SPRING 2021
PERSEVERING WITH JOY SPRING 2021 HERITAGE MESSENGER
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CONTENTS
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Heritage Messenger Spring 2021
MESSENGER STAFF Gary Roebbelen, Executive Editor Ellen Christenberry, Chief Writer & Managing Editor Lauren Woolever, Assistant Editor Studio Thirteen Photography & Jeremy Nutter, Photographer messenger@heritagechristian.net
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CEO UPDATE
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COVID RESPONSE
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FINE ARTS
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ATHLETICS
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CLUBS
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CLASS OF 2020
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TEACHER PROFILES
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COMMUNITY LIFE
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ALUMNI
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HERITAGE FUND
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SGO GIVING
Cover photo courtesy of Studio Thirteen Photography heritagechristian.net/messenger
the HeritageFUND Fund
GIVING DEEducation UIInspiring Learn more and G support
The Heritage Fund is the school's vital annual campaign that meets our most important needs.
Thank you to Ronald Blue Trust for their ongoing support of HCS! Visit www.ronblue.com
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through the Heritage Fund at
www.heritagechristian.net/heritagefund
CEO PERSPECTIVE
A Faithful Journey
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n 1965, Heritage Christian School’s founders began with a clear, solitary vision: to prepare the next generation of leaders to impact our world for Christ. With three employees and $600 in the bank, they stepped out in faith to start a school that, over the next 55 years, would launch students into advanced education, vocations, and ministry of all kinds. Over the course of time, God has blessed that vision with a growing student body, amazing faculty and staff, and a beautiful campus. In spite of changing cultural and social landscapes, one thing has remained: this institution always has been and always will be about providing academic excellence with the Bible as our foundation and Jesus Christ as our focus. We have so much to celebrate in Heritage Christian School history, and we eagerly look forward to what He has in store for our future. As you follow the Heritage story, I hope you’ll see a glimpse of the amazing things that happen every day on our campus. Even more importantly, I hope you’ll better understand the “why” behind everything we do. We believe in placing an equal emphasis on academic excellence and relational discipleship. We are dedicated to teaching Biblical doctrines, core scriptural truths, and Christian living. We have the ultimate authority in the Word of God and are not driven by worldly or cultural ideologies. These doctrines are
not outdated preferences, but Biblical standards that our 900 families embrace and expect from us. Our families partner with us on the distinctive, transformative, educational journey that is Heritage Christian School. Thank you for walking with us on that remarkable journey. Our annual spiritual theme is an important way that we keep ourselves focused on the Gospel. This year’s theme, “Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly,” from Micah 6:8, asks us what the Lord requires and desires of us, connecting our faith with our actions. We must invest in ministering to the broken world around us. We must consider others more highly than ourselves and extend kindness as we love mercy. Doing justly challenges us to create a world where all people can fully develop the gifts that God has given them. We look forward to growing together in fellowship and truth, walking humbly into a future that God holds in his hands.
Jeff Freeman, CEO
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COVID RESPONSE
Flying Higher: Persevering through the Pandemic We want to thank each and every team that was instrumental in making this year work for our special community.
Task Force Teams
The facilities team installed a new air purification system that will also serve the Heritage campus post-pandemic. They reconfigured classrooms and offices, added sneeze guards to desks, and installed PPE/cleaning kits in every classroom.
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his COVID-19 year brought about many unique challenges into every sphere of our lives. But our Heritage community has continued to rely on the Lord’s provision and sovereignty every step of the way. We are profoundly proud of our teachers, staff, students, and families for the incredible work they’ve put into adapting to an ever-changing school year. After a tough ending to the 2019-20 school year, Heritage CEO Jeff Freeman, Academics Director Brenda Klingerman, COO Nathan Beadle, and the administrative team put together several task forces to work toward reopening safely this fall. These task forces spent the summer pouring over contingency plans and safety protocols, changing nearly every school operation. The months of work landed them a hard-earned waiver from the Marion County Health Department to reopen school in August. Through it all, Beadle, Klingerman, and the administration are grateful to have the school running in-person. “My greatest joy this year has been seeing that what we have done has worked, spread at school has been minimized, and we have been able to fulfill our mission during this challenging year,” said Beadle.
Transportation reconfigured bus routes, added new car pick-up lanes, and designated door entrances by student grade level. The foodservice team developed a pre-order delivery service so students could eat in classrooms. Each grade level eats lunch in designated classrooms; for younger students, this means they eat in their cohort with their homeroom class. Middle and high schoolers were assigned a lunch classroom for the year. Academic teams hired additional teachers, scheduled students in smaller class settings, helped specials teachers adapt to traveling by cart from classroom-to-classroom, and set up safe recess options for younger students.
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COVID RESPONSE The health service team, which usually has the summer off, established contact tracing and screening protocols. Nurse manager Diana Malmoff was instrumental in navigating and implementing the ever-changing health guidelines.
faculty and staff member has continued to sacrifice many hours to love, educate, and pray for our student body.
The technology team outfitted each classroom with webcams, speakers, and mics, and updated the bandwidth so teachers could live stream from every room on campus. They were fortunate to have updated the school’s education support systems with Veracross and Canvas in 2019, so the transition to virtual school was less painful.
Students
Our students have endured through long, lonely days at home and unusual classroom dynamics. They have persevered through a hard year with many canceled events, games, concerts, and club meetings. In spite of disappointment and loss, our students have continued to show up to school with smiles underneath their masks.
Families
Teachers and Staff
Our teachers and staff have continued to put students and their education first. They have figured out virtual teaching on the fly, adapted their traditional teaching methods and routines, and worked within tough restrictions to keep classrooms thriving. Each
Our families have continued to support our school in so many ways. In spite of the confusing and ever-changing times, our families have showered the faculty, staff, and students with kind messages, prayer, and patience. Through it all, the Lord has continued to reveal His mercy and provision over each of us. In spite of much hardship, the Lord’s promises still ring true.
