Lions' Pride Magazine, Winter 2017

PRIDE

LIONS’

M I A M I VA L L E Y C H R I S T I A N A C A D E M Y Winter/Spring 2017

PREPARING LEADERS

A way to grow leaders and share Christ

CAMPUS LIFE

Academics, Fine Arts, and Athletics highlights

ALUMNI CONNECT

The who, what, and where of our graduates

LIONS’

Summer 2016

PRIDE

MIAMI VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Lions’ Pride magazine is the official publication of Miami Valley Christian Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio. It is intended to inform, educate, and give insight to alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy and will be shared via mail with all constituent groups bi-annually.

Lions’ Pride Magazine MAILING ADDRESS Miami Valley Christian Academy 6830 School Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 513.272.6822 MVCA-OH.com PUBLISHER Greg Beasley, Head of School ADVISORS Greg Beasley, Head of School; Jody Hilsher, Academy Principal; Carol Glenzer, Assistant Principal; Heidi Huber, Financial Administrator, Joe Middleton, Marketing Director; Jill Beasley, Public Relations Director; Robert Vilardo, Athletic Director; Paige McElfresh, Admissions Director; Beth Park, Development Assistant; Stephanie Scott, Event and Volunteer Coordinator; Rick Newland, Facilities Director; Lynda Lunn, International Student Program Director PHOTOGRAPHY Special thanks to Sandy Moreland and Moreland Photography for various photos. Visit SandyMorelandPhotography.com for more images.

MISSION STATEMENT Impacting the World for Christ.

4 Team MVCA Head of School, Greg Beasley

5 My MVCA Story How We Discovered MVCA

6 Academic Achievements ACT and AP results, Academic Quiz Team, Americanism Test Winners

7 Leading By Example Academy Principal, Jody Hilsher

8 Service With A Smile PTO Leadership, Student Serving

10 The Power of Friends That Pray Students Organize And Lead Prayer

14 Eagle Scout Projects Students That Have Contributed

15 International Students International Student Program Director, Lynda Lunn

16 Accolades Outside MVCA Walls Stories Of MVCA Students Leaving Their Mark On The World

18 20th Year Celebration Homecoming

20 Grandparents Day Event Review

22 Fine Arts Cappies Reviews, Various Events

26 Athletics Stories Of Athletes On And Off The Field

30 First Days Of MVCA MVCA’s First Head Of School, Andy Lowe, Alumni Stories

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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Team MVCA

by GREG BEASLEY (Head of School)

Over 50 participants from the MVCA family teamed up to complete 19 projects around campus! It was an equally humbling and exhilarating day to unite with each other and take care of the wonderful place that God has given us! Special thanks to Matthew Budzynski for building the pergola for the student picnic area as his Eagle Scout project. Kingdom builders in action!

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he images on this page are key to the major successes we have been experiencing at MVCA this year. When we live life together in unity (Ps. 133:1) and center our efforts and lives on God (Mt. 6:33), great things happen. We must keep God first, seek His will and vision, and enlist and empower those that are willing to join in the mission.

God holds the dream. We are the team. He seeks to accomplish His plans through His people. His dream/vision involves all of us. I am grateful for everyone who makes up Team MVCA. Thank you for all you are doing!

If you are reading this and haven’t found a place on the MVCA team yet, I encourage you to do so now. You can contact me at gbeasley@mvca-oh.com, or Stephanie Scott, Events and Volunteer Coordinator at sscott@mvca-oh.com, and we will make sure to find a place for you to serve. You will be joining in a ministry that is Impacting the World for Christ.

#everybodyIN

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Committees and Teams Academic Committee Admissions Team Alumni Association Athletic Boosters Auction Committee

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Donor Relations Committee Facilities Team Finance Committee Fine Arts Boosters (FAB) Marketing Team

LIONS’ PRIDE | Winter 2017

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Policies Committee SPARC Construction Team SPARC Fundraising Team

The Beasleys (Greg, Jill, Jillian, and Gregory) having fun while working during Campus Clean Up Day.

How We Discovered MVCA

by PAUL SCHACHT

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’ll never forget the first time we visited the school in 1999. My wife, Shalie had seen an MVCA bumper sticker and wanted to consider the Academy for our family. I grew up in public schools; Shalie attended private schools. My impression of Christian schools was that they were churchy, legalistic, and caught up in denominational debris. I was not a fan.

The day of our tour, I repeated to myself all of my reasons why this was not going to be the school for our kids. Surely Shalie would agree with me! We walked into the elementary building and were enthusiastically greeted by a very bubbly lady, Dodi Staker, who was the MVCA Principal at the time. I came prepared to ask hard questions that would outwit Dodi and force our impression of the school into that of my preconceived notion. That, however, was not the case! Dodi regaled us with God Story after God Story about the school and its students. We literally felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in the halls. After two hours with Dodi, I was 100% convinced that this was the school for the Schacht family. I could not think of one single objection!

