Columbia Union Student Leaders Gather at 2026 SALT

“Think positive things about yourself.”

“List and name your emotions.”

These phrases are just a few of the takeaways students learned about caring for their emotional health—one of the topics covered by Shari Loveday, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, educator and therapist, at the Columbia Union Conference Office of Education’s 2026 Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) last weekend.

High school students from 12 participating schools in the Columbia Union gathered at Potomac Conference’s Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va., for the event.

Some 175 student leaders and their chaperones listened to Loveday, who encouraged them to “Take Care of Your M.E.S.S. (Mental, Emotional, Social and Spiritual Health)” throughout the weekend.

Kettering College and Washington Adventist University student leaders and staff also attended, presented and led activities that reinforced leadership skills.

Attendees also networked with other student leaders, worshipped together and prepared for more than just the school year ahead.

“SALT, provides those elected student leaders with various activities, strong messages of hope that enhance their spiritual leadership on school campuses, as well as providing them with the skills and spiritual nurturing to serve the Lord now and in their whole life of ministry for Him,” says Steve Laing, associate director of secondary education at the union.

Student leaders from the following schools attended this year’s event:

Atholton Adventist Academy
Blue Mountain Academy
Columbus Adventist Academy
Dupont Park Adventist School
Highland View Academy
Lake Nelson Adventist Academy
Pine Forge Academy
Richmond Academy
Spencerville Adventist Academy
Spring Valley Academy
Takoma Academy

Waldwick Seventh-day Adventist School