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After 40 years of dedicated service to Campion Academy, Donavan Reeder has announced his retirement. Reeder has served as Principal for the past nine years and prior to that worked as a Men’s Dean for 31 years in the residence hall. He steps down as the longest-standing employee at the Rocky Mountain Conference. As an integral part of Campion Academy for so many years, he leaves a legacy of commitment and spiritual leadership to be honored. Reeder’s Campion roots run deep; he was born in Loveland, Colorado while his parents both worked at Campion Academy. His family later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended Salt Lake City Junior Academy. He attended Andrews University and then transferred to Walla Walla University where he graduated with a degree in Communication. He met and married his wife Donna while at Walla Walla. Donna also had Colorado roots, growing up in Denver and graduating from Campion Academy in 1980. After college, the couple decided to move to Loveland. As Don had studied communications, he obtained his first job with a video production company in Loveland. At the time, Thure Martinsen was the chaplain at Campion, and he had been Reeder’s principal at Salt Lake Junior Academy. Martinsen invited Reeder to play on Campion’s faculty football team. After the staff had gotten to know him on the field, he was asked to apply as the Assistant Men’s Dean, and he began officially working at Campion Academy in 1984. After just two years of working as an Assistant Dean and teaching Speech and World of Work classes, he took on the position of Head Dean of Men in 1986. Reeder excelled as a Head Dean, maintaining the position for 29 years. Reeder shared, “I had originally desired to be a youth pastor. I saw that I could preach to the youth, but they needed examples of the Christian life lived in the real world. By being a residence hall dean, I would be living with the students and hopefully be a daily witness to God's working in our lives, just as Mark 3:14 tells us that Jesus lived with His disciples before He sent them out to preach.” Donna Reeder also worked at Campion Academy as an Assistant Girl’s Dean and in the cafeteria and at Boulder Jr. Academy, until finding her fit in the accounting department where she has continued to work for the past 25 years. Their daughter Jessica (Reeder) Baker has continued her parents’ passion for Adventist Education and currently works as a teacher at the Fort Collins Adventist School. Reeder served as a Vice-Principal in addition to Head Dean under Principal Spencer Hannah. In 2015, Reeder was selected to become Principal at Campion Academy. At the end of the 2015 school year, Campion Academy was struggling with low enrollment, with around 120 students. Reeder was given a goal to increase that to 150 in his first year as principal and Elder Ed Barnett, President of the Rocky Mountain Conference even promised to shave his head if they reached that goal. In a memorable event, the goal was reached and Elder Barnett’s head was shaved. Barnett commented, “He was a great leader and soon we were getting our enrollment back up. The thing that impressed me the most with Don was the spirituality on the campus,” he added. Don was a friend that Barnett will always cherish, “What a blessing he had been for the Rocky Mountain Conference!” Reeder is well-known for keeping the mission and spiritual development of Campion Academy students at the forefront. As principal, he made the mission of Campion Academy clear, saying, “I wanted the students to be trained to go into the world with the message of Jesus.” Under his leadership, Reeder expanded the Spiritual Life Committee to include the church pastors and HMS Richards principal which began to meet weekly. He also made sure Wednesday evenings were dedicated to spiritual programming (Fusion) to give more emphasis on spiritual development and training. Other accomplishments included; creating security ID cards for secure entry to the Ad Building; creating new signage throughout campus and in the Ad building; adding a communication director, formalizing the international student program with Dean Helm, adding the Cougar statue to campus with the Stenbakkens and Bob McConnell, and creating the endowments for Student Legacy and Capital improvements. In 2019, Reeder’s dedicated service to the ministry of Adventist Education was formally recognized when he was ordained by the Rocky Mountain Conference. Reeder led Campion Academy through the challenging years of the COVID pandemic, leading with a balanced approach; keeping Campion Academy open for in-person instruction while instituting strong policies to prioritize health and safety. Among Don Reeder’s friends is the conference’s former Education Superintendent, Lonnie Hetterle, who has been acquainted with Reeder for nearly 30 years. He recollects that “during that long span of time I have had the opportunity to observe and to work with him in a wide variety of circumstances and situations when he was a boy’s dean, a teacher, an academy principal and as a fellow follower of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness and consistency are two words that clearly describe Mr. Reeder. “His desire to rightly represent his Savior has fully influenced all of his decisions. As a new principal he always was willing and in fact eager to take counsel and made every effort possible to arrive at the correct and best decision for each situation. His desire to be the very best leader he