n Applause n

TODAYVolume 4 • Spring/Summer 2010

BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

A Bakersfield Christian High School Community Publication

Korea, said living with the Bruick family has helped her deal with her real family being halfway across the world.

“It has been great, because now I feel really comfortable and safe to stay with and live with the family,”

Jang said. “They are really sup-portive, and they always help me to get through whatever I am going through.”

Jang’s host mother, Elizabeth Bruick, said Jang has been a blessing for her family, too.

“More than anything, it’s just the cultural learning,” Bruick said. “Learning about Korea and learning her culture.”

Staff and faculty also play a role in making international students feel right at home. Cheri Johnson works as international student host family coordinator, Kathleen Grant works as international student coordinator and Hedy Bloom works as educational support services coordinator. Jang said even President Dan Cole frequently makes a point to ask her how she’s doing.

“I like the environment and the teachers,” said the school’s newest international student, Abdoulaye Fadil Houdalfa. He’s from Cameroon, Africa, and just started this semester.

“They are careful and always want to make sure that everyone is under-

standing what they are doing,” he continued.

Admissions director Camp said language is the biggest barrier to teaching international students, who must meet English proficiency standards before being admitted.

The English profi-ciency standards might be adjusted if BCHS can

draw enough students from the same country to justify specialized classes, Camp said. For example, BCHS could offer a class for students from China if the student population supports it.

Still, the international students at BCHS aren’t going to let a little language barrier get in the way of success. Bloom, the educational support services coordinator, who happens to be a native of Indonesia, said the international students are extremely hard working.

“They are very strict in what they have to do, and so even if they get a ‘B’ in anything, I say it’s OK, but it’s not to them, because they have to have straight ‘As,’” Bloom said. “They just need a lot of support, not just in the subject, but making them feel at home.”

The international student program at BCHS is a microcosm of the entire school,

in many ways.A decade ago, BCHS was on the

precipice of maturity. Although it had been around for 20 years, it was poised to move onto a new campus and double in size.

Now, the international program is about to break out in much the same way.

International students have been a small part of BCHS for more than 20 years, and this year nine stu-dents from Asia and Africa are in the student body. But momentum is building in the longtime program, which could grow to 60 strong in less than five years, according to Director of Admissions Debbie Camp.

“It snowballs,” said Camp, noting that the program will grow through reputation as more foreign students come to BCHS. She said the number of international students will be capped at 10 percent of total enroll-ment.

School administrators have recent-ly focused their energy on growing the international program. Why?

Diversity is the No. 1 benefit, for both sides of the equation. American students have the opportunity to learn about other cultures, and for-eign students get to learn about the American way of life.

Additionally, there’s a strong min-istry aspect to the program if foreign students didn’t come from a Chris-tian environment.

The biggest help in growing the program has been the International Homestay Program.

In its first year, the IHP gives foreign students a host family to live with. Before that, international students had to have a relative in the area or they were out of luck. That obviously limited the number of students applying for the program.

“That’s the reason it is going to grow, because we do offer a host family,” Camp said.

Beyond the basic needs of food, housing and transportation covered by the IHP, it also gives the inter-national student a caring, Christian family to live with.

Euna Jang, a senior from South

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More than 150 students are taking one or more advanced placement courses. This is nearly 30 percent of the student body.

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Thirty-four percent of our students made the honor roll for first semester, which means they maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Twenty percent of these students made the president’s list, which means they maintained a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

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BCHS has added several new elective courses in the last year to help students expand their learning in their areas of interest. Some of these elective courses include broadcasting, animation, advanced design concepts and music appreciation.

It is the mission of BCHS to prepare students for excellence in mind, body and spirit. In a variety of ways, BCHS students continue to demonstrate the achievement of that mission. The list below is a sample of the many successes our students have realized in the past semester. As you read through this impressive list, you come to understand that BCHS students hold their own amid larger local schools and against formidable opponents in many areas.

See Applause on page 2

Foreign expansion: Program for international students ready for big growth

Jae Keun Park, Euna Jang, Houdalfa Abdoulaye Fadil and Ju Han (Jason) Lee are among the nine international students attending BCHS this year.

Euna Jang spends quality time with her host family, the Bruick’s. From left: Gregory (BCHS junior), Euna, George, Elizabeth, Victoria (BCHS freshman) and Geoffrey Bruick.

Carolyn Stevens and Chelsie Lopez play their flutes with the Dallas

Brass Ensemble. Read more student accomplishments in Applause, below.

