Where Are They Now

	Matt Wantland What is your fondest Metro memory? It is difficult to choose only one memory from my days at Metro, so I will highlight a few. I will never forget Praise & Worship class; it was a great honor to get to lea my fellow Christians and classmates in worship every week. I also enjoyed Jazz Band, hanging out in the senior lounge, and playing 4-square at lunch. As a Metro :Lifer", I also cherish my very first Metro memory; that of walking into Mrs. Kelly's K-4 class and being assured that everything will be okay and the "yes" I could nap in the tree house. What did you do after high school graduation? After graduation, I attended the University of Tulsa and studied engineering. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in May 2010. Two months later, I married my long-time love and fellow engineer, Megan and have been joyfully married for the last year and a half. What are you up to now? My wife and I currently live in Tulsa and are about to purchase our first home in midtown. Currently, I work as a Product Engineer for T.D. Williamson, Inc. in Tulsa. I work to improve product designs and mitigate and resolve manufacturing control errors. My wife is the Proposal Coordinator for Valerus Compression Services in Tulsa. How did Metro prepare you for your future? I would not trade my experience at Metro for anything. I am a firm believer in education and the skills and lessons I received from Metro placed me (and sometimes shoved me) down the path of success. I have also come to understand that there is no perfect formula or preparation for the future. Life will throw you your share of obstacles and trials, but your ability to handle these trials is a testament to you as a person as well as the support structure you place around yourself; friends, family, past experiences, and above all, God almighty. Do you keep up with Metro friends and family? I try to keep up with as many Metro friends as possible. The more time passes, the harder it seems to get to keep in touch, but I do my best. We get together with Patrick Southern on occasion and I talk to Austin Cobb from time to time. I also try to see LeighAnn Lewis, Alex Kondos, and John Cavert when they're in town. Amongst the hustle of moving and daily life, we never neglect to savor the holidays with family and friends, and all the joy they bring into our lives. I have been very blessed to experience so much love and success in my life. I owe this to a number of things, including Metro. I am very gracious and proud to be a Patriot. God Bless!
	Donnie Van Curen Class of 1987 At Metro Christian, our alumni are our family and we enjoy seeing those who have graduated come back to visit us! Recently, we had an alumnus stop by to say hello -- he is now a television regular in Oklahoma City. Meet Donnie Van Curen, Metro Class of 1987. Donnie currently practices full time in Edmond, Oklahoma with blended families, marriage, and pre-marriage couples, couples facing divorce, and both adolescent and adult individuals. Donnie also is in completion of a Christian marriage book, untitled at the present time, due out in the fall of 2012. He can be seen on Channel 9 in Oklahoma City each Friday at 4:40pm, on the relationship segment titled "Ask Donnie". For more information on Donnie and his practice, to to www.counseling1820.com. What is your fondest Metro memory? Baseball, Student Council, and the Riot Squad. What did you do after high school graduation? I went to OSU and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. I spent time in Florida and Connecticut before returning to Oklahoma in 2000 working for Loves Travel Stops as the Director of Fleet Sales. I then shifted gears and went back to school to pursue a new career at Southern Nazarene University and received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2008. What are you up to now? I am a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Edmond, Oklahoma. How did Metro prepare you for your future? Metro was a great source of support and taught me how to build meaningful relationships. Attending Metro also gave me a sense of confidence in myself. Do you keep up with Metro friends and family? Facebook has opened up new old friendships and I recently stopped by Metro Christian to say hello to Carole Crowder and KayKay Shelton who are always so great to see.
