 Lexi Contreras, senior, shares how in her life she has faced trial after trial, a result of sin pushing its way into her world, yet she fights back with God at her side.
“In my young life, I have faced a lot of health challenges. The hardest part for my family was when I was young, they did not know what was wrong with me,” explained Contreras. Soon they learned that Lexi suffered from an autoimmune disorder known as Myasthenia Gravis (MG). Basically, this disorder causes the body to attack itself. “It’s not easy being different,” Contreras says; “There are days when every muscle hurts and I’m really weak. Yet, God has carried me through my flare ups, hospitalizations, and extensive treatments. Everyday is a gift from God for which I am grateful.” Lexi has made comebacks time and time again, and she has no doubt that with God by her side she will not stop doing so in the future. She shared that her faith has strengthened her; “I know Jesus is coming soon; He will take us to a place where there will be no more suffering and pain.” A verse that encourages her is James 5:15: “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins he will be forgiven” (NKJV). Hyacinth Cookenmaster, Student News Team
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Students painted landscapes, navigated with compasses, and learned other outdoor skills when Campion Academy ventured to Rocky Mountain National Park for an outdoor school day.
Students left Wednesday morning eager for the day ahead of them. The beauty of God’s creation surrounded the students as they broke off into groups for the first half of the day. Ruth Rawlings, sophomore, looking back on the trip said, “It was a great stress reliever from our daily school work while also being outdoors.” Students that participated in painting sat on a hill side while Lindsey Santana taught them how to use watercolors when painting mountain landscapes. Students were challenged with recreating landscapes in their point of view. Toby Quillin, freshman, exclaimed, “It was really fun; we learned how to create a sunset landscape using only the primary colors.” Jill Harlow walked students around Sprague Lake showing them how to take photos using different depths of field and perspectives. Sophia McGrew, junior, reflected, “I really enjoyed nature during our walk; we saw a female moose and elk which made me happy.” Students learned how to handle the camera while taking photos of nature. At lunch, students made their way over to Hidden Valley where they mingled and ate lunch. Chef Allen had prepared veggie sub sandwiches, watermelon, corn, and brownies for dessert. For the afternoon, students participated in their second activities of which included: weaving, hiking, history of the park, and becoming a junior ranger. One of the many activities offered was identification of edible plants. In this class students were shown how to identify edible flora and fauna versus dangerous and possibly poisonous plants. Elizabeth Jureckova, senior, shared, “It was a great experience, we learned how important it is to check with multiple sources, such as books or the internet before we eat anything in nature. We had a lot of fun while exploring and hiking up the hill.” At the end of the classes, students boarded their buses and made their way back down the mountainside to campus. Village students headed home while dorm students ran to the cafeteria searching for their supper meal. Gwendolyn Cress, sophomore, said when thinking back on Wednesday: "I loved the trip in general and had a lot of fun, but boy was I tired when we got back; all I wanted to do was eat and sleep." Hyacinth Cookenmaster, Student News Team Love Pickle, Photos Varsity and JV Volleyball teams have finally resurfaced after a year of absence due to COVID. Students are excited to have their sports season back. The coaches who will triumphantly lead CA to victory are Jo Madonna, Cody Jahn and Ashley Herber.
Not having competitive sports due to COVID-19 negatively impacted the life of many students. Jovanna Maldonado, sophomore, expressed her feelings: “It felt kinda empty without sports last year.” The thrill of having sports back and the energy it creates within students is on a deeper level. Kendra Eickmann shared, “Having volleyball back is definitely a highlight of my senior year, I missed going to tournaments last year and being with my teammates.” This season may be different because of continuing COVID effects, but the students are happy to compete again. This is only the beginning of a triumphant change, and not the last because CA students have spirit. This past week, the varsity girls team kicked off the start of their season with a game against Mile High. Unfortunately, they lost 1:3 but their perseverance showed that the next games will be different. “It’s nice to get back into the groove and feel the energy of competition, ” reflected Kylie Wehling, captain of the varsity team. “I have a good team and I am looking forward to what this season will hold.” Love Pickle, Student News Team Photos: Gwyn Reeves After a dreadful year of COVID restrictions, the varsity soccer team is finally back on the soccer field. The cheers of students, staff, and families echoed throughout campus as the boys showed off their soccer skills during the first home games of the season.