We are now almost 17 years later, with two graduates and one student in high school. We are so blessed to have been a part of this faith journey with MVCA. Shalie and I will forever be grateful for MVCA’s solid Biblical worldview and for the love our kids have experienced every day. Thank you, God, for MVCA! Share your MVCA Story by emailing jbeasley@mvca-oh.com

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2016

Highest Scoring Class on ACT

21.1

ACT National Average Score

2016 Graduates with Advanced Placement Awards

AP Scholars with Distinction

Adam McCoy

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Bransen Vilardo

AP Scholars with Honor

Isaiah Postenrieder

AP Scholars

State of Ohio Average Score

26.7

MVCA Class of 2016 Average Score Tyler Ficker

Remarkable Advanced Placement stats for MVCA 2016 graduates:

66%

enrolled in AP class

52%

scored 3 or higher on AP exam

21%

qualified for AP

Scholar Awards

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Lukas Moreland

Madison Pico

Nicole Wellington

Americanism Test Winners MVCA Wins All 6

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he Americanism and Government Test program of the Ohio American Legion was created

by Legionnaires of Ohio in 1936 and remains today as another of the leading youth programs of the Ohio American Legion. This test covers material on American History, the Constitution, local state and federal government, and flag etiquette. Our local VFW administers the test to students from Turpin High School, Archbishop McNicholas High School, and MVCA. Winnie Clayton, former MVCA history teacher and board member, joyfully helped in the preparation of our students for the exam. This year, MVCA took all 6 honors, including the highest scores of all male and female students from 10-12th grades. These students will go on to compete against the county, region, and hopefully to state. Amanda Herbert, Cassidy Ficker, Trinity Shaya, Cooper Scanlon, Nathan Cox, and Nathaniel Arington were recognized at the local VFW meeting.

Leading by Example

by JODY HILSHER (Academy Principal)

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alatians 6:2 admonishes us to "Bear one another's burdens and we will fulfill the law of Christ." Serving others is something I am passionate about and I strive to encourage our student body to serve whenever possible. The leadership at MVCA believes that a strong leader must know how to first take on the form of a

servant, just as Christ did. When we learn to serve, we learn to lead. We lead others to make a difference and impact the world for Christ, one life at a time.

“Pursue wholehearted community today, not because fellow believers are perfect, but because you, as an imperfect child of God, need help from fellow

imperfect children to encounter the fullness of abundant life God intends for you. Have grace for others. Love when you are unloved. Help when no one else will.

Build up the body that Jesus loves that the world might better know the loving and available God we serve.” ~ First 15 devotional

Academic Quiz Team Great Beginnings

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his was the inaugural year for the MVCA Academic Quiz Bowl Team which competed in the Cincinnati Academic League (CAL).

The four members (who will also continue next school year) are as follows and pictured from left to right: Amanda Herbert – Grade 10, Lauren Wright – Grade 11, Grant Elswick – Grade 10, Seth Moreland – Grade 11 Categories of study included American literature, mathematics, world history, fine arts, life science, English/world literature, U.S. government/economics, physical science, geography, and U.S. history.

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Service with a

:)

Prepping for Christmas Eve Services Three 7th grade boys, Jackson Burke, Keegan Perez, and Jake Surgeon, prepared over 4,000 candles for Christmas Eve Services.

Adopt-A-Family

Kristen Campbell, secretary; Shannon Weddle, treasurer, Linzi Geiger, Allison Coleglazier, co-presidents

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TO supports teachers, staff, students, and parents. Throughout the year, various events serve to build community and make MVCA a better place for everyone.

Fall Bash The autumn season brings with it a

sensitivity to embracing all that one is thankful for.

An intentional pause is in order to reflect on friends, family, and all the blessings that fill our lives. Fall Bash was instituted by the Beasleys to remind every student and faculty member that they are valued, appreciated, and treasured. This year, a partnership with PTO made this celebration even bigger and better. Preschool and elementary students climbed aboard an old fashioned hayride that disembarked at the MVCA pumpkin patch.

Middle and high school students selected a special sweet treat, and the faculty and staff enjoyed a fall-themed breakfast and scrumptious lunch complete with prizes.

James 1:17 reminds us that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.� Thank You, Father for pouring out blessings on and through MVCA.

Staff Christmas Treat Day Candy Cane Lane displayed delectable Holiday Fare for the staff. It was a sweet day providing a hot breakfast, various candy treats, and a hot chocolate bar!

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In November the students participated in an "adopt-a-family" program created and initiated by our own Mrs. McGill. Each 4th grade student was required to earn at least $5.00 for the collective fund. They learned how to budget for a family Thanksgiving meal, search the grocery store ads for discounts, and purchase the items necessary to make the meal.

Little Lions Preschool Children Serving Children This class loves to serve others! Every month Serves LaSoupe these ambitious students prepare 50 power Ministry outreach is a foundational concept for MVCA. These Little Lions chopped vegetables to assist La Soupe in making lunches for hungry tummies. They then sampled their own creation and studied from the book Stone Soup by Jon J Muth.

Body, mind, and soul were ministered to in one class!

pack lunches that are sent home with needy children from a qualifying school district.

Student Leadership Serves At Woodland Lakes 4th Grade On The Move

Inter Parish Ministry welcomes our 4th graders with open arms as they busily clean and restock their canned goods shelves.

