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COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER

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“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

–Jeremiah 17:7-8

COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Graduation 2012Thirty-seven students graduated from CHCS on May 13th, 2012. The

occasion was celebrated with friends and family. Baccalaureate featured words of inspiration from our Christian Character Award recipient, Spencer Ming and speaker Rob Harryman. The commencement was filled with tradition, beginning with the processional led by our three valedictorians, Lindsey Connor, Derek Hoover and Spencer Ming. Both the Baccalaureate and Commencement were will attended by over 1,000 watching the graduates receive their diplomas. This year’s graduating class will be accepting almost $900,000 in scholarships.

Congratulations Class of 2012!

SPENCERMINGMatthew J. DeWeltChristian CharacterAward Recipient

Spencer Ming has beennamed CHCS 2011-2012Christian Character AwardRecipient. This honor is given to one senior each year that displays the character of Christ in all aspects of their life. Three students are nominated by the senior class and approved by administration. Along with Spencer, Sarah Buford and Lindsey Conner also received the honor of being nominated. The entire high school body votes on the recipient and the winner is announced at the Annual Academic Awards Banquet. Spencer accepted this award at the baccalaureate and also had the honor of walking with distinguished graduates at graduation.

Nursing StudentGives Back

GRACE MBUTHIA (2006) is currently a nursing student at St. Luke’s College of Health Services in Kansas City. She loves to tell the story of how she came from Kenya to the United States and how an experience she had while living in Kenya inspired her to go into the medical field. May 28th, Grace and three other nurses from Joplin flew to Kenya to begin a ten day medical camp in Kiamunyeki. A total of twelve nurses and two clinical officers will work at the camp (in Grace’s hometown) and then will head to

Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru. Grace lost her home during the May 22nd tornado, but that did not stop her from volunteering at a sanctuary set up for tornado victims and organizing the Kenya trip. Grace and the other nurses paid for their own airline tickets. She has raised additional money to cover other costs. You can read her blog at neemam.wordpress.com. If you would like to help with a financial donation, checks can be sent to Diamond Community Church, 2577 Jayhawk Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701 – marked “Kenyan Mission”.

Conference Art ChampionsThis year’s art students took first place overall in the

2012 Spring River Valley Art Competition. Fourteen students entered work in the competition and eleven of those placed, bringing home 26 medals. Included was 2-D and 3-D Best of Show pieces done by Zach Davis. The team scored sixty-three points followed by second place at thirty-five points. The Art Team received medals in all but one of the categories they participated in!

COLLEGE HEIGHTSCHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Since 1978

4311 E. Newman RoadJoplin, Missouri 64801

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDJOPLIN, MO 64802

PERMIT NO. 26

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“Reach Out… Reconnect…and Remember”

The Legacy alumni newsletter is currently printed three times a year. Your input is important to help us keep everyone up to date. If you have alumni news you’d like to submit, would like to update your contact information or be added to the mailing list, or need more information about alumni events, contact the CHCS Development Department at 417.782.4114, ext. 227, or info@collegeheights.org.

COUGAR TRACKSNATHAN GRIFFITH (2002) graduated this past January from Boston University School of Theology with a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Practical Theology.

LEA (Sorrick) MORGAN (2010) and IAN MORGAN (2008) married on November 19, 2011

ETHAN BEAVER (2008) will marry Judith Cooper on June 29th, 2012

AMANDA HAMILTON (2010) and ANDREW Bass (2010) will be married on July 20th, 2012. They will move to Fayetteville, AR to attend the University of Arkansas.

KATY CALANDRO graduated May 5th from John Brown University with a degree in Elementary Education. On May 19th, she was married to Wes Eaton.

Congratulations to…

Finalist NANCY OHMART (MS)and JULIE PECHAWER (5th)and CHRISTY KINDER (5th)

Follow us on TWITTER… https://twitter.com/#!/chcsjoplin Find us on FACEBOOK… College Heights Christian School – Joplin MO

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Reconnecting withANGIE CONOVERWhen did you start attending CHCS?

