Elisabet Kirkland Page 34

Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … After 40 years of dedicated service to Campion Academy, Donavan Reeder has announced his retirement. Reeder has served as Principal for the past nine years and, prior to that, worked as a Men’s Dean for 31 years in the residence hall. He steps down as the longest-standing employee at the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC). As an integral part of Campion Academy for so many years, he leaves a legacy of commitment and spiritual leadership to be honored.

Mic Thurber, RMC president, remarked, “Don’s dedication and commitment have left a mark on Campion Academy, and we are profoundly grateful for the impact he has had on the lives of countless students, staff, and the entire Campion community.”

Reeder’s Campion roots run deep; he was born in Loveland, Colorado, while his parents both worked at Campion Academy. His family later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he attended Salt Lake City Junior Academy. He attended Andrews University and then transferred to Walla Walla University where he graduated with a degree in Communication.

He met and married his wife Donna while at Walla Walla. Donna also had Colorado roots, growing up in Denver and graduating from Campion Academy in 1980. After college, the couple decided to move to Loveland. As Don had studied communications, he obtained his first job with a video production company in Loveland.

At the time, Thure Martinsen was the chaplain at Campion, and he had been Reeder’s principal at Salt Lake Junior Academy. Martinsen invited Reeder to play on Campion’s faculty football team. After the staff had gotten to know him on the field, he was asked to apply as the Assistant Men’s Dean, and he began officially working at Campion Academy in 1984.

After just two years of working as an Assistant Dean and teaching Speech and World of Work classes, he took on the position of Head Dean of Men in 1986.

Reeder excelled as a Head Dean, maintaining the position for 29 years. Reeder shared, “I had originally desired to be a youth pastor. I saw that I could preach to the youth, but they needed examples of the Christian life lived in the real world. By being a residence hall dean, I would be living with the students and, hopefully, be a daily witness to God’s working in our lives, just as Mark 3:14 tells us that Jesus lived with His disciples before He sent them out to preach.”

Before their daughter, Jessica, was born, Donna Reeder also worked at Campion Academy as an Assistant Girl’s Dean and in the cafeteria until finding her fit in the accounting department where she has continued to work for the past 25 years. Jessica (Reeder) Baker has followed in her parents’ passion for Adventist Education and currently works as a teacher at the Fort Collins Adventist School.

Reeder served as a Vice-Principal in addition to Head Dean under Principal Spencer Hannah. In 2015, Reeder was selected to become Principal at Campion Academy.

At the end of the 2015 school year, Campion Academy was struggling with low enrollment, with around 120 students. Reeder was given a goal to increase that to 150 in his first year as principal and Ed Barnett, then RMC president, even promised to shave his head if they reached that goal. In a memorable event, the goal was reached, and Barnett’s head lost its hair.

Barnett commented, “He was a great leader and soon we were getting our enrollment back up. The thing that impressed me the most with Don was the spirituality on the campus,” he added. Don was a friend that Barnett will always cherish. “What a blessing he had been for the Rocky Mountain Conference!” he added.

Reeder is well-known for keeping the mission and spiritual development of Campion Academy students at the forefront. As principal, he made the mission of Campion Academy clear, saying, “I wanted the students to be trained to go into the world with the message of Jesus.”

Under his leadership, Reeder expanded the Spiritual Life Committee to include the church pastors and HMS Richards principal which began to meet weekly. He also made sure Wednesday evenings were dedicated to spiritual programming (Fusion) to give more emphasis on spiritual development and training.

Other accomplishments included: creating security ID cards for secure entry to the Ad Building; creating new signage throughout campus and in the Ad building; adding a communication director; formalizing the international student program with Dean Helm; adding the Cougar statue to campus with the Stenbakkens and Bob McConnell; and creating the endowments for Student Legacy and Capital Improvements.

In 2019, Reeder’s dedicated service to the ministry of Adventist Education was formally recognized when he was ordained by the Rocky Mountain Conference.

Reeder led Campion Academy through the challenging years of the COVID pandemic, leading with a balanced approach; keeping Campion Academy open for in-person instruction while instituting strong policies to prioritize health and safety.

Among Don Reeder’s friends is the conference’s former Education Superintendent, Lonnie Hetterle, who has been acquainted with Reeder for nearly 30 years. He recollects that, “during that long span of time I have had the opportunity to observe and to work with him in a wide variety of circumstances and situations when he was a boy’s dean, a teacher, an academy principal and as a fellow follower of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness and consistency are two words that clearly describe Mr. Reeder.”

