SHENANDOAH VALLEY ACADEMY, ESTABLISHED IN 1908, EXISTS TO PROVIDE A DISTINCTLY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST COLLEGE PREPARARTORY PROGRAM THROUGH EXPERIENCES TO PRODUCE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. SERVE GOD ∙ VALUE KNOWLEDGE ∙ ACCEPT A LIFE OF SERVICE
Meet Karen Vallado 2016 Valedictorian My name is Karen Vallado, I am 18 years old, and this year I am a senior at Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA). Last summer I moved from Newbury Park, California to Beltsville, Maryland, but I have been boarding at SVA since my sophomore year. Many people have asked why I would go to a boarding school across the country. It’s often hard to explain this to them if they never went to SVA, but if they have, they understand. SVA is such a huge and important part of my life. The people are more than my friends, they’re my family and that’s why I keep coming back. I originally came to SVA because when my parents told me that they would be moving to Maryland at some point in the near future and I wanted to go on ahead and start my life there. I looked around at many schools but SVA stood out to me. I saw pictures of the beautiful campus and heard that they offer dual credit classes to help you get a head start on college. To me, SVA has been my home away from
home and I can’t imagine my life without it. This is my third year working for the school chaplain and campus ministries director Pastor Tim Harley (PH), and I have enjoyed it very much. My job is to help PH prepare for his classes as well as campus events, and also to help organize mission trip paperwork. SVA has been my home away from home and I can’t imagine my life without it. During spring break I participated in the mission trip to Zambia, Africa to help build an Adventist School the chief of that area has requested. It was an incredible opportunity to share Jesus’ love with the children as we taught Vacation Bible School and worked construction. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see another country and culture so different from my own. My favorite thing to do at SVA is participating in intramurals. It's a great way to get to know people outside of your usual routine and have some fun. I have also had some great opportunities since I have been here, including going to Germany and Austria with the music groups my junior year. I play trumpet in the band, am a member of the volleyball
MAY/JUNE 2016 and soccer teams, and I am also a National Honor Society member. SVA has helped me become well-rounded by offering quality classes and many opportunities. Not only that, I have also seen my life and the lives around me positively influenced by the teachers and staff. During my time at SVA I became closer to God and learned to spend meaningful time with Him. In the fall, I will attend Andrews University and begin the Speech Pathology and Audiology program. I chose Speech Pathology as a major because I want to help people with autism like my sister. I believe SVA has prepared me well for this next step and I am really looking forward to it.
Diplomas in hand! Karen with second generation Shenandoah graduate Alain Pichot
Do you know a young person who would benefit from a caring, safe, quality Adventist education at Shenandoah Valley Academy? For more information contact recruiter gail.romeo@sva-va.org 540-740-3161 or visit www.shenandoahvalleyacademy.org
Meet Freshman Daniel Palacios Hello! My name is Daniel. I am 14 years old and have just finished my freshman year at SVA. I am a village student living in New Market, Virginia. One of the things I like about SVA is the students who come here really get to know their classmates well. Even though I don’t live in the dorm, the people I have met here are like family now, and I think that rings truer for the people in the dorm. Another thing I love about SVA is faculty. They’re always really nice and encouraging here. But just because they’re friendly doesn't mean they don’t give homework. SVA is also a place where I can have a lot of fun with intramurals, sports programs and other extracurricular activities. SVA gives me the opportunity to work. I work for is the ASSIST work program (administered by Southern Adventist University), where I visit elderly people and help them
ASSIST Student Workers Share Christ’s Love with New Market Community Four years ago SVA alumnus Susan Dickson Finlaw ’65 returned to her alma mater as a taskforce dean for one year. During that year she helped to launch and became the coordinator of the ASSIST work program made possible by a grant administered by Southern Adventist University which encourages young people to minister to and help senior citizens in their community. This is her third year as the ASSIST work program coordinator.
Students minister to patients in the nursing homes, and to clients throughout the community
Finlaw says, “As a student, parent and now grandparent of an SVA student, I have witnessed the impact of an SVA Adventist boarding school education on generations of students, and there isn’t a
with yard work and things they can’t do. I think SVA has really changed my life by the spiritual and academic aspect of the school. Whenever we have vespers or week of prayer there’s always this warm feeling of unity and peace. Also SVA has really taught me how to spend my time wisely because of the many activities on campus. My plans for the future are still unsure but I’m thinking about becoming an engineer or something in the medical field. Although my future career is unsure, I do know SVA is a place where God resides for those who search for Him. Editor’s note: Daniel (left) recently won 2nd place in the SA Talent Show with co-worker and singing partner Krissia Kersey, freshman (right). Pictured here using their talents to minister to an ASSIST client. in the SA l h ih k d i i
better opportunity than this school for young people to grow in their relationship with God, prepare for their academic future, and be presented with opportunities to choose a life of service to others.”
still didn’t hear the melodious sounds she described and went in to investigate. There were all five young people, and what I saw brought tears to my eyes. They had joined hands around the bed and were earnestly praying for the patient. How blessed we are to have an opportunity for our young people to be able to earn money for school—and to learn the value and rewards of work. How blessed we are to be able to train our students in the way they should go, and to provide an opportunity for them to be an example of Jesus’ love in our community.
