WINTER 2022

Asheville Christian Academy

LIONS’ SHARE

INSIDE:

Girls win second basketball state championship in three years Winterim offers exciting travel, learning, and adventure

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Bonne retraite, Madame! HAPPY RETIREMENT, SUSAN WILLIAMS! ACA's beloved French and Spanish teacher for the past 31 years, as well as yearbook adviser and basketball scorekeeper extraordinaire, is retiring at the end of this school year, and she reflects on her time at ACA. What will you do now? I know you love to travel and cook. Any favorites? Pommes Dauphinoises (potatoes/ Gruyère cheese and cream) is a favorite, as well as Chicken Divin, a sauce-based dish. And you traveled a good amount with your ACA language students. Yes, I have loved all the trips I have taken to France and Spain with students. One trip to France in 2005 was an especially good trip, a group of 35, including an entire family, and my parents as well, who were both Continued on page 4

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Dr. George inspects ­progress on the lower school building construction.

Moving ­forward s­ trategically

Greetings, Asheville Christian Community. We recently gathered as a whole school for the first time in over two years to celebrate and honor our local pastors and church workers at our all-school Pastor Appreciation Chapel. After two years of literal isolation, it was a breath of fresh air to invite these co-laborers to our campus – to thank them for the work they have continued to do, and to worship alongside these shepherds of our students. It reminded me of the three-legged stool that supports the growth and development of a child, of which the school is only one part—the other two legs being the home and the church. It was encouraging to me to see our students afterwards interacting with youth pastors and others that have meant so much to their spiritual upbringing. I could easily wax eloquent here and start to preach, so I will leave you with this one thought: Asheville Christian Academy is a school—not a church. If you and/or your children are not actively attending a church,

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they are being deprived of a critical part of their development into Christ-followers as adults. That said, outreach and collaboration with our local churches is one of our strategic initiatives over the next few years. The strategic plan gives my staff and me a guidepost of measurable outcomes to ensure that we are always improving and continuing to live out our mission in the lives of our students, their families, and our community. Another major piece of our strategic plan moving forward is the completion of the upstairs of the lower school building. As we have already shared with you, construction is underway while we finalize the "silent phase" of our capital campaign. I look forward to seeing this phase of our campus completed so we may further the reach of our mission here in Swannanoa and beyond. Thank you for your trust.

LIONS’ SHARE WINTER 2022

Our Mission: Seeking to serve Jesus Christ and uphold His pre-eminence, Asheville Christian Academy, in committed partnership with Christian parents, provides a Gospel-centered education to shepherd and inspire Christ-oriented lives within a community of grace and truth. For more than 60 years, Asheville Christian Academy has provided a Gospel-centered education to students in the greater Asheville area. LIONS’ SHARE tells the story of top-quality instruction and heart-changing discipleship in an environment focused on bringing God honor. MARKETING /­C­OMMUNICATIONS: MARY ELLEN GILLESPIE EDITORIAL & DESIGN: NAT BELZ

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Susan Williams, continued from page 2

finally able to be a part of that trip. I loved being able to show my parents something I had been doing for so long and seeing France through their eyes. And you keep in touch with students who are using French or Spanish in their work. It is so rewarding for a teacher to see students carry the torch! For instance, Nathan and Peter Brinkerhoff are using their Spanish and French in missions. Naomi Belz Schindler has become a French teacher. Liza Ruland Speece continued with Spanish and was working on her PhD in Spanish! Thomas George uses Spanish as a doctor. Sarah Smothers took both French and Spanish at ACA and used Spanish in her subsequent work and ministry. Seth Barker excelled in French at ACA and now lives and works in Switzerland, using his French on a daily basis. Why French ... in a world where Mandarin and Spanish would seem to rule the day? Great question! Mandarin and Spanish certainly influence our world today, partly due to sheer numbers! However, French is far more universal than both languages, spoken on all continents but one. I tell students that if they are interested in the western hemisphere only, Spanish is an obvious choice, but if you're interested in global fields, French would be a better language to learn. It's used in the business world internationally and in many organizations, (NATO, the UN, International Red Cross, the Olympics, etc.), is one of the top languages of the internet and the official language of many growing African nations. Our own history is steeped in

