05 Nov

MILE HIGH ACADEMY RAISES RECORD AMOUNT AT SIXTH ANNUAL WALK-A-THON

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, hosted its sixth Annual Walk-A-Thon, October 4, bringing together students, staff, and supporters to raise funds for the school’s financial aid program, which assists 40% of students in attending MHA.

With a fundraising goal of $50,000, the event exceeded expectations, raising an impressive $58,322.38, thanks to 70% student participation and strong community support.

The Walk-A-Thon featured balloon stations, snack areas, a bounce house, and a bubble station organized by the PTO. Friendly competition for class and individual prizes encouraged enthusiastic participation, with rewards including bowling parties, Mustang-themed gear, and personalized Stanley cups. The eleventh-grade class raised the most as a class, narrowly beating out the staff in a close race.

To celebrate surpassing the fundraising goal, MHA’s staff committed to a “Silly Olympics” during Chapel, November 1, which sparked plenty of laughter and cheers from students. Staff members dressed in inflatable costumes—including a duck, horse, shark, snail, and Cookie Monster—and took part in quirky relay races involving toilet plungers and balloon-cup challenges. MHA principal Andrew Carpenter emceed the event in a purple suit, enthusiastically introducing MHA’s first-ever Silly Olympics. The students joined in with custom-made signs and cheers, with one MHA student, Jaylee, calling out, “Go faster, Daddy!” to her father, Tyler Rettler, MHA’s Information Technology director, who sported a giant chicken outfit.

MHA’s vice president of Finance and Development, Jocelyn Aalborg, shared her appreciation, saying, “We are grateful for the generous support of our community. This dedication enables us to provide an excellent Adventist education to our students, and we deeply appreciate the commitment from our staff who helped make this event memorable.”

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

05 Nov

CAMPION’S CROSS COUNTRY’S FIRST SEASON AT THE FINISH LINE

Jill Harlow with Alex Cordoba – Loveland, Colorado … The first Cross Country team at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, began as a few students has developed into a strong group of runners.

The team’s coaches Heidi Sorensen and Jennifer Sigler expressed how they were impressed by both the improvement and dedication of the students showing up at 7:15 each morning.

“Given the amount of time that we trained, our kids raced really well,” stated Sorensen. As a team, their top finish of the season was second place at a meet in Greeley, Colorado.

For the students, this season was about not only racing but also growing as athletes while building friendships along the way.

“I like training every day and pushing others and others pushing me to be better every day,” CA sophomore student, Josh Fresse, shared. “I also like that we’re really close as a team and that I could make meaningful relationships while running.”

Zach Harlow, CA sophomore student, added, “I like going to the races because it is really fun to race against other schools. Cross Country has helped me become a better and faster runner.”

CA sophomore student, Elin Sorensen, expressed a different perspective, as her mother coached the team: “It’s super cool to have my mom as my cross-country coach. I like training with the whole team. The meets are really fun, and they motivate me to keep training.”

Despite the challenges of this first season, the students commented that they were happy about how much they’ve improved throughout the season and how their hard work has helped them succeed.

Luca Lu, CA junior student, commented, “I was able to finish a distance I had never raced before, and I could feel a sense of achievement after each race.”

“My team was amazing, and I saw achievements in everyone,” concluded CA sophomore student, Israel Ortiz.

Coach Sorensen shared that they hope to encourage more students to join next year. “We are looking forward to growing the team, and hosting our own cross country meet at Campion,” Sorensen said.

“With every race you can push yourself to your limits,” Gabriel Tostes, CA freshman student, shared. “Despite all of the hard work, the pain and the challenges, in the end it will be worth it.”

—Jill Harlow with Alex Cordoba, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photo supplied.

05 Nov

WOW SPEAKER SHARES TRANSFORMING POWER OF JESUS

Abigail Brown – Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, held a Week of Worship (WOW), October 21-25, with Pastor Lucas Lujan, head pastor at Colorado Springs South and Woodland Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park, Colorado, respectively. Lujan shared a powerful testimony about his past and focused his messages on the school year’s spiritual theme, “I AM.”