My family moved to Joplin from Dallas, TX, just in time for me to start 1st grade. I went my whole educational career at College Heights. 1st–12th grades

What was life like for you at CHCS?I had a great experience attending College Heights. I felt like I knew everyone and everyone knew

me. I was involved in most the activities that were offered. I played volleyball and basketball, and was on the Student Council. I had some of the best friends in high school! Most of them made through playing sports. We had it made back then, with the overnight weekend sport trips. I made lasting friendships. I’m still good friends with some of those ladies today!

How did you benefit from attending CHCS?College Heights prepared me to be attentive to my work. I don’t know if they still do it, but I

had to have a “3-ring-binder” for every class. While that seemed over the top at the time, it taught me great organizational skills. To this day, I love the security of a 3-ring-binder. College Heights prepared me well for college. I felt I understood the expectations of a classroom designed for learning. I had the confidence to attend college and participate in my learning to the fullest. Then, of course, there was the Bible teaching. I have a foundation of the Bible that I learned at College Heights that has proven to be invaluable.

Who was your favorite Teacher?Man, I don’t think I have an answer for this one. I have so many fun memories of so many of the

teachers, but I’m not sure I can give you a favorite. Of course, my coaches stand out. I had several. I remember Mr. Lewis taught us how to “pancake” the volleyball. Terri Dresh and Tammy Crane provide memories that we still talk about! Mrs. Cruse, although I never got to have her as a teacher, allowed me to be a “substitute cheerleader”. I wasn’t a cheerleader, but my friends were, so I got to go to camp with them one year down in Oklahoma. I have too many stories to share.

Where did you attend school after CHCS and what degrees did you obtain?I did two years of undergraduate work at Missouri Southern State University. I then transferred to

Missouri State University in Springfield. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from MSU in 1996. I moved to Kansas after college to use my degree. I had some great life lessons there, but found myself in a situation that called for change. I ended up moving back to Missouri and going back to school. I received my Masters in Social Work from Missouri State University in 2003.

Tell us about your career path after college.I currently work for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons at the U.S. Medical

Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO. That’s a mouthful to say, I work at a prison in Springfield. I started as an Intern as part of my Graduate program. I spent a year there being exposed to some unbelievable, social work experiences. After a year I desperately wanted to stay, so I applied for a full time job and started praying. God was good and I left on a Friday as an Intern and came back the next Monday as a full time employee. I’ve been here 10 years. I am a social worker on the mental health unit at an all-male prison. The inmates I work with are serving a federal prison sentence and have been diagnosed with a chronic mental illness. I am also on the National Cadre for the Hostage Negotiation Team. I am the Team Leader for a Crisis Negotiation Team, and it allows me to do a lot of instructing and training on this topic. This job is strangely entertaining. I know I’ve found my niche when I find satisfaction in talking a delusional inmate out of a crisis. I laugh a lot with the inmates, and I’ve cried at hearing some of the stories of these men. But I find it very rewarding to help these guys start a new, productive life in society. God directed me to exactly where I am supposed to be.

I also teach Social Work courses for Drury University, Missouri State University and Evangel University.

How do you see God working in your life now?God continues to be gracious to me! I have a fantastic career that allows me opportunities

that I never thought I would have. He has placed me in an environment that is absent of hope, encouragement, and goodness. And yet I’m allowed to provide some of these things to men that desperately need it. He has opened doors for me to introduce the inmates to His teaching (granted sometime you have to be stealthy about it, but it has happened none-the-less.) I believe he has shaped my personality to bring me to a balance of “thick skin and good boundaries” paired with my compassion for the ill and the “imprisoned”.

What do you hope God will accomplish through you?Like most of us, I hope God continues to use me just in the place that I am at this moment. I

would like to be available to respond to inmates or co-workers that hopefully see in me something different in this dark, negative place. I find joy in thinking these men have experienced a kindness and an encouragement that maybe they’ve not had in their lives before.

What pearls of wisdom would you pass on to the graduates of CHCS?Don’t decide too soon where your life should go. Be open to anything. Take time to experience new

things, new cultures, new people. Stretch yourself by putting yourself in new situations and learn to love the diversity of people. Know what you believe well enough that you can take time to understand

other people before you jump to a judgment. Be kind and have a sense of humor!

