to a greater extent.”

Dr. Nicholas is certain the only reason he ever got into the door at CHCA was because of the love and respect for his wife Julie Nicholas, who taught for five years as a third grade teacher at the Edyth B. Lindner Elementary School. “I got a lot of leeway from students because I was Mrs. Nicholas’ husband!” he says with a laugh. He moved into the role of a full time teacher when Julie left to write for children. The two of them are the proud parents of three young boys: Jake, Pete and Abe. Outside of school, Nicholas loves spending time fishing, gardening, cooking, and following his favorite sports teams from his home state of Wisconsin. His classroom has always been an interesting mixture of Ancient Near Eastern, Israeli, Asian, and Green Bay Packers décor.

He is most excited these days by the resurgence of his Milwaukee Brewers, who he hopes will be making a long overdue trip (their last was in 1982) to the World Series again this year.

While any job change can be daunting, Dean Nicholas says there are good things on the horizon at the high school that will make his transition a smooth one. “I am looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities in my new role next year. While there is always room for improvement, we have much to be proud of at the high school,” he says with the perspective of someone who has been on the front lines for over a decade. “We have an amazing faculty and staff who give their lives to challenge and develop students academically, spiritually, and emotionally. We have an exceptional curricular program that holds students to a high standard. Our extracurricular programs—from SOS to Fine Arts to Athletics—are first rate and known throughout the city. We are excited about inspiring our talented students to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has placed in their lives. Our future is bright—I feel fortunate to be a part of it!”

13

Megan Conway learns to cook the Kenyan way.

Twenty-Four Choices, Millions of Moments Now in its seventh year at CHCA, Winter Term (also known as “J-Term”) has become a treasured tradition. High school students get a chance to serve, learn and travel at home and abroad. More than just two weeks outside of the classroom, Winter Term has a myriad of potential benefits: memorable moments to last a lifetime, friendships developed, new foods tasted, new cultures experienced, talents discovered and personal goals met. And at what other time could you learn to herd cattle in New Mexico, bake a cake that would make Martha Stewart jealous, careen through a cloud forest on a zip line in Costa Rica, or meet a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee in Kenya?

There were 24 options students had to choose from for the Winter Term experience. Below are some of the new offerings, as well as some of the old standbys, that were available to students this year. of the A photo taken idge that Br Purple People & Cincinnati. port connec ts New

Faces of Cincinnati: Life and Culture Through the Lens

The old cliché “a picture is worth a thousand words” was put to the test in this photojournalism course. Students were challenged to get out into the city and see things - through a different lens - that might not usually warrant a second look. Moments and angles were sought that could tell a story without words. Each day, students received a photographic assignment and through research, interviews and exploration they captured a unique understanding (and picture) of Cincinnati. This took them evA fruit stand in erywhere from downtown Cincinnati. the streets to the museums, from galleries to places of worship, from centers of economic and political power to the distinct gathering places where community happens. At the end, students collected their best shots into a portfolio that showcases the perspectives they gained.

Florida Frenzy

While most of us were doing our best to stay warm last January, some lucky students were spending their Winter Term in Florida. But far from wasting away the day as beach bums, these students were learning about preservation of coral reefs 14

and getting lessons on snorkeling and diving at Marine Lab in the Florida Keys, then hopping a plane for Orlando where they spent four days at Disney World, getting behind-the-scenes tours of Animal Kingdom and Epcot Center. While in Orlando, the group also traveled to the Make-AWish Foundation for a one-day mission project and visited the NASA center on Cape Canaveral.

And the Florida sunshine wasn’t that bad, either!

A finalist in the cake decorating contest.

(L-R) Biblical Studies teacher Tiffany Zents, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Wahu Kaara, and Outreach Director Karen Hordinski.

Kenya Just Desserts!

Don’t know a torte from a tart? Mystified by meringue?

This course was specially geared toward those who know they love desserts but want to know more about how to make them. Students visited area bakeries to get instruction from the pros, and learned how to make candy, cakes and even homemade ice cream. The course culminated in a cake decorating contest (see photo for one student’s example). It was an educational Winter Term session, and the only one in which you were allowed to eat your homework!

Snorkeling off the Florida Keys

Students traveled first to Nairobi, then to rural communities around Kenya to get a taste of the culture, serve in unique ways, and find out more about how to battle injustice and poverty.

Students worked with the Christian Reform World Relief Committee, learning sustainable solutions to global health challenges and forums for social advocacy, which are important to those who know they want to do something to help those in need but don’t know how. Highlights of the trip: assisting a community farming project outside Nairobi; cooking meals for children at Isinya, a rural Maasai Training Camp and the care center for orphans; and a two-day trip to Sienna Springs, an environmentally-friendly accommodation that provides tent lodging and day/night safari drives.

Secrets of the Queen City

Some people go their whole lives in Cincinnati without experiencing some of the truly great things the city has to offer. Union Terminal, Findlay Market – heck, even goetta – are all uniquely Cincinnati, and the places and flavors the town has to offer are treasures to be shared. This J-Term experience sought to open the eyes of anyone who has ever said, “There’s nothing cool to see/do in Cincinnati.”

Visits to St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, the Plum Street Temple, Great American Ballpark, Paul Brown Stadium, Montgomery Inn, Graeter’s, and even a University of Cincinnati Bearcat basketball game made this trip around town an immersion in all things Queen City.

Making a Difference: Costa Rica

CHCA Students Called to Action in Costa Rica For most people, hiking through Costa Rica’s rain (L-r) Libby Hunter, Katie Middleton, Jenny Dixon and Jamie Martinkovforests, visiting its volcano-heated springs, or riding ic present a check to Pastor Hubert of La Iglesia Vision Avivamiento. horseback through the beautiful countryside would qualify as the highlight of one’s trip. Not so for Libby Hunter, Jamie Martinkovic, Jenny Dixon and Katie Middleton. The climax of their Costa Rica Winter Term adventure this past January was delivering a check for $3,000 to Pastor Hubert, leader of the evangelical Sophomore Cara Fratianne church in the poor community of La Carpio.

This was not the girls’ first trip to Costa Rica. They had gone in 2006, the first year the trip was offered as a Winter Term elective. What they saw during that initial visit called them to action. They, and 34 other CHCA students, teachers and parents caught a glimpse of true poverty in the faces of the thousands of refugees, many of them children, who were living in dumps and on the streets in the La Carpio are handing you community. And they witnessed firsthand the impact that the little evangelical this check but it church, located next to the city’s dump, was having on the community. As they is coming through sanded and painted dilapidated desks used in the church’s Sunday school, broke us as a gift from up concrete blocks into gravel, and took down walls, the girls vowed to help the God.’ At that mochurch in its mission to improve the lives of the people of La Carpio. ment, not when That determination stayed with the four girls through the rest of that school the translator year and into the next. Their initial plan was to raise enough money to buy was speaking but the land the church sits on so that a playground could be built for the children when I said those whose only place to play were the littered streets. The girls soon discovered words, a shooting (L-r) Jessica Byington, Darris Sneed and Nick Plummer that at $30,000, the Costa Rican government’s purchase price for the land was star went across hang out with kids in La Carpio. prohibitive. That did not deter them. Instead, they held bake sales, jewelry parthe sky and all of ties, and sold nachos, cotton candy and popcorn throughout the school year to us who saw it felt that it was a reassurance that God’s hand was in this and raise more than $3,000. They contacted Matthew 25: Ministries who donated everything was going to be O.K.,” said Libby. another $5,000 in medical supplies and personal care items. CHCA family DebDuring this year’s trip, the group spent their mornings at the church laying a bie and Dave Browne donated Bible videos, music and toys for the children. By cement parking lot for the kids to play basketball, painting the roof and cleanthe time the January 2007 Costa Rica Winter Term trip rolled around, each of ing; much of the money used for these projects came from the $3,000 raised the 38 CHCA students, parents and staff going on the trip had to take an extra

by Libby and her friends. suitcase just to transport all the donations.

The afternoons were set aside for the children of La Carpio. “Each of our “These girls worked so hard all year long to make this happen, and I’m sure students was required to have a project to do with the kids,” says Lyn Mcthey thought it was worth it when they saw the look of shock on Pastor Hubert’s Geehan, CHCA Spanish teacher and one of the faculty organizers of the trip face when they gave him the check,” said Lyn McGeehan, CHCA Spanish Teacher to Costa Rica. “Some sang, made crafts, did plays, or colored; others jumped and trip chaperone. rope, played basketball, made hair bows or painted pictures. Around 125-150 Libby Hunter will always remember the check presentation ceremony for a kids under the age of 11 showed up every day, sometimes waiting two hours different reason. “During the actual check ceremony, the four of us [Libby, Jamie, in the hot sun outside the door until we were ready.”

Jenny, and Katie] were standing with the pastor and the translator, who was interLibby and the others, who will be seniors in the fall of 2007, have selected preting for the pastor what we were saying. When the interpretor quit speaking, other Winter Term options for the coming year, but they have no doubt that I looked the pastor right in the eye and said to him ‘I want you to know that we another trip to La Carpio is in their futures.

Not All Winter Term Trips Happened in January Junior Josh Wagner took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Israel in November with the America-Israel Friendship League’s Youth Ambassador Student Exchange (YASE) to fulfill his Winter Term requirement. “It was the best four weeks I’ve had in my life,” Josh says of his voyage to one of the most historic, beautiful and politically volatile countries in the world.

As one of 23 students from across the United States who went to Israel with the YASE, Josh visited places like the Temple on the Mount, the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the place in Galilee where Jesus fed the 5000. The group also traveled to important political sites and met with key national and international leaders. Josh’s favorite moment? “In a suburb of Tel Aviv called Rishon LeZion, we had a picnic on the beach next to the Mediterranean Sea. It was unforgettable,” Josh says. He was in Rishon living with a host family, something that gave his trip a depth that mere tourism doesn’t allow. “Living with a host family, you get to know the culture a little better,” Josh notes, “and I even found out their daughter liked the same music as me.”

Going to Israel not long after tensions flared with Lebanon and Hezbollah was risky, but Wagner admits that he felt secure throughout his time there. “It felt safer than Cincinnati!” he recalls. “Kids as young as 12 were out at midnight without their parents.”

The time he spent in Israel was educational in ways Josh couldn’t have predicted. “Talking to kids my age about the conflict in their Josh Wagner country helped me understand the problems in the Middle East from an insider’s perspective,” something rarely available from CNN or other media. “This trip affected me,” he went on. “I want to travel more, see the world, and definitely make it back to Israel someday.”

15

Guiding Students to their College of Choice As a college preparatory school, CHCA is charged with, well, getting students ready for college. These days that requires much more than providing the very best education. It means making sure that students understand early on what steps to take along the way to enable them to get into their college of choice. No office is better equipped to provide that direction than CHCA’s High School Guidance Office.

As the number of students has increased, so has the guidance staff. Over the last few years, the department has increased from two counselors and one administrative assistant to three counselors, one guidance coordinator and one administrative assistant. Doubling the staff makes a significant difference in the quantity and quality of services the office can provide. Just ask some of CHCA’s recent graduates who say they “camped out in that office for months.”

Students obviously feel comfortable visiting the Guidance Office. At any time during the school day, the office is bustling with activity. “Some kids are in here five and six times a day to ask a question or get on-line to check out a college,” says Carol Jones. “We encourage that because it means the students are taking ownership of their college search.”

Eagle’s Eye (EE) recently chatted with CHCA’s high school counselors Molly Roebker, Tammy Richardson and Carol Jones to talk about the important pieces that make up the “getting into college” puzzle.

Eagle’s Eye: When do you start talking to the students about college options?

Carol Jones: We meet with eighth grade families twice during the year to get them thinking about college preparation. The first meeting is an overview of the academic, athletic and extracurricular opportunities available at the high school. It is also their first introduction to our office and the services we provide in helping each student find the college which is the best fit for their individual gifts and strengths. The second meeting is a course scheduling and four-year curriculum planning night. This means that we help them look at the possible course sequences over the next four years based upon their child’s interests and abilities. For example, we’ll discuss with students interested in math/science careers the possible types of course sequences and AP offerings suited to this.

Molly Roebker: That’s going to change next year.

We are going to hold a few group sessions for families of 6th and 7th graders to talk to them about the activities they can choose for their kids that will be great resume builders. If you get students started in extracurricular activities early on, such as volunteering in the community, they tend to stay with them through high school and throughout their lives.

EE: When they get to the high school, what’s the first thing they should focus on?

Carol Jones: Our goal is to be sure they have a smooth transition to the high school. We talk about time management, and the importance of starting out “strong” in their coursework right from the beginning. It’s important that the students understand their final high school transcript reflects all four high school academic years, beginning with August of freshman year. Cumulative GPA really does mean cumulative. There are a lot of adjustments for freshmen as they navigate through and learn to balance the expectations of six academic courses in conjunction with a heavy homework load and extracurricular activities.

EE: Do you advise dropping the extracurricular activities that first year to focus on school until the student gets adjusted to the workload?

Carol Jones: Absolutely not! Just the opposite. We push hard to get students involved full force into something they are interested in. Connecting with others outside of the classroom environment makes them feel that this is their high school, their community. You have the opportunity within this school to do just about anything, so for us that is an easy sell.

EE: It doesn’t sound like their is much to 16

do freshman year to get ready for college other than concentrate on school and get involved in activities.

Molly Roebker: Not true. Starting their freshman year all the way through their junior year, we do classroom guidance workshops where we meet with the students in small groups. We discuss curriculum planning, college admission requirements, and we do research with them into possible college majors and career opportunities.

Carol Jones: In addition to the college-planning guidance workshops, which I conduct with all of my 9th and 10th grade classes, each student takes a personality survey called the Self-Directed Search by John Holland.

It is an online tool purchased for each student by the school. They answer questions based on their interests and abilities and it matches their answers to personality profiles of those who actually hold those kinds of jobs.

It heightens their awareness about how their interests might align with possible careers.

EE: How would you describe the PrepHQ tool we hear about?

Carol Jones: PrepHQ is a software system that helps the students plan for college. It is an individualized college planning account. We do a whole workshop on PrepHQ freshman year and then again in more depth sophomore year. PrepHQ enables the student to build a resume, do college searches, and research college admission requirements. Most importantly, it is the channel of communication between Guidance and home, not to take the place of face-to-face communication but as a great tool in helping us be proactive with parents on upcoming college fairs and events.

EE: How about a summary of what students and parents need to do each year to get ready for college?

Carol: We’ve already covered freshman year so let’s start with sophomore year.

Sophomores:

• Small group student-parent college planning workshops to discuss:

• When student takes SAT/ACT • Admissions policies for various colleges • How much weight the GPA carries • How much breadth vs. depth a student needs • Developing leadership in students • The kinds of things colleges look for in a student’s resume • Three workshops with students within the classroom, a continuation of what was done freshman year, only in more detail • Advancing the use of PrepHQ

Juniors

• Three classroom advisory sessions focusing on course scheduling for senior year, academic advisement, college preparation, writing the resume, honing extracurricular activities, and just ensuring they are making smart choices in preparing for college.

• October: attendance at CHCA’s College Fair; 130 colleges from across the country come to CHCA to provide information about their programs.

• November: College Representatives Panel. Six experts from colleges around the country serve on a panel at CHCA to discuss the college search process. Mandatory attendance for juniors and their parents. This is the precursor for the next step.

• Junior college planning conference: Molly and Tammy meet individually with every family to discuss the five pieces of the college search strategy specific to their child. 1) GPA; 2) test scores; 3) resume; 4) college essays; 5) letters of recommendation.

• Students start college visits and Guidance stays on them to “finish strong.” “Senior grades are important, but junior year grades are especially critical in the college application process,” says Molly.

Seniors

• The whirlwind begins. “That whole first quarter we are continuously guiding them through the application process - reminding them of deadlines, making sure they see college representatives, ensuring their test strategy is on track,” says Tammy.

• Students write one of their college application essays and an extracurricular resume as their first English assignment. “It is checked by their college counselor, and then it goes to their English teacher to be reviewed and graded,” says Molly.

• College application marathons are held on two Sundays during the fall semester. Seniors are welcomed into the Guidance Office to work on college applications with counselors on-hand to assist.

• In January, CHCA holds a financial aid seminar for students and parents.

Molly: At that point, our seniors are really on the homestretch putting the pieces together and making decisions.

EE: So getting into college is more than making the grade, so to speak.

Tammy: You bet. In terms of the qualitative part of the admissions piece, colleges are looking for students who are involved and passionate. GPA and test scores are part of it, but colleges more and more are looking at leadership development, service work, extracurricular activities, employment, etc. Straight-A students are not unusual anymore, so you have to be able to articulate to colleges what sets you apart.

EE: What’s your philosophy of the role your office plays in this whole college process?

Molly: Our philosophy of college guidance requires the student to take ownership of their college search. When they make their final decision, our prayer for them is that they feel confident in knowing that it is the best fit for them academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.

Tammy: It is great that we have kids getting into Yale and Princeton, but God does not call everyone to the Ivy League. Finding His calling requires active engagement, so part of what we do is provide the individual support and guidance in a Christ-centered context to help students figure out where God is leading them.

EE: Thanks for the insight into your world.

It’s no wonder that your office draws in so many students every day!

CHCA’s High School Guidance Office: In Profile Carol Jones, Director of Guidance; Academic Counselor grades 9 & 10;

Molly Roebker, Director of College Guidance Family: Married to Mark. Mother of Libby, 6 years old; Tommy, 5; Mary Kate, 4; John, 2.

Background: B.A. in Communications from the University of Kentucky; Masters in Management Science from the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. After obtaining her Molly Roebker Masters, she worked in corporate human resources for Toyota Motor Manufacturing for several years. When her first child was born, she decided to return to her passion: higher education. Roebker worked for two different colleges for ten combined years of service before coming to CHCA. Her primary responsibilities for the colleges included college admissions, scholarship appropriation and financial aid.

Guidance Role: “I tell my advisees that they can choose to use the resources of our office and my expertise as much or as little as they like. But my heart’s desire is to work closely with all my advisees so I can really get to know them and help them identify their God-given abilities. Ultimately, I pray that they’ll take ownership of their college search and select a college that is the right ‘fit’ for them. In my opinion, you cannot effectively conduct a thorough college search without incorporating a student’s faith journey. It is an honor to provide my junior and senior advisees with academic advising and college counseling within the context of what is God calling them to do.”

What do you believe is the single most important thing a student can do to prepare for college? “Stay focused on the five pieces of the college admission puzzle…[see main article for specifics]. The absolute most important thing a student can do is make regular time to remove him/herself from all the distractions of our busy world. If a student makes time for prayerful discernment and really listens to God, he/she will be more likely to take ownership of his/her college search process and confidently choose what college he/she will attend by May 1 of his/her senior year.

Licensed School Counselor grades 9-12

Family: Married to Daniel. Mother of Christopher, 26; Julie, 24; Gregory, 22.

Background: B.S. Biology; M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction: State of Ohio School Counseling Licensure.

She just completed her eighth year as a high school Carol Jones counselor at CHCA. Prior to her role as counselor, she was a science teacher in Ohio and Tennessee.

Guidance Role: “As the freshman and sophomore academic counselor, I work directly with the students both in classroom workshops and individualized meetings on a variety of college planning topics: academic achievement and GPA, career profile testing, school leadership opportunities, PLAN and PSAT testing, SAT and ACT test prep opportunities and testing timeline, college admissions criteria and planning for the application process, selection of a college major, PrepHQ online college-planning account set up and exploration, et al.”

What do you believe is the single most important thing a student can do to prepare for college? “We strongly encourage our students to seek out those academic, extracurricular and leadership opportunities which will cultivate the gifts which God has given them. As students continue to grow in their personal faith journeys and in their relationships with God over the four years of their high school experience, they develop a greater understanding of their personal gifts and abilities, likes and dislikes, and how God is using each one of them to fulfill his plan for them. Consequently, we seek to help and guide each of our students to find the best college ‘fit’ based upon these gifts and strengths.”

DeAnne Vallo, Guidance Coordinator

Family: Married to Joe. Mother to David, 15 and Laura, 12.

Tammy Richardson, Associate Director of College Guidance Family: Married to Jeff.

Background: B.A. in English and History from Georgetown College; M.A. in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to her 12 years in education, she was in ministry, first as a missionary in Florida working in Hispanic housing developments, Tammy Richardson then as a youth minister. She moved to college admissions at a small, private college for a few years, then to the University of Kentucky for nearly eight where she served as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of New Student and Parent Programs. Her focus was on first-year student success and retention. She just completed her first year at CHCA. Guidance Role: “I work with junior and senior students in the latter half of the alphabet in all areas of academic advisement and college guidance...I assist students and their parents through the college search, application process, and college selection by offering advice, information, essay writing assistance, etc. I also advocate for students to the colleges and universities. Ultimately, my goal is to empower students to take ownership of this important process and find the best college fit. I guide, support, encourage and challenge.”

What do you believe is the single most important thing a student can do to prepare for college? “I think it is so important for students to get involved and follow their passions in and out of the classroom. Instead of doing nothing or getting involved in many activities with the motivation of simply building a resume, do what you love. Not only will this make college selection easier because you know more about yourself and your future goals, but colleges and universities want to admit people of passion, dreams and focused goals. You don’t have to have it all figured out in high school, but be engaged and in pursuit of finding your passion and unique God-given gifts and abilities.”

Background: B. A. in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University.

Guidance Role: “I assist the three counselors with many facets of guidance. Most of what I do revolves DeAnne Vallo around the college application process including: managing PrepHQ, processing college applications, and coordinating the annual college fair and the visiting college representatives. I also help Carol Jones with the coordination of the PSAT and AP testing process as well as the scheduling of courses for current high school students.”

Mary Angela Lewis, Guidance Office Administrative Assistant Family: Married to Bob. Mother of Elizabeth, a 2007 CHCA graduate and incoming freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University, and Ben, a CHCA sophomore.

Mary Angela Lewis

Background: B.S.E.E. from Tennessee Technological University. She worked at Procter and Gamble for 7 ½ years at the Cape Girardeau paper plant and co-managed the Scrip Program at CHCA for two years.

Guidance Role: “My main responsibilities in the Guidance Office are class and student scheduling, grades and records.”

Judy Roll Judy Roll is retiring after 12 years in guidance at CHCA. Thanks for your service, Judy. You will be missed! We welcome Mary Angela Lewis (pictured) who will take over some of Judy’s responsibilities, including records management and grades.

Judy Roll

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At CHCA’s College Fair students and their parents get a taste of what colleges and universities have to offer.

Making a Difference...

