News

The GAC Athletic Department is happy to announce that Ryan Millhof has been named as the new Head Wrestling coach at GAC. Ryan Millhof brings a wealth of experience over the course of his career. For the past four seasons, Millhof served as the Head Wrestling Coach at Collins Hill High School. Prior to his tenure at Collins Hill, Millhof served as an assistant coach at South Forsyth High School.

The Varsity Boys Tennis team won the Region 6-AAAAA championship Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Chattahoochee. The Spartans swept the doubles matches. Their point totals included Jack Gessner and Freddy Dougah at No. 1, as well as Ben Hawkins and Ayaan Valiani at No. 2. Jack Morrison was victorious at No. 3 singles as well. 

After battling against both the elements and Decatur High School last night, the Varsity Boys Lacrosse team (10-4, 4-0 in Region Play) won the Area Championship for the second consecutive season. The Spartans were up 4-3 at halftime, but were held inside due to inclement weather. After play resumed, GAC went on a 10-1 run to claim the 14-4 victory.
 

On March 27th, Harrison Voelzke set a new school record for our Varsity Boys Lacrosse program. The senior captain scored 11 total points (6 goals and 5 assists) in the GAC Boys Lacrosse team's 13-9 victory over Woodward Academy.

College Baseball is back in action! GAC's Varsity Baseball program currently has eight alumni playing at the collegiate level. The following student-athletes are competing this season:
 

Ben Eberhart, GAC Class of 2017, has embarked on a remarkable journey of faith and service. Ben is the vice president of Kaula Tree Ministries, a global prayer ministry with a mission to strengthen, encourage, and comfort individuals worldwide.

Our very own Varsity Girls Basketball team defeated Kell High School 57-45 to claim the Region Championship. Senior guard, Myla Benson, was named as the Region "Player of the Year." She finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and five steals. 

Congratulations to Conrad Cason for being named as a “Super Six Athlete" by the Gwinnett Daily Post. Representing GAC's Baseball team, the senior right hand pitcher and shortstop hit .327 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs, .472 on-base percentage last season. 

The GAC Varsity Boys and Girls Swim and Dive teams showcased their talent at the state swim meet, accomplishing several achievements and record-breaking feats. Both teams placed in the Top 10 in the state, finishing in 6th place. 

In a transformative era where screens and devices dominate many areas of our lives, from the workplace to healthcare, the educational landscape is no exception. However, challenges come with the increased use of technology and the evolving world. How do we balance high-tech lessons with a high-touch campus life to create real-life connections? What does it take to keep campus life alive and vibrant? How does GAC maintain traditions from years past? Join us as we embark on the journey to explore the balance found at GAC, where high-tech lessons coexist harmoniously with high-touch campus life, forging well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of tomorrow

Congratulations to sophomore Ava Kitchings, senior Reese Black, senior Hunter Bryant, and senior Harrison Voelzke for being named by the Gwinnett Daily Post as "Super-Six Athletes." 

Congratulations to our Varsity Swim and Dive Team for repeating as Region 6-5A Champions! The Spartans won the meet with a combined score of 1021 points. Cambridge High School finished in second place. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School proudly announces the induction of Varsity Head Track & Field Coach Brad Kinser into the Georgia Track and Field Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by his former track and field teammate at Harding University and GAC alum (Class of 1978), Tomy Sitton.

Congratulations to GAC graduate Myles Hinton (Class of 2020) and the University of Michigan for winning the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Wolverines defeated the University of Washington 34-13. 

At Greater Atlanta Christian School, we’ve been engaged in thought-provoking discussions about the impact of AI on our lives, families, and careers. Traditionally, educational institutions tend to lag in adopting new technologies due to factors like institutional inertia, risk aversion, limited research, or the inclination to teach in familiar ways. However, at GAC, generations of leaders have chosen a different path, one marked by forward-thinking innovation. We purposefully wield technology as a tool rather than becoming its passive users.

Seniors Jack Stanton, Braylon Burgess, and Myles Cunningham signed their national letters of intent to continue their football careers. All three Spartans played an integral role for GAC's Football program during their time as a Spartan. 

Varsity Head Basketball coach David Eaton earned his 300th career victory last Saturday against Mountain View High School. The Spartans came out with a 68-65 win to move onto a 9-1 record. 

Earlier this month, Kyle McPhee (GAC Class of 1998) was inducted into the Gwinnett County Cross Country Hall of Fame. McPhee ran both cross country and track & field during his time at GAC

Ben Sheppard (GAC Class of 2019) was drafted into the NBA this past summer by the Indiana Pacers. During his Rookie season, Sheppard has earned playing time against several NBA stars. Fellow classmate Jack Batten (GAC Class of 2019) interviewed Sheppard for the Gwinnett Daily Post after the Pacers played the Atlanta Hawks. 

Congrats to GAC students Zoey Schlueter (Class of ‘24) and Dominique Riley (Class of ‘25) for being selected for Southwest Gwinnett Magazine's 20 Under 21!

Greater Atlanta Christian School is proud to announce that current eighth-grade student Jason Eigdebion has been selected to participate in the esteemed Les Petits AS, the most prestigious U14 tennis tournament in the world. Jason had an outstanding performance at the Le Petits 🇺🇸 USA Playoff, where he secured the 3rd position. This performance earned Jason an offer to compete in the Les Petits AS.

In their first season on the field, the Varsity Flag Football team went undefeated throughout the regular season and clinched the Area Championship. The Spartans will enter the postseason on December 5th against Grovetown High Schol. 

Head Coach Crystal Lee Brittain was named as the GVCA/AVCA Coach of the Year for 5A. She will coach the All-Star team in their match on November 12th at 3 PM. She was also named as the Gwinnett County co-coach of the year for 5A. Several volleyball players also earned post-season recognition for their efforts this year.

Seniors Conrad Cason and Harrison Voelzke signed with their national letters or intent on Wednesday. Conrad Cason will continue his athletic career at Mississippi State University. Harrison Voelzke will play lacrosse at the University of Richmond. 

The GAC Volleyball program continued their historic run last Saturday, as they defeated Dalton High School in the Final Four to advance to their third straight championship appearance. The Spartans will face McIntosh High School in the championship on November 4 at 1:30 PM. 

Junior Abigail Heizer and senior Luke Stanley were both recognized by the Gwinnett Daily Post as "Super Six Athletes" for Swim & Dive. 

Fox 5 News visited GAC's campus to film a feature on our Varsity E-Sports program. Led by head coach Russell Lawless, our E-Sports program provides GAC students an opportunity to compete in "Super Smash Brothers" against other high schools. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is delighted to share the exciting news that one of its young students, Nicholas Jones, a fifth-grader, has achieved a remarkable milestone by being selected for the prestigious Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

Ransom Jones ‘18 achieved a significant milestone by earning his Master of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in May of 2023.

GAC proudly announces that seniors Kevin Liu and Akhil Sarikonda were named National Merit Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Kevin and Akhil are among over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

GAC had the distinct honor of hosting the renowned Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) Korean Christian Children's Choir, a group of 40 talented age 7-13 performers who delivered a heartwarming message of international Christian unity and gratitude. Click to view full story, photos, and a recording of the performance.

Out of all the teams in the state of Georgia, the GAC Football program ranks third overall with four alumni in the NFL. Kalif Raymond, Darius Slayton, Davis Mills, and Chris Hinton once graced the field at Spartan Stadium and are now making plays in the NFL. 

GAC’s alumni classes spanning 1970 through 1974 celebrated their 50th high school reunion on Saturday, September 9. This group comprises GAC’s inaugural graduating classes. 

Kendall Robinson '18 debuted her painting series at her first Atlanta Solo Art Show on August 26. The exhibition is titled "Soleil: Sharing Our Stories".

Jessica Carothers, class of 2019, signed her U.S. Naval Academy Commitment Papers in August on "Two for Seven Day".

