Alumni Legacy Winter 2014 by College Heights Christian School

COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER

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legacy

W IN T E R

THE

S H A R I NG C O M M ON R O OT S – NO U R I S H I NG G E N E R AT ION S

HOMECOMING 2013 Every year CHCS plans a night when alumni return to reconnect with old high-school friends and teachers and the high-school basketball teams play their games that evening at the Ozark Christian College gymnasium. We also announce our homecoming court and crown the King and Queen. At CHCS we choose our court by characteristics.

The CHCS 2013-2014 Homecoming Court

Representing Love (2014) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Makenzie Paden Paige Reagan Annie White Representing Integrity (2014). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Beaver Brad Copeland William Conroy Representing Gentleness (2015). . . . . . . . . . . Lydia Buford Parker Arnall Representing Kindness (2016). . . . . . . . . Danielle Capehart Hunter Jones Representing Faithfulness (2017). . . . . . . . Victoria Conroy Matt Roberts Congratulations to this year’s King and Queen. . . . William Conroy and Mckenzie Paden

Out with the Old In with the New The College Heights sign was taken down in January and replaced with a new programmable sign. The new sign will allow us to program messages quickly and allow us to display multiple messages at the same time. Thanks to College Heights Christian Church and CHCS PTF for working together to purchase the sign.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” –Jeremiah 17:7-8

Reconnecting with

LIESEL WICKLUND (CLASS OF ‘91) When did you begin attending CHCS? 1981, when I was in third grade What school sports or extracurricular activities were you involved in at CHCS? None Who was your favorite teacher and why? Mrs. Smyth, my Junior High English teacher, 10th grade Government teacher, 12th grade Geography, and Family Living teacher. I liked the way she could manage her classes in a calm but firm voice. She always smiled and showed us that she really cared about what someone was telling her. How would you describe yourself as a teen and how has that changed, if any as an adult? I would say I was rather quiet and reserved. As an adult, especially over the last several years, I have learned to stretch my colors (as they say in the Color Code class I took at church just a few years ago). I have done a lot of things now that I would never have tried as a teen, including acting on stage at the Stained Glass Theater and traveling around the world by myself. How would your old classmates describe you? Quiet What did you like best about your years at CHCS? My friends and the supportive teachers How did CHCS help prepare you for college, career and life? I felt very prepared for college. CHCS helped give me the knowledge, discipline, and motivation I needed to study in college. It helped give me a firm foundation in my Christian walk. Tell us a little about the path your life has taken since you graduated from CHCS? (schooling, career, family, missions, etc) After high school, I attended Ozark Christian College and Missouri Southern to obtain my education degree. My first year of teaching was in the fall of 1999 as a second grade teacher at Northeast Vernon County schools in Walker and Schell City, Mo. After 2 years of teaching, I began taking classes at PSU to obtain my masters in elementary education. In 2002, I left Northeast Vernon County schools. I worked as a substitute in the public schools for part of a year before I was hired at Sarcoxie schools as speech implementer. I worked there for 9 years. In that time, I began to have a desire to go on mission trips. In 2005, I made my first overseas trip to Romania with CHCC. I returned the next year on a short term church trip also. Then in 2007, I really wanted to be able to experience more and stay for a longer time. I started working with an organization called For God’s Children International in their camps for children in Romania. In 2008, I returned for a fourth time to work with FGCI in a hospital playroom in Bucharest. I returned a fifth and sixth time in 2010-11 visiting old friends and making new ones every time. In 2010, I learned about Bucharest Christian Academy here in Romania and met several people from the school in the summer of 2011. Since hearing about BCA, God dropped

little hints to keep Romania and its people constantly on my mind. Now here I am in Romania teaching third and fourth grade at BCA and I am going to help with a Romanian Kids’ Bible Club every few weeks. Even though school keeps me busy, I hope to be able to do more in this city and around this country. Who were the most influential people in your life, role models? My parents, teachers, and friends Tell us about the work you are doing now, why is it important to you? From the beginning (raising support for mission to Bucharest) to now seeing these kids first hand, I have started to learn how hard it can be for third culture kids. It’s amazing to hear some of the kids speak in other languages. Some are even three language kids, but what I’ve learned is kids are kids no matter where they live in the world. Third culture kids need teachers and special places like BCA to help make them feel like they belong somewhere. What do you hope God will be able to accomplish by working through you? I hope I can help give kids of missionaries and other third culture kids the love and stability they might feel is lacking when they feel like they don’t belong anywhere else in the world. What are some of the things on your bucket list for the future? I would like to be able to travel more and add a few more countries to my passport. What pearls of wisdom would you give other graduates and students at CHCS? Don’t give up your dreams. Even if you have to do a job you don’t really like to do. God has a plan and a perfect time for everything.

