Alumna to Head Clinic in Uganda
Call to Missions Came Early in Life
There are “Aha” moments in a person’s life when they know the path they should take. Those times of clarity can come at any season in life, but for OCS alumna Lexi Johnston, Class of 2021, her moment came early.
My mission trip in high school was the moment that the Lord broke my heart for the country of Uganda. I knew that I would find myself intertwined there - however God wanted to move - though at the time I would never have imagined how. I knew from the age of 11 that I wanted to pursue global missions, but it was after I came home from Uganda that I specifically felt this was the country where God had for me to serve.”
Fast forward to May 2025 when Johnston will graduate with a nursing degree from Belmont University, take her boards, and then begin her work as the director of The Selah Clinic and Community Center in Uganda. The clinic will have a partial focus on labor and delivery/neonatal services as well as nutritional therapy. The majority of Johnston’s clinical focus in nursing school has been women’s health, with a final preceptorship in the mother/baby unit.
Travelin' Side by Side
There are road trips and then there are ROAD TRIPS.
Ask Austin Brown, Class of 2013, and his wife, Ellie, about the latter and be prepared to be blown away. Since embarking on their epic adventure in 2022 they have tallied 48,000 miles through 42 countries, enjoyed 200 camping nights, and gone through 12 oil changes, five flat tires, six tows, and four sets of tires.
They met in Colorado in 2018 and got married in October 2021. Austin, a math major from Boston University, worked for a software company, and Ellie, Washington State major in accounting and finance, worked for a consulting firm. While they both enjoyed their careers, their perspectives had shifted a bit. They quit their jobs, sold everything, and hit the road in a classic motorcycle sidecar dubbed Domino.
We are looking forward to each unique day to see what God has in store for us. We are excited to see friends and family all over the world, backpack epic trails, explore amazing caves, visit various ministries/non-profits, immerse ourselves in the local communities, meet other travelers, and ultimately, see how creative God is in his creation of people, cultures, and the earth,
In light of the devastating wildfires impacting our community, we offer ways to come together to support and help those in need, including members of our alumni community. We have several OCS families who have been displaced or lost their homes. Click the link below and select OCS Fire Relief on the designation option if you'd like to donate to our gift card fund for families to purchase clothing, food, and incidentals (note: 100% of the money will be distributed to the families).
If anyone in our alumni community is also in need of support, resources and or prayer please reach out to spirituallife@oakschristian.org.
There are also non-monetary ways to help fire victims, such as housing, displaced pets, storage space, or transportation or a car. If you would like to help, please fill out the form in the link below.
Oaks Christian School continued the celebration of its 25th anniversary year with an unforgettable homecoming victory last October as the Lions dominated with a final score of 42-19 against Pacifica. The night was packed with excitement, from parachuters landing onto the field to a halftime parade featuring special guests and a stunning fireworks show. It was such a joy to welcome back so many alumni and reconnect with them. Hearing about their journeys since graduating from Oaks Christian was truly inspiring. They spent quality time with faculty and staff and enjoyed catching up with one another in the alumni zone, as shown in the photos below.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Class of 2014 reunion at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas on Nov. 30, 2024. It was wonderful to catch up with fellow alumni! The event had a fantastic turnout, with around 80 attendees, including plus-ones, faculty, and staff. A special shoutout to Caitlin Teno, Matt Chen, and Mrs. Manion for their incredible support in planning this event — it wouldn’t have been the same without them! Thank you to Andy Rosenberg for spearheading the event. The reunion committee would love to get some feedback via this SURVEY about the event! Please take a few moments to answer the questions and submit. Additionally, please enjoy these PHOTOS, and this reunion SLIDESHOW.
The new Oaks Christian Alumni Advisory Council has launched! Its mission is to work in partnership with the school to develop, strengthen and support a robust alumni community. Among other duties, our new council members will play a key role in alumni networking, assisting with reunions, fostering connections between alumni and the current OCS community, and help identify and cultivate alumni ambassadors. Welcome aboard to the council!