On August 25th, senior quarterback Jack Stanton helped lead GAC to a 36-13 victory over the Lovett Lions. Stanton set a school record by throwing for 392 yards.

For the second consecutive season, the Gwinnett Daily Post named senior Gracie Rose to their “Super Six Team” for volleyball.
 

Current New Giants wide receiver and former GAC Spartan (Class of 2015), Darius Slayton, hosted his second annual Slayton Skillz Camp at Spartan Stadium. The free event provided kids an opportunity to learn from coaches and professional football players.  

Throughout the month of June, the GAC Basketball program hosted a summer league tournament in the Long Forum. Teams across the metro Atlanta area brought their freshmen and JV basketball players to come compete in multiple games. Player development and building team chemistry were two primary goals for each school involved. 

With the 26th Overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Indiana Pacers selected Ben Sheppard (GAC Class of 2019). A four-year player at Belmont University, Sheppard averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this past season. As a Spartan, Sheppard helped lead GAC to the 2018 AAA State Championship. 

The Young Learners program is an integral part of the Greater Atlanta Christian School mission to help our youngest Spartans grow as Jesus did. As demand continues to increase, physical expansion and facility improvements are needed to accommodate a growing enrollment.

22 GAC students headed to Spain from May 29-June 7 for an incredible language immersion trip led by our fantastic faculty members Shelley Woodward and Natalia Medina.

GAC students recently embarked on a transformative mission trip to Tuba City, Arizona where they served the Navajo community and experienced spiritual growth while connecting with local residents. The trip was filled with meaningful activities, community engagement, and breathtaking moments of appreciation for God's creations.

GAC Class of 2023 Graduate Nia Wilson was named as the Gwinnett Daily Posts' "Girls Runner of the Year." Wilson finished the Spring with six first-place finishes in the 100 and four first-place finishes in the 200. She now holds GAC school records in both races. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is proud to announce that Dr. Crystal Downs has been honored with the prestigious Society of Excellence Award from Johns Hopkins University. Downs received her Ed.D. in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins.

On June 3, Detroit Lions wide receiver, Kalif Raymond (GAC Class of 2012) hosted his first football camp at Spartan Stadium. The event helped teach the next generation of football players proper habits and training techniques. 

Bria Janelle (‘07) and her foundation, the Bria Janelle Foundation, have been recoginzied by the Newton County School System and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce as the 2023 NCSS Partner of the Year. The foundation is a partner in education with Newton High School.

The Varsity Girls Track and Field team won their fifth state title in seven years at the AAAAA State Championship meet in Columbus, Georgia this past weekend. The Spartans edged Cambridge High School for the victory. The Varsity Boys Track and Field Team place sixth overall. 

The Varsity Boys Tennis Team finished 24-2 on the season and captured their first state title since 2015 on May 13th. The Spartans defeated Chattahoochee High School 3-0 in the AAAAA Championship Match. 

Marilee Karinshak, ‘22, has been selected for a summer internship at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

We are delighted to announce the selection of one finalist, one alternate, and three semi-finalists to the prestigious and highly competitive Georgia Governor’s Honor’s Program (GHP.)

On April 27th, twelve of our student-athletes signed their letters of intent to play at the collegiate level. The Signing Day ceremony took place in the Long Forum amongst friends, family, and peers from the GAC Community. 

Led by head coach Brad Kinser, both the Varsity Girls and Boys Track teams hosted the AAAAA- Region 6 track meet at Spartan Stadium. The Varsity Girls tied for 2nd place in the Region with 135 points overall, and the Varsity Boys finished in third place with 124 points. 

Join us at Spartan Stadium next Tuesday night for a playoff double-header featuring both of our varsity lacrosse programs. The Varsity Girls Lacrosse team will face Johns Creek High School at 6 PM. The Varsity Boys Lacrosse will play Cambridge High School in the second portion of the double-header at 8 PM.

The GAC Athletic Department is happy to announce that Crystal Lee will take the helm as the new Head Volleyball Coach at GAC. Coach Lee was a GAC Varsity Assistant Coach during the 2022 season, and played an instrumental role for the Spartans’ state championship team.

The GAC Symphonic Band showcased their exceptional talent and musical prowess at the GMEA District 13 Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) held at Paul Duke High School. This esteemed event brought together schools from across the state to be evaluated on their performance and sight reading abilities.

We are excited to announce that GAC's Student Broadcast "Live @1575" won awards at the GSPA (Georgia Scholastic Press Association) Awards Show in Athens. The awards show is held every spring for student-run live broadcasts at schools in the state of Georgia

The Varsity Golf program had the opportunity to host students from the SINE School in Denmark in March. The Spartans established a relationship with the SINE School back in 2015, and GAC was able to host once again this year. Both schools competed in two matches at the Smoke Rise Country Club. 

Amazing news from GAC! Our team was named the GHSA 5A Literary State Champions on May 18, 2023. This is a huge accomplishment and we couldn't be prouder of our team's hard work and dedication.

GAC’s fifth-grade students recently performed in their "Rock and Roll Forever: How It All Began" music program. The program aimed to take the audience back to the days of American Bandstand, The Ed Sullivan Show, and Soul Train to explore the roots of rock and roll music

Article originally published on Gwinnett Daily Post by Chris Starrs.

Families choose private schools for a variety of reasons, one of which is the parents themselves attended an independent school and wanted their children to have a similar experience.

There are a number of students at Greater Atlanta Christian whose parents also went to private school, but more than half of the students at GAC come from what is termed “first-time private-school families.”

GAC students recently traveled to various locations worldwide to participate in mission trips during Winter Break from February 13-17, 2023. These mission trips allowed students to serve communities in need while also gaining valuable experiences and insights into other cultures. Students saw firsthand the power of God’s love.

GAC Junior Luke Winter has been selected for the Washington Youth Tour. This annual program brings high school students across the United States to the nation's capital for an immersive educational experience. Luke applied to serve as a Washington Youth Tour delegate representing Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) and was recently interviewed and selected.

SWGC Board Member William Corbin presented a Character Award to Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Evelyn Logan. The award was created to recognize outstanding students whose attitudes and actions embody the organization’s mission, passion and commitment to excellence and community action.

James Canipe has been selected as a Super Six Athlete by the Gwinnett Daily Post for boys lacrosse. Canipe led the Spartans with 40 goals last season, and he looks to strive for even greater heights this Spring. 

Watching our littlest learners explore and play with their new sensory light center is pure joy! This year our Young Learners program (Infant-K2) received a sensory light center through the Annual Fund.

For over 20 years, the GAC High School BETA Club has hosted Special Olympics on campus. This January, over 100 Beta Club students were involved in working with approximately 90 children with disabilities and bringing food to honor the exceptional teachers who work with these kids every day. Ten different DeKalb County schools visited GAC to participate in the 2023 Winter Special Olympics Event.

Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Swim & Dive team for winning third place overall at the 2023 GHSA AAAAA-AAAA state meet on Saturday. GAC finished with 280 points overall and battled throughout the meet at the McAuley Aquatic Center on Georgia Tech’s campus. 

The Gwinnett Daily Post named senior Nia Wilson as a "Super Six Athlete" for the upcoming 2023 track and field season. Nia signed with Purdue University in the Fall, and won first place in the 100 and 200 meter races at the Class AAA state championships last year. 

Atlanta Intown and Reporter Newspapers recently recognized GAC Senior Kate Hidell in their annual "20 Under 20" feature as an honoree and GAC Junior Ivy Holland as a runner-up. Each year, the newspapers choose young people who give back to the community through service and leadership while juggling academic responsibilities. 

Spartan Senior Izzy Rickaby was recently featured in Peachtree Corners Magazine's Faces of Peachtree Corners.

