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Engage Sharpening Minds, Shepherding Hearts
Colleen Kirby Riddle ’03 alumna shares on building her family p. 6
Lakeland Christian School Lakeland, Florida 1
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HEADMASTER’S NOTE
On the Horizon “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” William Ross Wallace, published 1865 “Raise them as if they will rule one day.” Senator Ben Sasse, published 2017 “…forsake not your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 1:9 Over the past few years, our Engage magazine has featured various LCS alumni serving in a wide variety of professions and careers. They have referenced the influence their LCS education played in shaping framework for life and vocation. In this edition, we feature some alumna who are applying their Christian schooling education in the noblest of all endeavors: motherhood. Willliam Ross Wallace grasped the long-range impact of mothers in his 1865 poem. Senator Ben Sasse, writing over 150 years later, reminds us that our nation’s design is for a government “of the people and by the people” and therefore, we are all engaged in the process of educating those who will rule America in the very near future. All who shape the lives of children have a role in grooming our next “rulers,” and no one is more influential than their mother. Mothers have a lot to do with establishing the routines and rhythms that frame the values of their children. The love of reading, courtesy and manners, patterns of spending and saving, economic lifestyle expectations, attitudes of gratitude or entitlement, and a host of other foundational perspectives can be powerfully infused into the heart of a child through the example and instruction of a mother. The writer of Proverbs warns those in search of wisdom not to abandon teaching from this closest of all sources. Scripture holds mothers in a position to be honored and counted worthy of admiration and respect. In a society that values celebrities over heroes, it is far too easy to overlook these influential heroes in our lives. Mothers today carry out their roles in perhaps a wider variety of expressions than in former times. Motherhood is not delivered from a one-size-fits-all mold, but a mother does inhabit one of the few irreplaceable positions in the life of a child. We hope you enjoy the accounts of these alumni seeking to be mothers to the glory of God and the good of their families.
Dr. Mike Sligh Headmaster
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IN THIS ISSUE
Engage Editor-in-Chief Sandy Johnson Communications Specialist
Colleen Kirby Riddle Colleen Kirby Riddle’s (’03) passion for serving kids in foster care.
Creative Design Lakelander Creative Cover Photography Dan Austin Additional Photography Monica Winters
ADMINISTRATORS: Dr. Mike Sligh Headmaster Steve Wilson Director of Advancement Luci O’Byrne Elementary Principal Heather Rhoden Assistant Principal – Elementary Dr. Keith Overholt Secondary Principal Darren Copeland Assistant Principal – High School Scott Cunningham Assistant Principal – Middle School Julie Rice Director of Enrollment Matt Green Chief Financial Officer
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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11 Lauren Patterson
LCS alumna Lauren Patterson (’06) shares her thoughts on motherhood
16 Student Features
Five seniors achieved top honors for academics and community service
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
24 Athletics Feature
Two LCS alumni are drafted by the MLB
28 Sports News
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Updates from our Athletics Department
30 Faculty Features
As Nancy Bradley retires, Heather Rhoden moves into a new position
34 Faculty News
Honors, professional development and other news from our faculty and staff
36 Advancement News
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News reports on the Viking Fund, expansion projects and more
38 Alumni Update
Graduations, babies, weddings and more! 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
Colleen Kirby Riddle Everyone Should Have a Permanent Family: Colleen Kirby Riddle’s (’03) passion for serving kids in the foster care system has changed the face of her own family. Photos by Dan Austin
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“It was important that I ‘practice what I preach’ or what I say and teach would just be words.” The beloved Mr. Rogers once said, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” Fred Rogers would tell you that Colleen Kirby Riddle (’03) and her husband, Shane, are among his heroes. Having dedicated her years since college working to improve the welfare of kids in Florida, Colleen has seen the tremendous need of children in the foster care system. In what could only be God lining up an unlikely series of events, Colleen and Shane began the process of adopting 14-year-old Brittany, one of Colleen’s former dependency cases, when they were 37 weeks pregnant with their son Owen. A year later, Colleen serves as the Central Florida Director of Foster Care Ministries for the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, juggles parenting a teenager and a one-yearold and strives to find balance in her life. Her Education As a high school student, Colleen knew that she wanted to be involved in the justice system in some aspect and began thinking about the possibility of attending law school after college. When she started at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, she initially majored in pre-law before realizing that the classes sounded boring. Instead, she shifted her major to Criminal Justice where she was able to take a mix of law, ethics and psychology courses. While it was hard work, Colleen was able to earn her bachelor’s degree as well as minors in both Bible and Coaching in just three years. She credits the preparation she had during her years at Lakeland Christian. “Of course, college was hard work, but I was prepared for the work load and knew how to study and write well,” Colleen said. “There was no exponential increase
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or jump in the performance expectations, so I was able to enjoy college and not be overwhelmed by the expectations.” One area where Colleen felt well prepared was in her ability to think critically. “Mr. Edgar’s Bible class challenged my critical thinking skills. Since I was raised in a Christian home, I knew all the ‘right’ answers when it came to Bible questions and the Christian worldview and lifestyle. I was great at parroting what I had been taught specific to ‘Baptists,’ but Mr. Edgar challenged us to be able to articulate exactly why we believed something. “Since LCS is a non-denominational school, Mr. Edgar wouldn’t give the ‘right’ answer, so you were really forced to think critically and examine the Scriptures for yourself. He also taught that it was okay to agree to disagree and that discussion itself is beneficial in sharpening your mind. There are doctrines that are non-negotiable, but others simply dictate personal practice and the type of church you may choose to attend but don’t exclude someone from the Christian faith. Learning to agree to disagree and respect others’ opinions and perspectives are important lessons to learn as early as possible!” Colleen also had a leg up in college, and in her career, because of the demanding English curriculum at LCS. “Mrs. Oncu’s class really does prepare you for college-level reading comprehension and writing,” Colleen said. “She is every bit as good as the hype. Her class definitely gave me an advantage in my child welfare career where I regularly wrote court documents and now licensing documentations. No matter how well-intended a person is in child welfare, they did not do well if their documentation was poor.” Her Career After graduating from Cedarville University but still decideing about whether to attend law school, Colleen worked for
