Engage - Winter 2022

Sharpening Minds, Shepherding Hearts.

Lakeland Christian School Lakeland, Florida

This issue of Engage commemorates the coming conclusion of my tenure as Head of School at LCS. It has been a sacred honor to serve the Lord and the LCS community for the past 51 years, the last 27 as Head of School. I have learned far more than I have taught, and Mary and I have benefited greatly from the relationships that have been forged here over the years. There are no words to thank all of you for your involvement with LCS that has helped to cultivate the unique community that is LCS. It will always feel like “home” to us and remain special in our hearts.

A future issue of Engage will feature Bryant Black, who will begin his service as Head of School on June 1, 2023. I am excited for what Bryant will bring to LCS as he leads the school into its next chapter and I am sure you will enjoy getting to know Bryant and Ashley as you have opportunity in the coming months.

One of the most meaningful aspects of long-term service here is to see the influence of our graduates expressed in a wide range of vocational and volunteer

settings. This issue of Engage features Keith Knowlton who serves with his wife Rachael and their family as missionaries in Scotland. The Knowltons’ heart for international students was nurtured while serving in China as well as their extensive engagement with international college students during Keith’s time practicing law in South Carolina. They are continuing to focus on sharing the gospel with students in a country that once was a bastion of Christianity during the Reformation but now shows little interest in the faith.

Kaley Etheridge expressed her love for dance during her growing up years at LCS and realized her dream of operating her own dance studio. Her desire to share her skills and artistic expression has led her to provide access to dance instruction to students with special needs who might not otherwise be able to benefit from artistic movement. Facilitating the growth and development of these children in this way affirms their identity as image bearers of the Creator.

As we continue to pursue our mission to “Educate students in the Light of God’s Word to equip them for a lifetime of learning, leadership, service, and worship,” it will be delightful to see how the Lord continues to use the influence of LCS graduates in our community and around the world for His glory and the good of others. Thanks for being a part of it all!

Mike Sligh, Ed. D.

Dr. Mike Sligh Head of School

ADMINISTRATORS: Dr. Mike Sligh Head of School

Dr. Keith Overholt

Associate Head of School for Academics/Secondary Principal

Darren Copeland Assistant Principal – High School

Jonathan Harvey Assistant Principal – Middle School

Luci O’Byrne Elementary Principal Heather Rhoden Assistant Principal – Elementary

Matt Green Chief Financial Officer

Bryant Black Director of Curriculum and Instruction

MattE Diaz Director of Advancement Julie Rice Director of Enrollment Geoff Stabler Director of Biblical and Worldview Studies Todd Radford Athletic Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Kevin Knowlton Chairman Payton Albritton, Heather Bryant, Dan DeLange, Shannon Donley, Dan Green, Holland Henderson, Scott MacDonald, David Miller, Cory Petcoff, Steve Sligh, John Tucker

Lakeland Christian School is blessed to be under the wise and godly leadership of a board of directors who are all committed to the mission of Lakeland Christian School. This fall, we added two new members—both school parents—to this group: Scott MacDonald and Shannon Donley.

Scott MacDonald

LCS Class of 1994

Family: Trisha (my bride), Caleb (19/LCS Class of 2022), Ella (17/Junior), Lillian (15/Freshman), Jackson (13/8th Grade), and Noah (11/6th Grade)

Profession: Corporate Compliance at Harrell’s, LLC

Church: Strong Tower Church

What you love about LCS: What I learned to appreciate about LCS after I graduated, and what has been affirmed through my experience as an LCS parent, is that everything is considered, planned, and executed through the lens of the Gospel. The Word of God is paramount from the classroom to the boardroom. I am encouraged daily by the discipleship and shepherding my kids receive from every one of the administrators, coaches, faculty, and staff at LCS.

Shannon Donley

Family: Wes (husband), Caroline (5th Grade), Cam (3rd Grade)

Profession: Homemaker

Church: Redeemer, Winter Haven

What you love about LCS: Choosing a school for your children to attend is one of the most important decisions along the journey of life, in my opinion. I am pleased to say that choosing LCS has been life changing for my entire family. My children, Caroline and Cam, are obtaining a sound Christian education with a challenging curriculum. In addition, we now have a new “extended” family within the LCS community full of teachers, administrators, and LCS parents! I thank God each day for LCS and for the community we have found there. I pray that my experience in the past as a 2nd grade teacher and small business owner will be helpful in providing unique insight to the board and move LCS successfully forward in the light of God’s Word.