Everybody Counts at CHCA

Get Educated at the College Fair CHCA’s annual College Fair had a couple new twists this year. The fair, held on September 26, hosted 30-35 additional college representatives from around the country as part of the National Association of Christian College Admissions Personnel (NACCAP). In total, over 135 colleges had booths throughout the gym, Lindner Theater Atrium, and on down the hallways of CHCA High School. The College Fair (and NACCAP’s first visit to Cincinnati in 5 years) was a big success, drawing freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors from CHCA and high schools across town. “Harvard and Penn State were represented this year,” said DeAnne Vallo, CHCA Guidance Office Liaison.

A familiar face was at the Lee University booth in the middle of the gym, where for the first time, a CHCA alumnus returned to his alma mater to represent his university as a college admissions counselor. Matt Warren, CHCA Class of 2001 graduate, was here handing out brochures, answering questions and touting the merits of a Lee University education. “I love both of my schools, which makes it easy to recruit,” Matt admitted.

“And it’s fun to be back in this ca- HS Vice Principal Dave Walker reviews college info wtih CHCA parent Beth Goodwin pacity, helping kids like me figure out what their options are when it comes to college.”

Dana Hartsig, a CHCA 10 th grader who hopes to study engineering someday, was amazed by the way the college fair opened her eyes to schools big and small that have the programs she’s looking for.

“I walked in knowing what colleges I wanted to see, but ended up finding ones that I hadn’t even considered.

It really broadened my horizons.”

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Class of 2001 grad Matt Warren discusses the merits of a Lee University education.

A few years ago, Christine Hansford looked at her daughter Beth, a physically disabled CHCA EBL Elementary School student, and saw an opportunity. “She told me her experience at CHCA had been great so far. She had lots of friends, and kids even invited her to their birthday parties,” said Mrs. Hansford. “But my daughter told me that she noticed some kids were still reluctant to approach her about her disability. Beth said she’d want a child to ask her ‘What’s wrong with you?’ rather than saying nothing at all,” she added. Knowing children are naturally curious and even apprehensive when around those with disabilities, Christine decided to revive Everybody Counts, a program that serves to bring disability awareness to young children.

For a week each fall, Christine and several volunteers talk to students in kindergar ten through fourth grade about subjects ranging from blindness to learning differences. Then in the following weeks, they get Beth Hansford (left) congratulates 2nd grader t o h e a r f ro m Hanna Price on her wheelchair maneuvering skills speakers who share their personal experiences with those topics, whether they themselves have a disability or have grown up living around a person who does. “We have a CHCA student coming in to talk to the fourth graders about her learning challenges, and someone who grew up with deaf parents coming in to talk to the second graders,” Mrs. Hansford says. “For some kids, it’s totally new, and their eyes just widen when they hear some of it. But as comfort increases they see that it’s just as easy to be friends with someone who has a disability as someone who doesn’t.”

Everybody Counts is a national program implemented locally at various schools around the country. The program is experience based, increasing awareness and understanding by allowing the students to feel what it would be like to have a disability. Mrs. Hansford and her fellow volunteers present a different topic to each grade: kindergarteners hear an overview of disabilities, including blindness, deafness and motor impairments. First graders spend a week on blindness; second graders, deafness and hearing impairments; third graders, physical disabilities; and fourth graders, learning disabilities like dyslexia and challenges such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The material is especially relevant for the fourth graders, who will soon enter middle school and face peers who are living with learning disabilities while also coping with the changes that come with adolescence. “The goal with them is to hit that topic now, before it becomes a social issue. Through computer simulation we allow students to experience what it would be like to have a difficulty focusing in the classroom similar to ADD. Experiencing that frustration first hand increases compassion so that they know having ADD doesn’t mean a student is ‘wild,’ and that they may interact differently in a social context,” said Mrs. Hansford.

Putting a human face on disabilities is easy for Christine Hansford, and she enjoys bringing understanding to elementary school students.

“The idea is that once you meet someone with a disability, you naturally become more comfortable around people with that disability. My hope is that students take the things they learn with them into their community. It’s a chance for these kids to be Jesus’ hands and feet to people with disabilities.”

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< (Clockwise from top left) Tegan Osborne, Sean O’Brien, Chase Murray, Anjali Nelson, Olivia Reed, Ethan Statzer, and at center, Evan Oyster.

COSI On Wheels

(l-r) Maddie Darst and Alison Southerland

The COSI on Wheels exhibit came to CHCA’s Edyth B. Lindner Elementary School on September 28th, with demonstrations and interactive displays on the “Launch into Space” theme. The enrichment experience is geared toward teaching kids about air pressure, testing food for space, launching cork rockets, microgravity, crystal growth in space, inventions created for use on earth and in space, how astronauts perform experiments, the effect of gravity on oil and water, and using diffraction gratings to identify spectrums of known gases.

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(l-r) Danielle Bosma, Natalie Choo, Drew Beverly and Justin Stone get a geology lesson. > (l-r) Moriah Tome and Grace Wesson.

Congratulations Bible Quiz Team!

“Bible quizzing” and “fierce competition” may not seem like they go together, but CHCA’s Bible Quiz Team would tell you otherwise. Students learn Bible verses, a quizmaster asks questions, and students seated on electronic jump seats jump up when they know the answer to a question. A light and buzzer signal the quizmaster as to who the first person is to jump up, and a fraction Winning the final question at the of a second can separate Little League Championship in jumpers #1 and #2. Broad Chicago, (l-r): Zachary Alvarado, knowledge and speed are Jason Tarasenko, Aidan Sheehy valuable assets, and team (who just answered the winning members (students in question giving CHCA the Little grades 1 through 6) have League Championship) and Con- been known to memorize entire books of the Bible nor Sheehy. to ensure they are ready for any question thrown their way. “This year the team memorized 4,471 verses in total from the Book of Acts,” said Carol Fulkerson, Bible Quiz Team faculty advisor.

“One parent said she had to go into her sons’ room after

bedtime and tell them to stop studying the Bible and get to sleep. What a great problem!”

Students earn prizes, ribbons and trophies for their memorization, and win medals, plaques, medallions and trophies for team and individual placement at monthly competitions with other teams in the Ohio Bible Quiz Association. This year, the four CHCA teams finished 1st , 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places at the final state competitions, while CHCA students competing individually finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th. Three of the teams traveled in November to the Great Lakes Regional Competition in Brighton, Michigan, and finished 1st , 2nd and 4th against the best teams in the region (individually, CHCA students placed 1st , 3rd, 6th and 9 th at the Regional). In March, three teams journeyed to the national invitational World Bible Quiz Competition in Chicago to face off against the best Bible quiz teams in the country, and did CHCA proud by finishing 1st , 2nd and 7th place. CHCA students also finished 1st , 2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th and 15th individually at the Chicago finals.

Next year, Fulkerson says, students will be studying Ephesians and Philippians in preparation for another season of intense rivalry. “We also hope to start a varsity/junior varsity division for grades 7-12 after we get the word out to the older students and generate some enthusiasm at that level,” Fulkerson reports, adding that though some may see Bible memorization as work, it’s actually fun and can serve as a kind of refuge. “In our fast-paced, quicklychanging world, the Bible gives students one solid foundation that stays the same even when everything around them is changing. Bible quizzing is an awesome program for students and families.”

Ohio Bible Quiz Association Memorization Awards (quizzers who had memorized all the memory verses for the year).

Congratulations to the 2006-07 CHCA Bible Quiz Team for a successful season! Team members this year were 5th graders – Zachary Alvarado, Jackson Grout, Elise Jackson, Jason Tarasenko; 4th graders – Nathan Carras, Michael Kristen, Edward Rossman, Olivia Schwan and Aidan Sheehy; 3rd graders – Anjali Nelson, Connor Sheehy; 2nd graders – Elizabeth Carras, Carter Jackson, Joseph Paschke, Josh Pyle, Jazmine Rodgers, Luke Schwan; and 1st grader – Noah Carras.

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Students Experience Life During Biblical Times at Marketplace 29 A.D.

In the library, a dozen third graders dance and sing in a circle, arms interlocked, while two children in the middle raise a chair (complete with sitting teddy bear) above their heads. Downstairs in the cafeteria, a group of first graders sit quietly with rapt attention as the rabbi explains where the word adonai, the Hebrew word for “Lord”, comes from. And outside on the playground, the swings and play sets sit untouched while a large tent nearby swarms with elementary school students of all ages who make clay tiles and play music.

The scene is Marketplace 29 A.D., an opportunity for kids to experience life as Jesus did. Once every three years, CHCA EBL ES is transformed into the city of Jerusalem, complete with an authentic “marketplace.” Kids from the North Campus and Armleder are assembled by grade into “families” representing the 12 tribes of Israel, and spend the days roaming from station to station where they make pottery, crush herbs and spices for use in cooking, dance the Horah, listen to ancient tales and folklore, decorate and play authentic wooden flutes, and learn Hebrew from CHCA’s own fluent Hebrew speaker (and high school Biblical Studies teacher) Dr. Dean Nicholas. Tribes are even visited along the way by historical figures, including a high priest (played by Mr. Paris, third grade teacher), a Roman tax collector (Mr. Bagby), and a real life, present-day rabbi.

All of this combines to make for a vibrant, colorful, and interactive take on the way life was 2000 years ago. “Our hope is that, in re-creating these scenes for our young students, they will learn that the Bible, even though it was written long ago, is about real people who had real lives,” said Sandy Breitholle, EBL Principal. “The sights, sounds and textures of Jewish life are woven together at Marketplace 29 A.D. to create a lasting memory that will be brought to mind when they read the Bible for years down the road. It is experiences such as these that help our students gain understanding of their Christian heritage.”

12 tribes of Israel represented at Marketplace 29 A.D.: Gad, Judah, Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Rueben, Naphtali, Issachar, Levi, Zebulun, Joseph, & Simeon.

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Jan shares her love of nature with student Michael O’Brien.

Making a Difference...

Popular Kindergarten Teacher Says Farewell to CHCA and Hello to Retirement After eighteen years as CHCA’s full day kindergarten teacher, Jan Everett is retiring. As one of the first teachers hired on when the school opened its doors in 1989, Jan’s contribution to the school goes far beyond her accomplishments in the classroom.

While modest and hesitant to discuss the role she played in curriculum development, the work she and others did early on laid the groundwork for the CHCA of today. “Many of us were there until midnight and on weekends those first years because we were setting everything up,” says Everett. “The four teachers in our Early Childhood Department knew young children learn best with ‘hands-on’ activities. We were given the freedom to discard the use of workbooks and create our own developmentally appropriate activities. We designed the curriculum from the bottom up,” she says.

With so few employees and limited financial resources, Jan recalls the teachers taking turns with other duties necessary to keep the school going. “We did car pool duty every day and took turns monitoring the lunchroom and recess, so we had 15 minutes to eat,” says Jan. “But we did it with a cheerful heart because we believed in the mission of starting up this new Christian school.”

One of her fondest memories of her time at CHCA is the faculty retreats and get-togethers at people’s homes, like Ron and Mary Beshear’s. The Beshears were one of CHCA’s founding families and Ron Beshear is a current board member. “We’d meet at Beshears’ home and Rob Reider would play the guitar as we all worshipped together,” says Jan. “It was a group of people who had their love of the Lord in common,” Jan remembers. “We were all in one accord in building a school community. When you fellowship, socialize, and laugh together, you become good friends. Those people are my extended family.”

Jan’s first class had 16 students (five boys and 11 girls) including Carl Lindner, IV, whose parents were one of the founding families, and Erin Tate, whose mother Linda (a parent at the time) is now the elementary school’s enrichment teacher. While Jan will stay connected to the new students and parents at CHCA through her work as a substitute, she will miss the long friendships that can only be developed as a permanent classroom teacher. “I

still have many great friendships with parents from the students I had 18 years ago – like the one I have with Dana and Gregg Schuler,” she says. “Their son, Jonathan, was in my first class at CHCA and they were behind the scenes of my classroom all year. They were so loving and supportive with their prayers and their resources for the school. These are deep friendships that have continued throughout the years.”

Jan and her first The parents of Jan’s kindergarten class. students feel much the same way about her. Says Dana Schuler, “The perpetual sparkle in her eyes says it all...all three of our children found each day of kindergarten with Jan Everett to be a fun adventure! She tackled school lessons with exuberance and creativity, putting her whole heart into all she taught. No matter what it was, dreaming up new learning games, cute skits or imaginative projects, Jan encouraged the children’s faith by sparking their imaginations. A more loving, creative and enthusiastic kindergarten teacher simply cannot be found!”

While listening to Jan reminisce about her time at CHCA, it is clear that the highlight of her career is seeing her students come full circle. Her voice cracks with emotion as she talks about their successes. “Dorian Dostal, a student from my first class, is teaching prekindergarten at Armleder next year and to me, that is such a blessing. My little Dori, a beautiful, young, Godly woman is taking the torch and running with it now,” she says fondly. And then there is Elizabeth Stogner. “Little Liz Stogner wrote me a letter and told me she learned to cook in my classroom in the little kitchen area I had in the corner of my room. I still have a close friendship with Liz and her parents. She is now in Chef school and winning all kinds of awards,” says Jan proudly.

Jan says she will miss the cute, innocent comments the children say every day, like Lydia Binford, who years ago stood next to an easel and asked her, “Mrs. Everett, will you put another piece of paper on the

Jan Everett and some of her students tour UDF facilities.

weasel?” But she believes the Lord has shown her that the time is right to go. She is looking forward to traveling more with her husband (they are going to the Mediterranean in the fall), spending more time with her five grandchildren, and gardening and hiking. “My daughter, Laura, already has ‘Granny Jan Days’ planned for my 2-year-old granddaughter and all her friends. It consists of arts and crafts,” she says with a laugh.

Ed Steitz, one of only three other teachers who have been at CHCA since the beginning, says that he will miss Jan’s organized, positive presence. “Jan can’t be bothered wasting time complaining. If you take a problem to her, she goes right into problem solving mode. That’s just the way she thinks,” says Ed, “and that is such an asset.”

International Game Day at Armleder Students in grades pre-K through sixth participated in Armleder’s first International Game Day on May 11, sponsored by a joint collaboration between the Fifth Third Bank Diversity Board and Foundations Office. Their team of twenty-five volunteers led students through games from around the world like Corn Hole from the United States, Hopscotch from France, and Da Ga from Ghana. In Da Ga (which means Boa Constrictor), a player in the middle of a circle tries to tag others and once tagged, they join hands to become a snake. Last one tagged wins the game. Fifth Third is one of Armleder’s corporate partners in education whose goal is to enrich the educational experience for students. < Hop to it! Fifth grader Yadiah Graham shows the crowd how hopscotch should be played during Armleder’s International Game Day.

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Brittany Southerland holds on to a curious Serval kitten. Servals are like miniature cheetahs and are native to Africa. <

A young flamingo makes a wobbly second appearance in public as (L-r) Carson Mackenzie, Tyler Vonderhaar, Sheridan Jonas, Kelsey Turner, Jeff Horsting, Hailey Rudolph, Ellen Packer, Meagan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien and Casey Schumacher look on.

Jack Hanna Visits Middle School, Elementary for Student Appreciation Day Jack Hanna, world renowned zoologist and wildlife expert (and grandfather to CHCA 5 grader Brittany Southerland) brought the outdoors in for CHCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Student th

Appreciation Day celebration. Students at the middle and elementary schools got to see an armadillo, parrot, flamingo, tortoise, and several other animals up close and personal.

Hanna brought the animals from the Columbus Zoo, where he is the Director Emeritus.

Brittany Southerland holds a baby alligator while her grandfather Jack Hanna addresses the crowd of middle school students.

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Emily Wyant pets a 3-banded armadillo.

Spanish teacher John Prado lends a shoulder to Toddy the Palm Civet. This cat-like mammal is found mainly in southeast Asia.

Making a Difference: Locks of Love < Clockwise from top left: Maggie McMillan, Jessica Arington, Kathryn Easterday and Maggie Lahti just before the final cut .

Middle School Gals Put Heads Together to Make Special Donation Some people show love for others in need by donating money or time. Others give cards or flowers. In the case of four CHCA middle school students and a middle school secretary, their gift was a bit more unique: they gave their hair.

Fifth graders Jessica Arington and Maggie Lahti, sixth grader Kathryn Easterday, eighth grader Maggie McMillan, and secretary Vicky Koett each gave a substantial amount of their long hair to Locks of Love®, a public, non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who have experienced medical hair loss.

During middle school chapel one April morning, 450 students, faculty and staff watched as each gal’s hair was brushed, gathered into ponytails, and then chopped off. When the last strand was cut, the entire middle school erupted in cheers and leapt to their feet to give the five a standing ovation.

The donated hair will be made into hair prostheses that will improve the self-esteem and confidence of kids in need. These hair pieces, which retail for between $3,500 and $6,000, are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the financial need of the recipient’s family.

Interesting facts about hair donation (courtesy of www.locksoflove.org): • Hair of all colors is needed from men and women, young and old.

• Most of LOL’s recipients suffer from alopecia areata.

Others have experienced hair loss from radiation therapy and chemotherapy, severe burns or trauma.

• It is estimated that 80% of all donations come from children who wish to help other children.

• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hair piece; there is no max.

• Hair 6-10 inches in length is accepted and sold at fair market value to offset manufacturing costs.

Smart is spelled S-H-O-J-I

Webel Runs For Others Before Returning Home

Marissa Shoji may be known now as the Spelling Bee champ of CHCA, but don’t mistake her for one of those kids who spend every waking minute studying words like autochthonous (indigenous), umami (savory in taste) or orotund (a bombastic way of speaking). This 8th grader is like any other kid – she loves to run, swim and read John Grisham mysteries – she just happens to be able to spell better than many of the middle school students in the country (and probably most adults, for that matter).

Marissa’s talent for paronomasia (word play) took her from CHCA’s school bee to two rounds of regionals in Cincinnati, which launched her to the National Spelling Bee Finals in WashingMarissa Shoji ton, D.C. on Some of the words May 29 and 30. Along the way, she collected Marissa spelled correctly trophies, dictionaries and a $100 savings bond, along the way: with a little bit of daily elucubration (studious effort) and practice. Marissa represented decibel CHCA well through six rounds of competiconsortium tion at the Finals before misspelling beurre, the dermonecrotic French word for butter. By the time Marissa facsimile was finished, the pool of spellers at the naparticular tional competition had dwindled from some inertia 286 spellers down to 33. circumbendibus You don’t have to be able to spell szaibelyite (a mineral found in Siberia and Germany) to butyraldehyde know that’s smart.

CHCA Middle School Technology Teacher Lance Webel has spent the past school year in Loudi, a city in the Hunan province of China, as a volunteer teacher with WorldTeach. On May 19, 2007, he ran his first organized race, the Great Wall Marathon, near Beijing. “The demanding 26.2 mile course covered several miles on China’s most famous landmark, 3700 stone stairs, and a few villages in the surrounding countryside…and it Lance Webel crosses the finish line. was possibly the biggest physical challenge of my life!” said Lance. He did the race in support of Love Without Boundaries, a non-profit organization that helps orphans in the city of Loudi. To date, CHCA Middle School friends, students and faculty have provided over $700 in sponsorships. Lance will be back to teach at CHCA Middle School this fall. To read his blog site about his trip and his marathon adventure, click on http://webel. net/archives/1027.

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The Cindy Rosser Memorial Prayer Garden was dedicated on May 29. Yellow tulips, Cindy’s favorite flower, will bloom each spring in this peaceful spot.

”Two ‘Cindyisms’ come quickly to mind. On the first day of school she said to the class, ‘I’m old and I’m fat, but we are going to have a lot of fun.’ On another occasion when Jimmy had gotten a really bad grade on a test, she said, ‘you know if you had just tried a little harder, you could have gotten ALL of them wrong!’”

Sandy McCarthy, whose son Jimmy was in Cindy’s class this past year

“My best memory of her was when she wouldn’t give homework on beautiful, sunny days and told us to go outside and play that evening. I really liked that a lot!”

Daniel Fay, a former student of Mrs. Rosser’s, going into eighth grade

Teacher Cindy Rosser:

Gone but Never Forgotten “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. This verse, engraved in the stone that serves as the centerpiece for the prayer garden dedicated to the memory of Cindy Rosser, accurately represents the life she led.

Cindy, a beloved fifth grade social studies teacher, died on March 16 at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer. She is remembered as much for her prayer life as she is for the students’ lives she touched. “I have spent the last several summers participating in a Beth Moore Bible Study with her…I can just picture Cindy sitting …with her Bible open, soaking in God’s Word. When she went home to be with Jesus this spring, I kept thinking that now, after all those years of her studying about her Savior, she is sitting at His feet,” said Jana Perkins, middle school nurse.

Fellow middle school social studies teacher, Steve McCollum, considered her a hero and believed that her last “healthy” moments in this world were spent with her students, which is where she wanted to be. “She was one of the toughest people I knew with the sweetest smile and softest heart. With all that said, she had strong opinions and stayed true to her convictions.”

“During the tornado of 1999, everything in Cindy’s classroom was wiped out. They found her lesson plans somewhere in a field in Mason. She and teacher Lynne Hutchinson were moved to the main room of the field house at the high school. At that time, Cindy was dealing with breast cancer and she wore an apron during the day to hide it from the kids. She used that apron as a prop and would sit in her rocker and do drama. She would make social studies come alive. All that radiation, all that interruption because of the tornado, and yet I never saw her down.”

Nancy Buckman, former 5th grade teacher with Cindy, now MS Assistant Principal

“I remember her singing the Star Spangled Banner…the first time I had heard her voice….I had heard that she sang for the Reds - every third game I think it was through those amazing years of the Big Red Machine - but I had never heard her sing in the several years I had known her.

She sang for the kids that spring when we were learning about the War of 1812 and the writing of our national anthem. It gave me goose bumps!”

Lynne Hutchinson, former 5th grade language arts teacher at CHCA

Cindy came to CHCA in August of 1992. From the very beginning, she was focused on the growth of students, both academically and spiritually. She shared with them her knowledge of the world and her faith in Christ. “I’ve known some wonderful people in my lifetime, but Cindy is one about whom I have no doubt Jesus is saying, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” said her long-time friend and former co-worker Lynne Hutchinson.

Most everyone has a Cindy story to tell, and it is through these anecdotes that one gets a sense of the Godly woman she was. Nancy Buckman remembers how Cindy would get to school by 6:30 a.m. so that she could have some one-on-one time with Jesus, or spend some time counseling her fellow faculty members through a myriad of personal problems. Teacher Steve McCollum stated it best when he said, “CHCA is a better place and the world a bit brighter because Cindy Rosser was with us for so many years.”

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(L-R) Middle School parent Cleo Jones, Cindy Rosser’s daughter Jamie Gentner, and MS Secretary Vicky Koett at the memorial reception.