could be continued throughout his career. He did his best to look at every scenario from the student’s perspective, from the staff viewpoint, and from the school’s perspective but always with a redemptive mindset”. According to Hetterle, Reeder set the standard for “servant-leadership”. “His willingness to listen, to encourage, and to lead with compassion was always present. He was an excellent example of professional leadership. I never saw a time when Don’s ego affected his decision making and I also am unaware of any decision he made without spending time in prayer and listening intently for leading from the Holy Spirit. Don loves his God, his church, his school and his family deeply. Campion is certainly what it is today in a large part due the influence of Don Reeder,” Hetterle added. In retirement, as during his career, Reeder is turning to God for direction: “I am watching where God is leading for me to serve Him,” he shared; “I would like to camp more, golf more, and visit family and friends more.” Jill Harlow, Communication Director Words of Appreciation from students, alumni, parents, and co-workers“Mr. Reeder has always been a positive light in my life. I’ve appreciated him as a student, parent, coworker, and friend. I have known him since attending Campion Academy. Back then, he served as head dean. Though I had no classes from him, I always looked forward to having him lead worship. Listening to him sing and play his guitar, his music ministry was a highlight of my high school experience. Since being back on Campion’s campus, I have looked forward to him singing and having worships with students. It brings me back to my fond memories in high school. Mr. Reeder has a love for Jesus that runs deep. I pray the best for him but may his legacy of his love for Jesus continue at Campion and quicken the return of Jesus.” - Kari Lange
“Mr Reeder was the best principal anyone could ask for. He loved us students and was so friendly and happy. I will miss him!” - Clara Aakko “Dear Mr. Reeder, thank you for demonstrating Christ’s love and truth throughout the years you sacrificially served at Campion Academy. Your loving care, dedication, and commitment to each student, parent, teacher, and staff member was consistently evident in your words and deeds. You will be greatly missed! “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26” - Tristi Ramos “One of the biggest reasons that I moved to Colorado was because of you. I’ve never worked with a principal that encouraged and supported evangelism as much as you! You’ll be missed.” - Matthew Hasty “Don Reeder is/has been the best Principal I have ever known. Don has a way of giving bad news in the most positive way. He cares about everyone, and that is shown in his genuine interest in each and every one of his staff, students, and everyone he meets. He is amazing at remembering names and listening. He never takes sides with issues and helps people see both sides of a situation. He lives a Christ centered life and he will be missed by everyone.” - Amy Kluchesky “Mr Reeder always had a smile on his face and always greeted students by name. He was always willing to talk with us and always prioritized personal relationships with the students. He's also just a funny and likable guy, and I know I'll miss him a lot and I'm sad he won't be principal as we graduate.” - Lily Testardi "Mr Reeder, thank you so much for showing a genuine interest in each of our children. Your smile and friendliness were felt by all of us. We felt very comfortable leaving our children at Campion under your supervision. May God continue to richly bless you and give you peace! “ - The Nwankwo Family “I always admired his calm spirit and the peace that seems to irradiate from him. Humbleness makes a person great!” - Veralis Marroquin "I always appreciated how Mr. Reeder would warmly greet me each day with a smile. He listened well to the staff members and was very considerate in his decisions. He was very encouraging to me as a teacher and made me feel valued. Most of all, it is evident that his faith is very genuine and he is a man of prayer. He is a wonderful role model of a disciple of Jesus to our students." - Jill Harlow “Mr. Reeder is one of those people who is the happiest and the friendliest in the room. God's love beams through him in action and words. He lead Campion honorably, loyally, and excellently for decades. Mr. Reeder is THE principal to look towards as an example of the highest quality leadership in all areas. I have appreciated every Campion principal, but I knew that Mr. Reeder would offer the most genuine level of friendship towards parents and students at all times. Thank you, Mr. Reeder, for showing us Jesus and for creating a Christ-like campus for every student. In all my years knowing Mr. Reeder, I never heard a single soul, young or old, say anything but the highest commendations for this man of God. Thank you, Mr. Reeder! You served God valiantly, and because of you, many youth are following Christ daily.” - Jodie Aakko "Mr. Reeder treated everyone like family and made Campion a safe place for students and staff." - Shannon Brown “I loved working with Don for the past 8 years. He genuinely cared about people and especially about their spirituality. Anytime he met with students or staff he prayed for them and for the meeting taking place. That is the biggest impact he made in my life. He was genuine and compassionate and I know he made such a huge impact on so many lives. He still touches the lives of my boys and they are grown men