ACS marked its 30th Commencement on June 9 with various speakers urging the 29 students in the Class of 2023 to draw upon the Biblical values and lessons learned at ACS, to use their gifts and abilities to serve God, and to seek God’s wisdom and strength as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
“It is my prayer that each of your dreams will be realized and that you will continue to make a difference in the world,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, who welcomed the parents, faculty, staff, and friends to the ceremony held in the school gym that was also live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel. “The seeds of God’s Word have been planted in you here. Now go out and do God’s work.”
Commencement keynote speaker Christian Delacruz, the ACS Event Coordinator and a middle school and high school Bible teacher, encouraged the graduates to be bold in their faith and to seek to know God intimately. “As you move out into the world and seek to fulfill your dreams, understand that there is no secure foundation except in Christ alone.”
Salutatorian Reyna Lewis, 18, of Egg Harbor Township, noted that it took years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance for her and her fellow classmates to make it to graduation day, and thanked ACS teachers and family members for the important role that they played. “When faced with problems or trials, we were always encouraged to go to God because He is the one who gives us wisdom, love, understanding, and strength,” Lewis said. She finished with a 4.11 GPA and will be attending the University of Notre Dame to major in biochemistry.
Valedictorian Paige Noble, 18, of Egg Harbor Township, challenged her classmates to make the most of every opportunity and new experience. “We only live one life and we need to live that life for Jesus most of all,” Noble said. “God will do extraordinary things if we are looking for Him to use us. God needs to use us in His plan, not our own.” Noble, who achieved a 4.22 GPA, will be attending Cairn University and is considering majoring in math education, marketing, or sports management.
Three talented seniors who were members of the High School Worship Team — Daniella Ajayi, Tommy Ellison, Jr., and Jada Logan — presented special music during the program, performing “Time of Our Lives” by Tyrone Wells. Ajayi will be attending Howard University, where she plans to major in health sciences and minor in psychology. Ellison will be attending Liberty University, where he plans to major in nursing and minor in music therapy. Logan will be attending Temple University, where she plans to major in computer science.
Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, Upper School Principal Meg McHale, and Board of Directors’ Chair Les Tomlinson participated in the presentation of the diplomas to the graduates. After receiving their diplomas, the graduates stepped out into the audience to present their parents and guardians with long stemmed roses as a gesture of gratitude.
As each graduate was introduced, McHale announced the various awards and scholarships that students had received. She noted that the Class of 2023 was collectively receiving $790,000 in college scholarships, after being offered $1.14 million from the schools they applied to. One graduate plans to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Board of Directors Chair Pastor Les Tomlinson gave a closing charge to the graduates in his benediction at the close of the ceremony — Go out in joy, in confidence, in strength, in wisdom, in love with kindness and blessings to give away, use your studies to bless God’s beautiful world, and go out with freedom, knowing there so much more to see and enjoy.
Photo credits: Gail Crafton, AC Photo. The ACS Commencement can also be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@ACSEHT
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: Paul Jones (’15), Lydia Dice (’16), DJ Hitchner (’17), Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Devin Tridente (’22). Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under “News and Events.”
Paul Jones (’15) and his wife, former ACS student Hunter Robinson, are expecting their second daughter later this year. Paul was the Middle School Bible teacher at ACS for the 2022-2023 school year and is the youth pastor at Friendship Bible Church in Egg Harbor Township. Paul is passionate about basketball and has his own business, Kingdom Courts, that provides basketball skills training. His business motto is: training the next generation of hoopers — glorify God — outwork everyone.
Lydia Dice (’16) has co-authored a new book with her mother, Lydia, entitled “Is There a Shark in the Pool?” about dealing with anxiety. According to Mrs. Dice, the Lord used Lydia’s Bible class at ACS to partner with the power of the Holy Spirit to place her on His path to healing from anxiety. The book is being published by Trilogy Publishing, which is affiliated with TBN. To pre-order the book, please email: sharkinthepool711@gmail.com. Lydia and her family also attended the “ACS Legacy Gala: An Evening with Comedian Jeff Allen” on May 12 at the Ocean City Tabernacle.
Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17) married Brendan Keller on June 21, 2023 at the Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City, NJ. DJ and Brendan met as fellow athletes while attending Cairn University. Celebrating with DJ as members of the wedding party were six ACS alumni or former students — Kaylee Redding Carolus (’13), Olivia Mack, Candace Winkel Menno (’16), Kate Newman, Ola Oguntuase (’19), and Carly Harper Witherow (’08). ACS Athletic Director Pam Hitchner was the matron of honor. DJ and Brendan will be living in Upper Township. For the past year, DJ has been teaching PE and health at the Belhaven Middle School in Linwood and coaching their girls basketball team. This fall, DJ will be coaching the ACS Varsity Girls Soccer Team. Congratulations and may God bless you both!
Jacob O’Brien (’19), who has played on the Cairn University Men’s Soccer Team for the past four years, was recently accepted into a ministry outreach program with Missionary Athlete’s International (MAI) and is spending eight weeks this summer sharing his faith with young people at MAI soccer camps and clinics in Chicago and Brazil. Jake will be graduating in December 2023 with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in business.
