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The Talon: September 2015
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Genesis 28:15 

News from the Office

Covenant's alumni program has grown significantly in the past year and we are thankful for our alumni who come to our various events. Below you will find a few date changes and a recap of our biggest event of the year, Homecoming Weekend. For the first time in our history, we combined reunion weekend with Covenant's homecoming. This allowed for alumni in the reunion years to reunite with friends in other classes. We hope to see you at our events this school year!

Alumni Soccer Tournament

Reminder that this year the Alumni Soccer Tournament will be moved from the day before Thanksgiving to Saturday, May 21st, 2016.
Alumni Basketball Game
Thank you to those that have already taken our one-question survey. If you have not responded yet, please help us decide if our annual Alumni Basketball Game should be held December 26th or 27th.

Wednesday, October 14
JMU Alumni Gathering
El Charro - S Main St
12:00 p.m.
 
Wednesday, November 4
CNU Alumni Gathering
Schooners Grill - Warwick Blvd

12:30 p.m.
 
Thursday, November 19
Liberty & Lynchburg Alumni Gathering
Panera Bread
12:30 p.m.

December 26 or 27
Alumni Basketball Game
Upper School Gym
Time TBD


Saturday, May 21
Alumni Soccer Tournament
Upper School Fields
Time TBD

Alumni Reconnecting

Opportunities presented by the Office of Alumni Relations

Alumni at Nats Park
 
On August 7th, Alexis Valente, Spencer Burton, and George Sanker met with local D.C. alumni at Nationals Park for the program's annual baseball game.

Pictured from left to right. Front row: Alexis Valente '10, Alex Kuehler '10, Stephen Owen '10. Back row: Spencer Burton, Alex Cernik '04, Lloyd Luck '10, Owen Hendley '08, Edward Hill '09, Margaret (Montague) Feldman '08, George Sanker.
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
 
Homecoming Weekend was a special time for Covenant alumni. The weekend began on Friday, September 18th with Fall Fest and our annual alumni tailgate. It continued on Friday evening at the home of Ned and Heidi Gumble where alumni, faculty, and staff gathered for our first-ever All-Alumni Pig Roast. Tucker MacDonald ’07 provided music while guests mingled. All alumni were given an embroidered Covenant baseball cap.
 
The next day, members of the Classes of 2000, 2005, and 2010 continued their reunion weekend with a trip to Glass House Winery followed by individual class dinners at local restaurants. You can view more photos of the weekend here and here

 

Portrait of a Graduate:
Shanta Washington

 
The journey for Shanta Washington ’05 has been one of challenges and victories. Shortly after graduating from Covenant, she was diagnosed with cancer. The next few years were hard, but she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Shanta says that she knew she wanted to become a teacher ever since she was in Mrs. Oliver’s third grade class at Covenant. She attended Liberty University on and off during her battle with cancer, and just recently received her Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education (K-6).
 
Shanta overcame many obstacles even while a Covenant student. Diagnosed with a learning disability, she struggled with memorizing material. Covenant teachers helped by adjusting their teaching methods and working with her individually. “Mr. Clabough and Mr. Fuhrman were my favorite teachers because they welcomed me to have conversations in their classrooms even if we didn’t talk about their subjects.” Their compassion and understanding strengthened her desire to become a teacher, she says.
 
Most recently, Shanta was hired to teach grades K-1 and fourth grade math at Community Christian Academy in Charlottesville. “Over the last ten years, God has been so faithful – even through the struggles – and it is a blessing to finally be a teacher.” Shanta has taken part in Charlottesville’s African-American Teaching Fellows program. “The program provided the financial support necessary for me to receive my teaching license. Now I receive support as a first-year teacher through mentorship and seminars.”
 
Shanta is looking forward to molding and shaping the next generation in a positive way. “I am interested to see how my journey affects me from the teacher I thought I would be once I graduated college, to the teacher I will ultimately become as I get more and more experience.”

 
If you or an alumnus you know is doing great things, let us know at avalente@covenantschool.org. If you would like to read Covenant’s Portrait of a Graduate, click here.

Blue & White Circle

Whenever you donate to Covenant, you become a part of the Blue and White Circle. The Blue and White Circle is a giving tier reserved especially for alumni. Make a donation of any size and have an impact on students’ lives. All alumni donors will be listed in the school's annual report. 
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175 Hickory Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902