NN Feb 2023 Page 2

MHANews – Highlands Ranch, Denver … The Mile High Academy gym came alive on February 12 for the first annual Adventist Robotics and FIRST Lego League Superpowered Robotics Tournament. Adventist Robotics was founded in 2004 and operates the FIRST robotics tournaments and STEM engagements for Pre-K through twelfth-grade students across the country.

In the weeks leading up to the February 12 tournament, students were encouraged to design, build, and code a LEGO robot with the intent that the robot can navigate through missions and innovative solutions to real-world problems. Teams were given two and a half minutes to complete missions with their robot. There were fifteen missions to choose from, and the teams developed their strategy to see which missions would score the most points. Not only was it a challenge to get the robot to complete the mission, but it was a huge opportunity for the teams to showcase their teamwork.

“To get through robotics, you need to learn from your mistakes, use teamwork, and stay positive” said Natalie, HMS Richards student.

The day started at 7:30 a.m. with check-in, coaches’ meetings, and time for each team to prepare for the competition. The teams went before a panel of three judges to introduce their robot and present [solutions] on a problem that they were tasked to solve in relation to energy production and storage.

“My favorite part [of the tournament] was presenting the innovation project to the judges,” said Josh, an MHA seventh grader.

Sponsored by the Mid-America Union Conference, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), and Mile High Academy (MHA), four teams from Brighton Adventist Academy, HMS Richards, and Mile High Academy participated, with the hope of winning the Champions Award and an invitation to the Adventist Robotics championship in Orlando, Florida, later this year.

Awards were given in five categories. The awards and recipients are as follows:

• Core Values Award: MHA Team A
• Innovation Project Award: HMS Richards
• Robot Performance Award: MHA Team A
• Robot Design Award: Brighton
• Champions Award and Invitation to Adventist Robotics Competition: MHA Team B

Even though Brighton didn’t receive the Champions Award, seventh-grader Fidel reflected, “I was excited for the event. It was definitely a learning experience for next time and what we will improve upon the second time around. It was a great experience for everyone, and the teams helped each other now and then. We were proud of our accomplishments.”

Mel Wade, director of Adventist Robotics and technology coordinator for the Florida Conference, worked directly with MHA in the months leading up to the tournament and attended the event too. His role at Adventist Robotics is invaluable as he shares his knowledge and oversees robotics tournaments across the United States. He commented on the first MHA-hosted tournament, “I think it was a very successful first tournament. Lots of nerves with the kids but I think having the morning to work out the kinks really helped. I know the presentations were hard as, [for] a lot of them, this was their first time doing a formal public speaking presentation, but they all did great.”

“I was so impressed by the collaboration and spirit of each team,” said Diane Harris, RMC director of education. “The staff and volunteers that came out to support their schools speaks to the beauty of the Rocky Mountain Conference. A special thank you to Mr. Wade and his dedication to making robotics tournaments happen in our Adventist schools.”

Harris went on to say, “We are excited to host the tournament again next year and continue to watch this tournament grow for years to come.”

To view the robotics tournament, visit www.milehighacademy.org/msrobotics. For more information about Adventist Robotics, www.adventistrobotics.net.

—MHANews. Photos submitted.

Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming … Do your pizza parties have a purpose? The Cody Cowboys Pathfinder Club held a pizza and card-making party with a purpose on Saturday night, February 11. Hardy Tyson, club director, created and baked homemade pizzas that everyone thoroughly relished, and the fellowship enjoyed by club youth, parents, and church members who attended was truly priceless.

Anita Holdren, assistant club director, organized the card-making activities during which club youth made several Valentine’s Day cards for patients at the local hospice center and to share with church and community members. Club member Eric Holdren, Jr. said, “I had a fun time making Valentine’s Day cards for church members and hospice patients. I hope we make more cards for other occasions in the future and can reach out to more people in the community.”

While the kids were having fun making their creations, some adults played games. The laughter and joy displayed throughout the evening among both youth and adults was contagious and abundant. “It was fun, and it was helpful to others because they will get a Valentine’s Day card. It helped me because, after a very stressful week, I got to relax, be with fun people, and have a good time,” said our newest club member, Kailyn Jones.

This pizza party with the higher purpose of bringing love and joy to those in need was a remarkably successful event!

—Samantha Nelson is from Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wyoming. Photos by Samantha Nelson.

