Upper Columbia Academy Named 2006 “Academy of Excellence” Upper Columbia Academy has received the prestigious 2006 “Academy of Excellence” award from the Alumni Awards Foundation. The foundation was formed by alumni of Adventist schools who felt they had benefited significantly by their Adventist education. Through financial awards to both outstanding academies and teachers, they seek to affirm and expand the excellence that already exists within the system. In order to receive this award, the academy had to participate in a rigorous screening process. Phase I of the process was to submit an inch-thick application that included accreditation reports, students’ ITED test scores, documentation on how the school is addressing “Journey to Excellence” (the official goals and objectives of Adventist education in North America) and a description of their creative/innovative programs. From those applications, four schools were selected to participate in Phase II, which involved a four-hour site visitation by two representatives of the Alumni Awards Foundation board. Three of those four schools were invited to Phase III, which was participation in the Alumni Awards Convention in Scottsdale. Six students were selected to represent UCA at the convention. Faculty members who accompanied them were Jeff Bovee, principal, and his wife Marianne, accounting, and Roxanne Wickward, history teacher. While at the convention the students staffed a UCA booth, hosted one of the holes at the foundation’s golf tournament, and gave two presentations about the school. Each 10-minute presentation included a short video clip along with live speeches and music by students. “UCA offers all the basics and many outstanding extras,” senior Shari Fogelquist told the convention crowd, “but what makes it truly excellent are the relationships we have with our teachers, with each other and the opportunities to develop our relationships with God.” The convention activities culminated in a banquet and the attendees voting for the school they thought best exhibited excellence. Scores from all three phases of the process were then tabulated, and the winner was announced. “We were very excited to receive first place,” beams Jeff Bovee, UCA principal. “We have a dynamite staff that has built up an outstanding program over the years, and our students are the greatest—I’m very proud of them!” Accompanying this award is a check for $25,000. The student council, along with staff, have earmarked the money to go toward a much-needed new bus. The two other academies honored as Academies of Excellence this year were: Highland View Academy of Hagerstown, Md., which received second place and a check for $20,000; and Highland Academy of Portland, Tenn., which received third place and a check for $15,000. Nine teachers, one administrator and three alumni from across North America were also honored. Two of UCA’s faculty members were honored as Teachers of Excellence by this organization in 2004: Jerry Lange, music department, and Jeff Bovee, Milo Adventist Academy English teacher at that time and now UCA principal.
Upper Columbia Academy
Named 2006 “Academy of Excellence”
Upper Columbia Academy has received the prestigious 2006 “Academy of Excellence” award from the Alumni Awards Foundation.
The foundation was formed by alumni of Adventist schools who felt they had benefited significantly by their Adventist education. Through financial awards to both outstanding academies and teachers, they seek to affirm and expand the excellence that already exists within the system.
In order to receive this award, the academy had to participate in a rigorous screening process. Phase I of the process was to submit an inch-thick application that included accreditation reports, students’ ITED test scores, documentation on how the school is addressing “Journey to Excellence” (the official goals and objectives of Adventist education in North America) and a description of their creative/innovative programs.
From those applications, four schools were selected to participate in Phase II, which involved a four-hour site visitation by two representatives of the Alumni Awards Foundation board. Three of those four schools were invited to Phase III, which was participation in the Alumni Awards Convention in Scottsdale.
Six students were selected to represent UCA at the convention. Faculty members who accompanied them were Jeff Bovee, principal, and his wife Marianne, accounting, and Roxanne Wickward, history teacher. While at the convention the students staffed a UCA booth, hosted one of the holes at the foundation’s golf tournament, and gave two presentations about the school. Each 10-minute presentation included a short video clip along with live speeches and music by students.
“UCA offers all the basics and many outstanding extras,” senior Shari Fogelquist told the convention crowd, “but what makes it truly excellent are the relationships we have with our teachers, with each other and the opportunities to develop our relationships with God.”
The convention activities culminated in a banquet and the attendees voting for the school they thought best exhibited excellence. Scores from all three phases of the process were then tabulated, and the winner was announced.
“We were very excited to receive first place,” beams Jeff Bovee, UCA principal. “We have a dynamite staff that has built up an outstanding program over the years, and our students are the greatest—I’m very proud of them!”
Accompanying this award is a check for $25,000. The student council, along with staff, have earmarked the money to go toward a much-needed new bus.
The two other academies honored as Academies of Excellence this year were: Highland View Academy of Hagerstown, Md., which received second place and a check for $20,000; and Highland Academy of Portland, Tenn., which received third place and a check for $15,000. Nine teachers, one administrator and three alumni from across North America were also honored.
Two of UCA’s faculty members were honored as Teachers of Excellence by this organization in 2004: Jerry Lange, music department, and Jeff Bovee, Milo Adventist Academy English teacher at that time and now UCA principal.
After all the trouble weve had finding a place for that French horn, a flight attendant quipped on the trip from UCA to the convention, we should make that guy play for us! Roxanne Wickward, one of UCAs sponsors, overheard the comment and immediately volunteered a performance, much to the delight of the entire planeload of passengers! Aric Vyhmeister is on the French horn and Chris Patchett is on the violin.
UCAs representatives pose by their booth following the golf tournament. From left: Roxanne Wickward, history teacher; Aric Vyhmeister, senior from Apopka, Fla.; Tommy Poole, senior from Clarkston, Wash.; Shari Fogelquist, senior from Sedro Wooley, Wash.; Jeff Bovee, principal; Elliot LaPlante, sophomore from Spokane, Wash.; Chris Patchett, junior from Marshfield, Wis.; Cody Lonning, senior from Cheney, Wash.; and Marianne Bovee, accountant.
Ready for the evening program: Elliot LaPlante, Shari Fogelquist, Cody Lonning, and Tommy Poole.
UCA says Yes! to academic excellence, Yes! to a life of service, and Yes! to Jesus Christ. This photo of UCAs administration building was computer-generated by Aric Vyhmeister using 800 photos of school activities. Chris Patchett and Elliot LaPlante put the finishing touches on the UCA booth.
Along with the "Academy of Excellence" title, UCA received a generous check from the Alumnni Awards Foundation for $25,000! Pictured here are the students and staff who represented UCA at the convention. From left: Roxanne Wickward, history teacher: Elliot LaPlante, sophomore; Cody Lonning, senior; Aric Vyhmeister, senior; Chris Patchett, junior; Tommy Poole, senior; Jeff and Marianne Bovee, principal and accounant, respectively; and Shari Fogelquist, senior. The money will be used toward a much-needed new school bus.
