A 70-Year Celebration of Faith, Growth, Education

Story by Tamyra Horst

This fall marks a remarkable milestone for Blue Mountain Academy (BMA)—70 years since the school first opened its doors to students in 1955. What began as a dream built on faith and perseveraance has grown into a thriving, Christ-centered campus that continues to shape young lives for service and leadership.

The first students to step onto BMA’s campus encountered more than just a new school—they met challenges that required and built resilience and grit. There was no heat or hot water in the dormitories. The classroom windows lacked glass. Students bundled up in winter coats, boots and earmuffs to attend class. Yet, despite those early hardships, their commitment to Seventh-day Adventist education never wavered. By the end of that first school year, classrooms, dormitories, a cafeteria and a gymnasium had been completed and heated—thanks to God’s leading and the unwavering dedication of the school’s founders, staff, supporters and students.

Seventy years later, much has changed, but the heart of BMA remains the same. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Pennsylvania, the academy continues to fulfill its mission of providing an Adventist education that guides students toward a life of service to God. The school emphasizes academic excellence, a supportive family atmosphere and meaningful student leadership opportunities.

Today, BMA is a fully accredited, co-educational boarding school with students from across Pennsylvania and around the world. With a strong focus on building personal relationships with Jesus and fostering lasting friendships, BMA stands as a testament to what God can do through faith-filled education.

“As a new school year begins, BMA welcomes another group of students who, like those in 1955, are stepping into something new,” shares Principal Burney Culpepper. “Some arrive wide-eyed and nervous, others excited and eager—but all are entering a place where they will be challenged to grow spiritually, academically and personally. Our team is committed to educating students to achieve academic excellence and to equip them to develop leadership skills and a Christlike spirit.”

The academy will celebrate its 70th anniversary throughout the academic year, specifically during Alumni Weekend, April 24–26, 2026. “This mile- stone is more than a celebration of the past—it’s a call to continue the legacy,” Culpepper says. “Each student who walks the halls of Blue Mountain Academy this year becomes part of a story that stretches back seven decades and points forward to eternity.”

Do you have a young person whom you’d like to see grow academically, socially and spiritually? Learn more about the BMA experience at bma.us.