“His desire to rightly represent his Savior has fully influenced all of his decisions. As a new principal he always was willing and, in fact, eager to take counsel and made every effort possible to arrive at the correct and best decision for each situation. His desire to be the very best leader he could be continued throughout his career. He did his best to look at every scenario from the student’s perspective, from the staff viewpoint, and from the school’s perspective but always with a redemptive mindset.”  According to Hetterle, Reeder set the standard for “servant-leadership.”

“His willingness to listen, to encourage, and to lead with compassion was always present. He was an excellent example of professional leadership. I never saw a time when Don’s ego affected his decision making and I also am unaware of any decision he made without spending time in prayer and listening intently for leading from the Holy Spirit. Don loves his God, his church, his school, and his family deeply. Campion is certainly what it is today in a large part due the influence of Don Reeder,” Hetterle added.

Diane Harris, RMC Superintendent of Education, commented, “as Don steps into this well-deserved retirement, we can reflect on the incredible journey that he has had at Campion Academy. His compassionate spirit has created an environment where students not only learned academically but grew spiritually, and Don’s impact on the Campion Community will be cherished for generations to come.”

In retirement, as during his career, Reeder is turning to God for direction: “I am watching where God is leading for me to serve Him,” he shared. “I would like to camp more, golf more, and visit family and friends more.”

—Jill Harlow is Campion Academy’s communication director. Photos supplied.

Cathy Kissner – Pueblo, Colorado … Are you prepared to serve your community in whatever needs come your way?

A training course in Hands Only CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) brought together fourteen church members of the Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist and three from Canon City Seventh-day Adventist Church congregation to the Pueblo Outreach and Education building to meet the challenge, January 7.

During the training, a great deal of laughter and fun was had by all. The practice time was very important, and all participants passed the program. Several attendees stated, “now I know how to do this correctly.”

Hands Only CPR meets the new standards of CPR. During and following Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (COVOAD) guidelines, the purpose of CPR became more focused. CPR is to get the blood pumping through the victims’ body until paramedics arrive on scene and perform more advanced life support. The equipment of Mini Anne mannequins and practice AEDs were purchased by the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Adventist Community Services (ACS) department for the training activities.

Why CPR and AED training, one might ask. According to Healthline.com, every year 805,000 Americans have a heart attack, and 605,000 of them for the first time. “Approximately, 12 percent of people who have a heart attack, will die from it,” statistics show.

You could be the person who saves someone’s life because you knew how to do CPR and use an AED machine, commented the training team of Brandi Martinez of the Pueblo First Church and Cathy Kissner, RMC ACS Director.

—Cathy Kissner is the RMC Adventist Community Services Coordinator. Photos supplied.

Catie Fairfield – Lincoln, Nebraska … Union College held their annual basketball tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska, February 14-18. Eight academies, including Campion Academy, played in the tournament. After three days of both intense and friendly competition, Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, Michigan, took first place for both boys and girls teams. On the evening of February 14, both Campion Varsity teams won their first game. February 15, the teams fought hard, but unfortunately lost the two games they played.

Union held shooting competitions that evening. From the Campion Academy girls team, Grace Garman and Catie Fairfield were chosen for the free throw and three-point contest. Ekenna Nwankwo and Shawn Ferguson shot for the Campion Academy boys team.

On February 16, the teams played their first official bracket game. The boys game was extremely close until the last fifty seconds, when Sunnydale Adventist Academy in Centralia, Missouri, scored and pulled ahead. The girls were set against some of the harder teams and lost as well. Overall, Campion Academy players displayed some incredible skill, teamwork, and positive sportsmanship despite the losses. Union’s Black Choir performed songs before introducing the speaker for a Vespers program. After the speaker, Campion Academy students led out in a spontaneous “Vespers Deluxe” which is an after-glow featuring worship music. Students from all the participating academies gathered together and worshiped God through their music, and thought it was a great way to open the Sabbath to be united as Seventh-day Adventist Christians after a hard day of games.

On the afternoon of February 17, Union College hosted an oasis community event consisting of snacks and board games. It gave participants a way to relax and experience community in a college setting.

The final games were played on the evening of February 17. Both Campion Academy teams played exciting games against Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and both won, taking fifth place overall. At the end of the evening, there was an awards ceremony where Campion students Dominic White and Catie Fairfield were both awarded the All-Tournament Award for their teams.

While the teams may have gone into the tournament hoping to place higher, everyone still enjoyed their time spent at Union College, both on and off the court.

Ekenna Nwankwo, a Campion Academy senior, expressed, “I enjoyed the tournament because I was able to meet new people. I got to see a lot of basketball games that were close scores, and I even got to play in some myself. It was a good last tournament experience with my friends.”

Watch the recorded games at https://www.youtube.com/@unioncollegeutv

—Catie Fairfield, Campion Student News Team. Photos supplied. 

Ruth Lagos – Colorado Springs, Colorado … Many Pathfinder clubs in the Rocky Mountain Conference have started fundraising efforts for the upcoming International Pathfinder Camporee in August 2024 fueled by the shared purpose of their faith and community. The Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Adventurer and Pathfinder Clubs gathered at Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a bike-a-thon last Fall, on a bright morning in the warmth of the Colorado sun.

The Adventurers and Pathfinders collectively conquered 334 miles with enthusiasm in their hearts and determination in their pedals. They surpassed their initial goal and raised over $5,300 towards their ultimate target of $30,000. One young Adventurer, just eight years old, and four Pathfinders even achieved the remarkable feat of cycling 50 miles in under 10 hours, fulfilling a major requirement for the prestigious Cycling honor.

But the event was more than just a fundraiser. It was a chance for the Pathfinders to unite in support of something they cherished, while enjoying some exercise and the beauty of the outdoors.

The day began with a prayer and encouraging words from their leaders, many of whom belong to our supportive Colorado Springs Central Seventh-day Adventist Church family. With high spirits and spinning wheels, the Adventurers and Pathfinders embarked on their journey around Prospect Lake’s 1.25-mile loop. Their mission was twofold: to achieve the 50-mile mark for the Cycling honor and to gather funds for the Camporee.

A well-deserved picnic lunch break provided a moment of rest and delicious treats, refueling the young cyclists for their continued pedaling adventure. By the end of the day, the bike-a-thon was a resounding success. The Adventurers and Pathfinders, though exhausted, were brimming with excitement about the upcoming Camporee. The funds they raised will ensure they have everything they need to make the most of this extraordinary experience, covering costs like admission, food, transportation, sightseeing, and outreach activities.

The Colorado Springs Central Church gives a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the bike-a-thon, especially the families and friends who donated and cheered on the club members. They want to give a particularly powerful and meaningful “thank you” to the generous Colorado Springs Central Church family. Their financial contributions, made not just with open wallets but with open hearts, fuel the Pathfinders’ journeys and dreams.

The Colorado Springs Central Church is deeply grateful for their unwavering support, which plays a vital role in shaping the lives of these young members of their community. The dedication and hard work of the Adventurers and Pathfinders are truly commendable, and they are excited to see what they accomplish at the upcoming International Camporee and beyond.

—Ruth Lagos is the Pikes Peak Adventurer director and Pathfinder Club deputy director at the Colorado Springs Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The second annual FIRST LEGO League Middle School Robotics Tournament was held at Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, February 11. The tournament brought together eight teams for a day filled with creativity, competition, and camaraderie.

Sponsored by Adventist Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC), Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), and MHA, the event marked a significant expansion from the previous year, doubling the number of participating teams. The teams in attendance this year were:

• Brighton Adventist Academy Blackhawks (Colorado)
• HMS Richards Adventist School Cougars (Colorado)
• Mile High Academy Robostangs and Roborenegades (Colorado)
• Minnetonka Christian Academy Royals (Minnesota)
• Omaha Memorial Adventist School Angels (Nebraska)
• Vista Ridge Academy The Minors and EnginEagles (Colorado)

Carisa Carr, MAUC’s associate director of education, commented, “Thank you to Rocky Mountain Conference and Mile High Academy for hosting the Mid-America Union Robotics Tournament. Witnessing teams demonstrate creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration was wonderful to see throughout the event. This event truly fostered an environment where students across our union had opportunity and where innovation and teamwork flourished.”

Teams arrived early, checking in by 8:00 a.m., and wasted no time in setting up their stations and fine-tuning their robotics for the day’s challenges. Throughout the morning, teams nervously awaited their turn to meet with judges and present their required innovation projects, which included sharing and answering questions regarding their researched, coded, and engineered projects while showcasing their problem-solving skills and creativity. And, when not presenting to the judges, the other teams focused on last-minute adjustments to their robotics and took advantage of two practice rounds to test their robotics before the official competition began.

After a quick lunch break followed by the opening ceremonies, the real competitions commenced. Teams faced off in intense 2-minute and 30-second matches, where their robots were tasked with hitting several key challenges. Judges closely observed each team’s performance, scoring them based on their robot’s efficiency and success in meeting the challenges.