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French, and the worlds of art, literature and music, fashion, cuisine are strongly influenced by French. Around 50% of our English words come from French! And besides, French is so incredibly beautiful! Have I convinced you?! When did you discover your gift and love for language, and whom do you credit with that? My primary French teacher in high school was a Swiss French speaker. She encouraged me in the language, urged me to take my first trip to France, and even became my substitute teacher at ACA several times. I continued to take French through high school and in college, simply for pure love, because I said I would never be a teacher! Thirty plus years later, I still love it and love learning languages. Your desire to see students embrace Jesus has always been so evident. Do you have some thoughts for young people who are struggling with their faith? Faith IS often a struggle and I have many times put students in a moral box of my own judgement. I think I would say to some alum, please forgive me, as Christ has forgiven me. Then, lay aside your acquired behaviors, and see Jesus only. Ask Him to display Himself to you and know Him for yourself. There are many things in Christendom that give us pause and concern in so many arenas, but I have learned that whatever loss, flaw, disappointment or upheaval I find in this life, I find none at all in Him. He is absolutely worthy. Come and see! For a more in-depth interview with "Madame" Williams, go to The Lion Cast, hosted by Wade Tapp, Head of Upper School at https://bit.ly/3haJrzv

An Austrian Adventure for the Lunberrys TRENT AND KATE LUNBERRY returned this year to ACA from Vienna, Austria, where they taught at the International Christian School of Vienna. Trent recounts their two-year experience: After nine years at Asheville Christian Academy Kate and I both felt strongly that God was calling us to serve—for an unknown amount of time—at the International Christian School of Vienna. For years prior to 2019, Kate’s Aunt, Dr. Sharon Brobst, the director of ICSV, had been encouraging us to apply and told us about the many things that God was doing in Vienna. After much prayer, research, and advice from our loved ones, we knew and were

excited about what God was calling us to pursue. Yet we were also saddened to leave our ACA and church family here in Asheville, as well as our stateside relatives. It certainly helped knowing that within our first few months in Austria, plans were in place and tickets had already been purchased for visits from both sets of parents and Kate’s aunt. Many aspects of the school heightened our anticipation. The student body comes from about 65 nations. That thrilled Kate and me because that diversity is very similar to the Christian international schools we both experienced in our youth in East Africa. My parents were missionaries in Uganda (and later

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Kate and Trent at the Wiener Eistraum 2020, a two-level ice rink in Vienna.

Tanzania and India) with Bible Study Fellowship International, and Kate’s parents were with African Inland Mission and served at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya for over thirty years. It was at this boarding school where I met the love of my life, and Kate and I have been sharing adventures ever since! We certainly share the love of serving the LORD and the love of travel, and He was now preparing us for our next adventure. We were also excited at the opportunity to share what Christ alone had done in our lives with a student body that is "open-enrollment," students coming from a variety of religious backgrounds. ICSV welcomes any family that prioritizes or merely consents to having the God of the Bible taught to their children – both unapologetically and apologetically. I knew a wonderful challenge was ahead. In preparation, I read the not-so-compact "Compact Guide to World Religions," which helped me prepare questions and share biblical answers, but it further confirmed for me that no other worldview is as comprehensive or as seamless as one that is being shaped by the Holy Bible and Spirit. I also prepared by studying German, and I’m so glad that I did. Upon arriving in Vienna, Kate and I discovered that so much more was in German than we anticipated. Even though my grasp of the language was very, very basic,

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as in most places in the world, people really appreciate when you at least try to use and value their tongue. Then, after it was evident that my German was extremely limited, Austrians would most of the time graciously switch the conversation to English, which most Austrians study extensively in school. Only rarely would someone completely refuse or be unable to speak English; interestingly enough, this happened most often at the Austrian post office. Kate and I loved exploring Vienna, our new home. The architecture was exquisite, even though many buildings had been damaged during the Second World War and had to be repaired or completely rebuilt; the museums were incredible; the restaurants and food were remarkable and as cosmopolitan as its population. Kate and I especially enjoyed buying food and picnicking in the many gorgeous city parks. Our residency seemed

complete when we found “New City Wien" (Vienna) a bilingual international church. The believers there were welcoming, and it was a joy to worship and hear the Word of God preached in both English and German. Almost right away, Kate and I also took advantage of the ease with which one can travel in Europe, often for incredibly economical prices. We were able to travel by train around the Austrian countryside. We loved to visit our dear friends, the Pall family, in western Austria. The friendship between Liz Pall and Kate dates back to Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. We were also able to go to Greece, Prague in the Czech Republic, and then to Iceland over our Christmas break. Then, during “Energy Break” in February, we flew to London to visit my sister and her husband. Little did we know that the COVID-19 virus was running rampant, and we would be in strict lockdown right after we returned to Austria. Lockdown was both difficult and a blessing in many ways.

