NewsNuggets Page 6

18 Feb

MIC AND JANA THURBER ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT AT RMC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

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RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) president Mic Thurber announced at the RMC Executive Committee meeting on February 18 that he will be retiring from his role on March 1 of this year. Coinciding with Mic’s retirement, Jana Thurber, RMC Women’s, Prayer, and Ministerial Spouse Support coordinator and Mic’s life and ministry partner will be retiring as well.

“It is never easy leaving a place you have grown to love, so it is hard for us to say goodbye to the many wonderful people we’ve met in the Rocky Mountain Conference over our years here,” remarked Mic on his impending retirement. “We have enjoyed our travels to all the beautiful parts of our Conference, and loved every minute of our times when we could worship and join in fellowship with you.”

“I have appreciated working with Mic for the last several years. In particular, his support of women in ministry and restructuring the Ministerial Department to give greater support to churches from cultures other than Anglo communities. That last initiative is just starting to take root, and I look forward to seeing it blossom,” commented Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for administration.

Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for finance, remarked, “I am very excited for Mic and Jana as they are able to move into a new stage of life. I wish them the best as they continue to pursue ministry in retirement.”

Mic Thurber joined RMC in September of 2021 when the former RMC president, Ed Barnett, retired from the position. He was officially voted in for the role at the 2022 RMC Constituency Meeting.

Mic Thurber holds a long family legacy in the Adventist community as son of John and Patsy Thurber. John sang in the King’s Heralds Quartet during the 1960s and served two decades leading innovative youth programs. Patsy was an integral part in assisting with implementation in their shared ministry.

Mic graduated from Keene Adventist Elementary School in Keene, Texas, Mount Pisgah Academy in Candler, North Carolina, and Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. He began his time as an Adventist professional as the music and Bible teacher at Sunnydale Academy in Centralia, Missouri, then later at his alma matter, Mt. Pisgah Academy.

In 1981, Mic was called to be Youth pastor in San Diego, later taking over that church when the lead pastor left. After two years pastoring the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church near Loma Linda, California, he served as Ministerial director for the Southeastern California Conference, and then later moving to pastor the Pacific Union College Seventh-day Adventist Church in Angwin, California. Mic was then lead pastor at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church, following as the Ministerial director for Mid-America Union Conference before becoming the RMC president.

Jana Thurber, also with an Adventist family legacy, is the daughter of Howard and Wilma Boling where Howard was a pastor and singing evangelist and Wilma was a professional musician. “Jana was raised in a spiritual home where love for Jesus took deep root,” reflected Mic. “Even from her earliest years, her desire to follow and live for Jesus was evident to all who knew her.”

Graduating from the Georgia-Cumberland Academy in Calhoun, Georgia, and Southern Adventist University, and currently enrolled in the Andrews University Masters in Pastoral Ministry program, Jana’s professional history ranged from ministry assistance, paralegal at the Loma Linda University Office of Legal Counsel, trust officer for Pacific Union College, associate pastor at the Keene Church, and to her current role at with Rocky Mountain Conference.

“As Jana and I prepare to leave, we want to encourage each of you to draw together in a spirit of unity, the kind of unshakable unity that Jesus Himself pled for in John 17, so that you might all be united in your commitment to the mission of spreading the Good News about Jesus and His soon return” urges Mic. “It’s all too easy to allow things to divide us—and our plea is that you just say ‘NO!’ to the enemy’s attempts. Always remember that Jesus has already won, and that soon He will return for His children. Our prayer is that no precious moments will be wasted on things that will separate us in mission.”

“Jana and I leave here enriched by knowing you, and we will forever be grateful for the opportunity to have served you in the Rocky Mountain Conference,” closes Mic with a final statement and Bible verse. “May God grant us all peace and grace until He appears in glory where we will forever be together! Here is our prayer for all of you …”

… That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19, NKJV).

—RMCNews

18 Feb

CHRIST AND COMMUNITY: THE INSPIRING FAITH OF GLENNA WALTER

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RMCNews with Ted Williams – Rocky Ford, Colorado … “I’ve always loved the Lord, and he’s always been in my life. I’ve seen miracle after miracle happen through prayer. I pray for everyone, and they call me. I have a list that I pray for, and I’ve seen things happen that are just awesome,” commented Glenna Walter in a recent conversation with RMCNews.