	Rachel Wimpey Class of 2006 Homecoming week brings back special memories for many former Metro students and this year's event will undoubtedly be planted in many current students minds for years to come. We had one alumna come back to visit with a novel idea, "what about doing an alumni art show?" What started with a few paintings of her own along with a few friends' pieces has turned into something special that will be a wonderful addition for years to come! Acquaint yourself with Rachel Wimpey if you haven't already - she'll be one you'll see more of in galleries and museums around the country in the not so distant future. PP: What is your favorite Metro memory? My favorite high school memory is when I was on homecoming court my junior year. It was such a wonderful experience and I loved riding in the limo and convertible! Homecoming is definitely one of my fondest memories of high school. PP: Where did you go to college? I attended Oklahoma Baptist University for 2 years and then transferred to Dallas Baptist University, where I graduated in 2010. PP: What are you up to now? After returning in August from five weeks of teaching in Bejing, I am currently living in Tulsa and work full time out of my studio - Willowbrush Studio and Gallery. This fall I will be teaching classes, hosting drawing nights for area high school students, and having a grand opening for my gallery space. (My website is almost finished.) All information for upcoming events can be found at www.rachelwimpey.com. This year the Lord has brought many blessings, including the dedication of my second public mural. Commissioned by the Vice President of Dallas Baptist University, the 7'x9' mural now hangs in DBU's permanent collection in the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel. Beginning October 22nd, I will be one of 70 featured artists from around the United States for the 2011 Collector's Reserve show and sale at Gilcrease Museum. PP: What Metro friends do you keep up with these days? I still keep in touch with many Metro people including: Mrs. Vesanen, Mrs. Blake, Libby Francis, Caitie Henley Brown, Kaily Ward Stokes, LeighAnn Lewis, and Rachel Lapo among others. I am so excited to be serving Metro this year by traveling to Honduras with the high school missions classes as a translator and sponsor. PP: How did Metro prepare you for your future? Metro prepared me for the future in many ways. Metro taught me the importance of Christian education, and the vital role that it plays in our lives as we go to college and beyond. Were it not for Metro and the wonderful teachers such as Mrs. Vesanen, I would not be an artist today. Mrs. Pile's class was key to my college course success. I am so glad to have attended Metro, and I am grateful for its emphasis on character development as a key part of education.
	Ben Rector Class of 2005 With a new album Something Like This releasing on September 13th and a hectic tour schedule, Ben Rector remains humble to the core. His youTube promotion video features him personally interviewing random people on the street in Nashville asking them what they think of his latest album (They don't know he's Ben Rector). Most of the responses are, "Who's Ben Rector?" or "Never hear of Ben Rector". It's hilarious yet humbling and it doesn't keep Ben from working hard and selling out crowds. Via email, Ben took time out from his busy schedule to respond to the Patriot Press. In typical Ben Rector fashion, all of his responses started with a small case letter "i". Here's what he's been up to since graduating from Metro Christian Academy. What's your favorite Metro memory? my favorite Metro memory was either hanging out in the senior lounge or playing four-square in the alcove near the senior lockers. Where did you go after Metro for college? i attended the University of Arkansas. What are you doing now? i'm playing and writing music in Nashville, Tennessee. i tour pretty extensively for my own music and write songs for other artists as well. What friends do you keep up with? i'd like to do a better job of keeping up with old classmates. There are a few that went to Arkansas and were a part of my college experience as well, but i usually talk with high school friends once in a while and try to stay up-to-date with what people are doing. How did Metro prepare you for the future? i think Metro was a unique opportunity for me to really dig in to music because of the Praise and Worship class. i didn't start singing or writing songs until after i started going to Metro and i think it was a big motivation for me to see people in chapel every week playing and singing, praise and worship was really a crash course in how to be a musician and that has been really valuable to me in my career!
	Spencer Crowe Class of 2006 We couldn't call ourselves Patriots at Metro Christian without a special place in our hearts for those who serve our country by protecting the freedoms we enjoy each day - many times taking them for granted. At Veteran's Day each year, we celebrate our family members who have served this great nation with a special Chapel entitled, "God Bless America's Heroes." The service was started 10 years ago by our preschool teacher, Mrs. Carol Kelley following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Usually, our Chapel invitees include parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who have served. Beginning this year, the service will include our alumni who have been brave enough to answer the call of duty. Spencer Crowe is a 2006 graduate who has just finished his 4 years of service - tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Crowe has returned to Tulsa following his honorable discharge and we were fortunate enough to get back in touch with him. What is your favorite Metro memory? The friendships I made. What have you been doing since your high school graduation? I attended Oklahoma State University for one year and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where I just completed my four year commitment in December. What are your thoughts now about the war on terror since Bin Laden's capture and death? I'm glad to see that he has been captured and people should know how hard our military works to keep America safe. This is a different kind of war than that of our parents and grandparents. Will you utilize any of the skills you learned in the Marine Corps and what will you do now? I got back to Tulsa in December and enrolled at Tulsa Community College this spring. I plan to continue to get a degree in Business Management and no, I won't be using the skills I learned in the Marine Corps - unless I wanted to become a police officer or something like that. Do you still maintain relationships with your Metro Christian friends? Yes, I'm currently roommates with Steven Fitter and I'm still good friends with Cody Bacon, Ethan Patton, and Bradley McCool.
	Kristen Wulf Class of 2007 2007 seems like yesterday for many of us, but for Kristen, it was 4 years ago that she graduated as Metro Christian's Valedictorian and she's already finished college at John Brown University with a double degree in Political Science and Spanish with honors (Summa Cum Laude). What's your favorite Metro memory? My favorite high school memory was concocting a smoke bomb in the AP Chem lab, but having it explode before we were finished making it. There was purple and green smoke and a loud enough boom that Mr. Bradshaw finally decided to investigate what we were doing. I think Mr. Bradshaw made sure there were no pictures. We did set of couple off in the elementary parking lot. I'm also pretty sure that we're on government lists now since we had to look up the formula online. What have you been up to since graduating from Metro Christian? Since graduation, I live in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and attended John Brown University (JBU) for a little while and then moved back to Tulsa where I'm my parents urban housewife and volunteer twice a week at Catholic Charities. What are you doing now? I'm moving to China in August to teach English for a year with English Language Institute China (ELIC). My passion is human rights. Afterwards, I'm going to grad school to get a degree in International Affairs and hopefully, work for the United Nations. Do you keep in touch with your Metro friends? I'm still in touch with some of my friends from high school, but mostly just the ones who went to JBU with me or were in youth group with me in high school. Do you have any other family members who are currently attending Metro? My older sister, Amanda, graduated in 2003 and my younger sister, Elizabeth, will graduate in 2011.
	Stuart Sullivan Class of 1986 Since graduating from Metro Christian in 1986, Stuart Sullivan has kept busy by furthering his educationand working for one of Fortune 500’s "Top 100 Companies to Work For” in the United States. Outside of work, he’s married to Sally Sullivan and has 2 children who now attend Metro—Josh (3rd grader) and Jacob (7th grader). He enjoys coaching his kids in every sport—football, basketball and baseball. He enjoys volunteering in other capacities as well—First United Methodist Church, Tulsa Area United Way and John 3:16. As busy as he seems, he took the time to visit with Patriot Press (PP) about his thoughts and memories of Metro. PP: What is your fondest High School memory? Being named Mr. Patriot #3 in 1986 PP: Where did you go to college and what degrees did you earn? Tulsa University with BBA in Accounting 1990 and JD in 1994 PP: Where are you working now? I am Vice President/General Counsel for QuikTrip Corporation in Tulsa. PP: Why is Metro important to you and what made you decide to send your children here as well? I valued greatly my experience at Metro that provided a small Christian environment, excellent education, competitive sports and other opportunities. I wanted the same experience for my two boys. PP: Do you keep up with any of your MCA friends? Whom? I work with a couple and run into some in my work life, but the funniest part as been coaching elementary football with guys I played with at Metro, like Rich Wales and John Frohrip. Brings back a lot of memories out there on the same practice field we were practiced on 26 or so years ago Join us on February 15th at 6:00pm in the auditorium to celebrate Stuart and our other Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees.