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COVER FEATURE
the Department of Juvenile Justice for two years. She served as a case manager for a residential girls’ commitment program. The girls were sentenced to the program and diagnosed with both behavioral and mental health issues. Colleen managed the legal aspect of their stay, documented their treatment and also taught important life skills such as interviewing, resume writing and financial management. During her time with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Colleen experienced how strong family support was so important in the success of the girls in the program. She carried this lesson into her next case manager position with the Children’s Home Society, a privately contracted child welfare organization. “I developed a pilot Early Service Intervention program that aimed to provide services to children and parents within 24 hours of a child being removed from a home,” Colleen said. “The goal was to expedite the treatment and healing process and maintain the parent-child bond during the time of separation.” In 2015, Colleen accepted the opportunity to serve in the foster care field with the Florida Baptist Children’s Home (FBCH). “It had always been a childhood dream of mine to work for FBCH. I passed the campus daily and had always been interested in the ministry,” said Colleen.
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“When FBCH decided to revamp their foster care home licensing program, I was happy to have the opportunity to join their team.” Colleen is responsible for the licensing programs in Circuit 10 (Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties) and Circuit 9 (Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties). She also covers speaking engagements in part of Circuit 5. Her teams recruit, license, train, support and relicense foster homes in the community. “Because we are a faith-based organization, we recruit from local churches. Believers who foster do so because they are called to the mission of fostering. My teams are able to offer support and encouragement from that very same perspective, so the partnership is more successful.” Her Adoption Story Before Colleen accepted her position at FBCH, she spent about a year providing the case management services for a girl named Brittany who was available for adoption. Although individuals in management with the Children’s Home Society didn’t typically carry any cases, Colleen did work Brittany’s case. “I was able to develop a closer relationship with Brittany than when someone carries a full caseload,” said Colleen. “When I left the
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organization, the judge assigned to her case asked if I would remain on as her mentor, and I agreed. I then mentored Brittany for the next year, which involved weekly dinner dates followed by youth group at our church. “Over the course of that year, there were many decisions made about her adoption matching and transition that just did not sit well with me. As I was no longer a party to the case, I did not have any decisionmaking authority but was still able to provide feedback based on my relationship with her.” During the time that Colleen mentored Brittany, she often talked to her husband, Shane, about how she wished they could adopt her. But because she had served as Brittany’s case manager in the past, it was not a likely arrangement. “In early 2016, all the adoption plans her professional team had been making fell through, and I was pretty angry that she was still without a family,” Colleen said. “Shane encouraged me to at least present it to that team that we wanted to adopt her. After many, many discussions proving that we had the skill set (the state was worried about our age in comparison to hers), the financial means and the space, the team agreed we could adopt her.” But first, the couple also had to show that they had a room for Brittany in their home. “Shane and I were committed to moving Brittany before the school year as we did not
want her to move schools during the first quarter of school. So, when I was 37 weeks pregnant, we bought a new house on a Monday, had a home study on Wednesday, and Brittany moved in on Friday, the day before her birthday. “Then, three weeks later on her first day of school, I had Owen, and we were stuck in the NICU for a week. Not the transition I would have planned, but it all worked because we have an awesome family!” That awesome family also includes Corey, a young man who spent 12 years in foster care—mostly in group homes—but aged out with no place to go. Corey has lived with Colleen and Shane for the past three years. “Corey’s agency didn’t do what they were supposed to do in order for him to finish school and receive independent living funding, so he really had no place and no resources. He lived temporarily with some old foster parents but they moved to Alabama, and he was going to be homeless. He was working part time at Publix with some people from Heritage Baptist, and they reached out to us asking if we could help. “We felt like, since we had the space, it was a good opportunity to practice what we preached and give him a home. It worked well, and while we couldn’t legally adopt him, he is considered by all as a part of our family. He has no one else, so we are
it permanently even when he decides he’s ready to move out. We believe every person should have a permanent family connection—a place to ‘go home’—so that is what we are to him.” Challenges and Rewards Colleen faces many of the same challenges that all moms have to deal with, but with a 24-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a one-year-old living in her care, there are definitely unique challenges. “I, of course, face all the typical ‘Mom guilt’ challenges of being away from my children for so long each day, fear of not doing enough for them, not managing my home to its previous level of perfection. But the most difficult challenge is that their schedules do not line up at all. “Planning (as best as possible) and clear communication are essential to make sure that the who/what/where/when of the day is accomplished, and then learning to be okay when you have to pick up pizza because you forgot to get groceries…again.” For Colleen, the biggest reward is being able to watch the sibling relationships develop. “Brittany gets to have an older brother and a younger brother in the home. Corey looks out for Brittany, and Owen adores her. Due to the age gap, they all are able
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“Our individual relationships with God are the most important; they are the base from which everything else functions.”