Team member Collin Caviness said, “It felt really good being back on the field. I think sports bring people together in a way nothing else can. You could definitely tell last year the effect of not having it had on everybody. We’re all super excited to play again this season, make memories and have some fun.” The boys trained for weeks, and it really showed off during their first away game against Mile High when they won 3 - 1. Last week they had their first home game against Nederland High School. Although the score remained tied for most of the game, they scored the winning points seconds before the end. While they didn’t come out on top against Loveland Classical on Tuesday, they will have a chance to get back on track at the next home game on Thursday. Team member Karson Lee stated, “After not being able to play any sports last year, it is great to finally be able to play sports again, especially soccer. It’s already been a great start to the season and it will only get better. We have a lot to work on together as a team but we all are willing to put in the work. I think our whole team is excited to play soccer once again and we all want to bring the trophy back home from Union.” Elizabeth Jureckova, Student News Team Photos: Jill Harlow Despite challenges of hail, cold nights, rocky trails, and high altitude, the 25 students and four sponsors in Campion's Outdoor Club had a successful and unforgettable backpack trip in the Snowy Range mountains in Wyoming this past weekend.
The group left Friday after classes, completing a two-and-a-half hour drive to the trailhead, where they were met with rain and hail. Jahir Marcenaro, senior, reflected on the start of the trip: “It was memorable because Mr. Kast started our group on the wrong trail, and when we got onto the right trail it started raining and hailing. But, when that passed, we got to see the beautiful night sky.” Once everyone had settled in and set up camp, the club had an evening worship under the stars. The club started their Sabbath off with breakfast and a devotional thought by Mrs. Harlow. Then they tore down camp and started to head to their next campsite, about 6 miles away. The hikers enjoyed the beautiful views, even though they had to push their physical limits as the trail got steeper and surpassed 11,000 feet in elevation. Matthew Winokan, junior, commented, “Getting to be in nature was very peaceful; I feel like being out there distracts you from school and any stress you have. You get closer to God, and you have time to talk with friends.” When the club reached their new campsite they got settled in and they had time to themselves to explore or relax. Noah Sturges, senior, said, “One thing I really enjoyed was the freedom we had, especially on Saturday because I could wander off on my own time, and it wasn’t restricted to staying at camp or on a trail.” After the club’s free time they were called in for an evening worship under the starlit sky, where students shared what they learned about God throughout the day. Preston Sturges, junior, reflected, “Seeing the stars makes you realize how small we are but how God still cares for us.” The club members then headed back to their tents and hammocks to rest after such a challenging day. Early the following day, a group of ten club members took the opportunity to hike to the summit of Medicine Bow Peak, while the rest of the members opted to sleep in. “I really enjoyed the hike on Sunday morning,” said Ekenna Kwankwo. “Even though it was really hard, it was awesome going to the summit and looking down on where you just came from and how far you got. It also relates to your own spiritual walk, where you need to go through a struggle so you can look back and see how far you’ve come.” Once everyone had eaten and packed up, the club embarked on their last hike of the trip, the hike to the vans and busses to transport them back to campus. Love Pickle, senior, summed up her weekend saying that, “The people and the views made backpacking fun.” Jared Marcenaro, Student News Team Photos: Noah Sturges, Airi Nomura, Jill Harlow From last Wednesday to Sunday, Campion Academy seniors survived in nature at Glacier View Ranch while bonding with each other and getting to know Jesus more.