Lujan grew up in a world of violence and gangs. However, when he gave his life to Christ, he began to change. He learned about Seventh-day Adventism through studying Voice of Prophecy’s Bible guides while in prison. He gave up his old lifestyle, accepting the love and forgiveness of Jesus, and he is now a pastor.

Brayden Marroquin, CA student chaplain, reflected, “His story impacted me the most because, essentially, it shows God’s ability to transform people’s lives.”

The main point of the Lujan’s talk was how God wants us to come to him no matter where we are at because God loves us, forgives us, and desires to have a relationship with us.

Lujan engaged with the students outside of the meeting times through participating in student volleyball intramurals and getting to know them personally. During the Bible classes and Fusion on Wednesday night, October 23, the students wrote down questions for Lujan to answer in his talks.

Each meeting started out with praise songs including the theme song: “Who you say I am.”  Lilly Resz, CA junior student, shared, “I appreciate how the theme song brought my mindset into the worship and allowed me to focus on the message. I liked how he explained to us that it is okay to ask questions about our beliefs and why things happen. It was also fun when he came to talk with us one-on-one and answered questions for us.”

Jasmine Smittick, CA senior student, commented, “I enjoyed how he emphasized the thought ‘I am who I am because I AM’ (the Great I AM), and I also appreciated how he was real with his past.”

—Abigail Brown, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

04 Nov

MHA GIRLS CLUB SUPPORTS GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVE WITH ADVENTHEALTH

Cindy Roldan and Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The Middle School Girls Club at Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, held its monthly meeting, October 18, featuring a special presentation by Courtney Haas and Jeanne McCollum from AdventHealth.

The presentation introduced students to a global health initiative focused on supporting mothers and infants in under-resourced communities. Haas and McCollum highlighted the critical work being done to ensure essential healthcare reaches those in need, providing life-saving support for vulnerable mothers and babies.

The club is committed to empowering its members to make a meaningful impact both within their community and globally. Following the presentation, the students participated in an engaging activity where they envisioned and created representations of their future selves. This reflective exercise encouraged the girls to think about how their unique God-given talents could be used to continue making a positive difference in the world.

Eager to take action, the club organized two fundraisers—a bake sale and a carwash—for MHA’s October 24 all-school Love Matters Most Service Day. The fundraisers raised over $400, with all proceeds supporting the global health initiative, allowing the students to directly contribute to helping mothers and infants in underprivileged areas.

“We are incredibly grateful to Courtney Haas and Jeanne McCollum for sharing their insights and inspiring our students,” said Cindy Roldan, MHA Girls Club sponsor and director of Student Services. “The club is excited to continue their journey of making an impact, locally and globally.”

In addition to the recent bake sale and car wash, the MHA Middle School Girls Club will continue to explore additional ways for the school and community to get involved and support this important cause, making a lasting difference for mothers and babies in need.

—Cindy Roldan is the MHA director of Student Services and Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

31 Oct

GUIDEPOSTS THROUGH FAITH AND LEARNING

Sandy Hodgson – Denver, Colorado … “To be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ; and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit, in God’s out-of-doors—these are little guideposts on the footpath to peace.”

While Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian minister and American writer, wrote these words in the early twentieth century, they resonate with three Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) schools on the Colorado Western Slope. “The sunbaked landscape may be rugged, but the serene spirit of the land seems to inspire these schools. Our schools in Grand Junction and Cortez, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, embody resilience, strength, and an aura of peace,” remarked Sandy Hodgeson, RMC Education assistant director.

Intermountain Adventist Academy (IAA) in Grand Junction, Colorado, with 35 students and under the leadership of Jeff Jackson, thrives on community and collaboration. The staff often works across grade levels, blending the strengths of each teacher to create a rich, supportive learning environment.

At a recent Town Hall meeting, IAA teacher Andrea Jackson was inspired by the renovation project at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, particularly its commitment to inclusivity. She guided her high school math students in developing plans to improve accessibility, encouraging them to apply math skills in ways that mirror Van Dyke’s ideals of service and thoughtful improvement. Students learn to take ownership of their learning, not just for personal achievement but as a way to serve others.

