The Light

Dear Harbor Light Family,

Summer has a way of reminding us that change is a natural part of life. Students graduate, the school hallways grow quiet, families settle into different routines, and plans for a new school year begin to take shape. While change can sometimes feel unsettling, it is also a reminder that God is always at work—growing, shaping, and preparing us for what comes next.

This summer, I have been studying the book of Acts and have been encouraged by the example of the early church. The believers in Acts experienced tremendous change. They watched Jesus ascend into heaven, received the gift of the Holy Spirit, welcomed thousands of new believers, and carried the Gospel into places they had never imagined.

Throughout those changes, they remained focused on what mattered most. Acts 2 describes believers who were devoted to God, committed to one another, generous with what they had, and faithful to the mission Christ had given them. Their strength came not from everything staying the same, but from keeping their eyes fixed on the purpose God had placed before them.

The early church reminds us that faithfulness isn't about preserving everything exactly as it has always been. Rather, it is about continually asking how God is calling us to serve others more faithfully. As needs change and opportunities arise, we have the privilege—and responsibility—to prayerfully evaluate how we can best prepare the next generation for the future God has before them. That mindset has shaped many of the decisions we've made as we prepare for the coming school year.

As I reflect on Harbor Light Christian School, I am reminded that Christian education has always been a partnership. Parents, teachers, support staff, coaches, volunteers, board members, and church supporters each play a unique role in helping students grow academically, socially, and spiritually. While each of us serves in different ways, we share one common mission: preparing the next generation of leaders for Christ.

This fall will bring several exciting changes. One of the most significant is the launch of a more clearly defined middle school, allowing us to better serve students during these formative years with a program intentionally designed around their academic, spiritual, social, and developmental needs. Sixth grade has long been a bridge between elementary and junior high, and we believe this transition will create an even stronger foundation as students prepare for high school and beyond.

This new chapter also comes with bittersweet news: we are saying goodbye to some of our beloved staff members, including Mrs. Jenny Kruger, who has decided to pursue other interests after 24 years of faithful service at Harbor Light. We are incredibly grateful for the countless students that Jenny and each of our departing staff members, Cal Prins, Samantha Baker, Karen Mazzoline, Vicki Urman, and Josh Schiefer, have faithfully taught, encouraged, and loved throughout their time here. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom, and we know the seeds planted will continue to bear fruit for years to come. We pray God's richest blessings over the departing staff member as they begin their next season.

Along with these changes, we look forward to welcoming new students and families, watching returning students embrace new opportunities, and seeing staff members step into new and different roles. Every school year brings fresh opportunities for God to work, and we are eager to see what He has in store.

The impact of the early church was not found in their resources or circumstances. It was found in believers who faithfully pursued God's mission together. The same is true for Christian education. As we continue to encourage one another, serve alongside one another, and keep Christ at the center of all we do, I believe God will continue to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine through Harbor Light Christian School.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and partnership in this ministry. It is a privilege to serve alongside you as we seek to equip students to know God, love others, and impact the world for Christ.

In Christ Centered Education,

Kelly Dutcher, Administrator
Harbor Light Christian School

Our 2026 Graduating Class and Where They are Headed

Join us in celebrating our 2026 graduates and the next chapter God is writing for each of them!

Ayden Burns - Lawrence Technological University

Lily Evoy - Cornerstone University

Lydia Goldsborough - Wayne State University

Garthe Hoffman - Baker College

Brooklyn Manthei - Taylor University

Cru Pegg - Taylor University

Will Paulus - Pursuing a call to ministry/work force

Xavier Robydek -North Central Michigan College

Travis Rose -North Central Michigan College

Eva Marie Schutt - Northern Michigan University

John Zyble - North Central Michigan College

Congratulations to Lily Evoy, recipient of the inaugural Harbor Light Christian School Biblical Worldview Scholarship!

This exciting new scholarship represents far more than financial assistance—it reflects our school's commitment to preparing students who are equipped to impact the world for Christ. Awarding up to $20,000 toward tuition at a Christian college, the Biblical Worldview Scholarship recognizes a senior who has demonstrated a deep commitment to living out their faith while encouraging them to continue their academic and spiritual journey in a Christ-centered environment.

This opportunity was made possible through the generous investment of donors who believe in the transformative power of Christian education—not only during a student's years at Harbor Light Christian School, but throughout their college experience and beyond. Their vision is to help remove financial barriers so graduates can continue growing in their faith, leadership, and calling.

Lily was selected through a competitive essay-based application process.

