Campion Academy is pleased to announce that Cherie Gruesbeck Haffner has accepted the position as our Assistant Dean of Women. Haffner has been working in Adventist education for over 30 years and has taught in almost every grade level from preschool to university. Haffner will also be teaching Independent Living at Campion.
While this will be Haffner’s first experience as a dean, she explained that it is a job she has always wanted to do, as she feels it will allow her to connect and mentor young women in a meaningful way. Haffner has worked for years as a teacher-trainer and student-teacher mentor besides her years in the classroom. Haffner currently lives near Loma Linda University in California where her husband, Pastor Karl Haffner is the Vice-President for Student Experience. Pastor Haffner will not be moving with his wife to Colorado, but they will be traveling back and forth during weekends and breaks to spend time together. Despite the upheaval, Haffner felt God was leading her to the dean position. She explained, “I have followed my husband as a pastor all my career, and now that our kids are grown, I was looking for an opportunity that would be fun and meaningful for me personally. I absolutely loved dorm life both in academy and college and always thought it would be so fun to be a dean. I raised two girls and we always had a house full of their friends. I enjoyed getting to be a support and a mentor in their lives.” Developing positive relationships with students has always been her favorite part of teaching and is especially important in a residence hall. “I love listening to people’s stories and just spending time with people. I look forward to hanging out with the girls and being there with them through everything they are going through,” she shared. One thing she wanted to share with the girls that will be under her care and their parents is that: “I try my best to love people the way Jesus would: unconditionally and without strings. While I’m not perfect, I will always try to treat you with respect and honor you. I’m often called a cheerleader of people, and that’s what I hope to be with the girls. I will be your cheerleader and your biggest fan.” The Haffners have two adult daughters, Lindsey, Youth Pastor at Redlands SDA Church, and Claire, a Social Work major at Walla Walla University. For fun, their family loves to play pickleball, cook meals together, and play table games. Haffner also mentioned she is a habitual organizer, so much so that she considers organizing a past-time. Finally, she is an avid reader, and their family enjoys discussing books together. We look forward to welcoming Cherie Haffner to our campus in August!
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A group of about 50 people from Campion Church, including Campion students and teachers Erin Johnson, Haley Baker, the Gann family, and the Jordan family, were able to take a trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land, June 19-26. Addison Gann, sophomore at Campion, shared a bit about their incredible experience.
The first day was a relaxing day as people arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel to get ready to travel. On day two, the group was met by the tour guide Samir, and the tour began by driving through Joppa, then exploring Caesarea which is where the Hippodrome and Stadium of Herod are located. Day three was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and a trip up to the top of Mount of Beatitudes. Erin Johnson, one of Campion’s teachers said, “The biggest impact for me was being on the Sea of Galilee, and being where Jesus has calmed the waters, and where He performed so many miracles. It was great to see it because now I’ll never read the Bible the same.” Day four included a trip to the ruins of Jericho, a look at the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and a float in the Dead Sea! The fifth day was a cable car up to Masada, and in a short story, it is where a mass of Jews chose to kill themselves instead of being captured by Romans. Travelers also got to visit Lazarus’s first tomb, and then to finish the day off, the group went to the Wailing Wall to welcome the Sabbath. On day six the travelers went to a garden where there is a tomb which archeologists have said could have been Jesus’ tomb. Then the group had a special communion together in the garden to close. After the garden, they went to the church where the disciples were taught to pray the ever famous Lord’s Prayer, and visited the top of the Mount of Olives. Other sites that the group visited included the Garden of Gethsemane, the Pool of Bethesda, the church where Jesus was first taken to Pilate, Mary the mother of Jesus’s house she was raised in, the road that Jesus carried the cross on, (the Via Delarosa) and the Church of the Sepulcher. Finally, some went inside Old Jerusalem to watch a light and sound show, portraying the history of Jerusalem. On day seven the group visited the cave where the shepherds were told the good news of Jesus being born, as well as the possible birthplace of Jesus. The group also visited the Dome of the Rock, and at the end of the day, they went to the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath. Day eight might have been the most exciting as most of the travelers trekked through Hezakiah’s tunnel. Hezakiah’s tunnel was how they brought water from the spring outside into Jerusalem. Everyone enjoyed tramping through the cool spring water, which at times was up to the knees or higher. After the cooling excursion, they visited the house where the Last Supper took place. Finally, the last destination was Josephus’s house where Jesus was first brought after being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Pastor Michael Goetz, Campion’s former head pastor, organized the whole trip and said that the best part of the tour was “Caiphus’s house, where Jesus was lowered into the pit. It had escaped my readings before, and the prophetic Psalms describing the pit came alive, and you could hear the echo of Jesus being beaten. In that pit, His love came alive.” Jack Jordan, junior at Campion Academy, said, “The people of Israel had the greatest impact on me. Their religions, life choices, and how passionate they were about their choices. The Jews never missed or skipped their prayer time, even on the airplane. The people of Israel show me that though they don’t believe as I do, I shouldn’t be afraid to live out what I believe.” Overall, despite the intense heat, travel stresses, and no air conditioning in some places, this was a life changing experience for everyone on the trip. Addison Gann, Guest contributor In June, Marcela Zuniga, junior at Campion, served for almost one month on a mission trip to Mansa, Zambia. A group of about 20 attended the trip including Marcela’s sister, Dayanara, incoming freshman, Haley Beckermeyer, 2023 graduate, and Kent Kast, former staff member.