with their own families now.” - Sue Helm “My memory of Mr. Reeder is based on kindness and affection towards everyone at Campion, and even though we spent little time with him, it was great to see how Don Reeder is a dedicated person who follows God’s ways. Thank you.” - Julia Santiago “I think of his smile, as he greeted me on many mornings in the office. I think of his laugh, when he called me by my real name, or when he pulled a joke on me, or scared me when I was intently working on a project. (He thought that was so funny to see me jump and scream).I think of all the times he prayed with me for various reasons. I always felt safe sharing with him and getting advice. I think of how we shared the love of running, and participated in some of the same races and shared stories on the after pain .I think of the man that I saw taking so much time to visit with students throughout the day letting them know they were valued and important. I think of the man that exemplified Jesus over and over to the students, and the staff. I think of all the mornings he dropped his young daughter off in my classroom and entrusted her to my love and care .I think of the time as a Boys Dean he and his RA's would come and sing and do worship for us. I think of this Man, Husband, Father, Dean, and Principal and I am so glad I have had an opportunity to work with you all these years. You will be very missed!” - Toni Odenthal Don's smile has always uplifted me ever since I worked with Jessica at MHA. He seemed like a rock, a legend of God's youth ministry and education. I remember vividly when Don called me to ask me if I was interested in coming to Campion Church and honestly it was a huge sign from God. It was also a big affirmation for me that such a great leader in God's cause would remember little me. His passion and love for young people and God's kingdom is so inspiring. He would stop at nothing to ensure the "kids" had the best possible outcome on this campus. To me he sets the bar high for anyone going into youth ministry. Only after Jesus comes back we will know the true impact of his tireless service for God, the church, and the young people he ministered to. Thank you Mr. Reeder!! - Leandro Bizama "I am blessed to call Don my friend, he has always supported the Alumni Association. It's been my privilege to work with Don for over 30 years. Campion has excelled and grown under his leadership, more importantly the spiritual growth at Campion is a direct reflection of his leadership. Congratulations, all the best in the next chapter of your life. Your friend, Kenny Gregerson." "For as long as I’ve been here, I can only remember you being here. Whenever I see you, I’m met with a huge smile, and that makes my day. My favorite memories are when you used to come to my Mom’s class and read a story and play your guitar. My other one is when you would come in the business office and scare me so bad. :) You’re so amazing, and I’m going to miss having you around!" - Evie Lange "We moved to Campion in 1986, and since that time, I've never known Campion without Reeder. I ended up working for him most of my academy years and summers. You were a great boss and mentor, Reeder! Long live the pig dogs!" - Jeff Boyd (class of '93) “I've always regarded Mr. Reeder as someone I highly admire. During my time at Campion, I witnessed him lead the Men's Dorm with compassion, respect, humility, and humor. This made him very approachable and easy to connect with, regardless of the various individual backgrounds he encountered. Mr. Reeder led by example - showing us what it meant to be a good man who loves God and those around him. I hope you enjoy your much deserved free time, old man!” - Moses Arevalo “There is nobody in my life, besides my dad, that has had a bigger impact than Don Reeder. He has been my mentor and my friend. Working alongside Don has created some incredible memories that I will never forget. I have learned so much from him and am so grateful he has been in my life.” - Daniel Force
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 Who is one of your Bible heroes? (Other than Jesus!) A. Joseph B. Ruth C. Jonah D. Hosea E. Jacob What is your hobby? A. Playing soccer B. Reading C. Running D. Watching k-dramas E. Writing lyrics and basketball What is your favorite genre of books or movies? A. Musicals B. Classics C. Murder mystery D. Historical Fiction E. Action Comedy What is your favorite color? A. Royal blue B. Purple C. Black D. Forest green E. Green What is your favorite dessert? A. Coconut pudding B. Cheesecake C. Strawberry cake D. Donuts E. Chocolate What would be your ideal vacation? A. Any place Tropical B. Spending time with family C. Backpack through Europe and going to Museums D. New Zealand E. Mexico What is your favorite meal? A. Kidney bean soup with egg B. Haystacks C. Plantains with beans, rice and cheese D. Grilled cheese with soup E. Tacos What is your favorite animal A. Labrador B. Cats C. Beagle D. Otter E. Penguin What is your favorite subject in school? A. Math B. History C. World History D. English E. Lunch If you had to live in another country, which country would you live in? A. Thailand B. Spain C. Barbados D. Scotland E. Mexico If you picked mostly A’s, you are most like Mr. H. Mr. H is an outdoorsy person. He likes to play sports and enjoy nature in his free time. He also likes to spend time with his family. His favorite animal is a dog, especially his Labrador Duke. His favorite Bible character is Joseph. He loves traditional Filipino food and all things South Asian!