The Student Leadership Team served at Woodland Lakes’ annual “Senior Saints” Day. Over 300 senior saints were served a hot lunch and dessert as the students waited on tables and took care of cleanup. It is a practical way to show the love of Christ through service. MVCA participates in this special day each fall and spring.

Serving Those That Serve MVCA Second graders gave back to our public servants who give immeasurably to Newtown citizens. Christmas treats were delivered by toothless smiles shrieking, “Thank You” as they delivered gifts to Newtown Municipal employees.

Band / Choir Spread Cheer The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing and playing for all to hear! Students joyfully shared their talents with the residents at the Salvation Army Senior Center. The guests enjoyed a scrumptious lunch while students enlivened the mood with holiday tunes. Santa even arrived with a special treat.

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ee You at the Pole (SYATP) is an annual gathering of thousands of Christian students at a flagpole in front of their local schools for student-led prayer, scripture reading, and worship, during the early morning before school starts. It is meant to be a launching pad for students to begin by uniting in prayer, but then to consider what God might be saying to them about how they will impact the world for Christ. MVCA enjoys this event yearly as every student from preschool to 12th grade engages and freely partakes in this reverent occasion.

To demonstrate the power of friends that pray, read the following account of how one of our own MVCA families agreed in prayer with their friend for this specific event.

Rebecca and David Hill and their 3 children have recently returned to the MVCA family from their missionary stint in New York. For the last three years, they have agreed in prayer with Natalie Marrin, a close family friend that attends a public school in New York City.

Every year Natalie has participated in See You at the Pole—all alone. She has prayed earnestly for her school, her city, and her nation while she has strived to be a light for Christ in an American city that is only 3% evangelical Christian.

After three years of prayer, Natalie was joined this past September by 4 teachers and 8 other students. God is answering her heartfelt prayers as she continues to be a faithful light for Him in the New York City Public Schools.

by Stephanie Scott Events and Volunteer Coordinator and 5th/7th grade mom

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ur annual auction continues to be heralded as a highlight for the MVCA community. This past November, our gala event was held at the Holiday Inn Eastgate where an evening of mystery, mischief, and mayhem ensued. This thematic “Get a Clue!” spectacle featured items ranging from vacations to handmade merchandise. Also included were exciting teacher experiences and of course, the banter of a live auction! The auction is the major fundraiser for the Academy but also provides a night of unparalleled fellowship. MVCA’s families and friends come together to support the Academy as they enjoy dinner, catch up with friends, and are entertained by a showcase of our students’ talents. Together we raised $135,000, which is a huge step toward successfully meeting our financial goal to close the annual fund gap. In light of experiencing our highest attendance to date, we are now busily planning for next year to make sure we have room for you! Save the Date: November 17, 2017.

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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NUMBER IMPACTED

Complex will serve 12,000+ students and children from surrounding communities

SPARC

PROJECT GOAL 2.2 M = Goal 1.6 M = Available

HOW CAN I HELP?

Join in praying for the remainder of the funds.

Think of who you know that may be able to give financially.

LEARN MORE

Paul Schacht, schacht.pw@duracell.com Greg Beasley, gbeasley@mvca-oh.com Visit SPARC-OH.com

RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES

BELIEVING IN AND SUPPORTING Anonymous Friends Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Brad Cousino, Past President NFL Alumni/Cincinnati Charley Frank, Cincinnati Reds Community Fund Drayer Physical Therapy Institute Greater Cincinnati Foundation Hayden Family Foundation Jim Breech, President NFL Alumni Incorporated John Garrett, Lafayette College Head Football Coach

The vision of SPARC is to transform a significantly under-utilized park into a community recreation and special events centerpiece while also providing MVCA with an athletic complex.

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$250,000 - Field Dedication $100,000 - Press Box Dedication $150,000 - Track Dedication $50,000 - Walking Trail Dedication $100,000 - Concession Dedication $50,000 - Scoreboard Dedication $10,000 - Large Fence Sign $5,000 - Medium Fence Sign

MEHL Family Foundation Mayor Mark Kobasuk Miami Valley Christian Academy families PNC Bank Thomas J. Emery Memorial Tom Carter, Director of NFL Players and Development Village of Newtown William Artzt

A message from the

Board President

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s I transitioned into the role of board president, I had the privilege of kicking off this new year with our annual Board Retreat in my home. Having served on the board for eight years, I have known this time to be an exercise of thoughtful dialogue, prayer, and great fellowship. This is a working day in which the opportunity for vision casting and unifying prayer are paramount as we seek God’s will for the Academy as well as our role in building His Kingdom.

God is surely working in our midst. As we seek His vision for the Academy, we witness His hand at work as He has abundantly provided. While discussing a 3-5 year plan, it’s clear that God is rapidly turning goals into accomplishments. God continues to build a dedicated team committed to following His vision and being diligent stewards. I thank God that He is always working for our good and if we seek Him first, He is faithful!

He is a Good, Good Father!

I want to thank you for your continued support of the Academy and your faithfulness to the Kingdom! We appreciate all you do for the children and mission!

