Dr. Mark Benton: Jackson Christian's Eighth President Mr. Holtin
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2014 /// jcseagles.org COACH COOPER’S SECOND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS HOME + Dr. Mark Benton: Jackson Christian’s Eighth President Farewell to Mr. Holtin / / / FROM THE PRESIDENT Dr. Mark Benton “. EVERYTHING WE DO HAS TO BE DONE IN EXCELLENCE AND IN A WAY THAT GLORIFIES HIM.” According to the latest research, in 2013 United As a component of leading students to love God, everything we do has to be done States corporations spent more than $62 billion on in excellence and in a way that glorifies Him. That is true in academics, fine arts leadership training. As the business world sees the and sports. Ultimately, Jackson Christian strives to equip students with a Christ-like need for developing leaders, so do our faculty and leadership, so that that they may influence their churches, their communities and staff at Jackson Christian. While Learn to Lead is the this world for Jesus Christ. tagline and focal point that we’ve focused on for a year, the school’s commitment to the principle has As I visit with alumni, it is obvious they have embraced the biblical role of being spanned decades. Our faculty and staff are leading His hands and feet in the community that God has placed them within. We are and loving students today because of the vision of the grateful to the parents and faculty/staff who worked through Jackson Christian to seven former presidents and past and current board help their children learn to lead. members. An institution like Jackson Christian is not built by man; it is built by God, using multiple people In Psalms 120-134, the writer is recording songs that were sung as the Israelites under His direction. were ascending to Jerusalem. These Psalms take the reader through the journey of praise to God for His goodness and faithfulness to Israel throughout history. I am humbled and honored to have been asked to lead As Psalm 121:5 reminds us, “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands Jackson Christian for a season. Our mission is to lead beside you as your protective shade.” God is going to continue to lead Jackson students to love God by providing them educational Christian. We praise God for what he has done in the past and we look forward and co-curricular activities that are centered upon with great anticipation to what he will accomplish in the future. Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important than locking arms with families and helping them lead their children to love God. I am committed to making that our primary focus. LEADER /// 2014 CONTENTS The Leader: the Magazine of Jackson Christian /// 2014 Jackson Christian School’s mission is to lead students to love God by providing a quality, values-oriented education in a Christian environment. Board of Trustees Jason Rudd, Chairman Rusty Butcher, Vice Chairman Dr. Chris Lewis, Immediate Past Chairman Monte Jones, Treasurer Raybo Dunn, Secretary Jeff Blankenship, Ashley Chandler, Bobby Coffman, Mary Lou Gatgens, Gary Martin, Dr. Jim Payne, Dr. Cindi Swaim, Brad Winsett President Dr. Mark Benton Director of Academics Lisa Hickerson Secondary Dean of Students and Director of Athletics Scott Gatlin Director of Elementary 4 Dr. Mark S. Benton 20 2014-15 Additions Linda Bradford Selected to Lead as Jackson Director of Preschool Christian’s Eighth President 22 Around Campus Martha McDonald 6 Senior Highlights 24 Preschool Director of Advancement 8 Eagle Awards 25 Elementary Chris Ramey 9 Academic Data 26 Middle School Editor 10 Graduation 27 Farewell to Mr. Holtin Tamie Sorrell Creative 12 Awards Day 28 Fine Arts Ashleigh Lindsey, Jason Bramblett 13 Technology 30 Mission Trip - A New Perspective Bramblett Group 14 Eagle Spirit 32 Alumni Spotlight Contributing Writers 16 Coach Cooper’s Second 34 Donors, Honorariums & Jackson Christian Staff State Championship Heads Home Memorials Dawn Bramblett, Bramblett Group /// D R. MARK S. Benton Selected to Lead as Jackson Christian’s Eighth President Selected to lead Jackson Christian as its eighth president, Dr. Mark and equipping teachers and students. He worked directly with Benton is known for his spiritually focused, reflective spirit. He and department heads to vertically align math, science, reading and Melody, who have been married for 28 years, have shared a path social studies curriculum. Increasing ACT performances was that has been filled with Christian education and mission work. another task he tackled, and scores increased — English 23.4 In addition to serving as director of academics and missions at (2008-09) to 25.7 (2013-14), Math 22.4 (2008-09) to 24.4 (2013- Jackson Christian for the past five years, Benton was headmaster 14), Science 21.9 (2008-09) to 24.4 (2013-14) and Composite at Harding Academy in Searcy, Ark. during ten of 22 years there and 22.9 (2008-09) to 24.3 (2013-14). Additionally, Benton guided was assistant camp director for seven years at Camp Tahkodah. the school through initial accreditation process with