A Day Of Remembrance

While introducing the scholarship on that special day, Dr. Shawn Brower said, “For 50 years God has sustained Westminster and provided incredible people who have sacrificially given of themselves in immeasurable ways so the school might flourish into what it is today. However, we would like to recognize one special individual for his 43 years of immense abiding love, deep sacrifice, bold action, courageous leadership, and prayerful, deliberate and thoughtful Christ-honoring action in the 80s, 90s and 2000s.”

Mr. Hanks has been a parent of two Westminster students, the board chairman, an avid fundraiser, a faithful prayer warrior, a wise mentor, and an encouraging and positive presence at school activities and events.

Established with the characteristics of our beloved Mr. Hanks in mind, The David Hanks Legacy Scholarship will be given annually to an academically thriving sophomore or junior who embodies the following of Hanks’ characteristics:

• An evident and transparent love of Westminster

• A missional, servant’s heart for those in and outside of the school

• A proud ambassador and champion of the school

• A student of authentic character who exhibits a consistently positive attitude

Students will be nominated by and voted for by faculty in the late spring of each year. The student selected will receive a $5,000 scholarship toward their Westminster tuition for the upcoming academic year.

If you would like to honor Mr. Hanks’ legacy by contributing to the David Hanks Legacy Scholarship, please visit https://www.wsa.net/GiveNow and choose to make a “Tribute” gift in honor of The David Hanks Legacy Scholarship, or you can mail a check that references the “David Hanks Legacy Scholarship” in the memo line.

It is our sincere hope that the establishment of this scholarship will point students to Christ through the testimony of David Hanks for many years to come. To God be the glory!

On June 20, 2023, the Westminster Schools of Augusta Board of Trustees, with great delight, voted to pay off the school’s remaining debt. This vote and the subsequent act of making final payment marked the first time in the school’s history that we could declare that we are debt free. In a year marked by numerous events honoring the school’s 50 years of ministry, this serves as the crescendo of our celebrations before entering into our 51st year.

While this certainly was the result of visionary leadership and biblical stewardship by the board of trustees, the guidance of the finance committee, the generosity of First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, the wise counsel of others, and the diligence of the school’s leaders, it is so much more.

This is yet again a reminder of our faithful covenant God who not only established our Westminster Schools of Augusta, but has seen fit to bring us to this point of celebration and remembrance. I say “remembrance” because the Lord has seen fit to bless us in countless ways over the years and has graciously smiled upon us. I say “remembrance” because, should we ever take our eyes off the Originator and Sustainer of all we are and all we have, then we might quickly resort to pride and forgetfulness, thinking that we have some personal reason to boast in our school, its reputation, and its successes.

As head of school, looking to launch us into the next 50 years of faithful and fruitful ministry, I would call on all of

by Dr. Shawn Brower, Head of School

us, in great humility, to thank our God with hearts of deep gratitude and praise for His wonderful provision. As we recognize that Westminster belongs to God and we serve Him as its stewards, it must lead us to a greater sense of dependence and reliance upon Him.

May we never look around at the Westminster we love without lifting our eyes and hearts in deep adoration and praise to the one true God who saw fit more than 50 years ago to plant and establish this school here in Augusta. Such regular remembrance should lead us to a place of gratitude where we ask God for grace to become the school He envisions for our families and community and that we send more laborers into the world.

So may we first call on Him for more grace, as an act of faithful responsive obedience in following His commands, to become what He desires: a Christian school set apart to pursue what is good and beautiful and right in His sight as our God and King. Anything less will lead us, like the children of Israel, to be consumed by the influence of culture around us through the pursuit of lesser gods to worship. May we continually keep our gaze and affection on Christ!

So yes, we remember today as we celebrate and worship God for His great faithfulness to us. With great expectation and anticipation, we lean forward into His providential will for our school as we set our hope and hearts in Christ alone. So, with great boldness and confidence, let us all look to Christ, the chief Cornerstone and Shepherd of our Westminster Schools of Augusta, as we step into our 51st year of ministry. Corum Deo!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21