Cornerstones May 2023

Message from the Principal

One of my favorite Bible stories to talk about is the story of Zacchaeus. While there are many spiritual lessons to be gleaned, my thoughts often turn to an important part of the story. Zacchaeus climbs that tree and puts himself in a position to have an encounter with Jesus. From that moment forward, his life is forever changed. This is what it’s all about! Putting ourselves in a position to have encounters with Jesus each and every day.

Encountering Jesus is a life-changing experience that can transform our thoughts, attitudes, and perspectives. Over time, these encounters will begin to deepen our faith, help us develop a personal relationship with Him, and further our dependence on His guidance for direction in our lives. When we encounter Jesus, we also get to experience His unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace. We realize that we are not alone in our struggles and He is always with us, ready to comfort and guide us through life’s challenges.

Putting ourselves in a position to have encounters with Jesus requires intentional effort on our part. It can involve spending time in prayer, devotions, reading the Bible, attending church, participating in fellowship with other believers, and serving others in need. It also requires an open heart and a willingness to listen to His voice and follow His will for our lives. For me, it started with Adventist Education. That daily interaction and exposure to Christ and being surrounded by God-loving people seeking Him made all the difference.

Encountering Jesus can give us a sense of purpose, hope, and fulfillment that cannot be found in anything else. It can transform our lives and help us become the best version of ourselves. So, let us put ourselves in a position to have encounters with Jesus and experience the abundant life that He offers.

Chadd Watkins Principal

BY: ERIC JOHNSON

Highland Academy provided the foundation for the incredible life journey of Charles “Buddy” Harris and Ruth Dysinger. Ruth began her journey at Highland in the fall of 1945, and Buddy began in the fall of 1946. Buddy and Ruth were friends before they attended Highland, but in Buddy’s words, he desired “that their relationship moves beyond just friends.” It took Ruth’s roommate to make that happen. One day during the fall of 1946, one of Ruth’s friends came up to her and asked her if she was going with Buddy Harris, because if not, she planned to ask him out. Ruth immediately replied that she was going steady with Buddy. Ruth and Buddy later married in 1951 while attending Southern Missionary College, and have recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary!

Life was not always easy at Highland. When Buddy arrived in the fall of 1946, the boys were living in tents while the new dorm was being constructed. They had 3 boys assigned to a tent. While it was crowded, the main problem was the smell. Buddy states that “there was a small hospital on the grounds of the school, and we were given permission to shower in the men’s bathroom once a week.”

Both Ruth and Buddy credit some of the “hardships” they endured during their time at Highland as a blessing in disguise. “The lack of some of the conveniences that we have today only helped to prepare us for the challenges we would face later in life,” states Ruth.

It was at Highland that Buddy had a conversion experience and decided to give his life to Christ. This came after a week of prayer by Elder Ed Barnes, who was the Education and Youth leader of the Conference at that time. A seed was planted to go and serve in

the mission field during this week of prayer. Little did Buddy or Ruth know how God would work to make that calling a reality 16 years later, when they were called to go and manage the mission hospital, as well as be the Secretary-Treasurer for the Viet Nam Mission. After Buddy and Ruth had served for 5 years in the Viet Nam Mission, they were called to Singapore to manage a hospital there.

When Ruth and Buddy returned to the States, they settled in the Centerville, TN area where Buddy worked as an administrator at a nursing home. Buddy and Ruth are now both retired and living in the Nashville area. They have been blessed to have two wonderful children.

As Buddy and Ruth reflect on their lives, they both look back to their time at Highland Academy as being pivotal to helping them not only be prepared for what life had in store for them but also grounding them in their walk with Christ. “Highland Academy had some great teachers who loved and cared for us,” states Ruth. “These teachers helped to show us what it meant to be a true Christian.”

When asked to give some advice to this generation of students currently attending Highland Academy, Buddy simply states, “Be honest, work hard and live for God always.” God has certainly blessed both Buddy and Ruth with a long and prosperous life. Ruth is the oldest living graduate of Highland Academy and Buddy is the second oldest living graduate. Both credit exercise, healthy eating, and blessings from God as the reason for their long life. Their prayer is that Highland Academy will remain strong and focused on educating youth for Jesus Christ until the Second Coming, when we will all go to our Heavenly home.