Letter from the Editor

Have you ever spent time thinking about your legacy?

The most basic definition of legacy is something that is passed on, and it can take many different forms. You can pass on your faith and core values, you can set a positive example for others to follow, and you can bless people with your financial assets. Your legacy is what continues on after you’re gone.

Every one of us can have a positive influence on our families, our friends, our co-workers, our churches and our communities. We can live intentionally in such a way that we help those around us flourish and succeed.

The Bible has a lot to say about passing on things of lasting value to future generations:

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78:4

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

In this issue of Engage magazine, you will read about the tremendous legacy of Dr. Sligh during his 51 years at Lakeland Christian School. The impact he has made on countless students, families, faculty and staff over the years is impossible to measure.

You will also read about the work other alumni are doing to teach and serve their communities, both locally and around the world.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Engage magazine. I’d love to hear your feedback, your alumni updates and any ideas you have for future issues. You can email me at sjohnson@lcsonline.org.

Sandy Johnson Director of Marketing & Communications

Sandy Johnson

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.

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.

Dr. Mike Sligh: 50 Years of Dedication to the Call

Written by Victoria Bardega

hen the word “legacy” comes to mind, oftentimes we think of someone who has deeply affected our lives for the better. This person has plowed and sowed faithfully, and thanks to their impact there is a harvest of good fruit for years to come through the people they influenced.

For nearly three decades Lakeland Christian School has experienced remarkable transformation under the strong leadership of our head of school, Dr. Mike Sligh, from the building of our new buildings to the comprehensive development of our educational offerings. While facilities like our football field may be the shiny things that have not always existed, Dr. Sligh notes the “cross-generational impact” is what continues to shine the most.

Having first arrived as a fourth grader to LCS, he vividly remembers his roots as a student, which proved to be only the beginning of his astounding tenure with the Viking family.

“My call to Christian schooling stems from my family’s deep involvement [with our school],” he shares. His father served on the Lakeland Christian School board for many years, in addition to his older brother working in the advancement office. After pursuing education at the University of Florida, Sligh recalls discovering his calling––a true fervor for Christian schooling.

“As a student here, I had teachers who had influenced my life spiritually and academically,” he marvels. This impact from his youth would be the catalyst that led him to join LCS faculty in 1972, as he was motivated by the challenge of learning how to minister as an educator for the Great Commission.

For the last 50 years, our school has reaped so much blessing

from the various roles Dr. Sligh––or “Coach Sligh” as some like to refer to him––has fulfilled. Whether serving as our social studies and Bible teacher and athletic director (1973-1988) or our head boys basketball coach (1975-1988) or our Head of School, these roles each played a crucial part in the DNA of LCS.

“Every single one of those roles shaped me,” recalls Dr. Sligh. “I’ve learned more than I’ve taught, and that’s one of the greatest opportunities of serving [LCS].”

In addition to his love for serving our students and their families, the relationships he’s built over the years have been plentiful. He has not only remained connected to former classmates, but he has also taught the children and grandchildren of many LCS alumni whom he served during his time with us.

“EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE ROLES SHAPED ME...I’VE LEARNED MORE THAN I’VE TAUGHT, AND THAT’S ONE OF THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVING [LCS]”

“I’ve never given too much thought into [legacy]. Some people look at all the changes of the campus, and those are wonderful. But they’re tools…to influence people for eternity,” shares Dr. Sligh.

Living with eternity in mind is a concept Dr. Sligh has continuously lived out as a leader, but it also echoes the mission and heart of our school.

“Education in light of God’s Word––this is key to who we are. My prayer is that we never lose sight of that, and I pray we uphold our uncompromising commitment to the truth of Scripture,” he says.

With his time at LCS coming to a close, Dr. Sligh and his wife, Mary, are hopeful and excited for the future as they step into a new season.

“We look foward to seeing our children and grandchildren more often (and) travelling to some places we have looked forward to,” Mary said. “Also seeking the Lord in how we can be involved in the Great Commission, right to the end.”