2 • SPRING/SUMMER 2010 • BCHS Today

BCHS students have stepped up to leadership positions inside and outside of the school. Here is a representation of some of these students and how they are affecting their community, nation and world.

Community“Leaders are distinguishable from the crowd,”

said Joel Garcia, who is no stranger to leadership.Joel is the vice president of the BCHS Interact

Club, which has had a busy year with events such as the Interact Summit. Club president Kirsten Albers also played a crucial role in the organization of the summit, which was the first of its kind. The summit focused on building leadership skills among Interact Club members from high schools throughout Kern County. It featured prominent speakers that included Rotary Governor Luz Maria Ortiz and Assemblywoman Jean Fuller.

The Interact Club isn’t the only way students are learning about leadership. Megan McCormick is one of 35 students from area high schools in the Young Leadership Bakersfield class of 2010, which meets once a month for leadership training followed by a community service project.

Many students are involved in community service projects, such as Melissa Merrill, who is working with her Ford Dimension team on an art project for children with hearing impairment. Merrill said the importance of art for these elementary students is that it gives them another way to express themselves.

Projects like these help students step up and be leaders and see that they can make an impact on their community.

“Leadership is really a way for us to reflect Christ,” Albers said. “Being a leader, we’re called to be role models and called to be the light of the world … and let the world see Christ’s love and for us to model it to others.”

Applause, from page 1

Prnay Chopra became the first BCHS student to make All-State Choir. He has also been chosen for Regional Honor Choir three years in a row. Additionally, he has participated in the Solo Festival at California State University, Bakersfield for the past two years, receiving a command performance each year. Only the top soloists have been given this honor.

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Emily Tiss, Lyndsay Cooke, Sarah Escobedo and Lorraine Dorotheo had their artwork displayed at The Dream Center and Coffee House in September. Twenty-five art students had pieces

Students rise to leadership opportunities near, far

displayed at Rabobank Arena for the Bakersfield Symphony in February.

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Ralph Harris starred in the fall play “Great Expectations.” Twenty-four other students, staff and volunteers contributed their talents for this production, which included director Scott Neese and student directors Mariah Bathe and Jordan Leighton.

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Sean Gough, alto saxophone, Andie-Vawn Winter, french horn, and Robert Wood, bassoon, were selected as first chairs for their instruments at the Kern County High School Honor Band competition. Michael Clausen, Ezekiel

Eicher, Jimmi Futrell, Andi-Vawn Winter and Rebecca Spickler were named to the All-State Band. Michael Clausen, Maddie Eicher and Natalie Messick were named to the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Honor Band. The Wind Ensemble and Concert Band performed with the Dallas Brass Ensemble at Rabobank Arena in November.

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The girls’ tennis team continued their tradition of excellence with South Sequoia League and California Interscholastic Federation, Central Section, Div. V, Valley championships. The team was also ranked No. 1 in the CIF Central Section. Lyndsay Cooke

led the way with individual honors including CIF singles champion and The Bakersfield Californian Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Carolyn Stevens, Lily Schuler and Chelby Cooke were named to The Bakersfield Californian first team and joined Lyndsay on the SSL first team.

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Other SSL first-team players for fall sports included Tyler Hough, Tyler Miller, Cody Verhoef and Brad McNaughton in football; Brittany Smith, Callie Gonzales and Rachel Christian in volleyball; and Megan Cho in girls’ golf.

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love.”

Those lyrics to a popular ’60s song make me think of another quality today’s world is in serious need of – leadership.

Hardly a day goes by without hearing about a leader who has made a serious mistake. In the political arena, it’s a gov-ernor here or a mayor there. Numerous athletes, such as Tiger Woods and Mark McGuire, have admitted to and had to assume responsibility for issues in their lives.

During a conversation with some of

What the world needs now is leadershipBy Daniel H. Cole, BCHS President/Chief Administrator

our young people recently it became painfully obvious to me how deeply disappointed they are in the lack of responsibility shown by some of the most prominent people in society. Our young people look to adults and society for leadership.

So what, then, is leadership? What are the characteristics of leadership?

You don’t have to look far down the road to see many fine examples of leadership. Jesus Christ, of course, was the epitome of true leadership.

Christ was humble in every way. He was able to transcend our natural bent toward selfishness. As a result of Christ’s

servant leadership, his disciples turned the world upside down.

In the Bible we also find examples of reluctant leaders, such as Moses, who led more than a million Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land. It was said of Moses that he was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.

I am so thankful that here at BCHS we have many inspiring and effective young students, leaders who willingly provide outstanding leadership in many different ways.

