ACS is pleased to periodically recognize and congratulate several of its alumni and former students 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 in this article are: Chris Masi (’05), Taylor Hadley (’07), Brianna Butler (’11), Lydia Schalles (’15), Sydney Pearson (’21), and Eric VonColln (’22). Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under “News and Events.”
Chris Masi (’05) and his wife, Becky, are the creators and writers of a new TV series called “RIDE” that debuted on the Hallmark Channel on March 26, 2023. After graduating as Salutatorian of the class of 2005, Chris attended Biola University in Southern California, where he earned his degree in Film, Radio, and Television in 2009. He also met his wife, Becky, at Biola and they were both in the same degree program. Since that time, Chris has been working his way up in Hollywood as writer, working on scripts for various shows including USA’s “White Collar” and “Graceland” and the HBO show “The Newsroom.” In 2021, they were contracted by the Hallmark Channel to create and write a TV series called “Ride” based on a pilot they wrote and pitched to Hallmark. They spent the last year working on the first 10 episodes. The show follows the lives of the McMurray family, part of a rodeo dynasty going back a generation, as they struggle to keep their ranch afloat. The debut episode has received many favorable reviews and the show will continue to air on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday nights at 9 p.m.
Taylor Hadley (’07) works in the Emergency Department at Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County, NJ as a Physician’s Assistant. After graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 2007, Taylor continued to excel academically and earned his undergraduate degree from Grove City College, a Christian liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. He then attended PA school, where he graduated with Honors in 2017. Taylor and his wife, Kristen, were married in March 2019 and have two sons, Jude and Ezra. They live in Beesley’s Point and are active members of Ocean City Baptist Church.
Brianna Butler (’11) joined the coaching staff at St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton in the 2022-2023 season in the position of assistant coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball team. During her high school years at ACS, Brianna was a strong, contributing guard on the Lady Cougars basketball team that in 2010 and 2011 won the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Varsity Basketball championship and a national championship. Brianna stopped by the ACS gym in March to watch the girls’ basketball game of the 8th grade South Jersey Future Stars. Brianna is working on her MBA in organizational management from Eastern University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree. She lives in Galloway and will be getting married in September 2023.
Lydia Schalles (’15) is relocating from Washington, DC to Hawaii in July 2023 for her job with the U.S. Department of Defense. After graduating from ACS as valedictorian of the Class of 2015, she attended George Washington University in Washington, DC. She earned a BS in international affairs in 2019, with a concentration in security policy and East Asian studies and a minor in Korean and business administration. In her leisure time, Lydia enjoys running, hiking, and surfing. She ran in the Honolulu Marathon in December 2022 and keeps in shape by running half-marathons, including the Ocean City half marathon in September 2022 and the Philadelphia half marathon in March 2023.
Sydney Pearson (’21) graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2021 and was admitted to the nursing program at Stockton University. But after completing nearly two years in the program, Sydney has switched to a liberal studies major with a concentration in elementary education. The change in course came after Sydney started substitute teaching in elementary classes at ACS in January 2023. “I just loved it and so I prayed about it and felt God was leading me to pursue a different career,” Sydney said. Sydney has also been serving at ACS this winter as a long-term substitute teacher for high school Algebra II, Geometry, and Personal Finance. “The Lord opened a door for me at ACS to get my feet wet in teaching and I am looking forward to starting my education classes in the fall at Stockton,” Sydney said. During her high school years at ACS, Sydney was a three-sport athlete and she has also been involved in coaching at ACS for the past two years. This spring, she is the head coach of the Middle School Girls Softball Team, after serving as assistant coach last season. She also served as assistant coach of the Middle School Girls Soccer and Basketball Teams in the 2022-2023 school year.
Eric VonColln (’22) is a private in the U.S. Army and since February 2023 has been stationed in Vilseck, Germany. He will serve there for three years, where he has been assigned the role of driving and leading a stryker armored vehicle. Eric came out to watch an ACS basketball game in January 2023, where he visited with Upper School Principal Meg McHale, other faculty and staff, and students. His goal is to become a non-commissioned officer and then to enter one of the airborne divisions. Eric said attending ACS in his senior year made him a better person and taught him to look at the brighter side of things.
Alumni – We want to hear from you! Please send us news about how God is working in your life. Feel free to send photos as well. Email alumni news to: ckarabashian@acseht.org.