Throughout the competition, teams had the opportunity to fine-tune their robots between matches, aiming to maximize their scores and performances. After completing three rounds of competition, judges convened to review the points awarded and discuss the results of the innovation project presentations.

“I enjoyed seeing all the teams and their creative problem-solving approaches,” said Mel Wade, director of Adventist Robotics. “I look forward to seeing even more teams next year!”

The judges’ deliberations lead to the announcement of several prestigious awards. Here is a recap of the awards and recipients.

• The Core Values Award:Recognizes a team that demonstrated extraordinary enthusiasm, teamwork, and respect. (Minnetonka Christian Academy Royals)
• Innovation Project Award:Celebrating a team that displayed creativity through research and effective communication. (Brighton Adventist Academy Blackhawks)
• Robot Design Award:Acknowledging the team that used outstanding programming principles and solid engineering practices to develop a robot that is mechanically sound, durable, efficient, and highly capable of performing Challenge missions. (Vista Ridge Academy EnginEagles)
• Robot Performance Award:Celebrating a team that scores the most points during the Robot Game. (Vista Ridge Academy EnginEagles)
• Champion’s Award:Celebrating through the most prestigious award the team that embodies the FIRST LEGO League experience by fully embracing the FIRST Core Values while achieving excellence and innovation in both the Robot Game and the Innovation Project. (Mile High Academy Robostangs)

Ultimately, the points awarded during the tournament determined which teams would receive invitations to advance to the next level of competition at the FIRST LEGO League in Florida in May. The event concluded with the announcement that Mile High Academy Robostangs, Vista Ridge Academy EnginEagles, and Minnetonka Christian Academy Royals emerged as the top contenders, earning their invitations to represent their respective schools in Florida.

Owen Fritz, a member of the MHA Robostangs, reflected on his second year competing, emphasizing the importance of understanding the rules and the thrill of representing his school in Florida. “I’ve learned so much over the past two years. Heading to Florida with my Robostang team is a great opportunity to showcase our skills and teamwork.”

This year MHA had volunteers not only from the community but also invited the school’s upper school robotics team to volunteer at Sunday’s event. When asked if middle school robotics is preparing the teams for the upper school robotics elective, MHA student Adelaide Eno said, “When volunteering at a competition like this you sort of get an understanding of how different the middle school and upper school competitions are.”

Eno went on to say, “However, middle school robotics is teaching the students vital skills for taking it to the next level. I think that no team can truly succeed if they don’t collaborate and push each other to grow. What we’re seeing in FIRST Lego League is just that: it is teaching our students how to think outside the box, to problem solve, and to work together. These things are all essential to our U.S. team as well, and middle school robotics gives students a diverse set of tools to use when they begin competing in high school.”

The live portion of the tournament was streamed. If you would like to view, please click here.

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

Jose R. Alarcon – Aurora, Colorado … The Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Aurora, Colorado, celebrated their first Pathfinder induction service as the “God’s Warriors Club,” their newly adopted name, together with the host Pathfinder club from the Denver South Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, January 27. The event was well attended by both churches with almost 90 participants.

The Aurora First Pathfinder club is striving forward as they prepare for this year’s International Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, with the celebration of their first Pathfinders’ Sabbath under their renewed identity, February 10. Club members participated during the Second Service as the praise team, deacons and deaconesses, and by providing the special music. They invited Bob Miller, Elder at Aroura First, as their speaker who addressed them from the subject of Honor based on the fifth commandment of Exodus 20:12.

During the evening, the God’s Warrior Club conducted a very successful fundraiser to those in attendance who were there to convey their support. The well-coordinated event had food for sale, table-games, basketball, soccer, a game of Bible Pictionary, crafts, and an inflatable slide. Among the attendees was the Denver South Pathfinders club, that showed its full support, and local members and guests.

Many local church members shared their appreciation for the camaraderie and the reenergized atmosphere that the club’s members and staff have brought to the church. They congratulated Jonathan Dominguez, club director, and his staff for coordinating such a spiritual and well put together event.

Anchoring in this new identity is a strong commitment to God and to the Club’s guidelines, as the club members and staff engage in ministry and service. The Psalmist wrote, Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle (Psalms 144:1, NIV). The Aurora First Church fully supports their club and their efforts as they prepare for the International Camporee and beyond.

—Jose R. Alarcon is the lead pastor at the Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Sandy Hodgson – Denver, Colorado … Educators and administrators from Campion Academy, HMS Richards Adventist School, Mile High Academy, and Vista Ridge Academy attended the High Reliability School (HRS) Summit in San Antonio, Texas, January 29-31. The summit, attended by over 1,500 participants, served as an opportunity to collaborate and continue on the path to “Something Better,” the motto for Adventist education across North America.

