Accelerate Christian School

🏀 Warrior Basketball Camp 🏀

What an incredible week for our 6th–12th grade Warrior athletes! A huge thank you to Coach Sherry McKinnon and our Accelerate Christian School basketball coaches for investing in our students through instruction, encouragement, competition, and skill development.

Throughout the week, our athletes worked hard, sharpened their skills, and competed with excellence. To wrap up camp, several awards were presented to recognize outstanding performance and dedication.

🏆 Camp Awards:
• All-Around Camper
• Most Improved
• Best Defender

🏀 Competition Champions:
• Hot Shot
• 3-Point Shooting
• Mikan Layups (High School)
• Layup Competition (Junior High)
• Free Throw Shooting

Congratulations to all of our award winners and participants! We are proud of the effort, attitude, and growth displayed throughout the week and can’t wait to do it again next summer.

🏀💛💙

⭐️ Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Lori Thomason ⭐️

Today we are highlighting Mrs. Lori Thomason, who has been a part of Accelerate Christian School since the very beginning. Mrs. Lori has faithfully served as our Office Manager for all 8 years of ACS.

If you have ever called the school or stopped by the office, chances are you’ve been greeted with a smile by Mrs. Lori. She is often one of the first faces our students, parents, and visitors see each day.

Mrs. Lori is also jokingly known as the school nurse. Students know that if they need a Band-Aid, she’s the one to see! Whether it’s a scraped knee, a headache, or just a tough day, she is always ready with a helping hand, a caring heart, and often a prayer for the students who come through her office.

One of Mrs. Lori’s greatest joys is her family. In fact, she currently has six grandchildren attending ACS!

When she’s not at school, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, reading, and being outdoors.

What Mrs. Lori loves most about ACS is watching students grow in their walk with the Lord and become the mighty warriors He has called them to be.

Favorite Scripture
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

Thank you, Mrs. Lori, for your faithful service, dedication, and love for our students and families. We are grateful for the impact you have made on ACS over the past eight years.

⭐️ Staff Spotlight: Ms. Aloha Gitchell ⭐️

Today we are highlighting Ms. Aloha Gitchell.

Ms. Aloha volunteered at ACS from 2018–2021 and has served on staff since 2022. She teaches classroom music for levels 1st–5th, leads choir, and this year taught Dual Credit Music Appreciation for our high school students.

A remarkable accomplishment is her 60 years of service as a violin and viola player with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra.

When she is not teaching, she enjoys making baby quilts. What she loves most about ACS is the opportunity to teach music and share her passion with students.

Favorite Scripture
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” — Psalm 23:6

Thank you, Ms. Aloha, for your faithful service and for investing in the lives of our students. We are grateful to have you as part of the ACS family.

🏀 We wrapped up our first full day of Basketball Camp with Coach Sherry McKinnon!

Today was filled with skill-building drills, competitive games, and plenty of opportunities for our athletes to grow both on and off the court. Coach McKinnon challenged campers to improve their fundamentals, compete with excellence, and work together as a team.

We’re excited for another great day tomorrow as our campers continue learning, competing, and developing their love for the game!

⭐️ Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Libby Kelley ⭐️

Today we’re excited to highlight Mrs. Libby Kelley!

Mrs. Libby has faithfully served as a volunteer at ACS since 2018 and joined our staff in 2022. She currently serves as the supervisor for our 1st-grade class, where she pours into students each day with love, wisdom, and encouragement.

Fun fact: Before joining ACS, Mrs. Libby spent more than 20 years as a hairstylist! When she’s not at school, she enjoys playing golf with her husband.

When asked what she loves most about ACS, Mrs. Libby shared, “I cherish our morning devotions where we spend time with Jesus before classes begin, and I love knowing that my grandbabies are receiving biblical teaching every day.”

📖 Favorite Scripture:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Congratulations to Danity Diaz on being named the TAPPS 1A Female Athlete of the Year!

During her four years at Accelerate Christian School, Danity established herself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in school history. Excelling in volleyball, basketball, and golf, she earned numerous district, state, and individual honors while consistently representing ACS with excellence both in athletics and academics.

Golf
• TAPPS 1A State Champion (Senior Year)
• State Medalist (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years)
• First Team All-State (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years)

Volleyball
• Second Team All-District (Freshman Year)
• First Team All-District (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years)
• First Team All-State (Junior and Senior Years)

Basketball
• TAPPS 1A Freshman of the Year
• Amarillo Globe-News Girls Basketball Super Team Honorable Mention (Freshman Year)
• First Team All-District (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Years)
• Second Team All-State (Sophomore Year)

Danity’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Whether in the classroom, on the court, or on the golf course, she has represented Accelerate Christian School with character, leadership, and determination.

This fall, Danity will continue her academic and athletic career at Wayland Baptist University on a full golf scholarship. We are excited to watch her continue to excel at the collegiate level and know her future is bright.

Congratulations, Danity, on being named TAPPS 1A Female Athlete of the Year and on an incredible high school career. Your ACS family is proud of you!

We are so blessed to have so many incredible sponsors who support Accelerate Christian School. Your generosity helps us continue raising up leaders and sending out hope. We are truly thankful for every business, family, and individual who invested in this year’s golf tournament and the future of our students. Thank you for making a difference!

Access Community Credit Union
Amarillo National Bank
The Good Feet Store
United Supermarkets
Kirk Insurance Agency
Wilkins Radio Station
Love Family
Myers Family
Comanche Trail Golf Course
Total Health and Wellness Center
Binswanger Glass
BCL Construction and Roofing
First National Bank - Hereford
The Great Armadillo Printing Co.
Kingdom Keys Radio Network
Maverick Windows
Brittany Myers, Realtor, Moreland Real Estate Group
Canyon Creek Body Shop
Preeminent Marble
The Vault Legacy
Whitney Russell Printing
R.U. Remodeling LLC
Rubio Family
First Bank Southwest
Blessed and Highly Favored Lawn Care Services
Golf Headquarters
Kristi Montgomery
Hodges and Hodges Orthodontics
Southwest General Contractors
Western Bank
Roasters Coffee and Tea
Rise and Shine Donuts
The Back Nine Golf
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Golf Headquarters
Water Still
Parad-ice
Sam's Club