Closing Convocation Honors the 2022-2023 School Year
Ascension Episcopal School
Today we honored the significance of our 64th year as a school community during the all-school Closing Convocation. Jeff Pinnow, Head of School, opened the Convocation with faculty, staff, students, and parents in attendance. It is an event to honor a handful of those that have gone above and beyond in the 2022-2023 school year and celebrate Ascension’s remarkable accomplishments in athletics, arts, and academics.
Our sweet Kindergarteners ascended the stage to lead the audience in singing, “This is the Day!” before the honors began. Students, parents, and faculty joined in with song and sign language to accompany the song as they learned during their Kindergarten year on the preschool campus.
Academically, Keith Rice shared the following accolades:
National Merit Scholarship Finalist - Madeleine Sorrell
Two named Commended Scholars - Michael LeBlanc & Ella Dupuie
Twelve students earned AP Scholar status
Eight seniors earned 30 or higher on the ACT
Middle School Math Counts team earned a spot to compete in the state competition
Five State Rally participants earned a top-four finish, and two earned first place, making them state champions
Middle School Student Council earned the Excellence Award
Additional Honor Societies were added
And so much more!
In the Arts, Joshua McClymont congratulated all for a job well done from preschool to upper school, visual arts to theatre arts, media to choir; the arts at Ascension are vibrant and alive during the school day. After hours, the community continues to support the arts in main stage productions like Spongebob, Frozen Jr., and Mean Girls, and in Painting the Pond, an art market to showcase community artists and provide the opportunity for our students to grow in their artistic talents.
Eric Mouton commended his coaches and staff in Athletics for leading our student-athletes well. Middle school students earned championships in the following:
Girls Cross Country
5th Grade boys basketball
6th grade boys basketball
8th grade boys basketball
Golf
Upper school students earned championships in the following:
Boys and Girls Swimming District Champions
Relay team in the 400 Freestyle State Champions
Football team District Champions
Volleyball state semifinalists
Gator Jazz team won their second national championship
Girls track district champions (some making the podium at state)
Boys tennis state runner ups
Girls tennis doubles regional champions
Boys tennis doubles state champions
Baseball district champions
Boys Golf - 5th straight district, region, and state championship, and the team was nationally ranked this year for outstanding play on the greens
After reminiscing on a successful year, the administration concluded with several awards. This year, a new award was created in memory of Celie Ulm, the Legacy (Lega-C) Scholarship, to award players who show grace, lead on the court, and exhibit a strong faith-based mentality. This year’s award recipients are Taylen Guillot, Meagan Huff, and Madeleine Sorrell.
The Walker Vincent Memorial Scholarship recognizes two members of the Ascension junior class, one boy and one girl, who “Live Like Walker.” The recipients earning the award to offset the cost of their senior-year tuition are Ethan Guidry and Gabriella Piasecki.
The Gretchen Vincent Service Award is presented annually to an Ascension parent or couple who exemplifies Gretchen's collaborative spirit, commitment to volunteerism, and kindness - all supporting our school. The recipient of the 2023 award is a long-time Ascension parent, Shannon Lynd.
The Melinda Mangham Excellence in Teaching Award honors a teacher who exhibits the excellence that Melinda championed during her lifetime as an educator. A servant’s heart, eagerness to help, and engaging teacher describe this year’s recipient, Rachel Futch.
Reverend Jordan Hylden closed the ceremony with a prayer and blessing. All in attendance sang “We Have Decided to Follow Jesus!” as they exited and reflected on a remarkable 2022-2023 school year at Ascension Episcopal School!
When it comes to our children, one of the most important gifts we can provide for them is opportunity. It not only prepares them for their future but also gives them the independence to discover and define who they are: who they want to be. Our faculty and staff focus on developing the whole child, with a curriculum designed to teach lifelong learning skills.