Abilene Christian School "Legacy" magazine - August 2017

A Publication of Abilene Christian School AUGUST

2017

Congratulations Class of 2017!

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by Kirk Wade

Message from the President Greetings from Abilene Christian School. My name is Kirk Wade and I am about to begin my fifth year as president of our great school. It has been one of our goals to be more intentional with our alumni base to keep you connected to what’s transpiring on campus and this is the first step in the process. If you haven’t been on campus in the last 5-10 years, here’s a sampling of what you’ve missed: In the spring of 2012, former president Dr. John Tyson began an initiative to refurbish the gymnasium. Thanks to his hard work and the generosity of former parents Dr. Bruce and Charlotte Davis, improvements including HVAC, new bleachers, new graphics, and a new wooden floor were put into place for the 2012-2013 school year. Those of you that played on the VCT and/or “lego” floor in the past can certainly appreciate what Dr. Tyson and the Davis’ did for the school.

In the summer of 2015, friends and family members of Mrs. Nancy Thompson (mother of Tom ’79 and Jane Thompson Koble ’83) donated approximately $100,000 to allow the school to renovate and update the library.

Nancy served ACS as an elementary teacher and principal in a career that spanned three different decades.

The Nancy Thompson Memorial Library serves as a tribute to her and her many contributions to the school and was the catalyst for 50 elementary and MS students being recognized as Million Word Readers during the school year. We were saddened to learn of Dr. Gary Thompson’s passing earlier this spring. He was recognized here locally for his involvement and improvement of Abilene and our surrounding community.

We were pleased to help host a reunion this past fall for members of the graduating classes of 1958-1963. Led

by James “Yammie” McCown (’60), approximately 40 alumni and spouses spent several days here and on the ACU campus. For those of you that are curious, the Zona Luce building that housed our school for decades is now home to the ACU School of Nursing.

In May of 2015, administrators announced that the annual Teacher of the Year award would henceforth be known as the Phyllis Gilbreth Excellence in Teaching Award. Mrs. Gilbreth began her career at ACS in 1978, just completed her 38th year, and shows no signs of slowing down. Congratulations are in order for her and

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this year’s winner, Mrs. Kay Robbins.

If you’re an alumnus that graduated in the last 30 years, you know what an impact these two women have had on our campus.

We have been in the process of strategic and master planning with the Board of Trustees for almost three years and they are committed to the growth of our school. We have explored a multitude of factors that influence growth, identifying academic success, facilities/programs, and tuition affordability as key components that attract families to ACS. Utilizing this data, we have invested close to a quarter of a million dollars into our academic program including the NWEA testing platform, $80,000 worth of new microscopes and equipment for the science program, a 1:1 Chromebook initiative in the high school, iPad and Chromebook carts in the elementary, and additional elective choices for our high school students.

A master plan committee comprised of parents and faculty/board members has been in place for over a year and provided input on maximizing our current building space and identifying new facility needs based on desired growth. The end result of their efforts is reflected in the master plan shown above. In March, the Board of Trustees approved a $10 million capital campaign for new facilities and existing facility upgrades.

Phase One includes a new field house, football and baseball stadiums, an expansion of the cafeteria, and additional classrooms on the south side of the building.

We’re pleased to bring you this magazine and re-connect with our many alums all over the nation. You are always welcome here and we hope you will consider returning to campus during the upcoming school year and see first-hand the great things going on at ACS. Go Panthers!

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Elementary

by Cindy Johnson, Elementary School Principal

Abilene Christian Elementary School is a place where fun and learning turn school into an adventure! 2016-17 proved to be a banner year for the elementary side topping out at over 200 students and meeting our goal of two classes in every grade level. In addition to a rigorous academic program, ACS continues to value service to others and our community. For over 20 years our 5th graders have delivered meals to senior citizens through the Meals On Wheels program.

We also partner and serve with the Betty Hardwick Center, Abilene Hope Haven, and the Christian Service Center.

Our elementary school strives to make learning and history come alive. First grade celebrates Ancient Egypt with the mummifying of a chicken (King Kluck) in full Egyptian dress. Second grade celebrates Ancient Greece and has their version of the Olympic games. Our third graders re-enact important events in Texas history via their production of a “Lone Star Legacy,” and our 4th grade hosts a Medieval Faire for the entire campus.

This spring our 4th and 5th graders have been involved in a global program, “Destination Imagination” headed by Jennifer Crisp. This afterschool endeavor facilitates teamwork, out-of-the-box thinking, and instant challenges. A highlight this year was that all six of our teams placed at the regional competition, with three advancing to state. Those three teams then advanced to the Global competition in Knoxville, TN. This is the first time in school history that ACS has advanced to the global competition.

I love that our teachers and students are passionate about learning and excellence. It’s contagious!

Come visit – your adventure awaits!

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Secondary

by Van Gravitt, Secondary School Principal

It is a blessing to look forward to coming to work every day, and that is exactly what I do! ACS is a great place to be because we have an outstanding faculty, supportive parents, and most importantly: wonderful students. This year our students have excelled in academics, athletics, and fine arts.