SPIRITUAL THEME The world is full of social unrest, suffering, uncertainty, and division; its brokenness and our need for Christ have been more apparent this past year. Micah 6:8 reminds us of our call to surrender to the Lord and connect our faith with action. The Discipleship staff selects a spiritual theme for each school year to unite the entire student body around a spiritual truth. The spiritual theme for the 2020-2021 school year is “Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.” The theme comes from Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” In this passage, the prophet Micah is challenging and reminding the Israelites what God desires and requires of them. We, too, need to be reminded of how Christ calls us to live: to treat people fairly and equitably, extend grace and forgiveness, and faithfully walk alongside the Lord.
The theme is displayed around the school on banners, bulletin boards, and t-shirts, and each school shares the theme in class and chapel throughout the school year. During the Fall Spiritual Emphasis Week, the middle and high school heard from Greg Dyson, VP for Intercultural Leadership and Church Relations at Taylor University. Dyson spent three days breaking down each section of the theme. “We hope and pray that this theme will be a consistent reminder for our Heritage family to ask ourselves if we love as Jesus loves, if we follow after His righteousness, if we extend grace and mercy to others, and if we truly are walking humbly with our Lord,” said Becky Stowers, Director of Discipleship.
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FINE ARTS
Fine Arts Persists M
usical expression and the arts have been hit particularly hard across the globe through the COVID-19 pandemic, as choirs, orchestras, and arts organizations have had to cancel most events and performances. The Heritage Fine Arts department has been no different, but the teachers and students have worked hard to keep the spirit of art and music-making alive. The elementary and intermediate schools canceled all live performances, as students must remain in their classroom cohorts. Instead, the art and music teachers travel from classroom to classroom with carts of supplies. The middle and high schools have still been able to meet for fine arts classes but under strict requirements. The Fine Arts teachers shifted their focus to the classroom, hoping to squeeze out just one performance. “We wanted to make sure what we were doing in the classroom was creating a positive experience and giving the kids a chance to just be together,” said orchestra director Laura Payne.
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“Our teaching hasn’t stopped,” said choir teacher Erin Voiles. “It’s just our output into the community that’s different.” Even still, they’ve managed to pull off several concerts this year: the high school jazz band performed in November and the band performed in February, a high school string quartet played alongside some Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians for a Worthy Servants benefit concert, and the middle and high school choirs recorded their songs for a Christmas video. This March, the Fine Arts department organized a virtual performance in place of the annual Pops Concert. High school orchestra, band, and jazz band performed in pre-recorded videos, and various choir ensembles sang live between videos. The visual fine arts teachers are currently planning an art show that will be open to students only. The Fine Arts teachers have been incredibly proud of their students’ resilience and positive attitudes.
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“My band kids tell me, ‘We’re just glad we can be together and play,’” said band director Brad Gregory. “They’ve adapted really well in spite of difficult circumstances.” “Nothing replaces getting everyone together in the classroom,” said Laura. “Our students view what we do in the classroom differently now. It’s more valuable to them, and they’re happy to be there.” Director of Fine Arts Cathy Bartemus recently walked past a music room and noticed the students were self-leading rehearsal because their teacher was in quarantine. She has been amazed at the students’ perseverance to continue making music. Cathy is also in awe at how her team of teachers has adapted. “They were given an almost impossible paradigm to teach music,” said Cathy. “But the arts have not slowed down one bit at Heritage. It’s been a year of adapting, but these teachers have stepped up every single time. It’s been amazing to watch.”
FINE ARTS
Laura Payne Steps Down Laura Payne, our beloved orchestra director of 19 years, is leaving Heritage at the end of the year. She is moving to southwest Colorado to be closer to her eldest daughter and enjoy the mountains. Laura started teaching at Heritage in 2001. She had spent 12 years building the orchestra program in Noblesville Schools but wanted to be more available to her daughters, Stephanie (‘10) and Rachel (‘12), who were in 1st and 3rd grade at HCS. “It was God’s perfect place for me as a mother and an educator,” said Laura. Laura teaches 5th-12th grade orchestra classes, Music Theory, and AP Music Theory. She has played string bass in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra since ‘87 and has been the CSO Education Director since ‘98. Laura has many wonderful memories from teaching, taking students on music tours to Nashville, Chicago, and St. Louis, chaperoning Senior Trips, and directing musical pit orchestras. She made her classroom one of joyful music-making but also of safe community. She has seen many great young musicians come through her classes, but she most enjoys watching them mentor and encourage their peers. “My greatest joy is watching young crazy adolescents turn into thoughtful, productive, healthy, and creative adults,” she said. Laura is ever thankful for the parents who partnered with her, and especially grateful to have had the pleasure of working alongside Cathy Bartemus, Brad Gregory, and Erin Voiles for many years. The Heritage community will miss her dearly!
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ATHLETICS
HCS Athletics Perseveres in Spite of the Pandemic
Glorify God. Play Hard. Have Fun.
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ATHLETICS
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Heritage Robotics
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hen the City of Indianapolis offered a free VEX Robotics starter kit to every high school in the city, Heritage Christian physics and chemistry teacher Lisa Foster stepped up to launch an after-school high school robotics team in 2013. Lisa is passionate about helping students understand and enjoy the world of science and technology, and her passion bolstered a school-wide interest in robotics.
students to experiment with their own ideas and learn from their failures as much as their successes.
different countries. The World Championship was named the largest robotics competition in the world by Guinness World Records in 2018.