If you picked mostly B’s, you are most like Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown likes classic and historical movies and books. Her favorite dessert is cheesecake. She loves animals, but especially loves cats. Her favorite subject in school was history. In her free time she likes to read and spend time with her family. Just like Ruth, Mrs. Brown is a very kind and hardworking person. If you picked mostly C’s, you are most like Ms. Simmons. Ms. Simmons is a very energetic and adventurous person. She hopes to one day backpack through Europe, and visit all of the different museums. She likes to run and watch murder mysteries in her free time. Her favorite subject in school was World History. Her favorite animal is a beagle. Just like Jonah, she is a courageous person. If you picked mostly D’s, you are most like Ms. Johnson. Ms. Johnson loves Disney and k-dramas. She also loves to spend time with her friends and family. Her favorite dessert is cheesecake and her favorite meal is grilled cheese with soup. She loves to travel and see new places. Her preferred genre of books is historical fiction. Just like otters she is very intelligent and fun. Her favorite Bible hero is Hosea. If you picked mostly E’s, you are most like Chaplin Carlos. Carlos’s ideal vacation would be Mexico, or someplace where he and his family can spend time together. In his free time he likes to write lyrics and play basketball. His favorite food is tacos, and his favorite dessert is anything with chocolate in it. Penguins are his favorite animal. Just like penguins, Carlos is always looking for a way to help those in his community. His favorite Bible hero is Jacob because of how God worked in his life and changed him into someone great. Quiz Created by Vashty Segovia Santos, Student News Team The Staff Talent Show, which happened Saturday night November 18, had all types of entertainment, including music presentations, skits, karaoke, magic tricks, a quiz game for parents and many other presentations.
Dean Helm awed the audience as Helmdini, presenting his skillful magic tricks. Catie, senior student, was one of the audience members called up front to participate in the show. She shared, “This was my first time being in the Helmdini magic show and I was nervous at first, but in the end it was funny and I enjoyed it.” Several of the visiting parents were called to the stage to participate in a Jeopardy-style game hosted by Jill Harlow, about the slang that their teens use nowadays. “It was really exciting and funny when my dad went on stage for the teen language jeopardy,” Tobey Quillin commented, “I liked seeing him try to figure out what the terms were and laughed a lot when he did the floss.” At the end, Jordan Dubini hosted a newly-wed style game show with staff couples Haley Baker and her new fiancé Caleb Bib, and Lindsey Santana and her husband Shawn. They answered questions about their relationships made by the audience prior to the event. “It was actually pretty funny to answer those questions about my relationship,” shared Haley Baker, “I liked it especially because I knew the answers.” The Staff Talent Show closed the parent’s weekend in an amusing way for both students and parents, setting the mood to start Thanksgiving break. “My family and I had so much fun. Having the talent show right before the break was a fun start to break,” expressed Vashty Segovia. Julia Santiago, Article & Photos  Campion English teacher, Erin Johnson, was chosen as the winner of the Noosa Full On Grants Contest, receiving $2000 to use creatively in her classroom. She was selected amongst the top 10 nominees as showing the “best example of bold, generous, ‘full-on’ efforts that go above and beyond in teaching” and a creative use of the grant funds.
Johnson was not aware of the contest until she was notified of her nomination. “I hadn’t even seen this competition before,” she commented.”My friend found this contest somewhere and filled out an entry for me. She texted me saying, ‘I’m nominating you for this award!’” Later when asked how she felt about receiving the grant, she said, “It was the most exciting thing that’s happened to me. It made me feel more confident because teaching is a career where we don’t necessarily get a lot of praise. It felt nice to see how my work has paid off.” Erin Johnson is a teacher who incorporates unique and creative ideas into her classroom everyday. “I really like literature to be as hands on as possible, so I try to take things out of the book and make it come alive. I want to make the curriculum applicable to the class, and I’m trying to find an awesome unit I can reuse every year, but it’s really just trying to see what works for the students. The world is always changing, so the classroom should always be changing too,” she elaborated. Johnson mentioned her own high school English teacher was a big inspiration for her teaching methods and how she still draws from some of his ideas. She plans to use the $2000 grant money for interactive projectors for each of the staff to use and for premium versions of online education tools. Sami Hodges, Campion News Team  Head Dean of Women, Molly Santana has set aside time in her schedule as dean to lend her expertise in the classroom. With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Special Education, Santana is now the highly qualified teacher of Campion’s Academic Support and Pre-Algebra classes.
