On Tuesday May 12, David Thompson, a North Carolina State basketball standout, two-time NCAA Player of the Year, three-time First Team All-American, and four-time NBA All-Star, spoke to a capacity crowd at Carolina Christian School's Athletic Celebration. Encouraging student athletes to set goals, work hard, and make the right choices, Mr. Thompson shared his life story with eloquence and good humor, while at the same time candidly describing the negative impact that bad choices, particularly his use of alcohol and drugs, had on his career and his family.  The crowd interrupted Mr. Thompson's address at several points with enthusiastic applause, most notably when he stated that he had not used alcohol or drugs in more than twenty years, a decision and life change that he credited to his relationship with Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Following Mr. Thompson's address, which was punctuated with a standing ovation from the audience, he met privately with the CCS athletes, not only signing autographs and posing for photographs, but also allowing the student athletes to ask questions about his experiences.  The evening concluded with recognition of the coaching staff and athletes on each of the CCS middle school and high school teams, including presentation of Most Valuable Player Awards, Scholar Athlete Awards for all athletes maintaining an A average, and the 1 Timothy 4:12 Awards for the male and female athletes who most displayed Christian example and character.

Since its inception in 1999, Carolina Christian School has offered families in western Stanly County and surrounding communities an educational alternative founded on a Christian worldview. The School's vision is for each student to be prepared to glorify God through the discovery and utilization of their talents and abilities, while understanding that their effectiveness depends not upon academic training alone, but upon spiritual transformation as well. The School's mission is to teach the mind and guide the soul through a deeper understanding of God the Creator and His world. Carolina Christian School will be offering grades K-10th for the 2009--2010 school year, with plans to graduate its first high school class in 2012.