Organized by Jim Lynch with Give Back to Humanity, the group spent most of their time constructing a wall for a Seventh-day Adventist school in Mansa. The wall would help the school to mark off the property and keep the kids safe during the school day. Marcela shared that they typically worked 10-hour days, but were able to spend time in worship with the local children each evening. Marcela remembered, “The local people were very hospitable, always making us feel like we were at home. I enjoyed that they were happy with what they had and they showed me that small things in life do matter. The kids showed so much faith and love for God and were grateful for what they had.” Haley Beckermeyer agreed saying, “My favorite part was getting to know the local students. They were all super kind and friendly, and you’d never feel lonely while you were there. They were all very thankful for us coming, and it felt like they were more of a blessing to us than anything we did.” Despite the hard work, the students expressed how the experience blessed them. Marcela shared, “It made me grateful to know we praise the same God and helped me realize I am blessed to be able to go to Campion. It was a rewarding and life-changing trip.” Jill Harlow, Communication Director Zeca and Cindy Santana along with Dean and Sue Helm recently returned from 10 days in Brazil where they met with potential new students and families and established strong connections with many Adventist schools in the capital city of São Paolo. As a result of the trip, Campion is expecting 6-12 new students from Brazil to enroll in the upcoming school year, with most arriving in January.
During their trip, they visited over seven different schools where they introduced middle and high school students to Campion Academy. At the assemblies, Zeca Santana was able to talk about the experience of coming to Campion in his native tongue, Portuguese, while Dean Helm provided entertainment with his Helmdini magic shows. Paulo Pedroso Nascimento, an international student agent with his own company, You Bet Schools, arranged for the school visits and helped connect the Helms and Santanas with students with serious intentions of studying abroad. Paulo has been the primary agent Campion has worked with since 2018 and has sent over 25 Brazilian students to Campion over the years. In the evenings, around 20 families attended meetings at Paulo’s office to talk about specific details and arrangements. Current and former Campion students from Brazil also attended the meetings to share about their experiences. Zeca Santana was instrumental in organizing Campion’s first recruiting trip to Brazil in 2018, and the first seven Brazilian students arrived in January of 2019. Since that time, Zeca has served as guardian for all of the Brazilians and always kept in close contact with their families while supporting the students. Many of the potential students that attended the recruiting meetings were brought directly from the families of current and former students at Campion due to their positive experiences. A highlight of the trip for the Santanas was having the opportunity to reunite with former students and families. The Brazilian students often refer to Zeca as Vovô, grandpa in Portuguese, as he and Cindy have become like family to them. Zeca shared that parents strongly expressed their appreciation for the staff and committed to spreading the word that Campion Academy is a great place to send their teens to not only learn English, but to be guided in their spiritual lives. Most of the students that come to Campion from Brazil are Seventh-day Adventists and their primary motivation to come is to learn English and potentially study at American universities. Fluency in English opens the doors to many job and career opportunities for young adults in Brazil, significantly affecting their future. Dean Helm commented, “It was a great trip overall and we were very well received. It was a positive relationship-building trip with our agent as well as our current parents, and future students and families.” In the final days of the trip, they were able to tour Rio de Janeiro and enjoy some of the world-renowned views. We are pleased to announce our newest staff member, Peter Hutauruk, coming to us from Dakota Academy. Hutauruk will be teaching Algebra I, Food Science, Physical Science (formerly Earth Science), and Physics. Additionally, Campion’s applied through Union College for a dual-credit option with Hutauruk’s Physics class, pending approval. Hutauruk and his family will be moving to campus around the end of June.
