News for Alumni & Supporters
December 2021
|
|
|
|
Welcome, Class of 2021!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alumni Weekend 2021 - Alumni Convocation & Career Seminars/ Fair
Friday, October 15, 2021, was the beginning of Andrews Academy’s alumni weekend. Many alumni returned to remember the fun times at AA and to renew friendships with each other and with our God.
The weekend started with Convocation in the chapel for the current Academy students. The senior class of 2022 led in the school song and the pledge of allegiance. Pastor Mario Ferguson, AA Principal, welcomed everyone to convocation. Dr. Greg Schaller (class of ’76) presented the Convocation Address. He is a pastor and leadership coach who spoke on empathy. At the close of the program, the alumni who were there to present the Career Seminars were introduced.
After Convocation, the students went to various classrooms to participate in Career Seminars. Based on their interests, students were able to attend two presentations of their choice. It was a great opportunity for students to explore possible career choices as Andrews Academy alumni shared insights about their careers. Some presenters were able to bring items allowing students to participate in the presentation. For example, Dr. Desiré Andersen (class of ’01), a local pediatrician, brought her baby daughter to illustrate interactive techniques to have the young child feel comfortable in the medical exam. They also shared how through our careers we can be serving God and leading others to Him.
This was the third year of also having a Career Fair as part of the events of the day. Various departments from AU, the community, and alumni set up booths in the gymnasium that helped explain more about various careers, many including interactive activities. We appreciate Leslie Nieves (guidance counselor) and participants for making this a successful opportunity for students to learn more about career opportunities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alumni Weekend 2021 - Sabbath School & Church
Alumni Sabbath School began at 10 AM on Sabbath morning (October 16, 2021) in the chapel. It was an inspirational presentation of tributes interspersed with music. Through their tributes, presenters shared how Jesus used the faculty and experiences of Andrews Academy to change their lives.
Alumni proceedings were also interspersed throughout the Sabbath School program. Honor classes were recognized by having each class stand. The 50-year honor class was asked to come to the front of the chapel to be recognized and receive gifts. Cleon White was honored with the Teacher Legacy Award. Ray Tetz (’71) and Jody Stout (’96 - posthumously) were honored as alumni of the year.
AA teachers Pastor Alvin Glassford and Gina Pellegrini, as well as a number of AA students, led out in children’s church. After singing, the leaders acted out a Bible story. Squeals of delight could be heard from the children as they not only learned the story, but also experienced the story! Before and after the story, the children worked on craft projects.
While the children were in the library, the worship service occurred in the chapel. A powerful sermon was presented by Dr. Adam Kiš from the class of 1996. Numerous alumni from the class of 1996 participated with scripture, prayer, offertory, and special music. The current Silhouettes invited alumni to join them in singing When I Survey The Wondrous Cross. It was great to see a number of families with two generations of alumni singing together.
Following the worship service, a haystack meal was provided. We thank PPI, the NHS officers, and many other volunteers for organizing the meal. It was another good opportunity for classmates to reunite and share what has happened in their lives since graduation and remember experiences from academy years. Many shared how much of a positive impact Andrews Academy had on their lives. During lunch, each of the honored classes had their photo taken, and some honor classes Zoomed with classmates who were not able to attend.
|
|
|
|
Alumni Sabbath School Video
|
 |
|
|
Alumni Church Service Video
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alumni Weekend 2021 - Shydepoke
The traditional Shydepoke flag football game of alumni weekend occurred at the AU field on October 16, 2021. The game between the female AA alumni and AA students was won by the alumni, 12 to 0. The alumni took an early lead in the game and kept the lead. The male AA alumni vs AA students game was very exciting, with the alumni taking the initial lead. Then the school team came from behind and won the game 23 to 6. Everyone had a lot of fun on a perfect evening for a football game (temps were in the 50s).
The Doug Newberry most valuable player award went to Caleb Braswell, and the Lydia Chong most valuable player award went to Indy Schalk. These awards are named after two PE teachers from the 1980s.
Some Shydepoke history: His goal was to scan the dictionary for a unique and meaningful name, and he only got to the “ac” of the dictionary when he came up with this name. In 1960, the Andrews Academy Shydepoke tradition began during the principalship of Knobby Mauro. At that point, there was only one game for the males. In the 1980s, the female and then male games became a tradition. The name “Shydpoke” was chosen, which is a term from the south meaning a “get together social event.” Also during the Mauro's principalship, a challenge was presented to the students to come up with a name for the school teams. Gordon Johns, from the class of 1966, came up with the name “Acumen.”
|
|
 |
|
Acumen means “the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain.” He won the $10 prize for this.
Thank you, Samantha Mills (AA PE teacher), coaches, referees, announcers, concession stand volunteers/PPI, and fans for making this a fun and successful alumni event.
A big thank you to Gina Meekma, AA Alumni & Development Coordinator, the reunion planning committee, AA faculty and staff, and countless other volunteers for making this alumni weekend such a great success, providing many memories for the alumni.
