- (989) 427-4444
- glaa@glaa.net
- Mon - Thu: 8:00am - 5:00pm | Fri 8:00am- 2pm
Current Board Members
President: Rojane Swanepoel (GLAA ’99)
Immediate-Past President: Todd Gardner (AA ’85)
Secretary/Treasurer: TBD
Adelphian Rep: Lisa Sawvel (AA ’84)
Cedar Lake Rep: Margie (Hunt) Conner Prevo (CLA ’77)
Grand Ledge Rep: Greg Powers (GLA ’84)
Great Lakes Rep: Jacob Conner (GLAA ’04)
Great Lakes Adventist Academy Principal: Delwin Garcia
Alumni/Advancement Director: Tracy Morgan
Asst. Alumni/Advancement Director: Beth (Sheldon) Wallace (GLAA ’88)
Past Alumni Board Presidents
1990-1992: Kay (Howell) Foss (AA ’63)
1992-1994: Kay (Howell) Foss (AA ’63)
1994-1996: Shelly (White) Klug (AA ’75)
1996-1998: Barbara (Baily) Falconbridge (CLA ’50)
1998-2000: Barry Finkbeiner (GLA ’80)
2000-2002: Barry Finkbeiner (GLA ’80)
2002-2004: Marcia (Consterisan) Mohr (GLA ’79)
2004-2006: Chris Randall (GLAA ’90)
2006-2008: Lisa (Hamblin) Jardine (AA ’85)
2008-2010: Cindy (Hainault) Peterson (CLA ’71) & Kathy (Hainault) Roderick (CLA ’80)
2010-2011: Gina (Thompson) Dunneback (AA ’86)
2011-2013: Tom Brundage (GLAA ’94)
2013-2018: Todd Gardner (AA’85)
Cedar Lake Academy
50 Year – 1974
40 Year – 1984
Adelphian Academy
50 Year – 1974
40 Year – 1984
Grand Ledge Academy
50 Year – 1974
40 Year – 1984
Great Lakes Adventist Academy
30 Year – 1994
25 Year – 1999
20 Year – 2004
10 Year – 2014
We Need Agents!
Call the Alumni Office Today at (989) 427-2460 if you’re interested.
Edmore Inn (formerly Maxfield’s Inn)
Only 3 miles from campus in Edmore
Indoor Pool
Toll-free (866) 550-8838
(989) 427-8888
Cabins $25/night–$20 key deposit
Please bring your own linens
Reservations need to be made by the beginning of October for Alumni Weekend.
Campsites 30 amp site: $15/night
50 amp site: $20/night
NO PETS IN CABINS OR IN CABIN/BATH HOUSE AREA!
PETS PERMITTED ONLY IN RV AREA AND IN RVS.
PETS NOT PERMITTED ON CAMPUS
For Campground Reservations
Call 989-427-4126
Alumni Events
October 11-12, 2024
Alumni Weekend at Great Lakes Adventist Academy
November 5, 2024
Young Alumni Reunion @ Andrews University
January 15-19, 2025
California Alumni Reunion
January 30-February 1, 2025
Tennessee Alumni Reunion
June 6-8, 2025
“Ye Olde CLA Alumni Reunion”
CLA 1975 and Older Reunion
Great Lakes Adventist Academy
June 14-21, 2025
Alumni Watermelon Feed @ Michigan Campmeeting
Great Lakes Adventist Academy
October 10-11, 2025
MI Boarding Academies Alumni Weekend
Great Lakes Adventist Academy
On November 2, 1986, a special constituency meeting of the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists voted to merge Adelphian Academy and Cedar Lake Academy. This vote set into motion the process that culminated in the establishment of Great Lakes Adventist Academy (GLAA) on the grounds of what was formerly Cedar Lake Academy.
The school is centrally located on M-46, three miles east of the village of Edmore. This rural setting encourages the development of an appreciation and love for nature. The spacious grounds and modern buildings provide the students with a comfortable atmosphere in which to live and learn.
When GLAA opened its doors for the 1987- 1988 school year, it did so with a commitment to continue the 179 combined years of service that characterized Adelphian Academy and Cedar Lake Academy.
Even though GLAA is Michigan’s newest boarding academy, in a very real sense it is also the oldest. Our school is dedicated to carry on the traditions begun by Cedar Lake in 1898 and Adelphian in 1904. We present here a historical glimpse of the two schools that provide the foundation upon which we are building.
