Cumberlite 2018 Spring
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SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
THE CUMBERLITE<br />
Alumni<br />
Weekend<br />
<strong>2018</strong>
Perfect Peace<br />
By Laura Dancek<br />
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind<br />
is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”<br />
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV<br />
2 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong>
Peace – perfect peace – is a<br />
longing in every heart. In the current<br />
world, peace can sometimes seem<br />
unattainable. Families break apart.<br />
Natural disasters claim lives. Violence is<br />
widespread. Rulers of nations unnerve<br />
us with their unsettling statements.<br />
Deaths from overdoses are on the rise.<br />
Illnesses bring pain and loss. Life may<br />
seem like it is spinning out of control!<br />
Yet, regardless of our circumstance,<br />
peace – perfect peace – IS available.<br />
This alumni weekend our messages<br />
were about finding and holding onto<br />
the perfect peace found only in God.<br />
During Friday vespers, Pastor<br />
Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, ’88,<br />
posed the question “What does peace<br />
really look like?” Is peace truly what is<br />
defined in the dictionary as tranquility,<br />
quietness, and harmony?<br />
Real peace is different than what<br />
we often expect. Pastor Whitley-<br />
Ferguson suggested that true peace is<br />
a strange kind of peace. In John 14:27<br />
(NIV) Jesus promises: “Peace I leave<br />
with you; my peace I give you. I do<br />
not give to you as the world gives.<br />
Do not let your hearts be troubled<br />
and do not be afraid.” This promise<br />
was given to His disciples just before<br />
His crucifixion – a time when talk of<br />
peace would seem strange. Jesus calls<br />
us to peace at the most inopportune<br />
times. Not only does He call us to<br />
peace, He empowers us with peace not<br />
based on external factors. The peace<br />
God gives is unshaken by outer forces<br />
that threaten to take it away.<br />
Pastor Andy McDonald, ’73,<br />
preached during the Sabbath worship<br />
service, and stated that the way to<br />
perfect peace is made clear to us by the<br />
prophet Isaiah – we simply need to fix<br />
our minds on God. It has nothing to do<br />
with what is happening in the world,<br />
nor in our personal circumstances.<br />
Perfect peace is an elusive quality that<br />
God gives to us when we seek Him.<br />
Worry, shame, fear, regrets and busyness<br />
steal peace from us because we are not<br />
God-focused. When we focus on Jesus,<br />
everything changes.<br />
You can watch the messages from alumni<br />
weekend online at:<br />
https://bit.ly/2KjnH1G<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 3
Friday Night Vespers<br />
Kailey Wales and Nathan DiBiase, ’13, were<br />
part of the praise group.<br />
Nicole Davis, ’13, sang in the praise<br />
group.<br />
Justin Peltier, ’13, played drums in the<br />
praise group<br />
Nancy Gerard, Alumni and<br />
Development Director, opened the<br />
weekend with prayer.<br />
Bob Overstreet, ’88, Alumni President,<br />
introduced the speaker.<br />
Pastor Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, ’88, spoke<br />
about “Strange Peace.”<br />
Darby Jones, ’13, played and sang “Rest”<br />
and was part of the praise group.<br />
4 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
Allen Connelly, ’88, offered the benediction.<br />
Courtney Buckhanon, ’13, sang a solo<br />
for special music.<br />
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world
Sabbath Worship Service<br />
Worship in song was led by Scott Begley, ‘84, pictured below; Darby Jones, ’13; Andy Nall, ’78; Judi (Boles) Hartman, ’78; Ashli<br />
Dublin, ’13; Josh Woods, ’03; Nicole Davis, ’13; Mark Torsney, Staff.<br />
David Denton, ’83, called<br />
the congregation to worship.<br />
Barry Tryon, ’78,<br />
closed the service with a<br />
benediction.<br />
Brenda (Murray)<br />
Morris, ’68, led the<br />
congregation in prayer.<br />
Andy McDonald, ’73, spoke on “The Possibility<br />
of Peace”.<br />
Peter Hwang, ’93, called for<br />
the offering.<br />
Geoffrey Fowler, ’18; Greg Fowler, ’83; Makaya<br />
Williams, ’18 performed the reader’s theater “Peace.”<br />
Camerata and alumni formed a mass choir to perform their signature song This I Know.<br />
Harold Cunningham,<br />
’73, introduced our<br />
keynote speaker.<br />
Scott Begley, ’84, played<br />
a piano prelude.<br />
you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 5
Alumni<br />
Weekend<br />
6 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
<strong>2018</strong><br />
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 7
Alumni Golf<br />
Tournament<br />
By Nancy Gerard<br />
Golf pro, Lee Trevino once said,<br />
“There are two things you can do with<br />
your head down, play golf and pray.”<br />
It seems like we do a lot of praying<br />
in regards to the GCA Alumni Golf<br />
Tournament, and God has consistently<br />
answered those prayers. Even with a few<br />
raindrops this year at the shot gun start,<br />
the tournament was not compromised<br />
by the weather and the day turned out<br />
to be pleasant.<br />
Fields Ferry was the site of our<br />
tournament again this year and with 105<br />
players we had a healthy turnout for this<br />
annual fundraising event.<br />
Each year golf teams vie for<br />
winning places in three flights, as well<br />
as opportunities to win closest to the<br />
pin and long shot awards. This year<br />
we again conducted a Happy Gilmore<br />
contest, which provided a lot of laughs<br />
for those who watched and participated.<br />
Todd Hunt, ’84, was the winner this year<br />
and walked away with $50 in cash, with<br />
the other $50 going into the Worthy<br />
Student Fund.<br />
Winners of the first flight were:<br />
1st place – Peter Hwang, Joey Scarlett,<br />
Daniel Lee, and Phil Koh. 2nd Place<br />
– Brent Baldwin, Morgan Baldwin,<br />
Madden Baldwin, and Steve Blackburn.<br />
3rd Place – Joe Woods, Josh Woods, Chris Massengill, and Alex Paulk.<br />
Other top winners were: 2nd flight, 1st place – Steve Posey, Brook Warren,<br />
Pat Grenvicz, and Vic Comastro. 3rd flight, 1st place – Ed Dancek, Tony Baumann,<br />
Kenny Turpen, and Mike McClung.<br />
