SandscriptsMonterey Bay Academy Alumni Magazine SPRING 2021 Stronger Together Down Through the Years Where Land and Sea 50th hoNoR YeaR Unite to Inspire ClaSS of 1971 YeaRbook ALUMNI OFFICE FROM THE ALUMNI PRESIDENT Sandscripts Staff Editor Kinzie (Yoder) Speyer ’76 For the recent MBA graduates, as well as Designer Kent Cabreira, Benjamin Designs the current students, this experience of being together has been greatly altered due to the Contributors Covid-19 pandemic. Campus life is very differ- Jeff “PJ” Deming ent in order to implement certain health safety Traci (Wareham) Follet ’93 guidelines. One example is that there is separa- Charlotte Henderson tion of girls and boys during meals in the caf- Kinzie (Yoder) Speyer ’76 eteria. I’m sure some of you remember that in your days at MBA! Cohort learning groups Photographers and other precautions are in place to keep stu- 2021 Yearbook Staff dents and faculty safe, but everyone can finally Ronnell Cabacungan be together interacting face-to-face (masked, Kent Cabreira, Benjamin Designs of course), experiencing the joys of campus Jay Ketelsen ’76 life and growing stronger together. Psalm 133:1 Brian Schaffner (KJV) reads, Behold, how good and how pleasant Kinzie (Yoder) Speyer ’76 it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. As alumni, we know best that MBA is not just Office of Alumni and Development a school—it is a life-changing experience. A Kinzie (Yoder) Speyer ’76, Director Better Together significant portion of that life-changing expe- n the Disney movie, A Bugs Life, a colony rience is being part of a community—learning MBA Administration of ants was under the control of grass- together, working together, playing together, Jeff “PJ” Deming, Principal/Registrar hoppers who forced them into a diffi- worshipping together, and growing together. Brian Schaffner, VP for Finance Icult situation that seemed insurmountable to It is the strength of community, lifelong rela- Jay Ketelsen ’76, VP for Operations the scattered colony. It seemed that their lives tionships, and lasting memories that makes Kevin Bowen, VP for Enrollment Services would never be the same again—until they MBA so unforgettable. realized they possessed power in their num- To my MBA family—we are always stronger Sandscripts Correspondence bers. The ants joined together and were able together and with our God! I look forward to Sandscripts Editor to overcome their difficult circumstances, ulti- the day when we can all be together face-to- Office of Alumni and Development mately restoring their colony, their community face, no masks, healthy and strong, where there Monterey Bay Academy and, of course, living “happily ever after.” Their is no sickness, no sadness, no death, where our 783 San Andreas Rd strength was realized in being together. community is restored forever—where we can La Selva Beach CA 95076-1911 Our MBA colony—throughout its seven truly live “happily ever after.” Never forget that 831-728-1481 × 1222 decades—has experienced what, at times, we are stronger together. [email protected] seemed insurmountable circumstances and yet, the faculty and staff, students and their Until we meet again, Alumni Association families, the alumni, and friends of this com- A list of directors is available online at munity have pulled together to overcome the montereybayacademy.org/ challenges and keep the spirit of MBA alive and Traci (Wareham) Follet ’93, President alumni-association strong. Although the 2020–2021 school year MBA Alumni Association began online, students were able to return to Address Changes and News Notes campus for the second semester! Finally, the Email [email protected] MBA community was able to be together in person, rather than segregated by class as lit- Sandscripts is the official magazine of Monterey tle squares on a computer screen. Arriving on Bay Academy, produced by the Office of Alum- campus, the excitement and joy of the students ni and Development, for the alumni and friends and staff was palpable. There were high-fives, On The Cover of the academy. MBA is owned and operated by shout-outs, and elbow bumps; bonds of friend- The 1971 MBA yearbook, in recognition the Central California Conference of Seventh- ship were instantly created. The community of the Class of 1971—this Virtual 71st Alumni day Adventists. was gaining its strength in coming together Weekend’s 50-year honor class. once again. 