News

Kettering College

Story by Lauren Brooks

The transition to college can be a challenge. For Stephanie Djuzeu Wandji, the initial adjustment was particularly difficult. The Cameroon native had recently immigrated to the United States and for her, attending Kettering College meant being separated from her husband and young son who stayed behind in Virginia.

“I was so lost at the beginning—everything around me was new,” says Djuzeu Wandji, a recent alumna of Kettering College. “I had so many questions, but I didn’t feel comfortable saying them out loud until I met Bev Ervin in the Academic Support Center.”

The Camp Mohaven office has been relocated to a more practical and productive location, making it more convenient for visitors.

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Most memories of Mohaven include swimming, archery, high ropes, horses, mountain biking, and that’s only summer camp! What many may not realize is that Camp Mohaven in Danville, Ohio, operates year-round and is host to a variety of programs. Men’s and women’s retreats, camp meetings (Hispanic and English), local church retreats, Pathfinder and Adventurer events, youth and young adult events and lay pastor assistant and elder trainings, just to name a few.

Al and Bonnie Navarro

Story by Tamyra Horst

The Navarros retired earlier this year—Al from the Hope Channel and Bonnie from the Pacific Union Conference—and joined the Pennsylvania Conference Planned Giving team. However, they are beginning their retirement a little bit differently than the norm of vacationing and spending time with grandchildren.

The Highlanders rehearse on the court before a Washington Wizards game.

Story by Lori Zerne

Students from Highland View Academy (HVA) recently shared their talents at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., home to the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals.

The Highlanders, HVA’s elite choral group, sang the national anthem to open a Boston Celtics vs. Wizards game. The school earned this opportunity by submitting an audition video. David Niño, HVA’s music director, says the excitement of the performance “engaged and motivated students” for months.

Stacey Gibbs, a composer and arranger of spirituals, shows the TA chorale a different arrangement to one of his songs.

Story by Salena Featherstone

The Takoma Academy (TA) chorale and camerata is a vocal group consisting of 85 students ranging from grades 9–12. They seek to achieve excellence in all aspects of music—from performance, literacy and technical skill to music history and music in worship and ministry.

Alex Partyka prays at a Maryland Men of Faith Event. Photo by Marlon Ming

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Alex Partyka grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but stopped attending during a span of 12–13 years of partying that included almost daily drug highs. Toward the end of this time, he realized he wanted to change his life, but didn’t know how and prayed about it.

He says this prayer resulted in a 30-day jail sentence when new evidence was introduced in a re-opened 15-year-old fireworks case thought to be closed.

school photo by GotCredit via Flickr.jpg

Story by Thomas Macomber

The Versacare Foundation recently awarded $1,159,000 in grant funding to Adventist Education, including $920,000 to 118 primary and secondary schools across the United States and Canada in support of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

The STEM grant program is open to every NAD conference or church sponsored primary or secondary school and provides funding in three categories:
• $5,000 for smaller schools of 3 classrooms or less;
• $10,000 for larger schools of 4 or more classrooms and 12-year schools;
• $10,000 for senior academies.