The Class of ’90 team (Kelly (Follett) Griffin, Keith Wahlbon, Scott Pritchett,<br />
and Jeff Brought) captured the Alumni Cup this year – in their matching shirts.<br />
Thank you to our generous sponsors who helped make our tournament a<br />
resounding success! Thanks to all who golfed in support of the important work of<br />
Georgia-Cumberland Academy!<br />
8 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS<br />
Title Sponsor - $3,000<br />
Momon Construction, Inc.<br />
Lunch Sponsor - $2,000<br />
Johnny & Georgia (Butterfield)<br />
O’Brien, ’83<br />
Platinum Sponsors - $1,500<br />
Mark, ’74 & Brenda (Brown), ’76,<br />
Richardson<br />
West Georgia Endodontics<br />
Gold Sponsors - $1,000<br />
Einhellig Family<br />
Georgia-Cumberland Conference<br />
Gordon Hospital<br />
Gene & Bobby Jean Harrison -<br />
Enterprises & Family in Memory<br />
of Steve GCA ’81<br />
Eddie, ’74, and Debbie Klein<br />
Performance Food Service Miltons<br />
Southern Union Youth Ministries<br />
George Whitman, Class of ’68<br />
Silver Sponsors - $500<br />
David Bishop Construction, Inc., ’79<br />
Alan & Diane (Artress) Connelly, ’88<br />
Dalton Plastic Surgery,<br />
Reginald Sherrill, M.D.<br />
Tommy Davidson, Class of 1972<br />
Roger Elliston, DMD, FAGD, ’75<br />
Fox Systems, Inc.<br />
Southern Adventist University<br />
Southern Union Education<br />
Department<br />
Starr-Mathews Agency<br />
Don Wilson, Class of 1969<br />
Hole Sponsors - $250<br />
Dr. Daniel Ahn, North Georgia<br />
Eye Care<br />
Larry Calloway, D.D.S.<br />
Chase Farms, Inc.<br />
College Press<br />
Ed Dancek, Ameriprise Financial<br />
Advisor<br />
Greater Community Bank of Calhoun<br />
Danny & Jackie Harris, ’75<br />
Learning Labs<br />
Brian Martin, Class of 1975<br />
Postum - The Original Coffee<br />
Substitute Since 1895 -<br />
Peter Hwang, Class of 1993<br />
David, ’75, and Tami (Baker)<br />
Richardson, ’76<br />
Martha Richardson in Loving<br />
Memory of Thomas L.Richardson<br />
Loving husband and father<br />
Donna, ’70, Mark, ’74, David,’75,<br />
John, ’80<br />
The Sample Barn<br />
TAG Manufacturing<br />
Water Sponsor<br />
Synovus Bank<br />
THE RIDE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN<br />
By Nancy Gerard<br />
Everything looked in order for<br />
the <strong>2018</strong> Ride for GCA, except the<br />
weather. Would riders want to go out<br />
under gray skies for a 3 hour ride in<br />
40-degree temperatures?<br />
Sabbath afternoon one of the Ride<br />
leaders called. It was Lonnie Leech,<br />
’81. “Do you think people are going to<br />
want to ride tomorrow? It’s supposed<br />
to be pretty cold.” After considering<br />
what it would take to call people and<br />
inform them of a change in plans, we<br />
decided to pull the plug.<br />
A group of hardy riders decided<br />
to go anyway and met up on Sunday<br />
morning at the GCA Church. The<br />
original route would have taken the<br />
group to the Cloudland Canyon area<br />
with a stop for lunch at the state park.<br />
This group decided to go another<br />
direction and ride along the Ocoee<br />
River. After passing out t-shirts and<br />
having a prayer, we sent the group on<br />
their way.<br />
Not long after the group left we<br />
received a message. A double homicide<br />
had taken place that morning and<br />
the shooter was armed and on the<br />
run in the Cloudland Canyon area.<br />
Oh, mercy! What if our Ride had<br />
taken place, as planned? What if our<br />
riders had been in the area where the<br />
murderer was still on the loose?<br />
Divine intervention? It sure<br />
seemed so. Thank you, God, for the<br />
Ride that didn’t happen!<br />
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 9
Alumni of the<br />
Rhondda Robinson Thomas, Ph.D., '78<br />
Dr. Rhondda Thomas<br />
Dr. Rhondda Thomas is an Associate<br />
Professor of African American<br />
Literature in the College of<br />
Architecture, Arts and Humanities<br />
at Clemson University. Dr. Thomas<br />
earned her Ph.D. in English from the<br />
University of Maryland and also holds<br />
master’s degrees in Literature and<br />
Journalism, and a bachelor’s degree in<br />
Communication/Media Journalism.<br />
Rhondda’s research and teaching<br />
interests are in 19th-century<br />
African American literature and<br />
culture, politics of black identity,<br />
autobiographical scholarship, African<br />
American literature and the Bible, race<br />
and culture studies, African American<br />
historiography, migration narratives,<br />
and African American women writers.<br />
Dr. Thomas’s published works and<br />
funded research are extensive. Her<br />
“Thank you, GCA, for giving<br />
me a strong foundation.”<br />
writings and research have appeared in<br />
journals such as Southern Quarterly,<br />
South Carolina Review, and African<br />
American Review. She has written<br />
and edited books on African American<br />
thought and culture, as well as edited<br />
scholarly volumes, monographs,<br />
and anthologies. Her more recent<br />
sponsored research has focused<br />
primarily on African Americans in the<br />
history of Clemson University. Her<br />
work, Black Clemson, will utilize an<br />
interactive traveling museum exhibit<br />
to share the stories of six generations<br />
of African Americans who were<br />
subjected to enslavement, coercion,<br />
or discrimination yet developed their<br />
own cultural practices and community<br />
institutions.<br />
Dr. Thomas’s heart for young<br />
people is evident in her personal<br />
interactions with her students, as well<br />
as the broader Clemson community.<br />
She invests herself generously in the<br />
lives of others in many ways, including<br />
a recent visit to GCA to inspire and<br />
encourage our students.<br />
Rhondda and her brothers,<br />
Donald, ’77, and Carlton, ’82, graduated<br />
from Georgia-Cumberland Academy<br />
and have gone on to successful<br />
careers in academia, banking, and law,<br />
respectively. Rhondda is married to<br />
her “beloved husband of 18 years,”<br />
William Thomas, who is a computer<br />
network architect.<br />
In her spare time, Rhondda<br />
actively volunteers in<br />
church ministries that<br />
support families in<br />
difficult life transitions, as<br />
well on volunteering in<br />
the church’s community<br />
garden, serving on the health<br />