Samantha Nelson – Cody Wyoming … In the summer of 2022, Pastor Steve and Samantha Nelson took two Pathfinder Teen Leadership Training (TLT) students on the trip of a lifetime—touring Adventist Heritage sites, attending the CALLED Convention, and much more. While that was all exciting and educational, there was something else meaningful that developed in the process—the Pondering Pathfinder Podcast!

Cedar Jeffers, a Pathfinder, initially out of boredom on the 17-day-long drive began reporting the “news” about driving conditions, traffic, etc. She then “interviewed” her brother Dean with the souvenir baseball bat she’d received at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky as her microphone. Dean, being the gracious big brother that he is, obliged and answered her questions.

As the miles passed day after day, with support and guidance from the Nelsons, the Pondering Pathfinder Podcast was born with Cedar Jeffers as your host. Being naturally timid, it took some convincing to get Cedar to come up with questions and keep practicing her opening and closing remarks, but it finally became more comfortable for her.

It’s been nearly a year since that humble beginning that has now become a reality. Cedar says, “I have always wanted to try podcasting; it always looked so fun to do.” Pastor Steve set Cedar up with the recording equipment she needed, and she had her first practice run on the equipment with a fellow Pathfinder, Katarina Black, as a guest on February 11. The Pondering Pathfinder Podcast will host guests—other young people and teens—who will share their responses to the important life questions Cedar will be asking. “I am looking forward to interviewing anyone who is willing,” she said.

The hope is that these podcasts will encourage other young people to speak out about what difficulties they face, what’s important to them, and will help listeners find answers for their questions about life events that impact them. As Katarina comments, “I like getting to be heard and it’s just a cool program to participate in.” We hope this will be a way to reach other youth in our local schools and community evangelistically and to help them come to know Jesus as the Solution to all their needs and trials.

Cedar is looking for sponsors to help promote this podcast on Facebook and the local Christian radio station. Those who are interested in sponsoring can contact Samantha Nelson at [email protected].    

—Samantha Nelson is from Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wyoming. Photos by Samantha Nelson.

RMCNews – Glacier View Ranch, Ward, Colorado … “I certainly had great expectations and excitement for the 2023 Ministerial Retreat,” commented Anton Kapusi, pastor from Pueblo First Adventist Church. “Our Ministerial director and the Administration consistently deliver what is necessary to the pastors and ministry leaders in the conference territory,” he added.

Though participating ministers struggled with severe weather conditions in Colorado and Wyoming, the pastoral group of some 60 came to the retreat to be “blessed and inspired by the speakers God lined up for us. They led us in deep study and personal reflection that can impact the way we lead our congregations,” remarked Godfrey Miranda, who recently became the senior pastor at Littleton Adventist Church.He added that there’s something special about being part of this RMC ministerial team “but that sense of team can be lost sight of as we serve in our individual settings. The retreat allowed for meaningful reconnection and strengthening each other to keep pressing on in our ministry,” Miranda shared.

This year’s ministerial retreat, January 29-February 1, gave pastors, their spouses, and several hospital chaplains the opportunity to learn how to grow through loss, said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director and organizer of the retreat.

The meeting’s theme was “Growing Through Loss.” Mallory explained that one of the hardest things pastors have to deal with is loss, whether it be personal or professional. Invited to address the issues of grief were Steve and Karen Nicola from Grief Education Resources in Auburn, California.

“I was wondering what to expect. Grief counseling is not a subject I would have expected at a ministerial retreat. However, the choice was well in order. The personal touch, the deep presentations, and the professional biblical and psychological approach to grief were well appreciated,” said Kapusi.

Presentations on the book of Galatians by Dr. Carl Cosaert, Dean of the School of Theology and professor of Biblical Studies at Walla Walla University, Walla Walla, Washington, “were really refreshing. They helped us to appreciate even more the Good News of the faithfulness of Jesus when it comes to the plan of salvation,” commented Mallory.

For Pastor Kapusi, the meetings with Dr. Cosaert were the most unadulterated biblical presentations on the Gospel. His exegetical, linguistic, and theological insight into the book of Galatians was, at times, devolving. Indeed, his humility, paired with his willingness to share and converse directly with all willing pastors, individuals, or pastors in a group setting, was an additional level of comfort provided to all of us.”

Cosaert commended the RMC organizers for including the chaplains in a pastoral retreat. Several chaplains joined the group and found time for fellowship, good humor, and lots of laughter, according to Johnnathan Ward, Director of Mission Integration for Avista Adventist Hospital. Referring to all presentations, “the retreat was excellent!” he said.

