2017
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Engage Sharpening Minds, Shepherding Hearts
Tyler Rice ‘09 alum conducts important research at Yale University p. 6
Lakeland Christian School Lakeland, Florida 1
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HEADMASTER’S NOTE
On the Horizon “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 9 In this message to the prophet Isaiah, God differentiated His actions and perspectives as being higher than those of humans. His omniscience, eternality, omnipresence and omnipotence place Him on a level far beyond our own. There is a clear distinction between the Creator and the creation. The psalmist describes it this way: “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 David, the shepherd boy turned king, used the shepherd/sheep contrast to express the Creator/creature distinction. In this issue of Engage, we feature some alumni who are currently immersed in the venue that we call “higher education.” The educational pilgrimage is commonly described as passing through lower school (elementary), upper school (secondary), and arriving at higher education (university). The assumption is that the level of learning gets higher at each step along the way. The challenge facing students in secular higher education is that there is typically no recognition of the Creator/creature distinction. There is no sense that, “My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts your thoughts.” Without an awareness of God’s place in one’s studies, there is a subtle tendency to replace God with self and to assume a sense of authority and autonomy. Left to our own ways, we become “wise in our own eyes” (Proverbs 3:7) and lose our eternal reference point for life. We’re grateful for the opportunity some LCS alumni have to continue their studies in institutions of higher education where they are encouraged to continue to develop a biblical worldview in all aspects of life. This extends their LCS Christian schooling foundation to even more mature levels. Other graduates find themselves in higher education settings where their faith is challenged and their beliefs sharpened by the interactions with those with other perspectives. Whether our alumni are led to pursue higher education in a Christian or secular setting, they are equipped with a foundation that will enable them to contrast God’s ways and thoughts from those who leave God out of the equation. We hope you enjoy the feature stories of LCS graduates building on their biblical foundation while pursuing advanced degrees.
Dr. Mike Sligh Headmaster
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IN THIS ISSUE
Engage Tyler Rice
Editor-in-Chief Sandy Johnson Communications Specialist
‘09 alum conducts important research at Yale University
Creative Design Lakelander Creative Cover Photography Lina Kroehling
ADMINISTRATORS: Dr. Mike Sligh Headmaster Steve Wilson Director of Advancement Luci O’Byrne Elementary Principal Nancy Bradley Assistant Principal – Elementary Keith Overholt Secondary Principal Darren Copeland Assistant Principal – High School Scott Cunningham Assistant Principal – Middle School
12 Suzanne Parrish Barnes
‘08 alumna’s dream of being an oral surgeon is coming true at Vanderbilt
16 Student Features
Current LCS students are accomplishing amazing things in academics and arts
20 Campus News
Activities, awards and accolades of current Lakeland Christian students of all ages
23 Fine Arts Update
News from the Piano, Band, Choir and Art programs
25 Sports News
Updates from our Athletics Department
28 Faculty News
Julie Rice Director of Enrollment
Honors, professional development and other news from our faculty and staff
Matt Green Chief Financial Officer
30 Advancement News
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Kevin Knowlton Chairman Cory Petcoff Vice-Chairman Beth Patteson Secretary Payton Albritton, Kristen Bolter, Dan DeLange, Dan Green, David Miller, Bill Mutz, Steve Sligh, John Tucker, Jim Wilbanks
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News reports on the Viking Fund, expansion projects and more
36 Alumni Update
Graduations, babies, weddings and more!
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Engage magazine is published three times each year by Lakeland Christian School and is distributed free of charge to parents, grandparents, alumni and friends of the school. Send correspondence to: Lakeland Christian School Attn: Sandy Johnson 1111 Forest Park Street Lakeland, FL 33803 You may send emails to sjohnson@lcsonline.org. This magazine is printed by Area Litho, Lakeland, FL.
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Why Engage? engage (v.) to commit; to involve intensely; to begin action The title for the LCS magazine describes—in one word—a great deal about our passion for Christian schooling and the effectual results. This active verb reflects our commitment to fostering lives of vibrant faith, active learning, and intentional influence. Teachers engage students, students engage in their studies and co-curricular activities, and children and young people are prepared to engage their culture for the Kingdom. Engage will share encouraging stories of commitments to Christ, engagement in learning and active applications of faith for a lifetime.
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The mission of Lakeland Christian School is to educate students in the light of God’s Word to equip them for a lifetime of learning, leadership, service and worship.
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COVER FEATURE
Tyler Rice “Filled with Gratitude”: Tyler Rice (’09) is grateful for the opportunity to advance research in the field of immunology at Yale University. Photos by Lina Kroehling
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COVER FEATURE
“My LCS family shaped so much of who I am today, especially my conviction that people and their hearts are among the highest priorities I should attend to, as taught by Scripture.”
When Tyler Rice stood on the Branscomb Auditorium stage at Florida Southern College giving his salutatorian address to the Class of 2009, it was clear that he had a bright academic future ahead of him. He went on to graduate from Auburn University in 2013 with a B.S. in molecular biology, completed a fellowship at the National Institute of Health (NIH), and now he’s a doctoral student at Yale University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools in the United States. We caught up with Tyler to learn more about the amazing research opportunities he’s undertaking at Yale as well as the impact that his years at Lakeland Christian School had in preparing him for life.
I On His Time at LCS
Engage Magazine: What are some of the activities you were involved with during your time at LCS? Tyler Rice: I played on the tennis team for five years, participated in band, student council, A-team, and in the first few inaugural LCS football seasons, Mr. Livesay kept stats for every game with Ian Thomas, Mickelyn Graves and me as the spotter and stats crew.
EM: Which teachers had the greatest impact on you and why?
TR: Mr. Steve Livesay challenged me to reach for excellence in all my endeavors, not only to honor God but also to love my neighbor by doing work skillfully and diligently. As Dorothy Sayers wrote elegantly in a 1942 essay titled Why Work?, “It is the duty of the Church to see to it that the work serves God, and that the worker serves the work.” It was clear to me as a student in his classes that Mr. Livesay had indeed served his work faithfully, as his long and varied career exemplifies both excellence and service. He was also one of the first people who directed my attention to Auburn University, his alma mater.
EM: What were your career aspirations when you were a student at LCS? TR: I recall that I wanted to be a biomedical engineer at the time, a career that typically applies engineering principles to solve problems in medicine and the life sciences. EM: You’ve been featured in the LCS “Prepared for Life” campaign recently. Tell me how you feel that LCS prepared you, not only academically, but for life. TR: My LCS family shaped so much of who I am today, especially my conviction that people, their hearts, are among the highest priorities I should attend to, as taught by Scripture. If I don’t love my community or my colleagues well, I could
Photo by Wes Lowry
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carry out groundbreaking work that would fall completely flat because I “missed the mark.” The God of the universe and the people He made in His image should always be valued more highly than inanimate objects or achievements.