“EDUCATION IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD––THIS IS KEY TO WHO WE ARE. MY PRAYER IS THAT WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, AND I PRAY WE UPHOLD OUR UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE”

Dr. and Mrs. Sligh plan to maintain ongoing relationships with LCS alumni and friends of the school to help extend the mission of LCS into the future. They are exploring other options to engage in consulting with those on the front lines of Christian schooling to offer guidance and training for those involved in shaping the next generation.

As for the LCS Family, Dr. Sligh encourages us all to keep pressing on.

“I think of Psalm 16:8 where it says, ‘I have set the LORD always before me, because he is my right hand, I will not be shaken.’ The challenge for any generation will be to keep the Lord in His rightful place to have a high view of God,” he notes.

We’re so thankful to Dr. Sligh and Mary for their years of investment in our students.

Their intentional leadership, academic support and vigor for education will undoubtedly continue to impact the future generations to come.

“I THINK OF PSALM 16:8 WHERE IT SAYS, ‘I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME, BECAUSE HE IS MY RIGHT HAND, I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.”

A Tradition Built to Last

Written by RJ Walters

t’s the air horn that blasts after every score. It’s the young Viking hopefuls playing a flag football scrimmage at halftime of the varsity game.

It’s the pep band, a costume parade or contest and consistent recognitions of students and community members tying it all together.

Eighteen years ago Lakeland Christian was known as a “soccer school.” When the soccer season moved from fall to winter, the vision for football began at LCS. Today that program hosts 1,200 to 1,500 locals on Friday night for one of the most entertaining, inspiring shows in town.

“It’s such a family atmosphere, it’s what football used to be like back in the 90s…when at public schools families all went to games,” head football coach Danny Williams said. “I joke with everybody and tell them that Friday nights are actually for all of the events, and sometimes a football game breaks out at some point, you know?”

That on-the-field product and overall event experience hasn’t become memorable by accident — it is the fruit of groundwork laid by visionaries years ago coupled with committed players and team-first coaches, according to Athletic Director Todd Radford.

Radford’s office is located in the space once occupied by the left field of the Vikings baseball stadium, a generation or two before the facilities and overall prominence of LCS athletics became what they are today.

He admits at first the football team was “not very good” — which is supported by a combined 24-32 record the first six seasons — but the commitment was incredible from people ready to invest time, energy and resources into building it.

The modern-day success of the program cannot be highlighted with giving a proper nod to the leadership of Head of School Dr. Mike Sligh who was a basketball, baseball and tennis coach at the school, as well as the firstever Vikings athletic director.

“It’s amazing to see how God has blessed the school in general, but then it’s also a testament to the mindset of the administration through the years…realizing how important athletics are to a school, to the whole atmosphere and to the heartbeat of who the school really is,” Radford said.

Steve Wilson, former Director of Advancement at LCS, was the original “voice of the Vikings” as public address announcer, and staff and volunteers like Wilson have consistently created meaningful fan experiences throughout the years, essentially scripting out what the pre-game, water breaks and halftime events look and feel like. They built a family-friendly, safe environment for kids of all ages, and at the same time on-field success has paved the way for further success.

Williams said the turning point for the Vikings, in terms of being lauded as an upper echelon program, was in 2014 when the team went 11-2 and made a run to the state semifinals. It was at the same time that the program had its first Division I recruits in Christian Alexander (Florida International), TJ Simmons (Temple) and Eric Gallon (Virginia.)

“IT’S SUCH A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, IT’S WHAT FOOTBALL USED TO BE LIKE BACK IN THE 90S…WHEN AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILIES ALL WENT TO GAMES”

“The goal of getting here, what we wanted was to be a consistent playoff team,” Williams said. “And now people come here and are amazed because they see the culture and the atmosphere and the quality of football being played.”

The team’s improvement over the years is in part the result of having a K-12 school of roughly 1,100 that creates opportunities for kids to play sports, including football, starting at a young age. Radford said it’s a built-in advantage to have four-year-olds falling in love with the Viking tradition, dreaming of being a part of it in years to come.

Williams, who played high school football at Bartow and coached at Bartow and Lakeland prior to joining LCS says he would put the Viking Stadium atmosphere up against any high school team in the state, and he enjoys the responsibility that comes with leading his players onto the field each game.