At the heart of the summit were the keynote speeches and breakout sessions, which provided invaluable insights into the HRS model. The HRS framework is built upon the premise of fostering high reliability in schools through a systematic approach to continuous improvement. It emphasizes the cultivation of a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment for both students and staff.

Many of the keynote and breakout session speakers were present at our North American Division (NAD) Educators’ Convention this past August. This summit provided opportunities to dive deeper into principles and practices that speak to the mission of Adventist education—a commitment to the redemption and restoration of mankind.

“My time in San Antonio was very encouraging to me,” reflects Erin Johnson, Campion Academy English teacher. “The breakouts and meetings gave me clear and tangible ways to not only be a more effective and engaging teacher but also how to improve the mission and vision of my school.”

Even though each day was packed with back-to-back sessions, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) educators created time to come together to share experiences, strategies, and best practices as a collaborative team. This time was also to engage in productive discussions within their own schools to underscore the commitment to excellence for the culture that is unique on their campus.

Carey Jordan, principal at HMS Richards Elementary School, was reminded of the importance of fostering a positive teacher team culture. “The training I received helped me become intentional about enhancing collaboration, fostering growth, and creating an environment conducive to the success of educators and students, ultimately strengthening the learning environment for each student.”

By implementing strategies and principles gleaned from the HRS model, these educators are not only shaping the future of their own institutions but also contributing to the broader landscape of education in the RMC and beyond.

Contributing to the broader landscape of Adventist education beyond the borders of the RMC is already taking place. Barely back from San Antonio, a group of teachers from Mile High Academy, along with RMC superintendent Diane Harris and RMC associate superintendent Paul Negrete, were invited to Lincoln, Nebraska, February 6 to lead in professional development for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference educators on the integration of standards-based learning.

These educators shared insights, strategies, and best practices to empower teachers in embracing this approach to learning as directed by the NAD. The collaborative effort between our conferences signifies a commitment to educational excellence within the Mid-America Union.

“It was encouraging and enlightening to work together with RMC teachers and leaders,” stated Casey Prindle, principal at College View Academy in Lincoln. “As our schools are learning about, developing, and implementing Standards Based Learning (SBL), it was incredibly helpful to collaborate with those who have experience.”

Prindle continued, “The RMC team was insightful and reassuring. Coming into the meeting, many educators felt the transition to SBL was confusing or even overwhelming, yet, when the time was done, many felt hopeful about the process and encouraged that this work to better support learning was possible. We are so thankful to our Rocky Mountain colleagues and hope we can work together again.”

The cost to train, advance, and implement strategies for student success in the Rocky Mountain Conference encompasses countless hours of professional development, often pursued outside of regular work hours, as well as the continuous process to review and refine. This commitment demands personal sacrifice, as educators dedicate themselves to refining their practice to meet the needs of their students. Our commitment to the Rocky Mountain Conference allows us to continue to improve Adventist education as we serve the needs of our students.

—Sandy Hodgson is the RMC education assistant director. Photos by Carey Jordan, Sandy Hodgson, and Diane Harris.

Miloš Tomić – Arvada, Colorado … It’s been three months now since Arvada Adventist Church in Arvada, Colorado, started providing weekly aid to the Venezuelan refugees in the way of food, clothes, hygiene products, hugs, and prayers.

As the refugee crisis grows in the city of Denver, these families turned out to be the worst “collateral damage” in a highly politicized humanitarian struggle involving immigrants. Even the followers of Christ have not been immune to falling victims to such a mentality and succumbing to not offering a helping hand because of the way these people are being portrayed in the media.

Members of the congregation had an opportunity and the privilege to get to know some of these immigrants. And guess what, they are just like us. They want to raise their kids in the safety of freedom; they want to make enough money to sustain their families.

They just want to live. They don’t want handouts. They want to work. They don’t understand our immigration system or our laws. All they knew when they left their homes was that there is hope ahead and not behind them. And now they are here, and we must not sit idle.

Obviously, they need help. If you would like to be involved and donate, children’s clothes, hygiene products, and adult work clothes suited for winter are in great need. The kids get excited about receiving a winter jacket and gloves. There are small things that make a difference, and you can witness a big smile on a child’s face when they receive a doll or a toy car.

As Jesus embraced a small child, so can we. Please reach out to me Miloš Tomić at [email protected] to see how you can help.

—Miloš Tomić is the associate pastor at Arvada Adventist Church. Photos supplied.