MAGAZINE - Briercrest College and Seminary

HIGH SCHOOL EDITIONMAGAZINELife at CHSCELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF LIFE-CHANGING CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2011 | WWW.BRIERCREST.CA

GET AJUMP-STARTON COLLEGESixty-five years ago, in 1946, a newhigh school was completing its first year ofoperation. Caronport High School(CHS) wasrevolutionary because it was one of the firstconsolidated—and one of the first Christianconsolidated—schools in Saskatchewan.Prior to CHS, most young people were educatedin one-room school houses and had topursue correspondence lessons in order tofurther their education.As I was preparing for our recent commencementservice, Vi Thiessen and I werelooking through a list of final marks submittedto the Ministry of Education in 1947when the first Grade 12s graduated fromCHS. On this handwritten page, yellowed bytime, was the list of a handful of studentswho had successfully completed their studies;among them, the name of Henry Buddstood out to me. Dr. Budd, as he was laterknown when he was the president of BriercrestBible College, was at the top of hisclass. In later years, names like Hildebrandand Magnus have drifted through the hallsof CHS and Briercrest College and Seminary(BCS). In the 65 years that have passedsince Henry Budd was a student in ourschool, countless students have graduatedand lived lives of significance and passion.In the last several years, we have beenworking to clarify our mission and our message—todip our fingers into the pool of CHShistory to create ripples which will moveour students, both today and 65 years fromtoday, to live faithfully and passionately. Weare challenging each student to go forwardfrom this time and place with integrity,compassion, and humility into a life ofmeaning—a life that will be memorable andextraordinary—just as Henry Budd wouldhave been challenged to do 65 years ago.Deborah IkePrincipal, CHSCrocker named new CHSchaplainAJ Crocker loves working and beingaround high school kids.He’s done that for years as the directorof Youth Quake, and this spring his role wasexpanded as he became the new chaplain ofCaronport High School. In this new positionCrocker hopes to nurture students’ spirituallives through the chapel program and to createa warm, welcoming environment as hegets to know students personally.“The invitation to serve as CHS chaplainis nothing short of a dream come true forme,” Crocker said. “I’m most excited to goon a consistent journey with our studentseach year. We have the ability here at Briercrest/CHSto dig deep into the scriptures, toseek the Kingdom of God and to learn whatlives of service look like. These three thingswill guide our CHS chapel experience in theyears to come and we trust that the Lordwill shape our students to be people whocarry on with these pursuits after their highschool years. And hey, if we can have somefun along the way . . . all the better.”IN THIS ISSUELife at CHS 4Hope and hoops in Hawaii 6From Hong Kong to Caronport 10Lorne Penner: a walking CHS history lesson 12CHS alum soars in his life’s calling 14BRIERCREST MAGAZINEEditorial and Design TeamEditorial Director | Rob Schellenberg (rschellenberg@briercrest.ca)Copywriter, Editor | Julie Cole (jcole@briercrest.ca)Graphic Designer | Valerie Benoit (vbenoit@briercrest.ca)Contributing PhotographersJulie Cole, Viktor Karklins, Rob SchellenbergProofreader | Carla Hoffmann (choffmann@briercrest.ca)CHANGETHEWORLDREACH BEYOND YOURSELFTO CHANGE THE WORLD ONEPERSON AT A TIME.As a Grade 12 student, you’ll be able totake college courses that will transfer toBriercrest College and Seminary and manyother universities across North America.Choose from:OT LiteratureGospelsSpiritual FormationIntro to Christian TheologyLiterature & Composition IThe Ancient and MedievalWorld IIntro to Philosophy IIntro to Psychology IIntro to Sociology IPublic SpeakingFinancial MathematicsMandarin Chinese IFoundations of Children’sMinistryFoundations of Youth MinistryFoundations of Church MinistryPerspectives in MissionIntro to MusicianshipCollege SingersOrchestraAPPLY ONLINE!WWW.BRIERCREST.CA/CHS• Participate in regular service projects throughoutthe school and community through our ChristianEthics classes.• Join a group at Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission, asoup kitchen in Regina, Sask.• Head to Chateau St. Michael in Moose Jaw, Sask., tospend time with senior citizens.• Participate in Mission to Mexico, an annual missiontrip organized by Caronport Community Church.• Sponsor a child through Compassion Canada and puttogether shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.• Join the community in other projects: this year, thestudents at Briercrest College and Seminary andCHS raised over $6,000 for the earthquake reliefefforts in Haiti.2 BRIERCREST RCRESEST TMAGAMAGAZINE AEHHIGHSCHOOL OL LEEDITION ION| ISSUE SUE 1 | SUMMER ME2010

