December 11, 2013
Dear Family and Friends of The Academy,
Recently, I asked three of our families if I could tell their stories to our Academy community as three small samplings of the many families impacted by our Scholarship Fund. All of them were more than happy for me to share, so I hope you’ll take the time to read more about the Mitchells, the Davises, and the Spahrs.
The Mitchells
Cole Mitchell first visited The Academy (then Providence Hall) at the repeated urging of an old friend who was also a board member and parent.Appreciative of and intrigued by the serene atmosphere of the school, he nevertheless left that day thinking it was only a nice thought, as he – on his own – just didn’t have the funds for his then-first grade son, Ethan, to attend.
A single dad, Cole works in ministry as a biblical counselor; after a life-altering experience and transformation a few years ago, he now speaks into the lives of others’ who find themselves in similar trials. He loves the work, but it is not a vocation that often sees large financial rewards, particularly in its initial stages. Having had a private school education himself, Cole knew how costly it could be. In considering his financial situation, he was not optimistic about his private educational options for his son.
But God intervened by providing scholarship funds for the Mitchells. Now a third-grader, Ethan has become a good student and his heart for the Lord is evident.“God is transforming my son’s life through his education at The Academy,” says Cole. “This miracle would not have been possible without the Scholarship Fund and those who shared their abundance. Ethan and I are blessed by this real-life sacrifice of the body of Christ.”
The Davises
Leslie Davis is a single mom with two children (Ashton, 12, and Haley, 10) who works as a pastry chef instructor at Platt College in Moore. Getting her training in pastry arts required her to take out student loans, which she struggles to repay while also providing for her children, as she receives very little child support from her ex-husband.
Three years ago, with the help of Leslie’s father, Jerry Allison – a professor emeritus who taught for 20 years in the College of Business at UCO in Edmond – Leslie began looking for alternative schooling options for Haley after her self-confidence was being whittled away by teasing from classmates and teachers unwilling to do anything about it. After a lot of looking, Leslie found The Academy (then Veritas), and thanks to the generosity of others, Haley is now in the 4th grade and loves her classmates and teachers.
During Haley’s first year, Ashton attended middle school in Edmond. Unfortunately, Ashton’s friends were having a negative effect on him, so Leslie inquired as to additional scholarship help at the time of Haley’s re-enrollment. By God’s provision, enough funds came available for Ashton to begin 7th grade this fall. “Ashton struggles with the rigor of the program,” Leslie says, “but he loves his classmates and teachers, and they have been a very positive influence on him.”
The Davises’ story is an inspiring multi-generational one. While Leslie works, Jerry helps Haley and Ashton on their home days. “Teaching my grandkids has been every bit as challenging as teaching students in my university classes,” says Jerry, “but the teachers at The Academy have been very helpful and patient with me. I’m grateful for the opportunity God has given to have a positive role in my grandchildren’s education and development.”
The Spahrs
Joe and Angela Spahr have two girls at The Academy: Samantha is in 2nd grade and Sophia is in Kindergarten. Angela smiles as she tells the story of how, when she told Joe she was pregnant with Samantha, his first words were not ones of rejoicing but of resolve: “I’m getting a second job so that you can stay home with the baby.”
As the girls grew, the Spahrs considered the landscape of educational options for them. Both Joe and Angela felt strongly that private education was their best option; the challenge was money.
“Two things we were sure of: Jesus Christ was our Lord and Savior, and our girls would go to The Academy,” says Joe. “Now that we’re here, we’d skip an electric payment before we’d skip a payment to the school.”
During the day, Joe works as a CADD Technician for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He then throws papers for The Daily Oklahoman four hours before dawn. Recently, he quit a third job – delivering pizzas for Marco’s between supper and midnight – as his absence was creating distress in the home. Joe told Angela he would stay home at night and trust God to provide for them to continue at The Academy.
“The only reason we would ever leave the school is because of finances,” Angela says. “We love the teachers; we love the curriculum; we even love the mistakes!” She hopes that with scholarship help, the girls can continue to attend The Academy and Joe can continue to be at home with the family at night.
The Academy Scholarship Fund
We have amazing families at The Academy, and hearing how God is at work persevering them through challenges is inspiring. Each year, we receive dozens of requests from families in similar situations – some working through difficult marriage/family situations; others struggling to make ends meet due to limited income or job loss; all looking to us and asking if we can help.
We hope to raise $40,000 in scholarship funds from our Academy community for our Academy community by December 31st so that great families like the Mitchells, the Davises, and the Spahrs can be financially able to stay long-term at The Academy. You can help make this happen by giving to our Academy Scholarship Fund at
We have 254 families currently enrolled at The Academy. Here’s just one permutation of how we might reach our year-end goal of $40,000 with not even half of our families giving:
15 families giving $1,000 each = $15,000
25 families giving $ 500 each = $12,500
35 families giving $ 250 each = $ 8,750
50 families giving $ 75 each = $ 3,750
125 $40,000
What would happen if every family gave? Might we raise twice as much for scholarship, therefore helping twice as many families? As the Scriptures remind us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8,
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
We do not ask you to give out of compulsion but out of good cheer! Would you consider a year-end gift? All gifts are tax-deductible. To give, go to send a check (made out to The Academy) with the enclosed response card to:
The Academy of Classical Christian Studies
1120 E. Hefner Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73131
As we come to the end of 2013 and celebrate the Christ of Christmas, thanks for letting me share these stories and our hope to help. May God’s gift of Jesus be your inspiration to give.
Joyfully,
Craig Dunham
Head of School
PS: We are in the process of forming a small scholarship committee of Academy parents to review all requests for assistance. If this is an area in which you’d like to serve, email me at . And please pray the Lord provides plenty of funds to allocate!