Cindy Roldan and Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, hosted its annual “Love Matters Most” service day, October 24. This year’s event, sponsored by AdventHealth, empowered students to engage in meaningful service projects both on campus and throughout the community.
The service day was part of MHA’s FOCUS Week—Focusing On Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice—and began with a motivational message from the week’s special guest speaker, Mark Weir, head pastor from the Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Denver, Colorado. MHA also took a moment to honor local pastors who not only partner with the school but also selflessly serve the community.
Throughout the day, MHA students engaged in various meaningful projects across the community. In the Early Childhood division, preschoolers painted “Kindness Rocks” to inspire positivity, while Kindergarten through second graders crafted cards and posters to thank local police and fire departments. The third and fourth graders visited Thrive Care Homes to make cards and prepare songs for the residents, while fifth graders stayed on MHA’s campus, raking leaves, and completing maintenance projects.
Middle school students partnered with New Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, to assemble hygiene kits for those in need and invited community members to MHA’s upcoming Fall Fest. Another group assisted with a car wash, raising funds for women’s care in partnership with AdventHealth’s HMBS Women’s Initiative. The Middle School Girls Club conducted a bake sale which further contributed to this cause, attracting attention and support from the community.
Upper School students focused their efforts on off-campus projects. Freshmen students volunteered at LifeSource Adventist Fellowship (LAF) in Denver, Colorado, where LAF associate pastor Heidi Carpenter praised their hard work, saying, “The kids worked hard, and I heard no complaints.”
Sophomore students stayed on campus, collaborating with Coach Michael Camacho on school improvement projects. “I was impressed with their dedication and effort,” he noted. Junior students visited Vista Ridge Academy in Erie, Colorado, eagerly tackling a well-organized to-do list, with RD Gallant, MHA chaplain, commenting, “It was great to visit a sister school and work together as a class.”
A select group of Upper School students joined MHA principal Andrew Carpenter and Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Education associate superintendent, Paul Negrete, along with Arturo Rodriguez and Joel Hernández, members of Denver Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, to begin a remodeling project at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado. Meanwhile, senior students volunteered at community center in Longmont, Colorado, in various roles.
To conclude the week, Middle School students participated in a special Agape feast and communion service, focusing on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. “It was nice to take time to remember how Jesus gave everything for us—including His own life,” said eighth grader Layten M.
Roldan reflected on Service Day and FOCUS Week, stating, “FOCUS Week, and specifically Service Day, showcased our students’ commitment to making a positive difference. They truly embodied the spirit of community and compassion, ensuring that Love Matters Most.”
—Cindy Roldan is the MHA director of Student Services and Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.
