Campion Welcomes Largest Freshmen Class in 20 Years

At Campion Academy’s annual “Handshake”, an event that involves the entire student body lining up to shake hands with each staff member, the freshman section was notably much larger than what has been seen in recent years.  This year, Campion Academy has been blessed with 42 students enrolled in the freshman class, making it the largest class in the academy.
 
 “Having a large freshman class is a healthy indicator for positive enrollment,” commented Principal Don Reeder, “It encourages us on our enrollment for future years, but more importantly, it means we have more students who will experience Christ, fall in love with Him, and then be prepared to share Him with the world, which is our mission.” 
 
In the last ten years, freshman enrollment has averaged about 29 students.  Each class usually grows in numbers every year, especially during their junior year, as many students come to Campion from junior academies.  The 2018 graduating class had 40 students, and this year’s senior class also has 40 students. 
 
Campion Academy strives to maintain its focus on providing a Christ-centered education, and that has been the primary draw for the freshmen and their families.  Kylie W., a freshman from Kearney, Nebraska explained, “My brother came here, and what I’ve noticed about Campion is that God is the center of the campus.  They really make sure we know that our studies are important, but God is more important, and He’s the main one to turn to in life.”
 
Robyn Q., a freshman from Cortez, Colorado agreed and said, “I came to Campion because it is a Christian school. I am excited that I get to be part of LE (literature evangelism) and help show others about Jesus.” 

While the size of the freshman class is encouraging, Campion Academy is still seeking to increase enrollment.  In the past year, they have been expanding their territory for recruiting, as they are central to many states and regions that do not have boarding academies, including Utah, the TexaCo Conference region, and Omaha, Nebraska. 
 
Jadon H., a freshman from Los Alamos, New Mexico, is the first one in his family to attend Campion Academy.  “I came to Campion for a Christian experience and independence.  I’m excited about sports, making new friends, and taking new classes,” he commented.
 
Campion is also seeking to expand their global impact by recruiting students from around the world.  There are currently students from China, Japan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mexico at Campion, and they have been establishing relationships with potential students in Brazil and Spain for upcoming years. 
 
Campion’s school board and administration has made it a goal to increase its endowment to 10 million dollars in order to offer more financial aid to students who would otherwise be unable to attend.  “We have a mission to train students for service in Christ, and we want to be able to open our doors to any student who feels called to be here,” Reeder affirmed. 
 
Article and Photo by Jill Harlow, Communication Director