ACS is pleased to periodically recognize and congratulate several of its alumni who are making their mark in college, in the working world, and in other endeavors, building on the strong educational and spiritual foundation they received during their years at ACS. The alumni spotlighted this month are: Tiffiny Butler (’03), Brianna McHale Haltom (’07), Jeff McConnell (’16), Dakota Hitchner (’17), Naomi Glancey Johnson (’18), Lindsey Ash (’19), Jacob O’Brien (’19), Luke Johnson (’19), Suhyun (Danny) Lee (’19), Ben Noble (’20), and Jeremiah Engle (’21). Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under the “News and Events” category.
The Alumni Women’s Basketball game on December 20 will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the Alumni Men’s Basketball Game will start at 7:00 p.m. A complimentary pizza meal will be provided to all alumni who attend and all players will receive a commemorative event T-shirt. Alumni interested in playing in the games should RSVP to Athletic Director Pam Hitchner by Wednesday, Dec. 15 by sending a text to 609-412-7735.
Dr. Tiffiny Butler (’03) was recently promoted to Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Equity at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Tiffiny returned to New Jersey in August 2021 from Worcester, Massachusetts, where she had been a Teaching Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for five years and the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs for the past two years. Tiffiny earned a BS in Biokinetics in 2007 from Eastern University. She received her MS and Ph.D. in kinesiology from Temple University.
Brianna McHale Haltom (’07) recently received her Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, with a concentration in special education, from Liberty University. For her final project for her Ph.D., Brianna examined professional development and differentiated instruction at ACS. She is now working as a special education teacher in the Resource Room at the Ventnor Middle School. In January 2022, Brianna will also become an adjunct professor at Liberty University. Brianna and her husband Caleb live in Egg Harbor Township and have three children — Brantley and Maverick, who attend ACS, and 1-year-old McKenna.
Jeff McConnell (’16) is serving as a full-time missionary with Circuit Riders, based in Huntington Beach, CA. Circuit Riders is a ministry under the auspices of Youth With a Mission, focused on reaching young people with the gospel in universities and high schools. Jeff is primarily working in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, doing some preaching and helping organize outreach rallies on various campuses. Jeff earned a BA from Rowan University in 2020, double majoring in business and music. While at Rowan, he served in the student government and carried out a service project at a church in Glassboro, designing a new sound system and providing training on how to use the system.
Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17) was named the Colonial States Athletic Conference Player of the Week on November 29 for her outstanding performance as a guard on Cairn University’s Women’s Basketball Team. In Cairn’s November 27 game against Cedar Crest, DJ scored 33 points and helped lead the team to victory. She is now the 3rd highest scoring player in a single women’s basketball game in school history and is just 28 points away from scoring a career 1,000 points in her 3 years on the team. In the fall season, DJ also played midfield on Cairn’s Women’s Soccer team and was named to the 1st team All-Conference. She also holds the record as the 6th All-Time in scoring on the Women’s Soccer Team. DJ will graduate on December 18, 2021 with a BS in physical education.
There were wedding bells this October for two ACS alumni — Naomi Glancey Johnson (’18) and Luke Johnson (’19) — after Luke popped the question in August 2021 at the Tuckahoe Inn. Luke is taking the necessary steps to become a fireman, planning to serve with the Wildwood Fire Department. They live in Ocean City and are active at Coastal Christian Church in Ocean City.
Lindsey Ash (’19) is making her mark on William Patterson University’s Women’s Soccer Team. A junior this year, she just finished her second season a a midfielder, playing for 84 minutes in four out of 21 matches, with two assists, and scoring a goal in William Patterson’s 4-0 over Pratt in late October 2021. Lindsey is majoring in exercise physiology.
Suhyun (Danny) Lee (’19) is currently serving in the military in South Korea and is applying to attend college after completing his military service.
Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Ben Noble (’20) were strong contributors to the No. 3-seed Cairn University Men’s Soccer Team this fall, which advanced to play in the Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship game on November 6, 2021. Cairn lost to Rosemont College, but it was Cairn’s first CSAC Championship appearance in program history, with the team finishing the season with an 11-4-2 record. Jacob is in his junior year majoring in criminal justice and Ben is a sophomore majoring in health and PE.
Jeremiah Engle (’21) graduated from the U.S. Navy’s boot camp in Great Lakes, IL in September 2021. He completed eight weeks of grueling training and passed with special awards. He earned the rank of Mail Petty Officer for his division and also received the prestigious Marksman Award for weapons training accuracy. He is currently in the Apprentice Technical Training portion of his education to be an Electronics Technician. After completing his schooling, he will be assigned to a ship and sail the globe, which he is very excited about! His job will involve troubleshooting of technical problems, and repairing the computer equipment that will operate all functions aboard his assigned vessel.