By Michelle Velbis – Colorado Springs, Colorado . . . School secretary, cook, event planner, pathfinder leader, sabbath school leader, and janitor – a small army of volunteers? No, all of these positions and more were held by one person, Connie Coates.
Coates, who has been in Colorado Springs since 2001, will be moving to New Mexico to be closer to family.
“Connie has served Springs Adventist Academy (SAA) with distinction and honor. She labored tirelessly to improve the school and interacted with each student with love and care,” Pastor Mike Maldonado of the Colorado Springs Seventh-day Adventist Central church stated. “She will be greatly missed and impossible to replace.”
Adventist education is extremely important to Coates, as all three of her children attended SAA. Consequently, she felt led to devote much of her time and talents to the school.
“I was very blessed by God to volunteer and work at SAA. It brought much joy and fulfillment in my life and the satisfaction of knowing I could make a difference in the lives of staff, students, and their families,” said Coates. “I will never forget the experience and will continue to build on the things I learned during my time at SAA.”
“After working with Connie this year, I can say that she is one of the most generous and loving people I know,” SAA principal stated. “Her dedication to the students, parents, and staff of SAA has been inspiring to witness. She will be greatly missed in so many ways.”
–Michelle Velbis is principal at Springs Adventist Academy; photo supplied