“THE HIGHLANDER” RETURNS

BY: CARLI ALVAREZ, ABI HOSLER & STEPHANIE RUFO

Highland Academy has announced that “The Highlander” newspaper is back on campus! The Highlander, a student-run publication, was formed in the 1950’s. Our records show a publication in 1952 with Barbara Themes as editor-in-chief, a staff of 2 editors, 4 reporters, and a literary advisor, Miss Mary Elam. The paper was published by the Student Association of Highland Academy monthly, and a yearly subscription rate of $1.00 (which would be $11.20 in 2023) was offered to help with expenses.

Said Pastor Steve Rose, class of 1967, and former reporter for The Highlander, “Each week students looked forward to seeing the latest news, from what was happening in the boys’ and girls’ dorms, off-campus with our village students, and alumni. The most read news was to find out who won the intramural games.” Another former reporter from the class of 1990, Kathy Smith Ross stated that “Not only did being on the school newspaper teach all of us essential writing skills and responsibility, but it was also a lot of fun!” Mrs. Coon was an excellent sponsor-no grammatical error was too

small to escape her sharp eye. Marcy Evans and Mrs. Coon stayed on top of everything, making sure they covered all the major happenings on campus as well as other topics of interest, painting a beautiful composite of Highland Academy life through words.

In an interview, Principal Watkins was asked what he hopes the revived newspaper will accomplish. He said that this is another great way for students to be informed about what’s happening in our school. Additionally, he said, “It is a great way for students with a love for journalism, writing, and photography to use those skills in a more organized way and to possibly pursue them later on.” Several students working on the paper have already expressed an interest in pursuing a career in communications, journalism, and even photojournalism as they hone their skills in this new endeavor.

As a part of the Journalism Club, a partnership with Southern Adventist University Journalism & Communications Department was formed. This partnership of the schools has already proved

successful in helping our newspaper staff prepare for their first issues of the school year with help in writing, editing, and proofing our paper before going to the press. As a bonus to our partnership with SJC (Southern’s Journalism and Communications Department), Southern has agreed to give scholarships of $1000 to those who attend Southern in the 2023-2024 school year that maintained a position on Highland’s school newspaper.

On December 1, 2022, students involved in journalism were invited by SJC, to attend a special event held on their campus discussing the importance of truth in journalism with special guest speaker Carl Bernstein, a journalism icon known for uncovering and reporting on the Watergate scandal in 1972. Not only did they get to meet Mr. Bernstein that evening, but Southern Adventist University also took the Highland journalists on a tour of their department. Students got to meet other student reporters and editors of The Southern Accent and ask questions about how to write articles, how to come up with stories, how to meet deadlines, and so many other intricate details pertaining to starting a newspaper. The Southern Accent staff discussed how they do things with their team and all the work that goes on behind the scenes of a newspaper. They gave Highland students a direction in which to start as well as advice and tips for moving forward.

Bringing back The Highlander to the Highland Academy campus will not only bring something for students to enjoy each month but will be something tangible they can hold onto as a keepsake. Parents, grandparents, and friends can view the newspaper to see what life is like for their students on campus. For students from the 1950s through the 1990s, some still look back and reminisce even today about their own Highlander articles. As the new journalism students and The Highlander staff, we look forward to the memories we will create for all the students to hold onto. We have nothing but excitement for the return of The Highlander!

BROOKLYN’S MISSION TRIPS

BY: BROOKLYN WISHARD

Having the opportunity to go on a mission trip is a privilege. Thankfully, I have had the privilege to be sent on three mission trips. The only way this was possible is due to donors and God providing me with the things necessary for the trip. Along with God providing a way for me to travel across the world, He has provided me with experiences I will never forget. From Alaska, Hawaii, and Kenya, I have gained appreciation and knowledge for other cultures and serving others. Each trip I have gone on has come with different and unique experiences.

My sophomore year (2020-21) we were told that the mission trip being planned was for Alaska. At first, when the students heard this, we were shocked but also excited. There was a select small group of students who had been signed up and none of us had been to Alaska before. Many people were questioning what we would be doing to serve the community; honestly, all of us were questioning what we would be doing. Once we arrived in the coldest part of America, we were taken off guard by how many people actually needed the help of

others. For this being my first mission trip, I’m sure I felt more of an impact from others but no one on that trip will ever forget how grateful the people of Alaska were for having us there to help them. While we were there we helped the homeless by organizing and setting-up a homeless closet, helped assist the homeless shelter, and also cooked and fed the homeless. Being on that trip and seeing the impact that we left on others had opened my eyes to the true character of God; we had been used to show Him to the community of Alaska. To me, this was one of the most impactful experiences of my life.