After Patricia Torres retired in the fall, Santana was willing to take on the classes because she missed teaching and recognized the need for academic support. “Students who struggle have a place in my heart, often those are the ones who fall through the cracks. Especially in our Adventist school system there should be no excuse for that to happen. There should be someone to take the time, and let them know that someone believes in them,” she stated. In the past, Santana has worked for a program for adults with mental disabilities and in a classroom for autistic students at a middle school. Santana said, “I love that God created us to be all so different individually, I believe it pertains to our learning. I like to find the way that they learn, empower them to follow that way of learning.” Her husband, Carlos has also officially joined Campion’s staff doing supervision and working part-time in the cafeteria preparing dinner while he is working towards a degree in theology online. Carlos explained that he is happy to be working with academy students and enjoys “making connections and getting to know everyone better.” He further commented, “I know what it’s like as a teen and can relate to them in certain ways. I also enjoy learning from students and I hope they can learn something from me as well.” Bentlee Barry, Campion News Team  Levi Meszaros, husband of Chaplain Nancy Meszaros, has been officially hired as assistant chaplain to finish out this school year. Pastor Joe Martin retired from teaching Junior Bible this semester, so Chaplain Nancy took over those classes, giving her a full class schedule. Levi has been instrumental this whole year in assisting with music and the sound system for spiritual meetings, so it was natural for him to officially take on the role of assistant chaplain.
“I am glad that I can work at this school, and it’s a blessing for me that I can work with my wife,” Levi reflected. “My primary role is the behind-the-scenes work. For example, during the week of prayer, I was responsible for the speakers, sound, worship team, and slides. In the future, I would like to be able to help students’ spiritual growth with better and more uplifting programs.” Jayce Treat, Campion News Team  Campion Academy welcomes Nick Allen to the staff as Food Service Director. Allen has worked in food service for his entire career and has worked in the cafeterias of Andrews University, Mt. Vernon Academy, and Pines Springs Ranch camp in Southern California. “I’ve always loved being in the kitchen,” he says; “I grew up helping my mom and grandma and my first jobs in high school were in the kitchen. Over the years, I’ve seen that working in the kitchen is my passion, and I view it as my service to others, following the example of Christ of being a servant-leader.”
Allen grew up in Berrien Springs, Michigan where he attended Andrews Academy. Later, he earned a certificate in Vegetarian Culinary Arts at Atlantic Union College. “When I saw the opportunity to be at Campion Academy,” he comments, “it reminded me of the good memories I made at Mt Vernon Academy. I enjoyed interacting with the students, especially with those who worked in the kitchen with me. I got to mentor them, and I missed that. This was an opportunity to be able to live, and work, and play with teenagers again, and I thought ‘I can’t pass this up.’” Allen enjoys making a wide variety of dishes from around the world and experimenting in the kitchen. “I like learning what people like and what they don’t like and challenging myself to make new dishes based on that,” he says. “I also love doing pizza night, and I make my dough from scratch. One of my unique favorites is (vegetarian) barbecue-chicken and mac and cheese pizza. I also have experience with meeting needs of people who are vegan and gluten-free, and I’ve been experimenting with making my own vegan cheeses, and so far everyone has loved it.” He says he’s also looking forward to making authentic ethnic dishes and continuing Mrs. Fagan’s recent tradition of inviting our international students into the kitchen to help prepare foods from home. In his free time, Allen and his family enjoy RC cars and trucks, hiking, and biking. They are looking forward to trying out backpacking and mountain biking in the Rocky Mountains. His wife Valerie has a passion for music and plays violin and viola. He and his wife, and their two children Orianna (10), and Tristan (7), will be moving to campus in mid July. Jill Harlow, Communication Director  Dawn Fagan (center) is pictured with her husband and their three children and son-in-law. After 16 years of dedicated service and delicious food, Dawn Fagan is resigning as Food Service Director. Fagan has been known as an incredibly hard worker and has contributed to Campion in many ways. “Dawn is one of the hardest workers I have ever known,” commented Sue Helm. “If there is something that needs to be done, she is either volunteering or had already seen that it needed to be done, so she just did it. She definitely had the gift of seeing the BIG picture of what needed to be done.”