The scholarship committee members shared the following about her:

"I appreciated Lily's comments about the opportunities available at a Christian college beyond academics and how she desires to use those experiences as a way to serve others."

"I can honestly say that Lily is committed to her faith and others."

"Lily is motivated to work hard for her goals."

Congratulations, Lily, on this well-deserved honor! We are grateful for the faithful generosity of those who made this scholarship possible and look forward to seeing how God continues to use you as you step onto Cornerstone University's campus to pursue God's calling.

Start Your Engine—The Trailblazer Raffle Is On!

🚗 The Trailblazer Raffle is Underway!

The race is on, and every ticket sold helps support Harbor Light Christian School while giving you a chance to drive away in an incredible new Trailblazer! We've had a great start, but we're still a long way from our goal.

Want to help? Purchase your ticket, share the raffle with friends and family, and spread the word on social media. Every ticket sold moves us closer to providing Christ-centered education for more students and families.

Don't wait—your winning ticket could be the next one sold!

There are 1,000 tickets available this year, and we’re on a mission to sell out in support of Harbor Light Christian School. Every ticket purchased helps provide Christ-centered education right here in northern Michigan.

Have you purchased your ticket yet?

🎟️ Your $100 ticket could win you a car
📚 Your support fuels our students’ futures
🙌 Your help gets us one step closer to our goal

Whether it’s your first ticket or your fifth—now’s the time to buy. Help us keep the momentum going and make this our biggest raffle yet!

🎟️ Purchase Your Trailblazer Raffle Ticket In Person

Stop by any of our participating community partners:

• The Harbor Barber (Harbor Springs) — Ask for Jordan
• Rocky's Barbershop (Alanson) — Ask for Rocky
• Ryde Marine (Alanson) — Ask for Daniel
• Dave Kring Chevrolet (Petoskey) — Ask for Jason
• Harbor Light Christian School (Harbor Springs) — Visit the school office

Or purchase your ticket online today!

🎫 Purchase Your Ticket Now

Nicole Kukulski - Kindergarten

What are you most excited about as you join Harbor Light Christian School? I am thrilled for the opportunity to be teaching kindergarten at a Christian school where I can encourage the students to grow both Biblically and academically! I am especially excited to help students learn to read so that they can eventually read God's word for themselves. I am also very excited to become a part of the family and staff at Harbor Light Christian School.
How have you seen God lead you to this opportunity? The Lord has been in the lead in every way! My husband and I have been praying intently for an opportunity to relocate back to Michigan for the last couple of years. The Lord graciously provided for our family in ALL the big ways and small ways as He brought us to Harbor Springs, including this amazing opportunity to continue to be a kindergarten teacher at a Christian school.
What inspired you to become a teacher? Being a teacher is the only job I can ever remember desiring to have, even when I was a little girl! I have loved working with children and guiding them to discover new things and skills in God's world. The Lord allows me to positively impact little hearts and minds for His good purposes.
What is something fun or unique about you that our community should know? I love to play games, read books, spend time with family, and be outside in the sunshine. For the last 26 years, my family has lived in Montana cities near Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. I spent much of my childhood in White Pine, Michigan and I'm so happy to get to live in Northern Michigan again. My husband and I have been married for 32 years, and we have three lovely daughters and an awesome son-in-law.

Jordan Kulhanek

What are you most excited about as you join Harbor Light Christian School? Being a school teacher out of Grayling since 2018 and North Carolina and Indiana prior to that, I am very excited to not only work for a system focused on Christ, but also one that is so much closer to where I call home. I am passionate about developing my family's roots and connections in the HLCS community and fostering lifelong relationships.
How have you seen God lead you to this opportunity? The blueprint that God lays out for our life never ceases to amaze me. He has been prompting my wife and I through big events, everyday conversations, and numerous “coincidences” to have our 4-year-old daughter attend HLCS and He quickly made it apparent I should follow. He provided work closer to our home for my wife as well, which has allowed us to make this transition seamlessly as a family. We are so grateful.
What inspired you to become a teacher? Everyday that I wake up and have the opportunity to serve students in the classroom is an utter joy. It is an understatement to say that teaching is my passion; it is the calling God has placed on my life and I could not imagine myself in another profession. I have always viewed teaching as a way to fulfill the Great Commission; however, I have had to do so subtly in the public school world. Now I can focus on training God’s future servant leaders more directly and openly.
What is something fun or unique about you that our community should know? I have eclectic interests and hobbies! I am a big nerd (think: Star Wars, LOTR, Star Trek, etc. You name it, I can probably get into discussing it), soccer player and coach, ultimate frisbee player and coach, Cross Fit certified coach, former cattle rancher, motorcycle rider, weight lifter, guitar, piano, and cello player, and most importantly, a dad and husband.

