Magee val, Acosta sal tell their stories from CAK
KNOXVILLE — Christian Academy of Knoxville recently announced its Class of 2025 valedictorian is Jack Magee, and the salutatorian is Tim Acosta.
Jack Magee, valedictorian
Magee is “dedicated to academic excellence, leadership and service,” according to Christa Margene, CAK director of marketing and communications.
A National Merit Finalist with a 4.46 grade-point average, “Jack has excelled in a rigorous course load, earning the distinction of (Advanced Placement) Scholar with honor,” Margene said.
He serves as president of the National Honor Society, a Student Government Class representative and captain of both the Scholars Bowl team and CAK’s percussion section. A Tennessee All-State musician and recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award, “Jack’s passion for the arts complements his impressive academic achievements,” she said.
Magee has been a member of the marching band, concert band and school worship team.
“He is an entrepreneur, instructor and dedicated volunteer mentoring younger students through CAK’s Teen Advisors and organizing a community blood drive,” Margene said.
Magee has attended CAK since his sophomore year.
“CAK has been an incredible part of Jack’s journey, helping him to grow in faith and succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” his parents, Matt and Brandi Magee, stated in joint release. “The teachers at CAK have been more than educators — they have been mentors who challenged and encouraged him every step of the way.
“Beyond academics, CAK provided Jack with opportunities to grow and lead others in extracurricular activities that have fueled his passions.
“The friendships he has formed here have been invaluable, built on shared faith, support and unforgettable experiences,” the Magees said. “This school has given him not just an education but a community that will stay with him for a lifetime. We are so thankful for the impact CAK has had on his life and are excited to see where the future takes him.”
“CAK has provided me with opportunities that I never would have had at another school,” Jack said. “I have grown academically, personally and spiritually, and without a doubt, CAK was the catalyst for this growth.
“Additionally, the teachers that I have had since arriving here at CAK have poured into me, helped me to grow in wisdom and knowledge, given me sound advice and led me closer to Christ,” the senior added. “For that, I am forever grateful to them. CAK has transformed my life for the better, and I cannot wait to see how it impacts me as I grow throughout college and beyond.”
Magee has not yet decided where he will attend college in the fall, but he plans to major in neuroscience with future plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a radiologist or a surgeon.
Tim Acosta, salutatorian
“Acosta excels not only academically, but in his many extracurricular activities as well,” Margene said. “Tim is a National Merit finalist with a GPA of 4.44 and a recipient of multiple academic distinction awards during his time at CAK.
“Tim has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to scholarship, earning recognition in subjects ranging from honors geometry to AP chemistry and dual enrollment English,” she added.
He is a member of National Honor Society and National English Honor Society and has attended CAK since the seventh grade.
Beyond the classroom, “Tim has made a lasting impact at CAK as captain of the Scholars Bowl team, a four-year member of the tennis team and a leader in student mentorship,” Margene said. “His senior Capstone allowed him to share his love for learning by assisting with chemistry classes and an elementary school science camp.”
Acosta also has served as a middle school Bible study leader, “investing in the spiritual growth of younger students and on the high school retreat work crew,” she said.
“We are thankful for how Tim has matured as a young man while at CAK through the excellent academic instruction taught with a Christian worldview,” his parents told Margene in a joint statement. “We greatly appreciate all the faculty and staff who have helped him to develop the gifts God has given him, and we feel confident that he is well-prepared as he starts college and begins the next phase of his life.”
Reflecting on his time at CAK, Acosta shared, “I’m grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had to attend CAK and for all of the lessons I’ve learned during my time here.
“I’ve been blessed with CAK’s Christian environment and with teachers who care deeply about both my academic and spiritual growth,” he added. “Being surrounded by Christian mentors at CAK has helped to grow my faith, and I am very thankful for the person this school has helped me become.”
Acostsa plans to attend University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in the Honors Program, where he will major in biomedical engineering and minor in neuroscience, aiming for a career in neurotechnology. He looks forward to “continuing his faith journey by getting involved in a campus ministry.”
