Post Tagged with: "Commencement"

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

Eighteen seniors processed into the school’s gymnasium on June 4 to receive their diplomas from Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen and Board of Directors’ Chair Les Tomlinson and to thank their teachers and family members for their guidance and support.

Mrs. Oblen opened the program by congratulating the students for making it through a year that has been “a faith walk in which none of us knew what was in store.” Oblen encouraged the students to let God be their guide as they step forward into the future. “It is my prayer that the Lord will fill you with faith, hope, love, and wisdom as you serve Him with the gifts and talents that He has given each of you,” Oblen said.

Upper School Principal Meg McHale gave the closing remarks, noting that the Class of 2021 had learned patience and resilience, “qualities that you will need as you move forward into the next stage of your lives.” She also announced that the students, most of who will be attending college in the fall, had received over $303,000 in scholarships after being offered over $1,027,000 from the various schools to which they applied. Two students — Jeremiah Engle and Joshua Jacoby — will be serving in the U.S. military.

Featured student speakers at Commencement — From left, Valedictorian Sydney Pearson, Salutatorian Kami DeNick, and Chloe Vogel, who delivered the Christian Character Address.

Salutatorian Kami DeNick, 17, of Mays Landing, thanked the administration, faculty, and staff for working hard to make the school year as normal as possible.  “This past year was full of uncertainties, but through it all, the Lord gave us so many blessings,” DeNick said. She encouraged her fellow classmates from Deuteronomy 31:8, noting that as they step into the next chapter of their lives, “know that the Lord is going before us; He is writing our next chapter so we don’t need to be afraid.” DeNick was one of five students in the class who had attended ACS since kindergarten. She will be attending Liberty University in the fall.

Valedictorian Sydney Pearson, 18, of Egg Harbor Township, thanked the teachers for building relationships with their students that have helped guide them through their high school years. “You have had a forever impact on our lives,” Pearson said. “You have trained us how to think for ourselves and how to form our own opinions on what we personally believe instead of conforming to the world.” Pearson challenged her fellow graduates and those listening in the audience to keep their focus and attention on God and to strive to glorify Him in everything they do. “Don’t lose track of who you are in the Lord; keep Christ at the center of your mind no matter where life takes you,” Pearson said. Pearson also attended ACS since kindergarten. She will be attending Stockton University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.

Commencement keynote speaker Pastor Walter Nistorenko

Pastor Walter Nistorenko, lead pastor at Abundant Life Church in Seaville, delivered the commencement keynote address, and encouraged the graduates to discover and understand their identity and purpose in God.  “Success in life is not about making money or achieving fame,” Nistorenko said. “When you discover the calling that God has for you — your God-given purpose — you will come alive and will be able to establish a legacy for you and your children.”

Senior Rebekah Kimmerley performed “My Wish,” accompanied by Mrs. Jane Zigner.

Other graduates who participated in the program were Chloe Vogel, who gave the Christian character address, and Rebekah Kimmerley, who sang an uplifting rendition of “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. Kimmerley has been a member of the High School Praise and Worship team that has led worship time during the weekly 6th-12th grade chapel. Vogel and Kimmerley will be attending Atlantic Cape Community College in the fall and plan to pursue careers in education.

CLICK HERE for a photo gallery of Commencement 2021 on the ACS website. Additional photos, taken by photographer John Loreaux, can be viewed and purchased at www.loreaux.zenfolio.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations, Class of 2020!

ACS marked its 27th Commencement with an uplifting outdoor ceremony on July 8, as various speakers encouraged the 20 students in the Class of 2020 to trust God and the plan He has for their lives.

“In the midst of this pandemic, the future may seem unsure, but you graduates do not need to fear what the unknown future holds as long as you put your faith and trust in the Lord,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, who welcomed the parents, faculty, staff, and friends to the ceremony that was also live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel.