First, the pandemic stretched me in the same way that it did educators around the world: the challenge was to conduct meaningful, as-effective-as-possible teaching – and only online. In the end, unsurprisingly, God provided during distance-learning and even worked miracles. One miracle that I witnessed, that I simply cannot get over, is how distance-learning allowed for the teachers at ICSV to teach the Bible, and even sing the praises of Jesus, via the internet, streaming live into Muslim, Hindu, and agnostic homes! There is simply no doubt that the advance of the Kingdom is unstoppable, because God Most High desires all to come to a saving relationship with His Son. For two years, much of which was spent in lockdown, I was privileged to share life—with its unprecedented combination of difficulties and joys—with my colleagues, students, and their families. The teachers at ICSV come Continued on next page>

Trent's classroom at ICSV, just across the street from the U1 (Ubahn) rail ­station, Rennbahnweg, where most students arrived every day. "What a great way to get to school," Trent says. "A pass for a year cost only one Euro per day, which included most city trains, buses, and trolley cars."

Kate and Trent ------

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Colson Fellows at ACA

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olson Fellows is a rigorous ten-month "exploration of the Christian worldview where Fellows enter a dynamic and lifelong fellowship of believers committed to living courageously and faithfully." Four ACA faculty members are Colson Fellows this year. ACA's Lexi Zanias was commissioned as a Colson Fellow in 2018 and helps to lead this year’s Asheville cohort. Colson, a former White House aide turned prison reformer, wrote in 1999 that "Christians who underCharles W. Colson stand biblical truth and have the courage to live it out can indeed redeem a culture, or even create one. This is the challenge facing all of us in the new millennium." When Colson wrote that, we had not entered that new millennium. Would he be as optimistic today as he was then?

Kate and Trent in Salzburg, Austria, taken from the Hohensalzburg Fortress

from all over the world, too: Austria, the U.S., the U.K., Brazil, Nigeria, Czech Republic, and Romania. The ICSV family quickly became so dear to Kate and me. It was an added joy to teach a few of my students for both years in Vienna (due to grades 4 and 5 being combined for homeroom subjects). God grew me so much as we trusted Him during this challenging period of history. Distance-learning also afforded Kate and me extra time together, and she helped me so very much as I tried methods of online learning, grew to love the Deep Roots Bible curriculum, and tried to present the Good Tidings of Christ in a worldview, question-based, apologetic approach. After returning to ACA this year, I was thrilled to find that the Deep Roots Bible curriculum had been adopted here, too. I know that it will also be used mightily here, preparing many to “Go therefore and

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make disciples of all nations…” I know that ICSV continues to look for teachers who are followers of Christ, both the newly graduated and those with years of experience. I would encourage American teachers to prayerfully consider joining with what God is doing at ICSV, or in other ACSI schools around the world. It was such a joy to be one of the seed scatterers at ICSV for a short time. I know for a fact that the seeds planted and those sprouted by the Holy Spirit will be going into countries all over the globe, some of which are countries where the Gospel is not welcome and often met with violence. Electrifying Kingdom work continues there today, even as it continues here at Asheville Christian as well. What a thrill it has been jumping back into what Jesus is doing here in North Carolina! Kate and I are so very thankful that God has brought us back to get to work alongside our dear ACA family once more. The great adventure continues! —Trent Lunberry

Lexi: Colson was starting to see fruit, but with new technology, that fruit has developed at a surprising rate. We can be optimistic only when we realize that no matter what's happening in culture, we still serve a relevant, powerful God who is not boxed in by culture. So, yes, I think Colson would still be optimistic. Liza: His book How Now Shall We Live is far and away my favorite in the CF program and I found much of what he wrote about incredibly prescient. Despite social isolation, there is hunger out there to be immersed in biblical teaching that combats a secular culture. In Colson Fellows we are arming ourselves with an understanding of the evolution of culture and politics. It really feels like I'm on a global team of kingdom builders. Jason: The last couple of years have demonstrated that even a wealthy nation like ours is not immune to the things that are now plaguing us.

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Colson Fellows Jason Ingle, Liza Holmes, and Laura Krizan

understanding the reasons we have arrived at this cultural moment. And, sure, there were things I disagreed with. But that’s the real benefit of working through a program like this. The point wasn’t to get us to agree with what they were saying but instead to examine closely what was being presented and have the space to disagree. The important thing is how we as a group engaged with each other over those points. That has been refreshing. Could others in the ACA community benefit?