Brandon Lee and Sophia Nguyen are GAC Seniors with a long list of compelling and meaningful extracurricular involvement.

After 34 years of service, head coach Brad Kinser will retire from leading GAC's cross country program. Assistant coach Chase Parks will take over as the new head coach for the cross country team. Coach Parks has served on staff for the previous 10 seasons. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School is one of the biggest supporters every year to Can-A-Thon - and their eager students are doing their part again to help the effort.

Despite moving up two classifications to AAAAA, the Varsity Volleyball team captured their second consecutive State Championship on November 5th, defeating Chattahoochee High School 3-1.  

Joel Ballew, a GAC “lifer”, traded in Georgia basketball courts for beautiful South America.

After defeating Statesboro High School 3-1 on Tuesday, the defending state champion Varsity Volleyball team is heading to the AAAAA Final Four to face McIntosh High School. 

On Tuesday it was announced that GAC's legendary coach, Jackie Bradford, will be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame this upcoming February. Jackie Bradford arrived at GAC in 1968 as the head basketball coach. During his time as a coach at GAC, Jackie Bradford had a 253-82 record, along with three state championships (1971, 1972, 1977). 

Recently our GPA hosted its first annual GAC Women Together in Christ event. The memorable evening was a time for GAC women to connect to fellowship, pray, and worship under the stars.

Kalif Raymond (GAC Class of 2012) is currently playing in his seventh season in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Raymond has battled several obstacles during his journey to professional football, and the Detroit Lions went "Under the Helmet" to learn more about his life. 

Landyn Foxworthy, a GAC “lifer”, was involved in many student activities such as volleyball, visual arts, and mission trips to Africa.

Last week, students and teachers took learning past our campus and into the greatest classroom of all—the globe. Middle School students traveled to Chattanooga, Savannah, and Washington D.C. High School students traveled to destinations from Yosemite to London.

At just 19, Mallory Butts has a heart for faith and service, a focused career path, a comprehensive resume, and a long list of growing accolades.

Congratulations to Crystal Downs, Ed.D (GAC High School Academic Dean & Instructional Lead Teacher) on receiving her Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University!

GAC families gathered on Saturday, August 20 to sort and pack donated school supplies such as pencils, crayons, notebooks, folders, and disinfecting wipes, for the teachers and students of neighboring school, Meadowcreek Elementary School.

Over the past 10 seasons, GAC Football ranks third in 5A (AAAAA) with 109 victories. The Spartans begin their season on Friday, August 19th against Meadowcreek High School. 

Senior Naya Ohuabunwa and junior Gracie Rose were both given a great honor by being named by the Gwinnett Daily Post as volleyball "Super Six Athletes" for the 2022-2023 season.

GAC's high school students started the year off strong as they traveled up to SharpTop Cove for their annual Spiritual Retreat! Throughout the week, students have spent time growing in their relationship with one another and the Lord.

Four GAC students have been accepted into the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-National Honor Chorus.

GAC Drum Major John Cong had the opportunity of a lifetime when he attended the Phantom Regiment Academy camp this summer.

The Houston Texans starting quarterback, Davis Mills (GAC Class of 2017), hosted his first quarterback camp at GAC. The camp helped train and mentor 24 of the young quarterbacks that were selected from across the country. 

We are pleased to announce the addition of Justin Bagwell, who will join us beginning in August in a new role as Director of Spiritual Life. Justin brings nearly 20 years of experience in student ministry to the GAC family.

GAC Theatre finished the 2021-22 season strong by winning the Shuler Spotlight Award. Because of the win, the cast of Anastasia was invited to perform "Stay, I Pray You" at the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards, the 2022 Shuler Awards, organized by ArtsBridge Foundation, on April 21. The awards were broadcast on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). GAC Alum Georgia Thomas (Class of 2022), won best leading actress for her performance in the title role of “Anastasia”.

Sean Manuel has been hired as GAC's new Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Formerly the Director of Strength and Conditioning for UNLV's Football Program, Coach Manuel brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to GAC. 

A recap of all of the latest events at the conclusion of the spring sports season, including the Varsity Girls Track & Field team finishing 3rd at state, several accolades for both lacrosse teams, and an Elite 8 finish for the Varsity Baseball team.  

The GAC Athletic Department is happy to announce that Newton Babb has been named as the new Head Boys' Lacrosse Coach.

Baseball advances to the third round of the playoffs, track and field hosts the 3A Sectionals meet, and more on this edition of news and notes from GAC Athletics. 

Both the Varsity Boys and Girls soccer teams traveled to McEachern High School to compete in the AAA State Finals. The Boys Soccer team clinched the state championship, and the girls soccer team finished as runner-ups. 

In February, two GAC seniors, Daisy Strine and Andrew Hathaway, had the chance to interview Atlanta Braves historian Carolyn Serra at Truist Park. Strine and Hathaway created the news package as a piece for Black History Month. The feature, which aired during GAC’s student broadcast, Live @ 1575, highlighted Hank Aaron’s legacy both on the field and off. 

On April 27th, the GAC community gathered to congratulate 16 student-athletes on officially signing with their respective colleges and universities. Families, coaches, and friends assembled in the Long Forum to celebrate our Spring signees. 

The Varsity Baseball team clinched their second consecutive region title on Friday night. This week in athletics we have a multitude of playoff events as well. 

Today we celebrate alumna and Gwinnett native Elise Karinshak '19, who was recently named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar, earning the highest and most prestigious award of its type for the fields of mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences. She was among only 417 undergraduates selected from 5,000 applicants across the nation.

 The GAC Athletic Department is proud to announce that Karyn Arnold is our new Head Cheerleading Coach. Our athletic leadership team has been so impressed with Coach Arnold’s love for cheer and desire to develop the girls in the program. 

The SWGC presented their third Character Award to Greater Atlanta Christian’s Madeline Facteau. The award was created to recognize outstanding students whose attitude and actions embody the organization’s mission, passion, and commitment to excellence and community action.

This season, the GAC Mock Trial program expanded to two separate teams so that more of our high school students could experience the competition. We participated in twelve (12) total trials this season, a record for the school.

For the third year in a row, the Varsity Girls Basketball team has reached the state championship game.

The 2021-2022 Varsity Swim and Dive Team traveled to the State Championship meet at Georgia Tech.

Seniors Will Hardy and Addison Nichols decided to  continue their football careers and signed with the University of North Carolina and the University of Tennessee respectively. 

Varsity Volleyball head coach Coach Vanderpol's dedication to her team on and off the court earned her the honor of being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association 30 under 30 list. This award highlights Coach Vanderpol as one of the top coaches in the nation.

GAC wishes all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces a happy Veterans Day. We thank you and your families for your service to our country. If you are a football fan, you may have seen the Fox Sports “NFL Sunday” show broadcast from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) this past sunday. The show honored several midshipmen including GAC’s own Jessica Carothers, Class of 2019.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Rachel Vanderpol, the GAC Varsity Girls Volleyball team won their first state championship in program history. 

GAC Flag Football introduces 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys to the game of football. Coaches emphasize learning the key fundamentals to every player, while also having fun. 

GAC Seniors Marilee Karinshak and Molly Pritchard use their passions for soccer and education to make a difference in the lives of students in Africa.

As GAC opened its doors for the first time in 1968, Nilas and Ellen Manley took a step of faith and enrolled their two eldest daughters Debra and Cathy. In the years that followed, all eight Manley children joined the GAC family, with seven eventually graduating from GAC. Both Ellen and Nilas went to work as involved, dedicated parents, supportive of young GAC with their time, wisdom, resources, and energy. 

Last summer, Elise Karinkshak '19 was a Research Intern at the Stanford University Social Media Lab. The prestigious internship was part of a National Science Foundation-funded program at Stanford's Center for the Study of Language and Information. 