By way of introduction, Hutauruk shared a bit more about himself in this Q&A. Q. What is your background and education? A. I was born and raised in Indonesia, lived in the Philippines in my early years, went to San Yu Adventist School in Singapore for secondary education, to Mission College (now Asia-Pacific International University) in Thailand for a Bachelor’s of Science in Math, and finally to Andrews University for a Master’s of Science in Math and Physics. Q. What has been your recent working experience? A. Recently, I taught at Dakota Adventist Academy for 10 years as a Math and Physics teacher. Q. Why did you choose to come to Campion? A. Campion has a long and rich history in Adventist Education in witnessing for Christ, as well as a warm, welcoming church and community that I’d like to be a part of. The beautiful nature and the Rockies that surround the campus are some of the many things we love about Campion. Q. What do you love about being a teacher? A. I love seeing students working, collaborating, learning, and growing together. It brings me joy and satisfaction. Q. Would you tell us a bit about your family? A. I’m married to my beautiful wife Ellen, and blessed with Jacob (2) and Janelle (1) as my children. We have a 90-pound Labrador named Duke (11). We enjoy traveling and exploring new places together. Q. How do you spend your free time? A. I love spending time with my family, playing sports, enjoying nature, and learning photography. We look forward to introducing Hutauruk to our students and families this August! ![]() After 40 years in the teaching profession including 18 years at Campion Academy, Cindy Santana, along with her husband Zeca Santana, is stepping into the new world of retirement. Cindy grew up in Loma Linda, California and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education from La Sierra University in 1979. She began her teaching career in the nutrition department of Loma Linda University, and later taught at La Sierra Academy and Redlands Junior Academy. After moving to Colorado with Zeca and their three children, she taught at Fort Collins Adventist School and then served as the Principal at Vista Ridge Academy. In 2005, Cindy took on the position of Academic Vice-Principal and test-coordinator at Campion Academy and because a history teacher was needed, she went back to school to complete her teaching endorsement in history. Truly a renaissance teacher, she also went on to complete endorsements in science and math. Cindy explained, “Every time Campion needed a different class taught, I just went back to school to complete another endorsement to fill the need.” “What I have loved about my work at Campion has simply been the joy of teaching and the joy of helping kids,” Cindy reflected; “Beyond just the subject material in the classroom, I have cherished the opportunity to help kids figure out how to navigate life, how to follow through, and show initiative and responsibility. I enjoy the kids, and I enjoy teaching, so it all works well together.” In her most recent years at Campion, Cindy taught Earth Science, Biology, and World History and continued as test-coordinator. Every year, Cindy planned Biology trips, typically to Moab that are frequently mentioned as students’ favorite memories. When asked what kept her from burning out after years of teaching at boarding school, Cindy’s answer was simple: “Zeca. He supported me and was as involved in the ministry of Campion Academy as I was through the years. It was a family life-style.” All three of their children graduated from Campion Academy. A native of Angola, Jose “Zeca” Santana graduated from Pacific Union College with a degree in Business Administration and has spent most of his career managing his own business, Blue Diamond Mortgage. Despite his day job, Zeca has been involved with Campion Academy since 1994 when he was instrumental in starting and coaching Campion’s first soccer team when his son was a freshman. He continued to coach both the boys and girls soccer teams for many years. In addition, he taught a Personal Finance class, has been a long-term member of the Campion Academy School Board and served on the Property and Trust Committee. “My kids had great experiences here at Campion, and that’s where it all started,” commented Zeca. “I started to get to know the other kids on the soccer field, and they would talk about how their teachers impacted them. I realized many of them came from difficult backgrounds, and I felt I could also be involved as a mentor to help guide them. I love this school, and if I had the money to write a million dollar check to support kids at Campion, I would do it, but since I don’t I give of myself: my time and my skills, wherever I can.” Another legacy Zeca leaves at Campion is the role he has taken in recruiting and supporting international students from Brazil. He has been directly responsible for bringing at least 20 different Brazilian students to Campion over the last five years and voluntarily served as the legal guardian for each of them. Before officially retiring, Zeca will travel to Brazil again in June on another recruiting trip. Finally, Zeca and Cindy Santana will be remembered as highly dedicated class sponsors who took the time and effort to get to know and advise each of the students in their classes. In their retirement, they plan to spend time traveling, gardening, and as Cindy put it, “not living by a bell.” Tributes to the Santanas “Campion has been blessed to have Cindy Santana on staff for 18 years. Cindy is known to be a Master Teacher. The rigor of her classes served to prepare students for the next step in their education. She expected students to perform at a high level of proficiency and she expected the same proficiency and professionalism from herself. She spent hours preparing her lessons and programs. She spent countless more hours in making sure each student that wanted help, would receive her undivided attention and assistance. She would give of her time to ensure each student's success.