Fagan was always sure to provide a variety of options to meet each student’s individual dietary needs. “Dawn’s passion to provide three meals a day as well as all the extras such as homemade daily bread is inspiring,” said Honali Marin. “Her desire and goal was for every meal that was served to not only be nutritious but also to look and taste delicious. She tirelessly worked countless hours to go above and beyond to make every student’s and guest’s dining experience pleasant and enjoyable.” Fagan has contributed to the creation of many Campion traditions, such as the church and school joint potlucks, and special meals hosted by the international students. Her menu has been diverse and introduced students and staff to unique recipes. Some favorites were sofrito stew, falafels, and perogies. Over the years at Campion, Dawn and her husband John Fagan have also been faithful class sponsors were sponsors of this year’s graduating senior class. In addition, Fagan was a volleyball coach for 18 years. All three of her children graduated from Campion Academy. In February, Fagan’s first grandchild was born to her daughter Elizabeth who lives in Montana. Spurred by the desire to have more flexibility to spend time with her grandchild, Fagan decided that it was time for a change. While the Fagans haven’t finalized plans for the future, it will be sure to include extra time with family. Fagan commented that she would miss working with the students at Campion Academy. While Fagan is known for running a strict and efficient kitchen, she noted the importance of showing grace. “I have learned many things working at Campion Academy, but one of the most important continues to be that everyone has a story (past). We don't always know what has shaped them, how they have gotten to where they are now, or what they are going through. So many students have come from such sadness, brokenness, and setbacks. Many times, we are only aware of some of the issues, and often not until after the student is gone. We must love everyone like Jesus showed us when He was on this earth and continues to do. I repeatedly pray that I neither do nor say anything that turns others away from God,” Fagan reflected. When asked about a favorite memory from her time at Campion, she said, “I have so many memories, I cannot choose one. I have memories of good experiences (cooking, class parties, banquets, baking, coaching, serving, alumni weekends, parents' weekends, class trips, picnics, music festivals, games, helping students, school/church potlucks, special international meals, etc) and bad ones (reacting poorly, snapping at someone, allowing myself to be overly stressed, etc). But all the memories are good ones because they have helped me (hopefully) become a better person. Thank you Campion Academy, I love you!” Thank you, Mrs. Fagan, for the incredible years of service you have given to Campion Academy. You will be greatly missed.  Kathy Binder began her career teaching Home Economics at Campion, and plans to continue to teach the class even while officially retired. It is hard to imagine Campion Academy without Kathy Binder as a full-time staff member teaching English and Family Science (Home Economics), but after 30 years of dedicated service at Campion and 43 total years of teaching, her retirement is well-deserved. Binder is a Northern Colorado native and graduated from Campion Academy in 1972. She studied at Union College and has been teaching in Adventist academies ever since her graduation in 1976. She began at Campion in 1989 by teaching Home Economics soon after her son was born. Over the years, she continued to add on more classes until she was full-time. In addition to teaching, Binder has been a Student Association sponsor for over 10 years, helping student leaders plan many fun activities throughout the years. Binder’s care and concern for each student has been the basis of her career as a teacher. “The best thing about working at Campion has been getting to know all the students,” she explains. “I enjoy developing relationships with the students and also with my co-workers.” She continued by advising our current teachers hoping to follow in her footsteps to “take time to enjoy the people and students. Don’t get so wrapped up in the grading and planning that you don’t take time to enjoy the people.” Her dedication to Campion Academy has been made obvious throughout the years, and along with her husband Kevin, she plans to continue to be an active member of the alumni association and will serve on the school board during retirement. She says she is proud to have been a part of Campion Academy: “We have a solid educational program to prepare students to make the next step in their education and future careers. Also, Campion staff and students are caring; people look out for each other and care about what is happening in each other’s lives. It is wonderful to see the students so connected to God spiritually,” she explained. Life is coming full-circle for Binder; just as she started at Campion teaching one class and caring for her young son, she plans to teach one class of Independent Living next year while having more time to care for her aging parents. Appreciation from students:
“Thank you Mrs. Binder for all your hard work and for dealing with so many students. Because of you, I started to enjoy poetry and writing. You’ve helped and inspired so many, and you’ll be deeply missed at Campion.” - Blessing S. “Mrs. Binders worships at the beginning of each class really impacted me this year. Her worships almost felt like they were directed to me and the people in the stories had relatable experiences.” - Haley B. “Mrs. Binder is a really fun-loving person as I’ve seen from river trip to SA. Also she is really clutch when you need a recommendation letter.” Weston H. “Mrs. Binder has impacted my school experience by helping whenever I needed it. She wasn't just a teacher; she was a friend. She always loved being a part of our lives. We would ask her a question and she would always try to make it clear and simply answer.” - Lizzie P. “Mrs. Binder has always been a positive influence. I always looked forward to coming to English class in the mornings just to see her smiling face because it always seemed to bring joy to all of her students.” - Jordyn D. “Mrs. Binder is an amazing teacher. She so sweet and she always ask how we’re doing.” - Blet H. “In the English classes I took from her, Mrs. Binder started each class with a time for students to share prayer