Acclaimed Author Visits Armleder Seldom do students have an opportunity to really get “up close and personal” with a favorite author whose books they have read for class studies as well as for personal pleasure. However, that is just what happened when Sharon Draper came to Otto Armleder on April 30. This award-winning author, poet and former National Teacher of the Year had been one of only 60 authors invited to participate in the National Book Festival hosted by First Lady Laura Bush and the Library of Congress earlier in the year.

At Armleder Ms. Draper conducted separate workshops for grades 2nd-4th and grades 5th-7th. At each session she shared insights on writing, recapped her career path, and answered questions from the eager, excited audience. A highlight for the students was having their novels autographed by the author.

During the weeks following, many conversations at the lockers of middle school students included updates of the latest Sharon Draper novel being read. Among the 2nd-4th grades, there is hardly a student who does not proudly own an autographed Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs novel. Ms. Draper can be assured that one of her strongest fan clubs exists at CHCA Otto Armleder. < 3rd graders: Front row (l-r)

Bethany Walker, J’Quaan Waite, Makayla Jones; second row: London Montgomery, Abbey Breyfogle, Menyada Anderson, Sydnei Simpson; third row (l-r): Saa Abu, Isaiah Howard, Hope Hansee, Kennedi Toney, Braylin Leahr, Kaleb Anderson, Cierra Raglin, Sharon Draper, Jourdan Cooper, Christina Dunn, Janel Bond, Aislinn Wilson, Grace Creech.

> 4th graders: Front row: Austin

Galliher, Ennis Tait, Je’Kia Lee, Jada Kiner; second row: Nakia Williams, Victor Green, Yiyara Greenlee, Sharon Draper; third row: Karlie Whitfield, Torayye Waite, Drew Taylor, Raven Hines, Arissa Freeman, Moriah Coman, MaKayla Albright, Sawyer Ray, Aaron Brown, Turin Auguste, Alisshia Gatling, Savannah Mary.

Putting Pen to Paper

S.T.A.R.s Shine Bright at Armleder As a culminating activity of Armleder’s Positive Behavior Support System, the third annual S.T.A.R. (Students/Staff That Always Respect) Leadership Luncheon was held on May 18. Students who modeled exemplary behavior with no referrals or disciplinary consequences in the last quarter (some during the entire year), and who adhered to the following Armleder Star Pledge attended the luncheon.

As an Armleder S.T.A.R., I promise to do my best to honor God in these ways: • Respect myself · Respect others · Respect property · Accept responsibility · Use self-control · Spread peace at school, at home & in the community Featured guests included young community leaders and role models in such fields as government, entertainment, business, education, medicine, law, the media and sports.

Three high school seniors were among the guests and included Abby Carlin of CHCA High School. After the young leaders spoke briefly of their professions/career paths and offered a few inspirational words, they shared lunch with the eligible 3rd-7th graders. The gym had been colorfully arrayed for the occasion, and it was a fitting setting for the animated dialogue that prevailed among the students and the guests.

by Margaret Horton

Now in its second year at Armleder, W5 (Writers With A Way With Words) experienced exciting growth and development. The active membership of this writing workshop increased to twenty-five 3rd-6th graders who met regularly after school on alternate Mondays. As they honed their craft, created and critiqued, they responded to several publication opportunities.

Primary among them was the ACSI Creative Writing Festival where several entries received excellent ratings and two received superior. An essay written by 5th grader Augusta Enns received a superior rating and was selected by the judges to be included in the ACSI Regional publication, comprised of the “best of the best” from the Creative Writing Festival.

Other publication venues included two editions of the national Anthology of Poetry, Armleder Chapel, ACSI Speech Meet, and the middle school newsletter, In the Middle. As a finale for a productive year, the group published the W5 Anthology which included at least one piece from every member, as well as from coordinator Mrs. Margaret Horton and assistant coordinator Mrs. Alicia DuBois. A source of great pride for the writers was the preface that was specially written for the anthology by visiting author Sharon Draper.

Ennis Tait (on floor); front row, l-r: London Montgomery, Shelley Menifee, Alecia McMichael, Augusta Enns; second row, l-r: Torayye Waite, Mrs. Margaret Horton, Menyada Anderson, Christiana Tait, Sydney Menifee; back row, l-r: Kyria Williams, Moriah Coman, Jourdan Montgomery, Nakia Williams, Je’Kia Lee, Yadiah Graham, Raelyn Klusmeyer, Preeya Waite.

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Making a Difference...

Two CHCA Families Receive Presidential Service Award While many CHCA families participate in service to others on a regular basis, two families stood out as exceptional givers of their time President Bush set and energy to the community and the world. For that, the Woelk Family and the Haslem Family were honored with the Presidential Service a vision for the Award in May 2007.

American people to “In 2002, President Bush set a vision for the American people to give two years or 4,000 hours of service to the community during their give two years or 4,000 lifetime. This award acknowledges those citizens who answer the call hours of service to the to serve. The Woelks and the Haslems exemplify the purpose of this community during their award, which is why I nominated them,” said Karen Hordinski, CHCA High School Outreach Director. For a family to receive the award, each lifetime. This award member has to contribute at least 25 hours of community service in acknowledges those the period of one year. From April 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007, the citizens who answer Woelks contributed over 1,000 hours (earning the Gold Award) and the Haslems volunteered over 500 hours of service (earning the Silver the call to serve.

Award).

For the Woelks, quietly serving others is part of everyday life. Tom leads CHCA’s Fathers Group and is responsible for initiating the group’s Widows Ministry. He assists with fundraising for Back2Back Ministries and serves on CHCA’s Board of Trustees.

Mom Karen pops up daily in CHCA’s Middle and High School, volunteering her time at the front desk or helping on numerous projects in the outreach office, including this year’s Serve-a-thon. She has a heart for the orphans in Monterrey where her family has served together numerous times and she is a “prayer warrior” for the school.

“The Woelks and Son Alex (7th grade) was just in Monterrey last the Haslems exemsummer where he was plify the purpose of involved in multiple projThe Woelk Family, clockwise from left: Karen, th th this award, which ects at the orphanages.

Tom, Alex (7 grade) and Andrea (11 grade). th Daughter Andrea (11 is why I nominated grade) is a core leader for the high school’s Student Organized Services them,” said Karen group, heading the English as a Second Language After-School Program at Hordinski, CHCA Shawnee Elementary, which involves leading 15 other high school students.

High School OutShe is also a regular volunteer and intern for Back2Back Ministries.

The Haslem parents, Jane and Bill, believe that modeling service for their reach Director. children is the best way to instill it in them. While Bill works behind the scenes building and rebuilding CHCA’s Living Nativity, Jane has been more visible as PTF President, Celebration Auction Chair, Appalachia Winter Term parent leader at the high school, and Serve-a-thon Data Manager.

Daughter Rachel (2nd grade) volunteers in service projects for the American Heritage Girls club by planting flowers and collecting food. She also helps at CHCA with clean up after big events such as ARTbeat.

Lauren (8th grade), is a member of National Junior Honor Society, a group known for their service work. She organized a car wash to raise money for Katrina victims and has worked in the orphanages in Mexico. Son Erik (10 th grade) started the SOS Landscaping Team which works on beautifying the school properties and has been on mission trips to Appalachia and the Children’s Home in Tennessee.

The Haslem Family, left to right: Rachel (2nd grade), Bill, Lauren (8th grade), Jane, and Erik (10th grade).

In 2002,

Bremer wins ACSI Exemplary Program Award CHCA High School Technology teacher Janet Bremer won a major regional award in November from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Bremer, who won the Exemplary School Program award for a class she teaches on Flash animation (a program used to create interactive websites), was nominated by Head of School Randy Brunk.

“Janet Bremer leads and guides her students in becoming proficient and practical in the use of technology,” Brunk says. “We supply the tools, but she connects students to ‘real world’ uses which truly prepares them for relevance and proficiency in future endeavors.” Bremer created the class with Barb Bodley, technology instructor at Armleder.

The class, called “Flash – Creating with a Purpose,” teaches high school students how to utilize Macromedia products like Fireworks, Flash, and Dreamweaver with the specific goal of creating animated activities for students at the Armleder School. “Barb tells me what her students will be learning about that quarter – for example, photosynthesis, life cycles, or outer space – and I then ask my students to create interactive learning tools based on those topics,” Bremer says. The result: educational, graphically interesting activities and games that focus on a subject the kids are learning about, bringing the ideas and facts to life. “The high school students do a better job on the projects because they know these will be used by kids for years to come,” Bremer adds.

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In Profile Karen Hordinski, Outreach Director for CHCA High School

“It does no good to sit a student in a classroom and teach them all the jargon about servant leadership but never give them opportunities to put what they learn into practice,” says Karen.

When it comes to the school’s mission of service and the importance placed on servant leadership, CHCA puts its money where its mouth is, so to speak. For ten years now, staff member Karen Hordinski has been charged with leading this effort as the high school’s Outreach Director.

Karen, married to Ric and mom to Madeleine (9) and Sabina (4), earned her B.A. in Social Work and Psychology from Malone College in Canton, OH. Her first real job was at the Free Store/Food Bank, Inc. but after a short while, she was drawn to youth ministry at College Hill Presbyterian Church where she served for nine years before coming to CHCA. A phone call from a friend got her here. “In the spring of ’97 I got my first call from a friend of mine asking me to consider coming to CHCA to develop an outreach program. Ten calls later, I agreed to come,” says Hordinski.

Why she agreed to leave her longtime position in youth ministry for CHCA has everything to do with her strong belief in the role serving others plays in growing a student’s faith as well as the knowledge of leading others to serve. “The best tools in youth ministry are service and discipleship; nothing will mature kids more in their faith. What better field could you find to plant this seed than in a high school

student?” says Hordinski.

Her first item of business at CHCA was to take her students into the mission field. “A director from the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home came here to speak and we established a relationship with them right away. That first year I took seven students to the home to paint, do landscaping, and clean the facilities. We’ve been going ever since with upwards of 38 students at a time,” says Hordinski.

Back then her student group, consisting of 15 kids, was referred to as the Outreach Student Leadership Team. The name was changed to Student Organized Services (SOS) in 2002. From the start, the goal of SOS was to build up student leaders who would then provide service opportunities for their classmates. “It does no good to sit a student in a classroom and teach them all the jargon about servant leadership but never give them opportunities to put what they learn into practice,” says Karen. “That’s what SOS does—it shows them the bigger picture.

Real life ways to break down stereotypes, to help our students learn to respond authentically to need, to appreciate the joy of living simply, to have a world view, to learn to ask better questions, to make ourselves more like Christ.”

Student leaders (or SOS Directors, as they are sometimes called) choose a population of people for which they have a passion to serve. Then they choose a ministry or agency which serves that population—or they create a ministry if there isn’t one. Finally, they attend an annual service-learning retreat in the late summer which teaches them to plan and lead these volunteer opportunities in Greater Cincinnati and beyond. The SOS leaders recruit and train other high school students who share a desire to serve the same population as they do.

“The more kids you have involved in planning and leading, the more students you’ll reach because each kid is going to reach a different pocket of the student population,” says Karen.

While most of the SOS groups prove to be successful each year, some do fail.

And that’s alright by Karen. “We learn more from our failures than our successes.

I don’t like to see groups fail, but I would rather have 25 SOS groups with only 15 that work so that more kids get the chance to take a risk and learn from it.

They may not have had success with that particular project, but there’s something about believing in that kid while they are in school that stays with them the rest of their life,” she says.

Karen sees that as the key to developing the confidence and passion to serve.

“I really love believing in kids and I think that’s what my strength is. It’s empowering, and hopefully says to them, ‘God likes me and loves who I am and I can do things for the Kingdom even though I am only in high school.’ It helps kids find who they are.”

Sisters Bethany Turner (left) and Melissa Whitis (right) share a Survivor’s Lap around the track at the annual Relay for Life walk-a-thon, benefiting the American Cancer Society. Melissa and Bethany were asked to be the featured speakers to a group of cancer survivors at the event.

A Survivor’s Story

Sisters share a lot of things. Sometimes they share a room or have the same taste in music, and often they look alike. But there’s one thing that High School Drama and Vocal Music Instructor Melissa (Missy) Whitis never dreamed she’d share with her sister Bethany: ovarian cancer.

Bethany found out she had a rare form of ovarian cancer when she was a senior in high school. Missy, six years older than her sister, was living in Salyersville, Kentucky and teaching high school band at the time. She had recently been misdiagnosed as having glaucoma – at the age of 22 – when doctors realized it might be something more serious. “I saw a million different specialists, and was on a bunch of waiting lists,” Missy recalls.

“When they finally realized I had a tumor the size of a tennis ball, one of the specialists wondered if our cancers were somehow genetic.

“When my doctor told me I had ovarian, he put it to me this way: ‘Your cancer is bad, but not Gilda Radner bad,’” she remembers, something that stopped her in her tracks. Missy, a longtime improvisational comedy performer, had watched Radner’s hilarious work on Saturday Night Live and idolized the comedienne. Radner is also famous for having the same kind of cancer Missy had, and chronicled her battle with the disease in her book, It’s Always Something.

Several years later, Missy and her sister were in remission, and Bethany was (miraculously) pregnant with her second child, Noah. But when doctors performed a C-section, they discovered yet another tumor. It was then that their physicians realized that these sisters did indeed have a rare, genetic form of cancer. Their case was so unique, it was written up in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Ten years after her bout with the disease, Missy Whitis is cancer-free, and so is her sister. Being six years apart in age, they didn’t have a lot in common in the way of friends, cosmetics, or any of the other things that sisters often share. But since they shared this life-altering experience, they’ve gotten a lot closer. Bethany even traveled with her family all the way from Colorado in May to join Missy in walking the Survivor’s Lap and speaking to a group of cancer survivors at a Relay for Life walk-a-thon for the American Cancer Society.

Speaking to the group of survivors, Missy spoke of her comedy idol and how she battled the disease they share. “In her book, Gilda writes about wanting to be remembered for her comedy, not her cancer. Obviously, she’s known now for both,” Whitis points out. “It taught me something: your cancer is your story. Your survival is who you are.”

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CHCA’s Shining Stars

CHCA’s students and teachers are all stars, but occasionally, some stand out for their accomplishments and talents in a p here are those shining stars in our school community who performed over and above the norm in these two areas. (Note t recognized under the Athletic section, pages 37-41).

Edyth B. Lindner elementary ACSI Math Olympics Twelve 3rd and 4th graders garnered awards this year for competing in the recent Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Math Olympics. The students, competing against children from local Christian schools, won medals, ribbons and certificates for demonstrating advanced computation and reasoning skills. The students were allowed only eleven minutes per round. (L-R): Alayna Choo, Nicole Barresi, Caleb Kim, Sean O’Brien, Tegan Osborne, Tara Koob, Josh Debo, Jack Reifenberg, Ryan Smith, Tanner Bowman, Michael O’Brien, and Michael Blair.

Third Grade Computation: Sean O’Brien and Tegan Osborne (tied for 1st place), Tara Koob (2nd place).

Fourth Grade Computation: Nicole Barresi (1st place), Alayna Choo (2nd place), and Michael Blair (6th place) Third Grade Reasoning: Caleb Kim (1st place), Josh Debo and Jack Reifenberg (tied for 4th place) Fourth Grade Reasoning: Michael O’Brien (1st place), Tanner Bowman (4th place), and Ryan Smith (5th place).

EBL ES Scribes Win Creative Writing Awards CHCA sent 15 fourth grade entries to the ASCI Creative Writing Festival, where they received high ratings for their writing. < Two students, (l-r) Christian Miller and Chris Bolsinger, received Superior, the highest rating. Their work was then submitted to the Regional level of the festival where it was evaluated once again by three judges. Bolsinger and Miller again received Superior ratings, and their entries were selected for publication in the ACSI Regional Book of Winners.

Eleven students received an Excellent rating: Moriah Boyd, Nick DelCimmuto, Anna Faimon, Tim Goodwin, Jonah James, Cameron Murray, Samantha Ross, Victoria Russell, Nia Staples, Payne Vanderwoude and Andrew Wells. Two students received a Good rating: Michael O’Brien and Carrie Wallace.

Front row (l-r) Christian Miller, Andrew Wells, Cameron Murray, Chris Bolsinger, Carrie Wallace, Tim Goodwin, Victoria Russell, Michael O’Brien. Back row (L to R) Mrs. Linda Tate, Nick DelCimmuto, Jonah James, Anna Faimon, Samantha Ross, Payne Vanderwoude, Moriah Boyd, and Nia Staples.

CHCA Creative Writers Meet Nationally Recognized Author Of the 95 outstanding entries in this year’s Creative Writing Contest, 31 winners garnered a certificate and lunch with visiting author Dandi Daley Mackall in January. Mackall, a nationally published author, has penned over 400 books for children and adults with sales of four million in 22 countries. She is a frequent guest on radio talk shows and has made dozens of appearances on TV, including ABC, NBC and CBS. Thirty-one winners of the Creative Writing Contest stand with Enrichment teacher Linda Tate and author Dandi Daley Mackall. < Back row (l-r) Mrs. Linda Tate, Kyle Nelson, Scotty Horvath, Ben Wainscott, Rachel Mangiaracina, Jake Ripperger, Brynna Walchle, Alli Horning, Hannah Price, Natalie Choo and Dandi Daley MacKall; middle row (l-r) Kuan Li Sturgill, Mikey Taylor, Rachel Haslem, Joseph Paschke, Jazmine Rodgers, Danielle Bosma, Bryson Karrer, Alexis Hall, Faith Kim, Grace Vanderwoude, Madison Tongdangjoue, Reagan Starcher; front (l-r) Daniel Hogan, Michael Barresi, Christian Braun, Devin Williams, Garrett Bienert, Conor West, Sydney Collins, Kaylee Bennett, Matthew Lautner.

Ohio Bible Quiz Association Hall of Fame Award EBL Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Carol Fulkerson, was honored by the Ohio Bible Quiz Association with their Hall of Fame Award on March 2 for her outstanding efforts in promoting the ministry of Bible quizzing. This past March, three of her four CHCA Bible quiz teams, comprised of students in grades 1-6, journeyed to the national invitational World Bible Quiz Competition in Chicago. They faced off against the best Bible quiz teams in the country and did CHCA proud by finishing 1st, 2nd and 7th place.

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particular area. Sometimes it is academia; other times they are recognized for outstanding service to others. Showcased that accomplishments in the arts are recognized in the Fine Arts section [page 44] of the Eagle’s Eye and the athletes are

Armleder School Armleder Students Speak Their Way to Top Honors Twenty-nine Armleder students competed in the ACSI Speech Meet, taking home top honors.

Students orated poetry, historical speeches, fables/folklore and Bible verses against participants from other local Christian schools.

The following students received a score of Superior in the competition: Sean Fischer-Weathers (1st grade), Cierra Raglin, (3rd), Mari Smith, (3rd), Arissa Freeman (4th), Savannah Mary (4th), Evelyn Nkooyooyo (5th), Preeya Waite (6th), Amber England (6th), Ruth Masuka (1st), Jayden Ward (1st), Ka’lah Beatty (2nd), Janel Bond (3rd), Sydnei Simpson (3rd), MaKayla Albright (4th), Ennis Tait (4th), Hope Dehner (6th), Kiyah Auguste (6th), J’Quaan Waite (3rd), Kennedi Toney (3rd), Turin Auguste (4th), Christiana Tait (6th) and Augusta Enns (5th).

The following students received a score of Excellent in the competition: Scout Ray (1st grade), Raelyn Klusmeyer (5th), Justynn Holt (2nd), Adele Enns (2nd), Noah Stewart (5th), Moriah Coman (4th), and Shelley Menifee (5th). < First row (l-r) Kalah Beatty, Scout Ray, Justynn Holt.; second row (l-r) Sydnei Simpson, Makayla Albright, Arissa Freeman, Augusta Enns, Savannah Mary, Kennedi Toney, J’Quaan Waite, Ennis Tait, Turin Auguste; third row (l-r) Evelyn Nkooyooyo, Janel Bond, Shelley Menifee, Raelyn Klusmeyer, Christiana Tait, Preeya Waite, Amber England, Kiyah Auguste, Moriah Coman. Not pictured: Sean Fischer-Weathers, Adele Enns, Cierra Raglin, Mari Smith, Ruth Masuka, Jayden Ward, Noah Stewart and Hope Dehner.

Armleder Student Advances to Regional Spelling Competition

Kyria Williams, a sixth grader at Armleder, went home with the top prize at the 2007 ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Spelling Bee last month. Armleder 5th grader Eric Bond also placed, taking home third. Kyria advanced to the regional spelling bee on March 30th in Galloway, Ohio, proudly representing Armleder. > Armleder 6th grader Kyria Williams, dad Artie Williams, mom Hattie Williams, and Spelling Bee Advisor/Armleder 1st grade teacher Elizabeth Mandeng.

Middle School Michael Manning Competes at State Geography Bee Michael Manning, a CHCA 6th grader, competed against other Ohio students in the state-level 2007 Geography Bee. Michael won the school Bee and passed the qualifying test to advance to the state competition in Mansfield, Ohio this March, where he made it to the second round. Way to make CHCA proud, Michael!

Fifteen students participated in the competition at the CHCA level: Manning, Daniel Morgan, Nick Weaver, Jordan Smith, Nick Meece, Tyler Swallen, Trey Goodwin, Ben Wittkugel, Austin Skoglund, Eliseo Vizcaino, Will Meyer, Alex Story, Mark Glenchur, Chris Tandoc, and Brett Shackson. Mark Glenchur won 3rd place and Ben Wittkugel 2nd. < (L-r) Ben Wittkugel, Mark Glenchur and Michael Manning were winners in the CHCA Geography Bee.

Smart kids take it to the MATS

Seventy-eight middle school students participated in the Midwest Academic Talent Search (MATS) Program by taking either the EXPLORE test or the high school level SAT and ACT in January and February. The results were impressive. Northwestern University sponsors the Midwest region of the nationwide Academic Talent Search.

Two students, sixth grader Xeny Bailey and eighth grader Brett Shackson, scored well enough for top recognition at Northwestern University. Four students (sixth grader Andy Lindenfeld, seventh grader Michelle Feeney, and eighth graders Brett Shackson and Marissa Shoji) qualified for recognition at the state level by scoring in the top 2% in the state of Ohio. They received a special award at the University of Toledo in May for this achievement. All are now eligible for scholarships to participate in special summer programs and accelerated learning opportunities at Northwestern and Ohio schools.

The first step towards MATS recognition comes in taking the Stanford Achievement Test, which every middle school student performs. Scoring 95% or better on any portion of that test then qualifies a student to take the EXPLORE (English, math, reading and science), ACT (English, math, reading and science) or SAT (critical reading, math and writing) through the MATS Program. “Taking above grade-level tests like the SAT or ACT helps identify areas of giftedness,” says Nancy Buckman, middle school Vice Principal. “We have many students who qualify for the tests by scoring 95% or above on the reading and/or math sections of the Stanford Achievement Test, so advanced testing helps separate those students’ abilities even more and gives more feedback to the parents.”