Once they had arrived, their survival in nature started by each group making their own shelter in the trees and rocks with only tarps. Each group worked together to make their camp and cook all their own meals. As a new student to Campion, Gabriel Olvera said, “It was nice to make new connections and new friends. The activities were fun, and it was fun cooking for myself and everyone.” Every night, all the seniors surrounded the fire and had worship. “It was super fun to experience Senior Survival because it’s known as a bonding experience and I think that’s what it did for our class,” reflected Regan Garman, “I really enjoyed our last worship together on Saturday night. That was really special to me when we did communion and washed each other's feet.” After the evening worship, the whole class would gather to talk around the campfire. “After worship, Mrs. May would give us time to have a “safe place” which was where we could talk about anything that happened throughout the day and just bond as a class. I thought that was very effective for all of us. It calmed us down, and we felt like there was no judgment involved,” Sophie Baez explained. In the daytime, seniors participated in activities designed to build cooperation and trust between the classmates, such as trust falls, a spider web, and nitro crossing. Duda De Oliveira said, “The activity I enjoyed the most was the trust fall because I felt like I could actually trust my classmates. At the beginning I was very scared, but it was really relaxing and relieving when they caught me.” On Saturday, seniors could choose their own adventures on either easy or difficult hiking routes. “I especially enjoyed staying with my friends and hiking. We climbed the rocks, and we got to see a very nice view,” said Ivan Mogaka, who participated in the difficult hike. The seniors got to experience an amazing time with their classmates in nature while they overcame challenges during their survival. They were able to grow more as a class and also in Christ. Text: Airi Nomura, Student News Team Photos: Jacqueline Kobagaya, Student News Team The boys had a chance to get away from school and to relax for a weekend at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) for their dorm retreat. The Men’s Club officers planned a weekend of camping, worship, and exploring nature.
Edward Camas, senior, commented, “I had low expectations for this retreat because I thought it wouldn’t be that fun, but this has actually been the most fun I’ve had in a group in a long time. Hiking up an entire mountain with my friends was amazing, the cool nights and the changing weather was an experience I will never forget.” On Friday evening, the boys arrived to camp, set up their tents and hammocks, and had a sundown worship in the Chapel of the Pines. After the worship service the boys were given a tasty snack of s’mores around the fire. After sleeping in on Sabbath morning, a hot breakfast, and worship, the boys had time to relax and were allowed to explore the grounds on their own for most of the day. An evening rain shower delayed supper, but afterwards, the boys had a sundown worship around the campfire. On Saturday night, the boys gathered for glow-in-the-dark capture the flag. Following the first game, the boys were given two options: play hide-and-seek or relax by the fire. Michael Shannon, freshman, remarked, “I thought it was pretty awesome when we played hide-and-go-seek in the dark. This was my first dorm retreat and I made memories I'll never forget.” On Sunday morning the boys packed up camp, ate breakfast, then filed into the bus to head back to campus. “Dorm retreat was great,” reflected Shawn Ferguson, “It was amazing to get away from all the school stress and work.” Jared Marcenaro, Student News Team Photos: Noah Sturges This past weekend, Campion Academy’s Girls’ Club held a dorm retreat at Glacier View Ranch. Guest speaker Erica Jones gave seminars on practical life lessons, but most importantly spoke on how to be content with yourself.
A huge spiritual blessing was gained from this retreat. “I was heavily impacted by Erica Jones’ messages over the weekend,” says Sandra Arlt, senior. “She made her talks relatable and thought provoking. She included God within all of her messages and made sure we were getting what she was saying to us.” The retreat was not only sitting in meetings, but also bonding with and getting to know each other. “I had a lot of fun making new friends in my cabin. I’m already looking forward to next year’s retreat,” Gwen Cress, sophomore, said. The mountain views mesmerized the retreaters, with some girls waking up before dawn to watch the sunrise from the top of a rocky point. “The view was really pretty. I love the mountains,” commented junior Isabel Navarro. The girls also had the opportunity to go paddleboarding and kayaking, and had a karaoke night on Saturday. Students were thankful to be able to leave campus and experience a more normal retreat this year. The ladies returned to campus not only with new friendships, but a new sense of purpose in Christ. Jacqueline Kobagaya, Student News Team Photos: Love Pickle  Clark Cinco: President “As a student leader, I’m hoping to not only prepare fun events with my team, but to also make new students feel at home, help them have a voice, and have them experience Christ through it all.”  