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COVER FEATURE
to grow independently and don’t fall into any of the birth-order stereotypes, which is neat to watch. Owen only knows life with Brittany and Corey, and I think that gives them a special bond as well.” Final Thoughts “In our lives, we knew that we had to be ‘doers of the Word’ instead of just ‘hearers.’ I dedicated my professional career to helping families heal, helping children who have no family find a home, and recruiting other believers to care for children who are either temporarily or permanently without a family.
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“When Corey needed a home and we had plenty of space, it was only logical to say yes. When Brittany needed a home and it was clearly God-ordained that it was to be ours, to fight it would have been useless. It was important that I practice what I preach, so to speak, or what I say and teach would just be words. “While this lifestyle is anything but easy at times, and we are less than stellar at it, we know that we have to continue moving forward, learning, trying, growing, failing and trying again. “We know we were specifically called to work with teens through coaching, fostering, adopting and who knows what else down the road!”
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Colleen and her husband, Shane, involved their extended families in the decision to adopt and are grateful for the support system they have as they raise their family.
Colleen is passionate about working with kids in the foster care system. If you are interested in foster care or adoption, she encourages you to seek out the information now. You can contact her at riddle. colleen@gmail.com for more information.
ALUMNI FEATURE
Lauren Patterson “My Great Accomplishments and Biggest Responsibilities”: LCS alumna Lauren Patterson (’06) shares her thoughts on motherhood. Photos by Lindsey Cassidy Photography
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ALUMNI FEATURE
When Lauren Knowlton Patterson graduated from LCS in 2006, she planned to leave Lakeland and never look back. But, as Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” God’s plans for Lauren brought her back to her hometown where she married Nathan (LCS Class of 2000) and now raises five young children: Lucas (9), Riley (7), Embry (5), Annie (4) and Paige (2). The couple is active at Trinity Presbyterian Church and will be part of a new church launch in Mulberry with former LCS Bible teacher Stan McMahan and others from Trinity later this year. Lauren recently started REAP Refurbished, making old furniture new again. We talked with Lauren about what it’s like to raise five young children, as well as the impact that her years at Lakeland Christian School had in preparing her for life. On Her Time at LCS
Engage Magazine: What are some of the activities you were involved with during your time at LCS? Lauren Patterson: I played soccer and volleyball and attempted band and piano. I was in NHS and held different class officer positions throughout junior high and high
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school. I also was an active member in FCA and Art Club.
EM: Which teachers had the greatest impact on you and why? LP: Mrs. Oncu and I are best friends (she even gave me a best friend necklace when I graduated!). I loved improving my writing with the millions of timed writings she assigned. She appreciated and valued her students’ hard work but also knew when to be gracious to us, even when we did not deserve it. I credit her with my desire to major in journalism in college. Connie Christensen pretty much let me live in her art room my senior year. I may not have gotten much work done, but I always knew I was deeply loved and respected when I walked into her classroom. And now it’s such a blessing that all of my kids get to have her as a K4 teacher, too! EM: What were your career aspirations when you were a student at LCS? LP: I wanted to write for a magazine or do some sort of public relations work. EM: If you could pick one thing about your LCS experience that you are most thankful for, what would you say it was, and why? LP: My best friends are people that I grew up with at LCS. I am so thankful that
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we could spend so many years together at LCS and then maintain those relationships outside of school. On Motherhood
EM: You have five kids, elementary age and younger. What do your days look like? LP: I think it’s mostly controlled chaos all the time! School mornings are rushed to get everyone where they need to go on time. While they’re at school, I usually run errands or paint furniture. Then, of course, after school it’s homework, sports, dinner, devotions and bed. Our summer schedule is more relaxed. The kids would spend all day in the pool if they could. I usually don’t schedule a lot, but I’ve learned that it’s best to keep them occupied, otherwise they find ways to get into trouble. EM: Does your life surprise you? Is this what you ever expected it would be? LP: I can honestly say that being back in Lakeland with five kids is definitely not what I pictured for my life! I was determined to move away for college and never come back. I sometimes wonder what my life would look like if things had gone differently; it’s fun to imagine for a minute,
but I’m quickly brought back to where God has me right now. He entrusted me with five little lives—my greatest accomplishments and biggest responsibilities!
EM: What are some of the biggest challenges and biggest rewards of having five young children? LP: The logistics of a big family can sometimes be the hardest. Getting everyone where they need to be on time, making sure everyone knows their spelling words, or having all of the laundry done sometimes seems impossible! The biggest reward of having five kids is watching as they grow into the people God would have them be. Each of them have such different personalities and strengths, I look forward to seeing how God uses them! EM: How important is it for you to have a strong support system from your husband and family? LP: People are always surprised to hear that I have five kids, but my response is always the same: if I didn’t have a husband who was completely hands-on with both the kids and the housework, there is no way I
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ALUMNI FEATURE
“The biggest reward of having five kids is watching as they grow into the people God would have them to be.” would have had five kids. Nathan works all day and then comes home and jumps right in with the kids. He makes my job easier. He is the calm to our crazy. I am also so blessed to be able to depend on my mom anytime I need help. Whether it’s watching kids, folding laundry or washing dishes, she is always willing to drop whatever she’s doing to help out. Sometimes the littlest things are the biggest blessings to a frazzled mom!
