Graduation ceremonies at Midland Adventist Academy in Shawnee, Kansas, were held on Sunday, May 19. Each of those students received scholarships and will be attending college in the fall.
The education they received helped prepare them for the next steps to come, says Richard Young, principal of Midland Adventist Academy.“We are called to help our students influence the world and spread the word of Jesus,” says Young. “Through an Adventist education, they see that the best life is the one lived not for ourselves but in service to others.”
As a community partner with Midland Adventist Academy, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission shares the mission of keeping a positive outlook toward others and helping shape the world around us. AdventHealth’s focus on whole-person health is based on CREATION Health principles. The “O” in CREATION refers to outlook—our view of life and hope for the future.
Two of Midland’s graduating students, Bomi Kilanko and Paige Kreiter, talked about what that hope for the future means for them. Both plan to pursue careers in the medical field, with Kilanko heading to medical school and Kreiter majoring in nursing.
Bomi Kilanko
Kilanko will be attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in a combined baccalaureate/doctor of medicine program that allows students to earn their medical degree in six years.
“I made the decision my junior year to go to medical school,” he says. “I’m passionate about science and I believe a career in medicine will enable me to serve others and give back to my community.”
Kilanko attended Midland from kindergarten through his senior year of high school. “I think what I’ll miss most is the camaraderie and relationships,” he says. “I made a lot of good memories over the past 13 years. I’m grateful for every single one.”
He says the education has helped strengthen the foundation for his faith. “Having teachers who are great at what they do and intentional about fostering a Christ-centered learning environment made a big difference,” he says.
In addition to his studies, Kilanko held several leadership roles, including class pastor and vice president. He played varsity basketball all four years of high school, and was involved with choir and band, where he played the tenor saxophone.
Paige Kreiter
Kreiter plans to be a pediatric nurse. “I always wanted to be a nurse when I was younger, and I love kids, so I thought it would be a lot of fun to care for them,” she says.
Kreiter will major in nursing at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. Like Kilanko, she has attended Midland since kindergarten. This May, she graduated as the valedictorian of her class.
She says her Adventist education not only prepared her for college, but also helped shape her outlook on life. “It’s helped me to know God better,” she says.
She credits her success in education to the instructors she’s had over the years. “I’ve had great teachers,” she says. “All of them encouraged me when I said I wanted to be a nurse and helped me pursue my dream.”
Kreiter says she will especially remember the close connections she’s made throughout her 13 years at Midland. “It felt like I was at home there,” she says. “It was a place where I felt like I belonged.”
AdventHealth Shawnee Mission congratulates the class of 2019! For more information about our health services, visit AdventHealthKC.com.
Ann Muder is a writer for AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.
