Class of 2026 Academy Students Recognized for Caring Hearts

The Lake Union and North American Division’s Office of Education believe that teaching young people to be actively involved in witnessing and service activities is central to the educational goals of the school and the mission of the church. For this reason, the Caring Heart Award for Christian Service has been established to give recognition to those secondary students who have demonstrated a personal commitment to active service and witnessing activities. 

The Caring Heart Award is provided to each North American Division-accredited senior academy that has selected an eligible candidate. The award consists of a special scholarship award certificate with a value of $500, paid by the Union, and is accompanied by a plaque and engraved Bible provided by the NAD Office of Education. 

Below are the recipients for the 2025‒2026 school year. The following comments are from nominations submitted for the Caring Heart Award: 

Iliana Murphy exemplifies the true spirit of a Caring Heart through her deep commitment to service, spiritual leadership, and authentic connection with others. Her impact at Andrews Academy reaches far beyond titles or roles; it is seen in lives touched, faith strengthened, and community built. 

Through SOW Safari, Iliana experienced firsthand how vast the world truly is. Meeting new people and witnessing their gratitude reshaped her understanding of service and humility. She took time to listen to adults’ stories, learning how faith, resilience and compassion shape lives, and how students, even now, can be instruments of God’s love. 

Iliana’s influence is especially evident in spiritual life leadership. She has faithfully prayed for assigned students leading into Week of Prayer, shared vulnerable testimonies that encouraged others to open up, and helped plan Bible camps where she watched God work powerfully through teamwork. Her involvement in chapel planning reflects a thoughtful balance, creating experiences that are engaging while clearly pointing to God’s love. 

Her heart for service shines through senior luncheons, girls’ Bible studies, and schoolwide Bible studies, where she helps foster belonging and faith. Through Andrews Academy promotions, Iliana shares her testimony, energizes students through music and helps prospective families experience the heart of AA. 

Amaya Adamson consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a commendable record of good citizenship. She is hardworking, respectful, and polite in her interactions with both peers and adults. Her character is especially evident in the way she treats others, always with kindness, patience, and quiet leadership. 
 
During our Washington, D.C. trip last year, Amaya stood out in a meaningful way as gracious, cooperative and exceptionally considerate toward her classmates and roommates. Amaya is also actively involved in Pathfinders, where she participates in outreach and service activities. Through this involvement, she demonstrates initiative and a commitment to witnessing-service experiences beyond the classroom. Her willingness to serve reflects a sincere desire to live out her faith in practical ways. 
 
Amaya serves as an example on campus through her steady character and consistent kindness to everyone. She embodies the spirit of service and caring that this award represents. 
 

Sofia Keller is a full-time senior whose record reflects exceptional citizenship. She maintains excellent attendance, a spotless behavioral record, and positive relationships with peers, faculty and staff. Her integrity, respectfulness and dependability are evident in every aspect of school life and speak clearly to her character. 

She has given compelling evidence of a personal commitment to witnessing-service activities through her consistent initiative, responsibility and follow-through. Sofia willingly serves wherever there is a need, often stepping forward without prompting and completing responsibilities with diligence and care. She is widely known for being “first in and last out,” readily offering assistance, and approaching every responsibility with a gracious spirit and steady positivity. 

Even when faced with personal hardship — including a serious and traumatic car accident last semester — Sofia’s concern for others remained unwavering. Rather than withdrawing, she continued to volunteer her time to support peers, helping classmates adjust socially, strengthen citizenship, and improve academically. Her response to adversity reflects remarkable resilience, maturity and a Christ-centered focus on serving others above self. 

A consummate musician, Sofia frequently steps in to serve as band conductor at Battle Creek Academy, representing the music teacher with professionalism, poise and admirable leadership. In these moments, she models humility, discipline and respect, earning the trust of both peers and faculty alike. 

Elena Potter is the embodiment of what it means to have a truly caring heart. She approaches everyone with empathy and heartfelt kindness, consistently treating others with dignity and grace, and often placing others before herself. She conducts herself as a daughter of the King, reflecting Christ’s character in both her words and actions.  