EM: What kinds of comments do you hear from people when they see you with five kids? LP: I’ve heard it all! “You know what
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causes that, right?” (No! Please enlighten me!), “Wow, you have your hands full!” (Thanks, I hadn’t noticed), “Are these all yours?” (Most days I’ll claim them) and “You’re going to have a lot of weddings to pay for with all of those girls!” (We’re hoping for some double weddings).
EM: As a stay-at-home-mom, how are you intentional about getting involved in ministry/community? How important is this for you? LP: Sometimes it seems easier to just stay home and not get involved, because it takes a lot of effort to get places with five kids. It’s hard to be spontaneous with so many small children in tow, so intentionality is key. I have grown to really look forward to the Thursday mornings that I get to spend with a small group of ladies from church. It might be logistically hard to get there, but I always walk away feeling refreshed and thankful that I made the decision to go. EM: As parents, we have the responsibility to shepherd our children. What are some of the most important lessons you want your children to learn from you? LP: More than anything, I want my kids
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to know that Christ is their only hope. I will fail them, their friends will fail them, their siblings will fail them, but He never will! The verses that I pray for my children are Ephesians 3:16-19: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
EM: You have a side business of refurbishing furniture. Tell us about that. LP: I started by painting our own handme-down furniture and quickly realized that I loved the satisfaction of making those things beautiful and useful again. Eventually, I began buying pieces from garage sales or Craigslist, refurbishing them and selling them. It started out small, but now my garage is full of furniture waiting to be painted! I hope one day my kids will want to help me, but for now it’s just me. My “free time” is taken up with projects for REAP Refurbished, but I am so grateful that I am able to stay home with my kids
and still contribute financially. And, of course, being able to provide people with the perfect piece for their home makes me so happy! 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 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? LP: I attended LCS for 13 years and never really gave the mission statement much thought. But, looking back as a parent, I’m forever grateful that I was blessed enough to have attended a school where everything was done “in the light of God’s Word.” I pray that as we raise our five kids that statement is the guidepost for every action and decision in our home.
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STUDENT FEATURES
Student Features Laina Strickland, Jake Albritton, Cheyenne Stonick, Julia Canady and Hannah Williams earned top honors in academics and community service. Photos by Monica Winters
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JAKE ALBRITTON – CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER University of Florida – Business Administration and Political Science Son of Keith and Payton Albritton
Excerpt from Baccalaureate Address: “We’re an uncommon breed of high school students, and as we leave our comfortable niche here at LCS and venture out to make new friends and try new things (and this applies to me as well), take risks. Leap out of your comfort zones, and most importantly, love because Jesus loved. And I truly believe that love solves all problems. Decades down the road, let people say these words about us: that the Class of 2017 changed the world. Acts 17:6 says that the disciples were the ‘men who turned the world upside down.’ There were 12 of them. We’ve got 82. Someone’s going to do it, and who are we to say it can’t be us? In the words of my favorite motivational speaker, Les Brown: “Shoot for the moon. For even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
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STUDENT FEATURES
LAINA STRICKLAND – SALUTATORIAN
CHEYENNE STONICK – VALEDICTORIAN
University of South Florida – English Education Daughter of Rhett and Tricia Strickland
University of Florida – Undecided, Considering Political Science Daughter of Christopher and Terri Stonick
Excerpt from Commencement Address:
Excerpt from Commencement Address:
“There’s a line from a book that I love that says, ‘Some things exist in our lives for but a moment, and then must go on to light other skies.’ We have an entire lifetime ahead of us to experience God’s goodness, to spread His love, and to use the knowledge and guidance we’ve gained as Lakeland Christian School students to impact the world for the better. You guys are going to go on to light so many skies, and I can’t wait to see it.”
“This is the year we’re supposed to graduate—it’s not a coincidence; on the contrary, this moment has been imprinted in the unshakeable, sovereign plan of our Savior since before the sun was whispered into existence. Nothing catches Him by surprise. It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared, but we don’t have to be paralyzed. You see, that’s the fourth secret. I know you’ve heard this a million times throughout your high school career…we don’t have to be paralyzed because the God who knows us better than anyone else, who sings over us louder than an embarrassing dad at a birthday party, who loves us beyond any sentiment that even the most romantic 19th century writers like Jane Austen and Victor Hugo were able to capture; who knows everything... He is for us. And God is God; He doesn’t have to do anything. But He is for us because He adores us.
“You guys are going to go on to light so many skies, and I can’t wait to see it.”
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JULIA CANADY – SILVER GARLAND WINNER, SCIENCE
HANNAH WILLIAMS – SILVER GARLAND RUNNER UP, CITIZENSHIP
University of Florida – College of Agriculture and Life Science Daughter of Justice Charles and Jennifer Canady
University of Florida – Sociology Daughter of Frank and Colleen Williams
Senior Julia Canady, the daughter of Justice Charles and Jennifer Canady, won the coveted Silver Garland Award in the science category at the annual awards presentation on Monday, May 8. Presented by The Ledger, the Silver Garlands recognize outstanding high school seniors from Polk County who are committed to community service. Julia’s research on allelopathy (plant chemical warfare) has garnered her numerous awards throughout her years at Lakeland Christian School. She tallied 682 hours of community service during her high school years, much of which involved mentoring young researchers in the RISE Institute. This fall, Julia 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 science and agricultural communication with minors in innovation and entrepreneurship. She hopes to serve as an agricultural lobbyist in the future.
