|
Oakdale
Christian Academy Gets New Gym, Classrooms
by Helen Kaufmann
 |
| Design
for Oakdale's new gym and classroom building. Top right:
President, Dan Fischer (left), receives grant. |
|
Oakdale Christian Academy recently received the largest
grant ever in its 83-year history — $150,717 from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with Eastern Kentucky PRIDE.
The funds will enable Oakdale to install a wastewater treatment
plant and collection system and will dovetail with its 3-year "Advancing
the Vision" campaign to raise $1.725 million for a new gymnasium
and classroom building. Having come within $150,000 of fully funding
the undertaking, the Oakdale board has decided to extend the campaign
one year beyond the June 30, 2004, deadline and raise the total
goal to $2.135 million.
Groundbreaking for the new building took place on
April 23, 2004, just days after students and staff watched the 50-year-old
Rhodes Hall — the former gymnasium — being razed. The new building
will feature a regulation-size basketball court and four classrooms,
with the option to add four additional classrooms and a library
at a later time. The building is expected to eventually become the
academic center of campus.
The Advancing the Vision Capital Campaign has come
at a crucial time for Oakdale. Since 2001 the former gymnasium had
been closed because of structural concerns and the loss of indoor
recreational and physical education space made it difficult for
the school to adequately serve students. The next urgent need, according
to Oakdale President Dan Fisher, will be for additional dormitory
space. Lack of sufficient dorm rooms already puts restrictions on
enrollment.
 |
|
Oakdale
students
|
|
Oakdale Christian Academy serves students from across
the continental United States and Hawaii. Current numbers are at
the highest level in years, with 40 to 50 students enrolling annually.
The school, which recently received full accreditation from the
Association of Christian Schools International, provides a "character-building
education with high academic and dorm life standards, based on sound
biblical principals." It has always been a principle of the
institution to serve students regardless of their financial situation.
Families are asked to contribute an amount appropriate to their
income level.
The prospect of a new gymnasium is not the only encouraging
sign at Oakdale. Renovation of several buildings has been made possible
through the efforts of volunteer work teams who have come from various
churches. These projects include work on Anderson Hall, which houses
administration; classrooms and some dorm facilities; the church
and chapel; and student and staff housing.
President Fisher is optimistic about the future of
Oakdale. "God has brought us this far," he says. "I
believe that He is preparing Oakdale for further growth."
For more information about Oakdale Christian Academy,
visit www.oakdalechristian.com.
|