EM: If you could pick one thing about your LCS experience that you are most thankful for, what would you say? TR: Jeans days. No, just kidding! One LCS experience that is unique from other typical schools that I will always remember warmly is Work-a-Thon. A full day of service and connecting with Lakelanders was a great opportunity to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus. Although there were SO MANY bags of leaves, Work-a-Thon was always full of laughter as we got to participate in the kingdom of God in action.
II On His Undergraduate Study and Fellowship Program
EM: You attended Auburn University. What was the focus of your academics there? TR: My academic work at Auburn was basically acquiring lots of different “tools” to put in my scientific “toolbox.” I certainly didn’t master these experimental tools and techniques yet, but I was exposed to a wide variety of systems that biologists use to probe the intricacies of the natural world, from agricultural crops to nanomaterials to bizarre deep-sea invertebrates. Anyone and everyone can learn these core scientific tools and how to ask insightful questions about our world, at which point one is free to roam into whatever fields his interests may take him. At Auburn I learned how to learn, and then I began to narrow into a particular field from there.
take us in treating cancer?).
EM: How well do you feel that LCS prepared you for college? TR: LCS academics were excellent in preparing me for college, especially in the arena of writing and communicating. No matter your major, all college students are expected to clearly convey their ideas about a variety of topics, and classes at LCS were very rigorous in expecting that I communicate clearly and effectively. EM: You had a fellowship at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. What did you do there? What was the focus of your research? TR: At the NIH I learned a lot about antiviral immune responses by studying a mouse model of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is a particularly deadly pathogen for infants. We learned that certain probiotic bacteria, similar to those in your
yogurt, can help prime the innate immune system such that a viral infection is less inflammatory in the airways. In the course of this project, though, it’s important to acknowledge that I made lots and lots of mistakes in the lab. Conducting research takes persistence and dedication, and my excellent, kindhearted mentor, Dr. Helene Rosenberg, supported me and shaped me through those hard lessons into becoming a better, more resilient scientist.
III On His Research at Yale University
EM: When you decided to pursue a Ph.D. program, what was the process and how did you decide on Yale? TR: Applying to graduate school in the life sciences is similar to applying for college, but then some programs that consider you
Tyler visited and interviewed at several colleges around the United States before choosing to study Immunology at the Yale University School of Medicine.
EM: Did you know early on in your undergrad what you wanted to do, or did you change your mind as you progressed through school? TR: I changed my mind substantially over the course of my college years. From the start I had a hunch that I wanted to be involved in science somehow, but not until senior year when I took an immunology course did I really find that inner spark of intense curiosity. The immune system is amazingly complex, but there are many central questions that remain unanswered (Why are allergies and autoimmune disease so prevalent? Why are only some vaccines protective? How far will immunotherapy
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COVER FEATURE Tyler spends much of his time at Yale conducting research that will help people who suffer from diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
as a candidate will typically fly you to their campus for a recruitment weekend. I visited several schools around the country and ultimately chose to join Yale Immunobiology because of its tight-knit research community. Spanning roughly 20 lab groups, the people in this department are so genuine and kind— they regularly offer to help each other with experiments, ideas, techniques, as well as everyday stuff outside the lab. Also when I was in high school I did not know that most programs in the sciences will pay their grad students to go to school—it’s essentially a job.
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EM: What do your days look like at Yale? TR: At this point I’ve finished all my classwork, so an average day involves little to no studying. Rather, I push several research projects forward, and my time is split between culturing bacteria, setting up mouse experiments, analyzing cells, sequencing genomes and then discussing results (and inevitable failures) with my lab mates. Recently we’ve also begun some collaborations with clinical researchers that provide us access to various patient cohorts and their samples. Of
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“I’ve had a number of mentors who have contributed so much to my growth as a person and scientist, and I’d like to pay that forward with my own trainees.”
course, I do less exciting stuff too, like reading the current research literature in my field, and making lots and lots of PowerPoint slides.
EM: What is the focus of your research, and what do you hope to accomplish during your time there? TR: My research focuses on mucosal immunology: the interface between the many immune cells in the intestinal tissue and the approximate 100,000,000,000,000 (one hundred trillion) bacteria living inside the human gut—the commensal microbiota. Some people develop inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis that stem from excess immune activation in their gut, despite carrying the same types of commensal bacteria as healthy individuals. We’re trying to elucidate the molecular principles that dictate this hostmicrobe relationship such that doctors might be able to intervene in order to restore IBD patients to health. Development of preventive vaccines is also a goal as well, though we need a clearer understanding of the underlying biology to inform our vaccine design. EM: Your research has been published. Tell us about that. TR: I was an author on a few studies published by Dr. Rosenberg that reported our work on lactobacillus and the mouse pathogen Pneumonia Virus of Mice (the ortholog of human RSV). We found that immune cells called monocytes and macrophages contribute to protective anti-inflammatory responses
by signaling through a few key receptors. More recently I’m compiling the data for a manuscript with my current advisor, Dr. Noah Palm, in which we’ve evaluated how the immune system “keeps tabs” on a particular commensal bacteria through the actions of an antibody, immunoglobulin A (IgA). This bacterial species lives peacefully inside many healthy people but can also drive IBD under certain unfavorable conditions.
EM: What do you want to do after you’re done with education? TR: After completing my PhD I will likely take a postdoctoral fellowship position in another lab to further diversify my research training and become more independent in my investigations. Ultimately I’d like to lead my own laboratory team one day at a university or hospital or research institute. Chasing a particular research question seems very appealing as well as the opportunity to mentor young scientists in my lab. I’ve had a number of mentors who have contributed so much to my growth as a person and scientist, and I’d like to pay that forward with my own trainees.
IV Final Thoughts
EM: The mission of Lakeland Christian School is to educate students in the light of God’s Word to equip them for a lifetime of learning, leadership, service and worship. The goal is to
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prepare students not only during the few years they’re at LCS but for a lifetime. How has that mission played out—and continue to do so—in your life? TR: My time at LCS taught me that not only should I strive to continue learning throughout my whole life, but also to reconsider daily how my identity in Christ provides a different perspective on work and relationships than that of other worldviews. He calls me to love Him firstly and glorify Him in the truths that I uncover, then love my neighbors, listen to them, cherish them and point them to the hope of the gospel in any way that I can. I’m regularly filled with gratitude and awe that this is what He’s called me to do, so all I can do in response is walk with Him in obedience and faith.