VEX Robotics is the largest and fastestgrowing robotics program in the world, involving more than 12,000 teams from 33
At tournaments, student teams bring robots they have designed, built, and programmed. They compete in challenges that typically
Our middle school and elementary school launched their own robotics teams in 2014 and 2015, respectively. By 2015, Heritage had five VEX teams school wide, and all five of them progressed to the World Championship Tournament. Today, Heritage boasts 20 VEX Robotics teams spanning 5th-12th grade: seven in high school under the direction of Kelly Goossen, seven in middle school under Kathy Meyers, and six in the elementary school under Jackie Davis. Paul Meyers serves as the technical advisor and tournament coordinator for all 20 teams. The Heritage approach is uniquely studentdriven, with students creating and designing their own projects. Mentors encourage their
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require the robot to complete a series of tasks, such as lifting and moving objects to build towers under time constraints and against other robots. Each robotics team typically attends four or five tournaments throughout the school year. The 2019-’20 Robotics season was cut short last spring, with no World Championships or summer camps due to the lockdowns. This school year, however, Robotics has adapted to be able to continue meeting and competing.
CLUBS
Many of our clubs and extracurricular activities have been canceled or modified to meet safety protocols this year. We hope to continue our regularly scheduled activities in the near future.
Some of our beloved clubs include: • • • •
BEST BUDDIES NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY STUDENT COUNCIL YOUNG LIFE AND WYLDLIFE
• MOCK TRIAL • STEM GO-KART CLUB • VEX ROBOTICS
For more information on our clubs and organizations, visit our website: www.heritagechristian.net/clubs
This year, each team of three to five students practices throughout the week in small group settings. In place of regular tournaments, area schools have been hosting League Nights, which essentially spread a tournament day over the course of several evenings. Each evening, a limited number of teams meet up and compete against other schools. The high school teams have been able to host one in-person tournament and attend several tournaments around the city. They’ve also participated in virtual Skills Only events, where students do driver runs and autonomous programming runs to earn scores that rank them for State and World Championships.
Upperclassmen Mock Trial team "Kickstart" made it to the State Semi-Finals in March
The Indiana State Championship was held virtually this year. Three of our high school teams and all seven elementary/ middle school teams qualified for the World Championship that will take place virtually in May. The goal of the Heritage Robotics program is for students to grow and learn, not just to win trophies. This approach has helped our robotics teams succeed in more ways than one and has contributed to Heritage Robotics developing a reputation for excellence throughout the city and state and in the robotics community as a whole. Heritage Robotics hopes to be able to offer summer camp this year, at least to HCS students. Any students going into 5th-12th grades next fall who are interested in VEX Robotics can contact kathy.meyers@heritagechristian.net.
Former Heritage evGrandPrix Go-Karting team
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CLASS OF 2020
Heritage Christian School Class of 2020
Our senior class of 2020 couldn’t get the same level of celebration as usual when they exited the Heritage community last spring. In an effort to recognize and celebrate their achievements, we’d like to share some snapshots of their success.
Congratulations, Class of 2020!
Folesade Seymone Abeke Ajishegiri Abigail Marie Allemeier Aleena Christine Armstrong Samuel Frederic Azbell Taylor Renee Behlmer Dawson Gregory Bichey Emma Marie Biyun Bittinger Jack William Booker Annabella-Velvet Addison Brown Peyton Thomas Brown Zachary Roth Brown Nicole Erin Carney Caleb David Carrao Julissa Aidee Castellanos Garcia Madison Hope Coers Aidan Grant Craig Claire Ellen Cranfill Rebekah Grace Dage Emery Grace Deaton Emma Frances DeVeydt Robert Harrison Eckel Abigail Rae Ennis Korrine Carrol-Marie Ferguson Clara Sue Fleetwood Alec Christopher Gestenslager Amanda Christine Gillay Connor James Gordon Ayden Taylor Gulley Lydia Esther Hadley Rebekah Michal Hadley
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Gavin Thomas Hamman Jack Thomas Henderson Mark David Henderson Marielle Genevieve Jackson Shelby Nicole Johnson Lindsay Noelle Katterhenry Micah Robert Killingbeck Keiko Eileen Kreklau Kensington Elise LaMotte Evan William Latham Sean Patrick Liam Lawler Andrew Todd Lindley Ethan Hudson Lowry Joseph Fredrick Luebker General Jaire Lynch Brooke Kathryn Mangum Maximus Berton McGrew Meghan Grace McMullen Brianna Michelle Meador Grace Adaira Mobley Anna Grace Molendorp Serona Janani Olin Benjamin Christopher Palladino Elizabeth Nicole Paris Hannah Louise Parson Jackson Stephen Pauwels Lucinda Joy Peklo Ashley Jalyn Joyce Pettigrew Brooke Elizabeth Porter Zyan Joel Porter
Chloe Elizabeth Pound Jackson Phillip Procise Woods Robert Procise Abigail Logan Robinette Cassandra Renee Royal Elizabeth Sophia Salsbury Ethan Fredrick Salsbury Sheila Denise Santos-Sarabia Lydia Elisabethe Sarver Hannah Louise Savage Cathryn Hart Flannigan Searcy Nathan James Shebek Joel Matthew Sledd Chloe Mae Sprunger Eleanore Lily Stark Jackson Phillip Stewart Sydney Delayne Strecker Jiehong Tan Joseph Andrew Terrell Dalton Mathew Turner Olivia Velvet Valentine Emi Sarai Valerio Rodriguez Mackenzy Mae Wagner Sydney Morgan Watkins Lauren Alivia West Zachary Thomas West Carson Reid Wiley Emma Kay Williams Jerah Christine Winn Grace Ani Wynja
CLASS OF 2020
VALEDICTORIAN
SALUTATORIAN
Hannah Parson
Sydney Strecker
VALEDICTORIAN
Hannah Parson, GPA of 4.58
SALUTATORIAN
Sydney Strecker, GPA of 4.49
INDIANA ACADEMIC ALL-STAR Serona Olin
DOC RICHARDS ATHLETE AWARDS Jack Booker and Emma Williams
ALAN LEINBACH SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD Hannah Parson
SPIRITUAL LIFE LEADERSHIP AWARD
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Sydney Watkins and Ethan Lowry
Lydia Sarver
NATIONAL SCHOOL CHORAL AWARD Amanda Gillay
NATIONAL SCHOOL ORCHESTRA AWARD Lydia Sarver
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA BAND AWARD Korrine Ferguson
LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD Dawson Bichey
TOP SENIOR IN THEATER ARTS Cate Searcy
ALAN LEINBACH SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD Jackson Procise
RISING STARS OF INDIANA
Caleb Klopfenstein, Alexandra Lazarenko, Abby Miller, Alyssa Reinoso
SPIRITUAL LIFE LEADERSHIP AWARD Aidan Craig
ALAN LEINBACH SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD Hannah Parson and Jackson Procise
SPIRITUAL LIFE LEADERSHIP AWARD Lydia Sarver and Aidan Craig
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CLASS OF 2020
2020
Graduation Stats
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CLASS OF 2020
Senior Class Talent A snapshot of the achievements of the 2020 graduating class
1 Published Poet
1 Junior Basketball All-Star Selection
4 Sectional Championship wins 1 Regional Championship win 1 Semi-State Championship win 1 City Championship win 1 Individual State Appearance 1 State Title
1 All-State Orchestra Violinist 34 Academic All-State Athletes 12 College Signees 3 NCSAA All-American Athletes 25 All-City Athletes 10 All-Conference Athletes
7 Robotics Teams
State Tournament Semi-Finalists World Tournament Qualifier
4 All-State Athletes
We can’t wait to see where our Eagles will go next! Congratulations, Class of 2020!