He says he tries to prepare himself for the electric atmosphere by watching some last-minute game film on an opponent and keep to himself as much as possible because he gets a little antsy the hours before kickoff.

“I stay off my phone, and definitely stay off social media.”

In the meantime, Vikings faithful will continue to share their favorite Friday night lights photos and videos on social media, all part of an electric fan base that continues to grow.

“IT’S A BUILT-IN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE FOUR-YEAR-OLDS FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE VIKING TRADITION, DREAMING OF BEING A PART OF IT IN YEARS TO COME.”

Keith Knowlton Missions Q&A

eith Knowlton (‘04) is a proud Lakeland Christian School alum who attended the school for his entire K-12 education.

He and his wife Rachel and their children, Mary Katherine, 1 0, Henry, 8, Frances, 6, and Crawford, 1, are currently serving as global missionaries in Edinburgh, Scotland through Missions to the World (MTW), the missions arm of the Presbyterian Church in America.

He said he is incredibly grateful for the impact LCS had on his spiritual formation, social development and academic achievement through influential teachers, coaches and friends.

He recently took the time to share with us what it’s like to be a missionary family in Europe, and sift through the sometimes comical cultural differences while embarking on the significant opportunity to grow God’s kingdom.

After graduating from Furman University, Rachel and I got married and spent a year doing mission work in China. Although we returned to the U.S. so I could enter law school, the Lord used that experience to develop our passion for ministry and prepare our hearts for his future calling.

After law school, we moved to Greenville, SC where I practiced law for seven years. We loved our life in Greenville, but we started to experience a sense of spiritual unrest, which led us to re-evaluate our long-term calling. After much prayer and wise counsel, we eventually sensed the Lord leading us back into missions. Through God’s providence, we were called to serve with MTW and partner with the Free Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

KEITH KNOWLTON

How did your family discern its call to serve as missionaries in Scotland?

As the MTW Regional Director for the U.K I am responsible for serving a team of 15 missionary families located throughout the U.K., strengthening our national partnerships and assisting in the recruitment of new missionaries. I serve as an elder in our church, leading our international ministry and university ministry through preaching and engaging in various forms of evangelism and discipleship. Each day is a mix of ministry events, personal meetups, meetings, Zoom calls, emails and frequent walks in the rain.

While most missionaries enjoy a “honeymoon” period upon arriving on the field, we had no such experience. We spent our first two weeks quarantined in our house with nothing but mattresses on the floor and a freezer of frozen food. For months, we faced constantly evolving government mandates regarding where and with whom we could meet, which made it very different to build community and engage in ministry. Consequently, most of our social interaction occurred under a tent in our backyard while Zoom provided a platform for leading student Bible studies and teaching English to Chinese immigrants.

The Scottish do not use napkins! After repeatedly learning the hard way, we are now sure to inconspicuously bring a napkin in our pocket whenever we are invited to someone’s house for dinner. There is also great truth to the saying that the U.S. and U.K. are two countries separated by a common language. It has certainly taken time and effort to develop an ear for varying accents and different vocabulary. Unsurprisingly, our kids are leading the way!

On a more serious note, most Americans are not aware of the current state of the church in Scotland. Although Scotland served as the background for the Reformation and the birthplace of Presbyterianism, it is now less than 1 percent evangelical Christian. Churches are closing at a staggering rate while indifference, if not hostility, to the Gospel continues to rise.

What does your day-to-day work look like currently?

How did arriving in Scotland in a year where a global pandemic broke out impact your work and your ability to share the Gospel?

What are a few unique, funny or interesting things you have learned about Scottish culture that you had no clue about before moving there?

Several of my LCS classmates have remained some of my closest friends over the past (almost) 20 years. While I have not lived in Lakeland since graduating from LCS, I always appreciate reconnecting with my LCS family who continue to express love and warmth whenever I return. We are particularly blessed to have numerous LCS families partner with us in our missions work through prayer and financial support. We even have another LCS alumnus, Robbie Sweet (‘01) and his family, serving on our MTW team in Glasgow.