“Campion has been fortunate to have Zeca Santana serve on the Campion Academy School Board for 29 years. His skills and knowledge in finance has served to help Campion grow. He was a master mind of the CA Warrior program that enlisted financial help from Alumni to assist Campion during a very tough time. He is intricately involved in growing the Legacy Endowment plan to help Campion reach it's goal of $10 million. With Zeca's help, Campion is over half way to reaching that goal. His services to CA and it's students include coaching soccer, planning trips and teaching finance classes. Zeca is a master at holding students to a high standard while being by each student to ensure their success. “We will miss Cindy and Zeca, but we will retain fond memories and we will be inspired by their tireless ministry to CA students. Campion Administration will be ever grateful for their love for our students and school and their generosity of time and finances to both.” - Don Reeder “I attended Campion from 2009 to 2013, and worked as a grader for Mrs. Santana my junior and senior year. Science and History were two of my favorite subjects and Mrs. Santana was my favorite teacher. She made learning so much fun! Memorable projects include the Earth Science road trip, the California Marine Biology spring break trip in 2011, the Versailles Treaty role play, and the space shuttle simulation, which will probably be the closest I will ever get to realizing my dream of being an Astronaut. But even more than the projects and the classes, the most important thing Mrs. Santana taught me was that it’s ok to be the weird nerd girl with all the special interests and collections, and that there will always be a place in the world for people like us. Campion is 13 hour road trip from my home in Texas, and the Santanas were my parents away from home. I’m so thankful I got to know them, work with them and learn from them. I can’t imagine Campion without the Santanas. Knowing them, I’m sure they’re just starting another grand adventure, and I wish them well!” - Aerlice LeBlanc “It would be hard to find anyone who is more dedicated to teaching in general and Campion specifically than Cindy and Zeca. The hours and efforts put in by Cindy to prepare her classes is an inspiration. The Moab trips will always be an inspiration. Every detail was planned out, even to knowing which plants to look for in the field. Every meal was planned out with lists for the students to follow (when they chose to take the time to read them!). No one was left in the dark with syllabi painstakingly crafted for the entire year (please don’t change the calendar after you give it to Cindy!). How many times did I hear, “It’s in your syllabus.” Thank you Cindy for your stellar example and endless energy. Only after some injuries in the last few years did I ever see you struggle to keep up with the students. Moab will never be the same without you! And that can be extended to include all the classes you taught and all the class sponsorships you led. There were always two teams to beat at class scramble: the seniors and the Santanas. I can imagine that the class trips were just as well planned as the Moab trips and class scramble games. You are leaving behind some very big shoes to fill. The oft repeated saying goes “behind every great leader there is a great wife.” Well that can go two ways. Zeca was always the one behind the scenes doing whatever Cindy needed done. Zeca set up the space shuttle and took it down. Zeca helped tremendously with the Moab trip. He was truly the support Cindy needed. Besides being support Zeca led out as a great soccer coach to which his players can testify. There are not too many people as passionate about soccer as Zeca. At least not the people I know. He has led many teams to do very well and has encouraged young people to love the sport as he does. Zeca’s support is not limited to sports. I am thankful for his long tenure on the school board. He has knowledge of actions and events that have helped Campion to be what it is today. Not only does he remember details but he also helps make good things happen for the school. I know his tireless work recruiting students from Brazil paid off with many fine students joining the Campion family. For not being a teacher, Zeca did a fine job teaching finance. I wish I had had the time to sit in on a year’s worth of his classes. Maybe I would be making smarter financial decisions. Zeca, thank you for your boundless energy and depth of knowledge. I am sure there are still not many “kids” who can keep up with you in soccer. God’s blessing on your retirement. Now go enjoy your grandkids.” - Kent Kast “Cindy and Zeca have truly been a treasure to our campus. Their dedication to our students is unmeasurable. Their kindness goes above and beyond for our students. Although I have only been here on campus for three years Cindy and Zeca's reputation has preceded them. From Taco night to their genuine care for our kids have truly been a light for our kids. I really got to see their firm and beautiful character on display at senior survival. I was so proud to see a couple in Christ be such a blessing and wonderful example for our kids. Thank you for your years of loving service!” - Carlos Santana “To Zeca and Cindy: What wonderful friends and co-workers you have been over the past 30 years. I appreciate all that you have done for our children and what you have done for