committee, and working with the<br />
education department to develop<br />
programs for students and young adults.<br />
The alumna award was presented to Dr.<br />
Thomas by her brother, Donald Robinson,<br />
’77.<br />
She enjoys travel, visiting historical<br />
sites, reading, watching documentaries,<br />
cooking vegan food, running, iPhone<br />
photography, and gardening.<br />
Dr. Rhondda Thomas received the Alumna of<br />
the Year award.<br />
10 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
Year Awards<br />
Danny Song, M.D., '88<br />
Dr. Danny Song<br />
Dr. Danny Song is an Associate<br />
Professor of urology, oncology,<br />
and radiation oncology at the<br />
Johns Hopkins School of<br />
Medicine. He serves as the<br />
co-director of the Prostate<br />
Cancer Multidisciplinary<br />
Clinic at the Johns Hopkins<br />
School of Medicine and<br />
the Physician Advisory and<br />
Director of Faculty Affairs for<br />
the Department of Radiation<br />
Oncology and Molecular<br />
Radiation Sciences. His area of clinical expertise is in the<br />
management of genitourinary cancers, including cancers of<br />
the prostate, bladder and urinary tract, and testicular cancer.<br />
Dr. Song’s research interests include the development and<br />
refinement of new imaging methods to improve radiation<br />
targeting, as well as innovative means of reducing potential<br />
side effects of radiation treatment. His research efforts have<br />
been sponsored and funded by competitive grants from<br />
organizations such as the Department of Defense, the National<br />
“Visiting here after not having been<br />
able to come back for many years,<br />
I’m so impressed… It is very clear<br />
that God is blessing this campus and<br />
this community in a very visible way.”<br />
Dr. Danny Song received the Alumnus of the Year award.<br />
and image-guided robotic brachytherapy (TH-192) produced<br />
by the American Association of Physics in Medicine.<br />
For the thousands of individuals diagnosed with cancers<br />
of the prostate, bladder and urinary tract, as well as testicular<br />
cancer, Dr. Danny Song is a bright ray of hope in a frighteningly<br />
dark time of life.<br />
Danny has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 26 years<br />
and the couple have one son, 9 year-old Joshua. Danny and<br />
Jennifer met while students at Southern Adventist University.<br />
Jennifer is a faculty member in the School of Nursing at Johns<br />
Hopkins University. Danny is active in his local church, where<br />
he leads a praise and worship team. The Song family enjoys<br />
spending time with friends and traveling with Danny to workrelated<br />
meetings out of town. Danny also enjoys cycling, skiing,<br />
and trout fishing.<br />
Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society.<br />
He is board-certified, and also a member of the<br />
examination committee for the American Board of Radiology,<br />
which administers the board certification process for radiation<br />
oncologists nationwide. He serves on the editorial board of<br />
the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and<br />
Physics, the premier research journal for radiation oncology,<br />
and on the scientific review committees for the American<br />
Society for Radiation Oncology and American Brachytherapy<br />
Society. He also participated in writing practice consensus<br />
guidelines on stereotactic body radiation therapy (TG-101)<br />
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1<br />
The Song Family: Jennifer, Danny and Joshua<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 11
Wally & Mary Ellen Fox:<br />
Lives Well-lived and Well-loved<br />
By Laura Dancek<br />
Wally and Mary Ellen Fox with their daughter, Jennifer, ’91, and grandchildren, Gage, ’18 and Gracie Hufstetler.<br />
Mark Twain wrote “No man is a failure<br />
who has friends.” At GCA, no one has proved<br />
that statement more true than Wally and<br />
Mary Ellen Fox. After 43 years of teaching at<br />
GCA they have touched countless lives and<br />
created lifelong friendships. All good things<br />
must come to an end-in March the Foxes<br />
announced they will retire this summer.<br />
“Making the decision to retire is one of<br />
the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to<br />
make. We will greatly miss GCA,” stated Wally,<br />
adding that they plan to stay in Calhoun.<br />
During the alumni weekend church<br />
service, the Foxes were presented with a<br />
beautiful crystal award to commemorate<br />
their 77 combined years of service at<br />
GCA. During these years they taught two<br />
generations of students, including their own<br />
daughter, Jennifer, who was two years old<br />
when they moved to Calhoun, and their<br />
grandson Gage, who is currently a senior.<br />
Over 3,000 students attended GCA during<br />
the Foxes’ years at this school.<br />
While tributes were directed at Wally and Mary Ellen, their daughter<br />
Jennifer shares the credit for their success. To work at an academy is<br />
often a “family affair”, with spouses and children either directly involved,<br />
or sacrificing their time with the staff member. Jennifer lived her entire<br />
childhood under these circumstances, and she is appreciated.<br />
Many of those former<br />
students attended a special<br />
retirement celebration to honor<br />
the Foxes later that afternoon.<br />
Some came long distances to<br />
pay their respects. Each one had<br />
their own connection, stories<br />
and memories with Wally and/<br />
or Mary Ellen.<br />
During the program,<br />
presentations were made by<br />
former students and current<br />
staff. Eight of our staff who are also former students presented each of the Foxes with<br />
personalized stadium seats – gifts to encourage the Foxes to visit campus often. Melanie<br />
DiBiase, science instructor, promised, “We will continue your legacy.”<br />
12 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green
Clint Higginbotham, ’99, a GCA Coach,<br />
led current athletes in presenting Coach Fox<br />
with a large banner with Wally’s name and<br />
the GCA seal. The banner will be hung from<br />
the rafters of the new gymnasium.<br />
Camerata and soloist Cassie Freeman,<br />
’17, performed a medley of songs. As they<br />
ended with “Thank You” current students<br />
made their way to the stage to hug each of<br />