Courageous Christians today need the tenacity and faith to hone arguments and positions, to speak and interpret them for a new generation. What might such a redeemed culture on earth look like to you now? Liza: Redeemed culture puts the truth of the gospel before all things, where the Creator is sovereign over all. If we apply God's original design, everything—families, churches, politics, even entertainment would be restored. Jason: I’m not sure I buy into the notion that the “culture” will ever be fully redeemed this side of heaven. I’m probably more inclined to believe that there are general ebbs and flows to “culture.” Has that vision changed for you since you became a Colson Fellow? Lexi: One of the main ideas in the program is the idea of “de-professionalizing” Christianity. We shouldn’t expect the Christian worldview to be defended and lived out only by those who are being “paid” to espouse Christian theology, (pastors, professors, etc.) Each of us has the ability to live it well in our own lives. I have expanding spheres in the places where I live, spheres of influence (where I can make a difference) and spheres of concern (where I can pray, but have no direct impact). Colson Fellows encourages people to seek to make a difference by living well right where they are. Liza: My favorite quote in How Now Shall We Live is that the "mission for Christians

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is nothing less than becoming men and women of 'another type.'" Jason: I see faithful Christians adapting well to the new challenges of the age. They are more able to live faithfully, disciple faithfully, and defend faithfully. Just living faithfully is actually very exciting and will lead to a much more faithful visible church. Did you have any smack-your-forehead moments while involved in this program? Liza: A lot of the material correlates "Working with friends with my curricthrough topics where ulum in World faith and culture cross Literature. And I drew me to the program," says Anna Stroud. have certainly edited and added to my lesson plans because of the program. I hadn't appreciated enough the historical progression of ideas and how it has influenced Christianity and biblical worldview. There have been many head-smacker moments as we read and discuss topics from Darwinism to the founding fathers to (biblical) social justice to how closely we are mirroring the fall of Rome. Jason: It was profound listening to men like Os Guiness and John Lennox talk at length about the historical roots of the issues we are facing in culture. Having that background has been very helpful for

Lexi: Colson Fellows is helpful for both expanding and narrowing your world. It expands it by connecting you with others who care and share similar burdens across the country. It narrows it by reminding you that God gives your own sphere, your own location for a reason. Laura: I felt ill-equipped to discuss with my students (and anyone else) our current culture and the Biblical reasons why I believe what I believe. Not only do I feel more comfortable discussing these topics; but it reminds me that Christianity is the only worldview that answers the deep and longing questions asked and felt by everyone. As a World History teacher, I show my students how the fall has affected why we think the way we do. Liza: I can't think of a better situation in which to directly apply CF than being a teacher or staff member at ACA. It is our job to provide a "Gospel-centered education and shepherd and inspire Christ-oriented lives with grace and truth." The fundamental goal of CF is to teach you how to apply this very mission. We are no longer merely teaching our curriculum; we are showing students how to navigate a secular culture outside our walls. CF is a firehose of resource for this mission. Jason: Culturally the West is moving at light speed toward what we could call a secular worldview. Educators still hold a place of influence with students and arming ourselves with the knowledge to direct these lives is massively important. ACA is sort of a micro-society that works to offer up a counter to what’s being otherwise presented.

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Around campus Snow days at Asheville Christian may have been in short supply in recent years, but the combination of a foot of snow in January and abnormally cold temperatures kept the snow around longer than usual. Not to worry, because the CAMPUS OPERATIONS TEAM was instantly hard at work getting campus roads and parking ready for students' return.

DR. TIM ELMORE, a best-selling author and "world-renowned expert on Millennials and Generation Z," was the fourth speaker in Asheville Christian's "Parenting Together" series. He spoke to a large group of ACA parents February 10 on "Marching off the Map: Empowering Students to Take Charge of their Education."

EarthShaking 7th grade science students shook with excitement as they learned about earthquakes. Students designed buildings to withstand an earthquake and then tested how long their constructed buildings withstood shaking on an actual shake table. These are future engineers in the making.

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A Swim Team with hearts and hands —and a State Champion

ACA art students excel once again in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

They win championships! MALLORY RAY (right, '24) was the state champion in the women's 200 and 500 freestyle. Asheville Christian also had a third-place finish in the 200 medley relay: CALEB TRUNNELL (‘24), LIAM ALEMAN (‘24), PABLO FRANK (‘26), and JONAH HERZOG (‘24). But in addition to championships in the pool, the ACA swim team also spent time before Christmas volunteering with Hearts with Hands (below), a local charitable not-forprofit organization. They packed 1000 boxes of supplies, all going to help people in storm-devastated Kentucky.