Cortez Adventist Christian School, with 24 students, is a vibrant, close-knit community led by Deedee Franklin and Teresa Quillan, who have fostered a systematic, holistic approach to learning over many years. Embracing Van Dyke’s idea of striving to improve, Deedee and Teresa are dedicated to giving students a strong academic and spiritual foundation. The Unlocking the Code reading program has become central to this goal. Here, students are taught to approach their studies with reverence and diligence, finding joy and satisfaction in learning each new word, fact, or idea.

RMC’s smallest school on the Western Slope is Discover Christian School in Farmington, New Mexico, where Jean Rose Manuop has recently joined as the teacher for the one-room school. Mrs. Manuop, newly arrived from the Philippines, brings a fresh perspective, eagerly learning from and contributing to the Farmington community.

During a visit from the RMC Office of Education, the school was engrossed in worship with Messiah’s Mansion, traveling through a sanctuary replica. Each day’s worship centered on new truths about Christ’s mission, reflecting Van Dyke’s encouragement to seek peace and purpose through faith. In the simplicity of the one-room setting, students at Discover Christian School are finding the profound joy of God’s presence and the beauty of a life dedicated to learning and spiritual growth.

“Our visit to each of these schools,” reflected RMC Education superintendent Diane Harris, “reveals educators that exemplify kindness, gentleness, and Christlike leadership. Each one demonstrates a commitment to providing guideposts that will help their students become who God has created them to be.”

—Sandy Hodgson is the RMC Education assistant director. Photos by Sandy Hodgson and Diane Harris.

31 Oct

MHA STUDENTS DEDICATE A DAY TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, MAKING AN IMPACT

Cindy Roldan and Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, hosted its annual “Love Matters Most” service day, October 24. This year’s event, sponsored by AdventHealth, empowered students to engage in meaningful service projects both on campus and throughout the community.

The service day was part of MHA’s FOCUS Week—Focusing On Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice—and began with a motivational message from the week’s special guest speaker, Mark Weir, head pastor from the Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Denver, Colorado. MHA also took a moment to honor local pastors who not only partner with the school but also selflessly serve the community.

Throughout the day, MHA students engaged in various meaningful projects across the community. In the Early Childhood division, preschoolers painted “Kindness Rocks” to inspire positivity, while Kindergarten through second graders crafted cards and posters to thank local police and fire departments. The third and fourth graders visited Thrive Care Homes to make cards and prepare songs for the residents, while fifth graders stayed on MHA’s campus, raking leaves, and completing maintenance projects.

Middle school students partnered with New Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, to assemble hygiene kits for those in need and invited community members to MHA’s upcoming Fall Fest. Another group assisted with a car wash, raising funds for women’s care in partnership with AdventHealth’s HMBS Women’s Initiative. The Middle School Girls Club conducted a bake sale which further contributed to this cause, attracting attention and support from the community.

Upper School students focused their efforts on off-campus projects. Freshmen students volunteered at LifeSource Adventist Fellowship (LAF) in Denver, Colorado, where LAF associate pastor Heidi Carpenter praised their hard work, saying, “The kids worked hard, and I heard no complaints.”

Sophomore students stayed on campus, collaborating with Coach Michael Camacho on school improvement projects. “I was impressed with their dedication and effort,” he noted. Junior students visited Vista Ridge Academy in Erie, Colorado, eagerly tackling a well-organized to-do list, with RD Gallant, MHA chaplain, commenting, “It was great to visit a sister school and work together as a class.”

A select group of Upper School students joined MHA principal Andrew Carpenter and Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Education associate superintendent, Paul Negrete, along with Arturo Rodriguez and Joel Hernández, members of Denver Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, to begin a remodeling project at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado. Meanwhile, senior students volunteered at community center in Longmont, Colorado, in various roles.

To conclude the week, Middle School students participated in a special Agape feast and communion service, focusing on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. “It was nice to take time to remember how Jesus gave everything for us—including His own life,” said eighth grader Layten M.

Roldan reflected on Service Day and FOCUS Week, stating, “FOCUS Week, and specifically Service Day, showcased our students’ commitment to making a positive difference. They truly embodied the spirit of community and compassion, ensuring that Love Matters Most.”

