Blue Mountain Academy Welcomes New Principal

Story by Tamyra Horst

The Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) board and Pennsylvania Conference leadership recently announced Burney Culpepper as the new principal of BMA in Hamburg, Pa. Culpepper, who joins the team January 1, 2019, has a master’s degree in Education, 20 years of experience in boarding academies and six years of practice as a principal and vice principal. Gary Gibbs, Board of Trustees chair and Pennsylvania Conference president, shares, “We are very happy to have Burney Culpepper join our excellent teaching staff at BMA. He is a committed Seventh-day Adventist with a passion for providing an Adventist education where students are safe and have opportunities to grow deeper spiritually and stronger scholastically.”

Culpepper, who moved from Colorado with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children, expresses, “I am excited to bring my education, academic experience and Adventist camaraderie to the mission of BMA. “At the risk of sounding trite, my immediate thoughts turn toward the spiritual side of learning. I have experienced that this is what makes Adventist education the most effective. Spirituality, like our devotion to God, must be first in whatever it is we do. While important in any Adventist education setting, this is particularly critical in an academy institution where students are at such an important time of their lives.”

Dave Morgan, former principal, will be transitioning to the new role of director of enrollment. He shares, “I am excited with the new opportunity to utilize my 30-plus years of education experience in Pennsylvania to promote BMA, positive parenting and how parents can enhance their child’s education.” Morgan will be responsible for both international and domestic recruiting.

The mission of Blue Mountain Academy remains to provide a Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist education that leads students into lives of service for God.