Commencement keynote speaker Pastor Matt Mouliert urged the graduates to surrender to God and seek His purpose for their lives. “You have been given this precious life from Almighty God — spend it wisely because you can only spend it once,” Mouliert said. “If you keep God at the center of your life, then you will succeed, your life will matter.” Mouliert is Senior Pastor of Crossroads Fellowship in Pleasantville, has taught Bible classes at ACS for 9 years, and his two sons, Jake (’16) and Luke (’18), are ACS alumni.

Valedictorian Ashleigh Martin, 17, of Mays Landing, said she and her classmates were very thankful to able to come together for an in-person Commencement. “This year has been an emotional roller coaster for us all, but in all this fear and despair, we have a God who carried us through,” Martin said. “We may not have had our missions trips, prom, and senior celebrations,  but we learned to trust in what God would do. We learned to persevere and finish the year strong.” Martin is receiving a full academic scholarship to attend Anderson University in the fall where she will major in musical theater. She was also one of 15 seniors in southern New Jersey to receive  recently chosen by the Press of Atlantic City

Salutatorian Josephine D’Anna, 18, of Northfield, said one of the important lessons she has learned over the past four years of high school was to develop an attitude of humility by making God first in everything you do. “I encourage you, Class of 2020, as we go on to college, work, and into the world to look at every situation with humility and to realize that God’s work is more important than striving for success. Instead, always strive to do you best for Him.” D’Anna will be attending Thomas Jefferson University in the fall, where she will major in nursing. She received the Comcast Achievers Scholarship, the Sons of Italy Scholarship, the Special Forces Association scholarship, and a scholarship from the Northfield Mother’s League.

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 2020 was collectively receiving over $530,000 in college scholarships, after being offered over $1.2 million from the schools they applied to.

The four students who attended ACS continuously since kindergarten — Lauren Harmon, Paige Hoover, Dalton Sage, and Kathryn Winder — were  recognized and later received a gift card from the Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF). Two students — Harmon and Ian Iaconelli – were also the recipients of a PTF essay-writing scholarship. Harmon will be attending Cairn University to seek a degree in psychology and communications. She is receiving the Cairn Merit Scholarship and the University Director’s Award. Iaconelli will be attending Eastern University in the fall to pursue a degree in physical therapy. He also received the Red Cross Scholarship.

Staff members Kelly Flynn and Bill Smallwood led the attendees in a time of worship, singing “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe, Elevation Worship, and Cody Carnes. Ian Iaconelli, who was class president in his junior and senior year, gave the benediction to close the program.

CLICK HERE to watch the Commencement ceremony on the ACS YouTube channel.

CLICK HERE for an online photo gallery of the Commencement ceremony on the ACS website. Photo credits: John Loreaux.

ACS to Hold Outdoor Commencement and 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on School Campus

ACS will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2020 at an outdoor commencement ceremony on the school campus on Wednesday, July 8 and will hold an 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on Friday, July 10. Both ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and are ticketed events limited in capacity due to COVID-19 regulations.

“We are so thankful that we are now able to hold in-person ceremonies to recognize and honor our Class of 2020 and our 8th grade students,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are looking forward to coming together with our ACS families to celebrate and give thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout this extraordinarily challenging school year.”

Seniors are receiving 4 reserved tickets for front section seating and 10 additional tickets for general seating in the parking lot in front of the school building. Eighth grade students are receiving 4 reserved front section tickets and 6 general seating tickets. Chairs will be provided for the 4 front section seats, but guests holding the general seating tickets are asked to bring their own chairs. Only those holding a ticket to the ceremonies will be able to attend, with limited attendance by ACS faculty and staff. Social distancing is expected to be followed throughout these events.

Families can pick up their allotted tickets for these ceremonies in the school office starting on Thursday, July 2. Additional important details about the ceremonies were emailed to parents and guardians by Upper School Principal Meg McHale on June 30.

Those who are unable to attend the ceremonies in person will be able to watch them online. Both ceremonies will be live streamed on the Atlantic Christian School YouTube Channel.  Please click on the links below to watch the ceremonies live on YouTube:

CLICK HERE to watch the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020.

CLICK HERE to watch the 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony.