12 Sep A Word from Dr. Satterly—September 12, 2024
Dear WA Community,
Each generation has moments where everyone remembers where they were when it happened—for the Greatest Generation, it was December 7, 1941, “a day that will live in infamy.” The Silent Generation will not forget November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The Boomers will not soon forget that fateful day of April 4, 1968, when Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped out on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, or July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon. While there are certainly others, you get the idea.
For me, one of those dates was September 11, 2001. Carol and I had returned to Rock Hill, South Carolina, to finalize our move to Citrus County, Florida. That trip ended rather abruptly as we raced to be with our children. Perhaps this is on my mind because every time I come to Washington, D.C., I recall seeing the cranes removing damaged parts of the Pentagon on a cold, dreary February day in 2002 from my vantage point at Arlington National Cemetery.
My trip to Washington this week was for a much happier occasion as I joined two members of our advancement team and eight WA Student Ambassadors for the Center for Christian Statesmanship Awards Luncheon. This kind of event is part of what we often call the Westminster Academy Experience—the full scope of what our students enjoy as part of our comprehensive program. This year’s winner is Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. These ambassadors serve as hosts for the event and have the opportunity to engage a wide range of leaders in Washington. It is our collective hope that this will be one of those memorable experiences for our students.
A distinctive feature of the Westminster Academy Experience is our partnership with Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and its related ministries like the Institute for Faith and Culture and the Center for Christian Statesmanship. Our programming, grounded on academic rigor and faith formation, is supported, enhanced, and expanded because of the bond of shared mission and vision between church and school. Back when we were concerned about the Soviets (that’s what we used to call Russia) and I was an Army Officer, we called this sort of thing a force multiplier. Given the high calling we share to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders, Westminster Academy and Coral Ridge stand together.
When speaking about our mission, I often remind folks that Westminster Academy is a school, but it is not just any school. It is one devoted to Christ and dedicated to excellence. It is a Christ-centered, biblically-based college preparatory school that enjoys a powerful partner. To borrow from a popular slogan, “We are WA.” But more to the point, We are WA, and we are not alone! Thanks be to God!
To God be the Glory!
Dr. Joel Satterly
Headmaster