In 1922 citrus was king in the "inland empire" and to many it seemed like a second gold rush. But that year Adventists planted the seeds for a different golden harvest, building a school in the dry hills of La Sierra Rancho. They acted on faith, following "the instruction found in the Spirit of Prophecy concerning the location of our schools," as stated in the 1924 El Serrano, the yearbook of La Sierra Academy and Normal School.

Back when monthly tuition was about $25 a month, when sand dunes and watermelon fields were the prevalent landscaping, and when girls climbed a ladder to their second-floor dorm rooms while stairs were being finished, families sacrificed to enroll their children.

The first class, in 1922, had a total of 84 young people, representing many financial leaps of faith on their families' part.

Their attendance showed hope for this young "institution of God's directing, where...the world-famous citrus groves of Riverside lie just across the valley, with green alfalfa fields between...in the distance stand out the majestic peaks...the school farm consists of 400 acres of excellent land."

Eighty-five years later the fertile agricultural fields have become vast stretches of houses and businesses, but in October the staff, students, alumni and friends of La Sierra Academy celebrated the spirit of the founders, determined to obey inspirational counsel—to offer the finest aspects of a whole-person, well-rounded educational program.

The academy campus moved down the street from La Sierra College in 1954, but it still maintains close relationships with the school now know as La Sierra University. Academy seniors take university courses, academy and university classes share music and drama resources and college students provide tutoring.

Cooperative summer programs permit the LSU teachers to complete educational classes, working with LSA elementary students in a lab setting.

Academy (K-12) enrollment increased 17 percent this year, with over 900 students. The faculty and staff are currently preparing for an accreditation visit by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and this eighty-fifth year promises to continue the legacy of excellence in education.