At BCHS we need to encourage each of our young people to assume appropriate

NationSeniors Melissa Merrill and Euna Jang and junior

Greg Merrill traveled to the nation’s capital last fall for the National Youth Leadership Conference.

“I learned so much about our nation’s leadership and what they have to deal with in regards to national security,” said Greg Merrill, who along with his sister, Melissa, attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security.

“What I really enjoy about leadership, is that it’s not about dominating other people, but what I’ve learned is that it’s more facilitating the talents of other kids so they can reach their highest potential,” Melissa Merrill said.

Following in the footsteps of these upperclassmen, sophomore Garret Moore will be going to Washington D.C. for the National Young Leaders Congress in March.

Moore said being selected is an honor and he wel-comed the chance to meet with world leaders, discuss current world issues and let Congress know the views of youth in America.

World“It is important for BCHS to not only be community-

minded but also world-service minded,” said junior class president Grace George.

These proved to be more than words for George, who led the way for the junior class service project called One to One. The project raised money for a nonprofit organization called Invisible Children, which has the main goal of getting children in war torn areas of Africa, especially Uganda, in schools so they can get an education and raise their own country out of poverty.

George, with the support of Principal Greg Root, arranged for Invisible Children to come and speak to the school during a forum.

“The importance of leadership is that when you put yourself out there and say, ‘I want to help others,’ not only are you being benefited because your character grows, but also your walk with the Lord grows,” George said. “He delights in the works we do for Him.”

roles of leadership. In the future they will need to demonstrate those characteris-tics, whether it be in their home as a hus-band or a wife, in their churches, in their vocations or on a larger, national stage.

It is my desire that we at BCHS develop an ever increasing important partnership between the divinely or-dained family and the humanly created school so that we can continue to educate the whole young person for the glory of God. We want to produce the type of leaders that will have a dramatic effect on their world, because the world doesn’t only need love, it also needs courageous leadership.

Sophomore Cory Camp, right, stands with BCHS President Dan Cole after the fall Honor’s Forum where Camp was presented an award from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County. Camp’s Eagle Scout project to renovate the Boys and Girls Club playground last summer enabled kids to have an outdoor play space.

Interact Club member Katie Cherry, Joel Garcia and Kirsten Albers work on their Cake Walk sign for the Buddy Walk. The BCHS Interact Club was one of three area high school clubs that partnered last October with the Bakersfield Association for Retarded Citizens for the Buddy Walk at Golden Valley High School.

Senior Cici Pandol, second from left, along with some of her Dream Builders team prepare stockings for the Ronald McDonald House Christmas Party. Pandol spent many hours with her team raising community awareness for the Ronald McDonald House of Bakersfield.

BCHS Today • SPRING/SUMMER 2010 • 3

n B C H s a l u m n i n e w s n

Recent BCHS grads have been a globe-trotting bunch.

Whether digging for artifacts in Israel or studying art in Europe, some former Eagles say their foreign travels have been a blessing from God.

“God will always be the same God, and I will always be the same soul,” said 2008 graduate Abby Shane about a realization she had during a trip to England. “Sud-denly, the world seemed smaller.”

Two alumni, Katie Camp and Chelsie Slegers, are currently studying together in Spain — a place 2007 alumna Tiffany Tjaarda knows well.

Tjaarda traveled to Spain for the second time last year when she spent a school quarter in Valladolid, which is northwest of Madrid.

“I decided to study abroad when I was a freshman at BCHS,” Tjaarda said. “After returning from Spain that spring, I knew I had to go back.”

Tjaarda, a nutrition student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, said she spent her most recent trip studying the native language and taking two general education classes.

“Every single day in Spain was a highlight, because every day brought new adventures,” she said. “I became friends with some amazing people in Europe. We experi-enced something together that bonded us in an incredibly unique way.”

Tjaarda said God allowed her to share her faith with schoolmates on the trip.

“God reminded me constantly that He is bigger and more beautiful than I could ever imagine, and my relationship with Him and with other people are more important than any circumstance I find myself in,” she said.

Shane, who studies English writing at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., spent six weeks in England, including nine days in Lon-don, three weeks in Oxford and two days in the Lake District, she said.

“I always wanted to study abroad and experience another place,” Shane said. “I believe it is important to ven-ture out of the materialistic mindset and comfort zone we build around ourselves before we can truly say we understand and love another, to see life through another’s eyes.”

