Graduation - Class Night

Graduation weekend started with Class Night on Thursday evening, May 25, 2023. This was a time to celebrate and recognize numerous achievements of the class. The program opened with prayer by the class pastor, John Bitterman, and a welcome by the class president, Hevanna Hippler, followed by a presentation of the class gift.   

Each member of the class of 2023 took the opportunity to thank their parents for all they have done and to give a rose as a thank you for their love and support. As their picture was shown and their recorded tribute was played, seniors came to the front to collect their roses to give their parents. This was followed by a tribute to sponsors Ms. Carrie Chao and Mr. Steven Atkins for all their hard work throughout the four years of working with the class.

This was followed by Peoples’ Choice Awards, a series of awards voted on by the class to recognize unique contributions of class members to the class. A large portion of the evening was the presentation of awards to individuals for their achievements while at Andrews Academy. There is a whole spectrum of recognition such as spiritual, academics, music, physical education, leadership, responsibility etc. The Alumni Legacy pin was given for two or even three generations of AA alumni within a family.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors pay attention: work hard in school. Numerous seniors were given college scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 and sometimes even four years of free tuition (more than $129, 000 value). Andrews University and other organizations gave well over $3.9 million in scholarships to Andrews Academy graduates.  Andrews University representatives encouraged each senior to follow the direction that God leads them throughout their life and gave a gift to each senior at the conclusion of the program.

Following the program, a reception was held in the Commons. These pictures were just some of the highlights from a very full evening of celebration.

Thank you to the junior officers who worked behind the scenes preparing for the reception and taking care of many details.

Graduation - Consecration

Friday evening’s program at Village Adventist church, Consecration (May 26, 2023), was the student’s opportunity to commit and consecrate their lives to Christ as they leave the Academy and begin their place in society as an adult.   

Mrs. Caroline Greenidge opened the program with prayer. This was followed by a musical selection by seniors Lydia Bates and Ana Slavujevic.

Enzo Bacchiocchi introduced the guest speakers, his mom and dad, Silvia & Gianluca Bacchiocchi. Their topic was Success: Becoming Like Christ. They shared with the graduates three main points of being successful:

1. Glorify God in your body

2. Foment a life of worship

3. Adopt Christ’s Great Commission: To live a life of service, that God will give you experiences throughout life that are far beyond your wildest dreams.

The class pastor, John Bitterman  accepted this challenge on behalf of the class, challenging the class to be successful in Christ and live the life God wants us to live. Pastor Darwin Whitman, father of senior Madison Whitman, led in a prayer of dedication.

A senior vocal ensemble presented a second musical selection. Mrs. Kristina Freed, mother of senior Ronan Freed, gave the benediction.

Consecration was an inspiring service that indeed focused our attention on consecrating our lives to Jesus.  Following the service, many pictures were taken of friends and families.

Graduation - Sabbath School

Graduation Sabbath School was held in the Andrews Academy chapel (May 27, 2023). This experience gave the parents of the seniors the opportunity to return in a creative manner their views of the senior’s childhood and to admonish, advise, and to assist seniors as they make the transition from Academy into adulthood. The Fagal and Rybachek families led in song service. The Busch family gave the welcome. Each senior introduced their parent before their parent took part in the service. Scripture was led by the Mattson family, and prayer was led by the Stankovic family. Special music was presented by the Miller family. The Radivojevic, Orsburn, and Swackhamer families each had parent tributes and shared words of wisdom and blessings on the seniors. The call for offering was led by the Rosenthal family, and the Kim family had the offertory. The Bitterman family concluded the program with a benediction.

Graduation - Baccalaureate

Sabbath morning of Graduation Weekend (May 27, 2023) was the Baccalaureate service, a worship experience where we praised our Creator and thanked Him for the wonderful things He has done for us.

The service began with a call to worship by PMC Youth Pastor Lindsey Pratt, followed by a number of praise songs by AA Praise Team. This was followed by prayer by James Yi, father of Enoch Yi. The Kahatri-Chetri family called for the offering, and a quartet of AA instrumentalists presented the offertory. Michael Gayle, father of Alexia Gayle, had the scripture reading. An AA wind ensemble presented special music, For the Beauty of the Earth. The organist for the entire weekend was Dr. Logan.

Pastor Gerardo Oudri, father of Fiorella Oudri, presented the sermon entitled Remember Your ID - The Secret is On the Wall. He shared four ways of pursuing God’s dream for you:

1. Think Deeply

2. Live Fully

3. Serve Unconditionally

4. Trust God Completely.

This by the way is the Academy’s Motto found on the courtyard wall of the school as you walk in the front doors. He concluded by talking about the statement on our theme wall in the Commons: To restore in each of us the image of our Maker. The secret to remembering our true identity and following God’s dreams for us is indeed found on the walls of the Academy. We pray that each student will chose to have this as their ID.