This was the first year that Armleder students in grades fifth through seventh participated in the MATS.

(clockwise from left) Marissa Shoji, Brett Shackson, Michelle Feeney, Xeny Bailey and Andy Lindenfeld.

Shining Stars continued >>>

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We congratulate the following individuals for their accomplishments!

CHCA’s Shining Stars Middle School

High School CHCA Student Wins Prudential Spirit Of Community Award

Back row (l-r): Mark Swartz, Ted Andrews, Jacob Thiel, Andrew Tedrick, Brett Shackson, Aidan Ross, Cecily Bacon. (Middle row, left to right) Eliseo Vizcaino, Brian Taylor, Zach Thomas, Ben Wittkugel, Jason Simpson, Morgan Shively, Sarah Cunningham, Austin Orner, Collin Gerlinger; front row (l-r): Andy Lindenfeld, Brendan Schretter, Zachary Alvarado, and Andrew Minnich. Not pictured: Xeny Bailey, Emma Fraser, Maddie Drees, and Abby Brown.

5th Grade

Reasoning:

Computation:

Zach Alvarado – 2nd place Sarah Cunningham – 4th place Jason Simpson – H.M. Andrew Minnich – 2nd place Morgan Shively – 3rd place Brendan Schretter – H.M.

6th Grade

Reasoning: Xeny Bailey – 1st place (plus outstanding performance medallion)

Computation:

Andy Lindenfeld – H.M. Aiden Ross – H.M. Collin Gerlinger – 3rd place Austin Orner – H.M. Ben Wittkugel – H.M.

Reasoning:

Computation:

7th Grade

Students Add Up Big Results in Math Olympics Competition

Students at the middle school brought home top honors from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Math Olympics competition in March. Twentyfour students in grades 5-8 competed against a number of other schools in a series of four challenging tests on computation and reasoning. CHCA congratulates each of these winners for their outstanding achievement in mathematics!

MS Math Olympians

8th grader Ted Andrews (left) and Xeny Bailey, 5th grade won Outstanding Performance medallions in the ACSI Math Olympics.

Brian Taylor – 1st place.

Andrew Tedrick – 2nd place Zach Thomas – 5th place Eliseo Vizcaino – H.M. Ted Andrews – 1st place

(plus outstanding performance medallion)

Emma Fraser – 3rd place Jacob Thiel – 4th place

8th Grade Reasoning:

Computation:

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Mark Swartz – 5th place Cecily Bacon – H.M. Brett Shackson – 1st place Maddie Drees – 3rd place Abby Brown - H.M.

(l-r) Ted Andrews and Xeny Bailey

In February, senior Callae Yonker was named a Distinguished Finalist in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in Ohio. As one of the top finalists out of more than 7,500 nominees across the nation, Callae received a bronze medallion to commemorate the award.

Yonker co-leads a weekly after-school tutoring and homework assistance program for elementary school students who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL). She coordinates 25 CHCA High School student tutors, makes informational fliers for the elementary kids, plans “Family Fun Nights,” and personally assists ESL children with their homework.

Karen Hordinski, Student Outreach Director at the high school, nominated Callae for the honor. “I suggested Callae based on her demonstration of compassion for others and the leadership she provides to her volunteers and to the children,” Hordinski says. “She is deeply dedicated to caring for ESL children and to seeing the children succeed in academics and in life,” she adds.

Kristin Philip Named Young Epidemiology Semifinalist Junior Kristin Philip was selected as a semifinalist in the Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition. Philip’s entry in the competition, “Race, Gender, and Single-Parent Families: What is their Impact on the Moods of Adolescents?” was one of over 700 research entries submitted by students across the country.

Philip gathered data on her topic by surveying students at CHCA High School.

The YES Competition, supported by the College Board and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to expose high school students to the critical field of epidemiology, the scientific method used to investigate, analyze and prevent or control a health problem in a population.

Her semifinalist standing means her work was among the top 121 students who submitted research. She receives a $1,000 college scholarship for her achievement.

Amber Edwards Named 2007 National Achievement Finalist CHCA senior Amber Edwards has been named a Finalist in the 2007 National Achievement Scholarship Program. Amber passed the requirements to advance from Semifinalist to Finalist in the competition for one of approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth $2.5 million.

In order to advance to the Finalist level, students must meet several requirements. They must present a record of high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the PSAT/NMSQT performance. All Achievement Scholarship winners are selected from the Finalist group based on their abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success in college. Amber will attend Washington University in St. Louis, MO this fall.

Semifinalists and Commended Students Named in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program Stephen Havens and Gerald van den Berg were named Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program this year.

Steven Burns, Amber Edwards, Maggie Rogerson and Nathan Wallace were named Commended Students in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Although they did not continue in the 2007 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, Commended students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2007 competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“These students have each made consistent and determined efforts in their educational achievements,” high school principal Burr Storrs said. “They are not only outstanding academic students, but they are also outstanding young people of character who are strong role models that represent the core values of the CHCA education very well.”

Students Earn Perfect 800s on SAT

(L-r) Robert Fogg, Jon Adam, Kristin Philip and Ryan Atkins. Not pictured: Andrew Ferguson.

Five high school students earned perfect 800 scores on either the math or language portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, this year. The three students who achieved a perfect score on the SAT Math subtest include senior Ryan Atkins, junior Robert Fogg, and junior Jon Adam.

Juniors Kristin Philip and Andrew Ferguson earned an 800 on the SAT Critical Reading subtest. (Photo by Eric Bradley)

Top Scorers on American Math Exam Forty mathematics students were chosen to participate in the American Mathematics Competition contests (AMC10 and AMC12) on February 21. These contests lead to other more selective math contests, all the way to the USA team sent to the International Mathematical Olympiad, the premier international high school-level problem solving contest. Congratulations to the top scorer for the AMC10 test, sophomore Andrew Pritchard, and to the top scorer for the AMC12 test, Gerald van den Berg.

Three students scored well enough on the AMC12 test to qualify for the next level test: the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME). Congratulations to Gerald van den Berg, Doug Browne, and Jon Adam for this fantastic accomplish-

ment. They received Certificates of Distinction for their outstanding performance and a certificate for achieving a team score of more than 300.

Crowning Achievement CHCA proudly crowned the 2006-07 Homecoming King, Kevin DeVore and Queen, Annie Nicholson at the homecoming football game against Dayton Christian in October. Representing their classes on the homecoming court were freshmen Doyen Harris and Jessica Byington; sophomores Sarah Jane Bodnar and Darris Sneed; and juniors Patrick Mullen and Carrie Ratcliff.

Winning Character Adam Clark, Libby Hunter and Andrea Woelk were honored October 17 at the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Character Awards Night. The 10th annual event seeks to praise teens in the tri-state who exemplify the YMCA’s four core character values—caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Andrea Woelk delivered the evening’s devotion to the crowd at the Hilton Netherland hotel downtown, while Adam Clark was a featured speaker. In photo, winners Libby, Adam and Andrea (all 11th grade) with Outreach Director Karen Hordinski at the awards ceremony.

Building Relationships Student Organized Services (SOS) received the High School Community Service Award from the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission for building relations between diverse groups of people. One example is SOS’s English as a Second Language Program at Shawnee Elementary, which builds relationships between Hispanic children and high school kids through mentoring and tutoring.

Bright Minds at Work

Front row (L-r): Chris Taylor, James Bronson, Chris Colwell, Andy Ferguson, Malcolm Wu, Zach Harvey, Andrew Philip, Chris Barger, Andrew Pritchard, Doug Browne, Gerald van den Berg, Joel Campbell, Matt Siewny, Joe Reifenberg, Steven Burns, David Hughes Middle row: Katy Perkins, Erin Phelps, Anne Maria van den Berg, Cailin Taylor, Amber Edwards, Elizabeth Mangels, Taylor Beadle, Katie Myers, Libby Hunter, Taylor Leibson, Molly Sweeney, Kristin Philip, Dana Hartsig, Katie Horvath, Erin Black, Emily Miller, Sarah Terkosky, Amy Stevens, Scott Haltom. Back row: Mallory O’Connor, Lindsey Evans, Emily McDonnell, Danielle Schaffeld, Nathan Wallace, Adam Greenberg, David Betcher, Matt Swallen, Stephanie Jack, Katherine Bulling, Eric Smith, Josh Wagner, Caleb Grisell, Jon Adam, Zach Cucinotta.

Over 50 high school students were honored at CHCA’s annual Academic Awards Night in May. These students received medals for excellence in one or more subject area. The event was sponsored by the Boosters Club, supporters of athletics at CHCA. “The B oosters org aniz ation supports the development and education of CHCA students,” said Rolando Collado, Boosters President. “The high school’s Academic Awards night is just one example of the many activities we underwrite in the interest of providing CHCA students with everything they need to further their intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth.”

31

Congratulations to the Class of 2007!

What do Yale, Princeton, Vanderbilt, Case Western Reserve, Clemson, Purdue, Notre Dame, Wheaton, University of Cincinnati and Ohio State have in common? Answer: they will be the home to a 2007 CHCA graduate this fall.

So will a multitude of other prestigious colleges and universities around the country. Four years of hard work and dedication by the 105 graduates in the Class of 2007 have led to acceptances to 150 institutions of higher learning and scholarship offers totaling more than $6.6 million. Making these stats all the more impressive is that the students reached these heights while pursuing a whole host of interests outside the classroom. Over 90% participated in high school sports, played an instrument, performed on stage, or took advantage of CHCA’s leadership and service opportunities, giving back to their world a Anthony Munoz combined total of 26,000 hours of Graduation Keynote community service.

Speaker And they had fun doing it, if the stories told during senior chapel the last week of school were any indication. Listening to them recount hilarious tales of their four years together and poke fun at each others’ mishaps along the way, one gets a sense of just how much love and respect these kids have for each other. In their speeches that day, there was no hint of fear for

the future; just a sense of excitement as they begin the next chapter of their lives, ready to take on whatever God has planned for them.

“We have had a wonderful four years together as the Class of 2007, and have represented ourselves well,” said class Valedictorian Gerald van den Berg in his commencement address. “I have no doubt that as we all leave for college and go our separate ways this class will continue to represent Cincinnati Hills well and will continue making waves wherever we go.”

Gerald reminded his classmates of Christ’s words in Luke 12:47: From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. “Everyone here before me has been showered with gifts and talents and it is our responsibility to God to go out and be great.”

And we have no doubt that they will. Well said, Gerald.

Co-Salutatorians Doug Browne, Amber Edwards, and Valedictorian Gerald van den Berg 32

Off to College . . .

Brett Anderson, Samford University Adam Wade Atallah, Miami University Ryan Atkins, University of Cincinnati Trae Balzano, University of the Cumberlands Megan Lee Bennett, Belmont University David Austin Betcher, Purdue University Matthew Blake, Clemson University Marney Rae Booth, Mount Union College James Peter Bronson, The University of Arizona Alexandra D. Brown, Ohio University Douglas Mervyn Browne, Vanderbilt University Gregory Joseph Brunk, University of Denver Taylor Elizabeth Buckley, Wheaton College Steven David Burns, Case Western Reserve Univ.

Victor Byrum III, Purdue University Matthew Scott Cacchiotti, University of Cincinnati Megan Kate Candee, University of Cincinnati Abigail Carlin, Xavier University Michael Scott Chacksfield, Purdue University Nicholas Ryan Ciul, West Virginia University Bryn Taylor Clark, Indiana University Bloomington Ryan Collado, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Christopher Colwell, Belmont University Michael Stephen Corbly, Indiana Wesleyan University Elizabeth Cunningham, The Ohio State University Epiphany Davis, New York University Loren Gail Dearth, Lee University Rebecca Lynn Dennis, University of Kentucky Kevin Richard Devore, Bowling Green State University Amber Ruth Antoinette Edwards, Washington University in Saint Louis Matthew Evans, University of Cincinnati Justin Patrick Farra, The Ohio State University

Brett Frosio, Muskingum College Kelley Gims, College of Mount Saint Joseph Adam Hirsch Greenberg, The Ohio State University Zachary Scott Haltom, University of Cincinnati Philip John Harris, Calvin College Mitchell John Haus, Ohio University Stephen Geoffrey Havens, University of Notre Dame James Peter Havey, Marquette University Kara Marie Hendy, Indiana Wesleyan University Mary Hannah Housh, Samford University Richard Alan Human, Case Western Reserve Univ.

Brian Thomas Hunter, DePauw University Iris Lee Jin, Miami University Christina Karam, Miami University Victoria Kays, Arizona State University Erin Leigh Kelp, The University of Tennessee Katie Kristine Kessler, Calvin College Michelle Khoury, Ohio University Seoyun Kim, Case Western Reserve University Alexandra Alease Kirk, Syracuse University Kristina Kontras, Calvin College Charissa Lake, Emory University Elizabeth Diane Lehky, The Ohio State University Taylor A. Leibson, Wake Forest University Natalie Leonard, Baylor University Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, Indiana Wesleyan Univ.

Stephen Jordan McCollum, Georgetown College Leanne Marie McNamara, University of Cincinnati Margaret Michels, Otterbein College Shane Thomas Miller, University of Cincinnati Steven Edward Minnick, Univ. of Northwestern Ohio Heidi Noel Monroe, Lee University Christianna Norgaard Nicholson, Calvin College Theodore Merrill Nicholson, Calvin College Kathryn Perkins, Miami University Andrew Joel Petersen, College of Mount Saint Joseph

Erin Marie Phelps, University of Dayton P. Nicholas Plummer, Miami University Charles Richard Pratt, University of Dayton Timothy Riewald, Miami University Seth Paul Rogers, Baylor University Margaret Rogerson, Miami University Stephen Russo, University of Cincinnati Nicole Lauren Ruter, Lee University Christopher E. Salas, Lee University Danielle M. Schaffeld, Ohio University Lauren Scott, Case Western Reserve University Stuart Paul Scovanner, University of Cincinnati Benjamin Seebohm, Northern Kentucky University Ryan T. Shidler, Samford University Monica Michele Shoji, Yale University Matthew Siegel, High Point University Matthew Gregory Siewny, Kenyon College Kristen Smith, Samford University Kyle Edward Smith, Georgia Institute of Technology Reagan Elizabeth Smith, Baylor University Danielle Marie Spear, Taylor University James Tyler Steier, Purdue University Marcus Lamar Stephens, Hampton University Amy Stevens, University of Kentucky Brittani M. Sutton, The Ohio State University Matthew Swallen, Ohio University Mary Virginia Sweeney, The Ohio State University Cailin Kelly Taylor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Sarah Lynn Terkosky, The University of Iowa Gerald Albertus van den Berg, Princeton University Laura Helen Vincent, Univ. of Michigan - Ann Arbor Nathan Marcus Wallace, Vanderbilt University Ashleigh Christine Weaver, Samford University Holly Woodworth, Miami University Callae Justine Yonker, Calvin College

CHCA 2007 grads were accepted to these schools as well, but declined to attend:

Asbury College, Baldwin-Wallace College, Boston College, Boston University, Butler University, Capital University, Carnegie Mellon University, Cedarville University, Centre College, College of Charleston, Colorado School of Mines, Columbus College of Art and Design, Cornell University, Davidson College, Defiance College, Denison University, DePaul University, Dominican University of California, Duke University, Eastern Kentucky University, Emory & Henry College, Florida Atlantic University, Fordham University, Furman University, Hanover College, Heidelberg College, Hiram College, Hope College, Howard University, Huntington College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Jacksonville University, John Carroll University, Johnson & Wales University, Kent State University, Lehigh University, Liberty University, Lipscomb University, Loyola University Chicago, Marietta College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Morehead State University, Oberlin College, Ohio Northern University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Robert Morris College, Rollins College, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Spelman College, The College of William and Mary, The George Washington University, The Pennsylvania State University, The University of Akron, The University of Alabama, The University of Findlay, University of Illinois, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Trinity International University, Tusculum College, Union University, University of Delaware, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Indianapolis, University of Miami, University of Mississippi, University of Pittsburgh, University of Richmond, University of South Florida, University of Southern California, University of Southern Indiana, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Toledo, University of Wisconsin, Valparaiso University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Volunteer State Community College, Washington and Lee University, Westmont College, Wittenberg University, Wright State University

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Making a Difference...

Outreach Coordinator Celebrates Seniors for Service Over & Above…

Mayerson Award for Community Service and Leadership Reagan Smith

Front, l-r, Dana Hartsig, Sean Bacon, Megan Villegas, and Alec Kirbabas.

Back row, l-r, AustinZekoff, Katie Horvath, Hannah Kelp and Nick Mundy.

Not pictured: Travis Geiger and Erin Lloyd.

Student Organized Service Senior Directors

CHCA Students Hone Leadership Skills at NECC L-R: Loren Dearth, Victoria Kays, Taylor Buckley, Michelle Khoury, Sarah Terkosky, James Havey, Lauren Scott, Callae Yonker, Megan Bennett, Laura Vincent, Reagan Smith & Cailin Taylor.

Seniors who performed 400 – 950 service hours

Front row, l-r: Erin Kelp, Sarah Terkosky, Katy Perkins, Annie Nicholson, Kara Hendy, Heidi Monroe, Elizabeth Cunningham, Callae Yonker, Megan Bennett, Danielle Spear, Mary Housh and Natalie Leonard. Back row, l-r: Theodore Nicholson, Scott Haltom, Victor Byrum, Justin Farra and Kyle Smith.

Seniors who performed 300 – 399 service hours

Ten CHCA High School students gathered at Camp Kern for a symposium on the pressures affecting today’s youth and how to combat them. The conference was held by the Northeast Community Challenge (NECC) Youth Coalition, an organization developed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. More than sixty students attended, representing Sycamore, Moeller and Ursuline Academy high schools in addition to those from CHCA. The students were nominated to attend the forum by their high schools.

Workshops were led by counselors, including CHCA’s own 2005 grad Courtney Shelton, who has been involved with the NECC Youth Coalition for five years, both as an attendee and leader. They trained the students to develop skills in leadership, conflict resolution, character building, goal setting and decision making.

To Ms. Shelton, it was easy to explain the value of her continued involvement in such an event. “The workshops are amazing,” she says. “The work and impact that we have as positive youth leaders in the community is so powerful. I love being a part of that.” CHCA sophomore Austin Zekoff found the conference to be more helpful than he had expected. “I went to the NECC Conference thinking I might get to know some other students from my school,” he admits. “Afterward, I realized that I had actually enjoyed it and came out of it with many different leadership skills that I can use at school and anywhere in life.”

L-R: Tyler Steier, Michael Corbly, Gerald van den Berg, Epiphany Davis, Lauren Scott, Greg Brunk, Steven Burns, Laura Vincent, Mitchell Haus, Reagan Smith, Nicholas Ciul and Ricky Human.

Seniors who performed 200 – 299 service hours

Front row, l-r: Kelley Gims, Elizabeth Lehky, Amber Edwards, Taylor Buckley, Iris Jin, Alex Kirk, Seoyun Kim, Taylor Leibson, Kristen Smith, Loren Dearth and Elizabeth Lewis. Second row, l-r: Matthew Siegel, Scott Cacchiotti, Andrew Petersen, Chris Salas, 34 Brett Frosio, Jason Emert, Jordan McCollum, James Havey, and Bryn Clark.

Bethany House Services put out the call and Reagan Smith and Megan Bennett answered. The shelter was looking for a group to provide funding to send homeless children to Kings Island over the summer. Reagan and Megan asked their fellow students to give up a non-necessity (flowers for Prom) and instead donate the money to the shelter. Their Flower Free Prom initiative raised over $500 which was presented to the agency’s Director of Summer Programs, Gwen Green, who is also a former resident at Bethany House. Instead of flowers, the students who participated in the Flower Free Prom wore lollipops and candy bracelets. Pictured l-r: Megan Bennett, Gwen Green, and Reagan Smith.

Highlights from this Year’s High School Chapels

< “Jesus Painter” Mike Lewis

in community with others,” Nicholas said, pointedly. He ended his talk with some significant food for thought: is Vietnam veteran Dave Roever it possible to have meaningful community that God is not a part of? Are we making a point to include him in our relationships?

God often reveals Himself in the most unexpected ways. The thought of watching someone paint a picture of Jesus in ten minutes may conjure images of theme park caricature artists sketching something slapdash, cartoonish and underwhelming. But as Mike Lewis completes his piece ten minutes later, the words to describe what he has done are breathtaking, vivid and unbelievable.

Gary Reece speaks on life as a free man What begins as a six foot blank canvas eventually and startlingly becomes an incredible likeness of what we envision Christ to look like.

Mike began painting in 1998 when his close friend, songwriter Seth Haines, asked him to paint Christ’s portrait on stage while he performed his new song, “Intimate Portrait.” Although he was not much of an artist at the time, he took the challenge with nothing but a brush and a prayer. As the swirl of colors across the canvas began to form the recognizable face of Christ, he took red paint and threw it across the face, symbolic of the blood that the human race caused Christ to shed. It was then that his ministry was born.

As Mike paints, he talks to the students about his portraits and why he paints particular images on the page. He also encourages them to share their faith through whatever means they have as he does through his paintings.

It’s the scars on the inside that affect us most. The man with scars covering his face addressed the audience of over 400 with candor. “Some people view tears as weakness. Only a few days into the war in Vietnam, I had my first body count. That body count was my last tear. I became callous.”

Dave Roever, a Vietnam veteran who was badly burned and disfigured when a grenade exploded inches from his face, came to CHCA this fall as part of Spiritual Life Emphasis Week, bringing a message of hope, encouragement and determination in the face of adversity.

Roever told lots of jokes and had the entire auditorium in stitches much of the time. But he also had a way of delivering life lessons about things like drunk driving with personal anecdotes that held their attention. “Each decision has its consequences,” he said, and this age-old message was given new life.

“I learned that you don’t have to have legs to climb to the top of a mountain, you have to have heart,” Roever said, adding that no matter where you are, there are lonely people who need real friends to be there and stand up for them when they cannot. Roever was one of those lonely people long before he went to Vietnam, and it was because of a handful of caring, influential people that he began to feel worth and love. “We need each other,” the burly, gravelly voiced veteran said. “Your classmates don’t care if you’re rich, poor, tall, skinny, fat or ugly – what matters is that when they’re hurting, you’re there for them.”

With authentic friendship, he seemed to be saying, the garbage that piles up in our lives won’t drag us into the landfill.

