Thirty-Ninth Year | Volume 21 | 2018 DEFYING THE ODDS CA BASEBALL BRINGS HOME THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP REMEMBERING BILL THRASHER 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT THEME VERSE FOR 2018-2019 “YOU WILL SEEK ME AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FIND ME WHEN YOU Phillip Young, Chairman Seth Lasater, Vice-Chairman SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR Tim Garrison, Secretary Jacob Love, Treasurer HEART. - JEREMIAH 29:13 ” Vickie Cofer David Heffington Adrienne Law David Morris Columbia Academy’s mission statement says: Columbia Academy is committed to serving its students Joel Oswalt so they master skills, knowledge, and character appropriate for them and their future while becoming Christ Warren Robinson Dr. Cason Shirley like in attitude and behavior. Alan Thomason This statement guides everything we do at Columbia Academy. Our board, administration and PRESIDENT staff are acutely focused on fulfilling this critical mission. Each decision we make should help it Dr. James A. Thomas be further accomplished. Looking at the statement makes me thankful that 40 years ago, God worked to provide a place like Columbia Academy that strives to achieve these important goals. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Andrew Williams In this issue of the Communicator you will see many of the exciting events and activities over the past year, not the least of which is our first team state championship in over 20 years! Our VICE-PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT baseball team’s record-breaking year ended in a record-breaking, truly amazing championship Lisa Bennett game. I know that athletics, win or lose, helps us to accomplish our mission. LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL You will also read about the academic programs and successes that our outstanding faculty are COLUMBIA CAMPUS implementing on a daily basis. Columbia Academy graduates are excelling across the board Trent Hill and across the country at colleges, universities, and graduate schools. Our mission is being accomplished when we prepare students for the challenges and opportunities they will meet in PRINCIPAL their future academic pursuits, careers and lives. SPRING HILL CAMPUS Nathan Hixson Finally, it is hard to measure the spiritual impact that Columbia Academy has on its students and UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL the Lord’s Kingdom, but we are blessed to see it demonstrated daily. We see students learning Jon Bennett and growing in their faith, and choosing to follow Christ in their lives. The board, staff and administration work very hard to provide the ideal climate and culture for spiritual growth, EDITORIAL TEAM focused on a love for Christ and for our students. Emily Lansdell — Editor Bramblett Group — Art Direction/Design Our Heavenly Father has poured out His blessings on this school over these 40 years, and we are On the Cover: The Columbia Academy Baseball team excited about the future in His service. Thank you for being a part of Columbia Academy. celebrates a 2018 State Championship victory vs. the Loretto Mustangs. The Columbia Academy Communicator is published annually by Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia, Tennessee 38401 for the parents, friends, supporters and alumni of Columbia Academy. Editorial inquiries can be made to Emily Lansdell ([email protected]). Dr. James A. Thomas, President 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 New Annual Traditions 4 5 CA Welcomes New Board Members 6 Class Of 2018 Achievements 8 CA Fine Arts Update 9 9 Spring Hill Campus Update 10 CA Students Shine Bright 12 CA Baseball Wins State Championship 14 2017-2018 Bulldog Athletics 12 19 Annual Giving Report 2017-2018 27 Alumni Updates 31 New Employees at CA 32 School Year Memories 32 34 Appreciation for Faculty and Staff 35 In Memoriam: Bill Thrasher 3 NEW ANNUAL Traditions FIRST CMA DAY BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE Although the history of both CMA (Columbia Military Academy) and CA have always been woven tightly together, a new chapter began during the Fall of 2017 with CMA Day on October 13. On this day, CMA alumni were invited back to campus to share personal stories about their time at CMA and SERVICE connect with our current students. Alumni spoke in Upper School chapel, toured campus with faculty and students, and spent time with BEFORE SELF: students during their lunch period. At the conclusion of the day, many more alumni gathered for a special presentation of a memorial created from bricks salvaged from Moore Hall, a former residence hall that was NEW SERVICE DAYS razed in 2015. They were also honored at the home football game later that evening. EXPAND OUTREACH Service to others has always been a foundational piece of the “Unveiling the Moore Hall Memorial was very special,” said Robin Columbia Academy experience and is central to the school mission. Salze, President of the CMA Alumni Association. “Our entire group was From elementary to high school, students are provided countless very pleased with