The Baccalaureate Service on Monday, June 5 was a time of prayer, praise, and inspiring messages from ACS high school faculty members that reminded the Class of 2017 to draw upon the Biblical foundation built at ACS and to follow the plans God has for their lives. A number of students received special recognition for their academic achievements, commitment to community service, physical fitness, and for displaying Christian character traits. Two students — Andrew Jacoby and Carl Phillips — also received a special gift from the Parent Teacher Fellowship for attending ACS since kindergarten.
We are very grateful to the individuals, organizations, and businesses who donated to provide over $4,300 in scholarships and awards to our students. Out of the 25 students in the class of 2017, 23 will be continuing on to higher education at various colleges and universities,where they will be receiving tens of thousands of dollars in full or partial scholarships from those institutions. These schools include Cairn, Eastern, King, Liberty, Penn State, Rowan, Stockton, Temple, and the University of Delaware.
Seventeen students were recognized for academic achievement in the 2016-2017 school year, three for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and fourteen for earning a 3.8 GPA or higher (pictured above). Among those who provided scholarships and awards to bless the students were Crossroads Fellowship, the Thomas H. Heist Insurance Agency, the PTF, the Carney, Mazzitelli, Ordile, and Spiker families, and Egg Harbor Township Mayor James “Sonny” McCullough, who during the program personally presented a new public service scholarship to Brianna Lomangino and Amelia Sray (pictured below left and right).
“It’s so important to remember who you are as sons and daughters of God,” said English teacher and ACS alumnus Ariel Richvalsky (’05). “As your loving father, God will give you what you need and He knows what will make you the most joyful.” Bible teacher and pastor Joe Rowell gave the students the simple, yet profound charge to “spend your time facing truth, chasing truth, and embracing truth.” Other faculty members who spoke were Anne Dice and Gregg Laskow, and Lee Martin led the some 110 students, family members, friends, and faculty/staff in a time of praise and worship.
The recipients of the various awards and scholarships were:
Josh Burns: Mazzitelli Memorial Music Scholarship; Parent Teacher Fellowship Scholarship; Thomas H. Heist Community Service Award
Justin Choi: Crossroads Fellowship Leader Scholarship
Mikayla D’Anna: Academic Achievement Scholarship; Parent Teacher Fellowship Scholarship; the Spiker/Carney Math Achievement Award
Dakota Hitchner: COMPASS Award
Brianna Lomangino: Mayor McCullough Public Service Scholarship; The 5:14 Award
Joanna Noto — Academic Achievement Scholarship
Amelia Sray — Mayor McCullough Public Service Scholarship
Photos taken at Baccalaureate are posted in a photo gallery on the ACS website.