Seniors Make Their Mark Through Service, Leadership

Story by Beth Villanueva

The six-member Class of 2026 marks an important milestone in the history of Atholton Adventist Academy (AAA). They are the final class to graduate in partnership with Griggs International Academy (GIA), an accredited Seventh-day Adventist distance learning school that has supported AAA’s junior and senior high school students over the past four years. This partnership has allowed AAA to expand its high school program while providing students with a fully accredited pathway to graduation. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, AAA will operate independently.

Each graduating class has left a distinct mark on campus life through service and leadership. Seniors routinely mentor younger students as volunteer tutors and student coaches, investing personally in their school community. This year, J’Miah Amihere and Joshua Parada carry forward a tradition begun by the Class of 2024, greeting pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students each morning and escorting them to their classrooms. They help the youngest learners start their day feeling safe and welcomed.

Senior academy students have also extended AAA’s impact beyond campus. For their senior class trip, the Class of 2025 partnered with ADRA Connections on a mission trip to Peru, where they renovated six homes to help Indigenous families stay warm in the harsh climate.

AAA has been proud to share its graduates with GIA. They are young men and women already answering a higher call to serve God and their communities.