Some of the experiences Shane

Former Eagles venture to faraway landssaid she holds dear are seeing the rose garden in Regent’s Park, watch-ing a cricket game, participating in different church services and getting caught in a storm during a hike.

“I am planning to study abroad again this upcoming summer, but this time in Israel,” Shane said. “I grew up dreaming of traveling in the Holy Lands, and now that dream will be fulfilled.”

Shane could get a few pointers from Savannah Hewes, a 2008 BCHS graduate who travelled to Israel last summer.

“I have always been interested in archeology, so when I found out about the student dig in Israel I was immediately interested,” Hewes said.

While participating in the Tel Gezer digs, Hewes lived for five weeks in a kibbutz in Neve Shalom.

Hewes, an English major who attends Cal Poly with Tjaarda, said Tel Gezer was an Iron Age city that was given as a dowry to King Solomon. There, Hewes and crew uncovered ancient pottery.

“We woke up at 4 a.m. and worked until 12:15,” she said. “We ate three meals before 12:15 to stay replenished in the hot Israel sun, (which was) very similar to the Ba-kersfield heat.”

Hewes said her time at BCHS gave her the confidence and tools to travel halfway across the world.

“I loved every moment of my time overseas,” she said. “In the future, I plan on spending as many summers as possible in Israel, digging and watching the Old Testament become real and physical right before my eyes.”

Megan Eastin got to see art history come to life before her eyes when she traveled to Europe in 2009.

The visual arts major at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego ventured to London, Rome, Paris and Berlin, among other prime spots.

“It is the perfect opportunity for my major, to be able to see all the most famous paintings in the most famous museums in the world, in person,” Eastin said. “And experiencing life and culture in another way gives me a more enhanced worldview of people in general.”

Eastin had such a good time in Europe that she wants to get a job there after she graduates from college.

“It made me more open-minded about how to live,” she said. “I learned not to have expectations about things, which helped me to think more positively and make the best out of any situation.”

UPdatEs n Crystal Ardesch (2008) began attending California State University, Bakersfield in March. She is planning on a double major in communications and psychology.

n Melanie (Helton) Barker (1986) attended Biola University and Mt. San Antonio College after high school and studied interior design. She is currently a wife and mother who teaches her children from home. Barker celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary in June.

n Norma (Oaks) Beiber (1995) graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2004 with a bachelor’s in business administration and in 2006 with a master’s in education with a multiple subject teaching credential. She is currently teaching second grade. In April 1999 she married Kenneth Beiber. They now have two daughters, Cambria, born in 2001, and Reagan, born in 2002.

n Virginia Burroughs (1996) attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated in June 2001 with a degree in animal science. She earned her teaching credential in agriculture from Cal Poly in June 2007 and spent the last two years teaching high school agriculture at Nipomo High School before returning to school to pursue a master’s degree in large animal reproduction. Burroughs ultimately plans on earning her doctorate so she can teach at the university level.

n Matthew Caya (2008) is attending CSU, Fresno and studying criminology. Caya is also involved in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and plans to be a pilot when he graduates college.

n Chase Craft (2007) is attending Bakersfield College and majoring in Business.

n Laura Wheeler-Crow (1990) is a medical office specialist.

n Chris Goforth (2003) graduated from CSU, Bakersfield with a bachelor of arts in sociology in June. While in college, Goforth played four years of baseball as pitcher and was voted best at Alan Hancock College in 2006. He enlisted in the Army and completed basic training in Ft. Benning, Ga. in November 2009.

Continued on page 4

Tiffany Tjaarda, left, and friend enjoy the beautiful scenery in Spain.

Megan Eastin, second from left, visits the Roman Colosseum during her time studying art in Italy.

Savannah Hewes, right, prepares to start a day of digging in Israel accompanied by one of her supervisors and mentors, Lynne.

Grad in Africa: God wants reckless abandonmentOne year ago, Clayton Chancey was doing chem-

istry experiments, playing in the jazz band and preparing for high school graduation. Today, he is a disc jockey for a Christian radio station in Africa, a musician and videographer with a school ministry, and a counselor, construction worker and evangelist traveling in the deserts of northern Kenya.

Daily life has changed dramatically since late October when Chancey moved to Mbagathi, Kenya, where he lives and works on a German missionary compound.

“God is continually forcing me to trust him by throwing me out of my comfort zone and into very interesting, challenging situations that end up being some of the coolest things I’ve ever been involved with,” he said.

Chancey credits BCHS’ principled approach of examining all areas of education under the light of the Bible to opening his eyes to the greater kinds of learning in the world, which contributed to his traveling approximately 10,000 miles.