Serving in foreign country can be a very isolating experience. Although we appreciate our local church family, we lack the strong Christian community we had in the States. Our kids have no Christians friends at school and our church has very few young Christian families. While ministry opportunities abound, it is easy to become overcommitted and feel overwhelmed by the immensity of our task. Nonetheless, we remain confident in the Lord’s calling and are continually reminded that we must fully rely on the power of the Spirit in order that he may accomplish his good purpose in us and through us.

How does the LCS community continue to support you?

What has been the most challenging thing about your current missionary assignment?

For anyone interested in pursuing missions, I would encourage them to first get involved in local ministry. Serving in your church and community is a natural way to identify and develop your spiritual gifts. If you’re not willing to serve God locally, you shouldn’t expect to have the desire and ability to do so internationally.

Secondly, I would urge young people to remain open to God’s call into missions regardless of your age and stage of life. We can often be tempted to think that having a career exempts us from the possibility of full-time ministry. However, God may be equipping you with valuable knowledge, training and experience in order to serve him in a different capacity later in life. I am so glad the Lord did not keep me in full-time missions at the age of 22, but used the next decade of my life to prepare me spiritually and professionally for my current role in ministry. Although it is not easy to quit a career and uproot a family, our life has proven to be an adventure I would never choose to replace.

Lastly, I would remind young people that Jesus calls all believers to participate in the Great Commission. Although not everyone will be led into full-time cross-cultural ministry, we should each desire to share in the advancement of God’s kingdom no matter our occupation or location. As Paul states in Acts 20:24, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Although the current spiritual landscape in Scotland and throughout Europe seems bleak, we are excited to participate in the advancement of God’s kingdom. MTW currently has 170 missionaries serving in 22 European countries in various forms of church planting, mercy ministry and evangelism. Personally, we are blessed to partner with the Free Church of Scotland, who has the vision of planting 30 new churches by 2030. Since Edinburgh is such an international city, we are seeing significant ministry opportunities among foreign students, immigrants, and refugees. It is so exciting to see the Lord draw people from every tribe and tongue to himself.

Share how God is moving to further his Kingdom in Scotland and in Europe as a whole.

What advice would you share with young people about being able to experience and be used by God?

Choreographing Beauty

Written by Diego De Jesus

hen Kaley Etheridge (‘13) made it her mission to teach children the many forms of dance, she opened Southern Grace Dance Company in September 2017.

She started dancing when she was 3 years old, starting with ballet and continuing into other dance forms like jazz and tap. She knew it was her passion from the beginning but didn’t realize she wanted to teach until much later.

When she was 17, Etheridge started teaching a jazz dancing class for middle schoolers, and that eventually progressed into other age groups and dance forms.

This was when she realized she was passionate about teaching, but there was a lot of uncertainty about her future. She was curious if she wanted to pursue college after graduating from Lakeland Christian School.

“My senior year of high school, I was trying to decide if I was going to college, basically trying to figure out my life and what I wanted to do,” Etheridge said. “I decided that I was going to take a gap year because I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

The gap year turned into four years. Etheridge decided that college wasn’t the path she wanted to take, so she started teaching at a dance studio full-time and taught a large portion of the classes there.

The owner offered her the studio, but she declined because she was still uncertain about what she wanted to do. It closed soon after, but the experience she gained there would aid her later.

She tried cosmetology school for a year and did well at the practice, but she missed teaching kids how to dance.

With the help of her family and their business enterprises, she opened her dance studio and began teaching with one other instructor. She also credits God for guiding her toward fulfilling her passion, the same passion that enabled her to open her studio.

“I always think God used that year to push me into His plan for me. That was the kind of fire he lit under me and the passion for opening a dance studio and taking those steps,” Etheridge said. “I think it took God putting me in an uncomfortable place for me to take the step forward.”

When Etheridge was looking for a property for her studio, many families reached out asking where she was teaching. The families and their children wanted to follow her wherever she went.

“I THINK IT TOOK GOD PUTTING ME IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE FOR ME TO TAKE THE STEP FORWARD.”

Three months after moving into the building, the first classes of Southern Grace Dance Company were conducted, and she started a two-year business plan under her grandfather’s advice, who has business experience. Within the first year, Etheridge surpassed her studio’s two-year business goal.

“God just blessed us immensely, and we didn’t even take a loss that year,” Etheridge said. “He definitely blew my mind with the number of students we got.”

