Alumni Legacy Fall 2014 by College Heights Christian School

COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER

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legacy

F A L L

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

Spiritual Emphasis Week

by Tim Casey

This year we were blessed to have College Heights Christian Church senior minister, Randy Gariss, spend the week with our school during Spiritual Emphasis Week. He challenged our school with the theme “The Fear of the Lord”. At a Christian school it can be easy to limit our comprehension of God to what we learn in the classroom. We can study for a test on God’s attributes, and maybe even get a good grade on that test, but we often forget to take the time in our lives to experience those attributes in a relationship with him. Randy Gariss challenged our students to evaluate how we think of God, and more importantly, how we relate to him. Do we truly fear him? Do we take the time to connect with him in worship? These questions were on all of our hearts and minds as we went through the week. On Randy’s last day with us he gave us a crystal clear picture of Jesus through the book of Revelation. It was a great reminder that we don’t serve a weak or tiny savior, but a triumphant and victorious one who is coming to save his bride. The last day of our Spiritual Emphasis Week was a great time to respond in worship and prayer led by our student worship team. Overall, Spiritual Emphasis Week was a great way to start our year remembering that we serve an amazing God who is worthy of our school’s praise.

Annual Fund Update

We are so grateful for those who support College Heights Christian School financially! Their gifts make it possible to provide tuition assistance for families who are struggling, classroom technology, equipment, furniture, and improvements that we could not otherwise fund without increasing tuition. October is the last month of our 2013-14 annual fund campaign, and we have received $ 44,383 toward the goal of $52,000. I am confident that we can finish strong and reach our goal! In November we will announce our 2014-15 annual fund goal and the projects we hope to fund. If you would like more information about making a tax-deductible contribution to CHCS, contact Anita Zarrabi by email at azarrabi@collegeheights.org, or at by phone at 417-782-4114, ext. 227. You can also donate online through our Website at www.collegeheights.org. Just click on the “make a gift now” tab at the bottom of the page.

“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

JEFF WHITNEY (CLASS OF 1986) When did you begin attending CHCS? I started attending CHCS the first year the school was open. I was in 5th grade. What school sports or extracurricular activities were you involved in at CHCS? I played basketball and soccer. Who was your favorite teacher and why? Mr. Wicklund. He knew my strength was math and he pushed me to do my best. How would you describe yourself as a teen and how has that changed, if any as an adult? As a teen – shellfish. Hopefully I have become much more selfless. I really try to think of others now. How would your old classmates describe you? Athletic, competitive, selfish, hopefully funny. What did you like best about your years at CHCS? Basketball. I loved our coaches and my team. I made some great friends from my basketball days. How did CHCS help prepare you for college, career and life? College was easier because we were taught to study early on. Career and life – hopefully that Christ is first and then others and last me. It took me a while to figure that out. Tell us a little about the path your life has taken since you graduated from CHCS? (schooling, career, family, missions, etc) I graduated from MSSU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. I have been running The Lettershop ever since. I am divorced but was blessed with a wonderful son, Tony. Betty and I are very proud of him.

Who were the most influential people in your life, role models? My parents, Coach Sims, Coach Roderick and Walt Wicklund Tell us about the work you are doing now, why is it important to you? The Lettershop has a lot of different people that I get to interact with on a daily basis. Hopefully I can put a smile on someone’s face everyday. What do you hope God will be able to accomplish by working through you? I was lucky (fortunate) enough to baptize Tony in August. Hopefully together the Whitney boys can bring many more people to His kingdom. What are some of the things on your bucket list for the future? See the Padres win a world series. What pearls of wisdom would you give other graduates and students at CHCS? Speaking from my experience only – be very conscience of the people around you, their feelings, and needs. Try every day to make someone smile.

NEW STAFF… EMILY BEAVER

A big welcome back is extended to Emily Beaver, a College Heights Christian School alum of 2009. She graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in English and is a Title 1 Teachers Assistant in Preschool and is also coaching High School cross-country. EMILY BEAVER

DEANA FANNING

We welcome Deana Fanning as our Middle School Science instructor. Deana received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Missouri Southern State University and is actively pursuing her Master’s of Arts in Teaching at Missouri State University. She and her husband Shaun are actively involved at Destiny Church. They have been married since 2004 and they have two children, Libby and Jack.

CIARA GIBSON

DEANNA FANNING

Hello, my name is Ciara Gibson, and I have the privilege of being the director of the extended care program. I am currently attending CIARA GIBSON Missouri Southern State University, as I am interested in Elementary Education and French. I have experience as a children’s minister’and a nanny. I love to travel and have studied abroad in France for two summers. I grew up in Colorado Springs and Chicago with my parents. two siblings, and terrier dog. I have a deep appreciation for music, art, and food. I love to ski, swim, go to the beach, and watch football. Thank you for the opportunity to serve at College Heights Christian School this year. It is an honor and a privilege.