Continued on page 4

Clayton Chancey plays percussion with an African friend. Music is one of the mediums Chancey uses to build relationships with and minister to the people of Kenya.

Melanie (Helton) Barker, center, and family.

Norma (Oaks) Beiber, left, and family.

Virginia Burroughs, top right, with her brother and nieces.

Abby Shane experiences the historic sites of England during

her summer studying abroad.

n Allison (Smith) Valverde (1992) was stationed in Korea with the Army after high school. She has spent the last 13 years as a case manager at Centre for Neuro Skills, a brain injury facility. She married a correctional officer in 2003 and they currently have two children, Christopher Allen, 14, and Brooklynn Noelle, 5.

n John Hall Wilson IV (2004) attended BC followed by CSU, Fresno and studied drafting and construction management. Wilson graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy in December 2009 and is currently a CHP officer in the West Valley area.

n B C H s a l u m n i n e w s , C o n t i n u e d

12775 Stockdale Highway

Bakersfield, CA 93314

(661) 410-7000

Fax (661) 410-7007

www.BakersfieldChristian.com

BCHS Leadership Team Daniel H. ColePresident/Chief Administrator Douglas S. Barnett Jr.Athletic Director Debbie A. CampDirector of Admissions Karen DierksDirector of Advancement Susan L. Hemme CPAChief Business Officer Marcia ManningDean of Academics and Arts J. Gregory RootPrincipal

Board Members Alan Larsen, ChairmanUBS Financial Services Mel AtkinsonM.D. Atkinson Company Randy CoulterWest High School Rayburn S. Dezember Bryan HauptASU Associates Julia PelzBCHS Retired Vincent RocheCB Bakersfield Partners

Robert E. SmithSmithTech USA, Inc. Michael StarzerBonanza Creek Energy Company Neil VisserVB Ranch

Board Member EmeritusWilliam BolthouseBolthouse Properties

as a volleyball player at Sacramento City College and currently plays at Fresno Pacific University, helping the latter to back-to-back NAIA national championships.

n Justin Timothy Miller (2005) is currently a youth pastor at Olive Branch Community Church. He is also on the church’s worship team. Additionally, Miller owns and operates JT Home Design.

n Luke Neighbors (2001) graduated from California Baptist University in 2005 with a degree in business administration with a concentration in management. He is currently a youth and college pastor at Copper Spring Church in Fresno. He also designs Web sites on the side. Neighbors married his wife Katherine on Aug. 15, 2005, and they have two children – Tyson Allan Burr, 3, and Kinslee Elizabeth, 1.

n Jack Pandol Jr. (2007) has begun his undergraduate degree at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He’s pursuing a double major in global politics and Spanish, and he plans to graduate in 2011. Pandol spent last summer living in the nation’s capitol as an intern for Congressman George Radanovich, R-Fresno. He has also been involved in internships with Senator Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, and for a public affairs firm in Bakersfield. After college, Pandol plans to either move to Washington and work on Capitol Hill or apply to law school.

n Lowell Pollema (1989) Graduated from Cal Poly in 1995 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He is currently working as a senior facilities engineer at Aera Energy. Pollema married in 1991 and has two children, Caleb, 10 and Makenna, 6.

n Rebekah Powell (2008) is in her second year at BC majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. She plans to transfer to Southeast Missouri State University after she receives her associate of arts degree next fall. Last summer, Powell went on a mission trip to Bucharest, Romania, with Children to Love International and worked with

orphans and abandoned children, sharing the name and love of Jesus Christ.

n Keith Powell Jr. (2004) is attending CBU and majoring in Christian ministry with a concentration in pastoral ministry. After college he plans to pursue a master’s degree at seminary. Powell is a full-time youth pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church. He married Emilee Borba, a third-grade teacher at Heritage Christian School, in October.

n Taylor Roche (2009) is attending Azusa Pacific University and majoring in Biblical studies with a minor in philosophy. After graduating college, Roche plans on becoming a Bible teacher or pastor.

n Jon Eric Schmidt (2001) graduated from Pepperdine University in 2005 with a degree in broadcast production. He is currently a production supervisor at DreamWorks Animation in Glendale.

n Moriah Starzer (2007) spent her first two years of college at Colorado School of Mines studying petroleum engineering but will begin her junior year at the University of Colorado in Denver studying biology. Starzer is involved in extracurricular activities, such as swimming and tennis.

n Suzanne te Velde (1997) graduated from California State University, Bakersfield in 2001 with a degree in business.

n Randy Trost (2005) is taking college general education courses and studying information technology. He hopes to obtain a job as a computer programmer or Web developer for an organization. Trost is currently working as a directional drilling motor technician at Weatherford.