If you would like to connect with Tyler, you can email him at tylerarice@gmail.com. Tyler’s Research Citations: Dyer, K.D., et al. (2015). Journal of Virology 90, JVI.02279-02215. Percopo, C.M., et al. (2015). Antiviral Research 121, 109-119. Rice, T.A., et al. (2016). Antiviral Research 132, 131-140.
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ALUMNI FEATURE
Suzanne Parrish Barnes Suzanne Parrish Barnes (‘08) is realizing her dream of becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon as a resident at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Photos by Rob Crosby
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Dr. Suzanne Parrish Barnes (’08) will tell you that she was never the smartest person in her class—not at LCS, not in her undergrad program at the University of Florida, and not during her postgrad work at Nova Southeastern University. But Suzanne was committed to a career that she chose during her teenage years and now, looking back, she can see how God paved the way for her to reach her dreams of being an oral surgeon. Suzanne was a well-rounded student at Lakeland Christian School, dividing her time between academics, the arts, and athletics. She was involved in numerous plays and musicals, sang in the choir, and was part of the volleyball, basketball, and track teams. Balancing her rigorous college-prep course load and all of her extracurricular activities helped teach Suzanne how to prioritize her time and be efficient in her studies—two skills for which she was grateful when she went to the University of Florida. Unlike many college students, Suzanne
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started at the University of Florida with a clear goal in mind: to go to dental school to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Her interest in dentistry started early and was confirmed after Dr. Edward Meszaros, who had removed Suzanne’s wisdom teeth, offered her the opportunity to work for and shadow him one summer. “I really loved my time watching his surgeries that summer and had no idea that it was just a small taste of the many opportunities for me in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery,” Suzanne said. Suzanne graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in biology, but the process for getting into dental school was a difficult one that caused her to rely heavily on her faith. “I received rejection letters from every dental school I applied to, and then found out that I had been accepted to Nova Southeastern University much later in the application process. Through it all, I knew the Lord had a plan for my life, and even if
I didn’t understand it, He would continue to work out all things in my life for His glory,” Suzanne said. Suzanne attended dental school at Nova and graduated in 2016 with her Doctorate
any trauma that occurs to the face region on a patient, is covered by OMFS, ENT, and plastic surgery. Every third day, we are on face call and can be consulted by the adult or children’s hospital for any broken bones to the face, cuts on the face, or infections of the face. Our department also takes ‘tooth call’ every day and sees a lot of patients with infections as a result of poor oral health. A good number of these patients have to be taken to the OR because their infections are so severe.” In addition to her call time, which includes at least one day of the weekend, Suzanne’s week usually includes two to three days in the operating room and two days in the clinic. “Most of my days start around 5:30
The process for getting into dental school was a difficult one that caused Suzanne to rely heavily on her faith. in Dental Medicine. Because Suzanne knew she wanted a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS), she participated in several externships during her breaks and holidays. She also had to pass a test called the CBSE before she could apply for residency programs. “After I externed and took the CBSE, I applied to various residency programs. I ended up interviewing at eight different programs throughout the East Coast. It was definitely an intimidating process,” Suzanne said. “The OMFS programs generally accept between one and three residents each year, and they received about 200 applications for these spots. Once interviews have concluded, applicants list their choices in order from favorite to least favorite, and the residency programs list their applicants in order as well. The beautiful match system then basically just determines where you are going to be spending the next four years.” The match system put Suzanne at her top choice: the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. “I spent one week at Vanderbilt as an extern and absolutely loved the program. The attendings were all wonderful and so committed to our education. All of the residents were encouraging and worked really well as a team. Despite the busy schedule, one of the things that caught my eye was how happy everyone was while they were in the residency program. I knew during the week I spent there as an intern that it was definitely going to be my top choice for a residency.” Suzanne and her husband, Josh (’07), moved from south Florida to Nashville this past June. The rigorous demands of the residency program mean very early mornings, long hours, and lots of on-call time. “Since I’m a first-year resident, I take a lot of calls. Typically, I am on call about 10 days in the month. Face call, which is
a.m. I come in, read about patients who are admitted in the hospital, round on them, put in notes, and then present pertinent information to our chief residents and attendings. If it is a day I am spending in the clinic, we see a lot of consultations for various problems. Some are for simple extractions while others can be for complicated problems such as a benign tumor of the jawbone. We also perform procedures in our clinic such as extractions, implants, and simple biopsies. “If my team is in the OR that day, we have anywhere from one to five cases in a day. Don’t be fooled though . . . one case can easily be 12 hours and cause for a very long day! And if I’m on call, that just means I will be staying up much later to see all of my consults throughout the evening. “Three days a week, I also have conference, which is the didactic portion of my residency. There is often required reading that residents must complete prior to the lecture.
In addition to being on call for 10 days out of the month, Suzanne spends long hours at the hospital and in the operating room, where some procedures can last as long as 12 hours.
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ALUMNI FEATURE
lack access to care and are in need of specific surgeries that I am trained to perform in residency,” Suzanne said. “It would be great to connect with an organization or hospital we could return to on a yearly basis and commit to serving in that area regularly.” Suzanne is grateful for the tremendous influence that Lakeland Christian School has had on her life and her education and her goals. “I think most alumni of LCS would agree that you don’t actually realize how much the school has influenced you until after graduation. The further I get in my education, the more I realize that, at the end of the day, the most important thing is your faith in Christ. I am grateful for the teachers at LCS and that they continue to teach their students that, as Christians, our faith in Christ is the only truth we can hold on to in this life. “One of the most important things I learned while at LCS was the truth found in Scripture and the importance of prayer. At the end of the day, I know that my identity is not found in whether or not I am a good doctor, wife, family member, or friend. All of those things can be taken away from us in a moment. I am grateful for the Scripture I read and the truth I was told while at LCS that remind me that at the end of this life, all that matters is the fact that Christ has claimed me for His own. “This side of heaven, there’s just nothing else that matters.” “This probably sounds like mass chaos, and there are definitely days that it feels that way, but all-in-all, I really do love my job! Despite the fact that I spend at least 12 hours a day in the hospital, I love the opportunity to be able to take care of patients. The OR is one of my favorite places in the hospital. It is amazing the transformation that can take place for a patient over a matter of hours.” Once her residency is completed in 2020, Suzanne and Josh would love to end up back in Lakeland near their families. She would like to be involved in academics and work with future residents. Josh and Suzanne would also like to serve regularly on mission trips. “There are so many areas of the world that
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Suzanne and Josh were married in August of 2015. Josh serves as a project manager for a technology company, which includes domains such as exercise.com. They attend Hope Community Church in Nashville. When they’re not working, the couple loves to explore the city, go to concerts, Predators games, take walks in the beautiful parks, and try out all of the restaurants.