Reconnecting with

JESSICA NOTHUM (CLASS OF 2006) When did you begin attending CHCS? I began attending CHCS when I started 1st grade in 1994. What school sports or extracurricular activities were you involved in at CHCS? I was a cheerleader and was on Student Council. Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was Mrs. Green. She was always willing to help me with any questions, even if it meant calling her at home. And believe me, I had a lot of questions. How would you describe yourself as a teen and how has that changed, if any as an adult? As a teen, I was very naive to life outside of the CHCS bubble. That has changed as I now work in a place where I am surrounded by people who do not have the same beliefs. How would your old classmates describe you? I think they would describe me as kind and friendly. Our class had been together for so long that I can’t remember not knowing any of them!

Who were the most influential people in your life, role models? The most influential people are my parents and my in-laws. They have set excellent examples of living a God centered life. Tell us about the work you are doing now, why is it important to you? Currently I work in the IT department at Central Research. I am responsible for helping to maintain our databases and communicating with our clients. It is a place where I strive for my faith to shine through.

What did you like best about your years at CHCS? I loved that our class had been together for so long. I can’t remember a time not having a friend to call at any time.

What do you hope God will be able to accomplish by working through you? I hope that the people around me, at work and my friends, will be able to see His love and that I will have the opportunity to share the freedom that comes in knowing Christ to those that don’t understand.

How did CHCS help prepare you for college, career and life? CHCS’s curriculum really prepared me for John Brown University. In most of my classes I knew things that many of my fellow students did not learn in high school.

What are some of the things on your bucket list for the future? I would love to go back to Europe and revisit cities I have been to and visit new ones. I would also like to be able to work full time with my photography.

Tell us a little about the path your life has taken since you graduated from CHCS? (schooling, career, family, missions, etc) Since graduating, I have graduated from John Brown University with a B.S. in Photography. I got married in the fall of 2010. I currently work in Lowell, AR at Central Research doing IT work while pursuing photography on the side.

What pearls of wisdom would you give other graduates and students at CHCS? To the students, take full advantage of the teachers and support at College Heights. They are invaluable. To the graduates, don’t forget the time and energy that was poured into us as students. Be grateful for the teachers we had and the friends we made.

KEVIN MYERS

Kevin Myers joins us as our high school Art Instructor. Kevin grew up in Grand Haven, Michigan. He attended State University and Calvin College where he completed a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Art & Education. He has extensive experience teaching art at other Christian School and at the Paducah School of Art. We are blessed to have Kevin at CHCS.

MARILYN STEWART

KEVIN MYERS

Elementary Art has a new instructor this year. Marilyn Stewart received her first B.S. in Psychology at MSU in Springfield, MO in 1998. She has worked with children and youth in a number of educational and social service related settings. She obtained her second B.S. from MSSU in 2013 receiving her degree in K-12 Art Education. She and her family attend Impact Life Church in Joplin, MO. MARILYN STEWART

Reconnecting with

KONNER McINTIRE (CLASS OF 2011) When did you begin attending CHCS? Kindergarten, 1999. What school sports or extracurricular activities were you involved in at CHCS? I played volleyball, basketball, and was a member of NHS. Who was your favorite teacher and why? Oh man, that’s a really hard question. I appreciated so many different things about all of them. I really loved Mrs. Hamilton because she just seems to genuinely care about all her students. Also, she helped me test out of college English classes. I also loved my coaches Mr. Blankenship and Karla Gaines. They helped shaped me into who I am today. And sometimes, they allow me to come back and play or help them coach. How would you describe yourself as a teen and how has that changed, if any as an adult? As a teen, I was much more timid. I’ve had to become much more independent and bold now. How would your old classmates describe you? They would probably describe as that tall girl that had a weird obsession with rainbows, and is always laughing which has not changed! What did you like best about your years at CHCS? I loved my classmates. We really had a strong connection and still keep in touch. I also loved missions week. I now realize how special those experiences were for a teen. It’s a really cool and unique thing that CHCS does. How did CHCS help prepare you for college, career and life? They made me work for my grade. A lot of college students have to learn how to do that the hard way. I learned that if you want the best grade, you have to put forth your best work. This has helped me outside of school too. I also remember Mr. Blankenship telling us that some day we were going to have make our faith our own. We wouldn’t be able to rely on our family for our faith anymore. Those words have stuck with me over the years. It’s a really cool, scary and exciting thing to go out into the world without anyone but God. It’s moments like that where you learn how deep your relationship is with God. Tell us a little about the path your life has taken since you graduated from CHCS? (schooling, career, family, missions, etc) My life has changed a lot. I went to school in Kansas City to play volleyball. I played two years and loved it. But, I felt like it was time for me to switch gears. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt like God was telling me there was something else. My junior year, I was on student government and also developed, produced, and hosted a talk show. I fell in love with this and decided to go to film school for the first semester of my senior year in Hollywood. That’s where I am now. I moved out to Los Angeles by myself. Mom was thrilled! Not!