We hope that many of our alumni will come to the reunion next year and play in the Shydepoke games!
|
| More photos on Facebook » |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Rebecca Wright Steps Down as English Teacher after 25 Years at AA
One of the hardest and yet often most necessary realities of our human life is the perpetual call for change. While we know that change is often difficult, it is also one of the greatest catalysts for growth. Students at Andrews Academy consider the role of change in human life in a number of the classes they take, and change doesn’t just affect them. Sometimes, our faculty and staff find themselves facing life changes as well. This past summer, one of our English Department faculty, Rebecca Wright, stepped away from her duties as a Supervising Instructor of English at Andrews Academy.
As you may know, Rebecca Wright’s relationship with the Academy began in 1995 as a student teacher under the guidance of Tom Baker, and then it evolved to contract work as a substitute teacher, and eventually became a full-time position. As she recalls, “It is no exaggeration to say that Andrews Academy has been my professional 'home' for all of my adult working life, and I do not take an extrication from it at all lightly. I have so deeply appreciated the opportunities for growth, connection, and service that my time here has afforded. I have worked with some of the finest teaching professionals anywhere, dear colleagues who have become my very real 'shoulder companions,' and I have laughed with (at!) and cried with them. The students have inspired, encouraged, surprised, occasionally mystified, and often delighted me, and it’s been a privilege to serve them. Thank you for that.”
THANK YOU, Rebecca Wright, for your years of service to Andrews Academy. We wish you well as pursue the next chapter of your life's journey, and pray God’s blessings go with you!
This picture was taken at the last faculty gathering together. Following her announcement to the faculty, Pastor Mario Ferguson led in a prayer of blessing on Rebecca as she pursues new endeavors.
|
| More photos on FB » |
|
|
|
|
|
From Generation to Generation
by Nic Reichert ’08
As I sat in my office this summer, hanging cards and notes that I have been given over the years, I noticed that the phrase “Panic is the enemy!” appears quite a bit. The oft-repeated saying is a staple in my classroom, and is a great reminder for students to relax, take things as they come, and tackle the challenges of academia in a calm and determined manner. Of all the things that I say, it is a statement that students seem to remember quite vividly and to associate with me even after they graduate. However, they might be surprised to know that I first heard it as a high school student myself, sitting in the English classroom of Rebecca Wright.
It was as a freshman at Andrews Academy in 2004 that I had the pleasure of taking Miss (at the time) Wright’s class for the first time, and where I first heard the idiom. She said it with a twinkle in her eye and a sly smirk on her lips, hinting at the witty, fun-loving and sympathetic nature that would be present in her throughout my next four years at AA. Some of my fondest memories of my time at Andrews were crafted by her, including traveling to England as part of an academic study tour, many forays into the world of “British Culture,” and performing Shakespeare dressed and speaking (very poorly) like 1920’s mobsters. Although I am sure we did not always merit such treatment, she consistently displayed kindness, candor, and a sort of conspiratorial inclusion, where we felt like we were natural and deserving members of an elite academic community. Her classroom was a safe space where we were encouraged to think independently, to read critically, and to take pride in our work and points of view. It’s where a love for literature was cultivated within me, and where I began to think seriously about entering the teaching profession myself.
As much as she was an inspiration and impetus for my choice of English and Secondary Education tracks at Andrews University, she was also an instrumental and integral part of my transition to teaching as my undergraduate college experience drew to a close. She taught Methods of Teaching English to myself and a group of about ten others as part of Andrews University’s secondary education program, where she challenged us to create dynamic classroom activities and plans and to continually research and contribute to the field of education as a whole. I also had the joy of student teaching for her in the fall of 2012, and while many teachers might have had a fear of giving up control or relinquishing their classroom role, Miss Wright did not. She allowed me to fully embrace the joys and challenges of teaching and was relentlessly positive, insightful, and encouraging. She also arranged for me to travel as a sponsor on that school year’s academic tour to England, allowing me to experience the same trip that I had as a student years prior, from the other side. I could not have asked for a better guide throughout my first months of instruction, and I am confident that her many other student teachers – several of whom I know personally – would say the same.
She continues to be my mentor today. She is immensely giving, loyal, humble, and has a sense of joy and simplicity with which she lives her life and in how she interacts with others. Every time I see her she asks me how I am doing, how I am finding life as a teacher and professional, and offers advice and resources, both intellectually and tangibly. In fact, after my last visit with her she gifted me with classroom materials, lesson plans, resources, and other items with which I can further bolster my own classroom efforts and agreed to be a Zoom-enabled guest lecturer from time to time in my classroom. In these and many other ways, she shows her selfless care for others, her continued desire for teachers to influence their students both inside and outside of the classroom, and her support and cultivation of teachers for generations to come.