the NCSA and re-accreditation with AdvancED. As mission work is close to The Bentons are passionate about leading young people his heart, he implemented an international spring break mission to Christ, as well as East Africa Missions. They have three program that has taken students to Nicaragua, Argentina and Kenya. children. Their daughter, Kayla, and her husband, Natt Juneau live in Spartanburg, SC. Their son, Tate, is a student coach at Benton is committed to helping young men become the men Mississippi State University, and their daughter, Macy, and her that God designed them to be; he has taught senior boys’ Bible husband, Dillon Coplin, are students at Harding University. classes at Harding Academy and Jackson Christian for 18 years. He and Melody have performed pre-marital counseling for more Benton received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and than 40 couples, and their desire to assist families in rearing superintendent endorsement from Harding University. He received children is evident through work with family-focused retreats his doctorate in educational leadership in 2008. During his first and more. Active in the church all of his life, Benton has taught five years at Jackson Christian, he assisted in the implementation Bible classes for more than 30 years and has served as a deacon. of the DLI (digital learning initiative), which included training LEADER /// 2014 When asked to share his thoughts about Jackson Christian, Benton said: I believe this is a remarkable institution that has produced incredible servants “in God’s kingdom. The school has a tremendous foundation of dedicated educators who desire to be on the cutting edge of instructional methodology. I am so honored to work with faculty members who are daily seeking ways to transform the pedagogy of teaching to resonate with this generation. We owe a debt of gratitude to the numerous families who have sacrificially given to provide the physical plant and financial strength that many private schools only dream of having. “ /// 5 ///SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS Tyler Allen plans to attend 2014 graduates who have attended Jackson Mississippi State University and pursue a career in engineering. Christian since preschool or kindergarten Tyler Diamond will study Cedric Hampton will attend accounting at the University of the University of Memphis and Tennessee at Martin. study psychology. Bethany Enochs plans to attend Union University and pursue a career as a physical Brenna Castleberry plans therapist. to study business at Harding A.J. Bacigalupo will attend University. Alex Forderhase will pursue Mississippi State University and a career in pharmacy at Union study law. Megan Clanin will pursue a University. career in pharmacy at Harding Caroline Beach plans to University. pursue a career in nursing at Matthew Harlan plans to the University of Tennessee at Eden Clouse will be continuing study animal science at either Knoxville. her education at Freed-Hardeman the University of Tennessee at University. Knoxville or Mississippi State Megan Bentley will study art at University. Harding University. Megan Cross will study at the Paul Mitchell Hair School in Logan Helton will study Noah Berry will attend Memphis. environmental management at the Tennessee College of Applied University of Tennessee at Martin. Technology and study machine shop/tool and die. Talia Friesen plans to study Hailey Hickerson plans to dietetics at the University of attend Harding University and Michael Birmingham plans to Memphis Lambuth campus. pursue a career in pharmacy. study finance at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Will Galey will continue his Brandi Hudgens plans to education at Freed-Hardeman pursue a career in nursing at Brock Blakemore will attend University. Jackson State Community College the University of Tennessee at or the University of Memphis. Martin and study agricultural Hayden Crowe plans to attend Walker Gorman plans to business. Butler Community College on a attend the University of Mississippi Megan Hyde will continue her baseball scholarship. and study business education at Freed-Hardeman Jacob Brady plans to continue University. his education at Jackson State Ben Davenport will attend the Community College. University of Tennessee at Martin Killian Jackson will study art at to study engineering. Murray State University. Audrie Campbell will study oncology research at Union Brennon Day will pursue a Moriah Jones will pursue a University. career in sports management at career in pediatric pharmacy at West Liberty University. Union University. Cory Cantrell plans to pursue a career in physical therapy at Morgan Diamond plans to Tanner Halliburton will Diane Kahler plans to study the University of Tennessee at study nursing at the University of pursue a career in pharmacy at engineering at Union University. Chattanooga. Tennessee at Martin. Union University. LEADER /// 2014 Alex Key will attend Harding Ethan Nash will study history Ian Scott will study music at University and study video editing.