the young people at Campion Academy. You have always been kind and gracious. Your zeal for life and your passion for Campion is extraordinary. I know there have been tough times, but your faith has never waivered and I so appreciate that about you both. As you move into this next phase of your life I will miss you both, but know that you hold a very special place in my heart. With many blessings and much love.” - Sue Helm “When I arrived at Campion I quickly realized that I had fallen on my feet when I was informed that I had been partnered with Cindy and Zeca. From the beginning, Cindy's organization, clear communication, and willingness to listen to all of my questions brought me peace of soul. With Zeca, I knew I always had someone backing me up. When Zeca was informed of a problem or issue, I knew he would dive in and help me resolve the situation without delay. With both Cindy and Zeca I knew that I was never alone and will continue to value the advice they have given me. I have been greatly privileged to work with Cindy and Zeca during the past two years.” - Shannon Brown “Dear Zeca and Mrs. Santana, Over the past four years that I have been here, you guys were my support. I faced many challenges at Campion but I knew that I had you guys to help me. You’ve made my experience here memorable and I loved the times we would just joke around and laugh. Thanks for everything and I hope to be your friend for a long time. I wish you guys the best on this next step of your life!” - Daniel Moraes “Zeca- Where do i even start with you? Whenever I know that Zeca will be at an event I know it will be fun. You always make me laugh with your jokes and wittiness, and I will miss teasing you. Thank you for being a light for me at Campion and making me see the fun side of life. You’re my favorite Zeca; thank you for everything. Mrs Santana- I guess I can say it now that I’ve graduated; you scare me! haha! I respect you very much and I like how you get things done quickly and efficiently. I have always looked up to you and admired your character. I will miss you very much and I hope retired life treats you well.” - Audra Bennett “Thank you so much for everything from hosting taco nights, to just giving me advice. I will forever remember Zeca yelling at me from the side lines of my soccer games. I will also remember struggling in Mrs. Santana’s classes but her always being willing to help me. I will forever treasure both of them. They both mean so much to me and I don’t know where I would be without their guidance these last 4 years.” - Nicole Dominguez “The Santanas have been among the most dedicated and caring staff members during my time at Campion. High expectations met with their helpful nature gave me the best opportunities to succeed in whatever I’m doing whether it’s in the classroom or out on the field. I hope they enjoy their years in retirement to the fullest.” - Colton Herber “The Santana’s have impacted me in more ways than one. They’ve encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone and have taught me to remain calm when I'm in trouble. They’re great storytellers and have always been detail oriented. I thank God that they were our class sponsors for all these years because they’ve been the best people to get to know. Shoutout to Mrs. Santana especially cause I’ll always be her navigator.” - Melody Mambo “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santana, I’d like to appreciate all that you have done for me these past four years. I still remember when I was a little freshman during class scramble I couldn’t pronounce your last name so instead I called you Mr. and Mrs. Santa. It’s been a pleasure to have nice long talks with you Mrs. Santana about anything and everything. It was fun challenging you to a hand strength contest with you Zeca. I really wish you guys the best and hope we can see each other in the future. I want to thank the both of you for raising the little old me into the person I am today. Thank you for all you guys have done and I’ll really miss the both of you guys. Blessings.” - Jarrod Lang “The Santanas are special to the class of 2023. We’ve endured so much together that we not only consider them as sponsors, we consider them as family. They have always included everyone in our class and made sure we were okay. Their compassion and dedication to each student will surely be missed, and I am so grateful for their presence at Campion. I will miss them as they move onto a new chapter in their lives, and I wish only blessings to come!” - Matthew Winokan “I remember having classes with Mrs. Santana and how every worship was tied into the subject we would talk about somehow and sophomore year during the last class I thought I probably wouldn’t hear another worship from her, then she asked me to work for her junior year. I said yes and I’ve really enjoyed working for Mrs. Santana the last two years. She’s been an amazing boss and I will miss all the conversations we had. “Zeca has always been a character. I remember going to soccer games freshman year and hearing him shouting out instructions for the players, and class scramble freshman year was no different except we were the player being yelled at. Over the last two years Zeca has come into the office many times while I was working and just gave me a hard time about various things or just completely distracted me while I was working. “I will miss the Santanas dearly and I’m