1DORM LIFELife at CHSShayla Alexander, Grade 12—Being in the dorm you get to know people a lot morewhen you’re around them 24-7. | Sin Hang Chan, Grade 11—“It’s great! You learnmore about God. You can learn how to stay with the other guys.” | Jalen Radics,Grade 11—“Moving out on your own kind of helps you mature a little bit. It preparesyou for life.”122COMMUTING IN TO CHSLuke Rafuse, Grade 10—“I have always been tempted to go to big schools (inMoose Jaw) because of the size of the schools and what classes they offer but Iknow that they can never offer an experience like what CHS offers. Because I liveon a farm, I have to get up every day at 7 a.m. and get ready. It can be a real drainon your energy but every day at CHS I get to be taught by teachers who care aboutyou and your own well-being. Only at CHS can you have friends in older grades andhave strong friendships.”3CHS GIRLS’DORMIsabel Chow, Grade 10 enjoys some free time with friends. “In the dorm you neverfeel lonely. There’s always someone next to your wall—even if you don’t have aroommate. There are lots of dorm activities.”I’ve loved going to CHS because almost all of my friends from elementary school are here with me and newpeople come every year that you get to meet as well. Also, the school is small, which some people might say is abad thing, but I love it because it means that you can know everybody and everybody can know you. The teachersare amazing. Despite the fact that they are teaching us, the classroom environment with them is a lot of funand always fi lled with lots of laughs and good memories. I love that sports and arts, like choir, are scheduled intothe day. You don’t get that at a lot of other schools. I never considered going anywhere else because I live herein Caronport. I knew that CHS was a great school, so why would I leave?Katie Buck, Grade 10456COLLEGE BOUNDBrittany Larson was the point guard on this year’s Cougar basketball team. Brittany’stalents were noticed by the Briercrest Clipper’s coaches and she will beplaying for our college team this next year.SOARING ABOVE THE COMPETITIONBethany Racic soars for the ball during high school volleyball action this year.Bethany and her Cougar teammates won the provincial silver medal this year.FUN FELLOWSHIPCHS students enjoying breakfast together during this year’s Mission to Mexico.34 567HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALLCougar athletes can play both football and volleyball every fall. The Cougars areexpected to have another solid team thanks to a fifth quarter that the teams play.The fifth quarter allows teams to develop their younger players so that they caneventually make the transition to full-time starter.8GIVING IT THE BOOTEmma Tunnall dribbles the ball during high school soccer action. The girl’s teamwon the silver medal at the provincial championships this year.9ANOTHER SILVERWith eight returning players, Kyron Hoimyr and his Cougar teammates are hopingto improve on their silver medal at provincials this year.10LOTS OF DRAMA!This year’s Spring drama class presented the two-act play, Get Smart. In this photo MaxwellSmart (Eric Paulson) has a “private” meeting with Agent 13 (Sin Hang Chan).78910I really enjoy that theteachers actually knowyour name and stop totalk to you in the hallway,they actually careabout you. Growing upin Caronport has beengood. I’ve enjoyed it. I’venever considered goinganywhere else.Stephanie Buck, Grade 104 BRIERCREST MAGAZINE HIGH SCHOOL EDITION | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2011