Blessings,

Carla Wood

MVCA Board President

(Back row from left to right: Jody Hilsher - Academy Principal, Greg Beasley - Head of School, Lou Schott, Mark Caner - Vice President, Doug Bush, Tom Rhodenbaugh, Chris Wilson, Todd Carson - Treasurer, Paul Schacht Vice President, Nick Ruotolo - Secretary Front row from left to right: Carla Wood - President, Heather Engel, Kristin Budzynski Not pictured: Nadia Shaya) Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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Eagle Scout Projects Improvements to the MVCA Campus

by KRISTIN BUDZYNSKI our young men from MVCA have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and MVCA has been the blessed beneficiary of their hard work. Adam Budzynski (Class of 2015), Matthew Budzynski (future Class of 2018), Lukas Moreland (Class of 2016), and Tyler Ficker (Class of 2016) performed many hours of preparatory work before constructing their respective Eagle Scout service projects at MVCA. Through a detailed project management process, each Lion used their analytic and organizational skills, and an abiding faith to finish these projects. Each successfully earned their Eagle Scout rank, the highest achievement

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LIONS’ PRIDE | Winter 2017

in Scouting awarded to only 2% of all Boy Scouts.

Adam designed and built a bird blind for the elementary school’s Bird Watching Club. Soon after, Tyler developed a perennial garden to attract birds and other pollinators to the bird blind area. Lukas turned his focus indoors and added lighting above the cafetorium. Matthew returned outside, constructing a pergola picnic area just outside the cafetorium for students to use. All four young men completed their projects using skills learned in Boy Scouts which closely parallel those they learned at MVCA. Each persevered through various challenges to finish. Each had to plan, design, and raise the

funds and materials for their projects. Each had to rally and motivate volunteers to help build the projects. Perseverance, motivation, planning, and service are common to both Scouting and an MVCA education.

Adam summed up his experience like this: “Completing the Eagle Scout rank for Boy Scouts was one of the biggest parts of my life. There were many challenges involved in achieving the rank, like project management and putting in the time to earn a plethora of merit badges. Project management in of itself was complicated since I had to raise money for a community service project, gather the materials for said project, and then coordinate fellow scouts in building the project. What really got me through all of this was the teaching at MVCA which taught me critical thinking, self- discipline, and the skills needed to earn my Eagle Scout rank.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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by LYNDA LUNN

t MVCA, Host Families are vital to the International Student Program. These families open their homes and their hearts to be the "step-in" families for international students who are thousands of miles away from home. Host parents and siblings act not only as surrogate families but also cultural ambassadors.

MVCA host families learn in community with the ISP Team, the Advisory Committee and each other. The ISP team also provides on-going support to host families throughout the year.

Faces & Our Cultures is an 8-week cultural exchange experience with Guatemala.

MVCA has partnered with this organization for 4 years. This fall we hosted 3 students who brought enthusiasm and an eagerness for learning with them that touched our students indelibly. Thank you to our host families! Ross and Janet Bowman and student Max Bowman (11th grade) hosted Sebastian, Kevin and Jessica Back and students Casey 4th and Nathan 7th, hosted Andres; Tim and Missy Brewer and student Isaiah Kindergarten, hosted Miranda.

Making Friends the Cincinnati Way

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enior Lilia Arlen, sophomore Ellie Hilsher, and 8th grade host sibling Hannah Snyder, joined sophomore ISP student Tam and ISP Director Lynda Lunn, for a day of exploring downtown Cincinnati as an engaging avenue to enrich Tam's American cultural experience. Metropolitan Cincinnati has much to offer while maintaining a safe, hometown environment and yielding something fun for everyone.

Our morning started at Carabello Coffee. Shop owners, Justin and Emily Carabello, are former MVCA teachers and remain great friends of the school. There’s just something about coffee and pastries that makes conversation easy and sets the day off to a great start.

Next, the group headed to the main branch of the Cincinnati Public Library to scope out the new Makerspace. The library describes this space as, “a place where creative

people can gather, create, invent, and learn.

Customers of the Library have access to 3D printers, audio and visual equipment, laser cutters and engravers, sewing machines, cameras and other hardware and software tools that they can use for free to create pretty much anything they can imagine.” We had a wonderful tour guide who explained all of the possibilities of the space.

Then it was on to Smale Riverside Park, Cincinnati’s newest 45-acre park

along the Ohio River. The park offers many entertainment and leisure opportunities along with beautiful vistas of the Ohio River.

Roebling Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in 1866. And, it makes a great backdrop for photos with friends.

In October 2016, MVCA welcomed our first ISP student, Tam, from Vietnam. She is greeted by members of the Snyder family, the ISP team, and a family member at the airport.

Lunch at Pho Lang Thang at Findley Market gave Tam the chance to introduce us to new foods. We’re still working on mastering chopsticks but the group agreed that we love the BÁNH MÌ and various PHỞ dishes.

Our plans to ice skate at Fountain Square were squelched by an afternoon rain so we decided a consolation trip to Graeter’s Ice Cream, was in order. We found ourselves sitting around a table together again, the same way our day had started. This time it was with ice cream but still enjoying easy conversations among new friends.

The International Student experience at MVCA is about excellent academics provided in a loving environment where faculty, staff, students and host families embrace each student. The ISP team plans events so international students can get involved and become part of our community.

