Amazing Grace Academy (AGA), located in the scenic Matanuska Valley not far from Anchorage, is the Alaska Conference’s only 12-grade academy. Recently it held its second 12th-grade graduation in celebration of the class of 2016.
Two proud graduates received their diplomas from Griggs International Academy, which partners with AGA to certify all graduation requirements have been met. Five years ago, AGA set out to find a way to provide a quality 12-grade Adventist education for its Alaskan students right in Alaska. Previously, all students who wished to graduate from an Adventist school had to travel to the Lower 48 states to do so. For many families, this isn’t desirable or feasible.
To meet the needs of local families, AGA added ninth grade to its program in 2011 and added one grade each year until it was able to graduate its first class last year. Although graduating numbers have been small, they are growing.
AGA anticipates graduating as many as seven students next year. God has richly blessed the school and its programs over the years with increasing enrollments, more staff, a new gym and programs that meet the needs of its students in all grades. “With a dedicated, hard-working staff, outstanding constituent support and, most of all, God’s blessings, Amazing Grace Academy has become the place for many families in the area to send their kids,” says Dane Bailey, AGA principal. “We solicit your prayers as we continue to move forward toward the kingdom.” You can see more about what this school is doing by accessing the YouTube video “Amazing Grace Academy now has 12 grades” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut7pm667-8g.
Graduates Nicholas Beckage and Seth Figon receive Bibles from the AGA staff.
Nicholas Beckage receives his diploma from Laurie Hosey, Alaska Conference education director.
Seth Figon gives his graduation speech.