The next mission trip I was able to attend was during my junior year (2021-22). The school had tried to plan a trip to Kenya since it had been canceled in 2020 because of covid but those plans were not able to work out. Instead, the opportunity to travel and serve in Hawaii was made available for us. When they had officially decided to go there the students, obviously, were excited to go. However, many people questioned the mission work we would be doing. Personally, my family

was primarily worried about whether or not our community would donate to the cause of sending me on this particular trip. Whenever we would tell people where the mission trip was they would laugh. We heard things such as, “That’s not a mission trip! That’s a vacation!” Going into the trip I was even questioning if we would be making an impact on others. Once the trip began and we soon were able to get to work, our group had begun to already hear praises. After working on cleaning disabled people’s homes, painting the entire outside of a school, and doing other miscellaneous tasks, we began to realize why we were there. The people in the communities we were working in would tell us that they were grateful that we had come because no one ever came to Hawaii to help them. Hawaii has been primarily seen as only a vacation destination but according to the locals, they still need help. This left a huge influence on me, being told that not only were they glad we came but that they had been waiting for help.

The last mission trip I took with Highland Academy as a student was in 2023. This year will be my last and I have been waiting to go to Kenya ever since I knew it was a possibility. I had heard many stories of what it was like and the impression it had left on others in the past. I was not sure how to prepare myself because it would be the first time I ever left the States. To say I was excited would be an understatement, but to say that I was not prepared for the amazing experience I had, would also be an understatement. The first thing I noticed was how the people were so welcoming and kind. They were willing to help you and tell you about their culture anytime you were curious (and even if you weren’t). I was able to meet the most sweet man, Samuel, while I was working on building showers for an all girls school. While talking and working with Samuel he told me about his life and the experiences he has had while in school and working.

I bonded with Samuel the first day I met him. I was able to work with him one more day and when he saw me he called me daughter. Not only did that warm my heart but it also showed me even more that the people in Kenya offered so much, even though they had very little. It was an amazing opportunity to go and provide the service of working and building but the most amazing and memorable part of Kenya was the people we met.

All the experiences I have been able to have while sharing God’s message and mission would not be possible without the support and generosity from the Seventh-Day Adventist community. There have been times where I was worried I would not be able to participate in the mission trip of the year but everytime I began to doubt, I would be told that I had gotten closer to my goal of fundraising. Not only have I been blessed with the generosity of funds but also, I have been blessed with the amount of prayer others have given me. It has always been a comfort to hear that people at home are praying and hoping that I am able to leave the best impression of God on others. God truly does answer prayers.

The thought of coming to Highland Academy from Connecticut, not to mention traveling halfway around the world for a mission trip, never crossed my mind two years ago.

It was in the spring of 2021 when a friend’s persistence led me to Highland Academy to enroll as a junior. It was time to make a change and try something different, but as someone that is shy, it took me a while to take the leap, change schools, and make new friends. Once at Highland, there was a genuine desire on the part of the staff and students to get to know me and be my support system. It made a difference, and because of that, I stayed. What attracted me most to Highland was not only the kindness and support of everyone, but the numerous programs and mission trips offered. As the year ended, I was worried that I would not be able to return due to finances and being so far from family. Both Highland and generous donors helped me with the finances to return. My family saw how happy I was, so I was able to stay

MISSION TRIP

BY: ESTHER LEWIS

and continue my private school education, and will be graduating this spring.

My love for missions grew strong, and this year when the school said that two mission trips were being planned, one to Kenya and the other to Nicaragua, I was thrilled, and knew I had to go! Information and materials for fundraising usually came in late August or early September, but due to other countries’ COVID policies, everything came very late, and we had a very short amount of time to start fundraising and get our passports. When they told us the initial deposit deadline, I knew I could not meet it. I prayed to God to help me accomplish my goal. I would ask Him, “Lord, I want to serve You, and You know I enjoy traveling. If this is Your will, please make it possible.” I kept praying but as the deadline came closer and closer, I started to lose hope. We always talk about prayer and how meaningful it is, and I believe that. Despite this, I found it difficult to see God’s answer at this time. The deadline passed, I gave up on the trip, and I

stopped praying. I had no idea God was about to teach me a lesson in patience.