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STUDENT FEATURE
Student Features Julia Canady, Amberlee Johnson, Neil Dave and Tristan LaPorte have earned prestigious honors in the academics and arts this spring. Photos by Monica Winters
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Amberlee Johnson’s award-winning self portrait is headed to the U.S. Capitol where it will hang for one year before coming back to Florida.
SENIOR AP ART PIECE TO HANG IN U.S. CAPITOL This spring, senior Amberlee Johnson took top honors at the 2017 Creative Youth: 15th Congressional District Competition sponsored by U.S. Representative Dennis A. Ross and conducted by the Polk Museum of Art. Her piece, an untitled self-portrait done in India ink, will be on display in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for one year. Amberlee will travel to the Capitol for an awards ceremony
in June. The piece will then hang in the Congressman’s office for the following year. Amberlee is the daughter of Joel and Sandy Johnson. She moved to Lakeland from Chattanooga for the start of her senior year and was a member of the girls’ state runner-up soccer team and the track-and-field team. In the fall, Amberlee plans to attend the University of South Florida to study graphic design.
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STUDENT FEATURE
SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SIXTH-GRADER NEIL DAVE This summer, sixth-grader Neil Dave will make his second straight appearance at the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee. Here are six things you need to know about Neil:
Sixth grader Neil Dave will return to the Scripps National Spelling Bee this summer. The 11-yearold has been participating in local spelling bees for the past six years.
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He’s a self-professed “Harry Potter geek” who loves to play video games in his spare time.
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Neil’s favorite classes at LCS are those in the RISE Institute. He’s been involved in RISE research and used common household materials to design a filter that would help eliminate second-hand cigarette smoke.
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His extracurriculuar activities at LCS include playing tennis and trombone in the band.
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One of the most challenging words that Neil has had to spell is “Weimaraner” (as in the grey dog with blue eyes).
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He’s a naturally good speller who credits his love of reading for the gift. For those who struggle with spelling, Neil recommends reviewing 20-30 popular Greek and Latin root words that make up a lot of other words (auto-, bio-, chrono-, phil-, port-, photo-, etc.).
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Word associations Neil gives when describing the Scripps National Spelling Bee: Pressure. Big. Fun. Entertaining. Challenging. Get to miss a week of school. Chance to make friends.
CANADY, LAPORTE EARN FULL RIDES TO TOP UNIVERSITIES The Class of 2017 boasts a number of accomplished students in the areas of academics, the arts, athletics and community involvement. In this issue of Engage, we are highlighting two of these students—Julia Canady and Triston LaPorte—who have both received full-ride scholarships to two very impressive universities. Triston LaPorte has been offered two scholarships—the Dean of Science scholarship and the Godbold Scholarship— to Georgia Tech in Atlanta. He will study
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chemistry with the goal of pursuing a career in pharmaceutical development. Triston came to LCS in sixth grade and has been active in the Fine Arts department as a member of the percussion section of the band and as a participant in the school plays. His favorite classes are AP chemistry, AP calculus and band. Triston credits Mr. Daniel Macey, Mr. Chuck Fulton and Mrs. Judy Oncu with being some of the biggest influences during his time at LCS. Earlier this year, Triston received the
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honor of being a National Merit Runner Up. His proudest accomplishment is making it to his final year of band, knowing that the percussion section will continue to grow and improve after he is gone. Julia Canady has accumulated an impressive resume during her years at LCS—especially in the field of science— and will continue her scientific pursuits as part of the College of Agriculture and Life Science at the University of Florida. She will be double majoring in political
Julia Canady is an accomplished researcher and recently won the coveted Silver Garland Award for Science.
During his years at LCS, Tristan LaPorte enjoyed playing comedic roles in the Fine Arts productions.
Amberlee Johnson, who moved to Lakeland at the start of her senior year, plans to study graphic design at USF.
science and agricultural communication with minors in innovation and entrepreneurship. She plans on using these studies as a springboard to a career as an agricultural lobbyist. One of Julia’s notable achievements was her seven-year research project, entitled “Weed Warfare: Investigating Allelopathy.” Her project made it to the State Science and Engineering Fair for seven straight years and to the International Science and Engineering Fair twice. At the international fair, she won the Fourth Place Grand Award in the Plant Science category two years in a row. In addition to the countless hours that she has spent on research, Julia is a member of the Mock Trial Team that earned a Top Five finish at this year’s State Mock Trial Competition, and her coach, Mrs. Chasity Branham, has been one of the biggest influences during her high school years. Julia also serves as president of the STEM Club, runs a nanny service called Basically Babysitting and rides horses.
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CAMPUS NEWS
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LCS Chess Team
Three members of the LCS chess team competed at the Polk Scholastic Chess Association Championship tournament in March. Third-grader John Workman won two out of four games in the primary division and finished in the top 16 in the county. Third-grader Nicholas Roll scored two points in the primary division. Fourth-grader Amil Tavares competed in the elementary division and finished with 1.5 points. These three qualified for the tournament after a successful chess season. They are coached by Mark Williams.
CAMPUS NEWS Polk County Kids’ Tag Art
Congratulations to fifth-grader Kaleigh Salmon for winning first place in the annual Polk County Kids’ Tag Art contest sponsored by LEGOLAND Florida and the Tax Collector’s Office for Polk County. More than 7,000 students from over 90 elementary schools across the county were eligible for the award, and only the top six designs were honored at the Recognition Ceremony held at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort in March. The program raises money for elementary school art programs.
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2017 SlingShot Polk competition
Several Lakeland Christian School students participated in the 2017 SlingShot Polk competition, a STEM-based entrepreneurship contest that gave individuals and groups the opportunity to win cash and mentoring from local experts. Of the six finalists in the middle school and high school category, three were comprised of LCS students.