Devin Tridente (’22) stopped by ACS on May 11 during the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Track Meet, held on the ACS campus. After graduating in June 2022, Devin took a gap year and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College in California. He will be attending Regent University in the fall of 2023, where he will play on their D-1 Men’s Basketball Team. Devin plans to major in sports management and minor in business.
The ACS Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams are the 2023 Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Champions! Both teams won hard-fought battles on February 25 in their championship games, which were held in the ACS gym. The No. 1-seeded Lady Cougars remained undefeated, beating Gloucester County Christian School 48-43, and the No. 2-seeded Varsity Boys’ Team pulled off an upset, beating No. 1-seeded Pilgrim Academy 54-45, a team that had been undefeated all season. It was a night to celebrate!
Eight ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars for the 2023 season and were recognized at the end of the championship games. The four Girls’ Varsity All-Stars are — Evangelina Kim and Paige Noble (1st team), Reyna Lewis (2nd team), and Becca Kelley (honorable mention). The four Boys’ Varsity All-Stars are — Noah Stokes (1st team), Caleb Vogel (2nd team), and Charlie Costello and Noah Gibbs (honorable mention).
During this season, Coach Breunig was also honored for earning her 100th win on February 15 when the Lady Cougars defeated Oakcrest 54-24 in a nonconference game. In her 6th year as head coach, Coach Breunig has now led the Lady Cougars to two TSCAC Conference championships and five first place finishes in the regular season. She also received the TSCAC Coach of the Year Award in the 2017-2018 season, her first year as head coach. Coach Breunig is a 2012 ACS alumnus who was a strong varsity player and team leader during her four years on the Lady Cougars.
Paula Cibotti Accardi (’75-6th grade) has reconnected with ACS as a grandparent. Paula is thrilled that one of her grandsons, Daniel Accardi-Gonzalez, is in the 7th grade at ACS, where she has seen him grow academically and spiritually over the past year and a half. In 1975, ACS only went up to the 6th grade. Paula attended for just one year and was one of four students in the 1975 6th grade graduating class. Paula was one year behind ACS alumnus Debby Zanes Reinwalds (’74) and they were childhood neighbors and friends in Ventnor. They are still friends today and Paula is grateful to Debby for introducing her to ACS and encouraging her to learn more about God. Paula graduated in 1981 from Atlantic City High School and got married in 1982. One of her three daughters is Angela Accardi-Gonzalez, Daniel’s mother. Paula worked for many years as a basic skills instructor/aide in the Linwood Public Schools and as a hairdresser on weekends. She lives in Northfield and has been a longtime member of New Life Assembly of God in Egg Harbor Township.
Byron Nelson (’09) is in his 4th year as the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing and is having another exceptional season, recently winning the championship in the Bill Osborn Memorial Bracket at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic in December in Wildwood. Coach Byron also teaches health and PE at ACIT. Byron and his brothers, Wayne and Andrew, were recently highlighted in a Press of Atlantic City column on January 13, 2023, which focused on how all three brothers are involved in coaching basketball in the Atlantic City area. Wayne is head coach of the Atlantic City High School boys’ basketball team and Andrew, who also attended ACS until the 8th grade, is Bryon’s assistant coach at ACIT. Byron graduated from Kean University in 2016 with a BS in communication recreation administration. Byron is married to ACS classmate Amy Vogel Nelson (’09) and they have two young sons, Cameron and Malakai. Amy and Byron reside in Northfield and worship at Landmark Church in Ocean City.
Ani Karabashian (’12) received her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Rutgers University in May 2022 and now lives near New Brunswick. She has been working since August 2022 as a city planner for the firm of Heyer, Gruel & Associates in Red Bank, NJ.
Trevor Little (’15-non graduating) attended ACS from the 2nd to 4th grades and has fond memories of his elementary years at ACS. Trevor now leads the 6th-12th grade youth group that meets on Wednesday nights at Fresh Start Church in Egg Harbor Township and also leads the K-5th grade children’s group on Sunday mornings, a position in which he has been serving for 10 years. Trevor is working on earning his Bachelor’s degree and during the day works at River Deck Marina in Sweetwater in the catering department. His heart is focused on serving in ministry and he has taken a Bible equipping class with Sojourn Community Church and done a pastoral internship with them. Trevor recently returned to ACS to be the guest speaker at Middle School Chapel on December 1, 2022, where he talked about the tactics and strategies of the devil and how he works tirelessly to make us question the truth in God’s Word. “The devil is the prince of lies and his native tongue is lies,” Trevor said in his remarks. “By identifying who our enemy is it will set you up on a pattern for redemption and joy.” Trevor’s mother, Linda Stiteler, is an ACS middle school teacher.