the Foxes. The lyrics “thank you for giving<br />
to the Lord, I am a life that was changed”<br />
brought tears to many eyes. Afterward, Wally<br />
unexpectedly and emotionally addressed the<br />
audience to share his gratitude, saying “God<br />
gets the praise – it’s all Him.”<br />
Georgia-Cumberland Conference<br />
President, and chairman of the GCA board,<br />
Ed Wright paid his tribute to the Foxes,<br />
noting their unprecedented length of<br />
employment.<br />
Amongst all the praise, honor and gifts<br />
presented to the Foxes perhaps the most<br />
noteworthy and enduring came when Dr.<br />
Greg Gerard, GCA principal, had the privilege<br />
of announcing that the new gymnasium and<br />
cafeteria complex will be named the “Wally<br />
Fox Wellness Center.” The gymnasium will<br />
be completed before graduation in May.<br />
The cafeteria will be ready for next school<br />
year. The newly remodeled library is part of<br />
construction that will be done, adding a new<br />
student center and additional classrooms.<br />
When this is completed in 2019 the library<br />
will be named “The Mary Ellen Fox Library<br />
and Resource Center.”<br />
After the program, dozens of<br />
peoples flocked the stage to convey their<br />
personal gratitude. Each of the Foxes were<br />
surrounded by admirers, including a group<br />
of collegiate young men gathered before<br />
Coach Fox repeating “We are here because<br />
of you.” Nearly an hour later a line of people<br />
remained waiting to get their turn to speak<br />
to the soon-to-be retirees.<br />
The Foxes came to GCA in 1975,<br />
following seven years at Maplewood<br />
Academy. After 50 years of dedicating<br />
themselves to young people, their retirement<br />
is well-deserved. They will be missed, but<br />
their legacy will remain. We wish them God’s<br />
very best in the years ahead.<br />
Mary Ellen taught home economics, until it<br />
was discontinued in 2003. In 1984 she also was<br />
the school librarian, a position she will continue<br />
in until retirement. Mary Ellen loves reading,<br />
and has enjoyed sharing her love for books with<br />
students over the years. She states, “My husband<br />
and I have been truly blessed to cross paths with<br />
so many wonderful students and staff.”<br />
We would like to take<br />
this opportunity to say<br />
thank you for making our<br />
retirement celebration so<br />
special. The generosity<br />
and kindness expressed to<br />
us will never be forgotten.<br />
-Wally & Mary Ellen<br />
Coach Fox is only the second athletic director at GCA.<br />
He was responsible for all sports activities – varsity and<br />
intermural. Traveling with the teams, as well as being a<br />
sponsor in other areas of GCA, he has literally spent<br />
months of his life on a GCA bus. Wally also teaches the<br />
health classes. Perhaps the most nerve-wracking job in<br />
high school, Wally taught driver’s education until it was<br />
recently discontinued.<br />
Wally’s parting advice: “Put others first. Remember who<br />
gave you your talents and glorify Him. Put Christ as your<br />
first priority and success will follow.”<br />
pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 13
Food service work is hard work. Feeding a<br />
couple of hundred teenagers three meals a day is<br />
especially hard work! But Gerry and Chris Bliven<br />
dedicated their lives to this task, serving at several<br />
Adventist boarding academies and other Adventist<br />
institutions before arriving at GCA during the<br />
summer of 2007.<br />
Chris grew up in the food service environment.<br />
Her father, Clinton Wall, was a pillar of Adventist<br />
food service practice and education. During<br />
his tenure as Andrews University Food Service<br />
Director, Chris attended Andrews Academy. It was<br />
there she met her future husband, Gerald Bliven,<br />
who later trained with her father in the Andrews<br />
food service program.<br />
Following their marriage in 1971, the Bliven<br />
family grew as three children were born. First<br />
came Tamie, then Tracy, and finally Trent. Now the<br />
children are grown and married with children of<br />
their own.<br />
Sadly, Chris was diagnosed with cancer in<br />
2016. But hard work was no stranger to Chris and<br />
Gerry, and they channeled their energies into this<br />
new challenge. With strong faith and the help of<br />
the best medical care they could find, Gerry and<br />
Chris entered into this difficult and uncertain battle.<br />
It was an up and down journey with the horrific<br />
side effects of chemotherapy and radiation but<br />
Chris never complained. She continued to fulfill<br />
her duties at the cafeteria, showing up even on the<br />
days when she felt weak and sick. The GCA family<br />
saw her at her worst and at her best. Chris soldiered<br />
on for a little more than 18 months, waging war<br />
with this terrible illness, with Gerry carefully and<br />
lovingly providing care.<br />
In March the doctors told her the cancer was in<br />
her brain and other vital organs and that she would<br />
not live long. With her family by her bedside, Chris<br />
died on March 20, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Serving<br />
Until the<br />
End<br />
By Nancy Gerard<br />
Gerry and Chris worked side by side in food service for 40+ years.<br />
Losing the love of his life and his colleague at work has been devastating<br />
for Gerry. Retirement at the end of this school year now looks different<br />
for Gerry than he and Chris had imagined it. As he finishes this school<br />
year without Chris, we pray that our faithful God will supply all of his<br />
needs and that he will experience the love and support of this caring<br />
Christian community.<br />
Thank you, Gerry and Chris, for your faithful service to the<br />
Adventist Church and to Georgia-Cumberland Academy.<br />
14 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“Great peace have those who love your law, and
Class of ’78 Memorial Garden<br />
By Nancy Gerard<br />
The class of ’78 is a close-knit bunch. And<br />
their 40-year honor class reunion this year<br />
underscored the love they have for each other.<br />
When news of another classmate dying sent<br />
shock waves through the class, they wanted to do<br />
something tangible to communicate the loss they<br />
were feeling. “Our class wanted to honor our<br />