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Regional Odyssey of the Mind Tournament
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Polk Regional Science and Engineering Fair
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LCS Mock Trial Team
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Congratulations to Katherine Miller (“HydroGen”), the team of Cheney Curls, Peyton Miller and Breanna Newberg (“VendIt”) and the duo of Mary-Nanette Boyce and Emma Galbraith (“Splat!”). The final round of the Shark Tank-style competition was held at Florida Polytechnic University in late April. Mary-Nanette and Emma (pictured on page 20), both seventh graders, won third place and $500 cash in the student competition for creating a slime that is meant to utilize aromatherapy, physical therapy and color therapy to improve the focus and efficiency of students with ADHD. They are looking into getting their product patented. The SlingShot Polk program is an initiative of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce. 2
LCS Archery Team
The LCS Archery Team competed in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) state tournament in late February. With 2,862 points, the elementary team finished first in the state. The high school team tallied 3210 points for a third-place finish in Florida. Individually, junior Trey Brickhouse earned topped honors as the Best Overall Male Archer in Florida, scoring 294 out of a possible 300 points. He was also the winner of the high school boys’ division. For his achievement, Trey won a Genesis Bow and an $1,800 scholarship. Ninth-grader Isaac Webb scored 287 points to finish fourth among high school boys. In the elementary boys’ division, LCS students brought home first place (fifth-grader Miles Davis, 271 points), third place (fifth-grader Kolby Broxton, 263 points) and fifth place (fourth-grader CJ Miller, 259 points). The teams are coached by James and Barb Moore and Ron Henderson.
Eight LCS teams competed in the Regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament hosted by Dunedin Highland Middle School in February. Three of these teams placed in the top five. Pictured is “Team Wiechmann” (coached by Fred Wiechmann), made up of Caydon Wilson, Porter Stiles, Easton Durdin, Kase Gibson, Ava Wetherington, Kiana Joseph and Hailey Hitchcock, and placed second in the “Ready, Set, Balsa, Build!” category. “Team Vincent” (coached by Christopher Vincent) was comprised of Chase Durrance, Tanner Billach, Asher McMahan, Jeremias DeJesus, Terry Hardy, Nicole Waddell and Wynn Vincent. They finished third in the same category. The two teams had to design, build and test a structure made of only balsa wood and glue. It needed to balance and support as much weight as possible. Both of these teams competed at the State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament held at the University of Central Florida in April.
Twenty-two students in grades six through 12 competed in the Polk Regional Science and Engineering Fair this past February, and seven of these individuals earned a spot in the State Science and Engineering Fair held in late March. Congratulations to Julia Canady, Victoria Benson, Taylor O’Byrne, Connor McLaughlin, Peyton Miller, Cheney Curls and Breanna Newberg for their outstanding accomplishments. Julia earned a third-place award at the State Fair for her seven-year continuation project that investigated novel uses of plant phytohormones to control invasive weeds. Breanna won a Recognition Award in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category for her research in how autonomous technology could be applied to help the disabled. Connor’s plant science research earned him the James F. Miley Award at the State Fair.
Congratulations to the LCS Mock Trial Team on earning its first-ever top-five finish at the Florida LawRelated Education Association High School Mock Trial finals in Orlando. Eighteen teams represented judicial circuits from across the state of Florida in the three-day competition. Senior Julia Canady was awarded the overall Best Witness award. The team is comprised of Abby Branham, Ashlynn Joyner, Reese Overholt, Julia Canady, Lauren Latimer, Kristy Smith, Jake Albritton and Jace Gravitz. They are coached by Chasity Branham, Melissa Gravitz and Greg Cawood. The team defeated the George Jenkins Law Academy in early February to earn their spot in the finals. This was the fourth consecutive year that the LCS team represented the 10th Judicial Circuit at the State competition.
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Polk County Elementary A-Team
The fifth grade Academic Team took part in the Polk County Elementary A-Team competition this winter. The team, coached by Mrs. Jane Burnette, placed second in the first round of competition. They went on to the second round in March where they finished in third place. The team was made up of Wesley Rogers, Allison Sullivan, Ella MacDonald, Emilie Morin and Kaleigh Salmon.
AP Literature Class
After spring break this March, students in Mrs. Judy Oncu’s AP literature class each had to write a theological paper defending their worldviews and examining a relevant social issue from a Christian perspective. Students then had to defend their papers before a panel of local pastors and LCS faculty members. Relay for Life of Lakeland
Lakeland Christian School teamed up with Relay for Life of Lakeland to raise money for the American Cancer Society at the event on April 7. Students purchased and decorated luminaires in honor of Coach Roger Evans and other loved ones who have been affected by cancer. From the sale of the luminaries, $750 was donated to the Roger Evans Athletic Center building campaign and more than $1,000 was donated to the American Cancer Society. The Viking mascots participated in the special mascot race, and students sold strawberry shortcakes at an LCS booth to contribute additional funds.
ACSI Regional Spelling Bee
Students in first through fourth grade recently participated in the ACSI Regional Spelling Bee at Foundation Academy in Winter Garden. Congratulations to all of our participants, including top finishers Lucas Knowlton, Amil Tavares, Jolie Holmes and Matthew Batson.
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FINE ARTS UPDATE
FINE ARTS NEWS
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15th Congressional District Art Competition
Four high school art students competed in the 15th Congressional District Art Competition sponsored by U.S. Representative Dennis Ross (R-FL) and conducted by the Polk Museum of Art. Senior Amberlee Johnson’s untitled self-portrait won the whole show. Her piece will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Sarah Clark (image number one), Anna Chen and Abby Burton also had artwork selected to be part of the competition.
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Music Performance Assessment
The Jr. High Choir, directed by Mrs. Wendy Carl, earned Straight Superiors from all four judges at the Music Performance Assessment in mid-March. Sponsored by the Florida Vocal Association and hosted at Frostproof Middle/Senior High School, the group of seventh and eighth graders performed two pieces and sight-read both a rhythmic and a three-part a cappella piece of music.
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Choral Festival
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Congratulations to the Sixth-Grade Choir, directed by Mrs. Wendy Carl, on earning Straight Superiors from all three judges at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Choral Festival in late March. The Junior Viking Voices is comprised of fourth- and fifth-grade students; the group received an overall Excellent rating in their division. They are directed by Mr. Jordan Burks. The ACSI Festival was held at Indian Rocks Christian School.
LCS Symphonic Winds
This April, the LCS Symphonic Winds performed at the State Music Performance Assessment sponsored by the Florida Bandmasters Association. Members of the high school band traveled to the University of Florida and performed in front of a panel of judges. The group earned one Superior rating and two Excellent ratings. Polk All-County Band
Six secondary band students were selected by audition to perform with the Polk All-County Band on Friday, April 7. Congratulations to Kacee Strickland (12th grade), Makenzie Johnson and Hayden Lee (11th grade), Rebecca Chapman (10th grade), Josh Plyler (eighth grade) and Katie Jones (seventh grade). The concert was held at Florida Southern College. (not pictured) 3
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State Solo & Ensemble Competition
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State Solo & Ensemble Festival
Lake Wales Arts Council Youth Music Festival
Congratulations to piano students Wenjo Lai (sixth grade) and Moriah Quint (10th grade) on their outstanding achievements at the countywide Lake Wales Arts Council Youth Music Festival in late April. Wenjo won the Junior Piano Division and the Overall Junior Division Award for Exceptional Ability, and Moriah (pictured below) won second place in the Senior Piano Division. They both received cash prizes with their awards. Earlier this year, Wenjo competed against students from seven surrounding counties at the Florida State Music Teachers Association District 9 Piano Concerto Competition and received second place.