Congratulations are due to the following students who received awards at the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards:

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EMILY GRUNINGER (8th grade) and NIKKI INNES (8th grade) both received Honorable Mentions. ISABELLA CODD (9th) received a Gold Key. SAM FLAGLER (12th) received a Silver Key. EZRA INMAN (9th) received 2 honorable mentions. HOLLY LANTER (10th) received a Sliver Key. JESSE PATETE (11th) received 3 honorable mentions, 3 Silver Keys, and a Gold Key/American Visions Nomination. And ZACH RYBURN (11th) received an Honorable Mention.

ACA loves pastors!

Jesse Patete's artwork, "Baby's First Woodblock," which won Gold Key, American Visions Nominee, at this year's Scholastic Art Awards.

For nearly two years, because of Covid-19, the Asheville Christian Academy community had not been able to give a proper thank-you to the pastors of nearly 100 churches represented in the ACA student body. But in February, choirs, bands and other students belted out their best to express thanks for the support and leadership brought by these Asheville-area clergy, and those pastors and their families and staffs showed up in force for the event. "It was so great to thank them for the work they have continued to do, and to worship alongside these shepherds of our students," said Head of School William George.

All awarded artworks were to be presented in the 2022 WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards exhibition from January 24-March 7, 2022, at the Asheville Art Museum. Gold Key winners move on to the National Scholastic Art Contest. Gold Key and Silver Key recipients will be displayed physically and Honorable Mention artworks will be displayed digitally. Please be sure to visit the lovely Asheville Art Museum to view the exhibition at 2 South Pack Square, Asheville NC. The award ceremony for this year’s awards was virtual on Saturday, January 29, but is now available on the Art Museum’s YouTube channel.

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Winterim: Just what it sounds like.

This innovative program at Asheville Christian gives a much-anticipated break during the sometimes-dreary late winter. This year, Upper School students chose from a wide variety of experiences:

Trains and Boats

ACA has partnered with the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and several other local high schools in the raising of funds and building five houses over the course of ten years. Here Student Build House #5 nears completion. The students' last workday was February 12, but a key celebration is scheduled for April. Coach RICK SPURLING has been the faculty sponsor.

"Looking at myself through God's lens." KRISTEN GRUNINGER ('22) traveled in December to Honduras with Fountain of Life. It was her second trip of last year, and she was the youngest member of the team. "We spent most of our time with girls at a home on the Fountain of Life campus in Taulab," Kristen says. "Most had been orphaned or rescued from bad situations, so we shared Jesus' love with them. I am pretty fluent in Spanish after taking five years of it in school. "In Honduras I learned how deep the Lord's love truly is. I've seen it in these people over and over, specifically my friends Gladis and Virginia, who inspire me to walk more closely with Christ. Sometimes we talk every day. "The Lord also taught me to trust him and his workmanship in me. I never believed that I was beautiful because I was looking at myself through the lens of the world, not God's lens. But God is changing my heart because of my week in Honduras."

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(Miami, Everglades, Key West) Students took a sleeper train to Miami, FL. From there Leader JEFF HERZOG guided a tour of Miami, and led boat tours of the Everglades and Key West, with just a little beach time for good measure.

Broadway, History and Culture (New York City) Fine Arts Director ALEX PANAGIOTACOS led an eight-day tour of historical places, museums, major sights, with a Broadway show almost every day. And what would a trip to NYC be without food? Students ate at a variety of famous and unique food halls and restaurants.

Hope for the Inner City:­ Service Trip (Chattanooga) TAYLOR BELL led this trip of service at Hope for the Inner City in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a seven-day Christian community development experience.

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MEINERS helped students learn the tricks of making great coffee! Students trained on how to create specialty coffee drinks from a variety of different roasters and coffee shops around the area.

A (big) boat tour of the Everglades.

With hands-on work projects, Urban Ministry Teams (UMTs) caught a vision for racial reconciliation and wholistic ministry to materially poor communities.

Culinary Class! The Foreign Language Dept. guided a culinary training conducted by a professional chef at Ridgecrest Conference Center with lunch each day with a French or Hispanic flair.

Guys' Discipleship & Adventure

Culinary Class firstfruits look delicious.

Baseball Trip (Orlando) CHRIS ZACCARO led all varsity and junior varsity baseball players in games, daily devotionals, and team building. The teams played several Orlando-area schools. On an off day, they planned to go to Universal Studios.