—Cindy Roldan is the MHA director of Student Services and Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

31 Oct

PASTORS GRATEFUL FOR RECOGNITION DURING APPRECIATION MONTH

Mickey Mallory – Denver, Colorado … Churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) and beyond take time to show appreciation to their pastor every October. While not the only person ministering in the church, pastors have a unique role in that they shoulder the load of shepherding the church members. They are typically always on the giving end, rarely on the receiving end.

During the month of October, church members are given the opportunity to allow their pastor to be on the receiving end of appreciation. This is great for the pastor because it helps him/her know that their ministry is making a difference and that their members are grateful to God for all that He is doing through their ministry. Showing appreciation to a pastor communicates to a pastor that their church members care.

The Glenwood Springs Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, recently showed appreciation to their pastor, Leonardo Jiménez, and his wife. According to Leonardo, “the elders called me and my wife to the front to recognize the work we have done and thank us for what we have done. They were very generous to both me and my wife, giving us gifts and cards with nice wishes and then a cake. It was a wonderful Sabbath.”

Steve Nelson, pastor from the Cody District in Wyoming, and his wife, Samantha, shared, “thank you for caring and showing us the precious gift of your love during pastor’s appreciation month and all year long! We love you deeply and thank God for the gift of love and knowing you!”

Dave Ketelsen, pastor from the Colorado Springs Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, mentioned that after receiving appreciation from his church members, he felt “loved and encouraged to keep serving for the Lord no matter what.”

“Thank you for remembering your pastor and their family at this time of the year and throughout the year. It really means a lot to them,” remarked Mickey Mallory, RMC Ministerial director.

—Mickey Mallory is the RMC Ministerial director. Photos supplied and by Liz Kirkland.

30 Oct

NEW VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT ADVENTHEALTH PARKER ENSURES NO ONE DIES ALONE

AdventHealth – Parker, Colorado … As a volunteer in the Emergency Department at AdventHealth Parker, Katherine Wiley frequently interacts with patients. But there’s one interaction from the past three years that she will never forget.

She was doing her rounds, offering blankets, water and coffee to the families of patients when she passed the room of a very sick patient who had no visitors. After talking to a nurse, Katherine found out she was an elderly woman who was dying.

“I sat down and started talking to her. I stayed with her, holding her hand, until she passed away,” said Katherine. “I consider it a great blessing that I was able to sit with her in her last moments.”

The patient’s two adult sons had been rushing to get to AdventHealth Parker from Colorado Springs but arrived after their mother passed.

“I introduced myself to them and explained I had been with her when she passed. They both cried and hugged and were so thankful someone had been with her. It was such a profound moment for me.”

That profound moment inspired Katherine to take the lead on launching the “No One Dies Alone” program at AdventHealth Parker. The program provides compassionate companionship to the dying who have no family or friends. The main goal is to provide one of the most valuable human gifts: a dignified death.

No One Dies Alone volunteers offer end-of-life presence and support by sitting at the patient’s bedside. They can do anything from holding someone’s hands to playing soothing music. Volunteers work in shifts until a patient passes away or a family member arrives. The program does not require any special background or credentials, and you do not need a medical background.

“The beauty of this program is that anyone can do it,” said Katherine. “The only requirement is to be able to sit there and be fully present with the patient. If you have a calling in your heart, we want to talk to you.”

Katherine says there are more patients who need this program than most people would expect.

“There are many different people who may be alone when arriving at the hospital. Some of them are known as elder orphans; all of their friends and family have died, or they just don’t have anyone who can drive to the hospital to be with them. Sometimes we see people who don’t have great relationships with their families. Other times, there are patients who have great relationships with their families but don’t want them to see them die. Or sometimes there are emergency situations like car accidents where no one can be here quickly.”

Right now, the program has about 30 volunteers, but Katherine’s goal is to have more than 100. There are no required number of hours needed to join the program. Volunteers simply give their time as they are able. All volunteers are also given training, so they are successful in this amazing ministry.