35 <

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One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Kevin Salkil, CHCA High School Chaplain, kicked off the first chapel of the school year with a theme that many would agree stinks: garbage. Salkil pointed out that garbage piles up in our lives, and wondered, what do we do with it? A video rolled of Salkil “dumpster diving” with a group of high school guys, looking for the strange, the mundane and the hilarious. What they found was trash to most people. But when the junk was turned over to talented artist, sculptor and HS Art Teacher Tim Hilderbrand, it was molded into a work of art. So while there may be garbage in our lives, Salkil pointed out, how it affects us depends on what we do with it. Do we let it plague us or do we turn it into something good?

Never say never when it comes to salvation. The second chapel speaker of the school year was Gary Reece, an ex-con freed by a group of University of Cincinnati law students and the Ohio Innocence Project after 25 years in prison. “I had been a slacker and a liar my entire life, so no one believed me when I said I wasn’t guilty of rape and attempted murder,” Reece told the audience. He relayed stories of life “inside,” including one about his hygiene strike (going without a single shower for three solid years) and a tale called “The Miracle of Cheeseburger Night.”

There was someone Gary always sat with at dinner, a man they all called the Rev, who had a significant impact on Gary. Despite the despicable conditions and disgusting food, before each meal this man would close his eyes and bless his food with a prayer so full of passion and verve, it sometimes lasted three minutes. One night, while in the midst of a particularly spirited blessing, someone stole the cheeseburger right off of his plate. “Who took my cheeseburger?”

Rev asked, only to be met with blank stares and snickering laughter. But rather than retaliate or try to sneak back in line to get another, the Rev calmly left the dining hall and returned to his bunk without dinner. That night, the entire prison was struck with e.Coli poisoning, thanks to tainted burger meat. Everyone, that is, except the Rev. “That week, the usual 40 men attending church turned into 400 men,” Gary remembers. “For the first time in my life, I found myself praying.” This prayer led Gary to make some changes. “I showered for the first time in three years – it was like a prison baptism.”

The man who entered prison an 11th grade dropout started to get his life on track, even earning his G.E.D. and a bachelor’s degree, and mentoring other inmates. He taught many how to read and write, some who only had a 4th grade education. “I was no longer a stinky slob who drove everyone away,” he said.

Reece developed a relationship with Christ while in prison, thanks to some influential people and divine intervention. “I had peace, I had joy, I had contentment. I didn’t even care that I was wrongfully accused and imprisoned,” he says.

“I had the peace of God. I learned that you can’t be freed on the outside until you’re freed on the inside.”

Community matters. One treat that weekly chapel time affords is the chance to hear teachers speak about something close to their hearts. Biblical Studies teacher Dean Nicholas spoke one Wednesday morning about the fragility of life, something that can be hard for teenagers to grasp but is ever present in a broken world.

“I don’t want to scare you about dying, I want to concern you about not living,” Nicholas said. “After all, as morbid as it sounds, who of us knows how much time we have left?” With that thought in mind, he wondered aloud to the audience of high school students, what does it really mean to live life together? What is community? Are you flying through life or savoring moments and treasuring the time you have? “Society tells us to be an individual, don’t rely on others, be an island – but the gospel says to live life to the fullest, and this can only be done

Making a Difference...

High Schoolers Get a Lesson in Saving the World, One Gallon at a Time One thing we take for grantcauses of child death, ed every time we turn on that “PUR sachets have a long tap at the kitchen sink: trust. shelf life, are not a transporTrust that the water that flows tation hazard like some chemifrom the faucet will be clean, cals, and are affordable espeand trust that the same is hapcially when you consider that pening in every city across the the money would otherwise be nation. spent on antibiotics and docUnfortunately, not everyone tor visits,” Dr. Keswick says, in the world can expect the same outlining the features that from their water supply. Statismake the powder a likely aid tics show that 2.1 billion people to developing countries. Dr. lack access to safe water, and Laughlin taught his students that 4,000-5,000 children die about this groundbreaking every day from water related advance in water treatment, diseases like diarrhea and maand was the one who invited Sophomore chemistry student Elizabeth Mangels speaks with laria. This most necessary reDr. Keswick to speak at CHCA. P&G’s Dr. Bruce Keswick. source affects every aspect of “This breakthrough, and how life, shared Dr. Bruce Keswick, Section Head of Global Microa company can dedicate the technology ‘at cost’ to helping biology Research & Development at Procter & Gamble. Dr. people in third world countries, is an enormous contribuKeswick visited Dr. Jamie Laughlin’s Chemistry VT students tion to society,” Laughlin says. “More importantly, it shows to share the work he has done with P&G in developing a very students how a profession in the field of science can be a ministry. You can make a good living, do great things, and special product that could revolutionize the way developing make an impact on possibly millions of people.” countries treat water.

So how does P&G get this powder into the right hands?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CHCA parent Dr. Greg Allgood leads P&G’s Children’s Safe collaborated with P&G to find new ways to bring safe water Drinking Water program. Allgood has developed key allito those that lack it in the developing world. “Piped, treated ances to help bring the powder sachets to people in need on water to everyone is the goal but not a short term reality bea not for profit basis. Countries where programs have been cause of cost and time needed to create the infrastructure,” started include Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Dr. Keswick told the students. “Inexpensive alternatives for Pakistan, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. providing safe water are needed.”

Out of this challenge and some cross-organizational engineering with P&G’s PUR water filtration systems came a tiny sachet of white powder. This sachet, slightly smaller than a packet of Kool-Aid, can clean 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of water, removing bacteria, viruses, cysts, heavy metals like arsenic, pesticides, dirt and turbidity when stirred continuously for five minutes.

How does it work? Picture a large bucket or jar of murky water. Compounds in PUR powder have charges that, when stirred in the water, actually grab the dirt molecules and clump them together so they can be strained out later. The process happens before your eyes, as demonstrated to a room full of Dr. Laughlin’s chemistry students. Before long, the jar full of dirty water has been transformed into clean, clear water with a large, reddish-brown mass of dirt and pathogens at the bottom which is eventually strained out.

Dr. Keswick has a special view on this ground-breaking The jug on left is about the size of what a product, as he is the one responsible for running all clinical typical rural Guatemalan woman carries studies and a pilot project that proved the usefulness and 4-5 miles a day to and from water sources for cooking and hygiene needs. Container on right is efficacy of the PUR powder. The results were very positive. dirty water treated with PUR sachet after In Guatemala, Pakistan, Kenya and Liberia, there was up five minutes of stirring. to a 90% reduction in cases of diarrhea, one of the leading

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athletics Metro Basketball League Division Champs

Middle School Miami Valley Conference League Champions

4th Grade Boys’ Basketball

The 4th grade boys’ basketball team (13-1) (back row, Coach Paroz, Coach Ellison, Coach Hoyer; middle row, Zack Hoyer, Sam Ellison, Jacob Halter, Gabe Hoyer; front row, Mitchell Meece, Andrew Brainer, Mike O’Brien, Sam Wyrick, Cameron Murray, Joel Paroz) had a very exciting and successful season. The team worked hard during the season to develop technique and learn offensive and defensive plays. Their hard work and dedication contributed to their success in winning the Metro League championship. “We look forward to working with these boys and their parents in the future.” (Coach Mike Ellison)

7th Grade Girls’ Basketball

The 7th grade girls’ basketball team (back row, Coach Lohmueller, Jamie Prop, Stephanie Grevey, Laura Atkins; middle row, Morgan Geiger, Mackenzie Bergh, Allie Daniel, Sarah Arington, Kate Anderson; front row, Maggie Grisell, Kasey Schumacher, Jordan Jackson, Megan O’Brien) finished undefeated this year with a record of 16-0. All year they gave their best, learning to work together as a team. They beat Summit Country Day in the MVC Championship game to win the tournament. “Congratulations to all the girls for a great season.” (Sarah Lohmueller, Coach)

8th Grade Girls’ Basketball

Congratulations to the 8 th grade team (back row, Sarah Beall, Lindsey Dougan, Coach Roederer, Megan McCarthy, Morgan Prescott; middle row, Grace Reifenberg, Lynessa McGee, Nicole Vice; front row, Sal Mangels, Kelsie Kessler) for a tremendous season! They finished undefeated with a record of 18-0. The season was completed with a victory over New Miami to win the MVC tournament. “This was a very talented group of girls that worked hard and we wish the girls a great high school career.”

(Coach Beth Roederer)

6th Grade Boys’ Basketball

Coach Brand’s and Coach Russell’s team (back row, Coach Brands, Bobby Paola, Parker Lewis, Alex Blink, Aidan Ross, Coach Russell; front row, Nick Caruso, Austin Orner, Jaylen Hill, Justin Brands, Jacob Russell) capped off a terrific season of “winning twice” and winning the Metro League tournament. The regular season was highlighted by two nail biting games against Kabalin’s CHCA team. The Brands/Russell team won the first game by a point, but Kabalin’s team won the rematch. The team posted a 9-1 regular season record and went on to win the tournament. “During the year the boys learned it takes everyone using their God given skills to win consistently.” (Coach Mark Brands)

Middle School Girls’ Tennis

The girls’ middle school tennis team (back row, Coach Murphy, Heather Owens, Maggie McMillan, Dominique Baxter, Abby Brown, Cassandra Sagness, Rebecca Williams; middle row, Kelsey Elliot, Abigail Goodwin, Anna Dewey, Sydnee Eberly, Kassandra Faugno; front row, Carson McKenzie, Kasey Schumacher, Holly Dahmus, Taylor Schumacher) worked hard from the first day of the season. The talented and athletic seventh and eighth graders successfully won all but one of their matches. “There were four undefeated players and we didn’t just win the tournament at Cincinnati Country Day, we swept it. We took the winner’s plaque on each of the four courts and a trophy for the team as a whole. It was a great team and an incredible season.” (Coach Sherry Murphy) 37

2006-07 High School MVC and athletics Sectional/District Champions Fall Sports

Champion Teams Girls’ Soccer League Record: 2-2-1, Season Record: 10-6-3 Division II Sectional and District Champions Girls’ Cross Country Division III District Champions - 1st place Girls’ Volleyball League Record: 10-1 Season Record: 14-4 MVC Scarlet Division Champions

MVC Individual Awards

Spring Sports

Winter Sports

Soccer - Boys 1st Team: Scott Cacchiotti, Kyle Smith, Nick Williams 2nd Team: Greg Brunk, Gerald van den Berg Honorable Mention: Andy George, Caleb Grisell

Champion Teams Boys’ Basketball Southwest Ohio All-District 16 Sectional Finalists

MVC Individual Awards Girls’ Basketball 1st Team: Kaci Kust and Courtney Kust 2nd Team: Rachel Arington Honorable Mention: Liz Lehky and Erin McGuire

Cross Country - Girls 1st Team: Callae Yonker 2nd Team: Adrienne Morgan, Kara Martin, Katie Fuller

Golf 2nd Team: Ryan Atkins and Zac Cucinotta

and Kayla Gimms

Tennis 1st Team Singles: Katherine Bulling 2nd Team Singles: Lena Tome Football - Defense Honorable Mention: Blaire Flory 1st Team: Jordan McCollum, DL, 1st Team Doubles: Emilee Shidler, Lauren Barker Stuart Scovanner, LB, Ryan Collado, DB 2nd Team: Thomas Hunter, DL, Nate Lambert, LB, 2nd Team Doubles: Sarah Terkosky, Heather Hess Honorable Mention: Matt Blake, Volleyball Football - Offense MVC Coach of the Year: Cherie Bailey 1st Team: Stephen Russo, OL, MVC Volleyball Player of the Year: Kelley Gims Shane Miller, SE, Charles Pratt, K 1st Team: Kelley Gims and Lauren Luessen 2nd Team: Doug Browne, QB, Adam Atallah, SE 2nd Team: Emily McDonnell and Brittani Sutton Honorable Mention: Kevin Devore Honorable Mention: Loren Dearth

Boys’ Basketball 1st Team: Andrew Petersen 2nd Team: Thomas Barnhart and Doug Browne Honorable Mention: Alex Rice and Stuart Scovanner Wrestling MVC Wrestling Player of the Year: Thomas Hunter 1st Team: Thomas Hunter (215 lb. wt class) Jordan McCollum (HWT wt class)

Champion Teams

MVC Individual Awards

Baseball League Record: 12-0 Season Record: 20-9 MVC Scarlet Division Champions

Boys’ Tennis – MVC Champions MVC Tennis Player of the Year: Stephen Havens 1st Team Singles: Stephen Havens 1st Team Doubles: Ryan Shidler and Chas Scott 2nd Team Singles: Sam Powel 2nd Team Doubles: Kyle Smith and Gerald van den Berg Honorable Mention: Sean Smith & Joel Campbell

Softball League Record: 9-3 Season Record: 11-5 MVC Scarlet Divisions Champs (Tie) Boys’ Tennis – MVC Champions League Record: 10-7 Season Record: 5-1 MVC Divisions Champs (Tie) Boys’ Track MVC Champions 9 years in a row Southwest Ohio Division III District Champions for the 8th year in a row Girls’ Track MVC & District Champions 2nd year in a row

38

Soccer - Girls 1st Team: Abby Carlin and Brooke Eberly 2nd Team: Michelle Goebel and Margaux Andrews Honorable Mention: Megan Conway and Leslie Goodwin

Basketball Cheerleading 1st Team: Epiphany Davis Swimming 1st Team: Brooke Eberly (200 Medley Relay and 100 Breaststroke) Heather Hess (200 Medley Relay) Tori Kays (200 Medley Relay) Becca Russo (200 Medley Relay) Justin Farrra (200 Ind. Medley Relay and 100 Breaststroke)

Softball 1st Team: Danielle Schaffeld, Amanda Mary, Emilee Shidler 2nd Team: Quin Bergh, Emily McDonnell

Track and Field MVC Girls Track Athlete of the Year: Alexandra Kirk MVC Boys Track Athlete of the Year: Andrew Petersen MVC Coach of the Year: Jack Bailey 1st Team: Margaux Andrews, Sarah Bodnar, Baseball Taylor Buckley, Ryan Collado, Ronnie Colwell, MVC Baseball Player of the Year: Trae Balzano Amber Edwards, Travis Geiger, Morgan Grevey, 1st Team: Trae Balzano, Doug Browne Alexandra Kirk, Liz Lehky, Lauren Luessen, Nate Lambert, Todd Simmons, Andrew Garrett Kara Martin, Steve Minnick, Honorable Mention: Ryan Atkins, Adrienne Morgan, Kevin Patton, Drake Browne Andrew Perkins, Andrew Petersen

2006-07 High School Athletes Named to athletics The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City 1st Teams ABBY CARLIN Girls’ Soccer Senior soccer player Abby Carlin was named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division II-III First Team. Abby was a four-year varsity starter at forward. She served as team captain in her senior year.

Abby received the MVC 1st Team Award in her junior and senior years. She finished her high school career with 37 goals and 25 assists. Congratulations to Abby on a fine athletic career and we wish her well at Xavier University.

JORDAN McCOLLUM Football Jordan McCollum just started playing football three years ago as a sophomore. In just his 2nd season he became the starting Defensive Tackle on the varsity football team. Jordan had 64 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He was another big reason the football team was a State Finalist in 2005. He was named MVC 1st Team on Defense. In 2006 Jordan had another great year as he was the 5th leading tackler on the team with 74. Jordan was once again placed on the MVC 1st Team. He was also recognized by the Cincinnati Enquirer as a 1st Team Defensive Lineman. Jordan will be attending and playing football at Georgetown College in Kentucky. We wish him good luck as he goes on to the next level.

RYAN COLLADO Football Ryan Collado was a threeyear starter for the varsity football program. In 2005 he helped lead the team to the State Championship game. In his three years he led the team in rushing twice and was also a major contributor as a pass receiver and kick and punt returner. Ryan also led the team in touchdowns in each

of his three seasons. As a Defensive back, Ryan led the team in interceptions in 2006 and was second in 2005. Ryan has won numerous awards including: 2006 Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division V-VI Player of the Year, CHCA Most Valuable Player (2 years in a row), 1st Team All League, 1st Team Southwest Ohio All District, 1st Team SWOFCA All City, 1st Team All State, and MVC Player of the Year. Ryan will be attending University of Minnesota next year where he will take his football talents to the next level. We wish Ryan the best of luck in his studies and athletic career.

KACI KUST Girls’ Basketball Junior basketball player Kaci Kust was named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division II-IV First Team. Kaci averaged 16.8 points and 4.0 rebounds.

She was Division III Honorable Mention All-State and AP 2nd Team All-District. Kaci also received MVC 1st Team honors in her sophomore and junior years.

TRAE BALZANO Baseball Senior Trae Balzano had another successful year in varsity baseball and was honored as a baseball four-year letter winner. Trae led his team to first place in the MVC. His stats were: 29 games, 86 at bats, 45 hits for a batting average of .523, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs for a slugging percentage of .919. He scored 37 runs, had 45 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. He was named to the MVC All-League First Team Scarlet Division and honored as the MVC Baseball Player of the Year. For the second year in a row, Trae was named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division III First Team.

He was once again selected First Team All-State.

Congratulations to Trae on an outstanding high school baseball career. Trae plans to play ball at the University of the Cumberlands in the fall.

KATHERINE BULLING Tennis Building on her freshman year, Katherine Bulling continued her success on the tennis court again in her sophomore year. For the second year in a row, Katherine was named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division II First Team.

She was Southwest District Sectional Division II champion and placed third in the Southwest District championship. At the state tournament, Katherine advanced to the quarterfinal round where she lost to the eventual state champion. She was named to the All-State Division II singles team.

STEPHEN HAVENS & RYAN SHIDLER Tennis Doubles Team The 20 0 6 -20 07 tennis doubles team of seniors Stephen Havens and Ryan Shidler achieved great success this year in Division II tennis. Stephen and Ryan were named to the MVC All-League First Team and Stephen was named MVC Player of the Year. Their season doubles record was 12-1. The GCTCA (Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association) awarded Stephen All-State First Team Singles honors and Ryan All-State Second Team Singles honors. They were Southwest Ohio Division II Sectional Doubles Champions and Southwest Ohio All-District Division II Doubles Tennis Champions. As one of the eight top doubles teams in Ohio, they competed in the State tournament and placed third. For their performance, they received Division II All-State First Team Tennis Doubles honors. Their exceptional season earned both Stephen and Ryan the honor of being named to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-City Division II First Team. Stephen was also named to the USA National Tennis Team for 2007. Congratulations to Stephen and Ryan for an outstanding doubles season. Stephen will be attending the University of Notre Dame and Ryan will be attending Samford University in the fall.

Congratulations to CHCA’s High School Athletes Who Made it to State Finals

Justin Farra

Sarah Pyles

Margaux Andrews

Alexandra Kirk

Steve Minnick

Ryan Shidler

Stephen Havens

Katherine Bulling

We recognize and congratulate our CHCA athletes who went to state championship tournaments in 2006-2007. These students and their athletic achievements reflect commitment and hard work and they are examples as positive role models for other athletes. Sophomore Katherine Bulling advanced to the quarterfinal of the state singles tennis championship where she lost to the eventual state champion. She was named to the All-State Division II singles team. In her freshman year, diver Sarah Pyles placed fourth in the 1-meter diving event at the OHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championship and Senior Justin Farra took fourth place in the 200 Individual Medley and sixth place in the 100 Breaststroke. The CHCA boys’ doubles tennis team of seniors Stephen Havens and Ryan Shidler placed third in the state tennis doubles tournament and received Division II All-State First Team Tennis Doubles honors. Three members of the track and field team qualified for the state meet in Columbus. Senior Alexandra Kirk qualified for the long jump and the 100-meter dash. Senior Steve Minnick qualified and finished seventh in the state in the high jump. Sophomore Margaux Andrews qualified and finished ninth in the long jump. Congratulations to the athletes and coaches who accomplished the tremendous feat of making it to the state championships.

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The Cincinnati Enquirer Honorable Mention All Stars Divisions II-IV All-City Football Honorable Mention Stephen Russo Shane Miller Charles Pratt Stuart Scovanner Division II & III All-City Soccer Boys’ Honorable Mention Scott Cacchiotti Kyle Smith Nick Williams Girls’ Honorable Mention Margaux Andrews Brooke Eberly Michelle Goebel Division II-IV All-City Volleyball Honorable Mention Kelley Gims Lauren Luessen Division II All-City Girls’ Tennis Honorable Mention Lauren Barker Emilee Shidler Division II-IV All-City Girls’ Basketball Honorable Mention Rachael Arington Courtney Kust Division II-IV All-City Boys’ Basketball Honorable Mention Thomas Barnhart Andrew Petersen Division II All-City Girls’ Diving Honorable Mention Sarah Pyles Division I All-City Boys’ Swimming Honorable Mention Justin Farra for 100 Breaststroke and 200 IM

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College Signings Jordan McCollum signed with Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY to play football starting in the fall. The 270-lb., 6’3” defensive lineman plans to study Education and Criminal Justice while on athletic scholarship at the college. Jordan earned All-MVC (Miami Valley Conference) honors his final 2 years and was named to the All-District and All-City Enquirer teams. He represented CHCA in the city-wide All-Star game in June. He was also a heavyweight wrestler winning 29 matches including 27 by pin and placing in all of his tournaments, winning the MVC and qualifying for Districts. Jordan has been involved with mission trips to orphanages in Monterrey, Mexico the past eight years and continues to work with special needs athletes in the USA during his summers. In photo, parents Tess and Steve McCollum look on as Jordan signs his acceptance letter to play at Georgetown.

Michael Chacksfield chose to accept the scholarship offer from Purdue University, located in Lafayette, Indiana. Due to a shoulder injury, Chacksfield missed playing most of his senior year, but his stats from the previous years were solid enough to garner him a grey shirt offer from Purdue. In 2005, Michael was named All State Offensive Line First Team, All Southwest District First Team, All City Offensive Line First Team, and All MVC Offensive Tackle First Team. He will start school at Purdue in the fall, but he won’t play for the football team until spring 2008.

Chacksfield plays left tackle. In photo, Michael with parents Leanne and Reed.

Ryan Collado has decided on the University of Minnesota as his college of choice, accepting a full scholarship offer to become a Golden Gopher next fall.

His career statistics are impressive. Offensively, he has rushed for 1,665 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. On the defense side, he has made 114 tackles. In 2006 alone, he was named All State First Team, SW District First Team, SW District Offensive Player of the Year, All City First Team, Cincinnati Enquirer Div V-VI Player of the Year, and All Conference First Team. All the while, his cumulative GPA has remained above a 3.0. In photo, Ryan with parents Rolando and Jenny.

Justin Farra signed on to join the top-notch athletic program at The Ohio State University on a full swimming scholarship. Farra has been a star swimmer for CHCA since his freshman year, and last year was named MVC Male Swimmer of the Year, a High School All-American, MVC 1st Team, and CHCA Swimmer of the Year. Farra also swims year-round for his club team at Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, and was named 2006 YMCA Long Course National Champion in the 100 meter breaststroke. Farra, a swimmer since age five, is also an excellent student.