so thankful that they stayed with them our class until we graduated.” - Haley Beckermeyer, ‘23 “From Freshman to Senior year the Santanas have supported my class and I. My favorite memories with them is going over to their house for taco nights. Eating good food and hanging out, gave us the chance to laugh and bond outside the classroom and it's something I'll always appreciate.” - Lindsey Smith “The Santanas were literally the best sponsors I have ever had. Not only because they were always fun to be around but because they never gave up on us. Even though there were times that they probably wanted to. They were always willing to listen to us when we needed help and they taught us that we can’t get anything unless we worked for it. They showed us that we have responsibilities and I will always be grateful to them. Thank you (real) Santanas for everything you have done for us.” - Carlos Lopez “I’ve known the Santanas my entire life, Zecca was actually my moms soccer coach in ‘96. I’ve gotten to see them tackle many things and be an absolute asset to this campus over the years. They have been involved in so many things that I am grateful for. From a few tough classes with them, to senior survival, Taco nights, and incredible class trips, I know I can always look up to them. And they have always been there to listen and give great advice. And also be real with us as well as laugh with us. They were also my faculty family where I got to know them as both leaders as well as friends. Campion and myself had been truly blessed by their support and leadership ! We’re gonna miss y’all!” - Kaileigh Cate “Mrs. Santana would help me when I was struggling with the classes that she teaches. Zeca taught me these past two years on how to be a goalie. I always liked their taco nights and how they were so involved with the students.” -Damaris Lopez-Morquecho “I love science much more than history, yet during both Biology and World History, I was intrigued. Along with classes, the trip to Moab was and will be one of my best experiences at Campion, Thank you Santanas!” -Dominic White “I’m scared of Mrs. Santana’s presence in class but outside of class, she’s the best! She’s really sweet and wise. I’m scared of Zecca regardless but he’s the person who gets my head straight. Both of these people represent God in unique ways and I will miss them.” -EJ Woy “I love Mrs. Santana, she’s a really funny teacher. Most people think that she is super strict and serious but she, in reality, isn’t. If you take the time to actually listen to her stories and worship thoughts, you might actually see how funny and thoughtful she is. I’m sad to say goodbye to her but I’m extremely happy that I was one of her last. Goodbye Mrs. Santana! I hope you finally show the cashier how to do their job right and fast!” -Noeli Hernandez “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santana I really appreciate everything both of you have done for us. For all the planning of the field trips and for all that hard work it took to help all your students as much as possible. Have an amazing summer! God bless! And we WILL all miss you too!” -Camila Martinez Sainz "Ms Santana, even though she seems scary, is really nice and a great teacher and she has the most interesting stories and Zecca is just a funny guy and it's always interesting when he's around" -Izuchi Nwankwo "You guys have given me memories that I will never forget. Thank you for everything you have done for this school. I will miss you!" -Sarah Rushold "The Santanas are amazing people. Mrs. Santana is a great teacher who is very helpful, and Zeca is funny and generous. It was great to be able to meet them this year, and I hope they enjoy their retirement." -Keaton Drake "I have known them since they were my sister's sponsors and honestly I couldn't be more grateful for them. They have truly shown God's character to me and I will truly miss them on this campus." -Janey Padilla-Reyes "When I came to Campion I was with my sister when I met Zeca. If you know me you know I get scared talking to new people but Zecca just started making conversation with me and made me feel included. I also enjoyed having Mrs.Santana as a teacher because I learned a lot and I enjoy her teaching." -Sherlin Vasquez “I'm really going to miss the Santanas being around. I love Mrs Santana, she has been one of my favorite teachers this year, and even though her classes were hard, I value the things she taught us and feel like I actually learned things. I will miss her humor, worship, and life stories. Zecca was always joking around and poking fun at everyone. It was always a good time when he was around, even when most of the time he was trying to make me practice my broken portuguese. I'll miss them both." -Claire Jorgensen "They've always stood out as fun, understanding, kind, and understanding. They've impacted my experience for the better, and I know their ministry will continue beyond Campion." -Seth Coe "They truly represented Campion Spirit in everything they did. I loved how they invited us over for taco night every once in a while. Their impact on this campus will never fade." -Ekenna Nwankwo "I love Mrs Santana, and Zeca so much. I felt like them being a class sponsor was a blessing, because not only did they support us and encouraged us to do better in school, they took care of us. They always had fun things for us, like taco night or just hanging at their house. I