Additional classes met every day in the Asheville area, including: Coffee and Conversations

Teachers SAM VINING and GORDON

SETH ROWE led this class on a two and a half day retreat into the Western North Carolina highlands. Students hiked through God's creation and reflecting on his role in their lives. At least one day included "a paintball battle royale." Students stayed in a cabin in the woods where they studied, prepared food together, and played games.

The Intro to Engineering class with Tanner Brookshire spent time learning about vehicle maintenance.

The Science of Special Effects Over Winterim CARLA WILSON and crew planned to investigate the science behind special effects. Each day they aimed to create some of their own effects in the lab, forming “glass” that shatters

Girls' Discipleship and Adventure Liza Holmes and Thrive Adventures led this three-day, two-night class with spiritual discussions and great hikes from a cabin in Sapphire, NC,

Intro to Engineering If you were interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, TANNER BROOKSHIRE'S class was for you! Students planned to visit manufacturing facilities, practice vehicle maintenance, learn about robotics and coding, see how products become real from ideas, and spend time building racecars.

Screen Writing Students who love story-telling and who love movies, hoped—led by English teacher CLIFF GREEN—to make their original stories take shape on the page, and maybe on the screen someday!

Bringing hope to Chattanooga's inner city, along with a quick college visit

without hurting or simulating sounds for a soundtrack or making fake snow that looks real but doesn’t melt. They learned about special effects from the time of Shakespeare onward and watched classic movie scenes to analyze their special effects. Finally, they wrapped up the week by writing and creating their own movies, complete with their own special effects.

< A brisk day of biking in New York City

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Down but never out! "Every well-organized team goes into competition with a carefully laid, often very complex plan," says Athletic Director JOE JOHNSON. " ACA just witnessed the execution of such a plan in an amazing finish by our girls’ basketball team. The NCISAA 3A state championship was a game that for three plus quarters was not going well for Coach JOHN WILLIAMS' Lions. Shots were not falling, and the tempo was not to Williams' liking. "To the credit of our opponent," Johnson says, "we were not playing to our strengths. But the horn had not gone off yet. The game was not over. There was still the better part of a final quarter to play. And yes, a 14-point deficit in a state championship game is almost insurmountable. But not on this Saturday in the gymnasium at Wingate University. Our girls’ team went deeper with their effort and heart and overcame both the score and limitations of

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the first three quarters. Grit, determination and a 'never quit' attitude, along with some highlight reel shooting and defense in the closing minutes, provided the energy and effort that led to an overtime championship win." A hearty congratulations to John Williams and our girls’ basketball team and their 2022 NCISAA 3A state championship! This is also a good time to celebrate the fine season that our boys’ basketball team just completed. A variety of athletes displayed all-conference and all-state performances, with personal records and team accomplishments that were underpinned by a foundation of faith and family. Congratulations to basketball players EVANGELIA PAULK ('23), EMMA LARIOS ('23), and DE'ANTE GREEN ('22) for earning NCISAA all-state honors for this winter. "It was a very fun winter of exciting sports and team play," says Johnson.

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Class notes

REBECCA KING HAWKINSON (x'98) paintings have been housed in private collections in the U.S and abroad since 1999. In 1998, King left Asheville Christian early to study at Montreat College in Black Mountain, NC. She began to study with American fresco master Benjamin Long IV in 1999 as he completed The Prodigal Son, his well-known fresco on the Montreat campus. She also began landscape painting in 1999 in the South of France, where she has returned several times to paint.

That same year, she married Paul Nathan Hawkinson. She began showing her work in solo and groups shows and worked with Long as a studio assistant, fresco apprentice, and as a color assistant. She taught drawing and oil painting from 2005-2012 at the Fine Arts League of the Carolinas in Asheville. Her studio is in Black Mountain, NC. There she teaches students, takes portrait commissions, and helps collectors invest in works of art. This spring she returns to paint in France and is now preparing for a group

Linkston

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show in Rhode Island." Paul and Rebecca have five children: Ezra (13), Eden (11), Orin (9), and twins Ayla (6) and Tessa (6). LOGAN LINKSTON (x'14) is working on her PhD at the University of Tasmania in the field of human trafficking. A Swannanoa native, she grew up in Freemantle (Perth), Australia, with occasional extended visits back to Asheville with her missionary parents. Logan says that "Although I attended ACA several different times, every single time—without fail—I returned home from Australia halfway through the school year and just in time for second semester. Despite

so much lamenting about every single international catastrophe and crisis but we still somehow fail to recognize the magnitude of suffering and harm caused by human trafficking across the globe. Instead of another ‘never again’ failure, what if we have a responsibility to protect the millions of people enslaved right now?" SCOTT HOSEY ('06) 'sells houses for a living, and flies airplanes for fun,' he says, in Charlotte, NC. Actually, he puts a twist on that slogan. He flies clients around to show them properties and the different locales, and thanks to mounted GoPro cameras and