friends that have passed as well as give back to<br />
the school that brought us all together,” stated Jan<br />
Ashcraft Upton.<br />
Knowing that GCA was starting to lose some<br />
of the historic dogwood trees that were planted<br />
in 1962, Jan thought it would be nice to plant<br />
a dogwood tree in memory of their classmates,<br />
especially since Westley Hayner planted trees after<br />
graduation. When she put the word out of a<br />
memorial fund established at GCA in honor of<br />
deceased classmates, donations started coming in.<br />
In the end, the group raised enough money for<br />
three dogwood trees, one of which was planted in<br />
the midst of five beautiful azalea bushes, along with a granite marker. Jan says, “As donations continue to come in, we are hoping<br />
to add to our memorial or encourage annual giving to other areas of need at the school.”<br />
The group held a memorial service on Sabbath afternoon of Alumni Weekend. In addition to the three classmates who have<br />
passed away (Sherry Bowman Stansell, Westley Hayner, Todd Silver), the lives of several deceased faculty members who impacted<br />
the class of ’78 were celebrated as well. Life sketches were read for some and memories were shared for the three classmates, as<br />
well as Jan Haluska, Roger Bothwell, and Howard and Effie Birch.<br />
The GCA Bell Gets a New Home, Thanks to the Class of 1968<br />
By Nancy Gerard<br />
A relatively new giving tradition, initiated by the Class of 1966 continues this<br />
year as the Class of 1968 raises money for a new housing for the historic GCA bell.<br />
Class members are excited to bring the bell out of storage and provide a way to<br />
display it, as well as share the history of the bell.<br />
The steam engine bell was donated to the school in 1962 from the Southern<br />
Railway System after an exhaustive search of every major railway company in the<br />
south. The bell was to be mounted in a bell tower at the academy and would be used<br />
to call students and staff to worship, chapel services, etc.<br />
Unfortunately, the bell was never mounted in a bell tower. It was placed atop a<br />
pole and was used for the first few years of the school’s existence. After some time,<br />
the bell went into storage and has not been actively used since.<br />
It is the goal of the Class of 1968 to raise several thousand dollars to build<br />
a housing for the bell and display it near the new entrance to the administration<br />
building when construction is completed. If you would like to donate to the bell<br />
project and help the Class of 1968 reach their goal, gifts may be sent to GCA for<br />
“The Bell Project.”<br />
nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119: 165<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 15
HONOR CLASSES<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Class of 1968<br />
Front Row: Gloria (Lee) Barenie, Barbara (Cummings) Willis, Jean (Harrold) LaClair, Brenda<br />
(Murray) Morris<br />
2nd Row: Andi (McGaha) Erwin, Nancy (Sweat) Witt, Bruce Bowen, Donald Robbins, Sandy (Joiner) Coppage<br />
Back Row: Daniel Foote, Lawrence Loveless, Randolph McGaha, Russell Friberg, Allan Chastain, George Whitman<br />
GCA News: The S.A. involved all the students in raising money for two tennis courts. Construction began on the<br />
new (now our old) gymnasium.<br />
World News: Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.*<br />
CLASS OF 1968<br />
Class of 1973<br />
Front Row: Harold Cunningham, Candace (Elkins) Foreman, Patty McGhee, Teresa (Meissner) Kochenower, Truby<br />
(Christman) Bowen, Theresa (Klein) Doran, Patricia (Thomson) Putnam, Charles Lokas, Sharon Hanson<br />
2nd Row: Andy McDonald, Melody (Everts) Hopson, Jeannie (Newgard) Cunningham, Susan (Summerour) DeFoor<br />
Back Row: Robert Fedusenko, Scott Wilson, Terry Day, Chad Chastain, Warren Rood, Steve Fuchcar, Byron DeFoor<br />
World News: Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs competed in “The Battle of the Sexes” exhibition tennis match. King<br />
won all three sets.*<br />
16 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
1973<br />
“The Lord gives strength to His people; the
Class of 1978<br />
Front Row: Marcia Haluska (former staff), Judy (Ringer) Twigg, Chere’ (Bresee) Atherton, Lori (Abston) Quick, Linda<br />
(McCarthur) Norman, Jan (Ashcraft) Upton, Judi (Boles) Hartman, Onecia (Lee) George, Cynthia (Filler) Vann<br />
2nd Row: Rhondda (Robinson) Thomas, Diana Wallace, Sandra (Friesen) Fitzgerald, Delvin Delong, Barry Tryon,<br />
Monty Jenkins, John Davis<br />
3rd Row: Debbie (Upton) Strawn, Andy Nall, Tony Shadix, Mark Farrar<br />
Back Row: Wally Fox (staff), Ken Cook, Clayton Strawn, Richard Harris, Douglas Gray, Gregory Owens, David Lovell,<br />
Marvin Wilson<br />
GCA News: The school year opened with a record enrollment of 253 students.<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
World News: The first ever cellular mobile phone was introduced in Illinois by the Motorola Company.*<br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
1978<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Class of 1983<br />
Greg Fowler, Lisa (Matyas) Paulauskis, Regina (Ritchey) Stojkic, Karen (Artress) Orquia<br />
CLASS<br />
O<br />
F<br />
1983<br />
GCA News: Short-term mission trips began at GCA and have provided outreach opportunities ever since.<br />
World News: President Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada after the government was overthrown by a<br />
Cuban military coup. Five thousand marines were sent. Approximately 1,000 U.S. civilians, mostly medical<br />
students, were rescued.*<br />
Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 17
HONOR CLASSES<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Class of 1988<br />
CLASS OF 1988<br />
Front Row: Mike Mendez, Karen Williams, Rachael Burger, Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, Diane (Artress) Connelly<br />
2nd Row: Danny Song, Eldon Eskridge, Elizabeth Theus Glass, Sonyja Miner, Joahnna (Evans) Budge, Joy Perry-<br />
Jaqua, Georgie (Seckler) Smith<br />
3rd Row: Keith Dotson, Kenneth Wallace, Anthony Harris, Trent Epperson, Kenny Brown<br />
Back Row: Bruce Brunner, Alan Connelly, Bob Overstreet, Jonathan Stock, Byron Schmidt<br />
World News: A bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all 259 people on board and<br />
