Meet Our Alumni
A Light Among Many
John Neff, Class of 2003
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT),
Heading to a Bible Study for the evening, John was stopped by a new friend. Thinking that his evening agenda might be frowned upon, he was surprised to find that the student thought going to a Bible study sounded like a neat idea and, with a sincere encouragement, told John to have fun. Another student on John’s floor asked if he could attend church with him sometime. “There is definitely a challenge at a secular university to stand up for the things I believe in; however, an interesting twist that I didn’t expect is that my peers are very accepting. I suppose the whole ‘tolerance’ issue is working in my favor. It’s a lot easier to be a Christian when you don’t have to worry about mockery.”
As for academics, since John successfully passed his AP course, he’s finding Calculus 2 as a freshman could be a challenge but admitted that with some studying he should be fine. It will be interesting to sift through his education, comparing it to the ultimate truth of God’s Word, but it’s a task John seems prepared to handle.
The Halls Are Alive with the Sound of Music
Julie (Myers) Stone, Class of 1996
During her time at
Julie began giving private voice and instrumental lessons in her own private studio, Bella Voce (Beautiful Voice). She has instructed Dayspring choir members all the way to District Chorus auditions, and also takes the Show Choir to the ACSI festival each spring. “It’s wonderful to have had the solid foundation of the Principle Approach to shape my education as a teenager, and it is even more wonderful to be utilizing that foundation to inspire a new generation of learners. There is nothing more satisfying than illuminating another aspect of God’s character through my studies.”
Julie was married on
What's Cooking?
Joshua Mellinger, Class of 2003
If you’re a junior at
Seeking God's Will in College & Career
Brandon Casteel, Class of 2003
After Brandon Casteel graduated from Dayspring Christian Academy in the spring of 2003, he went to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia to study graphic design. Because of his Dayspring education, he was able to place out of English 101, being well prepared for the various critiques, papers, and essays he was required to write throughout the course of his college career. Dayspring’s focus on essays and writing was, and continues to be, very useful to him. In fact, he has yet to be presented with a writing project more challenging than the DCA Senior Thesis!
During his time at Marymount, Brandon was the PR Chair for the Gaming Club, the Theatre Club, and the Graphic Design Club, eventually becoming the president of the Graphic Design Club. He helped produce three plays for the Theatre Club, and helped plan and host the Marymount Idol competition. He became the production editor of the school's newspaper, The Banner, and, during the first semester of his senior year, he created an online version of the newspaper. Due to a project in one of his classes, Brandon was offered a job at Wesley Housing Development Corporation. He now works there part –time as the Web and Communications Coordinator position, and is responsible for maintaining and updating Wesley’s website, as well as working with the company’s Development Director to completely re-design their website and logo.
Academically, Brandon has maintained a 3.7 GPA throughout his college career, making the Dean's List every semester. During his junior year at college, he designed an interactive CD for the Rising Sun Historical Commission as a school project, and he has continued to work with the Commission on the project. In the spring of his junior year, Brandon was inducted into Sigma Epsilon Delta, a national honor society; and now, in the spring of his senior year, he has been accepted into an internship with the USA Weekend magazine. This internship is only offered to top students in the Graphic Design program, and acceptance is also based on personal merit.
By God’s grace, Brandon always managed to get on top of his work; and through His grace, he always managed to do a good job, generally with the help and support of others. Brandon considers himself fortunate to have been blessed by God with good classmates and supportive teachers.
He has tried to help others as he has been helped, aiding his classmates and fellow students to the best of his knowledge and ability. Now that he is ready to graduate, he is praying and seeking a career opportunity. He knows that he wants to help people, but mostly he wants to do God’s will. Brandon knows that God has brought him this far, and that God will take him to the next stage of his life.
Finding a Career, a Dream & a Grateful Heart
Megan Felizzi, Class of 2003
After finishing high school, Megan wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but she knew she needed to do something…“anything to figure out the direction God wanted me to head,” she noted. She began pursuing different careers, hoping to find something she would enjoy. Thus, she obtained a certification as a wedding consultant because she thought it would be fun to plan weddings. She also worked at a daycare, and in retail for awhile. Eventually, she chose to pursue a nursing career. She explains, “Knowing that nurses are in such demand and that I naturally enjoy caring for people, I thought nursing would be an excellent choice.”
Megan graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College on December 15, 2006 and is now a nurse at Landisville Family Health Center, an LGH facility. “Anyone who has been through nursing school can attest to how very grueling it can be, and all I can say is I AM FINISHED!”
Her next educational goal is to become a naturopath, which requires a doctorate in naturopathy. She is a firm believer in natural health, herbal medicine, nutrition, and prevention practices and says, “I can’t wait to begin my education and eventually [my own] practice!” Her next life goal is to marry in the near future with a family to follow.
Megan feels she owes a thank you to Dayspring for the education she received in her foundational years. The principles of independence, reasoning, and relating that Dayspring instilled in her have enabled her to do with confidence and ease what others have struggled to do. Her Dayspring education was definitely noticed during nursing school and enabled her to go further in her education than she ever expected. She exclaims, “If no one has ever said Dayspring made them into the person they are today, I’m saying it now!” She is also grateful for Wade and her parents who were extremely supportive of her during nursing school.
A Nourished Heart & Mind Blooms
Philip Graham Taylor, Class of 2000
In reporting to DCA, I feel as though I am writing a long overdue correspondence to family. Reflection leads foremost to nostalgia, fading to a vibrant appreciation for the way things were and finally to the joy of what has become. The whole of DCA— friends, administration, teachers, extra curricular activities, spiritual unity, realized purpose, exploration of great thinkers, worldviews, and our roots—has indelibly shaped the way I think and behave. In hindsight, I am acutely aware of how my high school experience developed in me a mind to properly navigate a world saturated with all that lies between virtues and vices, love and hate, light and darkness: a quality I profoundly value.
I have since graduated from Eastern University, where I majored in Biology and minored in Environmental Studies and Chemistry, married a wonderful woman, Michigander Nicole Brinks, and [became a] father [to] a son we call Thatcher Graham Taylor who is now 18 months old.. We thrived in our community in Philadelphia, yet recently moved to Blacksburg, VA, where I attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as a graduate student exploring the effects of acid rain on carbon cycling in the Appalachian Mountains. We enjoy Blacksburg, but are unwilling to call it ‘home’; so, we will probably be on the move in search of an appropriate Ph.D. program in biogeochemistry.