Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Around 600 alumni showed off their Campion Academy (CA) pride by reuniting and reminiscing on campus in Loveland, Colorado, this past weekend.

Organized by Toni Odenthal, CA director of Alumni & Development, the event included the Reeder Classic Golf Tournament, vespers and church programming, performances from the music department, time for honor classes to socialize, and alumni versus students volleyball and soccer games.

Returning alumni especially enjoyed the time to reconnect with their classmates. In addition to the events planned on campus, many classes took the initiative to plan special dinners and events such as the 20-year reunion class of 2006. Nearly half of their 60-member class participated.

Elizabeth (Fagan) Webster, Class of 2006, shared, “Everyone seemed to easily and pleasantly reconnect in both our formal and informal events. Being able to hear about people’s lives for the past 20 years and share stories from days at Campion was amusing, enjoyable, and worth the drive!”

The class held their formal reunion lunch on the top floor of Hankins Hall which was restored a few years after they had graduated. “When we walked the halls of Campion, Hankins Hall had a storied past that felt almost like a whisper, but in reality, was a huge dusty, cobweb ridden storage unit. Being able to look around at the refurbished Hankins Hall was like filling in a blank in your memory you didn’t realize was there.”

The Class of 1976, celebrating their 50-year anniversary, had the largest turnout of 35 people.

The annual golf tournament on Thursday was held at Bella Ridge Golf Course in Johnstown and included 31 participants who raised money for the Worthy Student Fund.

Randy Barber, Class of 1966, shared the main message at church on the topic Homesick for Heaven. Current students also shared about their study abroad trip to Spain and their work in Campus Ministries during Vespers and Sabbath School.

Two alumni were given the Alumni of the Year Awards: Amy Gane, Class of 1986, for her service to Campion Academy and mission work, and Mary (Enoch) Hedger, Class of 1960, for her service to Christian education and her documentation of Campion history. In addition, Miriam Kittrell was nominated for the Alumni Hall of Faith for her dedication to students and staff in her 17 years of service at Campion Academy.

Many alumni demonstrated their competitive side by participating in the Saturday night games against students. For the first time in many years, the current students won the soccer game with a final score of 8-4. However, the alumni still beat the students in the volleyball game 3-2, after playing five close games.

An addition this year, a small group of alumni met on Sunday to discuss and support the Friends of Campion fund, which is for capital improvements. They are organizing a committee of alumni who will help fundraise and volunteer labor for campus projects.

Odenthal reflected on highlights from the weekend, saying, “It was wonderful watching the students visiting with the alumni honor classes both young and old. They were able to share with each other what is currently happening on campus and memories from the past. It was also amazing to have the Kittrell family and friends here to honor Mrs. Miriam Kittrell who meant so much to many alumni.”

—Jill Harlow is the Campion Academy Communication director. Photos supplied.