Whitefield Academy’s board of trustees, founding members and leadership dedicated Whitefield’s Founders Hall on Friday, October 25, 2013 to pay tribute to those who laid its cornerstones.
The evening began with a reception for founders, past board members, current board members and guests in the lobby of Morris Hall. David Jones and Chuck Johnston welcomed guests as they reconnected and reminisced while perusing yearbooks, archive binders, and letters of thanks from current Whitefield students.
Following the reception, the founders and special guests moved into the David G. Jones Quadrangle to gather for the dedication of Founders Hall which now houses the Whitefield Middle School.
“Founders Hall serves as a daily reminder and testimony to the living and active Jesus,” said Dr. Kevin Bracher, headmaster. “As the founders followed Him while making Whitefield Academy a reality, they demonstrated courage, generosity, and faithfulness.”
During the official dedication ceremony, Bracher, Chuck Johnston, founding headmaster, and David Jones, founding board chair, noted Founders Hall as a symbol of the courage and faith exemplified by Whitefield Academy’s founders. The three leaders also announced the dedication of its band room to founding member and long-time arts director, Stacy Quiros.
“Today marks an important milestone for us,” said Tom Wood, Whitefield's director of advancement. “It is a proof point that Whitefield’s founding members and current leadership team has built a solid and lasting foundation for future generations to come.”
Whitefield Academy was formed in 1996 through a partnership of The Cranmer School and Mount Vernon Christian Academy. On September 10, 1996, the partnership culminated into a joint resolution to combine the boards, leadership, resources and support of the two schools. Chuck Johnston of The Cranmer School was named headmaster, and David Jones, of Mount Vernon Christian Academy,
was named chairman of the Whitefield Board of Trustees. Other founding board members include Betsy Akers, Jack Camarda, John Dail, David A. Deeter, Wallace Francis, Gordy Germany, Joe Hamilton III, Patty P. Hatcher, Matt Hawkins, Fred H. Henritze, Chuck LeCraw, Joe S. McCall, Marty McDevitt, Ginny Millner, David L. Ott, Larry Powell, Stacy Quiros, Charles H. Renfroe, Patty Renfroe, Jack Sibley and Chad Zimmerman.
Founders Hall opened in 2002 as the first academic building on the new Smyrna campus. In April 2013, Whitefield purchased two additional acres that adjoin the existing campus, continuing the expansion of the current 80-acre site.