Cedar Lake Academy was founded on December 2, 1898, with the five dollar purchase of a two-story public school building. When Professor J. G. Lamson, first principal, arrived at Cedar Lake, the district school was still in session, but he was permitted by the teacher to use a little recitation room as his office. This room and another little room represented the beginning of the administration of Cedar Lake Academy. With some renovations and the addition of a basement, the 48′ x 30′ school building provided space for classrooms, dormitories, principal’s home, dining-room and kitchen. School opened on January 16, 1899, with about thirty students. Mr. H.W. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Lamson were the academic family. Frank Mosebar was in charge of the farm, and his wife was the matron. Incorporated under the name Cedar Lake Industrial Academy on March 21, 1902, the school taught a very practical curriculum. Along with the basics of Bible, English and Mathematics, the school also taught printing, tent-making, bookkeeping, agriculture, blacksmithing, beekeeping, food preparation and carpentry. The first two graduates completed grade ten in June of 1907. It remained a ten-grade school until 1920 when eleven students graduated from grade twelve. The administration building was destroyed by fire in 1910. Construction on the new building was begun immediately and without interrupting the school program. It was finished by graduation time of 1911. That building was in service until the new administration building took its place on March 15, 1974. A new girls dormitory was opened in 1967, and a new boys dormitory was completed in 1969. The food service complex was opened in 1971. From a one-building establishment, Cedar Lake Academy became a multi-building plant. Through the years a variety of industries provided work for the students. Some of these included a school farm, the Butler Food Company, Rhodes Bake-n-Serve, Cedar Lake Mill and Cedar Lake Academy Industries. The dignity of labor was always an integral part of the school’s philosophy.
Adelphian Academy was founded on September 22, 1904, when at its annual meeting, the Seventh-day Adventist East Michigan Conference resolved to “take immediate steps to raise $5,000 for the purpose of establishing an academy.” A farm near Holly was purchased, and the school was started immediately. The first term opened in January of 1905. Six students were enrolled and attended classes in the farmhouse. Professor and Mrs. J.G. Lamson, who were also the founders of Cedar Lake Academy, were the first teachers. By the end of the first year, the enrollment had reached seventeen. For the first full school year the farmhouse was used as the home for the girls and some faculty members. A nearby farmhouse was rented for the boys dormitory, and a temporary building was erected for classrooms and offices. Because this building was covered with tar paper, it was known as the “Black Chapel.” In February of 1906, the rented home burned down. The boys were forced to crowd into the attic of the “Black Chapel” for the remainder of the school year. By the Fall of 1906, the two new buildings were ready for occupancy. The main building housed a chapel, classrooms, offices and a boys dormitory on the third floor. The girls dormitory included a kitchen, dining-room and guest rooms. Adelphian Academy was a ten-grade school until 1914, when the 11th grade was added. By 1917, the 12th grade status had been reached. The farm was the main industry of the school until 1927. In 1927, a woodworking industry, begun by Professor John Z. Hottel, became the biggest employer on campus. The operation began in an unused chickenhouse, and by the end of the first year, $20,000 worth of garden trellis had been sold. Other industries opened later to provide additional student labor. Many well-rounded, outstanding workers for God have come through these two institutions. They received their inspiration and Christian training to do their best while in service for the Master from these schools.
Grand Ledge Academy was founded in 1958 by the Michigan Conference as a boarding school. A fire in the fall of 1967 severely damaged the girls' dormitory. By the following year, the boarding program was closed, and Grand Ledge Academy became a day school. The school consolidated with Lansing and Grand Ledge Adventist Elementary Schools to form a K-12 school in 1982. It then became Mid-Michigan Adventist Academy and operated as a K-10 school until 1989, when it was merged into GLAA. The campus also hosted annual camp meetings for several years.
On April 2, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer rolled out Executive Order 2020-35, which mandates a “suspension of in-person K-12 instruction for the remainder of 2019-2020 school year”
Unless restrictions on public gatherings and use of school buildings is lifted before the end of the 2019-2020 school year,” it is unlikely that we will have graduation this year as scheduled on May 24, 2020. Unless the pandemic miraculously disappears sooner than expected, Great Lakes Adventist Academy will seek an alternate date in the future to hold a graduation ceremony for our seniors.
Great Lakes Adventist Academy, along with the other schools in the Michigan Conference, will continue forward with distance education for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
In an effort to keep our school family safe during this time, and to remain in compliance with social distancing orders and recommendations, we are kindly asking that you be patient and wait until those restrictions are lifted to come and get your child’s belongings and move them out of the dorms.
Parents and students will be notified via email of any updates.