The 2017-2018 Year in Review
Valedictorians: McKenzie Barlow, Robert Heck, and Seung Jin Oh.
- McKenzie Barlow will attend Cedarville University and intends to major in Electrical Engineering
- Robert Heck will attend Northeastern University and intends to major in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance
- Daniel Oh will attend George Washington University and intends to major in International Affairs
Graduation Awards
- Brooks Spirit of Service Scholarship Award: Katie Gavazzi
- Principal’s Award: Katie Gavazzi, Daniel Oh
- Outstanding Senior: Emily Reynolds, Robert Heck
- Mission Statement Award: Caitlyn Mackall, McKenzie Barlow, Benjamin Weinel, William Needum
2017-2018 Academic Honors
Upper School Academic Honors
Middle School Academic Honors
The Class of 2018 was accepted to the following institutions of higher learning:
| American University | Arcadia University | Assumption College | Bentley University |
| Bluefield University | Bowie State University | Cabrini University | Catholic University |
| Cedarville University | Central State University | Cincinnati Christian University | Coastal Carolina University |
| Colorado Mesa University | Elon University | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Florida Gulf Coast University |
| Fordham University | Franklin Pierce University | George Mason University | George Washington University |
| Gordon College | Goucher College | Grove City College | Hood College |
| Humboldt State University | James Madison University | Liberty University | McDaniel College |
| Messiah College | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Northeastern University | Notre Dame of Maryland University |
| Ohio State University | Penn State | Purdue University | Saint Anselm University |
| Saint Francis University | Salisbury University | Shepherd University | Syracuse University |
| Temple University | Towson University | University of Alabama | University of Cincinnati |
| University of Delaware | University of Florida | University of Indiana | University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) |
| The University of Maryland, College Park | University of Pittsburgh | University of South Florida | University of Wisconsin |
| Valparaiso University | Virginia Tech | Virginia Union University | Wells College |
| West Virginia Wesleyan University | Westfield State University | Widener University | York College |
Student Achievements
Sophomore Janiya Foreman earned an NFTE Award. Last September, sophomore Janiya was selected to participate in Entrepreneurship Challenge, hosted by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Janiya had to present a business plan for starting her own business and was awarded a $5,000 grant. She plans to create her own art-design business.
Concordia Prep participated in another successful student exchange program this year. Three Guatemalan students visited CPS through the international program Faces and Our Cultures from mid-October until December. They spent their summer break attending classes and learning English and American culture. They created a mural about their country outside of Foreign Language Chairperson, Mrs. Welinsky’s classroom to remind the CPS students of their visit.
In March, sixth-grade student Aliyah Cade won second place in the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Anti-Drug Poster-Calendar Contest. Aliyah’s poster will be published in the 2018-19 calendar. She was awarded her prize at the Baltimore County Courthouse with teachers Mrs. Marcie Barth and Ms. Martha Bainbridge.
The Concordia Prep Super Sci Saints competed in the Maryland State Destination Imagination Tournament, where they took fifth place. They participated in the Scientific Challenge called “Unlikely Attraction”. The team took first place in the North Central Regional Tournament on March 10, which allowed them to advance to the state level. The team members were seniors, Robert Heck, McKenzie Barlow, Emily Reynolds and Benjamin Weinel; freshman, Michael Reynolds; and sixth grader, Rachel Suggs. It was moderated by Mrs. Shannon Reynolds and Mrs. Michelle Suggs.
Middle School students Galyne Williams, Natalie Jarrett, and Jacob Maguire were honored in April by Governor Larry Hogan at the Baltimore County Courthouse during the Baltimore County Bar Association’s Law Day. The CPS students received the sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade art awards along with teachers Ms. Martha Bainbridge and Mrs. Marcie Barth.
In May, Mr. Nate Konkel’s Middle School Robotics class traveled to the STAR Academy in Timonium to continue learning how to program and fly drones.
Service to the Community
At the start of school, Headmaster, Mr. Brent Johnson, challenged the entire CPS community to provide help for those struggling with the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Harvey. Partnering with Class Produce, Concordia Prep collected and donated food and water and helped Class Produce meet its goal to fill an entire semi-trailer with food and water and deliver it to the Texas Food Bank in Houston, TX.