Sophomore Natalia Nino (center) and freshman Julia Rivera assist a local woman with yard work
Susan shares an awesome story from the ASSIST program: One day I dropped off some of the newest ASSIST student workers to visit and sing with nursing home residents. Because the girls were new, I came back to double check on them and was unable to find them. I usually located them by their singing. When an aid said she hadn’t heard or seen the girls, I became concerned that perhaps they were “hiding out.” As I continued my search, I came to another nurse who had seen and heard the students, answering, “Oh, yes, and their singing is beautiful. I wish they could come to my church. Our members would love to hear young folks singing like that.” When she told me they were in the next room, I
ASSIST workers provide companionship to senior citizens, and bring their youthful energy to help with household and yard chores Contact us for more information about SVA! Janel Haas Ware ‘86 Director of Development & Alumni Relations Dale E. Twomley Hall Shenandoah Valley Academy 234 W Lee Hwy, New Market, VA 22844 Direct: 540-740-2202; Cell: 240-401-1169 Email: janel.ware@sva-va.org Give Now: www.shenandoahvalleyacademy.org
Shenandoah Valley Academy Honors Dale Twomley Dale Twomley recently presided over the final graduation ceremony of his notable 55year career. Graduate Andrew Moore introduced Twomley as commencement speaker explaining, “Dr. Twomley has been a teacher, treasurer, business manager, principal, CEO, university department chair and business school dean. …there is no place he has made more of a difference than here at Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA).”
Dr. Twomley & “Barron,” Shenandoah Hall, 1975
In 1974 Dale, and his wife, Connie, answered his first call to SVA as principal. Twomley increased enrollment from 240 to 398; supervised a $2 million plant expansion: including an administration building, pool and church; and expanded Shenandoah’s reputation for excellence, spirituality, academics and fun. He left SVA in 1978 to chair the Andrews University (Mich.) business department, establishing its School of Business. In the following 14 years Twomley led Worthington Foods, increased sales $158 million, tripled the workforce and took the company public. Twomley is known to say, “Running the ‘small village’ of Shenandoah Valley Academy was the best preparation I received for working at Worthington.” The Twomleys’ 16 years post-retirement has been dedicated to strengthening Adventist secondary boarding education. Dale shares, “I just haven’t figured out how to succeed in this retirement thing.” They’ve attempted retirement five times, each time returning to help “troubled” academies. Returning in 2006, Twomley oversaw capital improvements of $4.5 million, including dorm, student center and ballfield
renovations. He solidified a quality program, communicated a clear school vision, and provided sound financial management. Enrollment increased 30 percent each year as Twomley partnered with churches, foundations and alumni to help families afford an SVA education. “To my knowledge, no qualified student since has been turned away because of finances. That’s our policy.” states Twomley. In 2014 Twomley answered his third call, refusing salary. SVA faced significant challenges including crippling payments on $1.4 million of debt. In 18 months, applying the principles of school stabilizations he has led, Shenandoah has all but made a complete turn-around. With generous donations from alumni and friends, the debt was eliminated in 14 months—for the first time in 40 years. School spirit is strong; students are choosing Jesus and baptism; another enrollment increase is anticipated in August; alumni and individual giving is at an all-time high; and a new administration is in place with Twomley mentee Donald Short becoming principal June 1. Honoring God’s accomplishments through the work and faith of Twomley, the
Dale and Connie Twomley cut the ribbon at the Dale E. Twomley Hall dedication ceremony
SVA Board named the administration building “Dale E. Twomley Hall,” and established the “Dale E. Twomley Pillar Award” recognizing the significant impact of Twomley’s “vision, leadership, humility and love” as “a disciple of Jesus who faithfully answered the call to serve, support and sustain the people and educational ministry of Shenandoah Valley Academy.” Dale and Connie Twomley are the award’s first recipients.
Gettysburg Address Paraphrase – A. Lincoln – 1863 From Dr. Twomley’s Remarks Dale E. Twomley Hall Dedication May 28, 2016 We cannot dedicate this building. The disciples of Jesus, living and dead, who have toiled here, have taught here, have consecrated this campus and this building far above our power to add or detract. This community will little note, nor long remember what we say here today, but we can never forget what has been done here on this campus for the Kingdom of God. It is for us, the living, to be dedicated to the unfinished task of training disciples of Jesus as fast as we can – as were those that have gone before us – and have given of themselves to accomplish. It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task before us of preaching the Gospel of Jesus – that we here highly resolve that those that have gone before us and still labor in this vineyard – shall not have worked in vain. Rather, that this school, under God, shall have a new birth of commitment, that Shenandoah Valley Academy, its students, its faculty and staff, its alumni, its constituents, all shall take on the armor of Salvation and finish the task that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has set before us. Dale E. Twomley
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