Scott Hosey (right) shows real estate clients their property from a very special vantage point—his airplane.

never having completed a single first semester at ACA, something must have stuck because I’m currently doing a PhD at the University of Tasmania in the field of human trafficking. Now, instead of needing someone to rescue me from algebra class, my goal is to rescue the 46 million people in slavery today and use this field research to convince the powers-that-be how human trafficking qualifies as a crime against humanity.

mics, uses conversations from the cockpit to educate on a variety of real estate related topics. Scott studied Business

"How many times," Logan asks, "have you heard someone say ‘never again’ about a tragedy in Rwanda, or Kosovo, or Libya, or Somalia. We hear

The Hosey family

management at Auburn, and Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State. He

We

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Parks Full Pa

Performances:

April 28 at 7:00 pm April 29 at 7:00 pm

April 30 at 1:00 pm April 30 at 6:00 pm

We proudly support ACA an d our wonderful Fi n e Art s 80 Stoney Knob Rd. Weaverville, NC 28787 (828) 645-9962

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"Stay curious" We chatted with WALTER SOMERVILLE ('09), who is a senior product designer at Dropbox in San Francisco. He now lives and works remotely in “beautiful West Asheville." You’re on a select team of visionaries who report to the CEO of Dropbox. What prepared you for this? Since I was a kid I’ve always been curious about how things work and imagining ways to make them better. Looking back, it makes sense that I am doing what I do now, even though it has been an unlikely path to get here. My family has strong ties to ACA—I graduated in 2009, and my sisters Anna and Elisabeth followed in 2011 and 2014. My mom also taught international students at ACA for 14 years. After graduating, I headed off to Covenant College, where I received a BA in English in 2013. While I had aspirations of becoming a writer, I ended up discovering a love of design and technology as I learned how to code, a hobby which unexpectedly led to a software engineering job at Capital One. After a year, I realized my true passion, product design, when I joined an internal think tank as a creative technologist, a role that required both imagining new products and experiences as well as building them. At Dropbox I work on a team focused on dreaming up and creating products that will carry the company into the future. R&D is much more than just coming up with new ideas. Creating compelling project pitches requires precise communication, as well as good storytelling. Being able to communicate well, both in writing as well as in presentations, is an important part of what I do. ACA laid a really good foundation for me in this area. Identifying problems and building products that offer real solutions also requires a sense of understanding and empathy. I think growing up in a cross-cultural family that valued listening to others’ stories has influenced the way I think about ideas and how I work with others on my team. Where have you developed skills that propelled you to the next level in your career? Most of the opportunities that I’ve had in my career have grown out of relationships. Even working as a barista in high school helped me to become a better listener and communicator, which led to the next right thing in terms of a job. From the beginning, I have tried to learn from others who knew a lot more than I did. When I got interested in coding in college, I taught myself the basics using online resources, which helped me get my first real job at Capital

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One. From there, I learned through experience how to better identify problems, match them with solutions, and build products out of that. I’ve always been a “big picture” thinker, but I’ve learned how to break big ideas down into smaller chunks to chart a path back to a realistic starting point. Also, confidence comes with small wins over time, and I’ve become more confident in pitching ideas to others— something that used to be a lot harder for me.

Hosey, continued

and his wife Emma Kate live in Charlotte, NC with their three children Reagan (7), Reynolds (5), and Carson Kate (3).

Were there pivotal moments at ACA that moved you to think bigger and differently about what you could do with your life? When I was a junior, Ms. McIntosh once described my writing style as “winsome.” In retrospect it seems like a small thing, but that instance of encouraging feedback on my paper motivated me to make things that I could be proud of. It was one of the reasons that I majored in English in college. Mr. Herzog helped me learn how to engage with difficult questions in Bible class, and I always felt that he genuinely cared about and believed in me. He also broadened my perception of math, helping me better understand and appreciate the many potential applications of a subject I had never really been interested in. Ten years later, math would become a key part of my work. How might you tell a 2022 high school graduate to prepare for a future economy, not knowing what that might look like? Learn how to learn. The world is constantly changing, along with the tools you use now, and even the jobs you might be considering in the future. Being adaptable to change is important, and will make you a more interesting and appealing employee who is open to new opportunities you weren’t even expecting. Ask questions. No one knows everything, even the people who seem to have it all together. It’s easy to feel discouraged because you think you don’t know as much as others. In reality, everyone feels like that from time to time. The best way to combat “imposter syndrome” is to own what you don’t know and ask lots of questions. At first, it can be uncomfortable to admit that you don’t have all the answers, but you’ll come out the other side better equipped to do work that you can really be proud of.

