The heartbeat of Adventist education pulsed through the vibrant exhibit hall at the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis, where a panoramic education pavilion showcased the breadth and depth of one of the world’s largest Protestant education systems. With colorful displays, engaging demonstrations, and the presence of passionate educators and students, the pavilion powerfully highlighted the global mission of Adventist education, including its renowned universities within the North American Division.

Educational Showcase

Featured prominently were Andrews University, Loma Linda University, Oakwood University, Southern Adventist University, Walla Walla University, Washington Adventist University, La Sierra University, and many others.

Each institution added its unique character to the display:

• Andrews University, the denomination's flagship university, underscored its global reach and diverse student body, reflecting its mission of preparing world changers for service.
• Loma Linda University, a beacon for health sciences, stood out with its medical innovation and commitment to whole-person care — training professionals to heal the body, mind, and spirit.
• Pacific Union College drew attention to its inspiring setting and spiritual environment.
• Oakwood University, rooted in the historically Black Adventist experience, celebrated its legacy of faith, justice, and academic excellence.
• Southern Adventist University highlighted immersive learning environments and a strong emphasis on service and spiritual growth.
• Southwestern Adventist University emphasized its close-knit campus and active community involvement.
• La Sierra University showcased its creativity, entrepreneurship, and commitment to leadership development and community engagement.
• Washington Adventist University featured its Carnegie “Opportunity University” classification, which recognizes institutions that offer high access and lead to higher earnings for graduates.
• Walla Walla University emphasized hands-on learning and close faculty-student mentorship, particularly in engineering and the humanities.

A Unified North American Display

What unites these institutions, despite their individual strengths and geographic diversity, is their unwavering commitment to holistic education. The Adventist philosophy of education insists that true learning develops the whole person: spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially. This integration of faith and learning is not merely theoretical, it comes alive in every exhibit, conversation, and presentation.

The North American Division booth presented a striking, unified display that brought together its colleges and universities, showcasing the strength of cooperation amid diversity. While based in the United States, these institutions are globally engaged, educating students from around the world and sending graduates to serve around the world.

Voices from the Pavilion

At the La Sierra University booth, president Dr. Christon Arthur shared:

“We believe that every student has divine potential. God has endowed in every human a certain level of divine potential, and our role at La Sierra is to help the student figure that out, provide the environment for them to flourish and blossom, and reach everything that God is calling them to.”

Abraham Garrido, enrollment counselor and alumnus of Pacific Union College, reflected:

“What PUC offers that is unique — for me personally — was the nature and surrounding environment. It allowed me to connect with God in a way that I never thought I could.”

At Southern Adventist University, Ingrid Skantz, vice president for marketing and university relations, explained:

“Being one of the largest undergraduate institutions, we have a lot of opportunities for students to make friends for a lifetime that are like-minded believers. We are in a great location; we have a lot of nature around us. And at the booth, we are focusing on prayer, and it ties into our spiritual life on the campus. We have life groups on the campus — small groups of students —where students focus on a topic of study, and we have over 100 of those on campus. So, it’s a way to take a large campus and let them get to know each other and have a spiritual focus.”

Johanna Penick, director of development at Southwestern Adventist University, added:

“We create a personal family environment. We have the luxury of being in a small community that allows us to interact within the campus community and the outside community. When you step on the campus, the first thing you feel is that family environment.”

Elementary Education Gets the Spotlight

While higher education took center stage, GC Session 2025 also emphasized the foundational role of primary and secondary education. Through collaboration with local conferences and the division’s Adventist Education department, the exhibit featured creative, Christ-centered methods being used to nurture young learners.

Faith and Learning: A Harmonious Blend

GC Session 2025 in St. Louis did more than showcase institutional achievements. It testified to the transformative power of Adventist education in the North American Division. The interactive displays demonstrated how these institutions incorporate biblical values into their curricula without compromising academic rigor. They continue to prepare students of all ages to live with purpose, serve with compassion, and lead with integrity, wherever they may go.

Click here to learn more about Adventist education from K to 12, and here to learn more about Adventist higher education.

— Herma Percy is a social and political commentator, journalist, and author.