loved seeing them be as excited as our class when it came to events. I'm going to miss them very dearly." - Blet Htoo "They were a very kind couple and they helped out the students whenever they could. You could always tell that they cared and were sincere when they asked if you were OK. They loved working here and helping the students and I will never forget the lessons that I learned with Cindy Santana. She has taught me how to persevere and how to apply myself through her classes." -Quiana Davis "Thank you so much for all that you do for this school and us. You guys have contributed so much to this school. from teaching to watching over us. This school wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys. this school will not be the same while y'all are gone. thank you so much from the bottom of my heart." -Yngrid Silva "Mrs. Santana, thank you for everything you did and taught us. I can't wait to see you again, and remember we will meet each other at the tree of life." - Marcela Zuniga "I love Mrs. Santana's seriousness and her silliness when it comes to capturing our attention to pay attention to the lessons. Zecca is the best muffin man I have ever seen." - Anya Francis "Mr and Mrs Santana, Your hard work has paid dividends in people's lives that you can't even imagine! Your jokes have never failed to force everyone present to laugh. Thank you for caring for every one of your students including me!" -Jack Jordan Campion Academy celebrated the achievements of 35 graduates over a weekend of festivities. The Class of 2023 began the weekend by honoring their parents during Friday evening’s service. On Sabbath, the students took charge of every aspect of the church service, presenting several musical selections. In the evening, the class introduced themselves in a creative spin on “The Masked Singer”. Class sponsors, Cindy Santana and Zeca Santana were the speakers at the main events on Sabbath and Sunday, respectively. Twenty-one of the 35 graduates were four-year seniors at Campion Academy. Twelve seniors earned College Preparatory or Advance College Preparatory diplomas and fifteen seniors graduated with honors. Union College presented several of the highest achieving graduates with scholarships worth up to $40,000 each. Due to varied opportunities at Campion Academy to take dual-credit classes, 26 of the seniors graduated having completed college credits. Campion Academy is so proud of the leaders these young adults have become and we congratulate them on all their achievements! Class Night Baccalaureate Sabbath Parent Tribute This past Saturday night, the Campion gym came alive as the academy held its highly anticipated Award’s Night and annual Pop’s Concert. The event showcased the musical talents of students and recognized their outstanding athletic, academic, and artistic achievements. Campion’s orchestra opened the concert with the selections ‘City of Stars’ and ‘Highlights from Grease’, an extravagant commencement to the event. Orchestra violinist Shawn Furgurson commented, “The music was really fun to perform. The piece ‘Highlights from Grease’ was a struggle to learn, but I would definitely say that it was well worth it. Being able to open up the concert was a thrilling experience. It allowed me to reminisce about the past year’s performances because this was the last concert of the year.” Students from the various music departments, including Jazz Band, Bells, Chorale, and Koinonia, showcased their incredible talent and hard work through a delightful array of performances prepared under the guidance of Campion's Music Director, Miss Cecilia Simmons. Senior, and Koinonia member, Melody Mambo reflected, “My highlight of the concert was definitely when Koinonia sang ‘Stand Up’, which is our favorite. It was really cool to show our creativity with this song. I also enjoyed the theme and detail that Miss Simmons put into prompts to introduce each presentation. It was overall a really memorable experience.” Between each performance were moments of recognition and celebration as deserving students were acknowledged for their remarkable achievements. Awards were presented for a wide range of accomplishments, including academic excellence, leadership, and musical and athletic recognition. Senior Ana Segawa expressed “I found it really wholesome to watch people get recognized for their accomplishments. This school year was hard but it felt really nice to receive appreciation and to be able to celebrate that with my friends and staff members, who have always been so supportive.” At the end of the event, students and staff gathered in the chapel where they watched presentations by the current dorm staff announcing next year's Resident Assistants, enjoyed some Animation video projects and appreciated the end-year video prepared by SA’s Tech director Ciara Felix. Carla Ramos, senior recounted “I really loved seeing the end of the year video. It took me back to all the highlights and fun memories from this year. It was a wonderful way to end a fantastic evening and great year.” Tiffany Mogaka, Student News Team Campion’s 2022-2023 Student Association (SA) officers organized their final task; hosting our annual end-year SA Picnic, which was held at North Lake Park this past Sunday, providing students with a fantastic opportunity to unwind and create lasting memories. The event was filled with exciting activities, delicious snacks, and a relaxing day in nature.