We believe this makes our campus a richer experience for all students.

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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Accolades Outside MVCA Walls Students Excel in the Community

by SUSIE RAIL n August 12, the Rail Family attended a horse show in Wilmington and then went to go swimming and paddle boarding at a Horse Farm called Country Heir in Fayetteville.

Twins, John and Rosie, were taking a break from paddle boarding and were on the patio and dock area. A group of young guys who work the jump crew from the Horse Show were there, too. One of the guys bet another guy, Josy, $20 to swim out to the fountain and back. He swam out to the fountain and then collapsed on it. He was told to get off of it and when he did, he started splashing and yelling for help.

At first it seemed like a joke, but soon we realized it wasn't, he was really in distress.

John took the paddleboard off the dock, jumped in and paddled out with his hands.

He quickly got off and pushed it to the young man. John was wearing a life jacket.

An adult also jumped in and swam out to help. Together with John, they brought one tired, scared Josy back to the dock.

The next day, Josy came to shake John's hand and said, "Amigo, thank you, you saved my life."

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someone's life. We are very proud of the kind young man John has become. He has always been sensitive to others.

He said, "I didn't expect to save someone's life until I was 18 or 20!"

Rosie Rail (4th grade) loves Equestrian Sports! She passionately trains 5-6 days a week at Kneipp Farm in Newtown.

Recently at the Lexington Horse Park, she won 3rd in the 2' 6” KHJA Medal Round on board Miles and 5th in the 2' Derby riding Armani. She also was awarded Champion of the Children's Pony Division, also on board Armani!

by PENNY NOWINSKI ames Nowinski (7th grade) recently returned from the 2016 USTA National Championships in Knoxville TN (June 13th-18th) where he competed in trampoline and tumbling and placed first in a national rank in tumbling for his age group.

This was the largest national championship in the history of the USTA. James is now working hard in regional competitions to qualify for nationals next season, to be held in Madison, WI (June 2017). He works out at his local gym (in Newtown) over 6 hours each week preparing and working on his skills. On Tuesday, December 6, James was invited with some of his nationally ranked teammates to the Ohio Statehouse to be recognized for his achievement this summer.

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John gained a lot of respect from several people that weekend. Many of us got to see him react quickly and make a difference in 16

LIONS’ PRIDE | Winter 2017

James was presented with "A Resolution"

by Representative Brinkman which stated "Honoring James Nowinski on winning the tumbling sub-novice boys event at the 2016 USTA National Championships." While at the Ohio Statehouse, James was present for the opening remarks made by our Ohio governor John Kasich.

by LEANN BURKE he Burkes relocated to Cincinnati in the summer of 2010 and promptly began looking for outlets for their sons to meet new friends. What started out as a low key summer activity turned into a passion for swimming and a year round competitive sport for both Jackson (7th grade) and Cooper (4th grade). These brothers enjoy all aspects of the sport: practices, meets, and the friendships made in and out of the water.

The Burke brothers compete for the Ivy Hills Stingrays during the summer and the Mercy Healthplex SeaWolves year round.

Practice is serious stuff. Jackson logs a minimum of 8 hours in the water per week, plus dryland training. His typical two-

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hour practice includes up to 8,000 yards of multiple strokes – that’s 320 laps! Jackson loves swimming because of the emphasis on self-improvement and stroke technique perfection. He explains, "Unlike other team sports, it's ultimately all about your individual performance against yourself.

It's a lot harder than you think. When you swim against the force of water, you have to use every muscle in your body. I am exhausted after practice, but I feel great because I was able to do it."

"Cooper is just as committed as Jackson, and is obsessed with swim times and rankings for himself and everyone else.

by VIOLET HOWARD iolet Howard (4th grade) is in her first year as a synchronized swimmer on the 12 and under team for the Cincinnati Synchrogators, an organization through the YMCA which includes swimmers from all over the city.

The swimmers range in age from 6 to 18 and the current 16 and older team are the

2016 Junior Olympic Champions! The team trains nine months out of the year, from September to May, and Violet spends about nine hours a week in the pool. In addition to learning a synchronized routine, the girls work to learn specific skills, called figures, which they’re judged on individually.

Violet recently competed in the Snowflake Invitational Meet in Cincinnati, where her team earned second place in the Intermediate Division and she placed 8th individually in the Intermediate figures competition. Violet will compete regionally throughout the season and next year will have the opportunity to qualify for the Junior Olympics with her team.

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by SAMANTHA KIZER (Class of 2019)

and eight children per parent. This way the children get a sense of what a family feels like.

We spent most of our week painting and helping to add on to the boy’s dorm that is detached from the main house. We got to eat lunch and hang out with the children the four days we were with them. The first day we took the children to church and then to the park, where we rode bikes and played soccer with them.

The next couple of days we got to teach them how to make bracelets for the children to sell. We also baked cookies for the children to pass out to the people in the local community who had donated items to the orphanage. On our last day with the children, they sang songs for us in both Spanish and English!

There was one day that we were not at Casa Posibilidades, because the parents of the children were coming to visit. In Mexico biological family is important. Most of the time parents will drop their children off at an orphanage because they cannot afford to take care of their child.