One morning I was talking to one of the staff, and they posed a question I never expected. She asked me, “Esther, would you like to visit Africa?” Clueless about what she was aiming at, I explained to her how I wanted to visit Africa but missed the deadline to deposit the funds. She asked again and shared with me how God had impressed her to bless others by sending a student on a mission trip. I then understood what she told me. “I can’t. I don’t deserve that,” I pleaded with her repeatedly, but she insisted. In my mind, I told myself I must be dreaming. I didn’t believe it. God had answered my prayer. Why, when I lost hope and gave up on Him, did He still care about me? After that, I knew the only thing stopping me was a COVID test, as others in the past tested positive and then could not attend the mission trip. I knew that if it came back positive, all my efforts would be in vain. I again prayed to God that if He wanted me to travel, He would have to make a way.

The requirement of the Covid testing timeframe made everyone nervous, from the families of students going, to the students that had raised the money, and, of course, the sponsors and staff planning the trips. It was nerve-wracking. I would ask and wonder again; would all our planning and efforts end up down the drain? God saw the situation, and, like always, He came through!

I was on the way to Nairobi, Kenya. We traveled for more than 15 hours, having layovers and time changes from Nashville to Amsterdam, and eventually to Nairobi, Kenya. As we drove six hours to our base camp, I was mesmerized at how beautiful and simple life was; livestock walked along the roads, and the people dressed in cultural clothing waved and smiled as we drove by, making us feel so welcome. Once we made it to camp, we were exhausted, but we settled in and made a plan for the week.

The first day was exciting. We visited a local all-girls’ boarding high school, which previous mission groups had built. To welcome us, the girls prepared songs and invited us all to dance with them and even though I found it hysterical, I enjoyed it. It was wonderful to be able to talk with the girls and all get to know each other. They asked us about our families and our school, and wanted to touch our hair. It was overwhelming, but as they talked about their life ambitions and values, it made me want to pursue a purpose and truly live life to the fullest.

Days were hot and exhausting but fulfilling to know my work would benefit others. During our lunchtimes and breaks, I played with the kids and tried to learn Swahili by talking to them. They laughed at me as I struggled to pronounce simple phrases, but I appreciated their company. I made one friend in particular, a little boy named Meshach like the one in the Bible. He introduced me to his siblings and visited me and the others on the worksite whenever he could. As I spent time with all the children, I learned to be thankful for my life. They never complained about their living conditions, the clothes they wore, or even the deflated and

torn soccer balls being played with. They were just grateful.

Towards the end of my stay, a fellow student, Abigail, and I decided to spend more time with the kids and hang around the local clinic to get any medical experience we could. We helped in giving immunizations to infants, stocking medicines, and sterilizing tools for various purposes. As the day was almost over and we were to head back to camp to pack our bags, Sara Bagshaw, one of the sponsors of our trip asked us if we wanted to stay longer to see a birth. Abigail and I excitedly agreed to this rare opportunity; we knew we couldn’t miss it. The woman who was to give birth had come to the clinic around lunchtime and showed signs that she would deliver that day. The time came for the baby to be born. Abigail and I were nervous and uncertain about what would happen. The kind nurses told us what we could do to help, and we waited patiently. Thoughts ran through my mind wondering if the mother-to-be would scream or cry, as I’ve seen in movies; I wondered if she was uncomfortable with strangers being there with no experience, just watching and trying to be helpful. Once she was in full labor and the baby was coming, the nurses supported the mother while Sara helped the baby’s head come out. It was a girl, and she was beautiful. To see someone’s life come into this world for the first time was amazing. The nurses, Sara, Abigail, and I were filled with joy, and of course, so was the mother. I couldn’t believe I got to see this spectacular moment. I witnessed God’s most beautiful masterpiece, life. After we weighed her and put warm clothing on her, I was blessed to be able to hold this newborn girl in my arms.

Sara and I helped the mother to her room to get some rest and meet her family waiting for the good news of a baby girl. As we walked, she thanked us for our help and asked our names as she wanted to name the baby after us, “Sarah Esther.” I told her no because I didn’t feel worthy, but I’m unsure if she listened to me. Her mother and grandmother helped her, and my job was complete. I was still in awe of the whole ordeal. At the age of 18, I would’ve never expected to come to Kenya, let alone see another life enter the world. As we drove away from the clinic back to camp, I thanked God for letting me meet the kindest people. I am most grateful to God for the change He made in my life and for putting me right where He wants me.

GOLF TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS

By Eric Johnson

The 2nd Annual Highland-Madison Golf Classic was played on April 20 at The Hermitage Golf Course. God blessed us once again with a fantastic day for golf. The day began with registration at noon. Once the golfers were registered, they each attempted a short qualifying putt to get their name entered into a drawing for a chance to make a 50-foot putt for $5,000 at the end of the tournament. Shane Thompson was the lucky golfer whose name was drawn. He made a great attempt at the putt, but just missed by a few feet.