Southern Grace surpassed their expectations again in their second year.

According to Etheridge, God blessed her company to exceed her expectations, even through trial and tribulation. Every year, they made a profit, and more children started filling her classes with more instructors.

Her dance studio was thriving with exponential growth each year until 2020, when the pandemic hit the U.S. They resorted to online classes that didn’t make as much profit, but it was enough to keep the business afloat.

Her biggest worry was that COVID was going to affect her studio like it did many other businesses around the country. But they resumed classes as normal as they could

in September 2020, and they even held their recital.

After Southern Grace resumed its classes after COVID, there was a massive flood that damaged the property beyond repair. Etheridge’s landlords offered a new property that was twice as big and is the current location of her studio.

“Our mission at Southern Grace Dance Company is to share and instill a love for dance in our students through superior instruction with grace and integrity,” Etheridge said. “We believe that the discipline taught in dance classes should be that which can be applied to our students’ lives and grow them not only as dancers but as individuals.”

Etheridge is an alumnus of Lakeland Christian School, and many of her dancers are students at LCS. She credits LCS for teaching her how to include God in every aspect of her life, especially giving her the strength to manage her dance studio through every adversity.

“I also wanted to create opportunities for my other dancers to serve and give back to the community by loving others who may not be like them,” Etheridge said. “My goal has always been to not only help my students become beautiful dancers but beautiful people by helping

mold and encourage their hearts and character.”

That commitment has led Kayley to some God-ordained opportunities to specifically pour into students with special needs and disabilities.

“We’ve welcomed young dancers into our classes who have had spina bifida, prosthetic limbs, brain cancer/injuries, and autism,” Etheridge said. “Our young dancers with disabilities have integrated beautifully into our classes and it’s brought so much joy to my heart to see how the other dancers have welcomed them and loved them just the same!”

Those students perform in the recitals, and Etheridge said their is “not a dry eye in the audience” when those moments take place.

The Southern Grace Dance Company currently teaches a wide variety of dancing forms such as tap, jazz, hip-hop, and ballet to its nearly 300 students.

If you would like to learn more about what Southern Grace Dance Studio offers, please visit souherngracedanceco.com.

“MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO NOT ONLY HELP MY STUDENTS BECOME BEAUTIFUL DANCERS BUT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE BY HELPING MOLD AND ENCOURAGE THEIR HEARTS AND CHARACTER.”

Student Spotlight:

Junior Emilie Morin has been having a pretty good fall. In late September, she earned the Top Attorney Award at the prestigious Empire Mock Trial Championship in Baltimore. A few weeks later, she won the Polk County golf tournament. She led the girls’ varsity golf team to a District Championship, and eventually qualified for the State golf tournament.

Emilie is active in athletics, fine arts and with the LCS RISE Institute — all while juggling an academic schedule made up of almost all AP classes — making her a worthy subject of the first-ever Engage Student Spotlight.

Emilie had an outstanding junior golf season, finishing as the District Runner-Up and a State Qualifier.

At the Empire Mock Trial Championship this fall, Emilie won the Top Attorney Award.

Name: Emilie Morin

Grade: Junior

Favorite Class: Law

Favorite Teacher: Chasity Branham

Clubs: National Honor Society, served as sophomore class president

Church: Family Worship Center

College Plans: Hopes to attend Georgetown University to major in Pre-Law or Business

Fine Arts Involvement: Piano, Narrator for LCS Christmas Musical

Volunteer Activities: Counselor for Grasslands Tennis and Golf Camps

2022 Athletic Achievements: Polk County Golf Champion, Golf District Runner-Up (Individual), Golf State Qualifier

RISE Involvement: Member of the LCS Mock Trial Team that finished third in the state last year and finished fifth overall at the Empire Mock Trial Championships in Baltimore this fall. Won Top Attorney Award at the Empire tournament. Helped run the annual RISE Poinsettia Sale and has volunteered as several other RISE events.

Around Campus

GALA

The 8th Annual Voyages & Victories Gala was held at Haus 820 in early November. Thanks to a generous matching gift, the event raised more than $400,000 for the LCS Financial Aid Fund. The evening featured music from LCS alum Eli Moseley (Class of 2009), a comedy performance by Christian comedian Jeff Allen, and both silent and live auctions full of amazing items.