He has earned academic High Honors, served as Student Council Treasurer and is a member of the National Honor Society. Sharing in Justin’s signing ceremony are, l-r, Donald Farra (Justin’s father), Sharon Farra (Justin’s mother), Justin (seated), Brad Isham (coach) and Brad Cunningham (coach).

Steven Havens signed with the University of Notre Dame to play tennis on an athletic scholarship. Havens has played tennis for CHCA since his freshman year, winning a State doubles title his first year, a State singles title his sophomore year, and finishing as runner up at State his junior year. Last spring, Stephen was named MVC Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State, while his record earned him a spot on The Cincinnati Enquirer Division II All-City Team.

Stephen was also named Mr. Ohio Tennis Player of the Year. At Havens’ signing are, l-r, mom Mona Havens, Stephen Havens, and dad Terry Havens. In the background are coaches Dan Kronauge (white jacket) and T.J. Bizzari.

Kelley Gims will bring her trademark blend of skill and tenacity to the volleyball

team at The College of Mount St. Joseph this fall. Kelley was named MVC Volleyball Player of the Year, was elected to the SWOVBCA All-City 1st Team and received The Cincinnati Enquirer’s All-City Division II-IV Honorable Mention this past fall. Gims joins the Mount St. Joseph Lions after four years at CHCA, three as a varsity starter. She also played four years of Junior Olympic Volleyball, was a first team all-league selection from 2004-2006 and was third team All-City in 2004-2005. Gims, a co-captain who had 23 “kills” in one match this past season, led her team to the postseason Sectional finals. In the photo, Kelley is seated while dad Mike Gims, sister Kayla and mom Kathy Gims stand by.

Trae Balzano has signed to play baseball at the University of the Cumberlands on an athletic scholarship in the fall. Trae has played varsity baseball at CHCA since his freshman year in the positions of short stop and second base. His .523 batting average made him very attractive to colleges. “He is a tremendous hitter. He already has an idea about how to use the whole field and has the ability to keep his hands inside the ball,” commented Cumberlands’ Head Baseball Coach, Brad Shelton. Trae chose Cumberlands because of their great baseball program and the supportive coaching staff there. While at CHCA, Trae also played football and basketball.

Making a Difference...

Sarah Pyles makes peace with Chinese divers.

CHCA Diver Goes to China CHCA 9th grader Sarah Pyles, a level 8 gymnast who practiced in the same facility where Olympic gold medalist Amanda Borden trained, never imagined she would someday leave the balance beam and uneven bars for platforms and springboards. But after being sidelined by a series of injuries, she realized she needed to change the stage. It was then she discovered that the same twists, tucks and tumbles she did for vaulting into the air could be used to dive into the water. For the past year, Sarah has been training with the U.S. Elite Diving Team at Miami University’s campus, taking her gym skills poolside.

Before long, Sarah’s U.S. Elite diving coach (and Miami University’s Head Diving Coach), Todd Spohn, connected her with a once in a lifetime opportunity via Kong Rong Li, a U.S. Elite coach in Columbus. A native of China and brother of an Olympic diving champion, Li learned of an opportunity to take divers to Beijing and Xian for an opportunity to learn alongside some of the best athletes the country has to offer. Sarah was invited, and so for 12 days last August, she and 20 of her teammates lived and practiced with the top swimmers and divers from all over China.

“Going to China, I didn’t know what to expect,” Sarah says, reflecting on her feelings leading up to the experience.

“I had seen things about China on TV, but once we got there, this huge country actually seemed small with so many people packed into the city,” she continues. The food and close quarters took some getting used to, but observing the Chinese divers was a thrilling experience. “They were amazing,” Sarah says. “They work over eight hours a day at diving and conditioning, and have the best form. It was inspiring.”

Sarah loves competition, and it showed this winter when she represented CHCA at diving meets around Ohio. Sarah eventually worked her way to a fourth place finish at the State Diving Championship in Canton, Ohio this February.

Doug Browne Recognized for Performance In and Out of the Classroom This has been a big year for senior Doug Browne, academically and in the world of sports. Doug, who was recently named Co-salutatorian for the Class of 2007 for his outstanding GPA, has also received several nods for his performance on the field.

Back in October 2006, he was named as a State Finalist in the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Competition. The program, awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman, celebrates the achievements of the nation’s top high school seniors.

Then in February 2007, at the 40th annual Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association (SWOFCA) awards banquet, he was named co-winner of the prestigious “That’s My Boy” Award. The award is given to the Tri-state student athlete who most exemplifies excellence in three areas: football, academics, and extracurricular involvement. The banquet was held by the National Football Foundation in conjunction with the Anthony Muñoz and Marvin Lewis Foundations.

For both awards, consideration was given to Doug’s performance in and out of the classroom. In the classroom, he was noted for the tough AP and honors courses he took each year of high school while maintaining a straight-A average. Out of the classroom, he was recognized for his position as quarterback for the CHCA football team which went to State in 2005, and for participating in basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring and summer. It was also noted that in his spare time, Doug took mission trips, tutored, helped to lead basketball camps in the summer, and headed up a collaborative of student athletes in the community who wanted to meet for small group Bible studies.

CHCA’s 3rd grade through 6th grade football players and cheerleaders form a tunnel to cheer on the high school’s football team toward victory.

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Fine Arts: 2006-2007 Theatre and Music

Electric Jazz Orchestra

Pirates of Penzance

Searching for Me

Cinderella

High School Lab Band 3rd & 4th grade Christmas Program

Sacred Music Concert

Good Kings Come in Small Packages

Romeo and Juliet

Encore and Armleder Choirs

K/1st Grade Christmas Program

CHCA’s ARTbeat Draws Big Crowd, Showcases Big Talent

“The History of the Arts in Cincinnati” came to life as the theme for CHCA’s 9th annual ARTbeat, held at CHCA High School on Saturday, April 14, 2007. ARTbeat is a celebration of the school’s talented musicians and visual and performing artists.

Under the leadership of Mona Summers (CHCA Director of Fine Arts), Anne Phelps (ARTbeat 2007 Chair), and the work of hundreds of volunteers, close to 800 CHCA students dazzled attendees with their performances and hundreds more impressed CHCA 12th grader Lauren Scott artfully the audience with their original artistic creations. It was a full day of auditioned acts paints the face of a young ARTbeat attendee from students of all ages who performed comedy, dance, instrumental and vocal music, plus all of the school’s performing groups.

There was something for everyone.

Joel Campbell (10th grade) and Ashley Staarmann (9th grade) play as half of a quartet The adults enjoyed the eight professional artists interspersed throughout the Atrium as they demonstrated a variety of media including mosaics, oil painting, murals, airbrush, water color painting, calligraphy and jewelry making. The children parlayed their talents into real works of art at the hands-on art tables.

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CHCA 11th grader Carrie Ratcliff won Best in Show in the Juried Art Competition.

A highlight of ARTbeat every year is the High School Juried Art Competition in which CHCA’s best and brightest artists display their work for review by a panel of judges. The results of the Juried Art Competition this year are as follows: Best of show: Carrie Ratcliff Portfolio: Maggie Rogerson 2 Dimensional: 1st place: Maggie Rogerson 2nd place: Carrie Ratcliff 3rd place: Leanne McNamara Honorable Mention: Phil Harris, Kara Hendy, Kelly Gims, Shannon Ibarra Photography: 1st place: Austin Wilson 2nd place: Austin Wilson 3rd place: Kristen Smith Honorable Mention: Leanne McNamara, Kristen Smith Graphic Design: 1st place - Molly Sweeney 3 Dimensional: 1st place: Taylor Buckley 2nd place: Heidi Monroe Honorable Mention: Cailin Taylor, Elizabeth Mangels

All School Musical Revue CHCA at the Movies

On October 28 and 29 the Friends of Fine Arts presented the second annual All School Musical Revue--CHCA at the Movies, sponsored by Long Cove and directed by Michael Kuremsky and Tracy Bertke. The revue featured many of CHCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top performing groups including Melody Makers directed by Kim Cassity, Armleder Collage Choir directed by Lori Lana, 7th/8th Grade Ensemble Choir directed by Julie Weber, Middle School Jazz Band directed by David Thomas, String Club directed by Marva Rasmussen, Encore directed by Melissa Whitis, High School Symphony Orchestra directed by Dan Grantham and Marva Rasmussen, Electric Jazz Orchestra directed

by Dan Grantham, CHCA at the Movies Players directed by Michael Kuremsky and CHCA at the Movies Dancers directed by Tracy Bertke.

Under the leadership of Lisa Allgood, Producer, and Pamela Bailey, Chair of Concessions and Lobby, CHCA at the Movies was a great success with proceeds dedicated to furnishing the new middle school Fine Arts Wing.

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Fine Arts Shining Stars Aronoff Exhibitors EBL ES students’ art was exhibited at a citywide show from May 11-May 27 at the Aronoff Center’s Weston Art Gallery. The theme for this year’s exhibit was “My Neighborhood.” Congrats to participants Abigail Armstrong-2nd grade, Anna Faimon-4th grade, Griffin Hughes-1st grade, Winston Owens-2nd grade, Briana Post-4th grade, Coleman Reaves-3rd grade, Victoria Russell-4th grade, Riley Scott-3rd grade, Bethanie Stecher4th grade and Mia Yakimow-3rd grade.

Overture Awards In November students were selected through auditions and portfolio reviews to represent CHCA in the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards in January ’07. The regional Overture Awards is a highly competitive opportunity for high school students to win scholarships for the college or university of their choice. Representing CHCA were Joel Campbell, Instrumental Music; Epiphany Davis, Dance; Emily Lake, Vocal Music; Kevin Patton, Creative Writing; Erin Phelps, Vocal Music; Carrie Ratcliff, Visual Art; Maggie Rogerson, Visual Art -Honorable Mention Award; and Malcolm Wu, Instrumental Music-Semi-Finalist.

All That Jazz The Middle School String Ensemble and Genesis Big Band groups competed on May 11 at the 2007 Music in the Parks Festival. The String Ensemble received a first place Superior rating while the Genesis Big Band received an Excellent rating and was awarded first place among all competing jazz ensembles. Michelle Feeney, an alto saxophone player in the Genesis Big Band, received the “Outstanding Soloist” award.

Alex Roberts in The Christmas Carol

Playing with the Best Several CHCA students were selected to perform with area orchestras: Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra (Joel Campbell); the Blue Ash Youth Symphony Orchestra (Malcolm Wu); the Center for the Arts Youth Orchestra (Abbie Marosi); the Center for the Arts Premier Academy Orchestra (Rachel Finch, Kellie Hesse, Jaylen Hill, Ben Rasmussen, Olivia Reed and Kuan Li Sturgill); the Center for the Arts Cadet Orchestra (Anna Love).

On Stage and in Character Several CHCA students were selected to perform with Community Theatre and Dance Companies. With The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, 8th grader Maddie Drees performed in Tom Sawyer – A River Adventure as Becky Thatcher’s friend and The Rockin’ Adventures of Peter Rabbit as Flopsy The Diva Bunny; 6th grader Alexandra Roberts performed in Noah’s Ark as a puppet and 5th grader Michael Richart performed in The Adventures of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as an elf and a toy puppet. Alex Roberts also stepped onstage at Playhouse in the Park to portray young Scrooge’s sister in A Christmas Carol. Ben Marsh, a 10 th grader, played Mr. Mushnik in Mount Notre Dame High School’s Little Shop of Horrors. Fifth graders Augusta Enns and Rachel Finch along with 1st grader Bailey Truitt performed in the Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Senior Epiphany Davis, 8th grader Meredith Allgood, and 1st grader Suliah Apatira danced in Ballet Tech Cincinnati’s Made in America at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in May.

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Middle School Ensemble sings the National Anthem at a Cincinnati Reds Game in May.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame CHCA was well represented at Cincinnati Reds games during the year with the EBL Melody Makers, MS Ensemble and HS Encore all singing the National Anthem at the start of different Reds games in the fall and spring.

Outstanding Performers Many CHCA students participated in the OMEA (Ohio Music Educator’s Association) Solo and Ensemble competition this spring. Representing the high school on January 27 were: Amelia Glenchur, 11th grader, Excellent rating; Mallory O’Connor, 9 th grader, Superior rating; and Jamie Rasmussen, 11th grader, Excellent rating. Representing the middle school on April 21 were: Cyle Cucinotta, 7th grader, Excellent rating; Kellie Hesse, 7th grader, Excellent rating; Abbie Marosi, 8th grader, Excellent rating; Amanda Pritchard, 7th grader, Superior rating; and Jessica Wilhite, 8th grader, Excellent rating.

Junior Achievers CHCA students who competed at the Junior Music Festival on March 10: Tori Bechtold (6th grade), Superior rating; Maggie Brownrigg (6th grade), Unanimous Superior rating; Hannah Chait (5th grade), Unanimous Superior; Cyle Cucinotta (7th grade), Superior; Lea Ghastine (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Amelia Glenchur (11th grade), Unanimous Superior; Kellie Hesse (7th grade), Superior ; Sarah Hoft (10 th grade), Excellent; Derek Hsiao (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Da Eun Lee (6th grade), Superior; Andy Lindenfeld (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Anna Love (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Mallory O’Connor (9 th grade), Superior; Casey Ochs (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Chris Powers (10 th grade), Excellent; Sydney Price (5th grade), Unanimous Superior; Amanda Pritchard (7th grade), Superior; Ben Rasmussen (4th grade), Unanimous Superior; Olivia Reed (3rd grade), Unanimous Superior; Dajah Siplin (6th grade), Unanimous Superior; Kuan Li Sturgill (4th grade), Unanimous Superior and Jessica Wilhite (8th grade), Very Good.

A Battle to the Finish Senior Ricky Human and CHCA alumnus Nick Petricca competed along with their three other band members as “Wicked in the Mix” in the Battle of the Bands competition held at The Underground. This competition began with 40 bands and ended with their band finishing in 2nd place with the audience vote Travis Geiger and 3rd place overall.

Keys to Success Out of more than 4,500 participants representing 129 area schools, two CHCA students took top honors in this year’s regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition. Sophomore Travis Geiger won the silver key award in the Video and Film category, while senior Maggie Rogerson took the gold key award in the Drawing category and the silver key award in Computer Art. Travis’s video for which he won a silver key, titled “1944”, centers on a gaming chip with unparalleled processing power that goes terribly awry. Maggie’s gold winning entry, titled “peace”, is a pen and ink drawing of two hands releasing an origami paper crane, set on top of a newspaper collage. Her computer art entry, titled “lantern festival”, features a picture of koi, a type of goldfish, flying over rooftops with paper lanterns littering the sky. Maggie’s gold key win at the regional level qualified her piece to be sent to New York City for consideration at the national level competition.

Maggie Rogerson

f f u C e h

t f Of Real Comedy at CHCA “I tell them, draw upon your own experiences and observations. It’s not about being funny; it’s about being real, because real is funny,” says Melissa Whitis, Director of CHCA’s Off the Cuff (OTC), an improv group comprised entirely of CHCA High School students. Whitis has been coaching kids to be spontaneous and creative with hilarious results for two years now, and the results show on and off the stage.

“Improv has been one of the hardest and finest things I have ever done,” says CHCA senior and OTC co-captain James Havey. “Beyond eliminating stage fright, it’s helped me with academics, improving my test-taking skills and note recall. Now I’m better at thinking on my feet,” Havey says.

The team practices and performs much like the television show Whose Line is it Anyway?, taking an everyday situation like having lunch at a restaurant or a conversation about home decorating and turning it on its head. The restaurant scenario goes from a jumble of ideas to reality in just moments: two performers pretending to be patrons are challenged to have a serious discussion about firing an employee over lunch, at a restaurant that is… Olympic-themed. Meanwhile, other improvisers pretending to be waiters and busboys hurl imaginary shot puts, run sprints, complete gymnastics floor routines and even accept fake awards on a make-believe podium in the background, somehow still remembering to bring bread to the table and refill water glasses.

Finding humor in the mundane comes easy to these students, and the group has become close-knit as they continue to find ways to elevate their teammates’ comedy rather than upstage it. “It’s helped me with my acting skills,” says senior Erin Phelps, “and has been a great way to improve and build teamwork.” Some kids have found Off the Cuff to be not just a creative outlet, but a horizon-broadening experience. “I find myself observing people more and looking at situations differently,” sophomore Josh Goodwin says.

Whitis sees students make a transformation after just a few practices. “It causes them to be more aware of their surroundings,” she says. More than an after-school activity, improv has benefits that manifest themselves after students leave the stage. “I see in students more understanding of each other, greater acceptance, and increased self-confidence,” Whitis says. “That’s the best thing.”

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New ‘Garden’ Adds Color to Armleder Playground

Annette Carothers, Armleder 7th grader Kahprice Luchion, and Armleder Art teacher Gail Varner.

The finished mural is a beautiful depiction of a garden, complete with gardening supplies, potted plants, animals and dragonflies.

A fat, grey cat and two hound dogs lounge in the midst of the colorful potted plants and flower boxes. Garden tools of every kind hang by hooks on the tall fence. Ladybugs make themselves at home in the plant leaves while dragonflies vie for position on the fence rails. The details and colors in this three-dimensional garden are so vivid that one can forget it is actually a mural created by Armleder’s Artist-in-Residence, Ms. Annette Carothers, with the help of art teacher Gail Varner and her students.

Planning for the mural began in November 2006. It took months for Ms. Carothers to complete the mural design and the drawings. Once that part of the project was complete, Ms. Varner and her students in grades KPrep through 7th began the arduous task of painting the mural. It took six long weeks to complete the mural which wraps around the front and the side of the maintenance/storage building located on the Armleder playground. Displayed on the door of the building above an imaginary flower box is the verse, “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.”

“Working outside in the sun, wind and rain each day with students who are so excited to be a part of something that is long lasting and bigger than they are has been such a learning experience and pleasure. Mrs. Carothers has taught us so much about how to tackle a big project and how an artist thinks through making such a beautiful and meaningful piece of work,” said Ms. Varner.

Ms. Carothers is no stranger to CHCA. Three of her four children attended the school and ten years ago she was commissioned by CHCA to do a painting called “A Prayer for John Meyers” which hangs in the Edyth B. Lindner elementary building.

Funds for the $2,200 “Working in the Garden” themed project were provided by the CHCA Friends of Fine Arts, Armleder PTF, and Armleder’s art budget.

5th grader Kevin Bao

Kevin Bao Performs on Nationally Syndicated Radio Program Kevin Bao, a fifth grader at CHCA, was a featured performer on the nationally syndicated radio program From the Top. Kevin, an accomplished pianist, played a solo of Rachmaninoff’s “Polichinelle.” From the Top is distributed by National Public Radio and can be heard every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. on 90.9 WGUC. His performance was taped on February 20 at Music Hall, and aired on the April 21 broadcast.

Kevin has studied piano since the age of 5 and is now studying with Sergei Polusmiak, an “Honored Artist of Ukraine” and professor of piano at Northern Kentucky University. To support the classical music educational outreach program, Kevin plays at Bach-Beethoven-Brahms Club sponsored by the World Piano Competition Organization. It is a program for inner-city school children to help them develop an interest and appreciation for classical music. At CHCA, Kevin is a straight-A student, and has been actively involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as Speech Meets, Science Club and band.

Cappies Orchestra

Seated L to R: Tessa Michels, Amelia Glenchur, Katie Fuller, Kristin Philip, Sarah Dougan, Ashley Staarmann, Annie Nicholson, Marcus Stephens, Scott Haltom, Ricky Human, Gerald van den Berg, T. J. Eilau, Andy Ferguson. Middle Row L to R: Andrew Zurlinden, Chris Powers, Courtney Kust, Kaci Kust, Morgan Grevey, Joel Campbell, Malcolm Wu, Tyler Steier, Brett Anderson, Sean Bacon, Jeff McCormick. Back Row L to R: Dan Grantham, Marva Rasmussen, Jose Manqual, Kristen Grevey, Dylan Eilau, Hannah Frank, Christina Garrigan, Jeremy Cobb, Zach Harvey, Mallory O’Connor, Andrew Philip, Blaine Bowen, Andrew Pritchard, Jon Adam. Not Pictured: Megan Bennett, Abby Carlin, Chloe Cucinotta, Elyse Davies, Andy Kirk, Phil Harris, Heather Hess, Mollie Hesse, Sarah Hoft, Kristina Kontras, Tim Riewald, James Rasmussen, Ryan Steier, Nathan Wallace, and Holly Woodworth.

Kevin went through a national audition to be on the program. From the Top is typically recorded at the New England Conservatory of Music, but occasionally travels to other cities like Cincinnati. The radio show, which features performances by musicians between the ages of 8 and 18, provides information, entertainment, and education for pre-college aged musicians.

CHCA’s Pirates Receives a Cappies Nod with Record Eight Nominations CHCA’s Nominations A scene from Cappies nominated production of The Pirates of Penzance

CHCA’s high school theatre production of The Pirates of Penzance was popular with critics as evidenced by its eight Cappies nominations from the local chapter of the Critics and Awards Program. This was a record number of nominations for CHCA in only its fourth year as a Cappies participant.

Much like the Tony Awards for professional theatre, the Cappies recognizes the best of the best in high school drama and musicals. Each of the 28 participating schools from the local chapter selects one play or musical to be reviewed by the critics. The “critics” who attend and judge the performances are student peers from the other schools. At the end of the year, all of the critics vote for their top choices in each award category and the top five receive Cappies nominations.

These nominations are especially impressive when considering CHCA’s fellow nominees, schools that have decades-old theatre programs and student populations four times as large. “The Cincinnati area is fortunate to have a growing Cappies Program to promote high school theatre,” says Mona Summers, CHCA Director of Fine Arts. “It provides such great opportunities for our students to be recognized for their talent and dedication

Make-up: Alicia Grant Choreography: Epiphany Davis Creativity (Student Directing): James Bronson Female Vocalist: Lindsay Trucksis Comic Actor in a Musical: Josh Goodwin Featured Actor in a Musical: Chris Colwell Song: “I am the very model of a modern Major-General” Orchestra: CHCA Orchestra

to theater both on and off stage.”

While CHCA did not win in any of its nominated categories at this year’s Cappies Awards Gala on May 13 at the Aronoff Center, the record number of nominations pleased the director of the Pirates production. “The nominations are a true honor,” said Melissa Whitis, Director of Drama and Vocal Music at CHCA High School. “The students worked extremely hard on an incredibly difficult form of theatre, growing as singers, actors, technicians, musicians, and learning what it means to work as a team. Most importantly,” Whitis continues, “they learned to love an art form – the operetta – most high school students wouldn’t even have looked at.”