eleven more on the ground.* **<br />
Class of 1993<br />
Front row: Lillian Ceribelli-Dickerson, Synnova (Hill) Goodge, Stephanie (Stover) Rucker, Alexa (Witt)<br />
Hernandez, Michelle Porter, Joni (Self) Yamamoto, Eve (Parker) Knight, Jewel (Follett) Taft<br />
Back row: James Crosby, Rebecca (Sturtevant) Sitz, David Shinn, David Steele, Peter Hwang, Joey Scarlett<br />
GCA News: The great snow storm of March 13 dumped double digits of snow, downing trees, taking out<br />
power lines and crippling the state of Ga. Students and staff struggled to keep warm and have food to eat<br />
until the roads were cleared enough to get buses off campus and take students home.<br />
World News: The Waco siege on the compound belonging to the religious group, Branch Davidians, by<br />
American federal and Texas state law enforcement and US military started on February 28 and ended on<br />
April 19 when 76 Branch Davidians died.*<br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
1993<br />
18 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts
Class of 1998<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Front Row: Brooke (Naus) Tatum, Diane Rivera, Mindy (Sterndale) Jerkins, Lila (Remaley) Didenko, Corina (Falkenhage)<br />
Rawson, Jolene (Harrell) Sharp, Cleve Philossaint, Becky (Simmons) Bryson<br />
Back Row: Jim Whetmore, Hanna Baird, Melinda Monterde, Meghan Olis, Richard Shinn, Jon Sharp, Ben Martin<br />
World News: The search engine Google was incorporated as a private company in Menlo Park, Calif. by Larry Page and Sergey<br />
Brin, Ph.D students at Stanford University. They previously created the website as a research project starting in 1996. The company<br />
grew rapidly and received investments early on from the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Amazon.*<br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
1998<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Class of 2003<br />
Front Row: Michelle Thomas, Monica Carter, Nicole (Antone) Lasley, Laura (Bowen) Knutson, Jessica (Johnston) Harrington<br />
2nd Row: Terry Skaggs, Stephanie (Robertson) Fetzer, Jennifer (Knox) Tello<br />
Back Row: Ashley (Stanley) Galloway, Jeremy Mills, Jennifer (Stout) Smith, Ricky Naus, Josh Woods, Steven Wilson<br />
CLASS OF 2003<br />
World News: The Human Genome Project was completed. Scientists from around the world successfully finished sequencing about<br />
99% of the human genome. They identified over 20,000 individual genes and base pairs that create the basic DNA composition of<br />
humans. The project began in 1990 and was a collaborative global effort led by the National Institutes of Health.*<br />
of peace and not evil, to live you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 19
HONOR CLASSES<br />
HONOR CLASSES<br />
Class of 2008<br />
Front Row: Allyson (Bridges) Humphrey, Mallory Teague, Joseph Thomas, Gabe Beaven, Christy Lam,<br />
Rebecca Shields, Aracely Elizondo, Ruhamah Sanchez, Meaghan Czachor, Maite Oliva<br />
2nd Row: Kyle Humphrey, Kristopher Gates, Albert Hernandez, Noemi Monarrez, Giovanna Alves, Heather<br />
(Thames) Leeper, Francheska Mora-Colon<br />
Back Row: Jessica (Hunt) McCabe, Shaina (Clough) Rodriguez, Anthony White, Jacob Arellano, Nicole<br />
(Humphrey) Arellano, Kaleb Leeper<br />
GCA News: GCA opened with 269 students, the largest enrollment in the history of the school.<br />
World News: President George W. Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 into law,<br />
authorizing a $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial system.* ***<br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
2008<br />
Class of 2013<br />
Front Row: Ashli Dublin, Brandi Taylor, Kailey Wales, Nicole Davis, Kelli (Stickney) Brady, Darby Jones, Leah<br />
Teague<br />
2nd Row: Jonathan Lee, Alex Brady, Christopher Pubillones, Kevin Candamil, Ben Brooks<br />
Back Row: Jeffrey Simmons, Ramey Miller, Steven Metott, Nicolas Hayward, Sam Voegele, Steven Pubillones<br />
World News: Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term as President of the Unites States.<br />
President Obama is the country’s first African-American president.*<br />
CLASS<br />
OF<br />
2013<br />
20 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
* www.thepeoplehistory.com<br />
**en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103<br />
***en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008<br />
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
FORMER STAFF<br />
Front row: Janet Wood, Cathy Olson,<br />
Marcia Haluska, Barbara Willis, Ken<br />
Peck, Charles Zacharias, Margaret<br />
Anderson, Fred Anderson<br />
2nd row: David Olson, Charles<br />
Young, Marty Sutton, Barbara Livesay,<br />
June York, Elsa Patton<br />
Back row: Greg Hudson, Bill Wood,<br />
Don Keele, Don Livesay, John<br />
Thomas, Del Patton<br />
REGIONAL REUNIONS<br />
Southern California Alumni Event<br />
A group of nearly 40 gathered in Loma Linda on January 20 for the annual Southern California alumni and friends event. Attendees got<br />
acquainted with alumni from other time periods and shared the history and traditions from their eras through the vehicle of a GCA get-acquainted<br />
activity.<br />
Greg Gerard, principal, shared news from GCA which included photos and updates on the new facility construction. Fundraising progress was<br />
reported and stories of generosity were shared.<br />
The big hit this year was a delicious lunch catered by a local taco truck. Everyone seemed to enjoy the great food and the opportunity to<br />
reconnect with friends and the school they love.<br />
We are grateful to all who come out for this annual event which reunites the GCA family in Southern California.<br />
Florida Alumni Event<br />
Friends and Alumni of Georgia-Cumberland Academy gathered at Florida<br />
Hospital Church on February 17 to share their connections to GCA and enjoy<br />
good food and fellowship. A get-acquainted game introduced alumni and<br />
friends to the traditions and history celebrated at various times throughout<br />
the years and helped people interact across the decades.<br />
The group received a report of news and information from GCA, including<br />
an update on the new facility construction. Questions were fielded by the<br />
Gerards, who along with Andy McDonald, ’73, hosted the event.<br />
Thanks to all who came out to join us for this annual alumni event in<br />
