Shenandoah Valley Academy

In Santa Bárbara de Samaná, Dominican Republic, a small Seventh-day Adventist Church was earnestly praying. They faced eviction from their rented house of worship with no money or backup plan. “We didn’t know what we were going to do,” the church’s head elder says. “But then God answered our cry.”

Students from schools within the Potomac Conference displayed their academic prowess at the recent conference-wide spelling bee held at Shenandoah Valley Academy in New Market, Va. A total of 14 students from seven schools participated in this challenging event.

For seven years, local church members Bill and Cindy Champion worked to reclaim six acres of Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) property as plantable land. They hired student workers and operated a popular pick-your-own strawberry business.

The 2022–23 school year culminated in the celebration of 14 baptisms: 12 students and Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) parents Rick and Mande Goodwyn, who chose to be disciples of Jesus—SVA mission fulfilled.

At this year’s Alumni Weekend, excitement and laughter were felt and heard throughout each generation represented. The big event that students, faculty and alumni had worked hard for went off without a hitch.