Over 200 family members, faculty, and staff gathered for a time of prayer, worship, and presentation of awards and scholarships for the 29 seniors in the Class of 2023 at the Baccalaureate Service held at the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City on June 7. Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen welcomed everyone to the service and senior Reyna Lewis gave the opening prayer.
Seniors Tommy Ellison, Jr. and Jada Logan led a time of worship and three faculty members — science teacher Dave Genter, Bible teacher Urick Lewis, and writing teacher Laura Mills — gave parting words of advice from scripture, encouraging the seniors to continue growing in their knowledge of God and to surrender to God’s will and purpose for their lives.
“We will all be praying for each one of you and we know that there is nothing this world can do to change the beautiful masterpiece God is making of you,” Mills said. “Remember that if God is for us, who can be against us?” Genter charged the seniors to go out as light in the world — as Christ’s ambassadors. “Don’t be ashamed of the things of Christ — be bold, but with a deep sense of love,” Genter said. Lewis encouraged the seniors to be confident that “God has everything in control so if you’re in Him, you have everything you need.”
The class posed for a group photo after each senior received a commendation certificate from the New Jersey State Assembly. The program concluded with Board of Directors’ vice chair Robert Barberio, whose son, Robby, was in the senior class, offering a prayer for God’s blessing on the Class of 2023.
A variety of scholarships and awards were presented during the program. Valedictorian Paige Noble and Salutatorian Reyna Lewis were recognized and received the Academic Achievement Scholarships. Fifteen students received certificates for Highest Honors, for earning a GPA of 3.8 or higher, and four students received a certificate for High Honors, for earning a GPA of 3.5-3.79.
Ten students who attended ACS continuously since kindergarten received a $100 gift from the Parent-Teacher Fellowship, presented by PTF President Terry Vogel, who encouraged the students to take their parents out to dinner to thank them for making the financial sacrifice to send them to ACS.
Following is a list of the special scholarship and award recipients:
- Academic Achievement Scholarship: Reyna Lewis and Paige Noble
- The 5:14 Award, based on 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (in honor of former faculty member Kim Ordile, to the senior who has shown themselves to be the most encouraging): Maddie DeNick
- Community Service Scholarship, sponsored by former Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul Hodson: Paige Noble
- Garrett-Freeman Memorial Music and Art Scholarship (sponsored by ACS alumni parent Barbara Freeman): Tommy Ellison, Jr.
- Christian Ministry Scholarship (sponsored by David Hawthorne in honor of Pastor John Sheldon, who was retiring from First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City): Paige Noble
- COMPASS Award (for senior seeking to serve in education): Paige Noble
- American Red Cross Blood Drive Recruitment Award (for senior involved in planning/recruitment of school blood drives): Maddie DeNick
- Senior Art Award (for senior seeking to use their artistic gifts in further studies): Lauren Kent
- Parent-Teacher Fellowship Scholarship (best essay describing the impact ACS has had on their life, in particular noting the impact of specific teachers): Maddie DeNick (1st place); Tommy Ellison, Jr. and Reyna Lewis (tied for 2nd place)
Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on November 30 and helped make the life-saving event a success. We collected 19 units of blood — which provides critical aid for up to 57 hospital patients in our area in need of transfusions during this holiday season.
Give the gift of blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Our goal is to collect 30 or more donations. Donors will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.
Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on May 19 and helped make the life-saving event a success. We collected 25 units of blood — which will provide critical aid for up to 75 area hospital patients.
Give the gift of blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. Our goal is to collect 47 or more donations. Donors will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice and will automatically be entered to win a new travel trailer camper that sleeps eight, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
Donate blood at our Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and help save lives. Due to a special partnership between the Red Cross and Amazon.com, all donors will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Our goal is to collect 47 or more donations, and each donation provides enough blood for two individuals.
Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on December 1 and helped make the life-saving event a success. We collected 21 units of blood — which will provide critical aid for up to 63 area hospital patients.
The American Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for Friday, October 22 at the ACS campus has been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 1 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Make your appointment to donate blood on the Red Cross website — redcrossblood.org OR call 1-800-REDCROSS.
Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on August 9 and helped make the life-saving event a success. We collected 25 units of blood — which will provide critical aid for up to 75 area hospital patients.
Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood on Monday, August 9 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at Atlantic Christian School. All donors will receive a coupon from Dunkin Donuts for a free medium iced coffee and donut while supplies last.
Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, November 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the ACS Multi-Purpose Room.  All donors will receive a long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirt, courtesy of Suburban Propone, while supplies last.
Our American Red Cross Blood Drive is next week — Wednesday, February 13 — from 3 to 8 p.m in the Multi-Purpose Room. Make an appointment online to donate blood and help save a life. Walk-ins are also accepted. Our goal for the February 13 blood drive is to have 40 or more people donate blood. ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives since 2008 to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community.