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: Paula Cibotti Accardi (’75), John (Tony) Polcini (’89), Brianna McHale Haltom (’07), Byron Nelson (’09), Dara Brown Heston (’11), Ani Karabashian (’12), Vassil Stoimenov (’14), Trevor Little (’15-non-graduating), Candace Winkel Menno (’16), Solomon Griffith (’19), Rose Shaw (’19), Caraline Winkel (’19), and Ashleigh Martin (’20). Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under “News and Events.”

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.

John (Tony) Polcini (’89). Congratulations to Tony for being elected in May 2022 to a four-year term as an at-large member of the City Council of Ocean City.  Tony may be the first ACS alumnus to be elected to serve in public office. “I count it a privilege that God blessed me with the opportunity to have this responsibility to serve the people of Ocean City, a place where I grew up, worked as a student, ran a business, and am raising my own family,” Tony said. “My goal is to make Ocean City the greatest family resort.” In addition to serving on City Council, Tony works as a salesman for Supplyitall Brady IFS in Vineland. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, JD and Michael, and have been long-time active members of Mission Point Church in Somers Point.

Brianna McHale Haltom (’07) earned her Doctorate in Special Education from Liberty University in May 2022 and relocated to Lynchburg, VA with her husband, Caleb, and their four children in mid-January 2023. Caleb will be working as an accountant at Liberty. Brianna and Caleb also welcomed their fourth child, Jocelyn, on January 14, 2023,  shortly before the move to Lynchburg. Baby Jocelyn joins siblings Brantley, 11, Maverick, 9, and McKenna, 2, and Brianna is looking forward to being a stay-at-home mom.

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.

Dara Brown Heston (’11). If you visit the Charity Center Thrift Store on Tilton Road in Northfield, you will likely be welcomed with a smile by Dara, who is the store manager. Since 2015, Dara has been working for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, first as a chef and now as manager of the thrift store. Dara’s passion is helping people in need. She also enjoys using her artistic talents to paint murals in the U.S. and overseas. She and her husband, Mike, traveled to Nicaragua several years ago, where Dara painted several murals. They fell in love with the simpler life and saw opportunities to help. They now hope to return to Nicaragua in the future to live and pursue missions work with the youth. Dara’s plans to serve in Nicaragua were featured in a June 16, 2022 article in the Shore Local Newsmagazine, which was written by 2014 ACS graduate Sarah Fertsch, who is a staff writer for the publication. Dara and Mike live in Hammonton and are now expecting their first child in March 2023.

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.

Vassil Stoimenov (’14) came to the U.S. from Bulgaria at the age of 16 and attended ACS, where he excelled on the basketball court and was part of two ACS Varsity Boys’ championship teams. After graduation, he received a scholarship to Maryville University of Saint Louis in Missouri, where he played on the Men’s Basketball Team and majored in business management and leadership. After college, he played semi-pro basketball and was a member of the Bulgarian National Basketball team. Vassil now lives in Los Angeles, California and is the CEO of Concrete Regeneration, a construction company he founded in 2018 that installs decorative concrete floors. Vassil is also involved with the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles, helping to promote Bulgarian culture in California.

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.

Candace Winkel Menno (’16) graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Masters in the Science of Counseling from Clarks Summit University in May 2022 and a month later tied the knot with PJ Menno. They now live in Hammonton, where Candace is running her own business — Candace’s Canvasses — creating and selling her art online, at the Ocean City summer Farmer’s Market, and at other street fairs and art shows.  Candace recently returned to ACS in December 2022 to participate as an arts and crafts vendor at the One Christmas Night event. Her goal is to get her LPC in the state of New Jersey and in the future she would like to earn a post graduate Master’s in art therapy.

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.

Rose Shaw (’19) is a senior at Stockton University and is majoring in communication. She plans to continue with her higher education to earn a Master’s in the same field with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and is applying to schools across the country. Rose is working part-time as a cashier at the Staples store in Somers Point.

Caraline Winkel (’19) is a junior at Clarks Summit University and is majoring in counseling. She is a member of the CSU Defenders Women’s Basketball team, where she regularly contributes to the team’s success with her strong outside shooting, helping with recent wins over Bryn Athn and Cairn University. In December 2022, Caraline got engaged to Liam Hungate and are planning a December 2024 wedding.

Ashleigh Martin (’20) is a junior at Anderson University in South Carolina, majoring in musical theatre. In the fall of 2022, she was dual cast as a featured dancer and understudy for the lead in the university’s presentation of the Cole Porter musical, “Anything Goes.” She performed in seven shows as a featured dancer and in one show as the lead character, Reno Sweeney. This was her third musical at Anderson and she has been cast in a leading role as Maizy LaBird in Anderson’s April 2023 production of “Seussical.” Ashleigh attends New Spring Church in Anderson and is now working as an actress in a church project creating videos for their children’s ministry at 14 satellite church campuses. The videos are being filmed at an off-site location in North Carolina. Ashleigh received a Presidential Fellows full tuition scholarship to Anderson, and has maintained a 4.0 GPA and made the Dean’s List every semester.

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.