Update Information
Welcome home! As alumni of First Presbyterian Academy (formerly known as Shannon Forest Christian School), you are forever a part of our family. We believe that graduating from our school is quite an accomplishment, therefore we want to honor that accomplishment by creating a place just for you. This is a place that will allow you to keep in touch with your fellow classmates, as well as a place for you to keep us up-to-date on your educational, career and personal accomplishments!
Please take a moment to fill out the form on our alumni page so that we can include you in our alumni database. In addition to the basic information below, we would love to share with others what you are doing, or any special events in your life. You can email news and photos to
News & Events
This past weekend, Micah Weaver (Class of 2012) took command of Bravo Company - 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion. He commented, “I’m excited to be back within the 151 and to lead a great group of soldiers!” Congratulations, Micah and thank you for your service!
Alumni Abbey Long (Class of 2016) sees miracles every day at her job as a NICU nurse at The Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. She graduated from Clemson University in 2019 with a degree in Nursing.
Shannon Forest 2018 graduate Veronika Birkner has spent the last few weeks doing some student teaching in Mrs. Kinley’s 4th Grade class. The students have enjoyed getting to know her and they have loved her lessons, too! We wish her well as she finishes up her degree!
Congratulations to Liddy Agbomi, Class of 2018 alumni, for her recently published article in a scientific journal! The topic of the piece is on Dementia and Parkinson Disease with Dementia. Liddy will graduate this fall from Clemson University with a B.S. in Bioengineering, Biomaterials Concentration and a minor in Chemistry.
Read more from Liddy at the link below:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667032122000427
Alumni Christmas Cheer!
FPA Music teacher Ashley King joined some of her Class of 2018 alumni to sing sacred selections and spread cheer at The Gardens at Eastside over Christmas break. The performance was directed by former FPA parent and frequent accompanist, Joan Breazeale. Former students Emma Arnold, Anna Pereda, Conner Breazeale and Landon Best participated. We love our alumni!
Class of 2009 Alumnus Karuiam Booker Elected To Office
Karuiam Booker (Class of 2009) was recently elected to serve as the new Representative on the Greer City Council. Booker will take the seat of 23-year incumbent Wayne Griffin. He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Civil Engineering and is the Assistant District Inspection Engineer with the SCDOT. Karuiam states, “I hold dear my spiritual walk with Jesus Christ and truly believe my faith has brought me and my family to where we are today.” A fun fact from the past is that during the Shannon Forest 2008 mock election for Economics class, Karuiam ran against classmate John Hopkins and lost by a narrow margin. Congratulations, Karuiam. We love hearing about the successes of our former students!
FPA at Shannon Forest Alumni, Cadence Boehm (Class of 2021), recently had the opportunity to compete and row as a walk on with the Alabama Rowing Team vs. Clemson University. Cadence, who attends the University of Alabama, is the daughter of Jason and Laura Boehm. Her sister Selah, is in the 8th Grade.
FPA at Shannon Forest alumna Madison Allen (Class of 2014) has accepted the position of Account Executive for Corporate Partnerships for the NHL Florida Panthers Hockey team! Madison will be soaking up the sun in Fort Lauderdale as she enjoys her new success. Congratulations, Madison. Your life-long Crusader friends are so proud of you!
1st LT. Micah (Class of 2012) and Specialist Noah (Class of 2018) recently visited campus to take part in the filming of a special Veteran’s Day video production. Proud mom - D’Anne Weaver (Upper School teacher), is thankful for their service and safe return from the Middle East! The video is in lieu of the regular Veteran’s Day performance that Julie Sellars holds each year.
It's a bird...it's a plane...it's a former Crusader! 2019 graduate Alex Svacha cleared 11' 6.5" today for the Clemson Tigers Track and Field Pole Vault team. Congratulations, Alex!
Click HERE to read more!
Class of 2011 valedictorian Thomas Spurgeon was recently named as one of Greenville County School’s 2019 - 2020 Emerging Teacher of the Year nominees! His last name may sound familiar as he is the son of 1st Grade teacher Molly Spurgeon. Mrs. Spurgeon shared that education runs in the family. Thomas is a third generation teacher.
1st LT. Micah (Class of 2012) and PFC Noah (Class of 2018) have been deployed to the Middle East. They are the sons of Upper School teacher D'Anne Weaver. Please keep them in your prayers. We thank them for their service!
This year saw the premiere Alumni Volleyball game held at The Forest. The game featured 5 graduating classes, 4 State Championship representatives, 8 current Lady Crusaders and long-time Coach Ryan Godsey served as referee.
The 2019 Alumni Men’s Basketball game drew a great crowd of former Crusaders, parents and friends!
Class of 2016 graduate Caroline Kredensor says, “G-day, mate” from Australia, where she is currently studying abroad at Bond University on the Gold Coast. So far she has spent time visiting a rainforest, holding koalas and kangaroos, learning about Aboriginal culture (the native Australians), and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!
We LOVE Our Alumni Crusader Athletes!
Class of 2018 graduate Lauren Bowers is part of the winning University of South Carolina Volleyball team, shown here in a recent home game against Mississippi State. The Gamecocks are currently leading the SEC with an overall record of 13-1! 2016 graduate Luke Horne recently competed in a meet at the University of North Georgia. Luke runs Cross Country for Anderson University.
SFCS Alumna Published Author
Caroline Sellars, a 2006 Shannon Forest graduate, was featured at a book signing in downtown Greenville this past summer. Caroline has published two books; The Oak Tree Prince and Other Fairy Tales and Kore's Field.
Click on the links below to read more about Caroline Sellars’ books:
Other Fairy Tales and Kore's Field
Class of 2014 Graduate Recognized For Sports Marketing
Class of 2014 graduate, Madison Allen recently received the 2018 Clemson Business College Annual Award for Sports Marketing. Madison was recognized for superior academic performance and potential for a successful career in Sports Marketing. She has been accepted into the Vinik Sports and Entertainment dual degree program at the University of South Florida, where she will earn and MBA and MS in Sports and Entertainment Management. Madison is the daughter of Jimmy and Shanda Allen.
Alumni Panel Discusses The Shannon Experience
Shannon Forest Upper School faculty attended an alumni panel yesterday, as part of their professional growth and development plan. Six alumni from graduating classes over last 20 years joined us on campus to talk about their Shannon experience and how it prepared them for college, as well as their careers.
Visiting alumni included:
Betsy Tanner, Class of 1999 - SC Adoption Attorney
Will Keown, Class of 2005 - Film and Graphic Design Editor
Adam Groblewski, Class of 2006 - Personal Financial Advisor
Caroline (Hopkins) Newton, Class of 2006, Assistant Solicitor,Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office
Adam Long, Class of 2014, senior at Clemson (Electrical Engineering)
Katelyn Pittman, Class of 2015, junior at Anderson (Elementary Education)
Graduate Returns To Teach ASL
Class of 2016 graduate, Cassidy Van Houten returned to Shannon to teach choir students American Sign Language (ASL) for the song "Will You Teach Me?" by Alan Pote. Cassidy is majoring in ASL at Gardner Webb University.
Class of 2006 Alumna Returns To Address Law and Order Class
Class of 2006 alumna Caroline Hopkins returned to Shannon Forest to speak to Alvin Sell’s Law and Order Silva-mester class today! A graduate of Presbyterian College and the Charleston School of Law, she is an assistant solicitor with the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Shannon Forest Adds Two New Lawyers To Its Alumni!
Shannon Forest Alumna Recognized at Artisphere