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Members of the High School Choir performed at the State Solo & Ensemble competition in Sanford in late March. Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding accomplishments: Superior with Distinction (Chosen to perform in Honors Recital): Duet by Abigail Garrard and Brooke Hammack; Superior: Chamber Ensemble, Women’s Ensemble, Brooke Hammack (solo), Carter Ferguson (solo); Excellent: Men’s Ensemble, Craig Heacox (solo), Carter Chaplin (solo), Avery Roth (solo)
In early February, secondary band students competed at the District Solo & Ensemble festival. Thirty-six entries won superior ratings and an additional five scored an excellent rating. Six high school students qualified to move on to the State Solo & Ensemble Festival held in Pompano Beach in late March. Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding accomplishments at the state level: Hayden Lee – Trombone Solo (Superior); Annie Bolter – Bassoon Solo (Excellent); Mollie Tew – Flute Solo (Superior); Makenzie Johnson – Flute Solo (Superior); Alex Barrow – Flute Solo (Excellent); Kacee Strickland – Flute Solo (Superior)
SPORTS NEWS
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All-County Teams
Congratulations to several winter athletes who were chosen by The Ledger as part of the All-County Teams. Boys’ Soccer: Player of the Year: Tanner Molony (pictured above), Coach of the Year: Grandy Streets, First Team: Taylor Morton, Chase Walters, Second Team: Jonathan Lehman, Honorable Mention: Jordan Long, Jacob Koretchko, Michael Tippel, Jake Cochran, Knox Gibson. Girls’ Soccer: Coach of the Year: Jason Streets, First Team: Mary Peace, Nathalie Saldana, Vivian Streets, Second Team: Taylor O’Byrne, Honorable Mention: Jayden Bayes, Katie Carnes, Ramsey Watkins, Eden Guynn, Kiley Williams, Amelia Jackson. Boys’ Basketball: Honorable Mention: Tyler Horne
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Florida All-State Class 3A Football Team
Lady Viking Soccer Team
Junior quarterback Tate Whatley and junior linebacker Logan Mason were named to the first team for the Florida All-State Class 3A football team. Whatley threw for 1,730 yards on 114-for-198 passing with 21 touchdowns and just one interception. Mason led the Vikings with 41 solo tackles and 61 total tackles. He rushed for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Adrian Morris was named honorable mention.
With a decisive 4-0 win over St. John Paul II in the Regional Finals, the Lady Viking soccer team made its sixth consecutive trip to the State soccer tournament this past February. In the State Semifinals, the girls faced Palmer Trinity (Miami) and found themselves down 1-0 in the first half. The Lady Vikings tied it up right before halftime and then went on to score three more unanswered goals in the second half to win 4-1. In the 1A State Finals, the Lady Vikings found themselves up against an all-too-familiar foe, the Spartans of St. John’s Country Day. The Spartans scored in the first two minutes of the game and went on to defeat the Vikings by a 2-0 margin. It was St. John’s sixth consecutive state title. The Lady Vikings, coached by Jason Streets, finished their season as the 1A State Runners Up with a record of 19-5-2.
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All-Americans for Competitive Cheerleading
Congratulations to seniors Maddie Pistoria and Joy Henry on being named as All-Americans for competitive cheerleading. They were two of five Polk cheerleaders to be selected based on stunting, tumbling, motions and jumping ability. Viking Competition Cheerleaders
The Viking Competition Cheerleaders competed at the National High School Cheerleading Championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in mid-February. The girls placed sixth out of 17 teams in the preliminaries to qualify the squad for the semifinal round of the tournament for the first time in school history. In the semifinals, the squad placed 10th out of 17 teams and was just 1.75 points shy of making it to the final round. The Lady Vikings compete in the medium varsity all-girls division, which is the most competitive category of the championship.
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1A State Tennis Tournament
Congratulations to LCS eighth-grader Sam Mercer on making it to the 1A State Tennis Tournament in late April. He upset Santa Fe Catholic’s Connor Lovely (3-6, 6-2, 10-8) in the District semifinals and went on to defeat Alex Hein of Windermere Prep (6-4, 1-6, 10-5) to win the district title and a bid to the state tournament. He is the first boys’ tennis player from LCS to make it to the state tournament since Scotty Phillips in 2004. The LCS boys’ and girls’ tennis teams were the district runners-up. Both teams fell to Trinity Prep in the Regional tournament.
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Congratulations to junior Mary Peace on being named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 1A District 12 Player of the Year for girls’ soccer. Mary was also recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and MaxPreps as the Florida Girls’ Soccer Player of the Week for January 18-23. For the boys’ team, senior goalkeeper Jonathan Lehman (pictured below) was named to the FACA 1A Senior All-Star Team.
Viking Weightlifting Team
Three Viking weightlifters qualified for the 1A State tournament. Senior Jacob Allen and junior Rickey McFarland competed in the 183-pound division. Rickey finished 15th with a 525 total (295 bench and 230 clean and jerk), and Jacob finished 17th with a 510 (285 bench and 225 clean and jerk). Senior Adrian Morris finished 15th in the 238-pound division with a 560 total (300 bench and 260 clean and jerk).
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Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 1A District 12 Soccer Honors
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Boys Viking Soccer Team
After some tough tournament losses at the District and Regional levels in the past few years, the Lakeland Christian boys’ soccer team found itself back on top in 2017, making it to the Regional Finals for the first time in 2008. But they didn’t stop there. The Vikings went all the way to the State Championship, where they were edged out, 2-1, by the Maclay Marauders. In the Regional Finals, junior Tanner Molony scored with three minutes left in the game to give the Vikings a 1-0 edge over Boca Raton Christian. The team then traveled to Palmer Trinity (Miami) for the 1A State Semifinal game in mid-February. The Vikings jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first half, but Palmer Trinity scored early in the second half to tie it up. Senior Taylor Morton answered back quickly with a header off of junior Michael Tippel’s throwin to give the Vikings their game-winning goal and a trip to the first State Championship game appearance since 2006. After a scoreless first half in the championship game, Molony gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead over Maclay. The Marauders then scored two goals in the final 20 minutes to give them the 1A State title. The Vikings, coached by Grandy Streets, finished their season 19-4-3.