Last December, Brandon Gettleman, MD, Class of 2011, led a master class in Dr. Bryan Wong's Health Science II course, part of the Institute of Health Science at Oaks Christian School. His presentation, "The Privilege and the Path: Embracing the Joys and Challenges of Becoming a Healthcare Professional," highlighted his journey to becoming an orthopedic surgeon and his current role at UCLA Health. Gettleman shared personal insights from his formative years, the obstacles he overcame, and how his time at Oaks Christian helped prepare him for his career. The students were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions as he offered valuable advice for those pursuing a future in medicine.
We were thrilled to welcome back so many of our boys’ lacrosse alumni for our annual lacrosse alumni competition against our current players. The December competition was spirited and high-energy, and the alumni won the match! The game was followed by a fun time at 14 Cannons brewery, owned by Brandon Wolfe, whose son Asher is a sophomore on the team. Thank you to the Wolfe family for their hospitality and to all our alumni who came out for the event!
Exciting news from OCS Dean of Student Life Connie Choi, and her husband Marcus (former OCS Dean of Students) who have plenty to celebrate. Their son, Joshua Choi, Class of 2018, exchanged vows with the love of his life, Samantha Tang, in a beautiful ceremony in Fullerton, California on Nov. 10, 2024. Cheers to the happy couple and their new chapter together! Josh is a registered nurse who graduated from Cal Poly in 2022 and earned his RN certification from Concordia University. He met Samantha during college, and they now live together in Castro Valley, near the Bay Area.
The other Choi children, who are also alumni, are pictured in this family photo. Alyson Choi, Class of 2020, graduated from UCLA in 2024 and is now pursuing her MA in teaching at University of California, Irvine, with a focus on high school history—just like her mom! Isaac Choi, Class of 2023, is currently a sophomore at Cal State, Fullerton, majoring in business.
Annie Bosko, Class of 2004, is performing at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in California in April 2025! She will be one of the performing artists, along with major headliners in the country music industry!
Then in July 2025, Bosko will be performing at the Headwaters Country Jam in Three Forks, Montana! Use the code “BOSKO” when you buy your tickets at this link.
We are so proud of you, @anniebosko!
Ministering in London
Alec Nave, Class of 2016, is on staff with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in London, England, where he teaches film and has a ministry in Camden, the arts district of London. He was a film major and graduated from Biola University Film School in 2020. After graduating during Covid-19, when the film industry was at a standstill, he discovered God had other plans for him. Nave developed a heart to minister to London's visual and performing arts community, where he had studied abroad during college. Being a part of the performing arts program for seven years at Oaks Christian led to his passion for encouraging budding artists.
Alumna Wins Award at Film Festival
Congratulations to Micaela Kastor, Class of 2022, for winning the Audience Choice Award for "You Are Home" at the Notre Dame University Student Film Festival.
Every sports stadium in America has a story behind its namesake, including the Melissa Cook Softball Stadium, which is the subject of the film directed by Kastor and Thomas Larson.
A softball phenom (she signed to Notre Dame as a pitcher) and filmmaker, the subject of Kastor's film combines both her athletic and artistic passions.
While an OCS student, Kastor was a prolific filmmaker. She co-produced the award-winning “Hope: Surviving Covid, the Changing Normal,” a spoken word video essay based on a poem by OCS alumna Alyson Choi, Class of 2020.
She was the director of the student produced full length feature film, “The Colosseum,” created through the OCS Institute of Arts and Innovation, and produced "More than Talented." a documentary on athletic success.
Kastor is majoring in film, television, and theatre with a minor in sports, media, and culture. She is part of student-produced programming and worked as a video production assistant for Peacock's new documentary series, "Here Come the Irish." She also shoots content for Notre Dame's sports teams as an editor for Fighting Irish Media.
Last November, we welcomed Class of 2024 graduate Andy Mahserejian back to campus as he visited with several OCS teachers and friends. Mahserejian is in his third year at California Baptist University, majoring in entrepreneurship and finance. Pictured with him is OCS global leadership teacher Matt Hurdle.
We were happy to greet Zhiyu “Tobby” Jiang, Class of 2024, back to campus this month when he visited his former art teachers Anna Wadman and Pablo Guerrero. He is standing next to his piece, “The Leap,” which is currently on display on the high school campus. Tobby is attending Cornell University and is majoring in fine art.