Post Tagged with: "Baccalaureate Service"

Baccalaureate 2023 — Scholarships, Awards Announced; Seniors Challenged to be Bold Ambassadors for Christ

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)

Baccalaureate 2021 – Scholarships, Awards Announced; Seniors Challenged to Dedicate Their Lives to Serving God

Over 100 family members, faculty, and staff gathered for a time of prayer, worship, and presentation of awards and scholarships to the Class of 2021 at the Baccalaureate Service held at Harbor Pines Golf Club on Wednesday, June 2. Upper School Principal Meg McHale congratulated the seniors for their hard work and flexibility through a challenging year unlike any other and gave thanks to God for providing the strength and wisdom to persevere and succeed.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen welcomed everyone to the service and senior Rachel Whisman gave the opening prayer. Mrs. Jane Zigner led a time of worship, as voices were raised together to sing “In Christ Alone” and “Waymaker.”  Three faculty members — history teacher Amy Whisman, math teacher Gina Wilson, and math teacher — gave parting words of advice, encouraging the seniors to involve God in every aspect of their lives and to allow God to work through them to bless others (pictured below at right).

“All of us who have been your teachers will continue to be praying for you,” said Mrs. Wilson. “My prayer is that you learn to hear and discern the voice of God and that you dedicate yourselves to the ministry God has for you.”  The program concluded with ACS parent and Board of Directors’ member Kris Jacoby offering a prayer for God’s blessing on the Class of 2021.

A variety of scholarships and awards were presented during the program. Valedictorian Sydney Pearson and Salutatorian Kami DeNick (pictured below at left) were recognized and received the Academic Achievement Scholarships. Eight students out of the class of 18 (pictured below right) received certificates for Highest Honors for earning a GPA of 3.8 or higher, and one student — Rebekah Kimmerley — received a certificate for High Honors for earning a GPA of 3.5-3.79.

Five seniors attended ACS since kindergarten and received a special PTF award presented by PTF President Terry Vogel.

Five students who attended ACS continuously since kindergarten (pictured at right) received a $100 gift from the Parent Teacher Fellowship, presented by PTF President Terry Vogel, who described an education at ACS as “a priceless investment.” “You can’t do a better thing for your child than to send them to ACS,” Vogel said.

Following is a list of the special scholarship and award recipients:

  • Academic Achievement Scholarship: Sydney Pearson and Kami DeNick
  • 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): Chloe Vogel
  • Mayor Hodson Community Service Scholarship: Katherine Kong and Sydney Pearson
  • Garrett-Freeman Memorial Music and Art Scholarship (sponsored by ACS alumni parent Barbara Freeman): Katherine Kong
  • COMPASS Award (for senior seeking to serve in education): Kayla DeNick
  • Red Cross Blood Drive Recruitment Award (for senior involved in planning/recruitment of school blood drives): Sydney Pearson
  • Senior Art Award (for senior seeking to use their artistic gifts in further studies): Katherine Kong
  • Parent Teacher Fellowship Scholarship (best essay reflecting on their experience at ACS as aligned with Biblical teaching: Chloe Vogel (1st place); Kami DeNick & Kayla DeNick (2nd place)

CLICK HERE for a photo gallery of Baccalaureate.