The sermon was followed with a Benediction by Jay Johnson, father of Karla Johnson. Everyone sang The Lord Bless You and Keep You, and the recessional was Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. Pastor Lindsey Pratt arranged for each senior to receive a gift, a prayer journal, as they exited the church at the close of the service.

It was a nice morning to gather on the steps of the church for more photos before and after the service. The entire weekend was a time for seniors, friends, and family to connect closer to God and celebrate the accomplishments of His children.  Families from here in Berrien Springs and from around the world were here to enjoy in the celebrations of the weekend.

Graduation - Commencement

Sunday morning of Graduation Weekend was Andrews Academy Commencement (May 28, 2023).  After the class marched into PMC, the AA board chair, Fares Magesa, began the program with an invocation, followed by class president, Hevanna Hippler, who gave the final address to the class. Special music was presented by Orion Strings, conducted by Dr. Elsy M. Gallardo-Diaz.

Kevin Wilson presented the address. The Silhouettes presented the second special music The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Ms. Chao and Mr. Atkins, senior class sponsors, presented the Class of 2023. Pastor Mario Ferguson then gave the Charge to the Class and the Conferring of Diplomas. Seniors also received the book Steps to Christ from the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.   

After the seniors received their diploma, they transferred their tassel to the other side and were introduced as the newest alumni of AA. The new senior class of 2024 was then introduced. Everyone sang the commencement hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. This was followed by the benediction by Pastor Mario Ferguson.

Congratulations, graduates, on your accomplishments. May each of you keep God first as you venture out in your next phase of life.

Throughout the weekend numerous open houses were held. These are always a fun time to share stories, congratulate, and encourage each other. Thank you to the many families who generously shared for these occasions.

It was a fun and spiritually inspiring graduation weekend.

For many more photos of this event and a photo of each graduate receiving their diploma, please go to Facebook.

P.S. In a few weeks, graduates will be able to stop by the Academy to pick up your graduation packets. This is when you will receive a professional picture of you receiving your diploma, a class picture, as well as other important documents.

Orchestra & Band Auditions

This information is for those who have signed up to join the instrumental program (Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, or Orion Strings) at Andrews Academy. Admission to all music ensembles at AA is by audition only. Please click on the links below to learn more about audition requirements, to sign up for an audition slot, and to learn more about the ensembles.

New Students

Each week more students are applying and enrolling for this coming school year. If you know someone who might be interested in applying for their child to attend AA, please contact the school at aaadmissions@andrews.edu.

For new students, please go to the AA website and click on "Apply Now" for the online application.

Last Day of School - Communion & Mizpah

After writing their last exam on  Thursday morning (May 25, 2023), males went to the new park benches behind the school, and the females went to the courtyard. There they participated in foot washing, singing, and testimonial time. Everyone then went to the chapel for a Zoom video homily by the winter Bible Camp speaker. Following this, we had the grape juice and bread portion of Communion. This was a meaningful way to worship together on the last day of school.

The closing program for the school year, Mizpah, began in 1992 under the direction of Dr. Nash. In this program, student leaders present the complete list of student names of the freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Mr. David VanDenburgh presented the faculty and staff list, and NHS and SA presidents represented their organizations. These lists of names are then placed in the Mizpah vault located on the theme wall of the Academy Commons. It is our symbolic way of presenting to God the entire Academy student body and faculty/staff from not only this year but since 1979 when this building opened. By placing the names in the vault, we are placing each person in God’s hands with a prayer that each person listed will reunite together when God returns to take us to Heaven. The entire school family was then invited to repeat Genesis 31:49, “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”   

A very important event of the morning was the Andrews Academy family prayer time. As some of you may recall, the Andrews Academy family prayer time was the same way we started the year in August. Various people led in a prayer. It was so refreshing to see hundreds of teenagers praying together and for each other as we ended the school year!

Summer Office Hours:

June 6-8, 20-22, 27-29:

9-1 or by appointment

June 12-16: Closed

July 3 & 4: Closed

July 5 & 6: 9-1 or by appt

July 10-21: Closed

July 25-27: 9-1 or by appt

July 31 - August 3: 9-1 or by appt

August 8-10: 9-1 or by appt

August 14-15: 9-4 or by appt

Closed most Mondays & Fridays except by appointment

AA Uniforms Available from Lands' End

We have renewed our relationship with Lands’ End for uniform needs, including for PE. Click on the option(s) that you would like, then choose the size (kid or adult). Please be mindful that Andrews Academy is not responsible for your orders.

FACTS or Andrews Username Log In Help

If you need help logging in to FACTS or help with your Andrews user name/email and password, please contact Mrs. Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) in the front office.

academy@andrews.edu