Alumni News

Elementary teachers welcomed kindergartener Ollie Gates and his family to Cypress Christian School this fall. Ollie is the son of Jessica Van Rieg Gates (’06) and her husband Rusty Gates. He is also the grandson of alumni parents John and Pam Van Rieg (who are currently both on staff at CCS) and the great grandson of CCS founders Gerald and Edith Van Beek (who are in heaven with our Lord).

Makayla Frye (’16) graduated in May 2020 from Baptist Bible College and Cox College of Nursing. Since then she has worked as a nurse in Springfield, MO, and served at High Street Church. This spring, she was approved as a WIN (World Initiative Network) missionary to Kenya and will be working with Real 4 Christ Ministries.

Ashley Milstead Wilson (’14) married Colby Wilson on March 6, 2021. Ashley recently graduated from Sam Houston State University with an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is starting a new job at Liberty Hill Child & Family Counseling.

Josh Clark (’01) is the owner of Neverland Balloons and Facepainting and says that his business has really been growing. His TikTok account, @BalloonJosh, which provides fun, family-friendly content, has grown to over 1.4 million followers in just five months. He now gets paid to make TikTok videos and is also listed as Balloon Josh on FamousBirthdays.com.

Maddie Echols ('17) graduated from Texas A&M University in December 2020 earning a degree in communications, a minor in sociology and an associate degree in foreign language. She says she is forever grateful for everyone who has supported her over the years. "I truly couldn’t have done it without y’all."

Second-generation Warriors and more!

Congratulations to our alumni college graduates, newlyweds, new parents, future Warrior and thank you to an alumni serviceman – all featured in this issue of the Warrior Alumni Newsletter.

Each May, our nation comes together to honor our hardworking nurses and teachers. Last week, CCS joined the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and parents and students across America in the tribute to these hardworking essential workers via our online social media platforms.

Warrior graduates are working hard and serving our world during the crisis surrounding COVID-19, and we thank our CCS Prayer Warriors for praying for our alumni as they serve in various capacities. Please watch for more news on “Alumni Warriors at Work” via our social media channels.

Alumni pastors and missionaries are sharing the love of Christ in creative and innovate ways.

Warrior graduates are impacting our world during the national crisis surrounding COVID-19, and we ask the CCS Prayer Warriors to keep our alumni in your prayers as they serve in various capacities.

This month, the Warrior Alumni Association is pleased to feature graduates who are serving their communities in the areas of athletics, law, law enforcement, medicine, military service, missions, homeless services and consumer services. CCS is very proud of these Warriors, and thankful for how they are serving God’s people and impacting our world. Click here to read more about Steven Dansby and other CCS alumni.

On Monday, November 11, 2019, CCS was honored to partner with current school families and alumni to recognize the military service of their loved ones. In attendance at the annual Veterans Day Assembly were CCS graduates Robert Geyer ’14 (Marines),  Phil Praesel ’98 (Air Force) and Johnathon Alsobrooks, spouse of Susan Mayes Alsobrooks ’01 (Army). These three veterans along with 15 fellow alumni veterans were recognized in the 2019 Roll of Honor. Read more about this event and other CCS alumni in the November 2019 Alumni Newsletter.

Alumni were on campus this month for Homecoming and our Pastor Appreciation Luncheon.

Julian Logan (’15) is majoring in industrial and systems engineering at the University of Oklahoma with plans to graduate in May 2020. Over the summer, Julian enjoyed his role as the Associate Logistics Intern in the Athletic Department of Rice University in Houston, TX.

Two former '07 classmates gave birth on the same day. Both Keeley Lambert Jones and Kelsey Salmon Moore welcomed little Warriors on May 9, 2019.

Samantha Longridge (’16), who was recently engaged to Dawson Odom (a fellow Aggie), is majoring in oceanography and minoring in math at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. As part of her studies, she has participated in research cruises to assess the condition of Galveston Bay, with the first cruise being in response to Hurricane Harvey, and her most recent research cruise taking place two days after the ITC fire in Deer Park, TX.

Grayson Beck (’14) graduated from Southwestern University in 2018 with a degree in business.

Taylor Broadway ('15) is playing baseball at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford, MS.

Jordyn McCain Milenkovic ('09), along with fellow CCS graduates, has begun planning the class of 2009 ten-year reunion.

Members of the class of 2008 recently gathered together at CCS to tour the campus, reminisce and enjoy being together once again at their alma mater.

On Tuesday, the Class of 2018 gathered on campus for one last time before heading off to college for a Yearbook Signing & College Send-off.