21 Oct

CAMPION STUDENTS GET POKED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY

By Jared Marcenaro – Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy students and faculty rolled up their sleeves to help the community by donating blood.

Recently, Campion partnered with Vitalant to host a blood drive to help increase the supply needed throughout the state. Planning for the event took time as students had to receive permission to participate in the drive. For many of the 29 students and staff, this was their first time donating.

“Being my first time donating, it was a bit nerve-wracking, but I made sure to drink a lot of water and eat something before my appointment,” Jahir, a senior, commented.

Some were scared and somewhat nervous when they entered the gym where the drive was being held. “When I got to the gym, I got a little nervous after seeing the whole setup and all the scary machines. But when I sat in the chair, I remembered why I signed up in the first place: to help other people. I’m glad I had the opportunity to donate my blood and do something good,” Elizabeth, a senior, said.

Organizing the event was Shannon Brown, Campion’s registrar.  Brown’s reason for planning the blood drive was very personal.

“When I was newly married, my husband almost died and needed a blood transfusion. He needed two liters of blood on one occasion and one liter on another occasion. To me, people who donated [their] blood saved my husband. I don’t even know who the people are, but they still chose to give, and that is something I can choose too.”

Jahir hopes that donating will encourage more students to give and for Campion to host future events. “It feels good knowing that my blood can help save lives, and I will definitely do it again.”

–Jared Marcenaro, is a Campion senior; photo supplied

09 Sep

CAMPION STUDENTS GET STARSTRUCK ON OUTDOOR CLUB OUTING

By Jared Marcenaro – Laramie, Wyoming … Hail, cold nights, rocky trails, and high altitude could not stop Campion Academy’s outdoor club from having an unforgettable weekend backpacking trip in the Snowy Range mountains in Wyoming on September 3.

The group of 25 adventure-filled students left campus for a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the trailhead, where they were met with rain and hail.

Reflecting on the exciting beginning of the expedition Jahir, Campion senior, explained, “It was memorable because Mr. Kast started our group on the wrong trail, and when we got onto the right trail it started raining and hailing. But, when that passed, we got to see the beautiful night sky.” Once everyone had set up camp and settled in, they welcomed in the Sabbath with evening worship under the stars.

Sabbath morning began with breakfast and a devotional thought. Then it was off to their next campsite, about six miles away. The hikers enjoyed beautiful views while pushing their physical limits as the trail got steeper and surpassed 11,000 feet in elevation.

“Getting to be in nature was very peaceful. I feel like being out there distracts you from school and any stress you have. You get closer to God, and you have time to talk with friends,” Matthew, Campion junior, said.

When they arrived at the end of their hike, campers settled in and had time to explore or relax.

“One thing I enjoyed was the freedom we had, especially on Saturday because I could wander off on my own time, and it wasn’t restricted to staying at camp or on a trail,” Noah, Campion senior, said.

Students shared what they learned about God throughout the day at a worship closing out the Sabbath. “Seeing the stars makes you realize how small we are but how God still cares for us,” Preston, Campion junior expressed.

Early the following day, a group of ten adventurous club members set off to hike to the summit of Medicine Bow Peak, while the rest of the members opted to sleep in. “I enjoyed the hike on Sunday morning,” said Ekenna, Campion student. “Even though it was really hard, it was awesome going to the summit and looking down on where you just came from and how far you got. It also relates to your spiritual walk, where you need to go through a struggle so you can look back and see how far you’ve come.”

One more hike awaited the students—the hike to the vans and busses to transport them back to campus. Love Pickle, senior, summed up her weekend saying that, “The people and the views made backpacking fun.”

To view a student-produced video recapping the weekend, please click here.

–Jared Marcenaro is a Campion senior; photos by Noah Sturges, Airi Nomura, and Jill Harlow