The Friday Finish – May 24, 2024
Senior College Assistance Approaches $1 million
Seniors and their families gathered for a special evening of scholarship presentations and awards. Faculty and college representatives recognized each senior scholarship recipient by name and an award certificate. Tuition waivers and scholarships collectively totaled almost $995,000.
After dinner provided by The Cardinal Café, seniors were called forward to receive school recognitions - Honor Roll, Principal’s List, Good Attendance and Excellent Attendance. Honor cords were presented to Honor Graduates (3.0-3.4 GPA); High Honor Graduates (3.5 and higher); National Honor Society; Varsity Athletics; Class Officers; and Music and Fine Arts students.
Four seniors received cords that represented the Fidelity Award that is presented to local students attending all 13 years at RBCS and to international students attending six years. Mrs. Wilder noted the investment that donors have made to supplement family tuition payments that totals approximately $83,070 over 13 years and approximately $38,340 over six years.
Student Life Enriched by Alumni Association
The Red Bird School Alumni Association, Inc., has supported Red Bird School for many years through its fundraising efforts, and this year has been no exception. Their efforts tend to go without notice but our local families and community realize that they enrich the student life and student experience at Red Bird Christian School. Mrs. Tonya Dickerson-Asher and Mrs. Patty Vance provide leadership and a lot of the work raising funds from across the country and sponsoring special projects for the school.
Events like the Student Appreciation Day mentioned in last week’s Friday Finish, and the Alumni Scholarship awarded last Thursday to two seniors are sponsored by the association each year. Other projects this year include elementary and middle school uniforms and athletic equipment, shirt and soap-making supplies for the entrepreneurship class, copy paper for the school, a new Cardinal backdrop for award recognitions and scholarship signings, and donations to the Senior Class and Spanish Club trips. Major projects included are scoreboards and electronic scorer’s tables for basketball and baseball and an upgrade for the gymnasium sound system.
Class of 2024 Closes Red Bird Chapter
The Class of 2024 may have closed their Red Bird chapter, but their student experiences and legacies are opening up new chapters that will impact the world through their leadership and service. Sunday, May 19th was another grand celebration of the Red Bird Christian School (RBCS) with a Baccalaureate Service at Beverly United Methodist Church and the Commencement Service in the gymnasium at RBCS.
The seniors led the Beverly service with prayers, scripture readings and introductions, but a highlight was the invitation from Mr. Mark Smallwood for former choir members to join the current school choirs to sing the signature anthem of the RBCS music department, “He That Believeth.” Mr. Brandon Salas, Community Harvest Tabernacle Minister and a local high school Spanish teacher, delivered the message based on Jeremiah 29:12-13. He encouraged the seniors to let their lives be proof there is a living God within their hearts; to never outgrow God’s invitation to grow deeper in Christ; and to devote themselves to prayer and God’s Word.
After lunch, friends and family gathered to celebrate the passage from Red Bird Christian School. Salutatorian Muluken Dukamo expressed gratitude to parents, teachers, and coaches. He challenged his fellow graduates to make a positive impact on the world and pursue dreams with courage, passion and excellence closing with Romans 8:18. Valedictorian Aser Dukamo gave a speech of thankfulness recognizing God’s presence and Christ-centered people in her life ending with her favorite verse from Proverbs 4:23.
Mr. Joshua Ball, Chief Operating Officer for Shaping Our Appalachian Region, delivered wise advice to the graduates focusing on the question,
“What are you doing with your hands, your heart and your feet?”
Family and friends cheered and celebrated as each graduate came across the stage receiving their diploma and a personal Bible.
Two Qualify for State Track & Field Championships
Six athletes (3 male and 3 female) represented Red Bird Christian School at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class A Region 6 Track and Field Championships on Tuesday held at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. The athletes’ hard work was rewarded with impressive performances against the 15 regional schools.
Senior Felix Onusumba (Boys Discus) and Eighth-grader Skyleigh Davidson (Girls 800 meter run) both finished second automatically qualifying to compete in the state championships on May 31st in Lexington. Felix threw 120’ 3” and Skyleigh set a personal record at 2:34.76 in her medal-winning performance. Other personal records set by Red Bird athletes at the meet were: Felix (Shot - 34’ 8”); Freshman Ashton Lewis (Discus – 84’ 10”) and Eighth-grader Kadence Nolan (1600 m run – 7:33.21).
Nineteen students participated in track and field practices this year, and 2025 should be another promising year with many returning to compete.
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