The day we were not with the children, we were at the Hope program. The Hope program is also through Back to Back and allows teenagers to go to high school and college. This is set up the same way as Casa Posibilidades, with a family unit of up to eight children in each household. At the Hope program, we did some house cleaning and helped to add on to their walls because they had been broken into a couple of weeks earlier.

Over all it was a great week and in the end I didn’t want to leave.

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his summer I went on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico. Monterrey is home to much of Mexico’s steel industry, but it is also a city with immense poverty.

I traveled with a group of seven from my church, Riverhills, through Back to Back Ministries, an organization that is based out of Cincinnati. We spent most of the week helping at the Casa Posibilidades Orphanage, about an hour and a half outside of Monterrey.

Currently, the orphanage has six children, one girl and her four brothers and a little boy without siblings. The vision for Casa Posibilidades is to eventually house up to forty children, but right now they can only house sixteen. The orphanage is set up in family units that include two parents

Submit your MVCA Story to mystory@mvca-oh.com

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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or 20 years now the roar of the Lion has radiated into the Cincinnati area and beyond. Faculty, students, and friends of MVCA returned to the Pride to celebrate the community, outreach, and accomplishments of their beloved school.

Annual homecoming festivities were accompanied by lively music, logoed commemoratives, outrageous food, enjoyable fellowship, and of course, a bounce house! The stadium was packed as adoring fans cheered for their favorite Little Lion student as they passed by in the pennant parade. Half time brought loads of laughter and delight as a miniature flag football team and tiny cheerleaders performed to be just like the big kids. The evening crescendoed into the awaited crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen, Nathaniel Arington and Melanie Wojewoda. ~"And a good time was had by all.

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iami Valley Christian Academy hosted nearly 300 “Grands” in observance of Grandparents Day. This day is always extra special at the Academy as a time to honor and respect our grandparents. The time shared with them will never be forgotten. Principal Jody Hilsher commented to the invited guests, “In an age of technology where productivity is measured by how quickly tasks are completed, we take great pride in slowing our pace to embrace the heritage that you bring to the Academy.

Valuing the people that impact and influence our lives should always be a timely priority.”

Grandparents flooded the halls and spent time in classrooms, shared lunch in the cafeteria, and enjoyed free admission and concessions at the weekend sporting events.

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Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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FINE ARTS

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149:3

A Tale of Two Cities, Cappies Reviews

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he play began with the four narrators dressed in simple black dresses of modern day giving the iconic opening of the story. The ensemble of narrators, played

by Lauren Wright, Kaitlyn Wilson, Julia Hessler, and Lindsey Bumgartner, were superb in their projection of the plot line.

However, the most powerful aspect of this show was the acting of Sam Hunkler, who played both the roles of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. The immense talent that is required of these two taxing roles was stunningly displayed by Sam Hunkler; the way he portrayed them both was respectful to the original piece and did them both justice. The other standout character in the show was Lucie Manette, played by Olivia Sherwood. She added a sense of innocence and purity, bringing light into a show that

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LIONS’ PRIDE | Winter 2017

is extremely dark. Her sweet demeanor and airy disposition was stunning and portrayed the importance of her character and her effect on the events that take place.

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he acting from everyone in this show was superb, and the dedication to the accents of the characters was incredible.

Whether English or French, the actors did a wonderful job in staying true to their characters and their origins. The technical elements of the show were stunning as well.

The costuming, by Julia Hessler, added much to the show in terms of setting and emotion. Lucie's dresses always had bright colors and lace, while the lower class characters had ratty and torn clothing. The narrators dressed in simple black dresses to portray that they were telling the story of the past in today's relevance. The set was delightfully simple, allowing the scenes to move quickly and smoothly. Dark color schemes of blacks, grays, and dark reds

decked the stage and emphasized the struggles of the differing social classes of the show. Designed by Rachel Herbert and Amanda Herbert, the set was a wonderful addition to the show, and the simplicity didn't distract from the complexity throughout the story-line of "A Tale of Two Cities."

MVCA High School Theatre presented “A Tale of Two Cities,” Charles Dickens’powerful tale of war, hate, love, sacrifice and redemption.

The woes of the differing social classes that paralleled between settings of London and Paris were represented wonderfully by the cast of our MVCA high school students.

Jazz and Academy Choirs

T

he Academy Chorus and the Jazz Choir performed a variety of musical styles, including classical, a cappella, hymns and pop, at their annual Christmas Concert. Both choirs are dedicated to musical excellence. They love to challenge themselves by singing in time signatures such as 7/8, as well as performing pieces in other languages, such as Latin. Most importantly, the students perform every piece to glorify God; the front of their choir folders reminds them, “Soli Deo gloria”--“Glory to God alone.” Director Bethany Stanger remarked, “Each student has individual ownership of their part in the choir. Especially in a cappella singing, there is no music except what they create. And when that music comes from a place of worship, we are simply doing what we were created to do: glorify our Father.”

