Mission of BCA
Binghampton Christian Academy is a private, Christian day and boarding school that serves the Binghampton community. Its mission is to develop students who honor and glorify God, promote spiritual and academic excellence, and encourage them to become productive Godly leaders.
Those involved implement the mission by leading children to Christ, seeking academic excellence, and providing a positive Christ-centered support environment for learning. At the core of these endeavors is prayer.
History of BCA
BCA was founded as The Neighborhood School in 1993 by Mrs. Jo Walt to offer a Christian education to children in Binghampton. In its first year, BCA served 15 students in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church gymnasium. In August 1994, the school moved to the current location at Tillman and Walnut Grove where it continued to grow to serve 136 students annually in Grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
Distinguishing Feature: Residential Program
For 30 of the highest needs students, BCA has a novel Residential Program. It is a voluntary program for students who are facing major challenges including: unstable home environments, lack of parental supervision, lack of parental academic support, learning challenges, or emotional instability. The major purpose of the program is to serve as an extension of the home by facilitating after-school instruction, providing around-the-clock care, mentoring the students, providing special activities; and ensuring that the dorms are environments that are conducive to promoting meaningful academic, spiritual, and emotional development.
Students in the Residential Program are supported in their academics through After School Enrichment and one-on-one tutoring; engage in meaningful relationships with community volunteers; expand their spiritual lives through Bible Study and youth group activities; experience unique cultural events; participate in athletic teams; and much more.
The students live in dormitories that are located on BCA’s campus Monday through Friday and return home on the weekends and during school breaks. Living on campus during the school week allows the students to participate in a broader range of enrichment activities, and ensures that they receive proper supervision, academic support, nutrition, and social interaction. As a “community boarding program”, the Residential Program ensures that these students remain in the community they are from because the school wants them to maintain as strong as possible relationships with their families and the community they are from.
The Foundation invested $60,000 over the course of three years, beginning in 2010 and until 2013, as it assisted BCA in its efforts to repurpose the residential program to what it has become.
It is the only program of its kind in the region and has produced strong student outcomes including a nearly 100 percent high school graduation rate since 2010. More than 65 percent of former students have entered college or another post-secondary education program. BCA works closely with parents to help identify the best high school placement for their child. The school has been successful at leveraging relationships with private and charter schools in the area to provide opportunities for students. Additionally, the Foundation has two separate funds - Graduates of Binghampton Christian Academy Fund and Meredith Fox Memorial Scholarship Fund - that each provide scholarships that assist students once they leave the care of BCA.
Graduates of Binghampton Christian Academy Fund
This fund was established by the Foundation Board in 2013. Initial funding originated from the Board’s movement of $25,000 from its Undesignated Fund and from a $10,000 gift from a donor.
Omina, Nancy, and Widon
“Many students have come from the Memphis area and returned to impact their neighborhoods. Young people with names like Musa, Lakok, Silla, Duarte, whose lives have been impacted by Christ and are accomplishing good things.
These are some of the ones that Second Presbyterian Foundation is enabling to live fruitfully and reach goals they never dreamed. No longer do they walk with their eyes cast down. They walk more confidently through positive doors you have helped open.”
The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships for need based and deserving children who are graduates of Binghampton Christian Academy and are accepted for enrollment at eligible schools at the secondary education level. Eligible schools are those that will further the Christian education that has been afforded the students at BCA. They are schools that are committed to a strong Christian education utilizing a well-regarded Christian curriculum and enhancing the spiritual, social and educational welfare of the students placed under their care.
One such school is French Camp Academy, located in French Camp, Mississippi. There have been 18 scholarships provided for a total of $16,960 and they have all been at FCA. As of June 30, 2019, the fund balance is $22,044.
Learn more about the relationship of the Foundation with French Camp Academy.
Meredith Fox Memorial Scholarship Fund
Samuel Kamba and Asu Banga
The Meredith Ashley Fox Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the Foundation in December 2009 based on an initial ten-year planned gift of $100,000 by a family in our congregation. It provides funding for graduates of BCA to attend Evangelical Christian School for four years beginning in the ninth grade. The scholarship is in memory of Meredith Fox, daughter of Second members Roy and Terri Fox. Meredith attended ECS as a freshman.
Jaylynn Futrell
That gift fostered additional gifts with close to 100 families and individuals choosing to participate in honoring Meredith with contributions to this effort. As of September 30, 2019, $80,000 has been granted in scholarships with a balance of $281,000 remaining in the fund. Four students have received scholarships. Recipients have included Mayada Mukhrais, Samuel Kamba, Asu Banga and Jaylynn Futrell. The partnership with ECS now enables two BCA students to attend at the same time in alternating classes.