Orlando!<br />
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 21
ALUMNI UPDATES<br />
ALUMNI UPDATES<br />
We love hearing from you!<br />
Please send us updates about<br />
educational accomplishments, new<br />
career opportunities, professional<br />
recognition, additions to your family,<br />
whether through marriage or birth,<br />
or any other news you’d like to<br />
share. Just email Laura Dancek at<br />
ldancek@gcasda.org.<br />
Christine Bliven,<br />
former staff, wife of<br />
food service director,<br />
Gerry Bliven, and one<br />
of the long-time food<br />
service supervisors in<br />
our cafeteria, had been battling cancer<br />
for the past year and a half. On March<br />
20, <strong>2018</strong> she passed away. Gerry and<br />
their family were with her at the time<br />
of her passing. Gerry and Chris Bliven<br />
have been married for 43 years. For over<br />
30 years they have worked together<br />
every day in our cafeteria, or cafeterias<br />
at other Adventist academies.<br />
Carol Hoffmann, former staff, passed<br />
away on January 27, <strong>2018</strong>. Carol served<br />
as the GCA registrar and secretary to<br />
the principal from 1976-1979. For 23<br />
years, she volunteered with the Park<br />
Ridge Hospital Auxiliary and was<br />
involved in various ministries at Fletcher<br />
Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was<br />
preceded in death by her husband of<br />
56 years, Raymond Hoffmann, former<br />
staff. She is survived by daughters Linda<br />
Connell and Janet Novak, as well as<br />
three granddaughters and two greatgrandchildren.<br />
Nevin Rice, former staff, passed away on<br />
November 1, 2017 in Stevensville, Mich.<br />
A celebration of life service was held at<br />
the Berrien <strong>Spring</strong>s Village Seventhday<br />
Adventist Church on November<br />
5, 2017. While serving at GCA from<br />
1970-1974, Nevin was the registrar and<br />
taught driver’s education and American<br />
history. Nevin’s greatest love was for<br />
Jesus and spending time with his church<br />
family. Nevin is survived by his wife,<br />
Lana; sons, Jefferson and Timothy; four<br />
grandchildren, one great-grandchild<br />
and many step grandchildren and step<br />
great-grandchildren; and his brothers,<br />
Lawrence Rice, Jr. and La Vern Rice.<br />
William Voss, former staff, died on April<br />
7, 2017. William was the GCA treasurer<br />
and assistant principal from 1973-1977.<br />
He later served as the assistant treasurer<br />
for the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference,<br />
where he was ordained to the ministry<br />
and pastored two churches. He is survived<br />
by Fay, his wife of 70 years; daughters<br />
Linda Herman and Shirley Rumsey; six<br />
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.<br />
Gloria (Lee) Barenie, ’68, retired from<br />
nursing in January <strong>2018</strong>. She resides in<br />
Berrien <strong>Spring</strong>s, Mich.<br />
Sandy (Joiner) Coppage, ’68,<br />
attended, is enjoying her 48 years of<br />
marriage and her six grandchildren.<br />
Andrea “Andi” (McGaha) Erwin,<br />
’68, has been married 49 years, and has<br />
two daughters and one granddaughter.<br />
Andi is caring for her husband who has<br />
suffered from Alzheimer’s for 14 years,<br />
and is hopeful in the Lord’s soon return.<br />
Brenda (Murray) Morris, ’68, retired<br />
after 45 years of nursing as a teacher,<br />
clinical researcher, and clinical specialist.<br />
She keeps busy with volunteer work in<br />
her retirement years.<br />
Donald Robbins, ’68, has seven<br />
grandchildren and is looking forward<br />
to retiring and moving from Ill. to<br />
Cleveland, Ohio to be near them.<br />
Charles Lokas, ’73, is enjoying his<br />
retirement from the Veterans Affairs<br />
Medical Center after 25 years of service.<br />
He now spends his time fishing and<br />
with his granddaughter.<br />
Warren Rood, ’73, is an art instructor<br />
at a community college. Warren lives in<br />
Walla Walla, Wash. and loves mentoring<br />
and watching the growth in his students.<br />
Warren has been married for 37 years<br />
and has three adult sons.<br />
Douglas Ellis, ’76, passed away Tuesday,<br />
April 3, <strong>2018</strong>. He is survived by his wife,<br />
Jeanee; and daughters Caroline Ellis,<br />
Lauren Collins, Natalie Davis, Kristen<br />
Smith, and Mikaela Smith; as well as<br />
four grandchildren and his brother,<br />
Gene Ellis, ’69. His memorial service<br />
was held on April 7 at the Chapel of<br />
Parrott Funeral Home with B.J. Boles,<br />
’87, officiating. Those wishing, may<br />
sign the online guestbook at www.<br />
parrottfuneralhome.com.<br />
Chere’ (Bresee) Atherton, ’78, has<br />
retired from nursing and started a new<br />
career in trading. She loves camping<br />
and riding her Gold Wing.<br />
Linda (McCarthur) Norman, ’78, has<br />
been an international flight attendant/<br />
purser for American Airlines for 34<br />
years. She has one daughter, Jerri, who<br />
is a college freshman. Linda’s hobbies<br />
are reading, traveling and volunteering<br />
in her community.<br />
Douglas Ellis, ’03, and Bridget<br />
Childers, had a baby girl on April 5.<br />
Stella Carly Grace Sheldon weighed 7<br />
pounds, and was 19.5 inches long. They<br />
live in Adairsville, Ga.<br />
Tony Shadix, ’78, is living in<br />
Ooltewah, Tenn. and is still married<br />
to his childhood sweetheart, Bonnie<br />
(Shelton) Shadix, ’80.<br />
Debbie (Upton) Strawn, ’78, has a<br />
daughter that was recently married,<br />
and a son graduating from University<br />
of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S.<br />
in mechanical engineering.<br />
Lisa (Matyas) Paulauski, ’83, married<br />
Dr. Gregory Paulauskis in 2013 and<br />
moved to Woodstock, Ga. at Lake<br />
Allatoona. They just returned from a<br />
22 CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong><br />
“The Lord lift up His countenance upon
five-week trip to Australia. They have<br />
five granddaughters and love spending<br />
time with their family and friends. They<br />
are thankful for God’s greatness to them.<br />
Peter Hwang, ’93, and his wife, have<br />
three sons. Peter keeps busy in his new<br />
business – Postum is back!<br />
Rebecca (Sturtevant) Sitz, ’93, is<br />
currently living in Powell’s Crossroads,<br />