This was the fourth straight nomination for CHCA’s Orchestra, which took home wins in 2005 and 2006. Their obvious talent was affirmed

when they were invited to be the featured orchestra at this year’s Cappies Awards Gala, an honor usually reserved for a professional group. In preparation for the Gala, orchestra director Dan Grantham and his 34 high school musicians had just two weeks to learn three hours worth of music, including scenes from six musicals nominated for best song; two numbers for the Cappies Singers & Dancers Group; and fifty segment pieces.

CHCA’s Cappies individual nominees (L-R): Alicia Grant, Josh Goodwin, Lindsay Trucksis, Epiphany Davis, Chris Colwell, and James Bronson.

CHCA’s Orchestra and cast were also nominated in the Orchestra category and Song category, respectively.

CHCA Orchestra Students Chosen to Play at OMEA Conference

(clockwise from top left) CHCA Strings Director Marva Rasmussen, former CHCA student Melissa Watson, Kellie Hesse, Jaylen Hill, Olivia Reed, Kuan Li Sturgill, Ben Rasmussen. Not pictured: Rachel Finch.

Six CHCA students, as members of the Premiere Academy Orchestra (PAO), played February 8 at the Ohio Music Educators Association Professional Conference, held at the Columbus Convention Center. The PAO, which practices at the Center for the Arts in Wyoming, was invited to play at the conference after Director of Orchestras Gayle Jackson submitted a tape of a performance and an application. The students include violinists Olivia Reed (3rd grade), Ben Rasmussen, Kuan Li Sturgill (both 4th grade), and Rachel Finch (5th grade); bassist Jaylen Hill (6th grade), cellist Kellie Hesse (7th grade) and former CHCA student and cellist Melissa Watson. The 50 musician PAO is an early intermediate level string orchestra for students who have studied privately for several years and can play well on their instrument. Marva Rasmussen, Director of Strings at CHCA Middle School, observes the students in the PAO to be above average musicians.

“When you have 3rd and 4th graders performing music that most kids wouldn’t be learning until 7th or 8th grade, it’s pretty impressive,” Rasmussen says.

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alumni notes Class of 1995

Brock Rumer is a Senior Information Architect at Avenue A Razorfish where he tames complex processes and creates compelling user-centered online experiences for a wide range of clients.

He is pursuing his Masters in Human-Computer Interaction at DePaul University. His wife, Anne Nichols, is the Assistant Lead Zookeeper of the Carnivore area at Lincoln Park Zoo. In 2006 they purchased a loft in the Printer’s Row neighborhood of Chicago, just south of the Loop. They love their child-free lifestyle nestled in the heart of the city and share their home with two cats and a dog named Steve.

Nicole (McOwen) Thompson is currently teaching 4th grade in Newport. She and her husband, Lee (a 7th grade science teacher) have an eight-month-old named Hayden Cole and they are expecting their second baby. They live in California, KY in the middle of the woods with four dogs and two cats. “It’s a full house! Life doesn’t get much better than this!” says Nicole.

which begins in August. “So... we’ve had to pull up roots and move the horses, pets, and ourselves across the country. After living in the Midwest and East for most of my life, desert living is a big change!” says Jennifer.

Class of 1997

< Ta m a r a (Mrusek) Fladung lives in Lakeville, MN, a suburb of the twin cities, with husband, Chris, a buyer for Target Corporation.

She is “blessed with the job of being at home with our two precious boys, Henry (3) and Eli (1),” says Tamara. In photo, Chris, Tamara, Henry and Eli. Bradley Bodley lives in Loveland with his wife, Faith, and their children (Colin, 3 ½ and Hope, 4 months). He was a Captain in the Air Force and served one year with the Air Defense Artillery in Korea and served three years with ADA in Germany with a deployment to Iraq in March ‘03. He is currently a manager at the Deerfield Graeter’s.

Class of 1998

< Ky l e C o ttrell spent this < Karly (Kolb) Adams and p a s t M e mor i al husband, Lee, just celebrated their Day proposing to first anniversary. Karly teaches his girlfriend, Lisa, Political Science, junior English, in a very unique and World Civilizations/Geograway. Earlier in the phy at Central Hardin High School. day, Kyle left to go She passed her Kentucky Teacher for a hike, climbed Internship Program in March 2007 to the top of Mt. and is certified in Special Education Humphreys (the for grades K-12 LBD. They live in Elizabethtown, highest peak in KY with their two “doggy children” Max and AZ at 13,000 ft) and took a picture of himself Sopee. “I feel truly blessed!” says Karly. In wearing a t-shirt that read “Lisa, Will You Marry photo, Karly and husband Lee. Me?” “Later that night we went out to the same restaurant where we had our first date, > Deborah and I had her go through all the pictures from (Riley) Bentthe hike, with the proposal picture at the end. ley had a baby When she came to it I hit one knee and, after boy on January realizing what was going on, she said yes!”

9, 2007. In photo, Boston Brian > Sarah (Peters) Bentley joins Crisp and her hushis big brother, band, Tris, celebrated Cooper, and big their sixth wedding sister, Taylor. anniversary on June < Alison (Patterson) Schreck and 23, 2007. They love husband, Ryan, welcomed Jack Christo- being parents to twopher on December 20, 2006. Alison, a year-old Sean Richard. stay-at-home mom, lives with her family They are active in their in Morrow. In photo, son Jack Chris- church and enjoy helptopher. ing with the teens and Jennifer (Petry) Powlette says that college aged students!

“2006 has been an exciting year for me!” In photo, Sarah, Tris and Sean Richard.

Class of 1998

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After a fantastic response from the audience at a recent conference, she decided to turn her journal article, “Forging Borders: Liminal Spaces and Illusions of Centrality in Seamus Heaney’s Door into the Dark” into a book.

She has also been accepted into the University of Arizona’s prestigious PhD in English literature program. This offer includes a teaching position

< Jon Snyder and his wife, Jessica (both from the class of ‘98) welcomed their first child, Lucy Jane Snyder, into the world on May 20, 2007. Jessica returns to work as a

teacher for the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention system in late summer while Jon began his residency in June for General Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. “My graduation from medical school was on the same day that Lucy was born, so you can imagine which event took priority…” says Jon. They are building a house in Madisonville. In photo, Lucy Snyder. > Tamika (Reeves) Thomas has been married for six years to her husband, BJ Thomas.

They have a two-yearold son, Tre, and are expecting their second child in July. Tamika is a caseworker for Hamilton County Job and Family Services. In photo, BJ, Tamika and son Tre.

Class of 1999

< Kristina (Gray) Binder feels blessed to have Mike, her husband of t wo years, five-year old stepson Jonathan, and 15-month-old son Kyle. On January 4, 2007, their third son, Sean Matthew, was born. “As our family continues to grow, I have decided to devote myself to raising my children full time as well as helping my husband grow his landscaping business,” says Kristina. In photo, Kristina and son Sean on the day of his baptism.

Holly (O’Keefe) Collins married her husband, Travis, on April 21, 2007 and they are expecting their first child. Holly is working as a Studio Artist doing graphic design jobs for a small printing company in Ball Ground, GA.

Class of 2000

> Andrew Conn and Nicci (Beelen) Conn (both 2000) were married on October 22 , 2005. Their first child, Andrew Nicolas Conn, was welcomed into the world on August 31, 2006, in Cleveland, TN. The couple now lives in Cincinnati, where Nicci enjoys being a mom while Andrew Sr. is busy as a Jobsite Administrator for Tri-Con Construction, Inc. In photo, Andrew Sr. holds Andrew Jr. < Darrell Day gr ad u at e d from Ohio University in 2005 with a BFA in Photography with a slant in filmmaking. He works in the f ilm indust r y in Columbus. Last year he was busy with several commercials and

feature films including Spiderman 3 when filming moved to Cleveland, OH. “Sadly, the individual Cleveland crew members don’t show up in the credits, but my credit is on my IMDb page,” says Darrell.

This year he started a company called Backward Slate Productions where he is Director of Photography.

He made a music video called, “Hurt (by SadKermit)” (myspace.com/sadkermit) and is currently in postproduction on several projects including a music video for a Columbus band called the Phantods.

Keli Gentry moved back to Cincinnati about a year and a half ago and is currently living in Eden Park. She took a new role at Procter & Gamble as an Account Executive in their Market Strategy & Planning function. She is a Project Manager for the Baby Care business, specifically Baby Wipes in North America.

Krystal (Klendworth) Kleine and her husband celebrate their two-year anniversary in September.

They recently sold their house and moved in with her in-laws while they build their log cabin in Seven Mile, OH (north of Hamilton and New Miami). “We’ll be building it ourselves, so it’ll be quite a project!

We’ve got a crazy year ahead of us, but the Lord is so good to us and has blessed us far beyond what we deserve!” says Krystal.

Evan Landry graduated from UC in Dec 2005.

After more than a year at Nissan North America’s headquarters in Nashville, he was relocated in March 2007 to Costa Mesa, CA (3 miles from the beach) where he works in the marketing department planning auto shows, advertising strategy, and other product promotions. “I am amazed everyday at how blessed I am and how truly incredible our God is. I can tell you it is no coincidence I landed in this job...there were a string of events after college that seemed to all be perfectly timed and orchestrated to lead me to where I am today. It is a very comforting feeling to know that I am right where I am supposed to be and following God’s plan,” says Evan. < Travis Murray spent several months in Europe in 2006, mostly in Spain, volunteering for different ministries. Recently, he has been substitute teaching and training for various races. He has qualified for the 2007 ITU World Duathlon Championships, but will be unable to compete in the event. He will begin teaching Spanish full time this fall at Mason High School. > Andrew Potter signed on with the Army shor tly af ter 9-11. He worked as a Flight Computer and Avionics Technician on the Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAVS). In the spring of ‘04 while stationed at an Airborne unit in Savannah, Georgia, he deployed to the U.S. border with Mexico to take part in a joint mission with the Border Patrol in the Tucson Sector to help secure

the Southern Border with UAVS. After four years, he re-enlisted to become an Arabic Linguist. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute in March ‘07. He will be deploying in the fall “to help make Iraq safe(r) for Democracy,” says Andrew. His lovely wife, Maria, and two-year-old son, John, will be waiting for Andrew to come home. “Please pray for the safety and for the successful missions of our troops overseas,” he asks. He plans to attend Officer Candidate School and subsequently finish his degree at UC. In photo, Andrew and John. > A n t h o ny “ Tu ” Price is happily married and living in Southern California with his wife Julie and new baby boy, Anthony “Tre” Price, III. He is the High School Athletic Director for Calvary Chapel Christian School of Murrieta.

In photo, Tu, Julie and Tre. < Kristina (Kelpe) Sanchez married Tony Sanchez on March 24, 2007. Currently, Kristina works for Target as their Campus Recruiter in the Wisconsin and Chicago land area. Tony is a doctor and works in research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. They reside in Milwaukee. In photo, Kristina with Tony.

Casey Sutherly will start a new corporate job this summer after five years with LensCrafters. She and fiancé Brad will be married in September followed by a honeymoon in Hawaii. They just bought a new house in Monroe, OH. Allison Van Sickle completed her Masters in Clinical Counseling at Xavier and is working as an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist at St. Aloysius Orphanage KEYS program in Butler County. She works with children and adolescents doing play and art therapy in the Hamilton and Fairfield Elementary Schools.

Ashley (Ohlmansiek) Werner graduates this summer from Christ Hospital’s School of Nursing and will begin working there as a nurse. She and husband Ryan were married May 2006 and now live in Milford, OH. They are expecting their first child in October.

Class of 2001

> Joni (Foister) Brandyberry and her husband, Abe, started a new church in Northside in downtown Cincinnati. Covenant Church of the Nazarene held its first worship service May 6, 2007 and is looking forward to loving and serving the neighborhood of Northside. Joni and Abe would appreciate your prayers and support as they move along with their church work to build a community of faith.

< Kara Buczek just finished her 2nd year of law school and will be working with the Florida Dept of Children and Families this summer, hopefully graduating and taking the bar exam in July of 2008.

Kim Grayson graduated from Lee University in May 2006 with a B.S. in Human Development and a Teacher Licensure for grades K-8. She is currently substituting in various school districts around Cincinnati, including CHCA EBL Elementary and the Otto Armleder School. She married Chris Muncy, whom she met at Lee, on July 7, 2007. They are both youth pastors at Open Door Community Church of God in Erlanger, KY. Patrick Healy graduated from DePauw University in May 2005 with a degree in Economics and is an active member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Patrick is currently in his second year of studies at Chase College of Law. While in law school, he is clerking for the Lawrence Firm.

Leah (Myers) Parr recently relocated with her husband, David, from Hartsville, SC to Canton, OH. They both work for Sonoco Products Company and have been transferred into the division that makes metal ends like those on Campbells soup cans. He is in finance while she works in sales. “We love being back close to home but definitely miss the weather in SC!” says Leah. < Christy Lewis graduated from University of Cincinnati (2005) with a degree in Communications. She lives in West Hollywood, CA where she works as an actress and personal assistant. She keeps busy with auditions and tries to get back to Cincy occasionally to see family and friends. In photo, Christy. > Sarah (Price) Stokes was married to Jeff Stokes on March 3, 2007.

Jeff works for her father and that’s h ow t h ey m e t .

Their wedding was an outdoor ce re mony w i t h their pastor from The Cove Church presiding, held at the River Run Country Club in Davidson, North Carolina - about 10 minutes from where they live on Lake Norman. Their reception took place in the River Run Ballroom with a “Vintage Hollywood” theme which Sarah designed. Her sister, Lauren Price (former CHCA student prior to her family moving to North Carolina last summer) served as First Maid of Honor, while her best friend and roommate from college, Tamra Geryk, was her Second Maid of Honor.

Alumni updates continued > > > >

49

class of 2001 (continued) < Jodie (Henn) Van Dyke gave birth to Owen Jay Van Dyke on September 3, 2006 at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. “Bryan and I are very proud and happy to have this new addition to our family,” says Jodie.

In photo, Owen Jay.

Class of 2002

Lindsay Adams graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2006 and is currently a first year medical student at Wright State University in Dayton.

Zach Bohannon graduated from Olivet Nazarene University (an hour south of Chicago) magna cum laude with a degree in Mass Communications, concentrating in radio, and a minor in Hebrew Language.

He returns to Olivet in the fall to pursue a Masters in Religion and to serve as a Graduate Assistant at WONU/Shine FM, a Christian station which reaches all of Chicago land and NW Indiana. Next fall will be his second year as a Hebrew Teaching Assistant at Olivet. After grad school, he hopes to work in radio as a “preaching Rush Limbaugh, or some kind of a job back at CHCA (or both!),” says Zach. > Cameron Cooper and Timothy Samuel Psiaki of Ithaca, New York, will be married on July 21, 2007 at Cornell University’s Sage Chapel.

Cameron, daughter of Dana (former CHCA Development Director and Asst. Head of School) and Jeff Cooper, now of Indianapol i s , g r ad u a t e d f ro m Cornell University in December 2005 with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing and a secondary concentration in Latin American Studies. She studied at the Universidad de Sevilla for one semester and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in May 2006.

She is employed as an editorial assistant at Cornell University Press, the school’s publisher of academic literature. Tim graduated from Cornell in May 2007 with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Tim is a member of Cornell’s NCAA champion lightweight crew team; his boat was invited and took second place in the Royal Henley Regatta in England in July. He is a worship leader at Bethel Grove Bible Church. In photo, Cameron and Timothy.

Scot Clausing moved to Hendersonville, TN, (just north of Nashville) in February. He married Sarah Gabers on May 26, 2007. He is working as a software developer for a market research company. “I killed my first turkey this month,” says Scot.

Amanda Cushman was engaged on December 1, 2006 to Mike Jackson of Lebanon, Ohio. Amanda has been working for a mental health agency in 50

Cincinnati since her graduation from Elon U n i v e r s i t y. M i k e gr aduated in M ay 20 07 with an Eng i n e e r i n g d e g re e from the University of Dayton and will be employed with Eaton Corporation in July. Amanda and Mike were married o n J u ne 16 , 2 0 07 in Mason, Ohio. In photo, Amanda with Mike.

Stephanie Hobold is spending most of her summer doing mission work in Zambia through EDGE Corps, the Navigators’ 2-year staff program.

She will be there working with college students at Lusaka University and in the Copper Belt, a very rural part of Zambia. She has been a part of EDGE Corps for one year at the University of Vermont and looks forward to going back in August.

Patrick Rogers graduated in May 2007 from Howard University with a B.S. in Chemistry. He graduated magna cum laude and completed the honors program in the school’s College of Arts and Sciences. This upcoming fall, he will begin graduate study at the University of Pennsylvania in Organic Chemistry. > Kristin Williams got engaged to Michael Maher (class of 20 04, Syc a m o r e) o n March 30, 2007.

She has a degree in Marketing from Eastern Michigan University. Until recently, she was working in Merchandise Promotions at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL but now has a position as a Retail Guest Service Manager for the company.

Michael is currently earning his degree in Asian Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She and Michael will be married on October 3, 2008 in Cincinnati, OH. In photo, Michael and Kristin during their engagement weekend.

Class of 2003

Katie Ashbrook graduated in December 2006 from Ashland University with a B.A. in History, Political Science, and International Studies. On June 22, 2007, she married Josh Folkerth. She plans to start law school in the fall at The University at Buffalo.

Jonathan Beck graduated from Asbury College in May 2007 with a B.A. in Bible/Theology and a minor in Biblical Languages. This summer, he enters Asbury Theological Seminary’s MA program in Biblical Studies where he will concentrate on Old Testament. He hopes to get his Ph.D and begin teaching. “God has graciously allowed me to be able to see each ‘next step’ in my academic career, and I am excited as I enter into a new environment

to pursue my interests in Old Testament studies,” says Jon. Jason Bellan graduated in May 2007 from Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. He earned a B.S. in Business with a major in Marketing. He joins the Nestle Corporation in the Sales Development Program and will be moving to Fort Myers, FL. > Nick Furtwengler has spent quite a bit of time traveling around Europe. In photo, Nick in a boat on Lake Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland). < Andrew Jewel is still golfing at NKU. He finished 5th in the region’s All-Conference Team and had the low score for his team this year at 66 (6 under par). He had five Top-5 finishes this year and led his team at the Final Regional Qualifier for Nationals. He is dating CHCA alum, Leah Romaneski, from the Class of 1997. Pictured here, Andrew and Leah. > Janelle Nutter is engaged to Rob Niemeyer to be married in the Spring of 2008.

Rob, originally from the D.C. area, and Janelle met through the Leadership Fellows Program at Elon University. Rob graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology and is currently working as a Business Development Specialist for Kings Medical Group selling diagnostic imaging solutions out of Atlanta, GA, while Janelle just graduated this year with a B.A. in Digital Art and a minor in Theater Arts. For the next year, she will be working out of Cincinnati while planning her wedding and once married she will move to Atlanta. In photo, Janelle with Rob. Melissa Perkins graduated from Miami University on May 6, 2007 with her B.S. in Marketing with an emphasis on International Business. She spent the 2nd semester of her junior year studying at Miami’s campus in Luxembourg. She is a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and is working as an Intern with Northwestern Mutual in Cincinnati.

Kathryn Polzin graduated from the University of Dayton on May 6, 2007 with a B.S. in Adolescent to Young Adult Education. She will be teaching high school English at Northmont High School in Clayton, OH, which is in North Dayton.

Class of 2004

Christina Cesler, a student at Samford University, served in February 2007 as emcee at Samford’s popular community event, Step Sing, a highly-competitive song and dance show for on-campus organizations.

More than 10,000 attended the three-day event.

The Communication Studies and Spanish Major is spending this summer studying in Spain. < Logan Cooper was married August 4, 2006 to Tiffany Virginia Messner (’06). Several members of CHCA’s Class of 2006 were in the wedding party, including Megan Savage, Ben Herrin and Chris Scoggins. The newlyweds reside in Indianapolis where Logan is pursuing an Associate of Arts Degree in Computer Networking and Information Security. In photo, Logan and Tiffany.

Jennifer Perkins just finished her junior year at Miami University as a Speech Pathology and Audiology Major. An active member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, she is very involved with a new campus ministry known as Greek Common Ground.

She is researching graduate schools in anticipation of going on to get her Masters in Speech Pathology and Audiology when she completes her undergrad in May, 2008.

Brittany Wyche is participating in an international mission trip through her university, Wake Forest, December 2007. The group will be traveling to Stellenbosch, South Africa where they will learn about the culture of the Kayamandi Township and will teach computer literacy skills to area citizens to combat unemployment there. More than a twoweek trip, the group will be devoting many hours to fundraising and learning about the rich culture of this country before leaving in December. Each group member is expected to raise $2,800. If you’re interested in donating to Brittany’s trip, even if only with notes of encouragement, please mail letters or donations to P.O. Box 9555, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. Checks should be made out to Wake Forest University with the name “Brittany Wyche” in the memo line of the check.

Class of 2006

> Liz Stogner was selected as Captain of the Sullivan University Culinary Team, Louisville, KY. The Culinary Team competed in May 2007 in Nashville, TN, won the Silver Award and will be competing in Williamsburg, Virginia in the fall. Elizabeth is on the Sullivan College Dean’s List in the Baking & Pastry Arts Degree program. Her plans are to obtain her Pastry Chef Degree and then obtain a Professional Baker Degree. In photo, Liz Stogner.

Alumni from the Classes of 1995 and 1996 attending the Homecoming Football game in October were (l-r) Stef Adams (’96), Isaac Gould (’96), Jon Adams (’95), Liz (Bell) Young (’95), Alison (Patterson) Schreck (’96), Sarah Clabaugh, David Clabaugh (’96), Carrie Born, Jason Born (’95), Irene Parker, Reggie Parker (’95) and their baby girl.

Class of 95-96 Reunion Snapshot: CHCA’s First Ever 10 (and 11) Year Reunion

Who: CHCA’s very first graduating classes of 1995 and 1996 (who called themselves “The Guinea Pigs”)

What:

Reunion festivities, from a Homecoming Picnic and Football Game on CHCA’s High School Campus, to a Reunion Party at Newport on the Levee, to a Fashion Show (featuring alumni, alumni spouses and former HS principal Dr. Joan Miracle)

When: Homecoming Weekend, October 20-22, 2006

Since both classes were only 29 and 35 students each, and because they were the first classes ever to graduate from CHCA, the grads of ’95 and ’96 were and are a close-knit group. This explains not only the combined reunion, but also the great turnout of about 25 alumni to various activities over the 1st Annual Reunion Weekend 2006. Some alumni were married, some even had children in tow, and all had great stories to tell of the early days at CHCA.