R

M MICHAEL MORRIS ('08) (above) has been a high school English teacher for 10 years, currently at Fike High School in Wilson, NC. Michael graduated from East Carolina, He lives in Nashville, NC with his wife Emily and two-year-old Levi Silas.

A

LT. CHARLES E. C. WHITE ('09) flies his F/A-18 off (and back onto) the USS

Stay curious. Curiosity is valuable no matter what kind of work you do. It has never been easier to learn something new, so if something piques your interest, check out a course online. You might develop a new passion or career direction! In the past year, I’ve learned about training puppies, baking bread, and making music with a synthesizer. Finally, be a kind and empathetic person. While skills are obviously important, so is being someone people want to work with. So much of work is collaborative now, and while that can be hard at times (because, well, human nature), being able to interact and empathize with people makes everything better, both on and off the job.

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2021-2022

PARENTING

TOG ETHER

SERIES

Remaining Events: MARCH 18

Dr. Jackie Perry

8:15 am - Women’s Breakfast

“Meet Me. Move Me. Mend Me. Reflecting the power and presence of Christ in our homes”

MAR

18

APRIL 7 Dr. Bill Brown

6:00 pm - Corporation Meeting 7:15-8:15 pm - Dr. Brown

“Gender, Politics, and Race:

How the Christian School Can Help Parents and Kids Navigate Culture”

APR

07

LEARN MORE AT: www.ashevillechristian.org/parenting-together

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2/17/2022 3:07:40 PMAM 3/2/22 9:50

Charlie Morris, 90, was an ACA founding board member Charles Weymon Morris, Jr., one of the original founders of Asheville Christian Academy died at age 90 in December in Asheville. Born in Andrews, SC, "Charlie" was the husband of the late Sylvia (Ruble) Morris. A member of Faith Fellowship Church at Ardenwoods, he was employed as an agent with State Farm Insurance for 35 years until his retirement. While at State Farm, he was recognized as one of the country's top 100 agents (out of many thousands). Morris earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. He also worked with the Al Jones Ministry, where he was instrumental in the development of the Western North Carolina Rescue Mission. He also helped found the East Asheville Recreational Club & Ballpark. He is survived by two sons: Jerry W. Morris (x78) and his wife Diane of Black Mountain, and Charles H. Morris (x'71) of Arden; three grandsons: Michael (Emily) ('08), Stephen ('10), and Joseph ('14). Jerry recalls how ACA was his father's "mission in life. He loved the school. He loved the faculty, and would do just about anything for them. He would find affordable housing for young teachers, run errands for them and help them meet everyday needs while they were living on such small salaries." "He dreamed of a quality Christian education for everyone who wanted one, not just those who could afford it." At the request of the Morris family, memorial contributions may be made to Asheville Christian Academy Scholarship Fund online at ashevillechristian.org/give.

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Jonathan, Claire Elaine, and Laura Councell

Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. Charlie received his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from NC State. He was a graduate research assistant at NC State until he joined the Navy in 2017. And now he is among the forward-deployed personnel serving our country. Charlie says "I'm here to be a light in the air wing. I've been trying to focus on not caring how I come across as a pilot but instead how I can be an encouragement. In that, the Lord is beautiful and has given me peace. Then I wake up and get to pray it all over again."

White, continued

JONATHAN COUNCELL (’03) is Chair of the Humanities at Holy Trinity Classical Christian School in Beaufort, SC. Holy Trinity is a school of about 370 students, PK-12. Jonathan and his wife Laura attended Wheaton College (’08). Jonathan tells us his full life these days revolves around fatherhood, medical home care, teaching, and teacher training. Laura is a classical singer and voice teacher (at the college level) who is currently a homeschooling mother and caretaker to Claire Elaine (four years old) and Harry (one and a half and medically complex).

October 15. Save the date. ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HOMECOMING Interested in helping plan an alumni event for Homecoming? Please contact [email protected]

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