Education

A Dream Fulfilled

By Jon Dickerson

“It’s an answer to prayer for me and our families. Simply put, it’s awesome!” That was the sentiment of Ricardo Saravia when asked what having the first graduating class from Scenic Hills Christian Academy meant to him. “It feels good to know that we don’t have to look for other places for our kids to have quality Christian education.”

About six years ago, the Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church, under the leadership of then-pastor Rodney Mills, embarked on a dream to establish a Seventh-day Adventist high school in San Antonio. San Antonio is the 24th largest metropolitan area in the United States and for several years there had been no local secondary options for parents wishing to send their children to an Adventist high school.

For years, the church had operated a small school, but slowly the school was outgrowing the church’s classrooms. Additionally, the task of moving out school furnishings each week to make room for churchrelated classes was becoming a major headache.

That’s when plans were drawn up for a new school building with six classrooms and a library. Ground was broken in January 2014, but construction delays mounted. In anticipation of a new facility, enrollment began to climb. In the fall, 78 students enrolled and ninth grade was added. The following year enrollment increased to 104 with tenth grade added, but still the building was not finished. Even some of the church’s fellowship space had to be used as a classroom due to overcrowding.

Finally, in August 2016, the doors of Scenic Hills Christian Academy opened for business. It was immediately apparent that six classrooms weren’t enough room and the library was converted into a seventh classroom. During the 2017-2018 school year, 131 students in grades Pre-K through 12 received an Adventist education, fulfilling the dream established six years ago. Rolando Lerma, Jr., one of the four graduating seniors, said, “Being a part of SHCA’s first graduating

class feels monumental. It’s like we set the standard of what it means to be a student here, which is to succeed and make a name for yourself all while honoring God and your family.”

Scenic Hills Christian Academy is still growing, and a portable building was added this summer to provide one more classroom. The success of Scenic Hills shows us that there are still many people both inside and outside our church who understand how important Seventhday Adventist education is today. It offers the chance to teach more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic; it’s an opportunity to share the overwhelming love of God. As Katelin Bankston, a junior who recently completed her first year at SHCA says, “When I first started attending Scenic Hills, I had a bit of social anxiety. This changed thanks to the positive and uplifting atmosphere provided by amazing teachers and students. Little did I know the changes that would happen to me intellectually, emotionally, but most importantly, spiritually. This school has helped me begin to discover my true identity as a child of God.”

For more information about Scenic Hills Christian Academy, visit www.ScenicHills.academy.

EDUCATION

FALL 2018