requests. She would wait to continue with class until each student who had something to share had the opportunity to speak. I remember coming into Campion as a freshman confused at some of the events, and not only was Mrs. Binder willing to take our prayer requests, she was willing to answer and discuss any event that was coming up and show genuine excitement with and for us. This personal connection was very important to me and it showed me how much Mrs. Binder cared for me. Mrs. Binder, you will truly be missed!” - Madi J. “Even though I only met Mrs. Binder this year, I enjoyed the daily morning devotions she would read.” - Emma C. “I love Mrs. Binder because she is always super understanding and sweet, I love how she teaches and she will definitely be missed!” - Faith E. “Mrs. Binder has been a very good teacher, I will miss seeing her and going to her class. I will miss you Mrs. Binder!” - Audra B. “When I was going through a lot of stuff this year she was able to be there for me. She is such a great person. She is loving, kind, and can always find a way to make people laugh. - Sandra A. "Having Mrs. Binder around was so fun. I would just be walking around the halls and she would always greet me to ask me how I was. Class was also fun too because she was always interested in what a person had to say and that's something I appreciate about her. I'm really going to miss her presence here, but I'm glad that I got to call her one of my teachers." - Melody “Mrs. Binder was the teacher of my very first class at Campion. She made a fantastic SA sponsor, teacher, faculty family member, and so much more.” - Sami H. “Mrs. Binder was always such a sweet teacher. I could tell she cared about each one of her students and was always asking how we were doing. Mrs. Binder will be greatly missed!” - Megan M. “Mrs. Binder has taught me the fundamentals of English and has challenged me to find a balance between school and other aspects in my life! I appreciate her advice and I’m thankful that I was one of her students.” - Regan G. “Mrs. Binder made us think, and think deeply. Her classes required us to examine how we looked not only at grammar, but at society, social issues, and ultimately our own spirituality.” - Kean J. “Mrs. Binder has impacted my life by helping me to see, through her assignments and through her character, that I need to open myself up to others and to myself so I can truly figure out who I am.” Anonymous student “Several of my family members have had Mrs. Binder as a teacher and she is one of their favorite teachers. Same goes for me! She is a very talented teacher and I enjoyed my time in her class!” - Kaileigh C. “For me Mrs Binder was one of the most compassionate teachers. She showed mercy when I didn’t deserve it.” Carla R. Appreciation from staff members: “Kathy has always been such an even-keeled, pleasant person to work with. I love how she can remain calm and keep the students going even when it gets chaotic. She knows how to display strength in quietness.” - Kent Kast “The friendship we have had for many, many years is unforgettable. You have been an inspiration to me through your marriage, work ethics, teachings, charitable acts of kindness, and love for God. Blessings to you and Kevin. I am proud to call you both my friends.” Dean Helm “I appreciate how Kathy helped me during my first couple of years as a teacher. She always had the best advice on how to handle situations that were all new to me.” - Erin Johnson “I have enjoyed how Kathy has brought excellence to education. Her classes set the bar high. What makes her a great teacher is not only her knowledge, but her care and concern for students. She recognizes that education is preparing the student for the future and she would give as much of her time and life to help.” - Don Reeder “Kathy is definitely a team player, always willing to help out where needed. She is very pleasant and positive, always wearing a smile, and goes the second mile to help her students be successful.” - Sherry Hay “Kathy is delightful as a colleague. "Mercy" she has a great, positive personality.” - Dawn Fagan “Kathy is the perfect mix of no-nonsense and compassion. She is resilient and demonstrates the ability to do what is needed though things may be difficult. I also admire how even though this was her last year, she didn't shy away from learning new ways to teach and utilize technology. She will be greatly missed by staff and students.” Wendy Eickmann “Kathy has been fun to work with. She is patient with the students and I have always loved hearing her say "Mercy Child" when a kid is doing something ridiculous.” - Steve Eickmann “I’ve appreciated working with Kathy because she was always willing to collaborate and share ideas. She has included many thoughtful and creative projects into her curriculum and she is a great team player!” - Jill Harlow “Kathy is consistently kind, gentle, caring and gracious to her students and staff. What a joy and blessing it has been to work with her.” - Patricia Torres "While I only got to work with Kathy for one year, I'm certainly glad she was here as I began my career at Campion. Kathy served as a mentor to me as I jumped in to teaching the Senior English classes, and through her guidance I was able to navigate some of the initial challenges that I faced as a new teacher." - Jordan Dubini “I've always appreciated working with Kathy because she never had anything negative to say--she was always upbeat and positive. She worked hard and was always willing to try out new things--which impressed me for someone who had been working there for 30 years! She's really going to be missed and I wish her the best on her next adventure.” - Lindsey Santana  Mrs. Eickmann stepped up for the position as Campion’s Interim Chaplain and Bible teacher even though she had never had a job like that before. Over the past year, Eickmann has planned assemblies, vespers, Sabbath School, Weeks of Prayer, and various activities for Campion staff and students. She also planned the annual Senior Survival. “Mrs. Eickmann did an amazing job making senior survival a very heartfelt experience for our class. I know that the planning must’ve been stressful, but the result was more than worthwhile,” says senior Naomi Boonstra. Mrs. Eickmann opened up her office to any student who needed advice or just someone to talk to. She made every student a priority and took the time to get to know everyone. Campion will greatly miss Eickmann and the impact she made on the entire campus.