Glenna Walter has been a life-long member of the local community in southeastern Colorado near Rocky Ford. Raised in an Adventist family, she also attended Adventist schools all the way through college where she received a bachelor’s degree in education and communication.

Reflecting on her upbringing in these faith communities, Glenna remarked, “My mother was a beautiful Seventh-day Adventist and taught us from the time we were young. And our [Adventist] schools that we went to were incredible. They weren’t jam-packed and it was a nice place to go because of the gentleness. You become a friend of Christ, and that is the thing that has kept me going—I am pushing on 100 years old now.”

“I love school,” she continued. “I did teach at a school for a while, but I decided I would be a foster parent. My husband and I took in 22 babies.”

Glenna and her husband were married 65 years before he passed away. Along with being foster parents, they raised five children of their own on their farm and cattle ranch. “I’m a cattle person, and we’ve always had cattle and the farm. So, your whole life is wrapped around horses and cattle and ground and gardens. It’s a ‘get up early in the morning and feed the animals and then you eat’ lifestyle.”

But Glenna and her husband made time to be actively involved and serve in their local church, the Arkansas Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rocky Ford, Colorado. In 1985, Glenna was ordained by Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) officials as an elder of the church:

“After I got out of college, they made me an elder. I have a special feeling for people, I love people, and I would love to see every church just lined up with cars. It would be such a wonderful thing for them to get acquainted with Christ. He is so important and keeps you safe and keeps you well. [Knowing Christ] enhances your life to the point that every little thing you are going through doesn’t bother you.”

“And our church is always so sweet,” praised Glenna. “Our church is kind and gentle; it’s working in the community and trying to get things done with people that need help.”

The Arkansas Valley Church regularly participates in community outreach as members of the local Chamber of Commerce, hosting a prayer and literature booth at the community festival, a 60-second radio prayer every morning, and involvement with a ministerial alliance.

“Covid kind of hurt us—so many family members were lost. I looked through town and saw these beautiful churches that are around, and, for a while, there were no cars anywhere. I really had a deep feeling that, ‘oh my, you’ve got to find the Lord.’ You’ve got to go to church and talk to Christ, because he’s the thing that really inspires your life here and is your hope and keeps you healthy,” she reflected.

When asked if she could remember a particular time when she saw God moving powerfully through the congregation, Glenna remarked, “You see it every Sabbath day when you go to church. There’s a special feeling of love among all the members and you get it. The love grows.”

“You get to where you know people from the time they are young. You watch them growing older and watch their love for Christ getting stronger and stronger. It’s a loving community that is a true love. And we do love this community. We have lived here all our lives, and it has been everything that we needed.”

Of special note, Glenna still serves as organist at the church for Sabbath services. Ted Williams, lead regional pastor at the Arkansas Valley Church, commented that her musical contributions to the worship service were greatly missed while she recovered from a recent fall.

“I am surrounded by stars, and Glenna Walter is a star!” remarked Williams. “She is a confidant and friend to everyone and tries to bring peace to those who have left the Church for one reason or another. She is constantly and consistently lifting up Jesus.”

“My whole life has been with Christ. I’ve never been alone without him. I’m so pleased because miracle after miracle has happened to my family, and the lives that have been saved through prayer are just amazing. He’s here. He’s in your life. He really is.”

—Ted Williams is lead pastor at the Arkansas Valley, Lamar, and Trinidad Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Photo by Ted Williams.

18 Feb

EXPLORING THE VALUE AND IMPACT OF ADVENTIST EDUCATION

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Jose Briones – Denver, Colorado … What makes Adventist education truly valuable? In the latest episode of the Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Living Generously podcast, guest host Melissa Briones dives into this question with Paul Negrete, the RMC Education associate superintendent.

Melissa Briones, an educator with deep roots in Adventist schooling, shares her experience within the system. Growing up near Glendale, California, she attended Crescenta Valley Adventist School and Glendale Adventist Academy before moving on to Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, to become a teacher. Throughout her time as a teacher in Adventist schools, Melissa noticed that parents and church members often focused on the financial aspects and the cost of private education.

Negrete addresses the perceived financial burden of Adventist education, highlighting its true worth beyond monetary terms. He emphasizes the integral role it plays in society and personal development. “Education has high value because what would we do without it?” he asks, underlining how Adventist education uniquely fosters spiritual growth through an integrated approach.