In the largest category of the Silver Garland Awards competition, senior Hannah Williams was recognized as the runner up in the Citizenship category. The daughter of Frank and Colleen Williams, Hannah totaled 648 hours of community service during her high school years. Her spirit of volunteerism was most evident as she served with Youth in Government where she held numerous titles and roles. Hannah is committed to cultivating the interest of her peers in regards to government, public policy and important social and cultural issues. In addition, Hannah mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The Silver Garland judges said, “Hannah has impressive interpersonal skills and writing ability. She is well-rounded in music, sports, academics and volunteerism. She has a unique grasp of society’s most complex challenges. Her career plan is to continue service to the community as a civil rights attorney.”
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CAMPUS NEWS
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Senior Trip
The Senior Class of 2017 traveled to Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, Washington, for the annual senior service trip in late May. The group spent two days preparing the camp for the summer. Projects included building picnic tables, landscaping, clearing trails, deep cleaning, building fences and putting up tents. The students also enjoyed some sightseeing time in Seattle with trips to Pike’s Market, the Space Needle and a Seattle Mariners baseball game. For more information on Warm Beach Camp, visit www.warmbeach.com. 4
Vicky Dawson Award Winners
Each year, four elementary students receive the Vicky Dawson Strong Christian Character award. Established in 2010 and named after the former LCS PE teacher who passed away in 2007, this award recognizes students who display Christian character in their daily lives. Congratulations to second-graders Kiya Boyce and Bryson Kane, along with fifth-graders K.J. Straub and Cooper Philpot, on earning this year’s awards.
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Silver Garland Awards
Five seniors represented Lakeland Christian School at the annual Silver Garland Awards put on by The Ledger. Julia Canady won the Silver Garland for Science, and Hannah Williams was runner up in the Citizenship category. Other nominees were Blake Bellar (Athletics), Craig Heacox (Art) and Seth Rodocker (Vocational/ Technical). The Silver Garland Awards recognized the most talented and gifted high school seniors in Polk County who use their talents and skills in service to the school and community. Inheritance of Hope Scholarship
Senior Lauren Latimer was one of two recipients of this year’s Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarships worth $1,000. Lauren is the daughter of former LCS kindergarten teacher Karen Latimer who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 and passed away in April 2016. The family got involved with Inheritance of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring hope in families with children who are facing the loss of a parent. Lauren will attend the University of Florida this fall to study business.
Correction
In the Spring 2017 issue of Engage, there was a mistake in the ACSI Regional Spelling Bee winners. Congratulations to Lucas Patterson, Amil Tavares, Jolie Holmes and Matthew Batson on their outstanding performance.
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WoodmenLife Award
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Congratulations to junior Logan Mason on winning the WoodmenLife American History Award for the Lakeland Chapter. He received the award at a banquet on April 17. Logan was joined by LCS history teacher Wayne Shimko.
Class of 2017 Commencement
Congratulations to the Class of 2017! The 82-member class celebrated Baccalaureate on Tuesday, May 23, and Commencement on Thursday, May 25. At Baccalaureate, Christian Leadership Award winner Jake Albritton and Pastor Lyle Caswell (Christ Community Presbyterian Church) challenged the class from Scripture. At Commencement, Valedictorian Cheyenne Stonick and Salutatorian Laina Strickland encouraged their classmates by sharing memories, advice and personal thoughts. The class chose Mr. Steve Livesay, a member of the secondary math faculty, to give the Commencement address. The evening concluded with each senior receiving a diploma from Dr. Mike Sligh, Headmaster.
Marine Corp Foundation Scholarships
Congratulations to seniors Jack Caswell and Mitchell Davis for winning scholarships from the Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation. They were presented their awards in chapel on May 10. Master Gunnery Sergeant Jim Hawn and Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Harris visited LCS to present the scholarships. Jack received a scholarship worth $800, and Mitchell received $900.
Senior Scholarships and Awards
Several members of the Class of 2017 were awarded scholarships this spring. Congratulations to the following students: Jake Albritton - Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award and Essay Scholarship Winner; Elks Club Most Valuable Student Scholarship ($1,000) -Lauren Latimer, Maddie Pistoria, Kaitlin Smith; Bailey Family Foundation Scholarship ($20,000 over four years) - Lauren Latimer; Military Family Support Trust Scholarship ($4,000) - Hannah Williams; DeBartolo Family Foundation Scholarship ($2,500) - Sam Dickman; Church Women United Martha Clements Scholarship ($500) Lauren Latimer, Hannah Williams; Central Florida Marine Corps Scholarships - Mitchell Davis ($900), Jack Caswell ($800); Horatio Alger Association Scholarship ($10,000) - Kaitlin Smith; Morrison Family Foundation Scholarship ($3,000/year) - Hannah Williams, Triston LaPorte.
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World Archery Tournament
Members of the Lakeland Christian School Archery Team competed at the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) World Tournament in Orlando in late July. Senior Trey Brickhouse was the top finisher for the Vikings with a score of 293 points. His brother Tyler, a sophomore, shot a 284.
