Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy (dba The King’s Academy)
Featured Commencement speaker Scott Harris, who at the time was Chairman of the
International Mission Board, addressed 1,000 people in the Tibbetts Building May 12, 2017, as
47 students from six nations received high school diplomas. Harris also serves at the Missions
Pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee. He attended the academy as a
middle school student prior to his family’s international mission service in Barbados.
Steve and Arlene Debardelaben presented a unique husband-and-wife Baccalaureate message
to seniors and other students May 11. The couple resides in Coral Gables, Florida, and has been
actively working with CRU (Campus Crusade For Christ) since 1971. The Debardelabens serve as
chaplains for the University of Miami sports teams and most of the professional sports teams in
that area. Arlene attended the academy in the 1960s.
These are among the most exciting days in the academy’s 135-year history! Students are
achieving amazing academic success and developing a biblical world view that they can carry
with them throughout their lives. Athletic teams are also experiencing major successes.
- Valedictorian Kaiyi Jiang was named a finalist in the Dongrun-Yau Science and
Mathematics competition in Beijing, China. Kaiyi’s research on breast cancer
chemotherapy agents included very positive results with broccoli and a grass that grows
in his home region of Dalian, China. He was selected from among 6,000 Chinese
students throughout the world for the finalist honor.
- The high school girls’ softball team repeated as Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic
Association Division II-A Champions.
- Senior Niamh Schumacher won her eighth TSSAA II-A State Championship in Cross
Country and Track.
- Niamh and sophomores Regan Weekly and Maddie Webber of the softball team were
named to All-American teams for their accomplishments. These are the first students to
earn All American recognition in school history.
The academy celebrates the 85-year partnership with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Boards of Trustees have guided the academy for over eight decades and the Cooperative
Program enabled the academy to extend its outreach around the world. The distinctive
boarding program attracts students from throughout the world. It is a unique opportunity to
be involved in international missions in Tennessee!
New facilities add to the beauty of the academy’s 67-acre campus. A second dining room offers
a comfortable venue for private dinners, board meetings and overflow seating for the
renovated Ashe Cafeteria. A new patio was installed at the front (main) entrance to the
Anderson Building and all sidewalks on the front lawn have been replaced, all thanks to donors.
It is an honor to serve with Tennessee Baptists in this unique educational ministry.
Walter Grubb, President/Headmaster
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