The Art Club organized the Operation Christmas Child Project. They asked students to donate gifts, small toys, art supplies, and hygiene products that would fit into a shoebox. Over 65 boxes—the most ever collected, were filled and mailed to children living in poverty around the world. The Art Club, with moderator Mrs. Marcie Barth and Mr. Gary Barth, participated in a packing party in October to pack the shoe boxes.
The Student Government organized a food drive before Thanksgiving for the Lutheran Mission Society and a “Baby Shower for Baby Jesus” collecting food, clothes, and supplies for babies and small children in need.
The Executive Director of the Lutheran Mission Society, Rev. Dr. David R. Maack, and Director of Ministry Advancement, Mr. Randal Gast, came to Concordia Prep to pick up items from the Thanksgiving Food Drive and Baby Shower for Jesus. In addition to the food and baby items, CPS donated just under $600. All items went to the LMS Compassion Centers to help those in need in the Baltimore area. Middle school students with Upper School Principal Mrs. Ruth Heilman, Middle School Principal Mr. Curtis Miller, and World Languages Chairperson Mrs. Sara Welinsky helped to load the truck.
CPS Students Plunge in the Cool School Challenge. In January, on a frigid day, Concordia Prep students with Science Teacher Mrs. Julia Miller plunged into the Chesapeake Bay during the Polar Bear Plunge Cool Schools Challenge. The team raised $815 for Maryland Special Olympics.
In April, Sophomores Victoria and Samantha Lassahn organized a dress down day to raise money and awareness for organ donations. The money raised was donated to the YOLT (You Only Live Twice) Foundation, which was founded by Danielle Beaulieu Class ’87 and Jon Class ’86 with their son Gavin. Gavin was the recipient of an organ donation while a student at Towson University. The Lassahns chose that foundation because they are both interested in medicine and hoped to help CPS students and parents become aware of the impact of organ and tissue donation.
The Arts
Over Labor Day weekend, CPS students Hannah Beasman, Jonathan Davis, Janiya Foreman, Lyla Martin, Jarrod Connell, Avion Brooks, Victoria Dodge, Logan Corbin, and Cat Regan with Mrs. Marcie Barth and Ms. Martha Bainbridge, participated in the Madonnari Arts Festival in Little Italy. The team’s design was awarded first place in the student artists competition in the “traditional design” category. The festival showcased chalk drawings based upon the Italian art of i madonnari, that dates back to the 16th century, where local artists would travel from town to town creating artwork during festivals and holy days.
Photo left: CPS student’s design. Photo right: original artwork.
The CPS team decided to create a chalk rendering of Madonna and Child with Bird by Peruvian artist Ignacio Chacon, 1745-1775. Art Teacher, Mrs. Marcie Barth, said the theme of the festival was freedom. The team integrated a number of changes to the artwork that reinforced that theme: stars and stripes were added to Madonna’s headscarf; yellow roses and fuchsia and red tulips, which represent freedom, were added around the painting border; the baby Jesus is making a peace sign and holding a Celtic symbol of freedom; a torch, similar to the Statue of Liberty was added to the background; and an olive branch was added to the dove. The CPS team worked Friday through Sunday on the drawing. Mrs. Barth said the students received numerous compliments–many thought they were students majoring in art at a local college and encouraged them to pursue a future career in art. Plans are already underway to participate in next year’s festival.
For the past two years, under the direction of Fine Arts Department Chair, Mrs. Marcie Barth, Advanced Studio art students have participated in The Memory Project where they created portraits for children living in impoverished and war-torn countries. So far the Art Department has created portraits of students in Madagascar, Bolivia, and the Congo. This year they created portraits of Syrian refugee children.