Autumn Clark, a student at Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC), is a gifted athlete who has worked tenaciously to develop her talents. More than a year ago, she suffered an injury which, sidelined her for a while — but not for long. She powered through her rehab and had returned stronger and more determined than ever. Peachtree Corners Magazine (PCM) connected with Autumn to discuss her athletic commitments, her recovery process and what she’s looking forward to in her bright future. 

"Let's teach children to celebrate their differences and to embrace the Imago Dei within each other. Let's free them from the burden of hate by showing them Christ's love." - Dr. Aaron Howard⁠

To be sure, Thomas Lowman has been especially good for Greater Atlanta Christian’s boys lacrosse team since being moved from his normal position on defense to the long stick midfielder position at the beginning of his sophomore season in 2019.

Please join us in congratulating the GAC Class of 2021 Valedictorian Darlene Nguyen and Salutatorian Parker Hallock.

The Spartans won the Class AAA state title, their fourth in the past six seasons, with 128 points to hold off Region 5-AAA rivals Westminster (116) and Sandy Creek (109). It was their second straight championship in AAA, winning in 2019 before the 2020 season was canceled.

Congratulations to the talented GAC Mock Trial Team for advancing to the state final rounds of the Georgia statewide competition for the first time in school history! 

GAC Senior Darlene Nguyen, of Duluth, was recently named a Georgia STAR student, a recognition program sponsored statewide by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, the Georgia Chamber, and the Georgia Department of Education.

The Spartans won the girls title at the Gwinnett County Track and Field Championships at Peachtree Ridge, giving their longtime coach his first Gwinnett County title. The Class AAA power finished with 86 points to hold off AAAAAAA teams Brookwood (75) and Peachtree Ridge (68). Buford (60.5) and Archer (58) also finished in the top five.

GAC is proud and inspired by so many women who make a big impact in this world. Here are just a few Spartan female role models who are living out their purpose and serving others. 

God. USA. Sports. These three things say a lot about fierce competitor and devoted follower of Christ, Ashley Van Ryn. While a GAC student, Ashley competed in volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. After graduating in 2004, Ashley attended the University of Central Florida on a softball scholarship. Remarkably, today Ashley is an accomplished member of the USA Women’s National Team for the sport of handball

After falling to Westminster in their previous two matchups, the GAC Varsity Girls Basketball team faced the No. 1 seeded Wildcats again in the Region 5-AAA Championship Game. With the Region Tournament being hosted in the Long Forum, the Spartans had home court advantage.

Every year our community looks forward to celebrating Black History Month with a special, student led Black History Month Chapel. The theme this year was "Take You To Church" and the event included worship led by the chapel band, dance performed by the GAC dance team, an interview between Director of Inclusion Charles Edwards and his godmother and a powerful message by Pastor, Gospel Artist, and former GAC Parent, Charles Jenkins.⁠

While most business owners faced great uncertainty and disruption when the pandemic hit in 2020, it’s all BrightStar Care franchisee Chris Jackson has known.

Chris opened his home health care agency in Greeley, Colorado shortly before COVID-19 hit the U.S., yet he has found a way to become one of the leading agencies in the network of BrightStar Care franchisees. He credits the team around him for being able to launch his agency and consistently build momentum throughout 2020.

It is more important than ever that we provide a safe space and dedicated time for our students to come together for their annual spiritual retreat. Our high school students met in fellowship and worship to celebrate and discuss their faith.

On February 5th, the GAC Varsity Boys and Girls swim teams competed in the AAA-A state championship meet at Georgia Tech. The GAC Girls finished in second place with 219 total points, while the GAC Boys finished in 2^nd place as well with 260.5 points. The GAC Boys finished in fourth place last season.

Congratulations to our outstanding Middle School students who participated in the American Mathematics Competition. The MAA’s American Mathematics Competitions (MAA AMC) program leads the nation in strengthening the mathematical capabilities of the next generation of problem-solvers. The competition had over 300,000 students participating annually from over 6,000 schools. ⁠⁠Led by Dr. Laura Markert, our Spartans had a strong showing.

The GAC Varsity Wrestling team advanced towards the Elite Eight of the Class AAA State Duals on January 23^rd. This team accomplishment was also met with an individual accolade as well as senior Tyler Garrett notched his 100^th varsity win during the competition. Tyler became only the 15^th Spartan in school history to achieve this feat.

Although this Christmas season on campus is unique, we want to continue to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus through the arts. We hope you enjoyed the GAC Virtual Christmas Card that was sent to all of our families.

The GAC community outdid themselves this year, rising to the challenge of providing canned food to the hungry in a bigger way than ever before. Already a community leader in the can collection, this year GAC collected a record 27,000 cans of food to contribute to the Salvation Army Can-A-Thon food drive.

The show must go on! GAC Dance Department joyfully presented the third annual Nutcracker performance recently, although modifications were in place to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Kudos to our GAC Middle School theatre ensemble, which recently performed “The Velveteen Rabbit” and was awarded Best Play in the Virtual Georgia Theatre Conference. This play, based on an award-winning book written by Margery Williams in 1922, tells the sweet story of a stuffed rabbit’s desire to become real through the love of its owner. Several of our middle school students received awards for their performances. 

The Nutcracker is a seasonal favorite and a GAC Christmas tradition. We were delighted to continue this tradition and enjoy our middle school and high school dance elective classes as they performed this joyful holiday classic ballet. Set to Tchaikovsky’s familiar and exciting score, The Nutcracker featured colorful and lively characters, beautiful dancing, and eye-catching costumes. New characters and costumes are introduced each year, and this year did not disappoint!

The GAC community has recently been delighted with outdoor concerts given by students within our Fine Arts community. Students and families alike have enjoyed and appreciated this creative solution while COVID-19 safety precautions are in place. These performances took place over the past week in the new GAC Park under twinkly lights and a gorgeous setting sun.

This week an unusual email with a video link was sent to Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Athletic Director and Football Coach, Tim Hardy. Standard protocol is to delete an email from an unknown sender and never click on an included link. But something prompted Coach Hardy to investigate more.  

GAC High School Theatre students performed “The Misanthrope,” Moliere’s classic comedy  about manners, for the community this past weekend. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School celebrated Homecoming on October 16th with an inaugural Homecoming Parade, football game, and half-time festivities. “Homecoming is an important part of school life and most traditions need re-tooling in 2020. The parade brought our full K2-12th student body enthusiastically together while being safely separated outside,” said GAC President Dr. Scott Harsh.

In celebration of World Teachers' Day we'd like to celebrate and honor all of the teachers who are inspiring and shaping young minds at GAC and beyond. The success of GAC students has always relied on our outstanding faculty, who are second to none around metro Atlanta. They are true heroes this year, and we are grateful for their hard work, determination, wisdom, and passion for their subjects and students.

We’ve got exciting news! GAC received an 89% AP pass rate for 2020, meaning that 89% of our students received a score of 3 or above on their AP exams from last spring. This exceeds the national average for the vast majority of AP classes.

The event provided the opportunity to commemorate lives lost to police brutality while making a vocal and united call for change...Hunter McIntosh ’23 stepped to the microphone, noting that the expansive crowd he saw before him demonstrated that this is a time of unity at Elon. He offered insights to members of the White community, explaining that there is a difference between sympathy and empathy. “Empathy is showing up, showing you care, showing you will be here for us as we struggle,” McIntosh said.

When Hans Brechbuhl, a senior at Texas A&M University and a member of the Corps of Cadets, learned about damage in East Texas and Louisiana caused by Hurricane Laura, he knew it was time to jump into action.

GAC alumni Chuck Efstration (Class of 2001) authored and helped to pass Georgia’s new Anti-Hate Crimes Act, which received national attention this year and was recently signed into law. Georgia previously had been one of four states without a hate crime law.