“It is a simple act of kindness and love to be with someone in their last moments,” said Katherine. “I get so much more than I could ever give by doing this work. I hope that volunteers are touched as deeply as I have been.”

While the No One Dies Alone program is only available at AdventHealth Parker right now, Katherine is already working with representatives from AdventHealth’s four other facilities in the Rocky Mountain Region to help get the program started in other hospitals.

“We all just want to be there for our patients. We are never alone when we are born. We should not be alone when we die.”

If you are interested in becoming a No One Dies Alone volunteer, email [email protected]

—AdventHealth. Republished with permission from the AdventHealth Parker The Newsroom website. Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels.

29 Oct

CAMPION GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL BONDS AT TOURNAMENT

Olivia Uphold – Loveland, Colorado … The girls’ varsity volleyball team at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to participate in Union Adventist University’s (UAU) Fall Tournament, October 16-20, along with the CA boys’ varsity soccer team.

The girls played 5 games against: Sunnydale Academy from Centralia, Missouri, College View Academy from Lincoln, Nebraska, Spring Valley Academy from Centerville, Ohio, Georgia-Cumberland Academy from Calhoun, Georgia, and Minnetonka Academy from Minnetonka, Minnesota. The matches were close and competitive; however, the CA girls’ team ended the tournament with four losses and one win against Minnetonka.

Even with the disappointing results, the Campion team members remained upbeat and bonded with each other during the tournament. Damaris Lopez, CA team player, says, “I like how despite our losses the team still came together with a positive attitude which made this tournament memorable.”

Whenever the girls had free time, they went to rest, spend time with friends, or support the CA boys’ varsity soccer team. Natalie Bryant, CA team player, says, “It was really fun to support the soccer team. It got really tense because I was on the same side as the soccer team hearing everything on the sidelines.”

At the end of the tournament, CA’s Olivia Uphold was given an award for being the team’s Most Valuable Player.

—Olivia Uphold, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

29 Oct

CAMPION BOYS’ SOCCER TEAM TAKES SECOND PLACE IN CHAMPIONSHIP

Gabriel Costa – Loveland, Colorado … Topping off a successful season, the boys’ soccer team at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, made it to the championship game at Union Adventist University’s (UAU) Fall Tournament, October 16-20, for the first time in five years. In the end, they lost against Sunnydale Academy (SA) from Centralia, Missouri, after the closely contested game went to penalty kicks, taking second place overall.

On the first day of the tournament, October 16, Campion won their game 4-0 against College View Academy (CVA) from Lincoln, Nebraska, with 2 goals from CA team captain Brayden Marroquin, one from CA player Philemon Amisi, and one from CA player Daniel Lopes. However, in the second game of the day, they were beaten 4-0 by Andrews Academy (AA) from Berrien Springs, Michigan, the reigning tournament champions.

On the second day, Campion was placed against the same opponents and needed to win both games to reach the final. Campion won 2-1 against CVA in the morning and was able to turn the tide against AA’s strong team, beating them 1-0. Gabriel Costa, the CA team’s striker, scored all the goals in both games.

Costa said, “We were upset that we had lost to Andrews [Academy], but we came together for a team meeting and encouraged each other. We arrived on the second day with our heads up and motivated to win. It was great that I scored the goals, but what made me most happy was how the team was able to deal with the defeat and improve.”

The final game against Sunnydale Academy on October 19 was a difficult and thrilling game. Both teams fought hard, ending the time in a draw, 1-1. After 10 minutes of extra time and no goals, the game was decided by penalty kicks. Both teams scored their first three penalty kicks, but Campion lost the fourth goal, so the game ended with Campion down 4-5.

Marroquin reflected, “The best moment of the game was when we equalized the game with seven minutes to go in the second half. When our team got a free kick from a foul, Davi crossed the ball into the box, Bruno headed the ball back, opening the way for Gabriel to score.”

Marroquin was selected as the Most Valuable Player of Campion’s soccer team. “The final game was full of stress, but I was confident that my team was going to play their hearts out,” Marroquin furthered. “The best part for me was the teamwork we put in. I’m proud of the team for giving it all they had.”

—Gabriel Costa, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

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