CHCA Alumni Events July 28, 2007

Men’s and Women’s Alumni Soccer Games & Breakfast CHCA Athletic Field

August 18, 2007

Class of 2002 – 5 Year Reunion Montgomery Inn – The Boathouse

October 12, 2007

Homecoming Picnic, alumni social and CHCA Homecoming Football game

October 13, 2007

Class of 1997 – 10 year Reunion For information, contact Tracy Wolcott, Alumni Relations Coordinator, 247-9944, ext. 210, tracy.wolcott@chca-oh.org 51

Making a difference...

Spotlight on 1st Lieutenant Rebecca Pierce In her words…

“I graduated from CHCA in 1999, and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and a Minor in Aerospace Science from Miami University in 2003. I was commissioned into the United States Air Force December 19, 2003 following my graduation.

I joined the Air Force because I wanted to serve my country. Serving others is an important part of my life.

I completed training at Vandenburg AFB in Lompoc, California where I was trained as a space and missiles officer in the field of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). I was given a missilleer assignment to Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. Upon moving to Montana, I became a Nuclear Missile Combat Crew Deputy Commander in the 10th Missile Squadron. I was promoted in position early and am now a Nuclear Missile Combat 72-hour Crew Commander. I pull 72 hour alerts in a Launch Control Center (LCC).

My alerts are pulled mainly at the Squadron Command Post where I am in charge of the entire squadron, overseeing all other LCCs and the operations concerning all 50 missiles. My responsibilities include the control, maintenance, and security of the 50 ICBMs. I oversee the missile security forces, maintenance teams, and other visitors to the missile field. From our console in the LCC, I monitor the functioning of each missile in the squadron and troubleshoot faults that occur in the system. I monitor multiple communication systems and process critical message traffic. I coordinate and control contingency situations and monitor all personnel in my squadron area.

In addition to my field duties, I am also the squadron scheduler, the security monitor, and the Personal Reliability Program (PRP) monitor. PRP is the system that ensures only the most reliable personnel are in contact with nuclear weapons through close monitoring of their medical, mental and personal life details to ensure no potentially compromising information or situations arise.

I am also a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for Malmstrom AFB orchestrating the coordinated response in the event of a sexual assault on a military member. I act as both the coordinator and the Victim Advocate, ensuring that the needs of the victim are met.

Outside of work, I attend Great Falls Christian Center for church and am currently volunteering with Young Life, trying to start the program here in Great Falls. I volunteer in the Neonatal ICU at Benefis Hospital, with the Voices of Hope crisis line in Great Falls, and as a Survivors Advocate for the city’s sexual assault response program.

I am currently working on my Masters in Healthcare Management and taking classes to prepare to take the MCAT in the near future.”

< (L-r) Susan Stogner, Linda Trucksis and Lori Bedinghaus

CHCA’s Alumni Parents Gather for Fellowship, Advice Going from over a decade of carpool lines, bake sales, PTF meetings and volunteering at CHCA to none of the above can be an abrupt change. But that is exactly what happens to most moms who watch their children graduate from high school and go off to college. The routines come to an end, and sometimes it’s easy to fall out of touch with fellow mothers who have gone through it with you.

In this, CHCA’s Alumni Relations Coordinator, Tracy Wolcott, saw an opportunity. Why not get those moms back together to socialize and catch up on what has happened since graduation? “We knew there were lots of mothers who had lost touch with CHCA after their kids left school. What we didn’t realize was that they were looking for a way to reconnect,” Wolcott says. “Arranging a get-together was an easy way to invite all of them to come and catch up, and we decided to invite moms of Class of 2007 grads as well, knowing they’d be going through the same things these alumni moms have.”

Michele Human, mom to Class of 2007 grad Ricky and Class of 2009 student Lauren, was one of those parents on the verge of sending a child off to college. “I especially enjoyed talking to the mothers of new college freshmen,” Human comments. “Sharing their experiences of senior year, graduation, the big move to campus, etc. – it was comforting to know that all my feelings were pretty much the same ones they had experienced with their children.”

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<

(L-r) Michele Human and Nancy Brunk

The first meeting was held before Christmas in December, with coffee and pastries shared amidst festive yuletide decorations in the home of Cyndi Smith, mom of Class of 2006 grad Kayleigh and Class of 2007 grad Kristen. The second meeting, held on an evening in February at the Smith home, featured coffee, dessert and more lively conversation.

Great ideas were tossed around, and with a little more planning, some could become traditions. Talk swirled around organizing alumni mothers’ Bible studies, trips, outreach efforts and prayer groups.

To get involved in this group or to help plan the next gathering, please contact Tracy Wolcott at tracy. wolcott@chca-oh.org.

(L-r) Dana Schuler and Kim Vincent

Alumni Who Work at CHCA

Familiar Faces in CHCA’s Spaces They’re baaaack!

Some of CHCA’s best and brightest alumni have returned to Chad Leland

their alma mater to share their talents, their love for kids, and their hearts for the Lord with the next

Dorian Dostal

generation of CHCA students.

Erin Conn

Erin (Metzger) Conn, a class of ’97 CHCA graduate, is back to teach 7th grade Language Arts at the middle school. The thing she cherishes most about being back is the emphasis the school places on spiritual development. “The opportunities and resources for students that are so abundant at CHCA make it easy to teach,” she says. “I love that I can express faith and feed students spiritually while in an academic context.”

Erin received her undergrad degree from Cincinnati Christian University, then went on to teach at CHCA from 2002 to 2004. She left briefly to go back to school where she earned her Masters Degree from Lee University in 2006. Her love for both CHCA and for Language Arts brought her back to the middle school last fall, when she began teaching 7th graders to love reading, writing and critical thinking. “Language Arts reaches all facets of life.

Communication is so key in the world today,” she says when asked about her passion for the subject.

“If I can help students become good communicators, I know they will be successful.”

Erin is married to CHCA class of ’95 grad Jeremy Conn, who teaches 9th grade Science at North College Hill. When she’s not teaching, Erin enjoys singing with the worship team at her church and playing in city volleyball leagues. She and Jeremy look forward to going on a month-long trip to Croatia this summer.

Dorian Dostal

Dorian Dostal, class of 2002 grad, returned to CHCA in fall of 2006 to serve as Volunteer Coordinator at the Otto Armleder campus. “CHCA is very important to me,” says Dostal, who spent grades kindergarten through 12 here. “This school and the people involved have played a huge role in who I am today. I wanted to return and continue being a part of a school that is making a difference in so many lives.”

Erin Conn

Karen Hewitt Dorian graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky in December 2005 with a degree in Elementary Education. Dori looks forward to next fall when she will assume a new role at Armleder as Kindergarten Preparatory classroom teacher. “I love working in an environment where Christian values are the basis for everything we do and teach,” she says. “As I move into my own classroom next year I look forward to being able to carry these values into my own teaching while helping children discover the joy of learning.”

Dori also coaches a soccer team of 4 and 5-yearolds at the YMCA on Linn Street downtown and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Karen Hewitt

Class of 2000 alumnus, Karen Hewitt, will be joining the high school math department, teaching 9th and 10th grade Geometry. Karen, who was a star basketball player at CHCA, took her skills to Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania after graduation.

She graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in Mathematics and Minor in Education, then spent the last three years coaching college basketball and helping with the math department at St. Francis. For Karen, coming back to CHCA to teach had a lot to do with her experience here as a student. “I have always loved Christ-centered education, and I feel like who I am has a lot to do with CHCA and the education I received here,” Karen says. “It’s more of an all-around experience than just a school, and I want to be a part of making that happen for kids in the future.”

Chad Leland

Class of 2000 graduate Chad Leland will be back on campus this fall as the defensive coordinator for the CHCA Jr. High football team. “The CHCA football program helped me build amazing relationships with the guys I still consider to be my best friends,” Chad says, recalling his days on the very first football team CHCA fielded. “I saw this program grow from infancy and have always wanted to coach and help students survive junior high school and mentor them to become solid Christian men.”

After earning a marketing degree from Miami University in 2005, Chad started working at the Financial Legacy Group, where he counsels clients to set fiscal goals and decide on ways to meet those objectives through plans for saving, retirement, college and securing assets for the future. In addition, Chad sits on the Board of Trustees for the Thomas Clark Foundation, a non-profit organization that gives scholarships to children who have lost a parent and may not be able to afford college. The former middle linebacker is also the proud proprietor of Checkbets, a company that runs Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournaments for charities.

Erin, Dorian, Karen and Chad join fellow alumni Billy Taylor, Kourtney Klendworth, Liz Bronson and Shana Stull on CHCA’s campus.

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Making a World of Difference...

Successful Alumni Affect Their World Ashley Petersen

Wittenberg’s motto, “Having light, we pass it on to others” is a rough translation of Lampadia Exontes Diadosousin Allelois, something Plato used to say. The school’s seal depicts one hand passing a torch to another, symbolizing a hope the founders had that students through the years would take the knowledge and character gained in the institution’s halls and use it to benefit mankind. It’s possible that many students have come and gone at Wittenberg, gaining degrees and life experience and have never given the motto a second thought.

But Ashley Petersen, CHCA class of 2003 grad, has taken the saying to heart.

Looking for a way to share the talents and education they’d gained with the community around them, Ashley and fellow Wittenberg Communications major Amy Holden decided to start the Wittenberg Community Partners Program.

“My friend and I were interning in the Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations office and this became our internship project,” Petersen says. “The Community Partners Program enhances the relationships between the university and the community by creating a mutually beneficial partnership between these two entities.”

These days, it’s easy for college campuses to become islands – creating an environment where students have access to everything they need within university grounds is a nice way to keep students safe and connected to academic life, but can have the caveat of cutting them off from the world around them. “The hope is that this program will break down stereotypes that Wittenberg students have of Springfield and get students more involved in the community,” Ashley says. “Local corporations, foundations and individuals commit to support specific Wittenberg-based projects that benefit Springfield neighborhoods. This support can be financial or come in other forms like providing internship positions. ” Petersen hopes this program will blur the boundaries between school and community, creating a win-win situation for both. “Much of the support from local corporations comes with the hope that getting students involved in the community will keep them in Springfield after graduation and aid in the revitalization that has become a major priority.”

This innovative program is not Ashley’s first foray into the world of community service. The Chi Omega Sorority President has been a community service coordinator for the last three years, guiding 30 students a year through their Wittenberg outreach requirement 54

and organizing campus wide service events. Ashley regularly leaves the campus bounds to volunteer at a community center in Springfield, where she leads an after-school program. It’s no surprise then that she recently received the Charles J. Ping Award, given to select Ohio college students who exemplify outstanding leadership and contribution to community service.

When Ashley thinks of taking what she’s learned at Wittenberg into the world at large, she remembers the great academic and service foundation she received at CHCA. “I have been amazed at how much CHCA prepared me for college. Many freshmen struggle their first semester because of the drastic change in material and work load. After taking Ms. Barron’s AP English class it was hard to be intimidated or overwhelmed by anything,” she says confidently.

“My dedication to the community has come both from my family and the greater sense of purpose that teachers and adult mentors have exemplified and thereby instilled in me,” she notes. “Many of those individuals I encountered in high school.”

Ashley graduated from Wittenberg this spring, and now looks ahead to a future bright with opportunity. “I applied and was accepted to two graduate schools but right now it looks like I am going to get a job, save some money and go to graduate school in a year or two. I would ultimately like to do communications work for a non-profit.” Whatever she ends up doing, Ashley will be passing her light on to others, a light that shines with possibility.

Alyssa Konermann

Getting an e-mail from class of 2006 grad Alyssa Konermann is like getting a postcard from Dave Barry, David Sedaris or travel writer Bill Bryson.

“We went last week to a monkey temple, meaning an ancient temple where around 300 monkeys live and roam. Seriously, everywhere I looked – monkeys. A mean one jumped on me and tried to bite me, but otherwise it was amazing.” At a school in Thailand: “We taught 3 different classes of kindergarteners this morning, which was interesting considering we know roughly 3 Thai phrases, none of which are useful in a classroom of 4-year-olds, and were not aware we needed any form of lesson plan. So we ended up singing ‘Head Shoulders Knees and Toes’ about 25 times. I’m pretty confident they at least know the English words for those body parts now.”

Elephants, monkeys, and kindergarteners – oh my. This recent CHCA graduate encountered these things and much more on a daily basis as she traveled to Peru, Thailand and India. She’s not a correspondent for the Travel Channel, though. Alyssa is doing what is called a gap year – for her, this has meant deferring her freshman year of college to do 12 months of service and learning through various organizations.

“I’m taking a year off” is a phrase that strikes fear in the hearts of many a senior’s parents, and is likely to cause palpitations and much hand-wringing. But Alyssa’s mother, Terri Konermann, says God was in the details when her daughter decided to take a year to travel and serve. “We have always encouraged

by Liz Bronson

our children to be independent and explore their world, telling them (o n l y h a l f kidding) that they had to backpack around the world be fore they got m arried,” Terri says. “But Alyssa was such a great student that we knew college was the right choice for her following high school. She was set to go to the University of Georgia and very excited about those plans. However, that’s when God stepped in and let us know that was not His plan.”

Terri tells of the April morning in Alyssa’s senior year when a combination of circumstances led the family to reconsider plans to go to Georgia that fall. After much prayer and research on gap year programs, they had their answer. “Alyssa had never really thought about any options besides college,” Terri remembers. “But she had always wanted to travel – her goal is to visit each continent. The thought that she could do it now became more and more appealing. We were thrilled with her decision and supported her in every possible way. The next thing we knew, we were putting her on an airplane to Peru for three months.” Alyssa’s memory of the big decision is one of accepting the challenge to take the road less traveled. “I’m a rather independent and impulsive person, so once I decided I wanted to do a gap year I just made it happen. I also knew I would really enjoy doing these things (they are very ‘me’) so I think the fact that it was something I really wanted to do is what motivated me the most.”

What followed was a whirlwind succession of lifechanging experiences and real life education that took her to three countries on two continents. “I spent three months this past fall in Cusco, Peru with International Cultural Adventures; while there we learned about the culture and visited important cultural sites, but the main part was volunteering. I worked in Aldea Infantil Juan Pablo II, an orphanage of about 60 children, mainly playing with the kids, helping with homework, helping the house moms that cared for the kids, etc.,” Alyssa says. “While home this winter I worked and helped lead the first week of the CHCA Appalachia J-Term. After that was Singburi, Thailand where I was for a total of five weeks teaching English in a local school. From there I went to Goa, India for eight weeks to work in an AIDS clinic there, just helping out with whatever I could.” The stories Alyssa shares of her visits in hospices, orphanages, schools and villages will make you laugh and break your heart. Far from a self-serving globetrotting tourist trip, this was a year

about others and learning how to help them.

High School Outreach Coordinator Karen Hordinski saw shades of this spirit when Alyssa was a student at CHCA. “Alyssa was a leader while in high school.

She was passionate about issues of justice and poverty ...always asking questions and seeking to learn. Topics such as hunger, sweatshops, and homelessness were some of her areas of concern,” Hordinski recalls.

“Alyssa was and is an inspiring role model and leader of service.”

“The things I did and learned through my service in my high school years have definitely shaped who I am and made me want to do what I am doing now,” Alyssa says, looking back. “There were definitely people [at CHCA] who were key to developing me into the person I am and helped me to see/care about the issues our world is facing (namely Karen Hordinski and Dean Nicholas). I do think the large amount of international service trips, etc. at CHCA got me to pay attention to what was going on in the rest of the world more than I may otherwise have done.”

In between trips, Alyssa took time to apply to three colleges for the 2007-08 school year. The day she left for Thailand, a letter came in the mail from Xavier University not only confirming her acceptance but offering her a four-year, full tuition Service Fellowship Scholarship as well. The soon-to-be college freshman is understandably excited about the possibilities ahead of her. “Beyond the financial aspect of it, I will have a lot of opportunities, resources, and people available to me that I know will significantly affect who I will become,” she says, “I also think it will be a great way to prepare me for the type of life I see myself leading later.” She looks forward to taking her newfound adventurer’s perspective to the Xavier campus to tackle challenges in the classroom and the community.

“I want to participate in the Philosphy, Politics, & the Public program which is created to prepare students for a life of public service. I don’t know exactly what avenue within that I will take, but probably a blend of community work, service, and policy change.”

While uncertainty and risk may scare most people, Alyssa takes to them like a fish to water. So it’s understandable that the same girl who spent time in a monkey temple and fed elephants would see the future not as unpredictable but rather as postcards yet to be written. Mom Terri is heartened by the way this past year has shaped her daughter and has the utmost confidence that she will spend her life doing great things. “We can’t wait to see what God will do through her.”

Adam Cool

Ask Adam Cool (class of 2001) to look back and think of what he predicted he’d be doing after college, and teaching geometry to kids in Colombia probably would not have been on the list. But, as the old cliché goes, God works in mysterious ways. And sometimes those ways lead you to another continent to

do something you never dreamed you’d be doing.

Shortly after graduating from Wheaton College in 2005, Adam says, he and his wife Bekah were put in touch with the director of El Camino Academy in Bogota, Colombia, Beth Afanador, who also was a Wheaton grad. “We both love to travel but didn’t really expect to get into missions, so what we would both say is that we felt God leading us in this direction.”

So that brings us to today, with Adam and Bekah having just finished their first year of ministry in Colombia. Bekah teaches 3rd grade and middle school Choir and currently, Adam says, “I teach 7th grade Advanced Math, Geometry, Calculus, Film, Choir, and 6th grade Computers. I say ‘currently’ because I have shifted around several times throughout the year when different teachers came and went and spaces needed to be filled.” He goes on to give a shopping list of subjects that would make even the most versatile teacher’s head swim. “I have taught, at one time or another during the year, Algebra II, Geometry, 7th grade Advanced Math, 6th grade Computers, Film, middle school Choir, 6th grade Bible, 7th & 8th grade Bible, and Calculus.” To top it off, Adam has just accepted the position of youth pastor at the United Church of Bogota, which to his knowledge is the only Protestant, English speaking church in the city of 9 million.

“More than half of the students that we teach are Colombian and many are the children of Colombian pastors,” he says, “so in a very real sense we’re not only ministering to the children of missionaries serving in Colombia but we are investing in the future of Colombia and the church here.”

And they do it all on a volunteer’s salary. “Currently the school pays us nothing so that we can provide a quality education at a price that Colombians and missionaries can afford, so we raise all of our own support,” he says.

When asked if CHCA played a part in bringing him to where he is today, Adam is quick to say yes.

“During the difficult times when I feel like my work is not having an impact I remember those men and women of God who invested in me and the examples they were to me. I am sure that most of them don’t even realize what their investments meant to me,” he says, recalling the teachers, principals and advisors who guided him through his education at Cincinnati Hills. “I am also convinced that it is not by my hand that these kids will be changed,” he underlines, something one needs to come to terms with when doing the Lord’s work.

Adam speaks with the peace of someone who is truly content with where God has placed him. He still faces a daily struggle with adjusting to Colombian culture and over-committing himself when there are 12 jobs to do and only five people to do them, and will face a new set of challenges in a few months: Bekah and Adam are expecting their first baby this October. But this unexpected adventure has been a gift they have enjoyed receiving. “Working here is not without its challenges but we recognize the hand of God in our lives and feel blessed to know with such certainty where He has led us for now,” Adam says with assurance. “We love each of the students and are blessed to see them grow in Christ as a result of our work and that of our fellow teachers.”

To find out more about Adam and Rebekah’s work in Colombia, visit their website at www.adamandrebekah. typepad.com (username is bogota, password is colombia).

They welcome your prayers and encouragement for their ministry in South America.

John Ashbrook

Class of 1999 graduate John Ashbrook loves a debate. Even in high school, John never shied away from a good, heated discussion and specialized in current event talk. When his classmates were pulling shifts at Blockbuster and bagging groceries at Meijer, he was volunteering for local candidates and political organizations.

So it’s no wonder that he’s now working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. as Communications Advisor for the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).

“In my capacity as a Communications Advisor, I serve each Republican member of the Senate,” John says. “In particular, I’m responsible for all things radio. I provide radio reporters, producers, and talk show hosts with information about current debate in the U.S. Senate.

I provide them with content ideas, audio bytes, and interviews with Senators for their story or program.”

But with the American political climate as stormy as it is today, why would anyone want to throw themselves into the maelstrom? “It’s really pretty simple,” John answers candidly. “I enjoy serving our community and, as crazy as it seems, I like working with others who have different points of view. I’ve also always been interested in American History. Working in the Congress includes all three of those every day of the week.”

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of challenges. With political ethics at the forefront of much discussion and scandal lurking in every headline, Washington can be a difficult place to live and work. So what does John do to get centered and live as a Christian in politics?

“Faith plays an important role in my life,” he says.

“My wife Kate and I are involved in our church and I try to have a quiet time of prayer and devotion on a regular basis.” And the example set at CHCA by the many adult role models continues to guide his words and actions.

“There is little doubt that CHCA is a remarkable school,” he points out. “But I think what sets the school apart from others is its culture of generosity and service. Faculty, staff, financial supporters, and volunteers connected with CHCA model giving to others as an essential virtue. The example they set has an impact on our community and an impact on this former student. I believe serving others should be a priority and I’m thankful for the clear illustration CHCA provides. I try to live up to the standards they set.

“Each of my teachers added something that continues to stick with me today,” he continues. “Among other things, they taught us how to think in a thorough way.

They added inspiration, discipline, determination, and a desire to learn and serve.”

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CHCA says “Thanks a Million” to our Troops

Shown here are samples of the cards designed by the middle schoolers in response to the amillionthanks.org program.

After seeing an ad on TV in May, administrative assistant Vicky Koett and middle school secretary Jerri Durham polled the middle school troops to see if there would be any interest in sending cards to the troops overseas through a program called amillionthanks.org. The response from the students was a resounding “yes”!

The program, sponsored by General Motors, encourages everyday citizens to support the fighting forces serving our country overseas. CHCA middle school students from six advisory classes (Mrs. Null’s, Mrs. Cox’s, Ms. Day’s, Mrs. Blankenship’s, Mrs. Eberhardt’s, and Mrs. Dietrich’s) designed over a hundred one-of-a-kind cards and letters to say “thanks”, which were forwarded to the troops by Borcherding Buick Pontiac GMC. Also supporting the armed forces was Beverly Drapalik’s high school English classes who celebrated Memorial Day by writing thank you notes to two brothers, Braden and Brian Meyer, currently serving in Iraq. Students also contributed candy and small toys for children in Iraq who are being befriended by U.S. troops.

Earlier in the school year, over 60 high school students in Mary Beth Criniti’s and Teri Jepson’s classes wrote cards and letters to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. Most of the letters contained gift cards purchased by the kids for the soldiers to use during their recovery at the hospital. The letters were delivered by Mr. Haerer, the father of a wounded soldier from Dayton, OH who was traveling to Walter Reed to see his son. The thank you note from the Haerer family to the students said in part, “You will never know how much your generosity, your kindness, and your caring words meant to those soldiers, some not much older than you are.”

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