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TEACHERS
New HCS Teachers
The HCS community has a host of new teachers this school year and we are excited to show them off! Get to know the newest additions to the Heritage faculty. Jessie has been teaching second grade for the last eight years, but this is her first year teaching in a Christian school.
JESSIE FOSTER Second Grade
Jessie graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Though she initially pursued business in college, Jessie felt God’s call to pursue teaching instead. She has since taught reading, first, and second grades, and has also helped start and pilot a Day School program at a mental health facility. Jessie loves teaching second graders because they are becoming more independent but they still think she’s funny. She most enjoys witnessing students finally understand a concept they’ve been struggling with. Jessie’s daughter Esther is in Kindergarten at Heritage. She and her husband, Joe, plan to send their youngest daughter Frannie to Heritage when she is old enough.
LAURA KRAJEWSKI High School English
Laura (Davis) Krajewski is a high school English teacher and a 2014 alumna. She studied English at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA, and moved back to Indy in 2019 with her husband, Tucker. Though she always sensed she’d enjoy teaching, Laura pursued positions in the tech industry after college. After several years of feeling restless about her work, she felt the tug to reconsider teaching. Laura teaches freshmen and sophomores, laying the groundwork for reading and writing critically. She enjoys getting to spend all day with her students, talking about stories and language with them, and wrestling with hard questions about worldview and the Christian faith. As the youngest of four who all attended Heritage from K-12, Laura says Heritage has always been a part of her life. She’s excited to be back–and she’s teaching a few doors down from her mom, English teacher Kim Davis.
LAUREN UPCHURCH
Lauren is a 3rd grade teacher and a 2012 alumna. Though she never envisioned she’d be living in Indianapolis or teaching at Heritage in her 20s, Lauren is grateful for how the Lord laid His plans for her. Lauren studied Elementary Education with an Art concentration at DePaul University, then moved to NYC and taught at a charter school for two years. She took a teaching hiatus but decided to move back to Indianapolis to take a job as an Interventionist at IPS/Butler Lab School 60. Last summer, Lauren got the teaching job at Heritage.
Third Grade
Lauren loves watching her students learn things they never thought they could do, and she enjoys being able to openly talk about Jesus and pray with her students this year. When she’s not teaching, Lauren enjoys traveling, visiting coffee shops, reading outside, and spending time with family and friends.
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TEACHERS
JESSICA ROBINSON
Eighth Grade Math
Jessica grew up in the Chicago suburbs among educators, with a grandma, mom, and older sister all in education. She studied Math Education at Olivet Nazarene University, then taught middle school math for four years in both public and private schools. She also coached JV and 7th-grade girls basketball and assisted in coaching varsity softball. Jessica moved to Indy last summer after marrying her husband, Matt. She enjoys building relationships with her students and discovering what they enjoy doing outside the classroom. She also loves seeing them grow in confidence with their math abilities. In her free time, Jessica enjoys playing golf or tennis, hiking, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family. She and her husband are both one of six children, so they are often with their big family–which, combined, already includes 18 nieces and nephews.
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TEACHERS
JULIE EARL
Fifth Grade Social Studies & Science
Julie has known she wanted to be a teacher from the time she was in elementary school. While raising her four children, she worked as a substitute teacher but never let go of her dream to teach full-time in a classroom. She later returned to school to earn a B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in English Writing from Indiana University Kokomo. Julie previously taught 6th grade Language Arts at Mt. Vernon Middle School. She has enjoyed the challenge of teaching new subjects at HCS this year. She most enjoys connecting with her students. Outside of work, Julie loves spending time with her husband, David, and their four children, ages 19, 18, 16, & 11.
KARISA STEINER
Elementary Art
Karisa Steiner teaches art in grades K-4. She studied art education at Indiana Wesleyan University, then went on to complete a master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language at IUPUI. She has taught middle school art at IPS and ESL in Washington Township. She also spent years living and working abroad as a missionary and humanitarian worker. Most recently, Karisa has been a stay-at-home mom of her three children. Karisa has enjoyed getting to know her students and see their creativity blossom this year. “I love how uninhibited and creative young kids are when it comes to creating art,” she said. “I love seeing how students take an art project and add their own unique features and interpretation.”