Elizabeth Prout

What are you most excited about as you join Harbor Light Christian School? I'm excited to work in a supportive environment where I can openly share the gospel and encourage others to do the same.
How have you seen God lead you to this opportunity? As I looked for a job, God opened this door. I'm happy to walk through it.
What inspired you to become a teacher? God made it clear to me when I was in college that I needed to be a teacher.
What is something fun or unique about you that our community should know? I'm learning to crochet. I'm still not very good at it.

We're excited to share that three of our outstanding teachers will be stepping into new roles this fall!

Amber Martin will transition from our preschool program to teach Elementary Art and STEM, where she'll inspire creativity and hands-on learning across our elementary grades.

Amy Paulus will move from teaching 5th grade to join our growing middle school team, bringing her passion for Christ-centered education and strong relationships with students into this next chapter.

Elsa Doornbos, who has faithfully served as our Kindergarten Aide, will step into a new role as a Preschool Teacher. Her love for young learners and nurturing spirit make her a wonderful addition to our preschool team.

We're grateful for Amber, Amy, and Elsa for their willingness to serve wherever God leads. We look forward to seeing the impact they'll have as they continue investing in the lives of our students.

This fall marks an exciting milestone at Harbor Light Christian School as we officially launch our first-ever dedicated Middle School, bringing together students in grades 6-8.

Middle school is a unique and formative season when students are growing academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. By creating a dedicated middle school program, we are intentionally building an environment designed to help students thrive during these important years.

This new structure will allow us to:

• Foster stronger peer relationships and community
• Increase opportunities for discipleship and spiritual growth
• Develop leadership skills and responsibility
• Provide age-appropriate academic expectations and support
• Help students transition confidently into high school

Our middle school teaching team is passionate about investing in students both inside and outside the classroom, helping them grow in wisdom, character, identity, and faith as they prepare to become next-generation leaders for Christ.

We are also exploring opportunities such as dedicated middle school chapel, discipleship groups, a middle school lunch period, and a student council designed specifically for this age group.

As always, our mission remains the same: preparing next-generation leaders for Christ. We believe these middle school years are critical in shaping young men and women who love God, love others, and lead with purpose.

Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and partnership as we take this exciting step forward for HLCS.

Harbor Light Families-

We just completed the third year of our sister school relationship with Chosen Vessel Academy, a small grassroots Christian school in the second largest slum in Kenya.

In so many ways, Chosen Vessels Academy mirrors the mission of HLCS. Their students learn about Jesus, worship and learn Bible memory verses. Students also receive an academic foundation to help them rise above their circumstances. Every time we do video calls with their students during chapel, the students at Chosen Vessels are full of so much joy.

This last school year, we raised $3,211 for Chosen Vessels--an amazing accomplishment. Elementary students were encouraged to do chores at home and bring back money for Chosen Vessels, and our high schoolers put on two very successful fundraisers during the school year. Our connection with Chosen Vessels, Pat Wendt, shared last school year:

"In my March visit to Kenya, I could not even believe the results of your funding of the school! The facilities are more up to date, the children are healthier, the food they are receiving is higher quality, the new small office is a workable space. Thank you!"

Thank you for your incredible generosity, empathy, and support of our sister school this school year. I am so proud of the way our students care for their friends across the world.

Because of this wonderful partnership, we are excited to announce that Jabril Alulu, Pastor Charles' son will be joining us at HLCS this fall as an international student! Join us in praying for safe travels and a successful transition to the states.

Warmly,

Kiley Graham, HLCS Chaplain of Students

Varsity Baseball

The 2026 Varsity Baseball team embraced the motto “Earn Everything” (Proverbs 14:23; 21:5), demonstrating hard work and perseverance throughout a challenging season. Despite cold spring weather, a demanding schedule, and nearly 1,200 miles of travel, the team finished 24-9, improving from a preseason ranking of 14th to a final ranking of 10th. The Swordsmen outscored opponents 326-112, posted a .325 team batting average, 2.40 ERA, and compiled a remarkable 69-18 record (.793 winning percentage) over the past three seasons.

A special thank you to our senior class, whose legacy includes three consecutive conference championships, two straight district titles, and numerous program records. Their leadership and commitment have helped establish a standard of excellence that will have a lasting impact on the program.