Commenting on the retreat, Micheal Goetz, senior pastor at Campion Adventist Church, said, “pastoral ministry is a spiritual, emotional, and mental commitment to be the faithful under-shepherds of Jesus. So, it seemed very fitting to invest and be challenged in growth in all three of these areas. The study of theology in the book of Galatians and practical study in grieving and dealing with loss brought a meaningful and holistic time of continued education and personal growth.”

—RMCNews. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski.

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Recently, Mile High Academy (MHA) and the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church community shared the sad news of Maxine Gerst’s passing. For decades, Gerst and her family have been familiar faces in the Denver community, including at MHA where she taught for 47 years. Gerst’s own children graduated from MHA–Danielle Gerst See (1999) and Jonathan Gerst (2002).

Gerst’s passion for Adventist education and learning shone in her kindergarten classroom. Her classroom was described as lively and exciting. Rarely will you find an MHA alumnus that didn’t have her as a kindergarten teacher and most had parents, aunts and uncles that attended her class too. In addition to her exceptional curriculum standards, she looked for ways to make learning fun and enjoyable. From field trips to Miller Farms and the Botanic Gardens to watching seeds grow and other unique classroom projects, she found ways to share God with her students.

Former MHA student, Austin DeBard, reflected, “You forget a lot of people as you move through life, but she is one of those special people I’ll never forget. I remember her helping me with homework and when I didn’t understand something. She would bring me to her desk, stop what she was doing and sit next to me working to help me understand it. Even as I grew up, still going to MHA, I’d see her all the time, and she was the kindest heart around. I’m very sad to see her go, and [in addition to] all the fun things she used to do for us, how kind of a person she was made a big impact on who I am today. She will be deeply missed.”

Another fond memory for many is the famous Mrs. Gerst corn dogs, which were sold during the school’s annual Fall Festival. In the weeks leading up to the event, she and many volunteers would carefully prepare hundreds of Big Franks and Linketts to be sold as the kindergarten fundraiser. She would mix her secret batter and fry each one on her own. Families could purchase them at the Fall Festival, many buying in bulk to freeze and enjoy later.

“I can honestly say I don’t remember seeing her during the Fall Festival event because she would always be behind the scenes in the kitchen making and frying the corn dogs so they were just right,” said Mindy Philpott, MHA alumna and current faculty. “My girls only ask for Mrs. Gerst’s corn dogs. We can’t call them by any other name.”

Gerst retired from teaching in 2017. A recent tally showed she taught more than 875 students during her time at MHA. And even in retirement, she was still a familiar face on campus helping the teachers with testing, tutoring, and substitute teaching. The COVID pandemic didn’t stop her. Masked and ready to go, she was the first to call and volunteer to cover for a sick teacher.

Former MHA teacher and Gerst colleague, Lisa Venteicher, said, “Such a beautiful person–she radiated Jesus! And oh, how she loved the kids! I loved my time working with her. She was always so cheerful and positive, and I looked up to her as an example of a life of service in teaching. She was so fun too, so young at heart! She is somebody who touched many more lives than she will ever know until we all get to heaven. She will be greatly missed.”

In addition to her dedicated work at MHA, Gerst was very active in the Littleton church community. For years, she taught in the kindergarten Sabbath School classroom and helped with various church events and activities.

On the morning of Friday, January 27, she passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. In the weeks leading up to her passing, the community visited her to say hello, reflect on memories, and listen to her contagious giggle. In true Mrs. Gerst style, she refused medication that would make her groggy as being with her former students, friends, and family was more important to her than her own health.

The memorial service is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 13, at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she and her husband, Dan, were married more than 46 years ago. Refreshments–including her famous corn dogs—will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Mile High Academy worthy student fund or Adventist World Radio

The memorial service will be available at www.milehighacademy.org/mrsgerst.

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development staff at Mile High Academy. Photos provided.

Toby Quillin – Loveland, Colorado … An audience of more than 300 people were transported to New York City during the Broadway-style production of the musical Annie in the Campion gymnasium on Saturday night, January 28.

Keaton Drake, a sophomore student, shared, “The play was fun to watch, and I think that all the actors played their parts very well. It was an enjoyable story and I liked it a lot.”

Campion’s adaptation of Annie, one of the best family musicals, was based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie and loosely based on the 1885 poem Little Orphan Annie written by James Whitcomb Riley.

Annie, the main character in the play, was performed by senior student Ruth Rawlings. “I didn’t really mind everyone watching me as the main character because I was prepared,” she reflected. “I knew all my lines and had memorized them for more than five months, so I was comfortable.”