Discussing parents’ dual ambitions for their children—spirituality and academic excellence—Negrete argues that Adventist education can indeed facilitate “earthly success” by cultivating character through belief and relational development. He points out that Adventist schools offer unique advantages like mentorship and a connected community, often proving more beneficial than traditional public education systems.

The conversation also delves into the importance of financial generosity and sustainable support for Adventist schools. Negrete stresses that creating stronger connections between churches and schools requires viewing investment in education as a long-term strategy rather than a mere expense. He passionately advocates for church members to take ownership and invest both financially and personally in Adventist education to ensure its future success.

As the episode concludes, Negrete challenges listeners to view Adventist education as a powerful evangelistic tool with “180 days of evangelism per year.” This episode encapsulates the myriad ways Adventist education nurtures academic and spiritual growth, fostering a lifelong commitment to generosity and service.

We invite you to explore the full discussion on RMC’s Living Generously podcast for an in-depth understanding of these perspectives. Don’t forget to share the podcast and leave a review to support ongoing conversations about living a generous life.

CLICK HERE to listen to the full episode, and CLICK HERE to see the full list of previous and future series episodes. To listen to the full podcasts on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

—Jose Briones is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photo by CDC of Unsplash.

18 Feb

REFLECTION: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTORS

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By Mickey Mallory

As the Ministerial director for the Rocky Mountain Conference, it’s my joy, honor, and thrill to be able to serve over 50 pastors in our conference.

As I get around to the churches in our region and visit folks, I’m always impressed to hear the stories, the stories of how pastors impact people’s lives. Sometimes it’s a visit when you need a visit. They were there for you. Sometimes it’s a call or a text. Sometimes it’s a sermon. Pastors are always good about being on the giving end.

But the reality is that sometimes pastors need to be on the receiving end. And so, it wasn’t too long ago when I was pastor at a church and one of my members came up to me and said, “hey, pastor, I’m praying for you.” And I thought to myself, wow, how did they know that I needed prayer?

I thanked the member for that, and, shortly after, the Lord gave me a vision, a vision of heaven. That vision was of when I get to heaven, and He shows me the trophies of my work. And I’ll praise Him for all of that, because I know it’s only through His power that I was able to do it.

But then Lord says, “Mickey, I want to show you something else.” He shows me people that were praying for me, the church members that were praying for me. And I realized that the major reason I had success on earth was because I had people praying for me.

As I thought about that, I thought, “wow, isn’t that cool?” Pastors are always on the giving end, but church members can be on the giving end, too. And that means you can have an opportunity to impact your pastor.

So, I want to invite you, if you haven’t already, to make sure every day that you pray for your pastor. Because someday, when we all get to heaven, Jesus is going to show us all the great things that happen because of all the prayers that went out.

Thank you for all that you do, and may God bless you.

—Mickey Mallory is RMC Ministerial director. Photo capture from RMC’s Ministerial video series.

17 Feb

CAMPION ACADEMY KOINONIA CHOIR SINGS NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR THE NUGGETS

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Alexandra Cordoba – Denver, Colorado … The Koinonia select choir at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, kicked off the Denver Nuggets NBA game, performing the national anthem to an audience of nearly 20,000 in the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, February 5.

CA athletic director Caleb Jahn and CA music director Naomi Fernandez had looked into having Koinonia sing the anthem for the Nuggets game the night that Campion played in the Ball Arena, but scheduling prohibited that. Instead, the choir focused on preparing to sing for the Mile High vs. Campion Ball Arena games.

During that performance, Lindsey, a coordinator at Ball Arena, heard Koinonia’s rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” and described it as one of her favorite versions. A few weeks later, a cancellation created an open slot and Lindsey reached out to Fernandez to see if they would sing for a real NBA game remembering the Koinonia’s performance.

Reflecting on the experience, Fernandez shared, “I think that it was exciting, and it was an honor. I thought the students handled themselves really well, going from a stadium of 300 to 20,000, and they performed at a really high level.”

CLICK HERE to watch the performance.

—Alexandra Cordoba, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photo capture from Campion Academy performance recording.