2 montereybayacademy.org/alumni-welcome ALUMNI OFFICE Alumni Calendar EDITOR’S MESSAGE April 2021 better than one, because they have a better return 22–25 | Alumni Weekend on their labor. If either of them falls down, one can 71st aNNIveRSaRY help the other up. VIRTUAL ONLY — See page 4–5 During this past year, MBA has leaned heavily on you, our friends and alumni, and you have june 2021 rallied around our home on the shore. Last April 4 | MBA Graduation and May, as a majority of the families of our Limited to family of graduates only. 2020 graduates experienced financial hardship due to covid-19, we called on you to help us to july 2021 graduate the senior class debt free. In six incred- TBA | Soquel Campmeeting ible weeks, over $90,000 was raised and every Virtual Only senior graduated debt free! During the sum- mer, we called on you to help us Bring Them Back in the fall. Again, the MBA spirit rallied DateS aRe SubjeCt to ChaNGe. As an event and we raised $160,000 in Student Aid funds to gets closer, double-check the alumni web- help with the fall enrollment. And, they came site or call the Alumni Office for an update. back! In November, we leaned on you once Lean On Me again, calling for help with the budget deficit Additional events and event details: n 1967, singer-songwriter and musician, due to the unexpected Beach Auditorium fire montereybayacademy.org/alumni-events Bill Withers, had recently moved to Los and clean-up expenses. You rallied once again Angeles, CA, in hopes of starting a music raising over $320,000. Thank you, our MBA Icareer. Life was not easy as he fought to make brothers and sisters, for understanding these a living in the big city. Having spent most of issues and lending a hand. Together, we did it! Who’s Considered an Alum? his life living in the coal mining town of Slab This issue ofSandscripts is in honor of you— If you’ve attended, worked, or taught at Fork, WV, Bill found his journey in Los Ange- our donors—who have given so generously MBA, we consider you alumni. les to be quite lonely. He missed the sense of during a very difficult time for MBA, our com- community, fellowship, and friendship that was munities, and our country. There simply are no ever present in his West Virginia hometown. words that adequately convey our gratitude for As a struggling musician, Withers couldn’t what you have done. Thank you for your rallying afford much, but was able to purchase a small spirit. Thank you for your support and for allow- piano that he would sit at and compose tunes. ing us to lean on you and to help us carry on. Stay Connected Yet, his music went completely unnoticed until Send us your career, education, 1972. While sitting at the piano, running his fin- Gladly serving our home on the shore! family, or travel news and photos at gers up and down the keyboard, the phrase alumni @ montereybayacademy.org “lean on me” crossed his mind. It didn’t take him or mail to the Alumni Office long to complete the words and music for a song Kinzie (Yoder) Speyer ’76 at Monterey Bay Academy. that would go on to become an inspirational, Editor, Sandscripts worldwide rallying song encouraging togeth- Director of Alumni and Development Sign up for our email directory erness for those going through difficult times. on the MBA Alumni website I share this short story and a few lines of this Bill Withers, “lean on Me” on Still Bill, 1972. to receive your alumni e-news. song with you because now, more than ever Lean on me when you’re not strong before, we must lean on each other for encour- And I’ll be your friend agement, help, and support. Sometimes lean- I’ll help you carry on... ing on others for help is looked upon as a sign For it won’t be long of weakness. We either believe our problems Till I’m gonna need go green are bigger than anyone else’s and we choose Somebody to lean on If you prefer to receive a digital copy of Sandscripts, visit not to burden others, or we believe we can just You just call on me brother, when you need a hand montereybayacademy.org/sandscripts go it alone. I disagree with both of these views. We all need somebody to lean on to sign up. Leaning on each other actually brings strength I just might have a problem that you’ll understand to both of us. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 says: Two are We all need somebody to lean on spring 2021 SANDSCRIPTS 3 VIRTUAL ALUMNI WEEKEND 2021 FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL egrettably, we won’t be able to conduct the 71st MBA Alumni Weekend in-person for yet another R year. However, we invite you to our Virtual Alumni Weekend 2021 from the comfort of your own homes via your computer, phone—whatever mechanism works for you! Due to the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Public Health (which applies to both public and private schools), our students—who are thankfully now on campus 2nd semester—must receive their learning in a cohort style.