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FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATE
FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
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Mrs. Jennifer Canady
Mrs. Jennifer Canady, director of the RISE Institute at Lakeland Christian, was appointed to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW) by Adam Putnam, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. According to their website, the FCSW is “a non-partisan body with a focus on raising awareness and celebrating the contributions and successes of all Floridians, along with providing a collaborative platform for those seeking information on issues that affect women, girls and their families in our state.” Commissioners serve a term of four years. Professional Development Activities
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Faculty members are committed to providing the highestquality education to the students at LCS. The following list highlights some of the professional development activities that our teachers have attended in recent months. Rethinking Dyslexia Workshop: Deborah Sullivan, Marge Palm, Chris Cabrera, Amy Amell, Letty Lamelas, Emily Johnson, Kay Henry, Nancy Bradley, Fred Wiechmann, Missy Green, Gina Harrell, Rebecca Robinson, Kathy Mudger, Jan Frost, Jane Burnette, Jen Copeland, Heather Rhoden, Ellen Oncu, Trudi Sligh, Seth Miller, Jordan Burks, Carlos Martinez, Sandy Nilius, Debbie Stump, Beth Burton, Corrie Williams, Luci O’Byrne
During the two weeks, Ms. Walls visited seven cities between Shanghai and Beijing, travelling mainly by bullet train. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to see the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an. Ms. Walls was able to present the opportunities for international students at LCS to many families and schools and introduce them to the idea of Christian school education.
Project Learning Tree Conference: Kay Henry Forum for Education with Ron Clark: Nancy Bradley, Jordan Burks, Kay Henry, Beth Burton, Jane Burnette, Debbie Stump, Letty Lamelas, Marge Palm, Heather Rhoden Melodic Based Communication Therapy Conference: Discovery Program teachers and Jordan Burks Singapore Math Advanced Training: Elementary teachers Learning and the Brain Conferences: Seth Miller, Susan Kranitz, Kim Tucker, Keith Overholt, Greg Cawood Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) Workshop on Innovation and Collaboration: Scott Cunningham, Jennifer Canady, Susan Kranitz FCIS Convention: Scott Cunningham, Dr. Mike Sligh, Matt Green Global Christian Leadership Summit: Geoff Stabler, Scott Cunningham, Dr. Mike Sligh Christian School Roundtable: Scott Cunningham, Dr. Mike Sligh 2
Ms. Kala Walls
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Mrs. Emily Johnson
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Mr. Ian Thomas
Mrs. Emily Johnson, elementary art teacher, along with her husband, Conrad, welcomed son, Jonah, on Monday, March 13. He weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz. and was 21 inches long. Jonah was welcomed home by big sisters Ellie and Sarah. Congratulations to Mr. Ian Thomas, an ’08 alum and current high school Bible teacher, and his wife, Molly, on the birth of their first child, Caleb Ian, on March 28. Caleb weighed 5 lbs., 13 oz.
Ms. Kala Walls, International Student Coordinator, spent two weeks in March travelling through China with New Oasis International Education. New Oasis is an organization that matches Chinese students with partner schools such as LCS and provides support for international students, host families and schools. This trip provided the opportunity to visit English classrooms in several Chinese high schools, interview potential high school students and learn more about the culture of our students from China.
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ADVANCEMENT NEWS
Have You Given?
SCHOOL-WIDE VIKING FUND PARTICIPATION ENHANCES LCS STUDENT EXPERIENCE The cost of providing an excellent Christian schooling for children and young people is expensive. In fact, many aspects of the LCS experience that families have come to expect are provided through private giving—by participation in the Viking Fund. The Viking Fund is the school’s annual giving effort, where LCS invites everyone connected to the school to provide a gift in some amount, each year. This Fund ensures that LCS continues to flourish through campus and
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curriculum enhancements, year after year. A number of features of LCS have been provided through the years by giving to the Viking Fund, such as covered walkways, the snazzy Viking Voyager bus, the new cafeteria courtyard with the massive overhead fans, technology upgrades and expansion of the reading enrichment program. These are enrichments that would not have been possible through the tuition-funded operating budget but were provided because people supported the Viking Fund.
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Depending on how much is raised through this school year’s effort, three more projects will be funded which will impact every student on campus: 1. Bathrooms on the south side of Forest Park Street
When the athletic fields on the south side of Forest Park Street were built almost 20 years ago, we lacked the funding for bathrooms. We have combined funding from multiple sources to construct a building that serves our baseball program but also provides bathrooms not only for fans attending the games but also for students using the fields for physical education classes, practices, and other large group activities. One of the Viking Fund projects this year is to pay for the cost of the bathrooms in that building.
3. Updating the high school science lab
Plans are in the works for new high school facilities in the years ahead, but our high school science students need improved laboratory space now. We want to pursue a number of upgrades that are possible in the existing lab space. No offense to Dr. Frankenstein, who likely designed our aged labs, but we must commit to updates now.
2. Classroom furniture for elementary
Our elementary instructional program continues to expand the use of innovative and collaborative methodologies. Our students would benefit from some furniture that provides for more flexible grouping and activities than the traditional student desk. We want to begin to provide furniture that complements the instructional design in the classroom. This furniture is cutting-edge in innovation.
Again, the scope of these initiatives will depend on how much is given this school year. That means the Viking Fund “year” is rapidly drawing to a close, as we will re-evaluate the possibilities following the end of our fiscal year on June 30. Any amount is certainly appreciated and helpful, as the goal for the Viking Fund is for every school family to participate each year at some level. Gifts have been received from $5 all the way up to five-figure amounts. A healthy
New adjustable desks in the elementary classrooms will allow for more flexibility and collaborative learning.
marker for a vibrant private school is widespread support of annual giving—as families realize the ultimate beneficiaries are the students. If you haven’t given, will you please consider being a part of this important effort? The giving is easy, as checks can be mailed to the LCS Advancement Office, or you can simply give online through the school’s website. For more information, please contact Steve Wilson at swilson@lcsonline.org, or by calling 863-688-2771.
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STUDENT FEATURE
EVANS CENTER CONSTRUCTION ON SCHEDULE, FUNDING BEING SOUGHT One of the last places Roger Evans visited on his final trip to campus in December 2016 was the site of the future building that would bear his name. The beloved coach drove that familiar red utility vehicle across the property where the Iglesia Vida Victoriosa Church had stood just days before. Roger, his wife, Teri, and their grandchildren strolled across the cleared land and posed for a series of now-cherished photos.