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TEACHERS
EILEEN CANTRELL
Sixth Grade Social Studies & Science
Eileen has known she wanted to teach since she was in fourth grade. She studied Elementary Education and earned a middle school endorsement in Science at Taylor University in Fort Wayne. She also received a certificate in Environment, Education, and Community at IslandWood, an outdoor school through the University of Washington. Before coming to Heritage, Eileen homeschooled her daughters and served as a director of a homeschool community. She is also a certified Level 2 CrossFit and CrossFit Kids coach. Eileen is excited to be teaching her favorite subjects with her students. Eileen’s two older daughters are now attending Heritage, in fourth and fifth grades, and they are also really enjoying their transition to Heritage. Joy has known she wanted to work with kids since she was young. Her mom would catch her teaching her stuffed animals about Jesus, saying things like, “Simba, God would want you to forgive Scar for killing your dad.”
JOY FEHL
First Grade
Joy earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Biblical Studies at Cincinnati Christian University. She has since taught 4th grade in Oklahoma and worked as a Program Instructor at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She also served as a missionary in Ethiopia–where her husband grew up–with CMF Church Catalyst Team. In fact, she taught students in her husband’s childhood home in Ethiopia. This year, Joy has enjoyed being a part of the Heritage community and watching her students learn how to read more independently. She most loves when they ask genuine, thoughtful questions. Outside of work, Joy loves long-distance running, traveling, and doing anything related to Christmas and Disney World.
MICHAELA EGLER First Grade
Michaela joins us as a recent graduate from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Elementary Education. Michaela has always known she wanted to work in education. Even as a kid, her favorite day of the year was the first day of school. Her passion for teaching was confirmed in college during her first practicum in a school. Michaela first heard about HCS through a Heritage family, the Davises, who she nannied for in the summers. Now she has one of their children in her first grade class. Michaela is enjoying developing relationships with her students and watching them grow and transform throughout this year.
HEATHER MERRIMAN Preschool
Heather Merriman is the newest 3-Day preschool teacher. Heather studied Music Management at the University of Evansville but worked a variety of jobs after college, including event coordinator at The Children’s Museum and sales director at a hotel management company. It wasn’t until she became a mother that she decided to pursue teaching preschool. Heather loves watching her students learn new things or do something independently for the first time. She enjoys being able to sing fun songs, develop creative ways to encourage learning, and be silly with her kids. “The excitement on their faces is beautiful to experience,” she said. Heather enjoys spending time with her husband and son, who is a second grader at Heritage. They love traveling, playing board games, and going on bike rides together.
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COMMUNITY LIFE
Parent Teacher Fellowship
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he Heritage PTF is typically busy year-round planning events, raising funds, and managing volunteers. But this year, PTF President Angel Turpin and the team shifted their focus, as most of their traditional events and fundraisers were canceled. In spite of their limited budget and in-person challenges, the Heritage PTF has continued to serve our faculty and staff and bring joy to our students.
students had a blast and the PTF surpassed their financial goal. These funds will help the PTF return to some normalcy next year.
HCS Spirit Wear
Several years ago, the PTF recognized that HCS spirit wear was hard to come by for elementary students and newer families. To meet the need, the PTF set up a temporary online store this February to sell HCS shirts, sweatshirts, pants, and hats.
Here are a few things the PTF has been doing around campus:
Faculty and Staff Appreciation
This year, the PTF’s primary focus has been to encourage our faculty and staff. Volunteers deliver monthly appreciation gifts like prayer cards, chocolate, gift bags, and fun beverages. The PTF typically hosts the Worthy Servants Brunch each December to celebrate our faculty and staff. With no brunch on the calendar, they instead partnered with a meal program to provide a take-home meal for every HCS staff member.
for special events, projects, and financial bonuses and gifts to the faculty and staff. This year, it raised support primarily for campus improvements through the Heritage Fund. The PTF hired Boosterthon to manage the event. Boosterthon streamlines the giving process, energizes students with incentives, prizes, and mascots, and runs the day’s program. Students in grades preschool to eighth grade sent out fundraising support emails to family and friends to request online donations. This year, the event was an indoor Glow Run in the elementary and high school gyms, complete with glow-in-the-dark track lights, bracelets, white t-shirts, and fun music. Each classroom cohort had the gym to itself and students ran for 25 minutes. It was a terrific success: the
“I love that it reached the entire staff this year,” said Angel. “Normally, the brunch only serves those who can attend, so it was special to give that gift to every Heritage staff member.”
Fun Run
The PTF was excited to be able to make the Fun Run (formerly Jog-a-Thon) happen this March. The Fun Run is the PTF’s main annual fundraiser that raises money
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As PTF volunteers were in charge of the entire operation (managing the website and orders, packaging items, and delivering them to families), they only kept the online store open for 10 days. They were overwhelmed by the response. “We sold over 900 items," said Angel. "We were very shocked by the great turnout.” The PTF plans to sell more spirit wear in the fall, either online or in person. Overall, the PTF has worked hard to continue bringing joy to our community. Angel has been disappointed that she’s had to turn away PTF volunteers this school year. But she and her team have high hopes of returning to their normal events in the near future. "God has seen us through this year and has surpassed our needs. We are so thankful, too, for how our Heritage families have supported us this year," said Angel. If you’re interested in helping the PTF in the future, email ptf@heritagechristian.net.
COMMUNITY LIFE
PTF Prays
Save the Date
The PTF is excited to feature a new branch called PTF Prays. For many decades, there have been several informal gatherings of Heritage parents who experience community in the joy of praying for each others' children and the Heritage family.
Ways to get involved in PTF Prays: Monday Morning Prayer (formerly Moms 4 Prayer): 8 a.m. on Monday mornings. The PTF is grateful to Northview Christian Church for offering their space for the group to meet this year. Northview is located a few minutes from campus, accessible for anyone to drop in, no RSVP required. The prayer group meets after school drop-off to pray for about an hour. Anyone is welcome including dads and grandparents. Virtual Prayer Meetings: Since April 2020, CEO Jeff Freeman, Discipleship Director Becky Stowers, and the PTF have led quarterly virtual prayer meetings with families to pray. All parents, faculty, and staff are welcome to join to pray. The link to sign up for each meeting is sent out via email and in the HCS e-bulletin.
