Last October, Loma Linda Academy Junior High (LLAJH) unveiled its newly renovated STEM and humanities wings, marking a momentous step forward in the school's commitment to providing a cutting-edge learning environment for its students.
The renovations, completed in the summer of 2023, transformed the second floor of the junior high gymnasium into the new STEM wing, while the humanities wing received its facelift the previous summer. The new spaces incorporated modern design elements, including carefully selected colors, furniture, and classroom layouts. These upgrades were a long-awaited necessity, as the old classrooms, dating back to the 1950s, were no longer equipped to support the evolving curriculum and the needs of modern-day learners.
The renovations also catered to the needs of the school's staff, providing a dedicated lounge for teachers, as well as an improved office space.
"This is the culmination of countless prayers, planning, and generous support from donors for this project," said Amy Sovory, LLAJH principal. "We wanted to celebrate and reflect on the blessing of both of these new spaces for our junior high campus."
The program commenced with a warm welcome from Paul Herrmann, Loma Linda Academy (LLA) board chair, followed by an opening prayer from Angela Lalas, vice board chair. Datha Tickner, superintendent of schools of Southeastern California Conference (SECC), provided a brief history of the project, while Iveth Valenzuela, LLA head of schools, elaborated on how these renovations align with the school's TK-12 vision.
Sovory delved into the intricacies of the renovation process, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way. The program concluded with acknowledgments from Valenzuela and a prayer of dedication by Verlon Strauss, SECC treasurer. After a ceremonious countdown, the ribbon was cut, marking the official opening of the new wings.
Guests were then invited to embark on group tours of the updated facilities. Leading these tours were junior high students handpicked for their leadership and character, part of the school's Student Ambassador program.
The projects were funded through a loan from the Pacific Union Conference, contributions from SECC, and other donations. Naming opportunities are being offered for the new wings and classrooms to help raise additional funding to reduce the loan. For more information, visit www.lla.org/jh-stem.