PRO

FILE

S When BCHS students think of energy, excitement, accidental fire alarms and tie-dyed lab coats, one person should come to mind: chemistry teacher Dawn Reed.

Reed was born in Minnesota but only lived there for three days. After three days, she was adopted and moved to a small town in Illinois where she attended high school at a math and science academy for students who were gifted in the fields of math and science.

After high school, Reed attended the University of Illinois where she started out studying microbiology and biochemistry but soon realized that she wanted to be a teacher and enrolled in a five-year biology teaching program while getting a minor in chemistry.

Always one to stand out from the crowd, Reed wasn’t the typical born-and-raised Christian growing up. Her grandfather was an ordained minister, and, therefore, Reed learned about God at a very early age. However, she did not really become a Christian until the age of 13, and even then she eventually went away from God.

She began college and began to study science in-depth. Because, she said, there is not a lot

of God taught in science, she did not have much chance to reconnect with Christianity.

“It wasn’t until the birth of my daughter 10 years ago that I actually became an active

Dawn ReedBCHS Chemistry Teacher

Science teacher has chemistry with her students

by Amanda Azemika,

BCHS student

Christian and really turned my life over to God,” she said.

Reed said she decided to become a teacher because she always loved science and always loved to talk. She also loved being around teenagers. So, she thought that being a teacher would be fun, because it would allow her to do the three things she loves most.

Reed has been married for 16 years to her high school sweetheart, David, and they have two children. Their son is 8 and their daughter is 11. She said her favorite hobby is playing with her children, but she also enjoys cooking.

At her last job, Reed taught everything but chemistry, but when she began working at BCHS nearly two years ago, President Dan Cole decided that chemistry was exactly what she was going to teach. She said she enjoys teaching this subject more than anything else.

Reed’s quality as a teacher can best be heard in what her students say about her. Haley Bos, a junior, described Reed as “very fun and outgoing.”

Grace George, another junior, credited Reed with inspiring her.

“(Reed) has shown me that … (chemistry) is easy to learn with her step-by-step process,” George said. “She has also shown me how to be a critical thinker, and that chemistry can be fun and doesn’t have to be boring.”

Reed has the ability to relate to students at their level. So, what’s her best advice to students?

“(Don’t) let someone else choose your path in life,” she said. “Sometimes that means upsetting your parents and others who may want you to do something else in your life by ignoring what you know God wants you to do.”

“I realized very late into my senior year at BCHS that God didn’t want my life to be a structured, goal-oriented thing,” says Chancey. “He wants me to be recklessly abandoned to Him – going wherever he wants me to go each day, leaning on Him for basic things like food and water, a shower and a place to sleep.”

Still in his early stages of his 18-month commitment, Chancey said he feels like the Kenyans have made a far bigger impact on him than he has on them, but he looks forward to what God has in store for him in the days to come.

Look for more on Chancey and his work in Africa in our next issue of TODAY.

Dawn Reed and Tabatha Dickson conduct an experiment

during chemistry lab to discover how much oxygen would

combine with the magnesium after burning it.

Grad in Africa, from page 3

n Kara Grant (2009) is attending Fresno Pacific University and majoring in pre-health studies. After graduating, she plans to attend a nurse anesthetist program to start a career in nursing. Grant is a president’s scholar and member of the pre-health club. She is also on the Lady Sunbird’s swim team where she has qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics nationals in three events. The meet will be held in St. Louis in March.

n Michelle Johnson (2006) graduated from Sacramento City College this year and is currently attending FPU. She plans to graduate in 2011 after studying kinesiology and coaching. After college she plans to coach volleyball. Johnson won numerous accolades

UPDATES, from page 3

Kara Grant.

Michelle Johnson.

Keith Powell Jr., left, and wife Emilee.

Moriah Starzer, right.

John Hall Wilson IV, center.

Attention Alumni:Please visit BakersfieldChristian.com

to read more updates and submit your own personal story to be shared with the alumni

community through this newsletter.

seussicalapril 30 • 8 p.m. May 1 • 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance or at the door.

U P c O m I n g E v E n T S

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annual dinner auctionsaturday, March 20 • 5:30 p.m.seven Oaks Country Club

$150 per person. Please RSVP to (661) 410-7000, ext. 5533.