Cumberlite 2024 Issue 1

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Forward Together TOWARD A NOBLE PURPOSE BY NANCY GERARD November 1961: “The Georgia-Cumberland Conference has officially started the most ambitious project in its history. Groundbreaking of the first major building for the new boarding academy marked the commencement of construction…Groundbreaking symbolizes the effort of a people to dig into the earth, to lay foundations, to raise superstructures, forming buildings that spell progress and success. This beautiful site and useful plot of dedicated ground appears to have been marked by God for this noble purpose.” Oscar L. Heinrich, Director of Church Development Service, Southern Union Conference. The “noble purpose” Oscar Heinrich referred to was the beginning of what later became Georgia-Cumberland Academy, the boarding school that would open the doors of Adventist Education for young people in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. For nearly 60 years Georgia-Cumberland Academy has provided Adventist Education to students for whom local access was not an option. Boarding students have been the dominant student demographic through the years and the dormitory experience has been celebrated as a very positive aspect of the GCA experience. Its “noble purpose” is still being fulfilled! A season of economic and enrollment success some years ago gave GCA leaders the courage to begin dreaming big about facility needs and how the school might be taken to the next level of excellence. With prayer and the encouragement of donors, Georgia-Cumberland Academy launched a major, comprehensive Conceptual drawing of dorm exterior fundraising campaign in 2015 that was called Continuing the Mission. From 2015-2020, God inspired donors to give more than $21,000,000 to Georgia-Cumberland Academy for new and renovated facilities, student scholarships and endowments, and program enhancements! The students and staff, as well as the entire Georgia-Cumberland Conference, are now blessed with a thriving Adventist educational environment, thanks to the generosity of donors! When the Continuing the Mission campaign ended in 2020, donors began asking the question, “What’s next?” Considering current needs and what was not addressed in the Continuing the Mission campaign, our next steps became obvious. The dormitories needed to be the next major capital project for Georgia-Cumberland Academy. Why invest in dormitories? Welcoming, safe, comfortable, and well-functioning dormitories are key to attracting families and students and will play a major role in the future success of Georgia-Cumberland Academy. A strong residence hall program better serves the needs of families and ensures a robust enrollment for GCA. Even day/village families want the full boarding program that the school offers; not a typical day school schedule that ends at 3 pm. With that being the case, the dormitories are a vital facilities piece since this is “home” to GCA’s boarding students. Looking to the future, plans are being developed to make significant improvements to dorm rooms, bathrooms, laundry 4 CUMBERLITE ISSUE 1 | 2024
facilities, and lobbies. We have listened to students and parents talk about their concerns and wishes regarding the dormitories. Facilities experts have been consulted and conceptual illustrations have been produced by architects. Now it is time to move forward! In addition to enhancements to the dormitories, other unmet facility needs will be addressed in the next few years. And along with capital needs, the comprehensive fundraising campaign will also address expanding endowments and scholarships and enhancing academic and extra-curricular programs, all of which will help secure a strong future for GCA. A campaign advisory committee is in place to guide us through a new campaign. A building committee has been formed to guide decisions regarding building plans and construction. Lead gifts are being secured to fund the dorm renovations. The doors have been opening and God is leading us forward! You will be hearing more in the coming weeks and months about a new campaign that will officially launch at Alumni Weekend 2024. We hope you will join us on Sabbath, April 6 for a groundbreaking celebration for this new initiative which will make significant improvements to the dormitories. The future of Georgia-Cumberland Academy is bright, and YOU are invited to partner with us as we step into the future! Thank you to those who have already made generous commitments and gifts to ensure the success of these next steps. Please join us as we pursue a bright future for Georgia- Cumberland Academy! Let us lock arms, committed to moving Forward Together! WHAT’S NEXT? FACILITIES | $6.5 MILLION • A $6 MILLION transformation of both dormitories to renovate dorm rooms, and expand lobbies, restrooms, laundry facilities, and deans’ offices • $500,000 to renovate the chemistry/physics lab and other key facilities STUDENT SUPPORT | $5 MILLION • Expand merit-based scholarships • Increase need-based scholarships • Build endowments for recurring support PROGRAMS | $1 MILLION • Increased staffing for mental health services • Part-time staff positions to expand and improve student safety • Increase funding for academic and extracurricular programs CUMBERLITE ISSUE 1 | 2024 5
Page 2 and 3: THE BOARDING SCHOOL DIFFERENCE BY K
Page 6 and 7: Luke Villarruel, ’24, is videotap
Page 8 and 9: 397 Academy Drive SW Calhoun, GA 30
Page 10 and 11: designs, produces, and sells power
Page 12: GEORGIA-CUMBERLAND ACADEMY ALUMNI &

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