11 Feb

FROM ATHEISM TO BELIEF: A STUDENT’S SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AT CAMPION

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Jose Briones – Loveland, Colorado … Max, a junior at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, shared his compelling journey of faith and self-discovery, deeply intertwined with the Campion’s legacy. Coming from a family with strong ties to Campion, Max’s experience at the historic institution has been life changing.

“My uncles and grandparents came here, and they made it possible for me to also do it,” Max says, highlighting the generational connection. The supportive Christian environment at Campion became fertile ground for Max’s spiritual growth. One significant turning point was during the Week of Worship, previously known as the Week of Prayer.

It was here that Max encountered Wayne Morrison, pastor of the Brighton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brighton, Colorado, whose message profoundly impacted him. “I had never felt the love of God before,” Max recalls. As an atheist, Max experienced a pivotal moment when he felt a tangible presence urging him to speak with Morrison, marking the beginning of his commitment to God and revealing a new side of faith and the church.

Encouraged by his uncle, Max embarked on reading the entire Bible, which solidified his belief in God’s existence, although developing a personal relationship took time. The dormitory life at Campion further nurtured his growth, providing a close-knit community with worship and fellowship as daily staples.

Reflecting on his journey, Max credits Campion Academy with the most significant impact on his life. “Without Campion, I wouldn’t be a Christian. I wouldn’t believe in God,” he asserts. The academy has equipped him with morals and values, enabling him to treat others with kindness and respect.

Max’s story personifies the power of faith and community at Campion Academy, shaping him into a person who now embodies the principles he once questioned. Watch Max’s story below.

—Jose Briones is lead pastor at the Fairplay Seventh-day Adventist Church and is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photo capture from RMC’s “Always Faithful” video series.

10 Feb

FROM FACEBOOK TO FAITH: RETIRED RMC PASTOR’S DIGITAL MINISTRY BRINGING HOPE TO BANGLADESH

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Ruben Balaguer – Grand Junction … Ruben Balaguer, a retired Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) pastor, met the couple Provesh and Rupa Bairagi via Facebook two years ago. Provesh was a Baptist pastor at that time in Bangladesh in southern Asia where he lives with his wife and 11-year-old son.

The Bairagis have 51 orphaned children under their care, and Provesh preaches to the children and a large group of adults in a hall once a week. The small hall is seven hours away from where they live, and he must take four buses on this precarious journey to get there.

“They do not have the support of anyone because almost everyone there is Muslim and Hindu, and they have to meet behind closed doors because Christians are frowned upon,” remarked Balaguer. “Despite this, they continue doing the work of God and with the project of building a place of worship on a piece of land that his father donated to him … As soon the sanctuary is finished, he will move to live close to it, but for now he is not able to start building it because it is very expensive.”

Church members from Balaguer’s district in the RMC made donations to the building project that helped purchase construction materials.

“I began to share with Pastor Provesh a series of Bible studies on doctrines that he did not know, and he accepted them and gladly started to teach the new truths to his church. So much so that when they learned the truth about the true day of the Lord, they began to have worship every Sabbath,” Balaguer recalled.

He continued, “After the first study about the Sabbath he told me: ‘Pastor, don’t forget to send me the second study on the day of the Lord,’ which made me very happy because I noticed his sincerity and his love for the truth. My wife and I decided to start sending him a monthly donation. Thank God the dollar goes a long way there.”

Provesh named his church New Hope after the name of one of the churches in Balaguer’s last district and appointed Balaguer as the honorary leader of his congregation. Balaguer receives weekly updates with photos and videos of the meetings, of the children having lunch and studying, and of the food that he manages to buy with the donations.

Provesh knows very little English and uses the aid of Google Translate for correspondences. His wife Rupa does speak English which helps when doing video calls via messenger.

“I finished all the Bibles studies, and now I’m sending him studies about Revelation prophecies. Provesh has a brother who helps him with preaching when he can’t travel to that place and his brother is also learning and accepting all the new truths as well. I prepare new studies weekly and send them to him so that he can teach them to his congregation. I also send him stories for children. Praise God for what can be done through the internet! In my case, being a long-distance pastor and teacher,” commented Balaguer.

“There is no doubt that God is doing this miracle on the other side of the world with these people who love the Word of God and are sincere in accepting the new light that is coming to them from my home,” he closed with. “I ask you to pray for them, for all the adults who listen to Pastor Provesh, and for those 51 orphaned children that they feed and educate. They hope that they will be able to receive the help they need to build the church and continuing to preach the Gospel in that remote place.”