Classroom seating might be more spread out and look different these days, but the rigorous, intentional academic GAC experience remains the same. Spartans, we're so proud of the way you're moving through this transition with such positivity and courage.

Greater Atlanta Christian School is one of the first K-12 schools in the country to incorporate DTEN technology.

Across Metro Atlanta and the rest of the country, controversies and worries continue to build about whether schools should reopen for in-person learning in the fall, or continue with at-home, on-line learning

Greater Atlanta Christian School rising senior, Haotian (Bob) Yu, has been selected for the 2020 All-National Mixed Choir.  Bob entered GAC as an International home-stay student his freshman year and quickly gravitated to the offerings in the Fine Arts Department and onsite private music lessons. 

Synchronous Learning is the new initiative being implemented for the upcoming school year at Greater Atlanta Christian School, beginning August 10th. Smart cameras, directional microphones, and interactive white boards will enable “at-home” students to be more fully integrated into their normal schedule's real-time classroom, and with their teacher and classmates.

GAC has a legacy of growing leaders, and I’m excited to share several leadership advancements for the 2020-2021 school year. Each of these leaders will help take GAC forward in significant ways. 

May 8th had special meaning for the seniors from Greater Atlanta Christian School. It was their official last day of classes, and the administration wanted them to have a special memory-moment. One of GAC's end of year traditions includes a Senior Walk-through of the Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School and High School buildings, ending with a buffet of donuts.  A campus parade was a way to have that experience under social distancing provisions.

The ELC Prize Wagon has been on the move since school went to online learning at Greater Atlanta Christian School.  Every week, teacher Lisa Chase, the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) specialist, has used her car to deliver prizes to her K4-5th grade students spanning from Braselton to Alpharetta, Atlanta, Peachtree Corners, Norcross and nearly every edge of the 13 counties the school draws its students. 

Perhaps one of most difficult things to gauge with students is their mental well-being. Even without a worldwide medical crisis requiring schools to shut down suddenly, many factors can cause stress and anxiety in children. And having to look for those signs through a computer screen can make the challenge that much more difficult for school professionals.

It’s National Teacher Appreciation Week, and teachers from Greater Atlanta Christian School will receive virtual, hand-delivered, and mailed surprises throughout the week. Teachers and staff will be surprised daily with a special treat at their home, including blue-light blocking glasses, hand-decorated cookies, River Street Sweets bear-claws, hand “clappers,” student-created thank you videos, and special delivery appreciation yard signs.

Greater Atlanta Christian School’s student broadcast “Live @ 1575” made quite an impression with the Georgia Scholastic Press Association. They brought home the General Excellence Award and the “All-Georgia” award which honors the best overall Student Broadcast in the state. The Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) was founded in 1928 and is the official organization for high and middle school journalism programs. It serves to assist and encourage quality publications via instruction and contests.

During these days of virtual education, Greater Atlanta Christian School’s pre-school teachers brought some reality to their annual Fairy Tale Day.  GAC’s pre-school classes had a Saturday morning Zoom Fairy Tale story time complete with Frozen's Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle.  Afterwards K3 Teacher, Alicia Wood, made special deliveries of Fairy Tale goody bags, carefully assembled and safely presented to each of her students. 

Congratulations to Parker Hallock ’21 who was selected for Georgia's Governor's Honors Program in Communicative Arts. The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is highly selective with thousands of students competing for approximately 640 spots in eleven categories.

Through a dynamic screening and interview process, the Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and trains individuals with extraordinary leadership potential. Over 17,000 nominees are considered from 10 cities nationwide, with only 719 chosen. The Posse Foundation provides a full tuition leadership scholarship.

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Last week, the GAC seniors received a special delivery, via a unique delivery system: a GAC mini-bus.  With a ring of the doorbell, the surprise of a graduation yard sign and carefully wrapped package with the cap and gown appeared on doorsteps throughout the multiple counties represented by the 172 seniors. 

Congratulations! You and your children have almost completed the third week of online learning! As you know, it has been quite an adjustment to go from our traditional learning model to this uncharted digital territory. I am so proud of our accomplishments, and it is with this in mind that I want to share some insights and suggestions for continued success going forward. Digitally spending time with your kids every week, I have observed students expressing issues with focus, attention, and motivation. The following few suggestions will definitely help alleviate these issues.

The Coronovirus-19 pandemic is not something any of us wished or planned for, and its potential to disrupt our lives is already felt. As a community, we are pulling together to make the most of this time. Even so, things at home look, feel, and run a little differently. We’ve put together a few helpful tips for you to implement at home. Reply to this email and let us know which ones you are implementing and how they’ve worked for you. If you have pictures, share them with us on social with #GACfamilychallenge.

Congratulations to the entire cast of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and Director Kristy Winkes for three Shuler Award Nominations in the following categories: Overall Production; Direction - Kristy Winkes; ⁠and Lighting Design - Kristy Winkes and J.D. Cooper⁠. GAC also earned seven honorable mentions. ⠀

When a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic brings entire economics to a halt, what are businesses and organizations to do? For Greater Atlanta Christian School, this has meant pivoting to its robust online learning platform. Launched two years ago, GAC’s online Ethos School is now being adapted to support the current need for online learning for GAC’s 1600+ student body. Having this experience, GAC is well-positioned to give its students and faculty a competitive advantage: full digital learning capability. 

Our elementary school students win the prize for “cheerful” giving, that’s for sure. While working and playing and even fundraising, they enjoy themselves! Since 1982, GAC has raised money for the American Heart Association, led by GAC P.E. teacher Kristy Shelton. This year, students raised over $41K to fight our nation’s number one cause of death: heart disease.

GAC is proud to announce that fifth grader Ryan Pi's story won first place in the fifth grade division of Duke University’s Talent Identification Program Talent Search Writing Contest. With more than 900 students participating in the writing contest this year, this is an outstanding accomplishment. 

As a state champion and Harvard commit, GAC Senior Chloe Fair consistently proves that she’s a force of strength, talent, and perseverance. And one to watch and beat this upcoming track season. 

“Music embodies the words we can’t express. It comforts us during our deepest tragedies and fuels us during our greatest triumphs. More importantly, it unites us. Black History Month is not just for African Americans. The music you will hear today is woven into all of our lives” shared Simone Roberts, GAC’s Student Leader of Unity, who then proceeded to further describe the reason for the day’s special chapel assembly. 

GAC hosted 2,000 students and parents on Sunday from independent schools across metro Atlanta, as well as admissions representatives from 85 colleges and universities nationwide, for the 2020 Atlanta Invitational Case Studies Program (AICS). This was a unique opportunity to meet with college admissions officers to learn first-hand how they make decisions.

Imagine your child in an AP Human Human Geography course with students from China, Rwanda, and California. Imagine them having access to a wider variety of course options and the flexibility to pursue time-intensive passions, while remaining connected to a greater community of teachers and classmates. This type of global education is now a reality for many students through GAC’s online educational platform: Ethos School.

We welcomed education expert Dr. Tim Elmore to campus this week for our Parent Speaker Series event. Sponsored by our GAC Parent Association, this series is one of the ways that GAC helps parents raise their children well. And it’s safe to say that parents walked out of Dr. Elmore’s session feeling a little more confident than when they entered, especially when it comes to their Generation Z children.

GAC devised the Ethos School to address more than just the problem of student schedules. It also makes it feasible to offer advanced courses to small groups. At the same time, the program provides options for world-wide students with similar issues of scheduling or accessibility to take classes through GAC.

Ten GAC High School students traveled to Athens over the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend to participate in the prestigious JanFest, one of the oldest and largest high school band festivals in the Southeast. Hosted by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, JanFest welcomed 2,000 students onto campus for the 70th Annual January High School Band Festival. This four-day event is open only to invited musicians who represent the most accomplished among their high schools across the state of Georgia and the Southeast.