The Highland Academy choir sang the National Anthem and then our Conference President, Elder Steve Haley, offered opening prayer. At 1:00pm, 96 golfers began their round. Teams of students from both Madison Academy and Highland Academy greeted players on the course with cold drinks and snacks.

The tournament raised $23,000 to help students attend both Highland and Madison Academy! We are deeply grateful to all of our sponsors as well as our Tournament Sponsor, The KentuckyTennessee Conference. Beyond the money raised, the tournament also provided an opportunity for the two schools to collaborate and work together. “The money raised for worthy students is fantastic, but almost equally important is the building of community between the two schools,” states Madison Academy Principal, Kris Fuentes.

Mark your calendars now and plan to play in the 3rd Annual Highland-Madison Golf Classic April 18, 2024!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

KY-TN Conference Office

Title Sponsor

Atlanta Custom Graphics

Carney Masonry

Heather Raymond

Realtor

Highland Academy

Highland Church

ImageFirst

Indian Creek Camp

Peter & Julie Kroll

Proverbs 27:17

Madison Academy

Madison Campus

Church

Madison Farm

MTSA

Nourish

Omega Pest Control

Orthopeadic Specialist

Paradise Ranch

RHS Management

The Surgical Center

Witherow Orthodontics

Nashville Plywood

WVA Ranch

Brett & Lesha White

Sweet Dreams

Anesthesia

Southern Union

Nulife Physical Therapy

Palm Technologies

GREETINGS ALUMNI 2023 FRIENDS!

One of the unique experiences of growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist church is how tightly interconnected the SDA community tends to be. This is especially true for those of us who have attended denominational schools. There have been many times in my life when I have met someone who attended Highland years or even decades before me and found that there is an immediate bond of fellowship based on our shared experiences. Truly we are blessed to be a part of this family.

As I write this letter, we have just wrapped up a wonderful Alumni Weekend at Highland Academy, celebrating honor classes from years ending in three and eight. It was good to see so many of you there. Some of my best friends from my time at Highland were in the class immediately ahead of mine, the class of ‘93. It was a pleasure to see so many of them back for their 30th anniversary honor year. For me, a special high point of the weekend was the music brought to us by our Sabbath speaker Jennifer (Halverson) Woody ’93, my friend and classmate Will Labrenz ’94, and my sister Christa Raines ’90.

For those of you who were unable to make it, please know that you were missed. We hope you will be able to join us next year as we honor classes from years ending in four and nine. Class of ’94, I’ll be looking for you!

Sincerely,

Aaron Raines

Aaron Raines ‘94 Alumni President

Will Labrenz ‘94, Christa Raines ‘90 and Jennifer Halverson

Woody ‘93

Choir and Alumni singing

Jennifer (Halverson) Woody, Alumni Guest Speaker

Alumnus of the Year

Charles “Buddy” Harris

BY CAROLINE BRIDGES AND MAGGIE CARLSON

Every year since 1995, Highland Academy has held Acrofest on their campus as a way to bring schools and students together to share their love for God and gymnastics. It has been a way for students to increase their level of skills, and form new friendships. Acrofest was invented 28 years ago by Jim Ingersoll, Principal of Highland Academy from 1990-2003, to highlight the main sport of Adventist education, gymnastics.

Throughout the many years it has been tradition to ask Southern Adventist University Gym-Masters to lead out in different clinic groups to teach and master new skills. Highland invites every school in the KY-TN Conference from grades fifth to twelfth. At this year’s Acrofest there were teams from across the conference participating. Lexington Adventist Elementary school participated for

the first time. A team outside of our conference, K-Squad, has been attending for multiple years. The head coach, Kimberly Bridges said, “Acrofest has always been one of my favorite events, and after a couple years without it, it was so nice to be back in the gym with all the other schools and teams. It is always awesome to watch the kids learn new skills and make new friends, but the best part is watching everyone glorify God through gymnastics! Cannot wait for next year!”

To begin this exciting event, Thursday evening, the participants enjoyed icebreaker games which allowed students to interact and meet one another. Then they are off to their first clinic. There are seven different stations that help with basics skills for the first-time beginner groups, another to help improve moves they may already be working on, and lastly to introduce a new set

of skills to the advanced groups. The different stations are tumbling, elevators, tossing, pairs, three highs, handstands, and circus. On Friday, after another day of clinic rotations we participate in contests to showcase individual skills such as handstands, headstands, hand to hand, butterflies, and many more with the highlight of tossing and trying to “Pin the Beam.”