Who were the most influential people in your life, role models? My volleyball coach Karla Gaines has been very influential in my life. She made me a much stronger person. My mom and dad have shown me how to love unconditionally and not sweat the small stuff. My grandparents, because they pray for me everyday, which is the best gift anyone can give to you. Any Christian in Hollywood. There are a lot of them out here. It’s cool to know what films had some Christians working on it. Now, when I go back and watch those movies, I can totally tell. They may not be preaching at you, but that’s not what movies are for, they are supposed to make you ask questions. Tell us about the work you are doing now, why is it important to you? God has really blessed me here. I am currently producing a film at my school, which has been a crazy, fun experience. I landed an internship with the Queen Latifah Show on the Sony lot. My internship has been amazing!! She’s a very cool lady. I am taking stand up comedy classes with a group called Pretty Funny Women (They work with Chelsea Handler). I have my first show on Dec. 4. I am also taking an intense class called Hosting Boot camp with Marki Costello. These things are kind of intimidating, but I really want to do everything I can to be the best I can be. I want to be a humble, courageous bridge for God in the media. I hope to do this through hosting, comedy, and producing. What do you hope God will be able to accomplish by working through you? I hope that he can give people joy and hope through me. I also hope that I can be a part of bridging the gap between Christians and Hollywood/entertainment. We need to pray for Hollywood, not ignore it. It’s insane how much I see God working here, and I am very excited to be a part of it. What are some of the things on your bucket list for the future? I want to finish the film I’m working on, get a reel put together for hosting, keep writing and performing my comedy sets. I am really open to wherever the Lord leads me. What pearls of wisdom would you give other graduates and students at CHCS? Make your relationship with God real. Don’t do what everyone else is doing and don’t treat the Bible like its just a bunch of stories. When you have a deep relationship with God, people are going to notice. Also, don’t worry so much about what your ultimate purpose is in life. Your purpose lies in the things you do everyday. Each day is important, The Lord’s will is not only in the future, its here now.

COUGAR TRACKS Nathan Horton (‘98) – has been promoted to Creative Director with Ramsey MediaWorks.

Leah Sorrick Morgan (‘10) – Is now working at South Elementary School in Neosho as the English as a Second Language Teacher.

Kelsi Bodine (‘10) – Graduate Magna Cum Laude from Ouachita Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. She is currently working as the Field Director for Congressman Tim Griffin’s campaign for Lieutenant Govenor (AR). She is a member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church and is active in Women’s Bible Study and College Bible Study.

Bryan Bridgford (‘08) – Graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2014 from St. Louis College of Pharmacy. He passed his boards and is currently working for Wal-Mart and Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Dr. Bridgford and Madeline Rick were married in June 2014 and reside in Joplin. Annie Bridgford (‘12) – participated in a study abroad program this summer with MSSU. She stayed in Mullsjo, Sweden and made trips to Amsterdam, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Madison Younberger King (‘09) – Recently graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in Vocal Music Performance and is currently pursuing a Masters in performance. She is working as a Graduate Assistant in the PSU music department and teaches private voice lessons to area students. In the spring, she will be working with the Tulsa Opera in the chorus of Romeo and Juliet. She is happily married to Ethan King.

TASHA STRATTON

Ben Michael (‘12) – Has been promoted to Corporal in the Marines and is currently stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC.

BEN MICHAEL

Tasha Stratton (‘10) – Is engaged to Murphy Alvis! The wedding date will be December 20, 2014. Mitchell Woolridge (‘12) and Hannah Dalton (‘12) are engaged to be married.

Matt Michael (‘09) – Has been accepted into Indiana University’s Masters in Finance program.

HANNAH DALTON & MITCHELL WOOLRIDGE

HONOR SOCIETY

Lennox Wright Sjorlund was born September 6th at 1:10 p.m. He weighed 9lb 13oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. The proud parents are Malachi and Lindsey Sjorlund (‘09)

SPECIAL ALUMNI SPEAKERS

JOY CALEF (‘09) and CAMERON CALEF (‘08)

National Honor Society

Junior National Honor Society

The CHCS Chapter of National Honor Society inducted their newest members this month. The new inductees are: Parker Arnall, Brady Bishop, Jonathan Calandro, Danielle Capehart, Matthew Estep, Jasmine Hawkins, Kenlee Jonas, Sam Mansley, Austin Martin, Matt Roberts, Sarah Shaddy, Sarah Vainio, Josh Woodmansee. Great job students for excelling in scholarship, character, leadership, and service!

CHCS inducted nine new middle school students into the National Junior Honor Society. These students were selected on excelling in scholarship, character, leadership, and service. They are: Cade Carlson, Tyler Cox, Pierce Gloyer, Tessa Greathouse, Zachary Kitchen, Adlyn Thomas, Matison Whitmore, Samantha Spaulding, and Maddie Mulan Jones.

COLLEGE HEIGHTS

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

Since 1978

JOPLIN, MO 64802 PERMIT NO. 26

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 4311 E. Newman Road Joplin, Missouri 64801

PAID

See You at the Pole In 1990, after prayer in public school was banned, many students began meeting at the flag pole of their schools to pray, sing praises to God and read scripture. Although some schools have attempted to deny their students the rights to this world wide day of prayer, many lawyers have fought to prove that it is their right to free speech to stand under a flag pole on public school property and pray to God. On September 24th, CHCS students met under the flag pole, in conjunction with millions of other students around the world. Students led times of group prayer, individual prayer, singing and reading the Bible.