Lacy Matondo: Vice-President “My goal this year is to make everyone comfortable and happy so that they will want to come back next year, and keep coming back until they graduate here at Campion. I also want to build better communication between students and staff members.”  Kylie Wehling: Spiritual Vice-President “My goal is to help people grow closer to Jesus and to know him more. Specifically this year with the theme “radiate”, I want to help people to grow together and learn how to not only grow spiritual lives on this campus, but also show Jesus to others in this campus and outside. My hope for every SA event is to make memories and also to make sure that God is the center of all so that we glorify him.”  Melody Mambo: Social Vice-President "I look forward to talking to everyone on campus and to be able to plan some fun things with the team for everyone to enjoy. As Social VP, I think it’s vital to communicate with the student body, and so I’m excited to listen to people’s input and hear some great ideas so that we can have a great year!”  Gwyn Reeves: Treasurer "I’m super excited to help plan some really fun activities for the student body, and of course budget them. I hope I can help make this year filled with fun new memories for you guys!”  Edward Camas: Activity Director "My role in SA is Activity Director which means I have to take charge of activities, but I don’t want the students to feel as if they’re being bossed around. My goal this year is to make the students have fun and enjoy themselves. I want to contribute as much time as I can to Campion. I hope that I can show kindness to the students, so they may see me as a friend. I’m looking forward to seeing the students smile during the activities. It brings me joy to see people enjoying themselves and forgetting about school work for a bit."  "Regan Garman: Secretary "I’m excited to be a part of the SA team this year to help plan fun activities for everyone to enjoy and partake in!! Our goal is to make this year memorable for everyone!! I hope to be a positive example of God’s character and to be a friendly face other students can talk to!!"  Kendra Eickmann: Outreach Director "This year as outreach director I look forward to connecting our community, school, and church as a single team that radiates God’s love to others."  Noah Sturges: Tech Director "I really never considered joining a leadership position before. I just never felt like I had the confidence to do it. But here I am, leading as SA Tech Director. Something that you must know about me is that I love technology and videography. Coming into this year was a little bit nerve-racking, but the reactions and comfort that the staff and fellow students leaders gave me helped me to commit. The one thing I really am looking forward to is the end-of-the-year video. With the camera equipment and knowledge of video editing, I can confidently say that I will be able to record and save the special memories of this year."  Keziah Paduli: Communication Director “As an SA member I am exited to plan events and make Campion's school year more fun and enjoyable.”  Brisa Maldonado: Student Chaplain
"I was given the amazing opportunity to be this year's student Chaplain. I’m looking forward to helping with chapels, vespers, and the overall spiritual life on campus!”  The spirit of competition, plus a little smoke, filled the air on Saturday night at the annual Campion Academy Class Scramble. All students came decked out in their class colors along with tutus, face paint, and lots of glitter to the event held on the soccer field this year. The seniors kicked off the evening with an Olympian-style entrance, running around a lit fire pit led by two torch-bearers.
Students raced odd collections of items to Principal Reeder and competed in classic drills of dead cow, air raid, and man-overboard in pursuit of class bragging rights. The Student Association (SA) included a few new games in-between such as mattress surfing and Hot Wheels shuffleboard that tested each class’ ability and determination to win. After all the chaos, the seniors stayed ahead of the juniors, winning their final scramble. Kylie Wehling, senior, said, “Class Scramble is always an exciting time of the year where everyone loses their voice and classes bond over competitiveness and class spirit.” Geraldy Marvel, junior, mentioned, “Coming from Texas and being new at Campion, Class Scramble will be a memory I never forget.” The next morning the competitions started right back up with our SA Picnic. After worship, everyone headed down to center campus and the games began. The classics like tug-of-war, mini-bike races and the bus push were made sure to be included. The seniors dominated each game, still feeling their win from the night before. “Oftentimes with such a big class, it can be difficult to work together and win the events, but this year the class of 2022 was able to pull through with a win,” Wehling reflected. “I'm extremely proud of us and can't wait to see what this year has in store!” After all of the competitions, students could relax while SA set up a kickball-slip-and-slide. After more than a few “test runs” by the SA officers the rest of the student body joined in. It no longer mattered what class you were in, just who could get past all the third basemen. At the end of the day, everyone’s voices were a bit more hoarse and each class was much closer than before. Gwyn Reeves, Campion News Team |
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