another piece of CMA History remembered on our opportunities to give back to those in need in the local community and campus. The hospitality CA extends to the CMA Alumni is an example beyond through donations, service work and encouragement. of the thoughtfulness and respect they have for our CMA history.” In addition to a service day each year during Spiritual Emphasis Week Moore Hall was the only building on the CMA campus that served at the Upper School, a second service day was added over the past few as a residence for cadets during all the years that CMA was open as a years to coincide with Upper School Field Day. In 2018, this spring school (1904-1979). The building was actually built as part of the original Service Day was expanded to be a full day of opportunities, which Columbia Arsenal in 1892. Many of the alumni that visited on CMA Day allowed students to do even more than in years past. lived in Moore Hall, some from a very young age. Students spread out all “This day far exceeded my expectations in every way,” Salze said. “The over the Columbia area to highlight was the interaction with the students. I have told everyone bring cheer and a helping I talked with about these kids. It gives us hope for our future with the hand. From work to assist attitude and interest they have in their history and future. So many of our own maintenance them came up and personally thanked us for being there and sharing our and grounds crew on stories with them.” campus, to visiting elderly in area senior homes, to cleaning up city streets in neglected areas of town, to spending time with special needs students at the King’s Daughters’ School, and many more assignments both on and off campus, more than 400 students worked to bring smiles to those in our community. “This year we will expand to three service days, and we want our Spiritual Emphasis Week to do more with the entire school,” said Ben Diles, Director of Spiritual Development. “All three schools (Lower, Upper & Spring Hill) will worship together followed by our high school students leading small group discussions and lessons with elementary students. The day will finish with our Upper School students getting out in the community to do service work.” 4 COLUMBIA ACADEMY MR. AND MISS WELCOMES TWO NEW COLUMBIA ACADEMY BOARD MEMBERS This year, we are proud to welcome two new board members that are now part of the school’s governing body. We welcome Dr. Cason Shirley and David Morris to these important roles at Columbia Academy. In 2018-2019, Board Chairman Phillip Young II, David Heffington and Joel Oswalt will retire from the Board. We are grateful to them for their combined 21 years of dedicated service - thank you! W. Cason Shirley, MD is an orthopedic surgeon with Mid- Tennessee Bone and Joint in Columbia. He earned his MD from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2008, completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the Campbell Clinic in 2013, and was AAOS Board Certified in 2015. He graduated with a B.S. from Lipscomb University in 2004. He was named a Fellow of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons in 2015. Shirley regularly volunteers his time assisting with medical coverage at Columbia Academy and Mt. Pleasant High School football games. He is also involved with Young Life in Columbia along with his wife Randi. Together they are very supportive of Columbia Academy and have four children enrolled at CA - Parker, Reese, Ryan and Mayer. “I am excited for the opportunity to assist in furthering the mission At the conclusion of each school year, the Columbia Academy of Columbia Academy,” said Shirley. “I can’t wait to see how Columbia Upper School faculty selects two students who best exemplify Academy continues to impact our students and community in a character and attributes consistent with the Columbia Academy positive way.” mission as Mr. and Miss Columbia Academy. David Morris brings his Mr. CA is Dalton Bennett, son of Jon and Lisa Bennett. He experience in Bible education attended Columbia Academy for 10 years and graduated Summa and ministry to this leadership Cum Laude. Dalton was involved in many organizations and role. He currently serves as the activities including Student Council, Best Buddies, Pep Club, pulpit minister at the Highland Science Club, Student Ambassadors and City of Children mission Church of Christ in Columbia trips. He served as Student Body Secretary and a Boys’ Chapel where he has been for 13 years. leader. He was on the Bulldog middle school football, baseball He holds a Bachelor’s degree and basketball teams and went on to join the Varsity bowling team from Lipscomb University, a and played all four years on the Varsity football team. He served Master of Counseling Psychology as Football Captain his senior year and earned many honors - from Trevecca University, a Daniel Thomas Football Award, Bear Bryant Football Award, Master of Theological Studies All-Region (2 years), All Mid-State Pre-Season (1 year), and he was from Lipscomb University, and a selected to play in the Tennessee East/West All-Star Game his Master of Arts in New Testament senior year.