Upon arrival at the park, the SA officers directed each class to compose teams who eagerly participated in a challenging relay competition which included a potato sack race, a three legged race, a baby bottle soda chug, cup stacking competition and more. Friendly rivalries ignited as students showcased their athleticism and team spirit. Senior Carlos Lopez recalled, “The relay was quite exciting. It was so funny watching people struggle through the obstacles. The hardest part was chugging ginger ale out of a baby bottle but the seniors did a good job cheering. It was a really positive and uplifting atmosphere.” Following the games, students spread out into little picnic areas where some lay in the shade and talked with friends while others played soccer or enjoyed a thrilling game of volleyball. Junior Shella commented, “ The picnic was so much fun. I really love volleyball which is why I was so glad to not only play with my friends but also with other people from school I wouldn’t normally interact with. It was refreshing to be in nature on a nice sunny day.” SA provided some snacks and drinks which the students enjoyed before a refreshing water balloon fight. With some students already wet, they decided to take a splash in the nearby lake. Others dried off in the grass and took the time to sign each other’s yearbooks. The day ended with a delicious supper served by the SA officers in the tower. Students enjoyed vegetarian burgers, hotdogs, watermelon, lemonade, and dessert on Center Campus. Sophomore Toby Quillin reflected, “SA picnic was the perfect final celebration to wrap up the year. Spending time with friends outdoors and enjoying good food will always be a fond memory. I'm glad I got to be in SA this year and share this experience with the whole school.” Tiffany Mogaka, Student News Team Approximately 50 Campion students shared testimonies, verses, skits, prayers, and songs during the school year’s last Week of Prayer. Each day, a different class planned and hosted the worship service after lunch.
Julia Santiago, a junior who shared her testimony, reflected, “I was a little nervous because this was my first time sharing my testimony, but it helped bring me closer to God. It felt good to share my story and how God showed me His love is better than anything else. Jesus showed me that I need to be like my dad: show the love of God even when things aren’t going the way we want.” Students learned not only more about God, but more about the challenges their peers have gone through. “It was surprising to hear the stories of people that I don’t usually see or hear talk often. Each of their different stories showed how God can use everyone for His glory,” Jovana Maldonado, junior, stated. Sophomore Jasmine Smittick shared how she recognized God working in many ways in students’ lives. “In several of the testimonies people started to push God away before they decided to come close to Him. It made me realize that even when we want nothing to do with God or don't want to put effort into spending time with Him, He’s still there for us waiting to help us as soon as we let Him,” she explained. New for this year, Chaplain Carlos Santana created a student committee to plan all the aspects of Week of Prayer. Santana commented, “From the testimonies to the object lessons, poems, and skits, all the groups that went up for Week of Prayer did such a great job! I believe that the message continually shines through in each of these mediums. The student leaders and teams did a marvelous job getting these groups of their peers together to be successful.” In an unexpected ending to Week of Prayer, after vespers, the lights were turned out and the students were told to immediately exit the building to a safe place. They were ushered to the bus barn in the back of campus where they were surprised to find an “Underground Church” and spent the evening continuing to worship together in a unique setting. The Underground Church allowed students to live out the experience of persecuted Christians around the world. Haley Beckermeyer, Student News Team |
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Contact UsFor grades 9-12:
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