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Grace Christian Academy (Illinois)

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Coordinates: 41°06′12″N 87°49′42″W / 41.1034°N 87.8283°W / 41.1034; -87.8283
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Grace Christian Academy
Address
Map
2499 Waldron Rd.

Kankakee
,
Kankakee
,
Illinois
,
60901

United States
Coordinates41°06′12″N 87°49′42″W / 41.1034°N 87.8283°W / 41.1034; -87.8283
Information
Other nameGrace
Former nameGrace Baptist Academy[1]
TypeAssociation of Christian Schools International (ACSI) [2]
MottoIn Pursuit of Wisdom
Established1973
PrincipalAaron Most
PrincipalHollie Erickson
Grades3 year olds - 12th Grade
Enrollment225[3]
Color(s)   
Athletics conference
[5]
Team nameCrusaders
Websitewww.gracecrusaders.org

Grace Christian Academy (GCA) is an accredited Preschool-12th grade private, evangelical, Christian school located in Kankakee, Illinois.[6]

GCA serves students in Kankakee County, Iroquois County, and Will County.

History

[edit]

In 1973, Grace Baptist Church in Kankakee, Illinois, founded Grace Baptist Academy as a school for kindergarten through sixth grade. In 1975 the academy expanded to serve junior high students, and in 1977, added high school classes.[1] It is a private, non-profit corporation.[7][8]

In the summer of 1978, Grace Baptist Church broke ground on a new educational annex, which was completed and dedicated in May 1979. As the school grew, the church purchased additional land and added more classroom space.

In December 2012, Grace Baptist Academy changed its name to Grace Christian Academy, "to better represent the students and faculty made up of multiple Christian denominations".[9]

In January 2020, GCA was granted accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International.[10]

Until the beginning of the 2020 school year, the school was part of the Illinois Christian Conference Association for athletic competitions. In the fall of 2020, GCA became affiliated the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) for sports and other extra-curricular activities.[11] GCA joined the River Valley Conference for athletic competitions, effective for the 2021 school year.[5]

In 2023-24, Grace Christian Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary. The school commemorated five decades of providing Christ-centered education, emphasizing wisdom, character, and integrity. Principal Aaron Most highlighted the school's ongoing commitment to its founding principles of grace and Christian values. The celebration acknowledged the contributions of past leaders and the enduring support from the school community, marking a significant milestone in GCA's history.[12]

Notable alumni

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  • Don Bacon - Don Bacon is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 2nd congressional district of Nebraska since 2017. Before his political career, he served in the United States Air Force for 29 years, retiring as a Brigadier General.
  • Gabriel Burch – Award-winning filmmaker and television producer. Burch was presented with the College Television Award in the Nonfiction Series category for their outstanding work in student-produced content.[13] The recognition highlights Burch's dedication, creativity, and passion for storytelling. He is also a co-founder and current president of social media marketing company Precision Social.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Kankakee: Name change introduces Grace Christian Academy". The Daily Journal.
  2. ^ "ACSI Member Schools". ACSI.
  3. ^ "National Center for Education Statistics". Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "School Directory". Illinois High School Association. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Schweizer, Mason. "Grace Christian headed to RVC". The Daily Journal. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  6. ^ "Schools in Kankakee". City of Kankakee. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  8. ^ "Grace Christian Academy Kankakee Inc. Nonprofit Profile". www.guidestar.org. 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Leonhardt, Nicole (Oct 16, 2013). "Kankakee: Name change introduces Grace Christian Academy". The Daily Journal. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  10. ^ "Grace Christian Academy is now accredited". The Daily Journal. Jan 23, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Making it official: Grace Christian set for IHSA". The Daily Journal. May 4, 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  12. ^ Stephanie Markham, "Grace Christian Academy leaders reflect on 50-year anniversary", Daily Journal, May 23, 2024. [1]
  13. ^ "College Television Awards Presenters" (PDF). Emmys.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "About • Precision Social". precisionsocial.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
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