Team Awards

Coach’s Award: Isaac Bowman
Gold Glove Award: Landon Jakeway
Silver Slugger Award: Lynus Cadarette
Cy Young Award: Travis Rose
Co-MVPs: Daniel Urman and Will Paulus

Conference & District Honors

Academic All-Conference: Ayden Burns, Travis Rose, Will Paulus, Daniel Dawley, Daniel Urman, Landon Jakeway, Caleb Chamberlin

All-Conference Second Team: Ayden Burns, Travis Rose, Gerrit Boerman

All-Conference First Team: Will Paulus, Daniel Urman, CJ DuBois, Jonny Urman

Conference Player of the Year: Will Paulus

Academic All-District: Travis Rose, Will Paulus, Daniel Urman

Academic All-Region: Ayden Burns, Landon Jakeway

All-District: Will Paulus (Pitcher), Daniel Urman (Infielder), CJ DuBois (Outfield), Jonny Urman (Utility)

All-Region: Will Paulus (Pitcher), Daniel Urman (Infielder), CJ DuBois (Outfield)

Additional All-State recognition is expected following this week’s selection meeting.

District Coach of the Year: Coach Swadling

Thank you to all of our players, families, and supporters for another outstanding season. We look forward to building on this success next year!

JV Baseball

The 2026 season marked a historic milestone for Harbor Light Christian School Baseball as the program fielded its first true JV team. Despite a challenging start due to snow and limited outdoor practice opportunities, the players showed tremendous growth, commitment, and perseverance throughout the season.

The team finished with a 5-10-1 record while competing against strong competition. More importantly, the players developed their skills, built strong relationships, and represented Harbor Light with character both on and off the field. It was a successful inaugural season and a great foundation for the future of the JV program.

Team Awards

Most Valuable Player: Daniel Dawley
Pitcher of the Year: Owen Bartoszewski
Most Improved Player: Miles Manthei
Rock Award: Hunter Denoyer

Daniel Dawley provided consistent leadership and production as a hitter, infielder, and pitcher. Owen Bartoszewski made an immediate impact on the mound in his first season with the program. Miles Manthei showed tremendous growth, developing from a first-time player into a key contributor. Hunter Denoyer served as a spiritual leader while excelling defensively and setting a strong example for his teammates.

Thank you to our players, families, and supporters for making this inaugural JV season a success. We are excited to continue building on the growth and momentum established this year.

As we reflect on the 2026 softball season, we are grateful for a year filled with growth, perseverance, and memorable accomplishments. While the team finished second in the district and third in the conference, those results tell only part of the story. This season was defined by the character, determination, and progress displayed by our players both on and off the field.

With much of the infield learning new positions, the girls embraced every challenge and continued to improve throughout the season. Their hard work led to several historic achievements, including victories over teams that had previously mercy-ruled Harbor Light and becoming the only team in the conference to hand Mackinaw City a loss. These successes helped build excitement and momentum for the future of our program.

We are also proud to recognize several players who earned All-Conference honors:

All-Conference Honorable Mention
- Daphne Dutcher (Shortstop)
- Maryah Burns (Second Base)
- Emily Good (First Base)
All-Conference Second Team
- Evyn Porta (Pitcher) – Recorded 120 strikeouts between JV and varsity competition while also ranking among the team’s top offensive contributors.
All-Conference First Team
- Lilly Cope (Catcher) – As a team captain, Lilly provided outstanding leadership and earned the respect of players and coaches throughout the conference.

In addition, four players were recognized as Academic All-Conference recipients:

Daphne Dutcher
Lilly Cope
Emily Good
Lydia Goldsborough

Their commitment to excellence in the classroom reflects the values we seek to develop in all Harbor Light student-athletes.

We would also like to congratulate senior captain Valerie Maghakian, who was named Harbor Light’s Female Athlete of the Year, one of the highest honors awarded by the school. We are incredibly proud of Valerie and the example she has set for younger players.

This season was particularly meaningful as it marked the final year of competition on Harbor Light’s current softball field. As we reflected on that milestone, we were reminded that while fields, records, and accomplishments eventually pass away, the character we develop and the way we honor God through the opportunities He provides can have an eternal impact.

Most importantly, we thank God for His faithfulness throughout the season. From the first practice to the final game, the team sought to keep Him at the center of all they did. Through victories, challenges, and lessons learned, He remained our foundation.

Thank you to our families, supporters, and school community for your encouragement throughout the year. There is much to celebrate from the 2026 season, and we are excited about what lies ahead for Harbor Light Softball.

Go Swords!

The Light