Tenn. She has a daughter in the fifth<br />
grade. Rebecca hopes to finish her<br />
doctorate (DBA) in business this year<br />
and plans to teach college-level business,<br />
travel, and enjoy the rest of her life.<br />
Hanna Baird, ’98, is retired and is the<br />
proud mother of a daughter.<br />
Cleve Philossaint, ’98, lives in<br />
Ellenwood, Ga. and has two children.<br />
Ruth Thomas, ’99, lives in Lakeland, Fla.<br />
with her 14 year-old daughter, Lorelai.<br />
Michal (Kurzynske) Bramblett, ’00,<br />
entered into rest on March 13, <strong>2018</strong> after<br />
a courageous battle with diabetes. She<br />
was preceded in death by her father, Jon<br />
Kurzynske. Funeral services were held<br />
on March 16 at the Calhoun Seventhday<br />
Adventist Church, where she was<br />
a member. Michal was employed as an<br />
administrative assistant at the Calhoun<br />
Fire Department. Michal is survived by<br />
her devoted husband Mark Bramblett,<br />
whom she married on Sept. 27, 2015;<br />
children, Dawson, Abby, and Ty; mother,<br />
Julie, and step-father Doug Mittleider of<br />
Adairsville; siblings, Kim (Sager) Turner,<br />
’93, Morgan (Kurzynske) Bailey, ’03,<br />
Kevin Kurzynske, ‘04, and Taylor<br />
Mittleider, ’10.<br />
Julie (Young) Keaton, ’01, is a<br />
Commercial Credit Analyst for First<br />
Interstate Bank in scenic Bozeman,<br />
Montana.<br />
Monica (Carter) Barnes, ’03, works<br />
in an assisted living facility. She has two<br />
sons – Joseph, 9, and Jacob, 5.<br />
you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26<br />
ALUMNI UPDATES<br />
Nicole (Antone) Lasley, ’03, has<br />
three sons ranging from six months to<br />
six years. Nicole is a massage therapist<br />
owning a business specializing in<br />
pediatric and pregnancy massage.<br />
Steven Wilson, ’03, lives in the jungle<br />
of northern Bolivia with his wife, Helen,<br />
and their two sons, Timothy and James.<br />
Steven has been serving as a mission<br />
pilot since 2009.<br />
Brittany (Graves) Saunders, ’05 and<br />
Billy Saunders welcomed Emma Jane<br />
to their family on April 3, <strong>2018</strong>. Emma<br />
weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz., and was 20.5<br />
inches long. Grandparents, Melanie<br />
and George Graves, ’76, are pleased<br />
with this new addition to their family.<br />
Victoria (Henson) Kreiter, ’06, is<br />
living in in Apopka, Fla. Her daughter,<br />
Lillian Jane, was born on April 19, 2017.<br />
Victoria is an adjunct professor of music<br />
at Seminole State College. She also runs<br />
her own music studio where she teaches<br />
vocal lessons and coaching.<br />
Caressa (Rogers) Manly, ’06, married<br />
Jeffrey Manly on April 15 at Barnsley<br />
Gardens, Ga. The newlyweds reside in<br />
the Chattanooga, Tenn. area.<br />
Jonathan Harper,<br />
’09, married Lauren<br />
(Sigsworth) Harper<br />
on April 8, <strong>2018</strong><br />
in Sugar Hill, Ga.<br />
They are graduates<br />
of Loma Linda School of Medicine.<br />
Jonathan is in his first year of an internal<br />
medicine residency, and Lauren in her<br />
first year of pediatric residency at Loma<br />
Linda Hospital.<br />
Dalton Day, ’12,<br />
and Katarina<br />
(Monteagudo)<br />
Day, ’12, were wed<br />
in Newnan, Ga. on<br />
March 18, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Katarina is working as a travel nurse<br />
in Calif. while working on her nurse<br />
practitioner degree. Dalton is working<br />
on his M.B.A. The newlyweds are<br />
planning to move back to Ga. in the<br />
next few months.<br />
Laura Chase, ’13, received the Florence<br />
Oliver Anderson – Outstanding Scholastic<br />
Achievement and Professionalism Award<br />
at Southern Adventist Univeristy (SAU).<br />
This award is given to the senior with<br />
the highest GPA in the B.S. nursing<br />
program and has been observed to have<br />
leadership potential by the faculty. Laura<br />
will begin working at Erlanger Hospital<br />
in Chattanooga, Tenn. in June.<br />
Shelby (Cohen) LeMaitre, ’13, and<br />
Philippe LeMaitre, ’13, were married<br />
on October 21, 2017 in Soddy Daisy,<br />
Tenn. Shelby is working at a preschool<br />
in the Hamilton County school system<br />
and is working on her bachelor’s degree<br />
in early childhood education. Philippe<br />
works at a digital marketing agency in<br />
Chattanooga while he completes his<br />
business degree. The newlyweds are<br />
living in Chattanooga, Tenn.<br />
Christopher Pubillones, ’13, is<br />
graduating with a B.S. in aerospace<br />
engineering from Georgia Tech.<br />
Christopher will move to Dulles, Va.<br />
to work at Orbital ATK as a software<br />
engineer for satellite ground control<br />
and mission planning.<br />
Jessica Ahn ’14, received the<br />
“Outstanding Biology Senior Award” at<br />
Southern Adventist University, where she<br />
will be graduating with a B.S. in Biology,<br />
Biomedical emphasis, with minors in<br />
chemistry and music (piano). She was<br />
the Pre-med club president this year<br />
and will enter the Loma Linda School<br />
of Medicine in 2019, after spending a<br />
semester to study Spanish in Argentina<br />
followed by a semester in Peru doing<br />
medical evangelism as a student missionary.<br />
Her goal after medical school is to become<br />
a medical missionary.<br />
ALUMNI UPDATES<br />
CUMBERLITE SPRING <strong>2018</strong> 23
Georgia-Cumberland Academy<br />
Alumni & Development<br />
397 Academy Dr. SW<br />
Calhoun, GA 30701<br />
Phone: 706-629-4591<br />
Fax: 706-629-1272<br />
ngerard@gcasda.org<br />
NONPROFIT ORG.<br />
U.S. POSTAGE<br />
CHATTANOOGA, TN<br />
PERMIT NO. 1114<br />
CUMBERLITE STAFF<br />
EDITOR:<br />
LAURA DANCEK<br />
ASSISTANT EDITOR:<br />
NANCY GERARD<br />
LAYOUT & DESIGN:<br />
MEGAN KELLER, COLLEGE PRESS<br />
COPY EDITING:<br />
SUSAN JENKINS<br />
PHOTOGRAPHERS:<br />
LAURA DANCEK<br />
ZOE DORSETT<br />
GREG GERARD<br />
GRACIE JENKINS<br />
GRANT TUTTLE<br />
June 2:<br />
GCA Alumni Campmeeting Supper<br />
Plan on going to campmeeting or live in the<br />
Collegedale area? Join us for supper and a<br />
chance to visit with fellow alumni and staff.<br />
On Saturday, June 2 at 5:30, meet us in<br />
the White Oak Room in Thatcher South<br />
(girls’ dorm) on the campus of<br />
Southern Adventist University.<br />
Call or text Nancy Gerard at 770-548-3233<br />
or email ngerard@gcasda.org.