Campus life at Wisconsin Academy is back in full swing and we’ve already had lots of memorable moments. We jumped into the school year with the Student Association (SA) Soap Slide. Traditionally this takes place on the slope outside the Administration building, however over the last two years it has been modified thanks to the help of some local church families who know how to take something fun and make it even better. This new and improved slide is easily a student and faculty favorite. In addition to our new and improved Soap Slide, we saw the return of an old and rather messy tradition – Mud Bowl. Mud Bowl was last done in the fall of ’06 but was brought back for this year’s SA Fall Picnic. Students had a blast romping through the mud, and even coerced some faculty to join in the fun as well!
Wisconsin Academy students have also had ample opportunity to be out enjoying God’s nature with hikes to High Cliff State Park and Gibraltar Rock on Sabbath afternoons, worshiping outside for church, Friday night vespers in the grove and even on sandbars at the river.
We’ve been blessed with our first week of prayer, September 11th-15th, with guest speaker Kevin Wilkinson, retired chief of police of New London and Neenah, WI and former Men’s Dean at Wisconsin Academy. Wilkinson spoke to the students about criminal justice and how the Holy Spirit works in us to recognize our sins and come to repentance. Wilkinson has a fun way of relating to the students and we were all blessed by the message he gave.
Looking ahead, students will be working with Dean Serna and Pastor Jonathan Fetrick in leading church services once per month. They will be responsible for all aspects of the service, from Sabbath School to giving the sermon and song service to controlling the sound board. Our hope is that students will develop the skills to lead out in churches wherever life takes them beyond Wisconsin Academy. The first student lead church service has already taken place on September 16th. Church members enjoyed seeing the youth put together a wonderful service. We ask that you keep Wisconsin Academy in your prayers as we continue with this first quarter of the school year.
LeAnne Baptist, Wisconsin Academy Student Success Coordinator