SHENANDOAH VALLEY ACADEMY, ESTABLISHED IN 1908, EXISTS TO PROVIDE A DISTINCTLY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST COLLEGE PREPARARTORY PROGRAM THROUGH EXPERIENCES TO PRODUCE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. SERVE GOD ∙ VALUE KNOWLEDGE ∙ ACCEPT A LIFE OF SERVICE
Meet Karen Vallado 2016 Valedictorian My name is Karen Vallado, I am 18 years old, and this year I am a senior at Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA). Last summer I moved from Newbury Park, California to Beltsville, Maryland, but I have been boarding at SVA since my sophomore year. Many people have asked why I would go to a boarding school across the country. It’s often hard to explain this to them if they never went to SVA, but if they have, they understand. SVA is such a huge and important part of my life. The people are more than my friends, they’re my family and that’s why I keep coming back. I originally came to SVA because when my parents told me that they would be moving to Maryland at some point in the near future and I wanted to go on ahead and start my life there. I looked around at many schools but SVA stood out to me. I saw pictures of the beautiful campus and heard that they offer dual credit classes to help you get a head start on college. To me, SVA has been my home away from
home and I can’t imagine my life without it. This is my third year working for the school chaplain and campus ministries director Pastor Tim Harley (PH), and I have enjoyed it very much. My job is to help PH prepare for his classes as well as campus events, and also to help organize mission trip paperwork. SVA has been my home away from home and I can’t imagine my life without it. During spring break I participated in the mission trip to Zambia, Africa to help build an Adventist School the chief of that area has requested. It was an incredible opportunity to share Jesus’ love with the children as we taught Vacation Bible School and worked construction. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see another country and culture so different from my own. My favorite thing to do at SVA is participating in intramurals. It's a great way to get to know people outside of your usual routine and have some fun. I have also had some great opportunities since I have been here, including going to Germany and Austria with the music groups my junior year. I play trumpet in the band, am a member of the volleyball
MAY/JUNE 2016 and soccer teams, and I am also a National Honor Society member. SVA has helped me become well-rounded by offering quality classes and many opportunities. Not only that, I have also seen my life and the lives around me positively influenced by the teachers and staff. During my time at SVA I became closer to God and learned to spend meaningful time with Him. In the fall, I will attend Andrews University and begin the Speech Pathology and Audiology program. I chose Speech Pathology as a major because I want to help people with autism like my sister. I believe SVA has prepared me well for this next step and I am really looking forward to it.
Diplomas in hand! Karen with second generation Shenandoah graduate Alain Pichot
Do you know a young person who would benefit from a caring, safe, quality Adventist education at Shenandoah Valley Academy? For more information contact recruiter gail.romeo@sva-va.org 540-740-3161 or visit www.shenandoahvalleyacademy.org