Pinning the Beam happened accidentally during Acrofest in 1998, when a tossing group threw so high, the flyer touched one of the ceiling beams, and so the competition began. In the event of “pinning the beam,” there are multiple tossing groups from different teams who toss a flyer as high as they can into the air. They try again and again until the flyer is high enough to grab on and hang

from the beam in Highland Academy’s gym, or before time runs out. Sadly, this past year, on Saturday night during the show, no one managed to “pin the beam,” but the day before during practice, Haley Fulton, from Madison Academy, pinned the beam. This is always a huge event and hopefully more will “Pin the Beam” next year!

On Saturday night, the Acrofest participants performed along with Highland Elementary, and Madison Campus Elementary. Head Coach of Madison Academy, Raphan Ley said, “I’m glad I’ve gotten to be a part of it since the beginning and pray that it continues to bless future generations of gymnasts.” The Acrofest teams perform a routine that was planned during the clinics. Some groups were combined. “What I love about Acrofest is learning new skills, being able to interact with other people who enjoy the same sport as I do and cheering on friends and family in performances and competitions,” said Tessa Wade, eighth grade student at Highland Elementary. In 2021, the KY-TN conference canceled Acrofest due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For safety precautions, it was downsized to just Highland and Madison Academy in 2022. But thankfully, Acrofest was able to return to its original size this year with much excitement from the participants. Acrofest has been a way that Highland can connect with other schools, welcoming them onto our campus. This year was an exciting year! We created new memories and new friends and cannot wait to make more next year!

GROWING UP IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY IS NOT EASY

BY: SUHJIN YOON

This year has brought many international students from various countries to Highland Academy. One of these international students is Youjin Kong, a junior, who was born in South Korea and lives in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to arriving at Highland, she attended another U.S. Adventist school for 5 months, however after hearing about the academics, activities, trips, and overall family atmosphere at Highland, she decided to make a change. Leaving family behind is tough for everyone, but for international students, making a school feel like home and welcoming is crucial.

Youjin shares her thoughts on her experience,saying “Many staff know that I’m not good at speaking English and that it’s my first time leaving home, so I always ask them for help, but they never show discomfort, and they always help me with my problems. Caring staff members are among the biggest blessings. Living in the dorms has been a different experience. When you leave your home at a young age, you are going to struggle with how to manage daily life, keeping up with grades, cleaning your room, working and balancing fun. The deans would always make a point of asking me how

I feel and say good morning. It sounds like little things, but they help me a lot.”

Dean JP and Dean Jenn work hard to make a difference in the students’ lives, helping with problems ranging from a band-aid on a paper cut to being someone who is always willing to sit down to talk, no matter how much work is on their desk. Having a mother figure away from home immensely relieves homesickness.

Her first experiences with Highland Academy students, Youjin said, is that many people came up to her first to make conversation and invited her to eat with them. One particular example she gave was, “When I was doing homework in front of Dean Jenns office, Carlie, a senior and dorm student, asked me how my day was and said that she can help me with homework. It made me realize how kind everyone was, and they had a good influence on me. “It is the little things in life that touch and change people through small interactions. A friend doubles happiness and shares sorrows together.” said Youjin. Boarding school’s beauty is in being surrounded by these friends day and night, living alongside each other, and working

together. Going to the same school all together opens up opportunities to make bonding experiences like no other.

Youjin’s experience in the girl’s dorm has been filled with endless memories and laughter. “I think it is pretty enjoyable, because I’m living with all my friends in one house, and everyday it is like a sleepover with my friends.”

Something dorm life teaches students is the importance of time management. Life is busy everyday at Highland, and it is very easy to become overwhelmed by school hours, and work time. Balancing social life and academic priorities all at the same time can be stressful. Learning to make the

time to keep up with hobbies, homework, and friends is essential to a healthy lifestyle.

Highland Academy is a school that values academics as well as life skills. Youjin appreciates the enriching aspects of academics fulfilled by classes that help prepare students for the real world and higher education.” Youjin also commented about the English improvements she made while staying abroad, saying “We have class in English and my goal is to speak and use English really well, and I think I’m improving now.” Most importantly, Youjin has learned more about God during her stay at Highland Academy. Spiritually active environment allows deeper understanding of the Scriptures and encourages building a personal relationship with Jesus. “Before, I didn’t believe in God. However, having Bible class every morning and Sabbath school as well as attending both church and vespers has made me believe. Highland Academy has introduced me to Jesus.”