FROM HONG KONGTO CARONPORTIsabel Chow playing a drum solo.Isabel Chow is a long way fromhome.The Hong Kong native cameto Canada to attend Grade 10at Caronport High School thisyear. She chose CHS because hercousin previously attended Grade12 at the school.“In Hong Kong it’s quite commonto go study overseas becausewe don’t have many universities,”Chow said. “Only 17 per cent ofstudents can go to university inHong Kong.”Chow couldn’t have chosen adestination more different thanher home.Tiny Caronport has a populationof just over 900 people—exceptwhen Briercrest College andSeminary is in session, when thepopulation nearly doubles.Hong Kong, one of the mostdensely populated areas of theworld, crams seven million peopleinto 426 square miles.When Chow describes herhome and her church she stretchesher arms straight up into theair to resemble the sky scrapersthat are so common to Hong Kong,making it the world’s most verticalcity.“My church is quite different,”she said laughing. “It’s in a highrise building and 10,000 peoplecome every Sunday.”Church isn’t the only differenceChow has found between Caronportand Hong Kong.“In Hong Kong if you sayhi to a stranger they seriouslythink you’re mentally crazy,” sheinsisted. “They think you’re up tosomething. Even in the elevator wedon’t look at each other or talk. Ilike being around all the friendlypeople here.”Some other differences thatChow has encountered haven’tbeen so welcomed.“When I first came to thecafeteria . . . I had never had rawcarrots—never raw broccoli or rawcelery,” she recounted. “How onearth could anyone eat these? Butnow I’m eating them every day. InHong Kong there are lots of freshvegetables, but we cook them.”Other common cafeteria foodswere strange fare for the HongKong native.“I never had peanut butter onan apple before—or jello—it’s likejelly,” she said wrinkling up hernose. “I miss sushi and Shang Haifood. They are my favourite.”Chow misses one thing morethan all others.“I miss my parents!” she saidemphatically. “I never really knewwhat miss meant until I camehere. (When) I was young I wentto camp a lot—three days to twoweeks—and I didn’t really miss myparents. Now I miss my parents somuch.”In the midst of her times ofhomesickness, Chow finds comfortin the dorms at CHS.“In the dorm you never feellonely,” she said. “There’s alwayssomeone next to your wall—even ifyou don’t have a roommate. Thereare lots of dorm activities.”The Grade 10 student, whoplays the violin, piano, guitar, anddrums, is fueled by the chancesCHS gives her to participate indifferent musical productions andworship teams.“There are so many opportunitiesfor worshipping,” she said. “Ilike to be with music a lot. I enjoyit so much. If there’s no music, I’mgonna die.”As the school year winds down,Chow is anticipating going homefor the summer break. She planson coming back next year and haspositive words to say about herhigh school experience so far.“(CHS) is very, very unique,”she stated. “This place helps youunderstand what Christianity is.This place has totally strengthenedmy faith. I used to be reallyscared about revealing my faith(in) Christ. But in this place there’sno fear to do that. When you goout (from here) you’re not scared.”Opportunities for CHS students – a.k.a.WHAT I DID FOR SPRING BREAKMission to MexicoEurope TourAlicia Havanka, Grade 12—“My trip to Europe was amazing. My favouritetime was France. Paris, as they say, is really an amazing place. As soon as Iwas there, I could just “feel the love in the air”. It was great. There were somany pretty sights and lights and the Eiffel Tower was really amazing also.My favourite place we went to in France was Saint-Malo,. . . it was this littletown we stayed at and it was so beautiful. We got to go shopping for onenight and it was like streets just filled with shops and music and artists. Itreally felt like France from movies that we always see.”Kayla Lewry, Grade 11—“My favourite spot was the hill of Montmartre. Thisis where the Moulin Rouge is located and up the hill they have markets, livemusicians, and artists who will sketch you for 20-30 euros. It was a superawesome place to hang out . . . it felt like they had preserved the culture ofthat specific place really well.”Gillian Harrison, Grade 12—“It was the best missions trip that Ihave been on so far and I have been on a few. The team was sounified and we were all