In late October, the Concordia Prep Theatre Department presented a moving production of All My Sons, a play by Arthur Miller. Congratulations to Theatre Director Mrs. Joy Johnson, Technical Director Ms. Melissa Weldon, and Artistic Director Mrs. Marcie Barth. Also congratulations to the students for their outstanding performances: Robbie Heck, Riley Marzola, Javier Janer-Pacheco, Sam Connors, Amir Richardson, Rosalee Crouse, Jordan Harris, Ben Strong, Maranda Howell, and Nate Colon.
The Upper School Choir, under the direction of Ms. Lauren Staehr, traveled to New York City over spring break to perform with the Concordia College of New York Choir. While in New York, they took in the sights visiting Times Square, Central Park, Untermeyer Gardens, the Shake Shack, and Concordia College Clinic with Dr. Thoms. They sang two pieces on their own and two protest songs with the Concordia College Choir. The title of the event was “A Concert for Freedom and Justice” as part of a remembrance of Martin Luther King.
In late April, the Concordia Prep Theatre Department, under the direction of Mrs. Joy Johnson, presented Mary Poppins with over 50 middle and high school students participating. On April 25, the school held a preview for 285 area Lutheran middle school students. The stage design was a first at Concordia Prep with the Art Club’s scenes digitized and projected on large screens behind the stage. Record crowds attended all the performances.
The Concordia Prep Middle School band and choir, under the direction of Mr. Dennis Mercer and Ms. Lauren Staehr, traveled to Hershey, PA in May for the annual Music Festival. Both the band and choirs received excellent ratings. The choir also placed second in their competition. After their performances, the students enjoyed the day at Hershey Park.
Concordia Prep students traveled to New York in early May to participate in a choreography workshop with a cast member from Hamilton and attended a production of My Fair Lady.
Athletics
Fall
The Varsity Boys’ Soccer team finished the season 2nd in the MIAA ‘B’ Conference. This was an outstanding showing the first year moving up from the ‘C’ Conference. The Varsity Football team brought home the Lutheran Cup in late October. They traveled to New York to play a Lutheran High School rival: Long Island Lutheran and won 32-12.
IAAM All-Conference ‘C’ League for volleyball: Senior Jordan Shaduk; and soccer: freshman Madison Hieber and sophomore Tori Lassahn.
MIAA All-Conference ‘B’ League for Soccer: Senior Bailey Barber, and sophomores Taylor Calheira, and Angelo Poblete.
Winter
The Boys and Girls Middle School Basketball teams both won championships in February during the CPS Middle School Basketball Tournament.
IAAM All-Conference ‘C’ League for basketball: Senior Alexandra Strohman.
MIAA All-Conference ‘C’ League for basketball: Sophomore Clarence Obiajulu.
Spring
Congratulations to both the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team and Boys Varsity Baseball team. Both teams made it to the championship games and took second place. The lacrosse team finished the season 14-2 and the boys’ baseball team finished with a 10-0 record in conference, 12-3 overall.
Senior Alexandra Strohman reached a career 150 assists and 200 goals during the varsity girls’ lacrosse 8-6 win over Catholic High in April.
Sophomore Samantha Lassahn received an IAAM Character Coin after the CPS varsity lacrosse win 16-1 over Chapelgate on April 11. Each IAAM coach has the opportunity to present a Character Coin to two opponents during the season, who display significant elements of fair play, integrity, and respect.
IAAM All-Conference ‘C’ League: Freshman Ellen Marie Sanders for softball; sophomore Samantha Lassahn and seniors Katherine Brocato and Alexandra Strohman for lacrosse.
MIAA All-Conference ‘C’ League: Brice Gregory, Evan Shertzer, and Colton Smith for baseball and Connor Wright for lacrosse.
Six Concordia Prep seniors signed National Letters of Intent to play college sports next fall:
- Bailey Barber – Soccer – Stevenson University
- Kevin Bartram– Football – McDaniel College
- Katherine Brocato – Lacrosse – University of Cincinnati
- William Needum – Football – Stevenson University
- Jordan Shaduk – Volleyball – Gordon University
- Montrey (Trey) Thompson – Cross Country and Track & Field – Mt. St. Mary’s University next year.*
*Trey is the first student-athlete in Concordia Prep School history to receive a Division I scholarship for Cross Country.