2021 Heritage Christian Golf Outing WHEN: Thurs, Sept 23, 2021 Noon Start WHERE: Old Oakland Golf Club 18-hole Scramble
For more information contact ptf@heritagechristian.net.
Heritage Launches Office of Diversity and Unity In 2017, the Heritage leadership crafted a Vision 2020 strategic plan, stating in part that we would “seek to enrich the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in our school community.” The administration established the Office of Diversity and Unity (ODU) and completed a new Diversity Action Plan in January. As we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we believe this is important work. We want to emulate God’s desires and standards of unity, diversity, and community, not the world’s. The ODU and Action Plan reflect on our commitment to listening to others, having critical conversations, addressing situations of racism, seeking reconciliation, and responding biblically. The ODU team includes Tia Cavanaugh-Goggans, Becky Stowers, and Angela Ruiz-Pearce, reporting to Jeff Freeman. Together, they will guide the school through the Action Plan and serve as an ongoing resource to address diversity issues. The Action Plan outlines the biblical foundation for unity, diversity, and community. It includes ten core areas: listening, implementing spiritual themes, increasing minority employee representation, providing diversity training, reviewing curriculum and classroom resources, celebrating diversity and differences, communicating our Biblical diversity strategy, reviewing policies, procedures, and school documents, identifying multicultural resources, and praying. To learn more about the ODU and view the Diversity Action Plan, visit www.heritagechristian.net/diversity.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
The Young Sisters '03 and '07 In summer 2019, sisters and best friends Laura (Young) Jones ‘03 and Kristin (Young) Toner ‘07 launched Fire Stationery, a custom handmade stationery company. Each set includes an envelope lined with patterned paper and a note card with an embossed stamp. Laura and Kristin have always loved gifting friends with handwritten letters but struggled to find stationery they liked. They began designing their own cards for fun until enough people convinced them they should try to sell them. Laura had an entrepreneurship degree from the IU Kelley School of Business, so the two decided to make their business idea a reality. Laura is Fire’s Director of Operations, which she can do from home while also raising two children. “I love that I have a creative outlet that fits into my family life,” she said. Kristin, who just concluded her career as a professional ballerina, is the Director of Marketing and Customer Service.
Michelle Hudson '99
Last summer, Michelle Hudson (‘99) started a new position leading Operational Excellence for Global Data Centers at Microsoft. She has enjoyed being part of such an innovative industry leader as Microsoft.
After graduating from Heritage, Michelle studied Organizational Communications and Business Administration at Ball State University, then worked at Cintas Corporation in Cincinnati. There, Michelle was selected for a Management Training program, which is how she discovered her passion for leading teams, executing large initiatives, and traveling internationally. Michelle has since worked in various companies and roles in IT Project and Program Management, and she completed an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Michelle is now managing large teams and initiatives at Microsoft and is looking forward to growing there.
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“Making this business together has been so fun,” said Kristin. “We’ve really seen our relationship grow.” As Fire is not yet two years old, the sisters are still learning how to market and improve their business. They hope Fire Stationery can become their full-time job in the future, but in the meantime, they are enjoying brainstorming new ideas. Their newest product is “rapid fire” (ready-made) sets and single cards. Kristin and Laura are grateful for the care and attention they received from HCS teachers, in part through special notes, ‘get well’ cards, and annual birthday letters from Mr. Stroup. “I was inspired while I was still at Heritage to not just be on the receiving end of such a meaningful gift,” said Laura. “I wanted to remember my friends’ birthdays and send them a card in the mail too.” “I love that our business is centered on helping people reach out and communicate in a special and memorable way,” said Kristin. You can find Fire at www.firestationery.com or on Instagram at @firestationery.
“I would love to continue to grow in my scope of leadership and responsibilities,” she said. “I’d also be interested in living and working abroad one day.” Michelle believes the educational groundwork laid for her at Heritage is one reason for her success. “What impacted me most at Heritage were the foundations I gained in my spiritual walk, educational courses, leadership roles in extracurricular activities, and personal discipline and teamwork through my sports teams in basketball and track & field,” she said. Michelle said she leans on verses such as Proverbs 3:5-6 for guidance throughout her life: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.”
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
Liesel (Mindrebo) Mertes '02
Liesel (Mindrebo) Mertes (‘02) is a workplace empathy consultant and founder of Handle with Care. She primarily coaches companies and leaders to learn how to best support their employees and coworkers who are going through disruptive life events such as divorce, death, or a diagnosis.
heart surgeries. It was through these times of suffering and grief that Liesel, then completing her Masters in Business Administration at IU, felt led to become an empathy consultant. “Support from community is vital for individuals living through disruption,” she said. Liesel loves being part of positive change in the workplace, and she’s grateful when people trust her with their stories. Her weeks are busy consulting and leading workshops, speaking, writing, and hosting her podcast called Handle with Care: Empathy at Work. She is also currently developing supportive online tools and modules and writing a book. She and her husband Luke raise four children.
“So many people are well-meaning but they have no idea how to be helpful,” said Liesel. “Empathy is not an innate, fixed quantity. It can be taught and people can expand their capacity.”
Liesel looks to Jesus as the ultimate source of comfort and guidance.
Liesel’s career was influenced by the loss of her third child, Mercy Joan, who was diagnosed in utero with an encephalocele and lived for only eight days. Liesel’s youngest has had multiple
“I believe that the incarnation of Jesus is an act of profound, transformative empathy,” she said. “In coming to be with us, in all of our joys and insecurities and pain, Jesus is our teacher in empathy.”