friends—everyone—really. We all wanted toserve God and with no drama. Such support behind you made everythingeasier. The church there was an inspiration in their charismaticlove for God and people. The kids were so open and justwanted to hang out. A few of us had little shadows, it was great.”Dean Wells, Grade 12—“Mission to Mexico was one of the bestexperiences of my high school life. This trip has shown me so muchabout God and His plans for my future. I’m so glad I have made somany friends and had unforgettable memories and lessons learnedthat will be with me forever.”Vanessa Neufeld, Grade 10—“My experience of tour choir this yearwas amazing. With Scott Finch as our director I was able to experiencean amazing time with many talented, funny, and inspirationalpeople. I made new friends, and experienced joy and humility whenI had originally just gone to sing. I learned so much and was soblessed by those we sang for. One of my favourite memories waswhen we did our last day of tour. I woke up that morning so contentand overflowing with joy yet sad that it was all almost over. We werein Estevan and we heard an amazing sermon and sang at this smallold folks’ home. While we were singing there was this adorable oldlady who sang with us, cried with joy, and clapped ecstatically duringevery song. All together it was an amazing experience.”Brandon Goudy, Grade 9—“My experience on this year’s tour choirwas really good! I became friends with all the older people and connectedwith God more! It’s almost as if we became family on the trip.The talks with some of the hosts were great! We got to know a lotabout them and their families.”CHS Tour ChoirWWW.BRIERCREST.CA11

I really wanted to go to Christianhigh school for my Grade 12 year... I was accepted to come here (its)very first year (in 1946). But thatyear the harvest was so late . . . soI said ‘I’ll wait another year.LORNE PENNER:A WALKING CHS HISTORY LESSONBy Julie ColeThat year in highschool here wasabsolutely terrific ...Being with Christiankids my age—we wereall just one big happyfamily.I’ve deliveredover 1,000 babies... I can go justabout anywhereand meet someonewho I delivered!Not many people remember when Caronport HighSchool opened its doors 65 years ago.Lorne Penner does.He first heard about CHS on Briercrest Bible Institute’sThe Young People’s Hour, a live radio program helistened to as a teenager.“I really wanted to go to Christian high school for myGrade 12 year,” he said. “I was accepted to come here(its) very first year (in 1946). But that year the harvestwas so late . . . so I said ‘I’ll wait another year.’”The next fall Penner left his family’s farm in Morris,Man. and came to CHS for Grade 12. He paid for his tuitionby selling four turkey hens and a gobbler he had raised.“I didn’t know a soul on campus before I came,” hestated. “At that time, there were no houses here—notrees, no shrubs. There was one tree just outside ofcampus. Everything was just as the air force left it.”CHS made use of several buildings the air force leftbehind. The main high school building was the old officer’smess hall. Sunday services were held in the oldrecreation hall, now called The Landing.“Me and another Grade 12 chap looked after thefurnace in the high school building,” Penner recalled.“Then on Sunday it was my job to heat the furnace in theLanding. I had to get up at 2:30 in the morning on Sundayto get that furnace hot (for the 11:00 a.m. Sundayservice).”Despite the early mornings, Penner thrived during hisyear at CHS.“That year in high school here was absolutely terrific,”he said emphatically. “Being with Christian kidsmy age—we were all just one big happy family. Therewere 16 of us in Grade 12, and 84 students in the wholehigh school. That year was so crucial for me because itsettled so many issues.”One of those issues was Penner’s future career. Hehad wanted to be a missionary doctor ever since he wassix years old. The missionary speakers he heard at CHSchapels served to fuel this desire even more. Finally awise professor’s words encouraged Penner to get thenecessary medical training.“Mr. (Orville) Swenson, my theology professor said,‘Prepare as if you’ve got 20 years left to serve God, butlive as if Christ were coming today.’ That was just theadvice that I needed.”Penner went to the University of Manitoba for hismedical training. In 1957 he married his college sweetheart,Jean Tomlinson, a missionary nurse who hadserved in Egypt for three years. The couple spent eightyears in Eritrea as medical missionaries.“I had hoped to spend my life there,” Penner said,“but I became ill and had to come home.”The Penners returned home to Steinbach, Man.—withsix children.After convalescing and practicing medicine in Steinbach,Penner got an invitation from one of his old highschool buddies—Henry Budd—who was now the presidentof Briercrest Bible College. He asked Penner tocome back and set up a medical clinic in Caronport.“I saw the specific medical need on campus,” Pennerstated. “Before I came, students (who needed a doctor)had to take a whole day out of classes to go to MooseJaw.”Penner served as campus doctor for nine years untilhis wife Jean passed away after 29 years of marriage.He later remarried his second wife Marnie and wasmarried to her for 23 years until she passed away lastOctober.Penner, who has 20 grandchildren, says he is a“blessed man.” His long medical career has given himthe opportunity to impact many people.“I’ve delivered over 1,000 babies,” he insisted. “Ican go just about anywhere and meet someone who Idelivered!”The good doctor has some advice for current CHSstudents.“I would say what Mr. Swenson said to me,” he said.“If you feel God’s called you to a special career, don’tcut your time of preparation short. Live for the Lordwhile you are doing your preparation.”He adds some of his own practical advice as well.“Make sure your relationship with the Lord is right—that’s number one,” he exhorted. “Be careful to choosefriends wisely and get into the habit of prayer and Scripturereading. Finally, enjoy life! But remember things ofthis life are temporary.”12 BRIERCREST MAGAZINE HIGH SCHOOL EDITION | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2011WWW.BRIERCREST.CA13

The Fenton family (L to R) Andrea, Steve, Paula,Daniel, and Kathryn.CHS ALUM SOARS INHIS LIFE’S CALLINGCaronport High School gave Steve Fenton the wings to fly . . . really.Fenton, who runs an aerospace systems design firm, only came toCHS in 1979-80 for his Grade 12 year, but he says the small schoolprovided the “exact recipe” he needed to turn his life around.A micro air vehicle that Fenton’s aerospacefi rm helped to develop parts for.The Phill Botting band in their concert at HamiltonPlace. Steve Fenton is on the keyboards.“Besides my serious love for music and my exceptionalenjoyment of the ‘latest’ Christian rock artists like KeithGreen and The Imperials, I was a person with no drive,ambition, or focus,” Fenton said. “I knew I needed a big lifechange from that of my local secular school.”Fenton found out about CHS through word of mouth froman older friend in his Kitchener, Ont. youth group who hadgone to the school.“I didn’t have a lot of hope for my own future,” Fentonadmitted. “That’s what got me determined to go out there.In the summer months before my Caronport year, and for thefirst time in my life, I had a strong desire to get acquaintedwith and adhere to all the school rules and requirements. Iwas focused on being an achiever at CHS from the outset.”Fenton says the environment he experienced at CHSgave him “confidence building, personal growth, and astrong drive to achieve.”“I picked my life verse out while at the school,” he said.“Colossians 3:23 needs to be applied to each and everyaspect of our lives and its message should also be appliedto any other verse we choose to live by.”He credits the staff at CHS for investing into him hisGrade 12 year.“Bill Latrace, our dorm dad, and Henry Dirksen, the highschool music teacher were key ingredients to my ultimatesuccess . . . in that life transforming year of spiritual renewal,”he said.“Bill Latrace was actively involved with us and kepteverybody pointed in the right direction,” Fenton said. “Halfwaythrough the year Mr. Latrace gave me the title of “hallRA” which wasn’t supposed happen to a first year student,but . . . I was pleased that I was given this opportunity andresponsibility.”Latrace remembers Fenton as a “good student with agood reputation who had lots of energy.”Fenton involved himself in “every possible music activitythe school offered.” One day his abundant energy inspiredhim to explore underneath the music stage where he discoveredan old, abandoned sousaphone. After he got permissionto keep it, he put it back together and got it in workingorder.The repaired tuba worked in Fenton’s favour.