Although her stay as an international student looks to be filled with benefits, there’s one challenge all international students inevitably face; Home leaves. Every month, the school is cleared for break and Youjin is often stressed out by where she would spend each one. Since her home is abroad, she has to depend on others’ open homes each break. She shared that finding a place to stay can be difficult, and she feels bad for having to rely on other people.

Being a teenager growing up in a different country is not easy. There will always be problems

that are hard to understand, but Youjin is trying her best to make the most out of this experience. Just like any other teenagers who are stepping on the border of adulthood, we cheer on their adventure in life as they get ready to start a new chapter of their lives. Leaving behind a family is tough for everyone, but for international students making a school feel like home and welcoming in this is crucial. where homesickness inevitably

pounces on students under academic pressure and selfdiscipline, as well asbut having welcoming students looking out for new students reduces much of the initial nervousness. “I think the staff here really cares about the students and they really respect them and trust them. That’s why they really feel like they’re my family.”

“In the dorm we have a lot of free periods so we make our own schedule. For example, after supper I’m not in gymnix, so I have about two hours to do anything I want. But these days I try to be healthy so either I workout or do my homework. I think it’s a good way to use my time wisely.” For many, like Youjin, living away

from home for the first time can make time management challenging. Without a parent figure who scolds at dirty laundry and fusses at keeping the room clean, or yells at you to prioritize homework before entertainment, students must challenge themselves to take responsibility over their time. However disciplined we might be, it’s also important to choose the people we surround ourselves with, as they have the power to lead astray or encourage self-discipline. This is why Youjin thinks careful consideration of potential roommates is crucial. “I would figure out what kind of roommate suits me and how we can share a living space comfortably. It’s actually really important, because you stay in your room everyday because it’s your house, you’ll spend everyday with her. If you want to have a good dorm experience, you have to think seriously about it.” The phrase “You become like the people you surround yourself with” is definitely true, especially when you’re sharing a very personal space with them. Having a roommate whose cleaning habits and sleeping schedules don’t align with yours can make things take a turn for the worse.

“In Highland, there are many classes like math or science, and a couple electives that we can take. For example, if I can go back to the past, I would take pre calc instead of Algebra 2 because I think I’m really good at math and I’m interested in that subject, also it’s an honors class.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

50’S

RON ROGERS ‘58 AND GAY, were recently married and live in Virginia where Ron is a Pastor for a new plant church. They enjoy giving bible studies, spending time on their 12 acres with a pond and taking walks enjoying nature. Ron has 2 sons; Kirk who is married to Elizabeth and Ronald who passed away in the summer of 2022. Ron has 1 grandson.

CLARA (CLARK) ’60 married Glen Boutwell in 1961. Clara worked for a local hospital for 9 years before going to work at AAA Anserphone in 1969. Clara and Glen purchased AAA Anserphone in 1977. Glen passed away 2 days shy of their 60th wedding anniversary. She has three children, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. After 45 years as owner and at the age of 80, Clara made the very hard decision to sell the business and retire. She just returned from her 50th cruise in November 2022. She is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Hattiesburg MS.

CINDY (HENDERSON) ’76 and Charles Kildgore live in Tracy City, TN and have 4 children: Megan Beard and her twin Morgan Steckel, Charles Jr., and Alyssa Pritchett. Megan and her husband Drew have 3 children: Kendall, AJ and Barrett. Morgan and her husband Eric have 2 children: Kate and Walker, and, 2 stepchildren as well. Charles Jr. is married to Thea and Alyssa is married to Dylan with a daughter named Sutton. Cindy is the Education Coordinator of OR manager conferences and has retired from Vanderbilt where she served as the OR director from 1980-2021. Cindy loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, working outdoors in different garden areas, reading, and traveling with her husband.

KEVIN PIRES ’78 is married to Karen and has 5 children. Kevin and his wife currently live in Jellico TN, where he is a pastor for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. Prior to becoming a pastor, Kevin was an RN in the operating rooms for 23 years. He enjoys golfing, water, and snow skiing, but he looks forward to his retirement very soon.

70’S 90’S

JEREMY ’90 AND NICOLE STONER have been married for 30 years and have 2 children: Landon, a teacher at Georgia Cumberland Academy, and Noelle, an OTA student at Advent Health University. Jeremy is a nursing home administrator in Cookeville, TN.

