Story by Lauren Esveld
This year’s spiritual retreat for Spencerville Adventist Academy took place at the restful Mount Aetna Camp and Retreat Center in Hagerstown, Md. Having a spiritual retreat at the beginning of the school year served as a refreshing pause that fostered unity among the students and led to reflection and spiritual growth.
The weekend centered on the powerful theme found in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV).
This week at the Columbia Union Conference Board of Education and Executive Committee meetings, the Office of Education staff reported on Columbia Union’s 2025–26 enrollment numbers. The numbers are as follows:
505 students in eight Early Childhood Education stand-alone centers
2,757 students in 52 schools offering grades PK–8 or K–8
697 students in six junior academies
541 students in four boarding academies
2,177 students in nine senior academies
Total numbers include:
Story by Janel Ware
At the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, the Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Music Department had the opportunity to shine. SVA Music performed in concerts on the convention center’s main and theater stages, held pop-up concerts throughout the week, entertained at the SVA booth in the exhibition hall and even showcased their talent on the Three Angels Broadcasting Network.
Director Daniel Biaggi and Associate Director Kelly Wiedemann Jaén led the inspiring tour, accompanied by incoming SVA Music Director Andrés Mendoza, along with a group of alumni musicians.
Story by Visitor Staff
Seven academies and 160 students recently participated in Washington Adventist University’s MusicFest this year.
Brian Liu, MusicFest director and assistant professor of Music at the university, reports that they awarded 47 scholarships, totaling $980,000 to the following Columbia Union students (below).
Story by Angela Peach
This summer, Vice Principal Ken Knudsen accepted a call to serve as principal of the Hinsdale Adventist Academy (Ill.). To address this new vacancy, Trevor Ross accepted the position of vice principal for junior high and high school.
Ross is no stranger to Spring Valley Academy (SVA), having served as a teacher at SVA for 20 years. During his long tenure, he has taught classes, from biology and environmental science to health and Bible. He’s also been the driving force behind
SVA’s strong participation in four yearly blood drives as coordinator of that initiative.