Teacher boundfor Indonesia

LYNNE BONTRAGER has accepted a teaching position in Indonesia, starting next year. She will be working primarily with children from missionary families. Lynne has done a great job with her 2nd grade students this year

and although she will be missed by all of us here at CHCS, we are pleased that she is stepping out in faith to serve the Lord in Indonesia.

On a Missionby KAISON DAVIS

I graduated CHCS in 2009, and was led to go to New Zealand to study with YWAM, with this school I traveled through India and Nepal, and learned much about what it was to depend solely on God alone. I returned to New Zealand, and graduated from Discipleship Training School, and left for home. After 3 monthsback in America I sold my stuff, packed a bag, and headed for Thailand, not exactly sure what I would be doing, but following the Spirit’s leading. My journey to the south of Thailand was one I will never forget. Though I had nothing, God always provided. I ended up in Nakhon si Thammarat. This is a city in the south, primarily Buddhist, but surrounded on all sides by dominantly Muslim provinces. Nakhon Si Thammarat used to be the kingdom of Ligor, and was the first city Buddhism came to in Thailand, about 2000 years ago.

I have lived here for a year now, building relations, teaching English, and learning the language and culture of Thailand. I now have a building next to a beautiful waterfall which will serve as missions base to the most unreached part of Thailand. I also desire to train Thai missionaries so that I will see a church planting movement in these mountains.

What the Thai people don’t know could lead them to Christ. If they would read the Buddhist scriptures they would know that just like Christianity, every human has sin, every human will go to hell, and our job is to seek a way of escape from hell. They would also know that when Buddha said “appa mano” he meant do not worship material things, including statues of himself. I want to devote my life to studying these things, and teaching the Thai people how Jesus is the way of escape.

I do raise money for my own support for this mission. I would love to hear from you and need your prayers. My email address iskaisondavis11@gmail.com

My website is Reformedmonasticism.net, I have an extended testimony and statement of faith on this site. In the future this site will serve as the networking site for a church planting movement.

CHCS Student Signs Letter of IntentOn Thursday, May 3, 2012, EVAN BELK, College Heights Christian School senior,

signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Sterling College, in Sterling, Kansas. Evan, starting guard, has been 4 year varsity letterman and 4 year varsity starter.

He averaged 17 points per game, 5 assists per game, and averaged 3 steals per games. He has accumulated a total of 1,468 points in his high school career. Mr. Belkshonors include: All District – Junior and Senior Year, All Conference – Junior and Senior Year.

Coach Eric Johnson commented, “Evan is passionate about the game and a leader on our team. He is a very coachable player and is able to play several positions very well. I will miss him, but I am looking forward to watching him continue his basketball at the collegiate level.”

Missions WeekMARCH 12-16

CHCS celebrated our annual Missions Week March 12-16. The week was dedicated to serving others in our community and around the world.

Forty-six students and sponsors traveled to Jamaica to work with a local church on various projects and VBS. Another group went to Red Bird Mission Work Camp in Beverly, Kentucky to work with Appalachian people. They provided home repair for low-income community residents.

Cookson Hills Children’s Home in Kansas, Oklahoma was assisted by a group that worked on projects and a chapel service presentation.

Freshmen students headed to Ozark, Arkansas to provide outreach services to the rural, economically challenged community by completing physical labor projects.

Additionally, 93 High School Students and sponsors canvased the community of Joplin to serve at Crosslines, Spring River Christian Village, Neighborhood Life House in North Joplin, God’s Resort, Creative Expressions, and Crisis Center. Their purpose was to serve the people and help the organization in any way they are needed.

Middle School Students served on various projects during the week.

The theme for Missions Week was “It’s NOT about me!” Every student learned from dedicating this time to others.

CROSSLINES

COOKSON HILLS CHILDREN’S HOME

CRISIS CENTER

REDBIRD MISSION WORK CAMP

OZARK, ARKANSAS HISPANIC PRAYER ROOM SPRING RIVER CHRISTIAN VILLAGE

CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE HOUSE

JAMAICA

GOD’S RESORT