As we enter into the new year, we are thrilled to announce that GAC Seniors, Gabriel Uribe and Lizzie Joiner, have been named "20 Under 20" in Atlanta INtown and Reporter Newspapers, respectively. Both publications annually recognize youth in the area who make a difference in the community through volunteerism and philanthropy.

For the Christmas holiday season, the GAC School of Ballet gave many the gift of a beautiful performance. Not just to their parents, grandparents, friends, and classmates here at GAC. Middle School and High School dance elective students performed for Meadowcreek Elementary School, Village Park Senior Living Center, the Winship Cancer Center, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Egleston during the month of December.

GAC is thrilled to announce that Kaitlyn Williams, Trey Dixon, and Camille Hollier have been selected and featured as “20 Under 20” in Peachtree Corners Magazine’s December 2019/January 2020 edition. This honor celebrates Peachtree Corners students ages 19 and younger who have impacted the community in a significant way through leadership, and/or personal achievements.

After graduating from GAC, Jordan enrolled at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He commits to creating a positive impact in his community through his entrepreneurial ventures, and has since published several books as a college student.

Congratulations to our Middle School One Act play cast! "Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook" received third place at the Middle School Georgia Theatre Conference. This was an ensemble-driven play with a focus on collaboration.

Buckhead Art & Company occupies a large, bright showroom in the Shops Buckhead Atlanta. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors flood the space with light, illuminating bright white walls and cement floors covered in paint. A substantial array of works line the walls in a variety of styles from abstract to figurative, framing a set of plush couches in the center of the space. Behind a raw wood desk is a friendly face: owner Katie Jones.

Do you remember the wonder you felt as a child? When a cardboard box held endless possibilities and each star in the sky fired your imagination? We often associate wonder with childhood because it is a feeling of looking at something for the first time. Humans were created for wonder, and our teachers in our Village and Elementary School want students to experience it every day, particularly with their STEAM curriculum. 

September is National Literacy Month, and GAC has a great role model in its 18-year-veteran Media Specialist Ms. Bonnie Baker. A voracious reader, she read 42 books over the past summer alone and has read 5,000 of the 14,479 titles in the Liles Media Center to date. (She keeps a spreadsheet to track her progress). Ms. Baker has one piece of advice for students who want to know her secret: “Don’t have screens nearby!”

AAt a K-12 school, younger students often spend their days looking up to the older students, aspiring to be like them one day. So when 5th-grade Spartans were invited to a special “meet and greet” session with GAC’s best High School visual artists, they were delighted. Together as a class, the young artists toured the Art & Design Center, the building where the most serious and talented visual artists take classes.

GAC Varsity Baseball players had the chance of a lifetime this winter: to play baseball with kids from the D.R., getting to know them on their home turf. The D.R. is known for a few things, but its love of baseball cannot be surpassed. 

Middle school math classrooms here on the GAC campus look and feel differently than most classrooms around metro Atlanta. Instead of “sit and get” instruction, worksheets, and silent practice at their desks, GAC students are fortunate to have a completely different experience.

How are we preparing our students for life beyond the four walls of the classroom? That’s a question GAC educators ask themselves often. It’s also the reason why experiential learning is always the goal here. But some subjects lend themselves more easily to these opportunities than others. For example, how can our teachers connect an AP statistics class to the real world?

My philosophy and the reason that I coach is very relational. Which I know a lot of people say, but I take it really, really seriously in building relationships with these students. Because you have a handful of very talented athletes that will continue to play after high school, but on the other hand you have another set of athletes that when they’re done, they go to college, and you only have four years to hopefully make them a better person while you have them.

GAC Middle and High School kicked off the 2019-20 school year with a renewed sense of purpose during their Spiritual Retreats.

“In eighth grade, I don't know, something clicked. I started playing and really enjoying what I was doing. Then I started getting noticed by the coaches and I was realizing I was not a bad player. That really helped my confidence in football and I decided to stick with it.”

When you consider how to help the thousands of homeless individuals living in Gwinnett County, do you think of slime? Neither do we. But GAC’s Anna Hardy, an 8th grader at GAC this year, connected those dots last summer and raised $1,800 for others.

Bryant-Strother is an enticing mix of speed, strength and smarts. At The Opening, a national combine that uses four metrics for a cumulative score, he had the No. 1 ranking in Atlanta and was No. 13 in the country.

GAC sophomore Ivy Lee is headed to Carnegie Hall in New York City for the second time this year to perform. She recently placed 2nd in the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. That win comes with an invitation to play at the winners recital in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall on November 3. Ivy plays flute and piccolo in the GAC Symphonic Band and the GAC Marching Spartans.

GAC had a wonderful start to the school year this morning as faculty and students from pre-first to seniors gathered in the Long Forum for a time of worship, reflection, and celebration.

“Ali is the type of athlete that every coach needs in their program. She is a strong leader and captain and sets the tone for our gym by pushing each athlete to be the best they can be,” says Coach VanderPol.

How much farther would you be in your career if you had discovered what you wanted to do earlier in life? How would it have impacted your time in college? For GAC, these questions have led to the development of a unique opportunity, the Summer Fellowship Program, which provides students with real-world experience in an industry of their choice. Students gain valuable insight into careers under the guidance of mentors who are invested in their development.

Greater Atlanta Christian star Jasmine Jones, a two-time Daily Post athlete of the year, earned another major honor Thursday when the rising senior was named the Gatorade Georgia Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, as well as high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track. Jones is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, which is announced later this month.

As employers require more and more work experience from entry-level employees, where does that leave students who are fresh out of college and new to the workforce? GPAs and extracurriculars don’t carry the weight they once did, and students must consistently do more to get a leg up. To fill that gap and ensure that our graduates gain the valuable experience they need, GAC’s Community Relations and College Counseling teams have partnered together to create the GAC Summer Fellowship Program.

Hosting an international student forms one family out of two.

While school nurse Kristen Wilson was palming warm foreheads and administering inhalers to Elementary students, back at home there were two Crock-Pots slowcooking dinner for her family. The newest addition, Zhang '18, was an active six-foot teenager who ate like one.

This week, GAC hosted a national conference for its teachers and Ethos partner schools on Neuroeducation: Teaching Models Informed by Neuroscience. This conference featured Dr. Mariale Hardiman, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Education.

For the Little Laxers (1st -2nd grade), it’s a toss-up between their coaches: Varsity Girls Lacrosse players Annie Kilpatrick '19 and Kearston Dixon '21. The Elementary girls’ lacrosse program chooses two Varsity lacrosse players to coach the young team. By the end of the season, both athletes had helped coaches produce compassionate athletes ready for the next level, both on and off the field.

The Prefect System might sound like something straight out of a Harry Potter novel. In actuality, it’s GAC’s new leadership program comprised of student leaders from the senior class (selected during their junior year) who possess a high degree of commitment to the school’s values and ideals.

Wednesday was College Signing Day and everyone is excited for what the future holds for these students. But are they ready? That is the big question and the motivation behind why GAC invests considerable resources into developing the best AP Program in Atlanta. GAC is tied for the top Atlanta private school to have the highest AP pass rate at 84% in 26 AP courses. 

Chris Hinton '19 became the fifth Spartan honored with a place on the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl roster. (Since the writing of this article, his brother Myles '20 became the sixth to earn this honor.) The High School bowl game selects only 90 out of the 1.2 million football players in the nation. His Spartan predecessors have ventured out into the full scope of possibilities, including winning the 2019 NCAA College Football National Championship title to playing professional football.

Two recent Greater Atlanta Christian School alumni have been chosen to captain the U.S. Naval Academy football team for the 2019 season. Captains are elected by a team vote, and for the first time ever, 4 co-captains were chosen. GAC graduates Paul Carothers of Flowery Branch (Class of 2015) and Ford Higgins of Peachtree Corners (Class of 2016) are seniors at the Naval Academy and will lead the team side-by-side, just as they did while they were Spartans.