“I eventually traded the tuba with Bill Latrace for a previouslywell-enjoyed 1955 Ford Customline four-door sedan,”Fenton recalled. “It had a dried up dead cat (frozen) to theengine block requiring good elbow grease and a stainlesssteel scraper to medically separate from my sweet ride.”After surgically removing the dead cat from the car’s engine,Fenton put a brand new battery in the car—backwards.Those 1955 cars had 6 volt batteries requiring a positive,not a negative ground. Even though the car required batteryboosts every 200 miles, Fenton and his best buddy RogerBauman drove it all the way back to Ontario.Fenton still has the car and keeps it parked in the backof his workplace in Cayuga, Ont.At the 1980 graduation ceremony for CHS, Fenton receivedthe Fine Arts award from Henry Dirksen. His parentsflew in from Ontario to see the “miracle” of his graduation.“When I received the award for fine arts . . . while at thesame time actually graduating, I knew that anything waspossible,” Fenton insisted. “My parents were actually proudfor once! Mr. Henry Dirksen needs to know that that awardhad a profound effect on my life and that of my family.”Fenton is not embarrassed to say that his graduationfrom CHS remains the last of his official scholastic education.“It served me well,” Fenton said. “Several years ago nowI started an aerospace systems design firm called BattlefieldInternational Inc. and God has truly blessed our companybeyond measure.”Fenton’s company designs and experimentally developsproducts for aerospace and military firms in the UnitedStates.“A back packable spy craft vehicle called the HoneywellT-Hawk has been flying over the tsunami ravaged Fukushimaplant and taking live HD video and pictures reducing therequirement for experts to be exposed to the very heavyamounts of radiation,” Fenton explained. “Our firm designedand produced several key components included on this airvehicle.”Along with his success in aerospace projects, Fentonhasn’t forgotten his passion for music.In 2010 Fenton partnered with Phill Botting, the 2008national karaoke star winner for Country Music Television(CMT). Their group, The Phill Botting Band, recorded a CDcalled “Weekend Train”. Bob Doidge, who has worked on recordingsfor U2, Crash Test Dummies, and Gordon Lightfoot,was their producer.The group’s song, Walking Through a Valley, is still beingplayed on secular radio stations across Canada.“(It’s) a song with a solid Christian message,” Fentonsaid. “We were also played on over 152 radio stations onNovember 11th, 2010 with our song called A Soldier’sHome.”The Phill Botting band has played at Hamilton PlaceGreat Hall and was a guest act with Travis Tritt in Elmira,New York.Fenton’s relationship with CHS has continued throughhis children. His second daughter, Paula also attended CHSfor Grades 11 and 12. While there, she met her future husbandMichael Falk. The two were married this May and Steveis thrilled with his new son-in-law.The CHS alum urges other graduates of the school tosupport their alma mater.“Every alumnus reading this needs to speak up whenyou feel the Spirit lead to promote this work of God andkeep it strong,” Fenton said. “Although it’s always easierto say nothing, don’t miss any chance to assist the schoolthat changed your life by putting in a good word at everyopportunity.”14 BRIERCREST MAGAZINE HIGH SCHOOL EDITION | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2011WWW.BRIERCREST.CA15

DORM LIFEONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF LIFE AT CHS.Live, learn, and make lifelong friendships withpeople from around the world as our leaderscare for you—heart, mind, and soul.At Caronport High School,we value each student as anindividual and as part of acommunity. We recognize anddevelop each aspect of theirpersonhood with excellenceaccording to God’s highestpurpose for their hearts, minds,and souls (Matthew 22:37).Call 1-800-667-5199 or email admissions@briercrest.ca.510 College Drive, Caronport, SK, S0H 0S01-800-667-5199 • www.briercrest.ca