“When Mrs. Eickmann called me over the summer to let me know that she was the new chaplain, I was so excited. I was excited that I would be working for such a caring, organized, and prayerful person. When we started the year I didn’t really know her that well, but after this year, I can truly call her my friend. Each morning, when I walked into her office, ready to work, she greeted me with a smile and hug. It has been amazing to work for her, and have her as a teacher and mentor. Every worship or talk she prepared for the students, was carefully planned out and matched the situation almost perfectly. Thank you Mrs. Eickmann for all you have done for Campion Academy this year, we have been truly blessed through your passion and creativity.” Madi Jordan, Student Chaplain “My connection with Mrs. Eickmann has been developing for many years. Whenever she visited her kids during my LE summers, hosted us in her home on Friday nights, or became chaplain my senior year, she has always emulated Jesus’ love. She serves, prays for, connects with, and deeply loves every heart she is called to reach out to. Her empathy is healing while her fierce mama-bear character scares demons away. I am beyond grateful to have been part of her blazing trail of spreading God’s Word and I know she will catch many more souls on fire for Jesus, wherever she treads next.” Delanie Kamarad, senior “Mrs. Eickmann has done an amazing job as a chaplain. She is so kind and real and all of her talks are very relatable as well as applicable. I have loved Bible class with her, and learned many lessons that will help me succeed in life.” Ashley Halvorson, senior “Mrs. Eickmann has a heart of gold. Her loving and caring nature is shown to everyone. I am so thankful for her and the work she has put in to become the chaplain this year. I'll miss her encouraging words and the wonderful cookies she always made us!” Patricia Simamora, senior “Mrs. Eickmann has brought such a happy and positive attitude to our campus. She is a mom away from home for us. Mrs. Eickmann is always there if you ever need a one-on-one conversation!” Ireland Anthony, junior “I want to thank Mrs. Eickmann especially for being so supportive to each and every one of us seniors and other students through the past years and now. Mrs. Eickmann has been more than a teacher to us. I will miss having the fun Bible classes she planned and having all the students over in her house to spend time and eat good food! We appreciate her and we will greatly miss her.” Jeremy Matondo, senior “Mrs. Eickmann has been an amazing chaplain. More than that, she’s been an incredible staff member. Always caring and loving, while being there to talk about God and life. She has been like a mom away from home for me and I am forever grateful for her ministry at Campion.” Ben Maxson, junior “I want to thank Mrs. Eickmann for all she’s done this year. She’s been a big part of my first year at Campion and I am so glad to know an amazing woman like her. Thank you Mrs. Eickmann for always being willing to listen to some of my problems. I am really gonna miss her as a teacher and chaplain, but I know that God has a plan wherever she goes and whatever she does. Thank you for also dealing with our freshman class every morning, she is a strong woman for doing that. Mrs. Eickmann is very loved and appreciated by everyone around her.” Melody Mambo, freshman “Mrs. Eickmann has been a huge blessing in my life. She has been there for me texting me at 4:00 in the morning telling me that everything will be okay. She always puts us first no matter what! I’ll miss her so much.” Sandra Marin, senior “It was a really special opportunity to be able to work for my mom (Mrs. Eickmann)! It was the perfect way to finish off my high school career. I couldn't have asked for a better boss.” Nolan Eickmann, Student Chaplain "Wendy Eickmann, my wife, is inspiring because she has a personal walk with God and has helped the students get to know God better this year." Steve Eickmann, staff member Compiled by Megan Michalenko |
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Contact UsFor grades 9-12:
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