The Campion Academy Orchestra accompanied the performance with an overture and finale. Flutist Quiana Davis commented, “I was stressed because the pieces of music were hard, and we only had two weeks to prepare. In the end though, it was amazing and incredible! I couldn’t even hear myself because of the applause! It was a great night overall.”

The performance benefited the senior class with most of the money coming from the sales of New York-style foods such as hot dogs, black-and-white cookies, and New York cheesecakes. “There was a lot of good food at the show, but my favorite was the cheesecake because it was delicious, sweet, and creamy,” commented Alexandra Cordoba, a sophomore student.

Annie was the second musical drama teacher Erin Johnson has directed. “I am very proud of the drama class this year and the work they put into the show,” she explained. “I feel like this year there was a lot of excitement from last year’s production and our class time was full of positive energy and new talent. I am looking forward to the growth of the drama department.”

—Toby Quillin is on the Campion News Team. Photos provided.

Gary Nowlan – Boulder, Colorado … With a mild sense of horror, I stood observing furniture and other items from the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church piled near the basement entrance to the church. Times had changed and the church had decided these items were no longer needed.

Two items especially caught my eye—the large pulpit that had stood on the rostrum since the church was built around 1950, and a smaller pulpit that stood in front of the large one at a lower level. In much of the past, the smaller pulpit was used for Sabbath School and the larger one for the church service. I envisioned these two pulpits being disassembled and used for other purposes. Or, worse yet, being split into kindling.

So, after discussion with then Pastor Japhet De Oliveira, I loaded them into my SUV and moved them to my garage. He gave me the bronze plaque that had been attached to the side of the large pulpit. It reads:

In Memory of Our Mother
Kathrine Florence Austin
1862 – 1951
By
Earl and Ray N. Austin

The pulpits stood in my garage for many months as I contemplated what to do with them. Could they be used as reading stands in our heirloom basement?

Then one day, I was conversing with Pastor Hubert Cisneros, who grew up in Boulder, attended Boulder Junior Academy, and is now pastor of the Capitol View Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was ecstatic to learn that the pulpits were still in existence, remembering the days when he, as a teenager, stood behind them and performed or spoke. He asked if he could use them in the newly-remodeled Capitol View Church.

Recently, I attended Capitol View. There they were—still serving as they had served for so long in the Boulder Church. I smiled in satisfaction.

—Gary Nowlan is a member of the Boulder Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Rebecca Berg and Denae Yuros – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … When students arrived back on campus after Christmas Break, they soon recognized that the teachers and staff had planned something very special for the beginning of 2023. Mile High Academy (MHA) dedicated the month of January to celebrating and sharing kindness on and off campus.

Preschool through 12th-grade students participated in the kick-off assembly with kindness definitions, quotes, poetry, and songs. Guest speaker, Heidi Carpenter, shared her own personal stories of kindness and demonstrated how words and actions are lasting. That same day, MHA began putting together its kindness chains in the upper, middle, and lower school buildings. Whenever anyone observed or received a kind act, they wrote it down on a paper strip and looped it to the chain. The brightly-colored chains quickly took shape as kind acts spread among students and staff.

The theme of kindness continued into the second week with all-school spirit days. Each day was dedicated to another aspect of kindness: Positivity Day, Acts of Kindness Day, Don’t Judge Others Day, and Support Each Other Day. Students showed their “kindness spirit” by wearing certain colors on designated days while worships, morning meetings, and chapels emphasized the daily themes and brought them to life.

During the week of January 23-27, MHA took part in the Great Kindness Challenge. Hundreds of schools all over the nation participate in this yearly challenge to complete various acts of kindness in their communities. MHA students passed out thank-you cards, hung “Kindness Matters” posters in the hallways, brought flower bouquets to administrative staff, gave apples and bananas to teachers, made bookmarks for others, and changed the world for good in other simple ways. In all, the MHA student body shared more than 5,000 acts of kindness during the five-day challenge.

“MHA is committed to making this an annual part of our school programming,” said Denae Yuros, lower schoolteacher. “Kindness Month inspired students and staff to uplift each other through daily meaningful acts of kindness. We hear what the world says—kindness is weakness; one cannot be both compassionate and strong. Yet, we know, as Christ’s followers, that we are called to a much higher way of living. Colossians 3:12 says, ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ We pray that this kindness grows in our school, moves to the community, and spreads through the world.”

—Rebecca Berg is an upper schoolteacher and Denae Yuros is a lower schoolteacher at Mile High Academy. Photos provided.