Now, after 25 years, she has moved on to a new chapter in her life. While I have no doubt she is missed at Andrews Academy, as she also used to say during my time as her pupil, “Wherever you go, there you are,” and I know that she will continue to be happy, successful, and infectiously influential wherever she goes and in whatever she chooses to do. The Bible talks in Genesis, Psalms, Daniel, and other books, about blessings passing from generation to generation, and Rebecca Wright (known as “Rebby” to her close friends and family, and now felicitously Ms. Wright, after marrying Andrews University faculty member Curtis VanderWaal) has certainly wrought a bounty of blessings on many heads over the years. Thanks to her dedication and passionate service at Andrews Academy, the precious biblical promise rings true in the lives of both her students and colleagues. As I finish the first semester of another year of teaching, I consider myself lucky to count myself a member of both groups.
Nic Reichert is a teacher and coach at Thunderbird Adventist Academy in Scottsdale, AZ.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feast of Lights 2021
There are not enough words of appreciation that I can say to all of those who participated and helped make our 48th Feast of Lights (December 10, 2021) a resounding success.
We appreciate our music directors, Dr. Elsy Gallardo-Diaz & Mr. Marcelo Martins, who start in the summer, selecting music and thinking through the logistics of all the music that must be learned for this event. We thank them for their countless hours and endless energy in developing the skills of the musicians and creating such beautiful music.
We thank our musicians: It was outstanding! We thank them for their hours of practice. Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, wise men, shepherds, angels, and all the actors brought the music to life. They allowed us to briefly imagine what it really was like to follow the star.
We also thank our faculty and those who worked behind the scenes with costuming and decorations for giving of their talent and time to ensure that this concert was a holy experience.
A 48-year tradition, the Feast of Lights is a gift of lights and music for our Berrien Springs community to enjoy during the Christmas season. Many in our community participated in the Feast of Lights when they were students. Our hearts welled up as we sang the Hallelujah Chorus, especially as we looked into the audience and saw generations of families singing alongside one another. We could really feel the legacy that this program has had on the community.
AA’s gift to Berrien Springs has gradually expanded to be a gift to the “global community.” So far, the Feast of Lights video on Facebook has reached more than 2,000 people, with many watching from various places throughout North America and the world (10 different countries), eliciting comments from AA alumni and others:
- “Everyone did an amazing job!!!”
- "Thank you for all your dedication and hard work. May God bless you all!"
- “Excellent, EXCELLENT program!!! Every bit of it was wonderful, but the rendition of Greensleeves in the middle of the program was absolutely outstanding - I've listened to it 4 times now! Thanks for sharing this beautiful Christmas blessing!”
|
|
|
|
 |
Christmas Pops 2021
The tenth annual Christmas Pops Concert was held on December 11, 2021. This Christmas Celebration presented by the Andrews Academy Music Department at the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. A big thank you to all the students and music teachers, Dr. Elsy M. Gallardo-Diaz & Mr. Marcelo Martins, who worked diligently in making this such a beautiful program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AA Art Teacher Receives Awards
Andrews Academy art teacher (and AA alumnus from the class of '08) Zech Ray participated in the Michiana Annual Art Competition that occurred this past summer. At this art exhibition, they award only first place or honorable mention in a given category. Ray submitted two artworks and received first place in watercolor Summer Lillies, and honorable mention in oil painting Skipping Stones.
The Michiana Annual Art Competition, MAAC, is a local juried fine art exhibition intended to recognize, foster, and reward excellence of top artists in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. The MAAC is held annually at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan, and is supported by our association members, area businesses, and corporate sponsors. This year MAAC featured the works of 90 Michiana artists representing the mediums of photography, oil/acrylic/watercolor painting, pastels/drawing, ceramics, sculpture, glass, fibers, mixed media and more.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
If you are an AA alumnus from a class that ends in 2 or 7, and you would be willing to be your class representative and help plan alumni weekend, please contact Gina Meekma, Alumni & Development Coordinator, at aaalumni@andrews.edu.
See our Reunion Information page for the Criteria for Alumnus of the Year and the Teacher Legacy Award. Submissions are due by April 1, 2022.
Thank you!
|
| Reunion Information » |
|
|
|
Wanted: Alumni News
|
|
Have you recently graduated, gotten married, had a baby, changed jobs/got a promotion, published a book, or know of an AA attendee/graduate/ former staff that has passed away?
Please share your news with us, including a picture if you would like, for inclusion (as space permits) in the AA alumni magazine, Continuum.
|
| Update Your Info » |
|
 |
|
We welcome changes in contact information also! Please email news and contact updates to AAalumni@andrews.edu. Or update your information by clicking on the Update Your Info button.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You are invited to partner with us!
During this time of uncertainty, we are continuing to do all that we can to fulfill our commitment to provide Christian education and academic excellence to our students.
Your support of our general scholarship and worthy student fund helps make it possible for students to attend AA that otherwise would not be able to without partners like you.
Donations to our worthy student fund, renovation fund, annual fund, and many others can be made at any time. Thank you for your continued investment in quality Christian education at AA!
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Gina Meekma, Coordinator
Alumni & Development
Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave
Berrien Springs, MI 49104
|
|
|
 |
|
296-471-6140
or
269-471-3138
|
|
|
|
|