Solomon Griffith (’19) is a senior at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. He received a scholarship in 2019 to attend Ursinus and play on the Men’s Baseball Team and has has been a stand-out player since his freshman year, playing first and second base. Solly recently earned postseason honors in June 2022 by being named to the D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region V second team, just the second player in Ursinus program history to earn this honor. In the 2022 season Solly led the Ursinus Bears with a .357 batting average, 26 runs, 15 stolen bases, and a .520 slugging percentage. He also hit 12 doubles, two triples, and two home runs. and had 20 RBIs. Solly also excelled academically, earning Academic All-Centennial Conference honors. Solly was a stand-out shortstop on the ACS Varsity Baseball team and the first baseball player in school history to get 100 hits during his high school career, a milestone that is heralded on a school banner that hangs in the ACS gym. Solly will graduate in May 2023 with a double major in history and plans to teach high school history in the area.
ACS is pleased to welcome seven new Early Education and Elementary teachers to our school family — Heather Aspenberg, Samuel Gottschall, Dena Johnson, Olivia Leach, Holly McCrosson, Jessica Samuels, and Michelle Wheeler. Several of these teachers have previously served at ACS in different roles, including as aides, substitute teachers, summer camp staff, and coaching the cheer team. What they all share is a passion for Christian education and a desire to show love and encouragement to their students and be a light for Christ.
ACS 11th graders learned about the various academic, athletic, and extra-curricular programs offered at Cairn University, a Christian university in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, during an October 18 classroom presentation by Stephen Hogan, an Admissions Counselor at Cairn. The presentation was part of a series of visits from college representatives organized by Guidance Counselor Christina Ragland for the high school “College and Careers Class.”
Congratulations to our Varsity Boys’ Basketball team for winning first place at a Christmas Basketball Tournament hosted by Cairn University on December 29 and 30, beating Faith Christian Academy of Sellersville, PA in the championship round in overtime play. The Varsity Girls’ team also advanced to the championship game, but lost to Faith Christian Academy of Sellersville, finishing in second place.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A number of ACS players and coaches received special all-conference titles that were announced during a ceremony after the Tournament Finals games that were held at Cairn University in Pennsylvania. ACS Varsity Girls’ Head Coach Carly Witherow was named TSCAC Varsity Girls’ Coach of the Year, a title she also won last year. Senior goalie Shelby Einwechter, who had 84 saves this season, was named Best Goalkeeper in the Conference, and senior Chloe Vogel, the top scorer for ACS with 20 goals this season, received the TSCAC MVP award.
The undefeated ACS Varsity Girls’ Soccer team continued its winning streak, beating King’s Christian School 3-1 in the semi-final playoff game on Thursday, November 5 and advancing to the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship Game on Saturday, November 7. The Varsity Boys’ Soccer team lost a hard-fought match 2-1 in its semi-final playoff game against Pilgrim Academy and will play in the TSCAC Consolation Game on Saturday.
Tommy Tillis (’10) joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served as a Navy rescue swimmer for six years, with three tours of duty to Bahrain. He is married to another ACS alumnus, Rachel Picking (’11), and they have two children, Ellie, and Cooper. While Tommy was serving in the Navy, the family lived in Norfolk, VA, but they returned to South Jersey in 2018. Tommy is now a firefighter in Ocean City, his life-long dream job, and Rachel is a stay-at-home mom. Rachel, who was valedictorian of the Class of 2010, attended Liberty University where she earned a BS in business administration.
Hannah Schalles (’13) graduated in May 2020 from Cedarville University with a Doctor of Pharmacy and is now doing her pharmacy residence at Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. She plans to pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist.
Paul Jones (’15) has relocated to Florida with his wife, Hunter, and daughter, Selah, to take a faculty position at Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth. Paul is teaching middle school Bible and history. He will also be an assistant coach on the Varsity Boys’ basketball team, a position Paul held at ACS for the past several years.
Lydia Dice (’16) graduated with honors in September 2020 from Lancaster Bible College with degrees in Bible and middle level education in science and math. She has moved to South Carolina to work for a gap year with One Life at South Wesleyan University while she pursues her Masters in higher education through Geneva University.
Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17) is in her junior year at Cairn University pursuing a degree in health and physical education. She has distinguished herself as a scholar and athlete, making the dean’s list every semester while playing on the Women’s Soccer Team and the Women’s Basketball team. She has made all-conference in both sports every year, has been captain of the Women’s Basketball team, and was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team of the Colonial States Athletic Conference. In September 2020, DJ was recognized for her athletic talents and leadership by being one of 10 players named to Cairn’s 2010-2020 All-Decade Women’s Basketball team. She is also student president of the athletic department and is responsible for planning student events on campus.
Three alumni who played on ACS championship Lady Cougars basketball teams made significant contributions this season to their college teams — 2017 graduate Dakota Hitchner, 2015 graduate Ola Oguntuase, and 2016 graduate Candace Winkel (pictured above with ACS Athletic Director Pam Hitchner). 
Hitchner, in her second year as the point guard on Cairn University’s Women’s Basketball team, averaged 20 points a game and received Honorable Mention All-Conference in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Hitchner, a junior, is majoring in physical education.
Oguntuase, a pre-med major at Jefferson University, has been a member of this strong Division 2 team since her freshman year. The team came in first place this year in the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference and was moving on to play in the NCAA Division 2 Championship tournament, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic the tournament games were recently cancelled. Oguntuase, who plays center, averaged five minutes of playing time this year and played strong in the final game of the regular season.