January 10, 2015, SCCS Senior Zack Norton received an email that he was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy basic training. It was on a fifth grade field trip to Edwards Air Force Base where Norton first remembered being in awe of the cool airplanes. “I didn’t understand the commitment it would take back then to get into the Air Force,” said Norton. “It was in the ninth grade when I really got serious about it and began preparing for the application process.”
At one point Norton’s parents had considered sending him to a larger public school because they had a JROTC program.
“Going to a small Christian school allowed him different opportunities that he might not have been able to get elsewhere,” said Melissa, Norton’s mom. “We felt that if God wants him at the Air Force Academy, he will get there.”
Norton’s parents attribute their son’s successful high school career to the opportunities that SCCS provided. “He was able to be on the Varsity Soccer team in the ninth grade and was team captain in the 11th and 12th grade and served in student council leadership roles,” said Melissa.
Norton wasn’t the only SCCS senior to receive a full ride scholarship. Senior Chris Collins received a full scholarship to play basketball for The Master’s College. Collins, a native of the Cayman Islands, was the Cardinals’ MVP last season and a first-team All-Heritage League selection. Collins was also named to the All-CIF second team.
More than half of the 2015 SCCS graduating class has been offered scholarships, with many receiving over $10,000. “This money is connected to academic scholarships which are quite competitive and difficult to receive,” said Matt Brown, SCCS Academic Dean.
SCCS graduates will be attending national colleges and universities such as: US Merchant Marine Academy, Embry Riddle, Azusa Pacific, Biola, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of Oregon, Cal Lutheran, College of the Canyons, Grand Canyon University, Vanguard, Kings, Liberty, San Diego State, The Master’s College, UC Berkley, UC Davis and UC Irvine.
Serving grades K-12, SCCS pursues academic excellence, promotes spiritual growth and encourages character development in order to produce students who are prepared to make a difference in the world for God. SCCS is now accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year.
For more information about SCCS, visit www.sccs.cc or www.facebook.com/SantaClaritaChristianSchool.