TRACY NICHOLS Art Teacher Follows New Path Fifteen years ago, Tracy Nichols came to CHCS as an interim Art teacher, and we are so glad she came! We are even more thankful that she stayed around after that interim and served faithfully with her whole heart to help hundreds of students find and express their creativity and artistic gifts given by the Creator. Excellence and growth have been two of the hallmarks which characterize the Art program during Mrs. Nichols tenure at CHCS. Under her guidance and instruction, CHCS students have excelled and the Art program has become one of the best in the area, with her students often “stealing the show” wherever their work has been displayed and judged. After a long period of prayer and deliberation, Mrs. Nichols announced that she will be stepping away from the high school classroom at the end of this school year to embark on a new adventure. She plans to re-open her own art studio, slow down a little, and devote more time to family. She and Roger have prayerfully and carefully considered this decision, and we have no doubt that she will find joy and success in this new endeavor. However, we can’t help but feel sad to see her time at CHCS come to a close. Please offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing Mrs. Nichols has been to CHCS over the years. Also pray for her as she completes this school year and begins her new adventure of faith. We will miss Mrs. Nichols, but we pray God’s richest blessings upon her as she steps out in faith to follow God’s leading.

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Tomorrow’s Leaders Today is a youth leadership program sponsored by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the program is to develop leadership skills in youth who will generate positive action within the community and help resolve future challenges. The participants are high school students with a variety of interests. Students must demonstrate leadership or leadership potential in family, community, and/or school activities and show a desire to develop additional leadership skills. TLT provides an opportunity to learn more about the area and the importance of community service. Each year the chamber selects 40 students to participate. These students come from Joplin, Carl Junction, Webb City, Carthage, McAuley, Thomas Jefferson and College Heights. We are happy to announce that eleven CHCS student have been selected for the 2013-2014 year. Congratulations: Brad Copeland, Hannah Fuller, Kolleen Gladden, Jessica Hilt, Makenzi Markham, Joseph Massey, Hailey Riesenmy, Ashley Roberts, Brianna Shores, Annie White and Josh Wilkins.

COUGAR TRACKS Kelsi Bodine (2010) met Joelle Cannon (Moeller) this winter break. She was on a school trip called Washington Seminar. Leah Blankenship and Mary Colin hooked them up via email and then they actually met up with Joelle in Senator Coburn’s office. Joelle is a wonderful connection for Kelsi as far as her career goes and they have become friends! Thanks Kelsi for sharing how your connection with College Heights has allowed you to network for a future job with another alumnus! Jackie (Nichols 2003) and Lee Peters (2004) welcomed Quincy Clark George into their family on December 3rd. He was 6 lbs 4.9ozs. and 19 ½ inches Long. His has two big sisters Adelaide(4) and Vivienne (2). Jared Ingle (1990) welcomed his third son on September 29th. He is now the Lead Pastor at Mr. Zion Family Worship Center in Traverse City, MI 49685. Jared Yenzer (2009) graduated from University of Colorado with a double degree, Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. He also received a minor in Computer Science. Lewis (2007), Ashley and Maggie Sparlin (born January 16, 2013) have moved to Kansas City. Lewis has accepted a position with Nerdery Interactice Labs (The Nerdery) in Kansas City, MO. He will be working on business web applications and expanding his expertise to android and iOS development. Matthew Michael (2009) Graduated from the University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business in 2013 and is currently a Financial Analyst at Verizon Financial in Tulsa. Benjamin Michael (2012) is now a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corp and is stationed at Camp Lejuene, NC with the 2nd Radio Battalion. Makayla Fuller (2011) came back to CHCS fall of 2013 to coach Middle School Volleyball.

COLLEGE HEIGHTS

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

Since 1978

JOPLIN, MO 64802 PERMIT NO. 26

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

PAID

4311 E. Newman Road Joplin, Missouri 64801

Annual Fund Kick Off CHCS kicked off the 20132014 Annual Fund in December. This year’s fundraising effort, Opportunity & Excellence, will focus on three main areas. Technology, Tuition Assistance and Furniture & Equipment. It is our hope, that with God’s will, we will be able to raise $52,000 toward improvements in these areas. To date, we have received contributions totaling $23,734 from 34 different donors. If you would like to contribute to the Opportunity & Excellence Annual Fund, please see our website at collegeheights.org or call Anita Zarrabi at 417-782-4114, ext. 227.

CLASS REUNION Class of 2004

Ten Year Class Reunion SATURDAY, MAY 3

11 am – Meet at Johnny Carinos party room (Everyone can order and pay for what they want) 12:30 pm – Go to CHCS (Will invite teachers, hope several might stop by) 1:00 pm – Desserts in the gym (Tables & chairs will be set up on half of the floor. Other half will be open for games. Boys bring cans of pop/water and Girls bring a simple dessert. Plates, napkins, silverware, and drink cups will be provided.) PASS THE WORD! HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE For additional information please contact Casey Morrison at morrisonc@carthage.K12.mo.us