Chess Awards
The Lakeland Christian School Chess Club presented their annual awards in mid-May. John Workman (pictured with coach Mark Williams) received the top award as the new school champion. Novice: 1st place - Jackson Brickhouse; 2nd place - Carter Ledlow; Intermediate: 1st place - Finn Richert; 2nd place - Chase Durrance; 3rd place - Camden Ledlow; 4th place - Case Emry; 5th place - Dallas Hurd and Sarah Workman; Advanced: 1st place - John Workman; 2nd place - Von Wilson. Other awards: Most Improved - Chase Durrance; Most Improved Honorable Mention - Nightingale Daniel-Richards; Sportsmanship - Everett Parker; Sportsmanship Honorable Mention - Samuel Houghton
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Engineering Competition
Eighth-grader Breanna Newberg won second place in the middle division and a $500 award at the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Engineering Encounters bridge competition in Orlando in late July. She qualified for the statewide competition after winning at the regional level earlier this spring. This is the second year that Breanna has represented the region at the state competition.
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FINE ARTS NEWS
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Fine Arts Festival
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Choir MPA
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FFMC Junior Convention
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Disney Springs Performances
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LCS musicians Alexandra Barrow (senior, top left) and Katie Jones (eighth grade) recently competed in the Peninsular Florida District Fine Arts Festival of the Assemblies of God. Alexandra placed second in woodwind solo and second in piano solo in the classical division. She received a Superior with Invitation to Nationals for both categories, as well as for her vocal solo. Katie placed fourth in both her woodwind solo and piano solo and received a Superior with Invitation to Nationals. The National Fine Arts Festival will be in Anaheim, California, in August.
After earning straight superiors at the District 12 Music Performance Assessment held at Lake Gibson High School in early March, both the Chamber Ensemble and the High School Concert Choir had the opportunity to perform in the State MPA on April 28. Both groups earned a Superior rating at the competition. Sponsored by the Florida Vocal Association, the event was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland. The choir is comprised of 38 students. They are directed by Mrs. Wendy Carl and accompanied by Mrs. Christy Fung.
Congratulations to seventh-grader Wenjo Lai on earning an Honorable Mention at the Florida Federation of Music Clubs Junior Convention held in May. He competed in the Piano Sight Play Elementary III category. The convention was held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
In May, several middle school music students had the opportunity to perform in Orlando. Both the middle school band and the junior high choir performed on the Marketplace Stage at Disney Springs. The groups then enjoyed some time at EPCOT.
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ATHLETICS FEATURES
Alumni Athletics Features Brooks Wilson and Logan Browning, both graduates of the Class of 2014, have taken their baseball careers to the next level. Photos by Monica Winters
ATHLETICS FEATURES Logan Browning, a left-handed pitcher, played for the Florida Southern College Moccasins here in Lakeland, Florida. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres.
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Right-handed pitcher Brooks Wilson was drafted by the Texas Rangers this spring. He played college baseball for the Stetson University Hatters in DeLand, Florida.
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Two former Viking varsity baseball players from the Class of 2014 will take their skills on the mound to the next level.
BROOKS WILSON AND LOGAN BROWNING In early June, two Viking baseball alums from the Class of 2014 were selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Right-handed pitcher Brooks Wilson, the son of Mike and Tracy Wilson, just wrapped up his junior season at Stetson University where he tallied 127 strikeouts during the 2017 season. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 24th round (734th overall pick). Logan Browning, who started his college baseball career at the University of Florida before transferring to Florida Southern College, was chosen by the San Diego Padres in the 37th round (1,098th overall pick). Logan had previously been drafted by the Cincinnati Reds after graduating from LCS. At Florida Southern, Logan led the Sunshine State Conference with 107 strikeouts. The left-handed pitcher finished the 2017 season with a record of 8-2. He is the son of Dawn Dellapa.
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SPORTS NEWS
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SPORTS NEWS All-Sports Award
Lakeland Christian School edged out McKeel Academy at the end of the year to win The Ledger’s All-Sports Award for the Small School division once again. McKeel took an early lead in the fall sports season, but the state runnerup soccer teams gave the Vikings a big boost in the winter season. Trailing by just five points after the winter season, the Vikings’ spring teams, led by the state runner-up softball team, tallied 109 points to give LCS a total of 269 points for the year. McKeel finished with 256. All Saints finished in third with 203 points.
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Athletic Signings
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Spring All-County Teams
This spring, three senior Viking football players signed letters of intent to play college football. Congratulations to Adrian Morris (College of the Canyons), Dayle Palmer (College of the Canyons) and Kayron Brown (Mount Ida College).
Congratulations to our Viking athletes who were named to The Ledger’s All-County teams for the spring season. Softball: Abby Burton (First Team); Camryn Wineinger (Second Team); Amy Burton, Caroline Watson, Kelsey Winters, Victoria Benson, Erica Stahl (Honorable Mention). Girls’ Track and Field: Britain Musick (pictured above, Athlete of the Year); Sydney Cabrera (First Team); Kennedy Lewis, Ava St. John, Cylee Wilson, Scout Brumley, Amberlee Johnson, Rachel Plyler (Honorable Mention). Boys’ Track and Field: Joe Kornbrust, Bryson Yamnitz, Connor Gonzalez-Fox, Remi Musick, Sam Riley, Seth Martinez (Honorable Mention). Girls’ Tennis: Katie Nelson (Honorable Mention). Weightlifting: Ricky McFarlane, Jacob Allen, Adrian Morris, Ben Richardson (Honorable Mention) Mighty in Spirit Awards
Congratulations to Jake Albritton, Katherine Grubb, Lauren Latimer, Logan Mason, Mary Peace and Tate Whatley on being chosen as this year’s “Mighty in Spirit” award recipients. Winners are selected by their teammates who best exemplify Christian character both on and off the field.