Elena is patient, intentional, and an attentive listener.  When asked to help, she willingly goes the second mile with a cheerful spirit. She is focused and diligent in her work, giving her full energy and attention to every task. Quality matters to her.  

Elena is others-focused, and she often wakes up early to attend the Early Morning Prayer Group where she faithfully intercedes for others in prayer. Kind, gentle, wise and patient, Elena is a blessing to our school community and a most deserving recipient of the Caring Heart Award. 

Victor Mirindi is a junior at Grand Rapids Adventist Academy. Victor officially serves the school as the student association pastor and junior class pastor. Victor’s love for Jesus is evident in his demonstrations of kindness, cheerfulness, and a caring nature and in his servant leadership in his role as pastor.  

He also supports GRAA and its mission vocally in speaking positively about the school among the student body and to others outside our walls.  

Victor’s strong work ethic in mission/spiritual activities and academics serves as an example to all who attend our school. Victor extends these qualities to our community through participation in school outreach activities, Pathfinders and mission trips.  

Brooklyn Bartolome exemplifies what it means to have a caring heart. She’s the kind of person who notices when someone’s having a rough day and actually does something about it — whether that’s sitting with someone at lunch who’s eating alone, helping a classmate catch up on missed work, or just being there to listen when things get tough.  

What makes her special isn’t just that she holds leadership positions, but how she uses those roles to make everyone feel they belong. She remembers people’s names, asks about their weekend, and genuinely celebrates when good things happen to others. You’ll often see her going out of her way to include kids who might otherwise be left out. She doesn’t lead by force — she leads by showing up, being real, and treating everyone with kindness and respect.  

Brooklyn shows that being a leader isn’t about having power over others; it’s about using whatever influence you have to make your school a better, more caring place for everyone.  

On our Indiana Academy campus, Ruby Dickerson goes above and beyond with a heart anchored in service. Ruby is an RA who embodies a rare and deeply genuine spirit of care, and it shows in the way she pours herself into the emotional and spiritual well‑being of the girls in her dorm. When one of her student residents began struggling with her mental health, Ruby didn’t wait to be asked; she came forward herself, wanting to join the staff mental health first-aid training so she could better support “her girls,” as she lovingly calls them.  

Each night she prays with her residents, a simple act that has sparked a beautiful ripple effect throughout the dorm as other girls now pray with their RAs too. Her desire to grow spiritually is just as sincere; she studies the Sabbath School lesson every morning and reads The Desire of Ages with the dean during the morning shifts.  

Her faith is lived, not spoken, and it shows in the countless ways she serves by helping in the cafeteria on weekends just to lighten someone else’s load, stepping in wherever she’s needed, and offering prayer, time and kindness to anyone who crosses her path. Ruby’s leadership is gentle but unmistakable, rooted in compassion with a genuine love for people. She is a constant joy to interact with, always prompt to help, support, and serve.   

He’s not the first in line. He’s the one letting someone else go first. He’s not the team captain. He’s the one who makes sure everybody is included. He’s not always the top student in the class. He’s the one encouraging others to study and do their best. 

That’s Jackson Crary, a senior at Wisconsin Academy. Jack is beloved by fellow students as well as staff for his attention to others. He has, it seems, a built-in radar that finds and locks in on the one who’s down, the one having trouble fitting in, the one struggling with a class, a decision or a loss. And he doesn’t just spot them, he ministers to them. 

Sensing God’s call, Jack forfeited his chance at a more prestigious class office to serve the academy as the spiritual vice-president of the student association. In that role he also serves on the Spiritual Life Committee, helping staff plan weeks of prayer, worship schedules, and other concerns of faith. 

Jack has impressed the staff with his initiative and dedication. In many ways, his character is the exact opposite of pre-Pentecostal Peter. Impetuous? By no means! Jack is thoughtful and measured in his decisions, always seeking God’s will and weighing his options judiciously. And he is never ashamed to admit he is a follower and friend of Jesus.