Summer 2022 Connection Magazine

“Through Bible classes,
chapels, and friendships,
I have learned more
about God’s Truth and
everything He embodies.
As I leave WA, I am more
confident in myself, my
passions, and my morals
because of my faith
in Jesus Christ that
grew exponentially at
Wheaton Academy.”
olivia smith ’22
olivia smith ’22
The focus on relationships, excellence,
and service has driven decisions across
an array of student activities, Winterim
distinctives, and curricular offerings.
In fact, student leadership opportunities
at the Academy are based on the
service component of the mission
statement. According to Eric Bowling,
WA’s director of student leadership
and service, the Academy “actively
engages students to help them develop
a life of serving others.” The focus is
on applying Mark 10:43-45: “Not so
with you. Instead, whoever wants to
become great among you must be your
servant, and whoever wants to be first
must be servant of all. For even the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.”
The current student leadership program
is Project LEAD, a network of six
interconnected teams that provide
Academy seniors the opportunity
to develop and engage in authentic
experiences serving the WA campus,
surrounding communities, and the
world. The six teams are Project IX,
Chapel, Discipleship, Local, Fellowship
of Christian Athletes, and Global.
Academy teacher Eric Bowling
The goal of the Project IX team is for
seniors to build relationships with
the freshman class. The Chapel team
leads large group spiritual formation
while the Discipleship team focuses on
providing opportunities for small group
spiritual formation. The Local team
serves as needed in nearby communities,
including in the city of Chicago. Project
LEAD Global partners with Kids Alive
to provide care for under-resourced
students in Haiti and the Dominican
Republic and to educate the WA student
body about global issues.
Project LEAD has grown from twelve
students at its inception under Chip
Huber to more than 100 seniors serving
on the six teams in the 2021-22 school
year. A vision of even greater student
engagement has been imagined by
one of these students, Olivia Smith
’22. Olivia approached Bowling about
starting a service project club, an idea
that had been on Bowling’s heart for
some time. She was an answer to Eric
Bowling’s prayers for God to send
students to him with servant hearts.
Olivia’s vision for creating a club
dedicated to service projects was
prompted by an Academy student book
drive conducted during the spring ’20
COVID-19 quarantine. WA students,
chomping at the bit to do something,
to make a difference somewhere,
organized and collected 2000 books
which they donated to a local book
rescue. This experience started Olivia’s
thinking. What else could the students
do to help others?
The Academy resumed in-person classes
in August of 2020, and Olivia pursued
her dream. She acknowledges the startup
of the Service Project Club (SPC)
that first year was rocky. Only a small
group of students became involved, but
Olivia and Eric Bowling did not give
up. At the onset of Olivia’s senior year
8