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On that very location now stands the growing-by-the-day Roger Evans Athletic Center, a facility that promises to be a “game changer” for scores of LCS students for generations to come. Built to honor the memory of the late Coach Evans, the two-story, 23,000 square foot Center will include the following components: 1. Lobby/Waiting Area to include:
LCS Historical Display, Athletic “Hall of Honor,” Elevator/Stair access to second floor
Before Christmas break, Coach Roger Evans and his wife Teri, along with three of their grandchildren, had the opportunity to visit the site of the future Evans Center.
2. Athletic Operations Area to include:
Strength & Conditioning Complex; Training Facility; Training Office; Varsity Football Clubhouse; Soccer, Middle School Football, Cheerleading and Lacrosse Locker Facilities; Referee Locker Room; Coaches’ Offices; Coaches’ Locker Room; Conference Room; Laundry Room; Equipment Room; Restroom Facilities
3. Upstairs Area to include:
Large Multi-Purpose Hall for meetings, banquets, activities and events, Student Study Center, Balcony Overlooking Viking Stadium, Kitchen/Serving Area, Restrooms
Construction began in January and is on track to be completed by this fall’s first football game on August 18th. The downstairs facilities will serve all 431 of our LCS athletes, which comprises two-thirds of the secondary student body. The upstairs space will likely end up being some of the most used facilities on campus.
The $4.9 million Evans Center is being funded strictly through private giving, as has been the school’s practice with all campus expansion through the years. To date, $3,000,000 has been committed, leaving $1.9 million to be raised. Will you consider being a part of this stunning new facility? For information on giving options and naming opportunities, please contact LCS Director of Advancement Steve Wilson at swilson@lcsonline.org or at 863-688-2771.
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ADVANCEMENT NEWS
GOLF TOURNEY SCORES FOR LCS ATHLETICS Ninety-six golfers teed it up on a beautiful April Friday afternoon to support the vibrant Lakeland Christian Athletic Department. The 26th Annual LCS Golf Tournament was played on the impressive layout at The Club at Eaglebrooke. More than $13,000 was raised to enhance the athletic program enjoyed by more than 430 LCS student-athletes. This event is the primary and most long-standing fundraiser conducted annually by the Athletic Department. Golfers of all abilities participated and were treated to a box lunch, free range balls, a round of golf, various contests and an awards dinner. Each participant also received a prize bag filled with golf accessories, including a sleeve of LCS-logoed Callaway golf balls.
The LCS Athletic Department recognizes the following major sponsors of the event: 1. Awards Dinner Sponsors:
Central Florida Pond Remediation, Pro Med Healthcare Services
2. Master Sponsors:
Green Construction, Barbara Hart, Oakley Transportation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Star Logistics, Syngenta
The scramble-format tournament was won by the team of Curtis Yopp, Kelly Sellers, Gary Newcomb and Tim Keeney, who carded a sizzling 22 under par. They outdistanced the runners up, Mike McCormick, Brett Hitchcock, Daniel Wilson and Steve Wilson, at 18 under par. The longest drive was smashed by Matt Diaz, and the closest to the pin winners were Bill Riley on hole #6 and Steve Wilson on hole #14. LCS cheerleaders served as the tournament’s primary volunteers and served throughout the afternoon by staffing registration, contests and beverage stations.
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S AV E T H E D AT E
3rd Annual
Gala
VOYAGE S & V IC T OR IE S
N O V E M B E R 9, 2 0 1 7 H A U S 820
ALUMNI UPDATE
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LCS Alumni Connor Southwell (2016) and his wife, Brianne, were married on December 24. He is currently stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri where he serves as a security forces specialist.
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Jenna Smithson Dyke (2012) married Jacob Dyke on June 25, 2016. The Dykes now live in Atlanta, Georgia, where Jenna is pursuing her career as an elementary teacher.
Jessica Palm Hunter (2010) and her husband, Shane, welcomed daughter Anberlyn Mae on April 19, 2017. She weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. Anberlyn joins big sister, Hadley. The family resides in Lakeland.
Jenna Green Berkey (2009) married Zach Berkey on December 31, 2016, at Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland. Jenna teaches kindergarten at Bell Shoals Baptist Academy, and Zach works for Taylor Morrison. The couple resides in Tampa.
Lauren Wasilewski Strawbridge (2010) and her husband, Rick, welcomed son Kevin Vincent Parker Strawbridge to the family on January 24, 2017.
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2000s Hannah Cotterill Pratt (2009) married Brandon Pratt on March 4, 2017, at The Rusty Pelican in Tampa. The couple lives in Lakeland. Hannah is the event manager for Harrell’s LLC, and Brandon is a nurse in the emergency department at Lakeland Regional.
Mark Cabrera (2006) and his wife, Kyli, welcomed daughter Ellie on February 16. She joins big sister Haven (4) and brother Cruz (2). The family lives in the western suburbs of Chicago where Mark is a franchisee for Chick-fil-A.
Re-connect with LCS alumni and past teachers, find out what’s new and learn how to get involved as an alumni of Lakeland Christian School at lcsconnect.org.
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Will Harrell (2005) and his wife, Julia, welcomed their first child, William Holton Harrell, Jr., on January 2, 2017. Holton weighed 8 lbs., 11 ounces, and measured 21.5 inches long. The family lives in Lakeland.
We love to hear from you. News about you is important to us and to your former classmates. Please email Sandy Johnson at sjohnson@lcsonline.org. Planning your class reunion? Claudia Powell can arrange for use of facilities and will offer other helpful tips. You can email her at cpowell@lcsonline.org.
MacKenzie Williams Kirkland (2007) and her husband, Dennis, are serving at First Baptist Church Lake Alfred, Florida. Dennis is the worship pastor. Their son, Levi, will be celebrating his first birthday on June 1. MacKenzie is currently staying home with Levi and teaching ESL online. Drew Laing (2009) and Kaitlin Smithson Laing (2009) welcomed their first child, Jonas Scott, on November 8, 2016. Jonas weighed 5 lbs., 10 oz., and was 18 inches long. The couple resides in Lakeland. Drew is a marketing communications coordinator in the healthcare technology industry, and Kaitlin is a hair stylist at Pat’s Hair Design and recently launched her own business - A Cherished Bride - with Jenna Averett Lister (2009), which provides bridal beauty services.
Daniel Christian (2004) will finish his general surgical residency in June 2017. He will then begin a fellowship in minimally invasive/bariatric surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the fall. (not pictured)
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Congratulations, Class of 2017! “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” - PSALM 32:8
Lakeland Christian School 1111 Forest Park Street Lakeland, Florida 33803
Mrs. Haygood, who taught fifth and sixth grade students in the early 1960s, instructs her students in a Bible lesson.
Lakeland Christian School, 1964
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