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Jazz and Academy Bands

O

ur band and choir programs held their annual Christmas Concert this past December. The program featured 5th Grade Band, Middle School Band, High School Concert Band, High School Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, and the Academy Chorus. The students used their talents to glorify the Lord and fill the audience with the Christmas Spirit. It was a wonderful evening!

Lower Elementary Christmas Show

W

e took a trip to Snowflake County-a place where Christmas celebrations had become so extravagant, they threatened to overshadow the simplicity of Christmas' true meaning. Through a series of crazy mishaps during the community's annual seasonal program, everyone realized that Christmas isn't about how brightly lights and decorations shine--it's about Jesus, the light of the world.

Upper Elementary Christmas Show

L

ittle Bethany is practicing her lines for the Christmas pageant when she drifts asleep and her imagination transports her to Bethlehem. Her dad, who runs a car lot, is too busy for Christmas, and shows up in her dream on the Camel Lot. She encounters shepherds, wise men, and sales men in her topsy turvy dream that reveals the real meaning of Christmas in a refreshing way!

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Serving Through Art

D

uring the past summer, Trinity Shaya worked with a group of 11 other teenagers and 3 head artists to paint a mural of Rosemary Clooney in Over The Rhine through ArtWorks Cincinnati. ArtWorks is an urban renewal program that employs local youth to help beautify the city through art. She decided to participate with ArtWorks for numerous reasons, the main factor being that they empower youth to make a difference in the community through art. During the 8 weeks that she worked, she was able to meet and become friends with new people, refine her artistic skills, and learn about the historic and cultural aspects of Cincinnati and OTR. The mural was dedicated on October 8th. She states, “I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work as an apprentice and hope that other students utilize ArtWorks to grow as an artist and a person as well as bless others with visual creativity.�

Tickets Available April 1st Contact MVCA (513) 272-6822

info@mvca-oh.com

www.mvca-oh.com/theatre

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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Athletic News Senior, Brandon Conklin, top receiver and defensive back. Honorable Mention DV-DVII Tight End/Receiver; WLWT CH 5 Beacon Orthopaedics Player of the Week

Football

Sophomore, Seth Henderson led Lions in rushing and played defensive back. Honorable Mention Running Back DV-DVII

Sophomore, Caleb LusbyHonorable Mention Linebacker DV-DVII

Sophomore, Sam Smith brought the run game and played linebacker. Honorable Mention Linebacker DV-DVI

Visit

mvca-oh.com/athletics for schedules of all

MVCA Athletic Events 26

Volleyball Varsity (pictured above) Oval League Champions Sectional Champs and District Runner-Up Played 26 matches and all 26 teams prayed with MVCA afterwards.

Payton McElfresh named 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association Phenom List.

Jill Patrick earned Second Team-- All City DIV III - IV.

OCSAA State runner up Title

CrosS CountrY

Avery Stewart won City Championship 7th grade meet at Colerain High School.

Freshmen Will Stewart was Honorable Mention D III.

Junior Laura Vilardo qualified for Division III Regionals at Troy and finished 73rd at 24:07.95.

Honorable Mention DIII

Senior Brad Grosjean finished 21st at Regionals and just missed making it to state. First Team DIII

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More than a game

By Jill Beasley

F

riday Night Lights is always a good time for Miami Valley Christian

Academy football fans, however, Friday, September 2nd was exceptional. The opposing team was St. Bernard, a school located in the heart of recent flash flood activity. Their playing field had been completely under water for days and the school ultimately closed due to extensive water damage.

MVCA's Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Robert Vilardo told his team about the beleaguered school during a practice. He stated, "The guys wanted to help their football brotherhood."

Coach Vilardo contacted St. Bernard and asked what would be the best way to

ReadY. Set. Read Elementary students were mesmerized as "real football players" --direct quote from a Kindergartner—read stories to them and spent time mentoring.

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LIONS’ PRIDE | Winter 2017

bring aid to the players and the school. They quickly responded that cleaning supplies were in huge demand.

MVCA football players launched a school-wide campaign for the most needed items and offered free admission to the game to all fans bringing the supplies to the gate.

The drive culminated with a trailer full of supplies that were sent home with St. Bernard.

The score board reflected a 14-7 win for MVCA, but it was ultimately a win for football brotherhood as both teams took a knee, linked arms, and said a prayer together for the flood victims.

VOLLEYBALL TEAM PLAYS IT FORWARD

by Paige McElfresh

O

ver the past two years, the MVCA High School Volleyball Team has developed a deep friendship with the Oyler team. Since MVCA is leaving the OVAL league next season and will no longer be playing Oyler, we wanted to spend some quality time with our volleyball kindred spirits. In September, after the match against Oyler on their turf, we provided pizza and shared a quick dinner with them.

It was a great evening of fun and fellowship, but we still wanted to do more.

With the help of our players and parents, we put together an amazing pregame event for our friends at our October home match!

Our intention was to present each girl with a special gift. We worked with the Oyler Administrative Team to place their school logo on a bag customized just for their players. Each of their ten players, coaches, and bus driver received a “love bag” filled

with socks, nail polish, candy, lotion and other fun items. We placed them on their school bus after they arrived to be sure to surprise them!

Immediately following our match, the teams ate dinner together in the Connections Café. The food was outstanding as was our time of fellowship.

