Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy :: Support CHCA :: What our alumni are saying...

What our alumni are saying...

Stories of inspiration and gratitude
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It's one thing for us to tell you about the value of a CHCA education, but it's another thing to hear it straight from those who know it best: our alumni.  Read on to see what our graduates have to say about the CHCA experience.
 


CHCA has meant so much more to me than I could have ever imagined. I know it sounds cliché, but CHCA really has prepared me so much for college. Here at Hillsdale, while most of the students are freaking out about more complex papers where you look into a more deep theme or motif rather than just summarizing or spitting back information, I feel relaxed and ready. My education at CHCA has also helped me test out of classes I don't have to take so I can start ahead of the game. On the more sentimental side, CHCA was my home. The kind teachers and students that CHCA attracts are the type of people you want to surround yourself with, and make lifelong friends with. I still talk to my two best friends from CHCA, both football players, multiple times a week and will never lose touch with them. The type of friendships CHCA kindles are friendships that will last a lifetime. CHCA was and will always be my home.
— Nick Taylor ’12

As I think through my 13 years at CHCA, I realize how much my heart and my passions were shaped by the compassionate, brilliant teachers I was blessed to have. I learned grace and sensitivity from Mrs. Kloster (1st grade); Ms. Barron's AP English class almost single-handedly prepared me for the rigors of Wheaton College; Mrs. Metzger (AP European History) awakened in me a life-long interest in social science and cultivated my critical thinking skills; Karen Hordinski's courageous service refined my understanding of God's heart for the poor; Dr. Nick's willingness to walk with me as I confronted deep theological questions enabled me to seek God in freedom and truth. With a grateful heart, I attribute much of who I am—how I think, pray, and live—to the guidance I received at CHCA.
— Emily Cool Greener ’02
Looking back I truly believe that CHCA is successful in its goal to graduate students with life goals of serving their communities, continuing a love for learning and passionately seeking God.
— Jackie (Dobbins) Mason ’01

I would have to say that taking Heritage Studies, taught by Michelle Barron and Holly Metzger, was probably one of the best decisions I ever made while attending CHCA. The course was like no other I had taken up to that point. The fusion of literature and history into one class coupled with a collaborative learning environment was a cool concept, and it required a lot of work.  But Ms. Barron and Mrs. Metzger were always willing to help you, whether it was calling them at night to answer a question for a paper or meeting with them during lunch to discuss a midterm. They put in so much time to ensure not only that I was learning the material, but also that they were teaching it effectively. This course prepared me for the workload I would take on at Dartmouth, and as a result I felt very comfortable transitioning to the college academic environment. Because of Ms. Barron and Mrs. Metzger I wasn’t afraid to ask questions, I found that asking questions provided the clarity needed to excel in the classroom and in life.
— Chris Collado ’04
There's little doubt that CHCA is a remarkable school, but I think what sets it apart is its culture of generosity and service.  Those connected to CHCA - faculty, staff, families, volunteers - model giving to others as an essential virtue.  The example they set has an impact on our community and on this former student.  I believe serving others should be a priority, and I'm thankful for the standards instilled in me by this great school.
— John Ashbrook ’99
CHCA was one of the first platforms for me to do ministry, get involved and preach, and those opportunities prepared me for the church leadership roles I have now.  The mentoring I received had a big impact - the way teachers taught us about Christianity was not indoctrination, but rather an invitation to explore faith and find out how it relates to our lives.
— Paul Booth ’00
CHCA offers so many amazing opportunities - from SOS service groups to exotic Winter Terms to the excellent sports and fine arts programs. It not only provided me with a strong academic and spiritual foundation but also helped shape me into a well-rounded individual committed to serving in my community and living up to my full potential. I felt extremely prepared for college and more importantly, for the next phase of my life.
— Katie Fuller ’08

I would not be where I am today were it not for CHCA. Not only did I come to faith in Christ at CHCA, but I was attending CHCA when I first developed a real interest in Scripture as a field of study. I started studying Hebrew during my junior year with Dr. Nicholas, and it was at that moment when the Old Testament came alive to me. I was sitting in Hebrew class when I first thought, ‘This is what I want to do when I grow up.’ The teachers at CHCA molded me as I began my walk of faith, and Dr. Nicholas set me on the path to be a lifelong student of Scripture.
— Jon Beck ’03
CHCA had a tremendous impact on my success in college.  I felt extremely comfortable in the college atmosphere because I had already been confronted with strong academic demands in high school. This helped me not only to adjust quickly to the independence and accountability of college life but also gave me the confidence to be successful in the classroom.
— Collin Richardson ’02

CHCA prepared me academically and spiritually, teaching me time management, to always strive to do my best, and to put God first in everything I do. The best part of CHCA? The relationships you build along the way. I attended CHCA K-12 and have maintained so many close relationships with both teachers and students. The smaller, close-knit Christian environment allows students to grow and build lasting friendships.
— Natalie Leonard ’07

CHCA set me up for success, particularly in my major, which was English. I had always loved literature and writing, and great teachers like Jennifer (Montani) Shock and Michelle Barron helped me develop the skills I needed to hit the ground running in my college courses. Because I took so many of the AP classes offered by CHCA, I was already doing college-level work by the time I got to Cornell. My teachers really built into me both inside the classroom and out -- relationships were about more than schoolwork.
— Cameron (Cooper) Psiaki ’02

CHCA offers a unique blend of educational challenges, a collegial and collaborative learning environment, and a vibrant student body that is second to none. Those characteristics of CHCA served as the foundation for my educational journey that led me to Furman University and culminated with my graduation from Vanderbilt Law School.

As a new attorney in the Washington, D.C. area, I attribute a lot of my success to the academic, social and spiritual disciplines taught and modeled at CHCA. Those early years afforded me numerous opportunities to participate in sports, the arts, and outreach. Each of those experiences ultimately helped me discover my passion for the law and advocacy. Therefore, my message to future CHCA alumni is simple: work hard, trust in God, and remember where your journey began.
— Nathaniel Sizemore ’04

I transferred to CHCA because I wanted a more well-rounded high school experience. Little did I know I was about to make a change that would last a lifetime. I am still great friends with many of my mentors and was able to work with them as a teacher in 2007-2008. I have friends from my years as a student that will always be in my life. There is so much love and positivity at CHCA, and I was able to explore many dimensions as a student, athlete and Christian. I am so thankful for the 'watering' CHCA did for me that allowed me to grow. It is a place I will never forget and always want to come back to. It is a place I am blessed to always call home.
— Karen Hewitt ’00

It could have been when I was up to my elbows in paint at an orphanage in Tennessee, or scrubbing toilets at a mission in New York City, or when I was hammering together the walls of a Habitat for Humanity house, but somewhere along the way I learned the gift of hard work. Every time I went to do something for someone else, God used it to do something for me. At CHCA I learned important life lessons through community service: humility, leadership, compassion, grace.
— Casey (Sutherly) Purnhagen ’00
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