GAC Theater Director Kristy Winkes won a Shuler Award for Best Direction at the 2019 Shuler Hensley Awards. This award underscores Ms. Winkes’ incredible skill in directing GAC’s tour de force performance of Les Miserables. The 70-person cast included students from K-12, making it the largest to date.

Quantifying things is right up Elise Karinshak’s alley. In fact, you could say that she’s an expert at it. This senior earned a perfect score on her ACT, a 5 on her AP Calculus exam (one of many AP exams she’s aced), is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and was selected as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

It’s admissions season but it’s very unlikely that students are filling out their school applications, at least not to Admissions Director Mary Helen Bryant’s knowledge. But some students defy the norm. Enter senior Chandler Dula. As a fifth grader, Chandler had his sights set on GAC and so he did what any exceptionally driven, go-getter would do: he filled out his own application.

To get a top score on an AP exam — a 5 on the 5-point scale — is a significant achievement that often enables students to get college credit. To get a perfect score is a rare occurrence. Out of over 300,000 students around the world who took the AP Government exam last May, only 113 got every answer right. Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia boasts two of these students: Jack Hollier and Victoria Huynh.

The reminders on Jackson Willyerd’s wall at home aren’t something you would expect of a high school student. Most of them sound like the pep talk of a mature adult: “Don’t be afraid of work that has no end (loving, hunger, thirst, injustice).” “Will it matter in 5 days? 5 months? 5 years? 5 decades?” “Did you make someone else’s day better?”

An organization’s culture is not something that can be imposed or something that is born from a strategic plan. It comes from within and is as natural as breathing. For GAC, an innate part of its culture is the spiritual community that has defined it from the very beginning when a visionary group of men and women gathered together to pray over the undeveloped land. Today’s grassroots efforts among faculty, staff, and students to meet, pray, and meditate on God’s Word demonstrates that this commitment to spiritual community goes beyond Bible class and chapel.

Each year, GAC students have the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Greece to work alongside Hellenic Ministries, an organization that serves refugees in the area. For most, this is an incredibly meaningful experience. For senior Katie Williams, the trips she has taken to Greece since her freshman year inspired her to create an entire AP art portfolio based on the experience of the refugees she met.

Greater Atlanta Christian School picked up 8 Shuler Award nominations for its recent Les Misérables performance. This is a record number of nominations for the school with a rich tradition of excellence in theatre production.

GAC’s Concert Choir had the honor of being selected to perform "Lux Aeterna" with the New England Symphonic Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in New York City this year. Students were delighted to perform on the same stage that has hosted some of the best musicians in our country’s history. Students led by Dr. Marcus Miller put in many hours of practice to be “performance ready” for this special day.

We were so glad to have GAC graduates back “home” on campus for the day on Friday, March 22. Our Alumni Speaker Series event, hosted by the Alumni Relations Office, provides current GAC juniors and seniors with a unique opportunity to hear from fellow Spartans about life after graduation, college experiences, and their chosen careers.

Our JV Math and JV Academic Teams both finished as state runner-ups after competing against the largest schools in the state earlier this month. For the Academic Team, this was their third consecutive top-2 finish. Congratulations to team members Jane Lee, Andy Jiang, Derek Fan, Joel Lee, Rose Gambrell, Lynn Sim, Ivy Comery, Darlene Nguyen, Hanna Harmon, Rohan Makim, Thomas Witherspoon, Gia-An Maynard, Vincent Huynh, and Sophia Nguyen.

Senior Victoria Huynh and Teacher Mary Lynn Huett were recently honored at the Gwinnett County’s annual STAR Student and STAR Teacher recognition luncheon. This honor comes as a result of Victoria earning the highest score on the SAT and being in the top 10 percent of her class.

Children who love to read will many times begin writing stories and creating fantasy worlds at a young age. This was the case for GAC junior Navya Sarikonda. As a child, she was a voracious reader, which her father credits to the Accelerated Reading Program beginning in Lower School. Her father recalls her in the first few years of elementary school consuming books faster than she could check them out from the Henderson Media Center. 

Karen Cherry, 4th grade teacher, shares what gets her excited about applying STEAM to her classroom curriculum and why it's important.

Victoria Chyrack helped close out Black History Month in a big way. This senior felt motivated to organize GAC’s first ever I Have A Dream Chapel. From "Feeling Good" with the trombone back up, to a choral rendition of “It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day” to “September” by the GAC Band, the assembly was one of the most moving this year.

Mock Trial students know this to be true: you don’t leave this group unchanged. Through practice and preparation, students become more polished, confident, professional, and able to speak publicly. Whether they will go on to pursue a career in law or not, they are better for the time they spent on the Mock Trial team.

For Valentine’s Day, students at GAC wanted to reach beyond the walls of the school and show their love to the homeless in Atlanta.

Last Tuesday, in the high school chapel, the first annual Chinese New Year Celebration began featuring performances of traditional Chinese dance and song from our own International Students.

GAC students in Meredith Baker’s enrichment class have taken on a special project this semester. They have engaged with the Memory Project, a charitable nonprofit organization that invites art teachers, art students, and solo artists to help cultivate global kindness by creating portraits for children around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as violence, war, extreme poverty, neglect, and loss of parents. 

Did you know that students who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop an alcohol dependency? Perfectly timed with this weekend’s Super Bowl event, former NFL football players spoke to GAC high school students on Wednesday about this statistic, urging them to take a pledge of alcohol and drug abstinence.

When you ask a question, you never know where the answer will lead. That becomes very apparent in talking with the students in Derek Wilson’s Capstone course. Students in this rigorous post-AP class take on the most challenging course available at GAC, one that prepares them to think and work as college students. They are required to think creatively, going beyond summarizing research to finding their voice and making their own discoveries in the process.

Art teacher Tim Baker and Spanish teacher Mark Boyd both serve in the Georgia Army National Guard on active duty. At least once a year, both men are called to one of many different populations to protect and serve. “This allows me the opportunity to be with a group of guys who are grounded, they all serve,” said Sergeant Major (known at GAC as Mr. Baker.)

Puerto Ricans had already lived through the infrastructural stress left from Hurricane Irma mere weeks before Hurricane Maria struck with the strength to incapacitate the entire US territory. With the failing of the entire electrical grid, inoperable water systems, and the eradication of thousands of houses, the Category 5 Hurricane left almost none of the 3.3 million population unscathed in some way. As donations flood the island from all directions, the need for additional manpower must does the same.

Everyone could use a little inspiration. For the teachers and students at Meadowcreek Elementary School in Norcross, Georgia, sometimes that inspiration comes in the form of GAC Middle and High School students who take the bus across the street to serve in their classrooms. It’s neighbor helping neighbor, as both GAC and Meadowcreek students benefit from the partnership that has spanned many decades.

Time is something that is constantly on Savannah Mitchell’s mind. There’s the time she wakes up in the morning to make her 5:15 training practices; the time she needs to stay alert to do well in her AP courses; and the personal best times which she trains hard to beat. For this senior, you could say that time is everything, and something she never wastes.

The Christmas story is one many GAC students can recount by heart, but the musicians at last night’s Christmas at GAC performance told the story through scores and verse, weaving together the rich art of sound with scripture read by High School Principal Shane Woodward. 

GAC drama students presented The Sound of Music to a sold-out crowd last weekend! People of all ages came out in droves to see the beloved Rogers and Hammerstein musical that we all grew up singing. As the awards pile up and the word spreads about the prowess of GAC’s drama program, the shows have become more and more popular. 

The idea for Southern Commercial Roof Tech came to GAC alumni Thomas Vorpahl ('92) and Brandon Barron ('92) during a family vacation. Friends since the 6th grade, they put their plan into action in 2014, opening the doors to their roofing company in a low-rent warehouse with an unyielding commitment to success but zero employees. Since then, their company has been extremely blessed, and Vorpahl and Barron want to return the blessing. They recently gifted GAC with in-kind roofing services.