Nancy (Cox) Lohr '71 Nancy (Cox) Lohr ‘71 is an acquisitions editor at JourneyForth Books, a Bob Jones University Press division in Greenville, SC. Aside from editing, Nancy has written two historical fiction books (Pelts and Promises and Songbird), Newbery reviews, articles on reading and literacy, and blogs on parenting. Nancy earned a BS in Elementary Education and an MEd from BJU. She taught middle school math and English in Greenville for 20 years, then became an elementary librarian. Five years into that position, she developed asthma triggered by book mold (something common in most southern libraries). Because of that, she left teaching to pursue publishing. Nancy has been an acquisitions editor for 20 years. She most enjoys helping authors present their best work to their readers, which requires lots of collaboration between an entire team of authors, illustrators, compositors, editors, and more.
“We do our best work when we allow each to exercise expertise with encouragement and support,” she said. “When the process works well, we end up with a fine book and stronger relationships.” Though no two projects look alike, Nancy enjoys the consistency her work brings. Nancy says Heritage helped lay some of the foundations for her interest in the written word, from diagramming sentences to learning Latin to writing with Mr. McDermott. Outside of work, Nancy and her husband are active in the Greenville Concert Band and church orchestra. She plays the French horn and her husband plays trombone and directs various groups. Nancy also enjoys reading and spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. “Psalm 16:6 sums it up well, ‘The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.’ The Lord has indeed done this for me, not without hard lessons to learn and challenges of my own making, but my story written by His hand is pleasant,” said Nancy.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
David Messer '76
David Messer (‘76) is a Professor of Social Work at Kentucky Christian University. He attended seminary after graduating from HCS, then worked in full-time ministry to children and families in Eastern Kentucky for 20 years. But seminary hadn’t prepared him for the social challenges, trauma, and crises he witnessed every day.
Much of Eastern Kentucky is plagued with generational poverty, substance abuse, and unemployment. David felt the weight of walking alongside these at-risk populations, so he eventually decided to pursue social work, which he calls “a ministry without a pulpit.” “Walking daily in the steps of the marginalized, alienated, impoverished, orphaned, and populations at-risk whose only misfortune was to be born in Appalachia challenges you emotionally and sometimes spiritually,” he said. David earned a terminal degree in Social Work from UK, a Rank II in education from the KY Department of Education, and
licenses and certifications in social work and school social work. He has served as Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Sexual Abuse and on the Citizen’s Foster Care Review Board of Kentucky. He has also written legislation for children’s health insurance. Fifteen years ago, David transitioned to teaching social work at KCU. He loves when his students recognize that Christ is at the heart of social work practice. David discovered there were no social work texts to help his students understand Appalachian culture in terms of social change, so he wrote the book, “Ablaze in Appalachia: A Social Approach to a Forgotten Culture” (available on Amazon). The book celebrates Appalachian culture and explores the social changes and challenges in rural America. David has no plans to retire yet, but he knows he will continue serving and volunteering in local and international social work as long as he can. David enjoys spending time with his wife of 38 years, Janie, two daughters, and three grandkids.
Greg Wiesert '93 Greg Wiesert (‘93) has always had an interest in helping others, and he’s seen the Lord’s hand guiding every step in his career as a civil servant. After graduating high school, Greg studied pre-med at Cedarville University but stepped away from college after three years and became a member of the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department. “I wouldn’t recommend that path for everyone, but I was burned out and felt like I needed a break,” he said. Greg journeyed through various civil service jobs including a firefighter, paramedic, and security officer. He ended up at a Dayton, OH area police department, where he has served as a 911
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Dispatcher, a Records Clerk, and now as the Technical Services Supervisor. He supervises the 911 dispatch center and records department, and he also does most of the department’s in-house computer/IT work. “I enjoy the diverse activities that occupy my time. No two days seem to be the same,” said Greg. “I also enjoy the interactions and friendships with those who work in my division.” Greg still looks to his Heritage teachers as examples of true servant leaders, a trait he tries to emulate in his current role at the police department. “They stressed the importance of hard work, honesty, and being genuine with others,” he said of his former teachers. Greg and his wife Jill have been married for 15 years and raise three children in western Ohio.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
Christina (Kirkpatrick) Gay '13 Christina (Kirkpatrick) Gay (‘13) recently accepted a clerkship for Chief Justice Roberts on the U.S. Supreme Court for the ‘21-’22 term.
Chicago, graduating with high honors in June 2020. Since June, Christina has been a clerk for Judge Britt Grant on the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. She has enjoyed gaining exposure to various areas of the law and forming relationships with her co-clerks.
Christina is a Heritage “lifer,” having attended all 13 years of school. She attributes her interest in law in part because of her experience with high school Mock Trial under coach Doug Long.
Christina considers her next endeavor under Chief Justice Roberts to be a great privilege.
“I absolutely loved working with my team to analyze the record and prepare our arguments,” she said.
She is also grateful for the unending support of many former HCS teachers.
Christina earned a BA in Business Management at Cedarville University, where she also played NCAA softball and met her husband, Scott. She then attended law school at the University of
“It’s been a blessing to be part of this community for 20 years now,” she said.
Dr. Ben McDonald '04
Dr. Ben McDonald (‘04) is a dentist in West Union, OH, where he has practiced for the last seven years. Ben first took up an interest in dentistry at an HCS middle school career day, when former HCS parent Dr. George Kirtley came and shared about his career in cosmetic dentistry. Amazed by the transformations he witnessed, Ben thought dentistry could be a good career to pursue. As he grew, Ben desired a career where he could serve a community, be his own boss, and be at the top of his field.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about the institution in general, and working on cases argued by the best advocates in the country,” she said.
Dentistry offered those things. Ben also loved the thought of being able to work with his hands and see instant results. After graduating high school, Ben earned his bachelor’s from Harding University and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He then took an associateship in West Union, OH, and has been in practice there ever since. As of three years ago, Ben owns the practice. Ben most enjoys spending time with and serving his community. “Helping people with their oral health, whether that is reconstruction of their smile, restoring function, or taking their pain away brings a lot of joy,” he said. In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time with my wife and three children, attending church events, playing hockey, and watching IU sports.