00’S 10’S

VANESSA (BROWN) KEPPER ’92 lives in Chattanooga, TN and has 2 children: Brian and Georgia, who are both 24. Vanessa keeps busy as an admin support specialist for the Chattanooga Police Department and owns her own Pet sitting business, Happy Nest Petsitting.

JULIE (DITTES) ’92 and Don Gates have been married for 21 years. They have 2 boys, Jacob, 20 and Josh 18. Julie currently owns a property management company in Savannah, GA. She is also a real estate investor. Julie and Don love to travel and are always seeking new adventures. Managing properties is the best of both worlds. She can tell you some crazy guest stories.

DAVID ANTHONY ’03 and his wife Joy live in Cleveland, TN with their two children: Adelynn, 6 and Hudson 3. David has been teaching Physical Education and Health in the North, GA and Cleveland, TN areas for the last 13 years. David is presently finishing his doctoral work in education with the goal of moving into collegiate teaching. David keeps busy as head coach of volleyball and other athletic programs. He is a deacon and helps with fundraising at his daughter’s school.

HOLLY KEENER ’12 and Drew Wheeler have a 4-year-old boy named Easton and live in Dalton, GA. Holly works as an accountant at Advent Health Gordan Hospital. Holly still loves playing sports, especially softball and hockey. mom and squeezing in a nap whenever she can. Michael is a programmer at an effects animation studio.

MONICA (HINSON)’12 AND MICHAEL ALDRICH ’12 live in Toronto, Ontario Canada with their 7-month-old son Barron. Monica enjoys being a stay-at-home mom and squeezing in a nap whenever she can. Michael is a programmer at an effects animation studio.

LEAH (DEWEEZ) ’13 and Josh Wells live in Nashville, TN where Leah works as a Health Insurance Advisor. When Leah is not helping people find the best insurance, she loves reading, playing board games and spending time with her dogs and family.

JESSICA (BARNETT) ’14 and Kristopher Thompson are expecting their first child in June 2023! They live in Casselberry, FL where Jessica works as Revenue Cycle Leadership Resident at Advent Health. They enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, cooking/baking, and Overlanding (4WD touring).

KIMBERLY KASSAW ’15 will be graduating in May 2023 with her master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from Christian Brothers University. When not studying, she enjoys rock climbing.

ANNIKA (NORTHROP) ’15 and Julian Armstrong have been married for 3 years and live in Honolulu, Hawaii. Annika is currently an English teacher at Hawaii Mission Academy. Julian and Annika met on the gymnastics team at Southern, and they still take adult classes and coach at her local gym. They love outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, backpacking and all that Hawaii has to offer. A passion of Annika’s is to find books for her classroom and to spark a love for reading.

Correction from the December 2022 Issue: TINA (FRIST) SMITH ’85 and Bo have two children: Tré, studying Math at Southern Adventist University and Carolina, studying Animal Science in the Pre-Vet program at Andrews University. Tina has been the communication manager on the Marketing and University relations team at Southern Adventist University for the past 11 years. When not working or studying for her master’s in biblical counseling, Tina enjoys reading, boating, and spending time with friends.

2022 GRADUATE TYLER HILLEBERT was listed as Nathan, we apologize for this error and now would like to reintroduce our 2022 Graduate Tyler Hillebert.

WE LOVE HEARING FROM OUR ALUMNI! If you would like to update us about any accomplishments, additions to your family, or share anyother news, we would love to hear from you. Contact Stephanie Rufo at srufo@highland-academy.com.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We have all heard the phrase “It takes a village” which is usually discussed by parents when talking about children and the support it takes to raise them. This phrase also applies to education, specifically a Christian education, and the desires of parents wanting their child to attend a Christcentered school such as Highland Academy.

As our enrollment continues to grow and reach capacity, so does our need to help families financially. We are proud of our Highland family and all who walk our halls. We have students from across the U.S., from around the world and from other denominations. God’s hands are at work!

Not only are we growing our student body but also our campus. A new Center for Student Success opened in September of 2022, helping

students reach their full potential academically and in life skills. Our equestrian program also continues to grow with a popular horse club, student work opportunities, and a class that gives academic credit. Drama will now be offered as a class for credit, and we are currently making plans to perform for area schools and churches. These are all wonderful opportunities for our students, and we pray that we can continue to grow.

Highland Academy has been blessed over the years with generous supporters of our student assistance program and last year, donations reached over $300,000. Helen Keller states “Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.” Let’s come together and give a student a chance to make a difference and experience Highland Academy life.

HIGHLAND ACADEMY

211 Highland Circle Drive

Portland, TN 37148