—Ruben Balaguer writes from Grand Junction and is a retired district pastor for the Rocky Mountain Conference. Photos supplied.

06 Feb

FAITHFUL LIVING IN PRACTICE: RMC LAUNCHES SEMINAR SERIES ON MANAGING GOD’S GIFTS

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Jose Briones – Denver, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) has kicked off a series of stewardship seminars aimed at equipping church members with practical tools for managing their resources effectively. The initial seminar took place at the Denver Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church, January 25, and drew a large turnout from the congregation and surrounding community.

The event featured three insightful presentations focused on the stewardship of money, family, and time and aimed to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of stewardship from a biblical perspective, emphasizing the importance of managing one’s resources in ways that honor God and benefit the community.

Stewardship of Money

The first presentation centered on the stewardship of money. Attendees were encouraged to view their finances as a trust from God, to be managed wisely and with integrity. Practical tips on budgeting, saving, and giving were discussed, highlighting the principles of generosity and accountability. Jose Briones, RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator, stressed the importance of living within one’s means and the spiritual benefits of financial discipline.

Christina Hernandez, a participant and teacher at Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, shared her thoughts: “We are thankful for seminars like these because our churches usually don’t talk about how to manage resources. With inflation going up, we need to learn more about how to be good stewards for God’s glory.”

Stewardship of Family

The second presentation shifted focus to the stewardship of family. This session explored the responsibility of nurturing and supporting family members, reminding attendees of the vital role that strong family relationships play in fostering a stable and loving environment. Practical advice on communication, conflict resolution, and spending quality time together was provided, emphasizing that family stewardship is about more than financial support—it’s about emotional and spiritual investment.

Some of the key questions encouraged as a weekly discussion between family members or couples included:

  • What will happen this week?
  • How can I pray for you this week?
  • How can I help you this week?
  • What are your expectations as a couple this week?
  • Is there any conflict or concern that we need to discuss?

These could be adapted for churches to encourage more efficient communication and goal setting among members.

Stewardship of Time

The final presentation addressed the stewardship of time, a resource that is often overlooked and non-renewable. Briones encouraged those listening to prioritize their time effectively, balancing work, family, and spiritual activities. He shared insights on time management techniques, the importance of rest, and the spiritual practice of Sabbath-keeping. The message was clear: time is a gift from God, and how we use it reflects our values and priorities.

The seminar received positive feedback from attendees, many of whom expressed a renewed commitment to applying these principles in their daily lives. As the series continues throughout the year, other churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference are encouraged to participate.

For more information or to schedule a seminar, interested parties can reach out to Jose Briones at [email protected]

—Jose Briones is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photos supplied.

06 Feb

CAMPION ACADEMY KOINONIA SHINES AT UNION CHORAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

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Alexandra Cordoba – Lincoln, Nebraska … Twenty-seven students in the select choir, Koinonia, from Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, traveled to Union Adventist University (UAU) in Lincoln, Nebraska, to participate in the 2025 Union Choral Music Festival, January 29 – February 1. They joined over 200 students from Adventist academies across the Midwest, working together to perform six songs as a mass choir.

From Wednesday through Friday, students dove into the rigorous rehearsals, some lasting nearly 13 hours a day.

Students had the unique opportunity on January 31 to record in UAU’s new recording studio. The entire festival choir was recorded in groups, and one male and one female singer was chosen from each group to be the lead singer. The completed video was presented at the night concert on February 1, and students got to hear their voices edited together.

For the Friday night vespers program, each academy had the chance to showcase their songs. Campion was the last school to sing and received a standing ovation for their performance of “He Never Failed Me Yet,” featuring multiple soloists including Michael Shannon and Natalie Bryant.

CA student Marc Winokan commented on how he felt after performing, saying, “After our performance it was really exciting to see everyone cheering and screaming for us. I’m glad that it went well, and we were able to praise God through our music.”

The 200-member choir joined together on February 1 to sing for the church service and again in the evening for a final concert. Janey Padilla-Reyes, CA student, reflected on the culmination of the rehearsals saying, “It was truly something that was prayed over and a message that the group brought to everyone.” One of these selections, “The Lord is My Shepherd,” was a new composition written specifically for this year’s festival and made its debut at the event.