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State Softball Finals
The Viking varsity softball team made its third consecutive trip to the 3A State Softball Championships at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, but the back-to-back champions couldn’t claim their third straight title, falling to Fort Pierce John Carroll by a score of 4-1. The girls, who finished with a record of 13-12, took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but the Vikings struggled with errors and only recorded five hits. The Rams (20-9) scored four consecutive runs to win their first state title. The team, who finished as the District Runner Up and Regional Champion, was coached by Sue Wilsman.
NCSAA Awards
Congratulations to the following Viking athletes on being recognized by the National Christian School Athletic Association: Girls’ Varsity Soccer: Mary Peace (First Team, Southeast Super-Region Team), Taylor O’Byrne (First Team, Southeast Super-Region Team), Vivian Streets (Southeast Super-Region Team) Boys’ Varsity Basketball: Tyler Horne (Second Team, Southeast Super-Region Team), Gannon Martin (Southeast Super-Region Team) Girls’ Varsity Softball: Abby Burton (Southeast SuperRegion Team), Camryn Wineinger (Southeast SuperRegion Team), Erica Stahl (Southeast Super-Region Team)
All-Academic Team
Congratulations to the eight Lakeland Christian School seniors who were selected as part of The Ledger’s AllAcademic Team: Lauren Latimer (Volleyball), Cumulative GPA: 4.46; Laura Greene (Swimming, Tennis), Cumulative GPA: 4.46; Logan DiMotta (Swimming, Track & Field), Cumulative GPA: 4.31; Jacob Allen (Weightlifting, Football, Track & Field), Cumulative GPA: 4.23; Ashlynn Joyner (Golf ), Cumulative GPA: 4.12; Blake Bellar (Tennis), Cumulative GPA: 4.03; Jack Caswell (Soccer, Golf ), Cumulative GPA: 3.61; Cole Naughton (Track and Field, Football, Cross Country), Cumulative GPA: 3.35 4
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FACA
Congratulations to varsity softball coach Sue Wilsman on being selected as this year’s Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 3A Coach of the Year. This is the second time in three years that Wilsman has won the honor after coaching her team to three consecutive state final appearances.
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State Track and Field
At Lakeland Christian School, the name “Musick” appears 18 times in the track and field record books. Four of those records belong to freshman Britain Musick and were all recorded during the 2017 season: first in the 300 hurdles, second in the 400 meters, third in the high hurdles and fifth in the long jump. Britain’s stellar freshman season was capped off with two individual gold medals at the Class 1A state track meet. She won the 100 hurdles in 15.49 and then ran a personal-best 43.94 to win the 300 hurdles. Junior teammate Sydney Cabrera (pictured above) garnered three medals at the 1A state meet, finishing eighth in the triple jump and third in both the long jump and high jump. The Lady Vikings team finished with a fourth place state finish. For the boys’ team, sophomore Sam Riley took an eighth place finish in the pole vault, and sophomore Joe Kornbrust finished ninth in the 110 hurdles.
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FACULTY FEATURES
FACULTY FEATURES As longtime faculty member Nancy Bradley retires, Heather Rhoden takes over as the Elementary Assistant Principal. Photos by Monica Winters
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NANCY BRADLEY After teaching fourth grade for 23 years and serving as the Elementary Assistant Principal for the past three years, Nancy Bradley is—literally— sailing off into the sunset. Nancy and her husband, Don, plan to move to their beach condo in Placida, located just north of Boca Grande.
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“We love spending time on our boat and going out at sunset,” Nancy said. “When our daughter’s family and our son visit us at the beach, it makes it even more fun!” In addition to spending time at the beach and on the water, Nancy’s plans include getting more involved at their church and traveling. Immediately upon her retirement, Nancy hopped on a plane for Ireland! “I have truly been blessed to serve at LCS. My students, parents and colleagues will always have a special place in my heart,” Nancy said.
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FACULTY FEATURES
HEATHER RHODEN In early April, LCS announced that fifth-grade teacher Heather Rhoden was selected to serve as the new Elementary Assistant Principal. Heather earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and is currently finishing her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Southeastern University. Heather and her husband, Jason, have three kids—Riley, Gage and Ridge. The family attends Church at the Mall. “My journey to the position as a teacher and
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now administrator at LCS began with a love for teaching and learning that God instilled in me during childhood,” Heather said. “My previous teaching experience has ignited within me a strong desire to prepare our students academically while encouraging them in their spiritual walk. “Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’ I am a strong believer that students need to be actively involved in the classroom to maximize their learning potential. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help each student grow academically while nurturing their love of learning and their relationship with Christ.”
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SAVE THE DATE
3RD ANNUAL
Gala
VOYAGES & VICTORIES
NOVEMBER 9 | HAUS820 5:30 PM
HOSTED BY THE
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lcsonline.org
FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATE
FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
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Years of Service
At the end of the 2016-2017 school year, several members of the faculty and staff were recognized for their years of service to Lakeland Christian School: 45 Years - Dr. Mike Sligh . 40 Years - Dean Johnson . 25 years - Sue Gibson . 20 Years - Jim Drake, Teri Evans, Wayne Shimko, Geoff Stabler . 15 Years - Carmen Frost, Chuck Fulton, Steve Wilson . 10 Years - Katy Andersen, Wendy Carl, Darren Copeland, Mary Fairchild, Gaye Lene Hasha, Carla Moore, Tina Nagy, Lisa Prescott, Todd Radford, Tricia Strickland . 5 Years - Tammi Brown, Mike Carl, Tracy Crosby, Deanna DeLegge, Seth Miller, Kathy Mudger, Sandy Nilius, Lisa Rupp, Deborah Sullivan, Danny Williams.