Ayden Wood, a 5th grade student at GAC, has been selected as one of the winners for the Georgia Music Educators Association Composition Contest. Students from across the state submitted musical compositions that were judged by a panel of esteemed music educators. Ayden is one of 16 students recognized and is the only winner in elementary school. 

Today, our GAC family celebrated Thanksgiving at our annual all-school chapel. Students in chapel classes and chapel band led the community in praise and worship, and student body president Chandler Dula offered an inspired message to all students. “One day you might know God as a protector. Another day, you might know Him as a provider or a comforter. We don’t serve a small God. He is a “big G” God and not a “little g” God,” he said. 

Wednesday marked one of the biggest days of their young lives for 10 Greater Atlanta Christian School student-athletes. Years of training and discipline have finally paid off for these seniors who have obtained scholarships to continue on as student-athletes at colleges and universities across the country. This showcase of talent, determination, and commitment is something to be expected at GAC. In just the last three years, GAC has seen over 60 student-athletes commit to playing at the collegiate level.

For GAC students, service is second nature (the class of 2018 alone volunteered nearly 20,000 hours during their high school years). Each year, GAC sends hundreds of students on over 20 mission trips. Many are during school breaks which the students give up in order to serve. But what drives these students to be Jesus’s hands and feet both locally and abroad?

Some of our recent GAC graduates are making their mark at Vanderbilt University.  Endowed with a love of learning and real-life skills from their time at GAC, these students see college as a welcome challenge that they are well prepared for. Says Molly Sullivan (class of 2018), “Every day, I’m thankful for the foundation that my education at GAC has laid for me and for the role that GAC played in my path to get to Vanderbilt.”

Senior Chris Hinton becomes the fourth Spartan Football player in the past five years honored with an invitation to play in the 2019 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. “Out of over 1 million high school football players, only 90 are selected to play in this game,” Head Coach Tim Hardy said.

Congratulations to the following students for being accepted into the Georgia Jazz Educators Association Jazz Bands for the 2018-2019 school year: Megan Ruder (bass), Ben McCarty, (trumpet), Aiden Mathers (tenor saxophone), Ike Ogueri (tenor saxophone), and Julian Fernandez (piano).

Fresh out of their GAC graduation gowns, class of 2018 graduates Ford Roberts and Kyle Ellis will don Ivy League football jerseys this Fall and play against each other in a Yale vs. Princeton matchup. The game will take place in the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, a picturesque New England autumn setting for two young men raised together in the backdrop of the South on the GAC campus for many years.

We rolled out the red carpet for hundreds of GAC grandparents today on our favorite day of the year—our annual Grandparents Day. Spartans of all ages toured classrooms with their grandparents, introducing them to friends and teachers. Grandparents and grandchildren together enjoyed performances including choir, band, orchestra, drama, and dancing ensembles.

The first performance of the school year, “The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank, ”proves to stun both GAC audiences and those at the Georgia Theater Conference. After selling over 450 tickets for the show at GAC, the cast won four awards for their moving performance of the show that tackles the stigmas of mental illness.

Fifth graders participated in “Kickin’ It With Kale” today in cooperation with Georgia Organics and October Farm-to-School Month. Students chopped fresh kale, tomatoes, garlic, and onions before preparing Sukuma Wiki, an east African dish served in Tanzania and Kenya.

GAC alum and former Bon Appetit restaurant editor is the host of high-stakes, global culinary competition, The Final Table.

Senior Gavin McDonnell was recently accepted into the prestigious All-National Choir of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He is one of only 12 students who successfully auditioned from the state of Georgia. Selection to the All-National choir is considered one of the finest achievements available to high school choral students in the US and Gavin has earned this honor for two years in a row.

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” - Socrates

At GAC, we understand that learning never ends. On top of the formal education and years of experience they bring to the table, our faculty are always hungry for more knowledge and training as the profession evolves. In fact, 76% of them hold an advanced degree. GAC offers the professional and financial support to make this possible for our teachers.

Katie Irwin, GAC Class of 2015, was honored as UGA's Amazing Student for this week and deservedly so! An exemplary student with an impressive resume even as a junior in college, she epitomizes the GAC student, one who is guided by faith, courageous in character, engaged in service, empowered by strengths, driven by passions, shaped by experiences, inspired by vision, motivated by mission, and committed to action. 

Senior Victoria Huynh was recently selected as a semifinalist for the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Competition. She is among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, which represents less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors.

In September of 2018, the home dugout on GAC’s baseball field was dedicated to the late Honorable James (Jim) Oxendine. Odendine’s family members and GAC leaders gathered together to officially name the dugout and honor a great man’s service. 

Gwinnett Daily Post

GAC's Christopher Hinton is a 2019 five-star defensive line recruit and a Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six selection. “Christopher is an unbelievable young man. He’s obviously gifted and a national recruit, but he’s even better as a person. He’s very mature, motivated, selfless but he also pours into his teammates, and he has a really bright future beyond the football field as well." 

Caroline titled the painting “Lunch on the Slopes”, and her hard work on this piece of artwork earned her a National Medal in the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Award, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. This year, nearly 350,000 works of art and writing were submitted. Less than 1% were recognized at the national level, and Caroline’s painting was among them.

On July 1, Dr. Scott Harsh will become GAC’s third president. While he will be new to this role, he is not new to GAC. He has served for the past 22 years as a math teacher, wrestling coach, Dean of Students, HS Principal, and VP of Academic Affairs at GAC. “The love and wholehearted commitment to GAC has become a blazing fire in his life,” said current GAC President Dr. David Fincher.

State championship titles seem to come in threes for the young women on GAC’s 4x100 Relay team. However, two team members have a one-of-a-kind bond: they’re sisters as well as competitors. In their 12 years at GAC, this is the first of goodbyes for these sisters. Jada now attends Harvard University on a track scholarship, while Jasmine remains at GAC to finish high school and her track career.

by David Friedlander from Gwinnett Daily Post

It’s not that Greater Atlanta Christian boys basketball coach David Eaton had low expectations for his team in the 2017-18 campaign.

As an on-air correspondent based at CNBC's Washington, D.C. bureau, Tausche focuses on the intersection of government and business. She joined CNBC in 2011 as a general assignment reporter covering corporate finance and deals for CNBC's Business Day programming, including reporting on a wide range of high-profile stories for the network like the Facebook initial public offering, the Occupy Wall Street movement and the News Corp. phone hacking.

Congratulations to the GHSA Region 3AAA runner-up Literary Team. Region winning subject areas include personal essay, argumentative essay, boys quartet, and boys solo.

Bri Emery '04 is a Los Angeles based graphic designer and art director and the founder of designlovefest, a lifestyle blog with an eye for design in style, DIY, food, travel, entertaining and more. This alumni is on fire.

“Ivy League isn’t for everyone, but for those guys, it absolutely is. They’ve positioned themselves — through hard work, through dedication to their craft and academics — to have those opportunities. Those aren’t easy opportunities to have. So we love saying those are our guys, but, man, they’ve earned it for themselves.”

Greater Atlanta Christian grad and Buford native Cindy Brogdon was announced Thursday as a member of the Southeastern Conference 2018 Class of Women’s Legends.

A video of Drew Curd '10 receiving a thoughtful Christmas present from his girlfriend goes viral.

For three years in a foreign country, a young alumna serves as a church planter and uses art as a ministry tool to reach the unreached.

“My mom has taught me and my brothers to be more than that — to not identify yourself as your profession,” Brogdon, 24, said to an audience of Morehouse students and faculty recently. “It’s more so what type of person you are, what type of character you have and how you treat your fellow man.”