Students celebrated their hard work and accomplishments Saturday night with pizza and got to hang out with friends, play sports, swim, and have fun at the Reiner Wellness Center. During their free time, students also enjoyed exploring downtown Lincoln.

“Music fest was a lot of fun. Although, the practices were extremely long and tiring, the opportunity to sing a debut song and hear the final outcome at the concert was worth all the labor put into it,” concluded student Toby Quillin.

—Alexandra Cordoba, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

05 Feb

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT PROMOTES ACADEMIC GROWTH AND TEAMWORK

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Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The third annual FIRST LEGO League Middle School Robotics Tournament was hosted at Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on February 2, bringing together six teams from across the region for a day filled with innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork. Sponsored by the Mid-America Union Conference and the Rocky Mountain Conference, the event challenged students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and push the boundaries of STEM learning.

The morning focused on final preparations and innovation project presentations, where students showcased their creative solutions to real-world problems in front of a panel of judges. By the afternoon, teams took to the gym floor for the much-anticipated robot competition, demonstrating their engineering skills and programming expertise.

While the tournament highlighted impressive robotics and coding skills, it also showcased the broader impact of STEM education. “The robotics program has helped our students improve their communication skills and creativity,” shared Chad Dungan of Omaha Memorial Adventist School in Omaha, Nebraska.

For students, the tournament was more than just a competition—it was an opportunity to connect with peers and grow as innovators. MHA sixth-grader Maddie M. reflected, “I think the tournament was a great experience for kids to come together from other schools to compete and have fun. I learned how to work together as a team and be creative. I am looking forward to next year’s tournament and hope I can be a coder.”

The tournament results and award winners are as follows:

  • Core Values Award – Omaha Memorial Adventist School Angels were recognized for their enthusiasm and spirit—exemplified teamwork, discovery, inclusion, innovation, impact, and fun and always showing each other and other teams respect.
  • Innovation Project Award – Minnetonka Christian Academy Royals Robotics were honored for utilizing diverse resources for their Innovation Project to help them gain a comprehensive understanding of their problem; had a creative, well-researched solution; and effectively communicated their findings to judges and the community.
  • Robot Design Award – Omaha Memorial Adventist School Fusion Force team was recognized for using outstanding programming principals and solid engineering practices to develop a robot that is mechanically sound, durable, efficient, and highly capable of performing challenge missions.
  • Robot Performance Award – Vista Ridge Academy EngineEagles II celebrated scoring the most points during the Robot Game, in which the teams had a chance to compete in three 2.5-minute matches with their highest score counted.
  • Engineering Excellence Award – Mile High Academy Robostangs were recognized for their efficiently designed robot, innovative project solution that effectively addressed the season challenge, and core values evident in all they do.
  • Rising All-Star Award – HMS Richards Adventist School HMS Robo Squad were acknowledged as a team that the judges noticed and expect great things from in the future.
  • Champion Award – Vista Ridge Academy EngineEagles II was recognized as the team that best embodied the FIRST LEGO League Challenge experience by fully embracing the core values while achieving excellence and innovation in robot performance, robot design, and the Innovation Project.

Special congratulations go to the Vista Ridge Academy EngineEagles II and the Omaha Memorial Adventist School Angels, who earned invitations to compete at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Championship in Orlando, Florida, this May.

The success of this tournament was made possible by the dedicated volunteers, including MHA’s Upper School Advanced Robotics team, Rocky Mountain Conference, community members, parents, and MHA staff, who gave their time and support for the next generation of innovators.

“Robotics is more than just programming and competitions—it teaches critical thinking, teamwork, and perseverance,” stated Jocelyn Aalborg, who in addition to being the tournament coordinator also serves as MHA’s Vice Principal of Finance & Development. “We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated and grateful to everyone who helped make this event a success.”

She continued, “As robotics grows in schools, the program not only teaches students valuable skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking, but also helps develop important test-taking strategies and critical thinking abilities that will serve students well in all areas of academics.”

At the conclusion of the tournament, MHA principal Andrew Carpenter invited the teams to prepare for and return to MHA for the next FIRST LEGO League Challenge, scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026.

CLICK HERE to watch the recent robotics tournament competition.

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

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