Future students experience campus life at Academy Days

Campion Academy hosted 60 students from seventh to eleventh grade at the annual Academy Days open house. Students arrived from across Colorado, Texas, Utah, and Kansas. They got to experience staying in the dorms, interacting with students, and participating in worship services while they were here. 

Students started the weekend off Friday with interactive games including a bounce house obstacle course, a donut-eating contest, giant connect four and checkers, and pick-up basketball games.

Following the games, the visitors had a chance to learn more about Campion’s academic program and compete for scholarships from different departments. Additionally, their parents had the opportunity to discuss their questions with Campion’s administration.

A highlight of the day was when the student body gathered with the visitors in the gym for a Pep Rally to encourage the varsity teams before they headed off to the Fall Tournament at Union Adventist University.  The girls and boys varsity teams ran into the gym, while the jazz band played “Eye of the Tiger”, and the crowd cheered. The pep rally included several music performances from jazz band, as well as a rousing speech from Campion’s Athletic Director Caleb Jahn, and games hosted by SA officers. 

Jessica Rios, Director of Enrollment, planned the event with the help of Student Association (SA) officers. She shared her favorite part of this years’ event; “I love watching students come together who don’t know each other and begin to talk and become friends. I love seeing our student leaders trying to make our student visitors feel welcomed and seek them out to get involved.” 

An important aspect of the weekend was the chance for the visitors to draw closer to Jesus as they worshiped with like-minded peers. After vespers on Friday evening, the students gathered closely together in the Hankins Hall tower to continue the tradition of singing praise songs late into the night. 

On Sabbath, Chaplain Lindsey Santana led Sabbath School, followed by the main church service where Koinonia performed, “I want to walk.” After church, students had the opportunity to go for a hike, watch a move in the chapel, or go back to their dorms to rest. 

Finally, on Saturday evening, many of the visitors stayed to experience the Student Association’s Fall Party filled with flannel, hay, and pumpkin pie. 

When asked how she felt this year’s Academy Days went, Rios responded, “It went so well. We usually get 40% of participants to attend Campion, so this is a very important event on our campus. I would say the future for next school year looks bright.”
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Alexandra Cordoba, Student News Editor