Alumni Family Scholarship Heritage values our alumni. They are an important part of our rich history and community. We are excited to offer a scholarship for new HCS students of alumni. Families where at least one parent is an HCS alumna/alumnus will receive a one-time $2,000 per new student tuition scholarship. This scholarship is available to all new students of alumni enrolling at
Heritage for the first time, and would be in addition to any other financial assistance provided. Existing alumni families who enroll additional children are eligible for this one-time scholarship for their new children being enrolled. For more information, contact Admissions at (317) 849-3441 or admissions@heritagechristian.net.
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HERITAGE FUND
Support
Inspiring
Education
Your gift makes a difference During these uncertain times, your support is more important than ever. Giving to the Heritage Fund is giving to the cause of Christ as you help fulfill the school’s mission to glorify God through the pursuit of excellence in education. Since tuition and fees alone do not cover the full cost of operational expenses, regular support from friends of the school is always needed. Reaching our $1 million goal for the current school year is vital. Please join us with your investment in student tuition assistance, safety and security enhancements, technology upgrades, teacher compensation, and other vital needs. Your generous gift helps ensure we continue to provide a safe and vibrant learning environment. To learn more about the Heritage Fund, visit heritagechristian.net/heritagefund
OUR GOAL
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SGO GIVING
Answering your questions about the SGO Program The Indiana Tax Credit Scholarship Program was established to incentivize private donations to fund educational choice for low- to middleincome families attending nonpublic schools. Alternatively, it’s been called the SEC (Scholarships for Education Choice) and SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization) program. Whatever you call it, it has been one of the most exciting and beneficial programs produced by Indiana’s state government in recent years. The SGO program has provided many families with the funds necessary to allow their children a Christian education. When you give to the SGO program through the Heritage Fund, your wise stewardship provides students a scholarship towards an education centered on Christ. Heritage Christian School parent and Ronald Blue Trust Senior Private Wealth Advisor, Layne Hoekema, answers some of the most common questions regarding the Scholarships for Education Choice (SGO) program. How is the SGO program beneficial to donors? LH: It is one of the very few tax planning tools available to a resident of the state of Indiana that is not otherwise a business owner. For those inclined to support private education, it creates a credit against the Indiana (not county) tax liability. The credit is equal to 50% of the amount contributed, essentially allowing you to increase your giving by 2x with no more out-of-pocket cost than when you made a gift without using the program! What examples have you seen of donors benefiting from giving to the program? LH: Many donors that would normally pay Indiana tax (including those living outside
of Indiana but with Indiana property) do not because the credit fully offsets the liability. Do all tax professionals know about the program? If not, why not? LH: I am surprised by the number of tax and finance professionals that do not know about the program, however, the number is growing. Those tax professionals that do not know about the program are often more reactionary practitioners than proactive, or they simply feel like a conversation about charitable giving is off limits with their clients. However, wouldn’t you be disappointed in your tax advisor if you could gift HCS $1,000 and it would only cost you around $250? What process should a donor think through if he or she wants to give to the program? LH: First, a donor should have the passion and intent to benefit K-12 students in Indiana. Then he should think about his Indiana tax liability. This is a guide for how much to contribute to the program. A donor should consider whether he can give appreciated investments (stocks or other property) to the Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) rather than cash as this may allow the donor to bypass capital gains taxes that he may otherwise owe when he sells the investment. Finally, the donor can consult his advisor to complete the gift form or go online to the website to make the gift on his own. What paperwork is required? LH: The donor can start with a very simple form found at scholarshipsforeducationchoice.com/ donors. From this page, you can start the gift of cash or investment. Your financial advisor will be necessary to assist with the transfer of an investment. The link will help you with starting that conversation with your advisor. Can I be creative in the way I donate to the program (i.e. giving non-cash assets)? What is allowed? LH: Yes. I think the most creative way is
to consider the use of investments rather than cash, especially investments that you are already planning to sell that would otherwise trigger a tax liability. In fact, you could even consider a gift of more than your liability because the credit carries forward for up to nine years. Also, please make sure that you understand that you don’t need to be an Indiana resident to benefit, you only have to owe Indiana tax. If you are expecting a spike in income from a bonus or a business sale, it is a very advantageous time to consider a gift because you are probably in a higher than normal federal tax bracket that gives you benefit. Finally, business owners may want to consider making this contribution at the business entity level. How does the tax code impact how I might use SGO giving? LH: Some individuals are no longer going to itemize their deductions for federal tax purposes (unless deductions exceed $25,100). However, they will still get the benefit of this credit against their Indiana tax. No gift is too small! If you do have enough itemized deductions (>$25,100) for federal tax purposes, you need to also be aware that this charitable deduction will be reduced by the amount of the credit you receive from the state. Why did Indiana launch this program and why does it keep expanding it? LH: I think it really comes down to providing Indiana residents the opportunity for school choice. However, this program, rather than being funded fully by taxpayers, is funded 50% by donors. The information provided herein is educational in nature and is not intended to be individual advice. Ronald Blue Trust, a division of Thrivent Trust Company, and its employees and affiliates do not provide legal or accounting advice or service. Please consult with a professional advisor familiar with your particular situation for advice concerning specific investments, accounting, tax, legal, or other matters before taking any action. Ronald Blue Trust is a division of Thrivent Trust Company.
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M A G A Z I N E
Messenger 6401 E. 75th St. Indianapolis, IN 46250
Messenger
Discover Heritage: Glorify God. Disciple Students. Pursue Excellence.
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NOW ENROLLING PRESCHOOL - 12th GRADE Schedule a tour today!
317.849.3441 Visit our website for more information about virtual and in-person campus tours and admissions events. Learn more at heritagechristian.net/admissions.
