Senior Leadership
I am inspired by the faith, courage, and reverence for God by Christian educators around the world! It reminds me of the story recounted in I Samuel 17 about David defeating Goliath. In verse 29, David’s response to the inaction of his
elder brothers and the Israelites especially encourages me. He boldly and nobly answers the call to action by asking, "Is there not a cause?”
I can think of no greater cause than to partner with you as you advance Kingdom education. We fully believe that authentic devotion to the Christian faith and academic excellence are mutually reinforcing. There are not two or three forms of excellence, but rather an ethos that is cultivated throughout every facet of our schools. Faith is not separated from learning but rather integrated intentionally, resulting in a distinctive Christian worldview.
Scholarship and learning become an integral component to the maturation process known as discipleship. Thus, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, the ultimate objective of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20), is the prize for which we strive; it is the highest form of excellence! It is certainly conceivable that we could produce students with the spiritual depth needed to enter our pluralistic society and not fall prey to empty philosophies. Rather, they would be equipped to saturate the marketplace to which God has called them with confidence, purpose, and an eternal perspective.
ACSI’s ongoing mission is to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We want to serve you as you continue to cultivate and sustain a flourishing school. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you—thank you for your obedience to God’s call on your life—you are indeed making a difference.
Dr. Larry Taylor, President & CEO, ACSI
larry_taylor@acsi.org
719-867-0200
ACSI Senior Leadership
Dr. David Balik
Vice President of USA
Dr. Gavin Brettenny
Chief Strategy Officer
Kevin Buelke
Chief Finance Officer
Cindy Dodds
Chief of Flourishing Initiatives
Michael Epp
Senior Vice President of Global
Brett Henry, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Sevenstar
Vice President, Educational Resources
John Klingstedt
Chief Operating Officer
Christi Lynn
Vice President, Communications & Engagement
Chris Loncar
Vice President, Human Resources
Jerry Nelson
Chief Ministry Officer
Philip Scott, J.D.
Vice President for Legal Affairs
P. George Tryfiates
Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs
Susan Verheul
Vice President, Executive Initiatives
Dr. Cecil Swetland
Vice President for Development
News and Press Releases
Students from Christian Schools Across the U.S. Converge at Grand Canyon University to Compete in ACSI International Christian STEM Competition
Phoenix, Ariz., April 18, 2023 –Students from ACSI Member schools across 11 states will converge in Phoenix, Ariz., Saturday, April 22, for the highly anticipated Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) International Christian STEM Competition, taking place at Grand Canyon University (GCU).
The competition, which will allow more than 160 Christian students in grades 7-12 to compete in eight different STEM challenges, is made possible through a partnership between ACSI and GCU.
ACSI Director of Student Services Emily Pigott believes this offering is extremely relevant and timely for today’s students.
“We are thrilled to provide our member school students with the opportunity to participate in this competition,” she shared. “The Divisional and International Christian STEM Competitions allow students to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math through a biblical worldview perspective.”
The International Christian STEM Competition is preceded by seven Divisional Competitions. Divisional Competition winners will compete in eight challenges at GCU, including Aerospace Glider, Rehabilitation Challenge: Biomedical Engineering, Capture the Flag (Cybersecurity), Deep Racer Challenge (AI/Machine Learning), Innovation in Service, Onsite Design Challenge, Robotics Thunder Lunch, and Software Development.
Corinne Araza, Director of K12 STEM Outreach, a division of the K12 Educational Development at GCU, looks forward to hosting the competition.
“We believe that enabling students to pursue their passions and to really explore the unique ways God has gifted them is important,” she shared. “Last year’s competition inspired us to expand the challenge options. We have seen great interest and increased participation from schools across the U.S.’”
In fact, in the 2022-23 school year, 32 schools participated in the Divisional Competitions with an estimated 332 participating students—nearly double the number of participants from 2021-22.
“We also received interest from 16 potential host sites and numerous schools ready to join the competition next year, so we anticipate further expansion,” Pigott said. “We are eager to witness students from around the world improve and develop their STEM abilities.”
Gary Shoup, STEAM Teacher at Stoneybrooke Christian School, accompanied his qualifying students to the International Christian STEM Competition last year.
“The ACSI STEM Competitions, Divisional and ICSC, were a HUGE success!” he shared. “Students were engaged, excited, and challenged. Learning and spiritual growth were evident everywhere. The events were amazing—creative, well-designed, and varied for all types of interests and abilities. We look forward to attending next year!”
To learn more about the ACSI International Christian STEM Competition, visit the website or contact ACSI Care Team by calling (800) 367-0798 or emailing careteam@acsi.org. To learn more about GCU, visit the website.
About ACSI:
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools through multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. ACSI supports more than 5,000 member schools throughout the United States and around the world, which collectively serve approximately 1.2 million students. Through additional training programs, materials, and expertise provided to other educational groups worldwide, ACSI’s overall influence and positive impact reaches more than 26,000 schools operating in 100 countries, together serving 5.5 million people.
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About Grand Canyon University:
Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. The university offers 318 academic programs, including 260+ online academic programs. With more than 200,000 alumni, Grand Canyon University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The college is growing rapidly with plans for continued expansion. Learn more on the website.
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