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Dr. Sligh
Board Chairman Kevin Knowlton presented Dr. Sligh with a special award in recognition of his 45 years of service to LCS. Dean Johnson
Dean Johnson, who served as the Dean of Students for 32 years, has served an additional eight years as a part-time teacher of Drafting and AutoCAD.
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New Elementary Assistant Principal
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Faculty Members Retire
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Lakeland Christian School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Heather Rhoden has been appointed as the new Elementary Assistant Principal. She takes over for Mrs. Nancy Bradley who retired at the end of the 16-17 school year. Heather has five years experience in the classroom (including four as a fifth-grade teacher at LCS) and will complete her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership this fall. Heather and her husband, Jason, have three students at LCS—Riley (eighth), Gage (fifth), and Ridge (second).
Faculty Training
In early June, teachers Jane Burnette (4th grade) and Amy McDonald (3rd grade) attended Singapore Math training in Jacksonville. Jane and Amy were taught by Dr. Ban Har (an established name in Singapore Math) and Sarah Schaefer (a recognized trainer in the curriculum). Mrs. Jennifer Canady, director of the RISE Institute at LCS, attended Fuse 17, a Design Thinking Conference at the Mount Vernon Institute for Innovation. According to the website, Fuse “has gathered educators, business leaders, social innovators, change agents and dreamers to make an impact while learning more deeply as design thinkers.” For more information, visit www.mvifi.org/fuse.
At the end of the 2016-2017 school year, the LCS family said farewell to four members of the faculty who are retiring: Nancy Bradley - 26 years at LCS, Jan Frost - 22 years at LCS, Sue Gibson - 25 years at LCS, Lissette Zeckler - 7 years at LCS
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ADVANCEMENT NEWS
Generous Giving Provides Campus-Wide Enhancements Photos by Tina Sargeant
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Mother Teresa once said, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Based on this perspective, the Lakeland Christian family of families clearly shared the love with LCS students through their giving to the 2016-17 Viking Fund! LCS parents, grandparents, students, alums, parents of alumni, and other friends stepped up to provide $253,000 to this year’s annual giving effort— the largest amount ever given to the school’s Viking Fund. The results of this generosity will be immediately noticeable on campus. A portion of Viking Fund monies have been used to help construct the restrooms on the south side of Forest Park Street between the baseball and practice fields. Prior to the construction of this facility, students had to cross the street and traverse the parking lot to access restrooms. Through the assistance of the Viking Fund, relief is now only steps away! The Viking Fund will also benefit elementary students in the classroom. New furniture will provide for more flexible grouping and activities than the
traditional student desk. The furniture will allow for more innovative methodologies and for collaborative learning. Finally, generous giving will allow for renovation of the school’s high school science labs. We will now be able to purchase new, updated equipment and refurbish the Chemistry and Life Science labs. Each year the LCS Administration determines campus and/or curriculum enhancements that could only take place through the support of the Viking Fund. These are typically projects that are not a part of the school’s operations budget and, thus, require giving to the annual fund. And a core requirement of Viking Fund projects is that students in every grade level will be impacted. It’s the school’s desire that everyone connected to Lakeland Christian provide a gift of some amount each year to the Viking Fund. The response this past year was tremendous as a record number of people provided support. In fact, one of the primary goals of the Viking Fund is to grow the participation each year, knowing that the beneficiaries of this support are children and young people.
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“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
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ALUMNI UPDATE
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LCS Alumni Blake Crosby (’13) graduated summa cum laude from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He was accepted to participate in the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry summer research program and will then be attending UF College of Dentistry in the fall to pursue his Doctorate of Dental Medicine.
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Christina Sierra (’13) graduated in May with her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She had a specific concentration in Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering.
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Brittany (Frost) Gonzalez (’02) and her husband, Shaun, welcomed daughter, Sawyer Rae, on May 7, 2017. She weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz.
The Class of 1997 celebrated their 20th high school reunion in late May. On Friday evening, the classmates, along with their parents and children, gathered at the home of Lee Mathews’ parents for a cookout. On Saturday night, the alumni and spouses enjoyed a dinner at Patio 850 in Lakeland. To view more photos from the event, visit www.lcsconnect.org.
The Class of 2007 will hold their 10-year reunion the weekend of October 6-7. On Friday evening, the alumni and their families will join Dr. Sligh for a school tour, followed by the tailgate dinner and homecoming football game in Viking Stadium. On Saturday evening, the classmates and spouses will meet at the Red Door at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Marris Smith at marris. smith@hotmail.com or visit www.lcsconnect.org.
We love to hear from you. News about you is important to us and to your former classmates. Please email Claudia Powell at cpowell@lcsonline.org. Planning your class reunion? Claudia can also arrange for use of facilities and will offer other helpful tips.
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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Lakeland Christian School 1111 Forest Park Street Lakeland, Florida 33803
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Derek Keenan and the Viking varsity baseball team load up to travel to an away game.
Lakeland Christian School, 1970