BYE BYE BIRDIE

The LCS Fine Arts Department delivered another stunning fall musical this past October as they performed the Tony Award-winning show, “Bye Bye Birdie.” Comprised of students in grades 3-12, the cast put on four shows over three days. The main characters also hosted a brunch to interact with young fans, and they also performed select scenes for residents at local retirement communities.

MOCK TRIAL TO BALTIMORE

In late September, the LCS Mock Trial Team traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to participate in the Empire Mock Trial Championship. The students competed against 28 teams (and more than 450 students) from across the United States and Canada. We are so proud of our team for finishing second in our division and fifth place overall, and junior Emilie Morin was named Top Attorney in the competition. The team is coached by Chasity Branham.

HURRICANE IAN CLEAN UP

After Hurricane Ian hit Florida in late September, Lakeland Christian School students were quick to answer the call to help those impacted in some of the hardest-hit areas on the west coast. Our students traveled to De Soto County where they helped deliver and unload supplies and distributed lunch to first responders, lineman and other relief workers. Students in the LCS RISE Leadership Cohort also traveled to Arcadia to clean out vacant housing units that would be used as shelters for people who were displaced from their homes.

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

Grandparents’ and Grand-friends’ Day is always a favorite event on the LCS campus, and this year was no different. On November 16, each grade level gave its own 45-minutes performance, which included songs and recited verses. The older kids had the opportunity to join their grandparents and grand-friends in the audience for a special time of worship.

Follow Us: @LCSvikings

lcsvikings January 31

It has been a big week for our Fine Arts department. We had 27 LCS Choir members selected to perform in this year’s Polk All County Choruses. Friday evening’s concert was held at Florida Southern College and was an outstanding collaboration of over 300 students from 35 Polk County middle and high schools. Congratulations to Kaleigh Fung and Allan Stewart on being selected for the 2023 All-State Bands! These students will travel to Tampa in January to rehearse and perform with the bands. Kaleigh was selected to the Middle School Band, and Allan was selected to the High School Honor Band. Soli Deo Gloria! ��

lcsvikings - July 15

Our SLU students are having an excellent time in Washington DC this week!

lcsvikings August 12

What a fun night �� Thanks for coming out to celebrate the start of a new year at the Back To School Bash ����

lcsvikings September 27

Our Middle School and High School FFA Chapters competed in the County Opening and Closing Ceremonies Contest. Each FFA member did a great job competing against other teams around the county. They have been working hard since the start of school—way to go, Vikings, for competing in the first of many FFA contests.

lcsvikings October 28

First grade celebrated fall with “Scarecrow Day!” ��

Deborah was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up as a preacher’s daughter which allowed her to live in a variety of places. After living in Kentucky for over nine years, she moved to Harker’s Island, North Carolina—a small island off of Cape Lookout that provided her with a unique living experience within a small fishing village. Later she moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where she met her husband Mark. The couple have two children. Ryan is currently attending Florida State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate. Allison is a high school junior who enjoys academics and hanging out with friends.

After getting married, Deborah lived on Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where her husband was stationed. While in Maryland, Deborah received her BS in Early Childhood/Special Education from Bowie State University.

During her time in Maryland, Deborah worked with the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation. She was part of a team that helped launch an inclusion program for campers with disabilities. Deborah was tasked with traveling around the county ensuring all campers with disabilities were included in daily camp activities. She also helped establish procedures for the program.

While teaching at Griffin Elementary, Deborah and a fellow colleague were awarded the Regional Economic Educator and Leadership Award for the state of Florida. Deborah and her colleague created a business selling candy to educate students about economics. Their students used the money to purchase learning tubs for incoming kindergartens.

From the time she was very young, Deborah has loved music. From singing in church to singing in the classroom, she loves to make a joyful noise to the Lord! Deborah was the worship leader at her church in Maryland. She continued singing by being part of her worship team here in Lakeland.

Deborah’s love for football and basketball have led her to be a constant presence at middle and varsity football games, as well as girls’ basketball games. For the past eight years, Deborah has operated the scoreboard for middle school football games. On Fridays during football season, Deborah runs the play clock and keeps everyone on task in the press box. Deborah also enjoys watching her former students play in these sports as well.