	Julie Davis Frohrip Class of 1987 Since we started Retro Metro, the Patriot Press has received dozens of requests for updates on our graduates, and one consistent request is an update on our teachers. While flipping through the 1987 yearbook in preparation for Homecoming, we spotted a teacher many might recognize! This month’s Retro Metro spotlight is on Julie Davis Frohrip-a Metro Christian alumnus, parent and teacher. PP: What is your fondest Metro memory? I have so many amazing memories of my time at Metro. I loved hosting the State Student Council Convention, cheering at the 1st football game in our very own stadium, and being introduced to a senior boy named John Frohrip. PP: Who was your favorite teacher/administrator when you were a student? I had wonderful teachers and administrators when I was here as a student! Luckily, two of my favorites are still here and I have the opportunity to teach with them now. I have the utmost respect and love for Mrs. Georganne Haney and Mrs. Jane Ward! PP: What do you do now? I have the best job! This is my 7th year as a High School Spanish teacher at Metro Christian Academy. PP: Why did you decide to put your children in Metro? Thank goodness my children ended up at Metro. My son, Davis, started in the K4 program with Mrs. Kelley as a result of a recommendation from my sister, Christy Gilliam, a former Metro 4th and 5th grade Math teacher. We started, loved it and are thankful that God has made Metro a part of His plan for our family. This year, Davis is a freshman and Madeline is a 7th grader. PP: Do you still keep up with the friends you graduated with at MCA? I love that so many of my Metro friends are still a part of my life! My dearest friends and I share fun and funny memories of our days together as Metro students and many now as Metro parents.
	Shelly Hendrix Class of 2000 Seems like 2000 wasn’t so long ago, but for this Metro Christian graduate life has been full of multiple blessings. Patriot Press caught up with Shelly one day when she was home recovering from a bad cough and cold. PP: What is your fondest High School memory? SH: I enjoyed being in Drama and going to Regional and then State competition. The funny thing about it is, I was the understudy for Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker” and our lead actress at the last minute couldn’t compete due to a scheduling conflict with her prospective college. I made the All Star Cast! PP: Where did you go to college? SH: I first went to Oklahoma Baptist University and wasn’t sure about my degree, so I took a break and then went back to school and finished at Northeastern State and got my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. PP: Where are you working? SH: I’m working for Tulsa Neighboring Networks in association with Contact Mission Church of Christ. I work with inner-city children here in Tulsa with after school programming. We have an ‘After School Club” where we provide dinner, tutoring, teach bible verses. On Wednesday mornings, I go to Clinton Middle School and provide breakfast and lead a bible study before classes begin. PP: Do you still keep in touch with your Metro friends? SH: Yes, my best friend graduated from Metro with me. Her name is Triere Palmer Boyer. I had a great time at our recent class reunion and reconnected with more friends there. My sister Jennifer Hendrix Page is a Metro Graduate and is married and living in Bixby now.
	Brad McNeese Class of 1985 You may still see him hanging out on campus from time to time. You may still see him on the tennis court. 25 years ago, he was Senior Class President at Metro Christian Academy, and interviewed recently by the Patriot Press, Brad shared his memories and updates with us. PP: What is your fondest high school memory? BM: Going to The Caravan on Friday Nights with my friends. PP: Where did you go to college? BM: The University of Oklahoma. Pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon. Received my BBA in Finance. PP: Where are you working? BM: I'm Group Vice President of Cintas for the Central Plains Region - my territory includes: Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Oklahoma. PP: How about your family? BM: I married my college sweetheart, Candace. We have three children - Emma, Cade and Cole who attend Metro. PP: Why did you choose Metro for your children? BM: We wanted our kids to have a Christian education. Another one of my fondest Metro memories is that of Rod Goodsell, our Superintendent in 1985. He led chapel and guided me and several other kids to Christ. He was a Godly man and all of us looked up to him. PP: Anything else about Metro you enjoy? BM: Seeing our kids going to school with their cousins, the Charvats.

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