Our players had written a devotional which they shared with the Oyler players.

One of our parents donated leather bound devotional books that were signed by each of our team members. This was an amazing opportunity and privilege to share our love of Christ with these young ladies. What followed could only have been orchestrated

by God Himself. Both the Oyler team and MVCA team members got up and began to dance together. Different backgrounds, different cultures, different point of views all united under a bond of friendship that appeared years old and levels deep. It was

an incredible sight to witness. At one point the coaches and I couldn’t even hear each other speak. It was as though these young ladies had known each other their whole lives. No one wanted the evening to end.

On the way to their school bus, many of the girls even exchanged contact information for continued fellowship! This evening was truly a reflection of our desire to #LiveLikeThat.

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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First days of MVCA

20 YEARS AGO

BY ANDY LOWE First Head of School

M

iami Valley Christian Academy has seen and felt God’s hand countless times in the past twenty years. We have sought God’s will in every aspect of the formulation of this Christian institution. Its birth and continued growth is evidence of His blessing.

In 1994, a group of parents and grandparents first entertained the idea of a Christian school in the Newtown community. Mary Lou Wambach served as board president; she and her husband, Ed, spearheaded the initial formation of the school. I (R. Andrew Lowe), a member of the Mt. Washington Church of Christ, was called to be the first headmaster in September, 1995. The former Newtown Elementary School building initially housed the Academy, with the Academy office in the current art room.

At every turn, God’s presence was evident. The school had absolutely no means to purchase anything ... nothing. We were in desperate need of student desks. Another school found out about our need and gave us all the desks we needed! Parents donated gallons and gallons of paint and helped us paint our office and four classrooms! Sets of textbooks were donated to MVCA by Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. All the cabinets in the art room were donated by the Ashley Lageman family of Indian Hill.

John Staker and I installed the cabinets.

Dodie Staker faithfully served as MVCA music teacher (non-salaried) and director of Wednesday morning chapel services.

I had heard how tough the Board of Health facilities review was going to be.

At the last minute “something came up” and the original inspector was unable to come. You guessed it; the replacement, was a Christian gentleman. He helped us pass with flying colors. Fire Marshals also are real sticklers for compliance, but again, a Christian gentleman guided us through the necessary hoops. There were seemingly

endless minutiae along the way but God was faithful in fulfilling our needs.

We moved slowly but determinedly to get our school chartered by the state, thus making us a viable institution of learning.

In 1996, a school needed fifteen enrolled students in order to apply for a charter. We opened the first day with just eleven, but after a couple weeks, we had our fifteen!

Our operations budget was totally tuition-driven, and with just fifteen students, we couldn’t even pay our two teachers. The kindergarten teacher, Diane Pearson, and first grade teacher, Kathy Morris, decided to teach that first year at only fifty percent of their contracted amounts. Carolyn Nauglebaugh, Executive Secretary, and I also forgave large portions of our contracted salaries.

The Lord continued to bless our efforts and we looked forward to stepping into the 1997 - 1998 school year.

I feel bless to be a part of the beginning of our beloved Miami Valley Christian Academy. To God be the glory ... always.

MVCA gave a warm "Welcome Back" to Dr. Jane Stuart as she visited earlier this year. Dr. Stuart served MVCA for 10 years in Christian education leadership and now serves as Principal of Anchorage School District. #kingdombuilders

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UPDATE NEWS FROM...

Matt Ferguson (class of 2008) marries Lauren Helton on July 23, 2016

Lukas Moreland (class of 2016) - pictured right placed runner up in The Balanced Man Scholarship award. This recognizes students who exhibit academic excellence, demonstrate leadership skills, and commit to their health and well-being.

Annie Simunek (class of 2008) marries Jonathan Holmes on December 29, 2016

Rachel Moreland (class of 2011) “Is there a Doctor in the house?”--there will be in a few more years AND an MVCA grad besides!

Rachel is currently in her 2nd year of med school at Lincoln Memorial University.

Sophie Simunek (class of 2010) marries Jeffrey Copeland on September 4, 2016

Adam McCoy (class of 2016) recently completed his first semester in the Farmer School of Business and Honors College at Miami University, where he is majoring in Marketing with a co-major in Analytics and a thematic sequence in Theater. Adam entered Miami with 34 accumulated college credits earned during his time at MVCA via AP courses, as well as post-secondary partnerships with Cincinnati Christian University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and the University of Cincinnati. Taking 17 credit hours, he finished with a GPA of 3.85.

He also became involved with several student organizations, including ActiveMinds, CRU, InterVarsity, Intramural Basketball, Students for Life, and the Wilks Leadership Institute.

In addition to his high level of immersion, he has enjoyed the opportunity to interact with a large number of motivated and like-minded students. Adam feels his time at MVCA more than prepared him to excel at college and to exemplify Miami’s “Code of Love and Honor.”

Shelley Raidy (class of 2014) is rejoining MVCA for a few weeks to complete her Senior Practicum in Child, Life and Family studies at Union University in Jackson, TN. Her anticipated date of graduation is May 2018.

Twitter@MVC AOH | Facebook .com/M iamiValleyChr istianAcademy

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