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@LCSvikingsathletics

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August 2

Today our LCS swim team participated in a swim clinic with Olympian Ryan Lochte����

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September 19

Dr. Mike Sligh was inducted into the A. H. Hank Varnum Viking Hall of Honor during a halftime induction ceremony in Viking Stadium on Friday, September 16. The night was full of appreciation as family and former athletes spent hours catching up and reflecting back to their time at LCS. Congratulations Dr. Sligh ����

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October 14

Vikings win 28-27 in overtime! WOW �� It was an incredible game! Both teams played their hearts out. We are so proud of you @football_lcs����

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November 6

Congratulations to the Lady Viking Cross Country team on finishing 13th in the 1A State Meet yesterday. From the Ledger: “Seventhgrader Emma Wilkinson led the Vikings as their only runner in the top 50. She ran 20:07.9 and finished 42nd. Sarah Bayes finished 76th in 21:07.8 as their No. 2 runner. For Wilkinson, her time was a personal record by 17 seconds. She ran 20:24.90 at the 2021 state meet.”

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November 12

The elementary basketball camp was awesome this morning. Our Girls Varsity and JV basketball teams led students in dribbling, passing, shooting, and defensive breakdown drills. Coach Carl, Coach Jose, Coach Weldy, and Coach Frank Lopez were the lead coaches �� Special thanks to Cassell Allstate Insurance for sponsoring another successful year of camp ��

LCS Alumni Updates

Luke Albritton (’18) and Sarah Hodge (’18) were married on June 4, 2022, at Trinity Presbyterian Church. The couple met in Mrs. Angel Bates’ kindergarten class at LCS. Luke is employed as a Deal Operations Coordinator with AgAmerica, and Sarah is a Training Director at Chick-fil-A.

Luke and Sarah Albritton 1

Emily and Matt Hendry

Emily (Carl) Hendry (‘14) and her husband Matt welcomed daughter Madison Elaine on Sunday, November 13, at 5:12 AM. Madison weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz. and was 20 ¾ inches long. LCS faculty members Mike (elementary PE) and Wendy (fine arts faculty) are proud grandparents!

Garrison Hodge (‘14) and his wife Rebekah (Cline) Hodge (‘16) welcomed their first child, Wyatt, on August 16, 2021. They live in Lakeland with their son and four Labrador Retrievers! Garrison does plumbing for Hodge Enterprises while Rebekah works behind the chair as a hairstylist.

Garrison and Rebekah Hodge

Abby and Zach Jackson 4

Abby (Rice) Jackson (‘14) and her husband Zach welcomed their first child, son Porter Grey Jackson, on July 20, 2022.

Lauren and Rick Strawbridge

Lauren (Wasilewski) Strawbridge (‘10) and her husband Rick welcomed their third child, Joanna Maisley, on September 16, 2022. Joanna joins big sister, Felicity, and big brother, Kevin. Rick and Lauren live in Lakeland.

Leslie Raysin

Leslie (Bayless) Raysin (‘07) graduated in May 2022 with a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Auburn University. She finished her MRED program with a 4.0 while raising two daughters with her husband, Nick (‘07), and working full time. Leslie is a Development and Asset Manager with Blue Steel Development in Lakeland, FL. WAR EAGLE!

David Blanco (‘08) and his wife Shannon (Wasilewski) Blanco (‘08) welcomed their third child, Scarlett Loo, on November 25, 2022. Scarlett joins big brothers Ollie and Eli. They live in Lakeland, and David works as an engineer for Saddle Creek Logistics.

David and Shannon Blanco

Ashley Burella

Ashley (Thomas) Burella (‘05) was promoted to Head of Strategy and Insights at LEGOLAND Resorts and Peppa Pig Theme Park, North America. IN this role, she oversees initiatives for the theme parks to expand operations and continue to evolve visit experiences nationwide. Ashley previously worked at Universal Orlando Resort, where her projects included launching the first social media advertising campaign for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

33rd Annual Golf Tournament

Lakeland Christian School

1111 Forest Park Street Lakeland, Florida 33803

Dr. Mike Sligh during his days as Athletic Director, Early 1980s