We had playoff qualifiers in all major sports, a National Merit Commended Student (Amanda Hernandez), and state qualifier in Debate (Carisa Brawley), a state champion in tennis (Ryan Flanagan), and sweepstakes winners in band and choir. The spring production this year was the musical “Emma”, and our talented students brought the house down with an unbelievable performance.

John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”, and it’s a joy to see that manifested every day in our kids. They’re not perfect, but they love each other and they love people, and that’s at the core of what it means to be a Christian school. The positive environment we have on campus, combined with the acts of service our students perform in the community, make the C in ACS truly mean something… and that’s why I love my job!

Class of 2017 Valedictorian, Kamren Cuevas

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Alumni on Campus Last fall we helped facilitate a 2-day reunion for alumni and their spouses from the ACS graduating classes of 1958-1963. Approximately 40 gathered from the span of the 5 graduating classes.

James “Yammie” McCown (‘60) spearheaded the event after wanting to reconnect with old friends see the current campus. The 2-day event kicked off with a reception and dinner at Dr. Jack and Mrs. Ann (Faubus) Griggs’ (‘61) home.

The following day the group toured the current Abilene Christian School campus, told stories, shared memories, sang a few songs, and had lots of laughs. The group concluded their visit with a tour around ACU and a tour of the Zona Luce building.

Let Us Help You Plan Your Reunion!

2012 - 5 years 2007 - 10 years 2002 - 15 years 1997 - 20 years 6

Upcoming Reunion Years:

1992 - 25 years 1987 - 30 years 1982 - 35 years 1977 - 40 years

1972 - 45 years 1967 - 50 years 1962 - 55 years 1957 - 60 years

1952 - 65 years 1947 - 70 years

Please email Angela McGlothlin at angela.mcglothlin@acs.acu.edu

Alumni Spotlight

Ronald F. Phillips, Class of ‘52

After graduating from Abilene Christian High School in 1952, I enrolled in Abilene Christian College, where I majored in Business Administration, and graduated in 1955. I spent the next two years, working with my brother, Phil Phillips, also an alum of ACHS, as a building contractor, after which I worked in sales prior to moving to Midland, Texas in 1958 to work as a weather-stripping contractor. In 1957 I married Jamie Bottoms. In 1962 we moved to Austin so that I could attend the University of Texas Law School. We returned to Abilene in 1965, and I took a position in the legal department of McWood Corporation. I opened my own general practice law office in 1967, and also began teaching Business Law at Abilene Christian University. In 1970, Jamie, our children, Celeste, Joel, and Phil, and I moved to California where I became the initial full-time dean of Pepperdine Law School. I served in that capacity for twenty-seven years, and in 1997 took on an advancement role at Pepperdine University, where I now serve as Senior Vice Chancellor & School of Law Dean Emeritus. My wife, Jamie, passed from this life in September of 1996. Over the years I coached Little League Baseball, Junior All American Football, and youth basketball and soccer. For many years I taught high school Bible classes, and have served as deacon and elder. After Jamie died, I moved my mother, Maudie Phillips, from Abilene to live with me, and she spent a full decade here, living to be ninety-nine. In addition to my three children and their spouses, I have seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Q. What are some of your favorite memories of ACS? My favorite memories of ACS would fill a book. I began my journey at ACS in the eighth grade.

There are so many things about the school that I love. Most of all, I had the opportunity of being associated every single day with people whom I respected and admired, that were attempting to be the kind of people that the Lord wanted them to be.

Q. Was there one person/teacher at ACS that influenced your career path?

There were many positive influences on me, but Miss Bertha Casada was quite remarkable. She expected her students to excel, and not be content with anything less. Her assigning us to write some poetry was instrumental in my eventually taking on song-writing as a hobby in recent years, having learned that I enjoyed creating rhymes. The Cactus yearbook my senior year was dedicated to Miss Casada. In a conversation with classmate Betty Boles Freeman a couple of years ago, she talked at some length about Miss Casada and her influence on all of us.

For the full interview, please visit our website at: www.abilenechristian.com/alumni/

Phyllis Gilbreth Excellence in Teaching Award Mrs. Kay Robbins was the recipient of the 2016-17 Phyllis Gilbreth Excellence in Teaching Award. Kay has been at ACS for over 28 years and currently teaches English I, dual credit/honors World History, and Government and Economics. In addition to teaching at ACS, she has taught on the collegiate level for McMurray, ACU, and at Cisco College as a dual credit instructor. Kay is also the senior class sponsor.

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2017-18 Look in Advance First Day of School........................ August 17 Homecoming............................... November 3 Grandparent’s Day................... November 21 ECI Delivery................................ December 8 Christmas Program.................. December 14 First Day of Second Semester......January 4 Kindergarten Sneak Peak............ February 1 Annual Auction................................ March 22 ACS Family Fun Night....................... April 13 2018 - Commencement.......................May 19

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