Sunnydale Adventist Academy

A Miracle School

In the early 1940s, Seventh-day Adventists in Missouri were looking to build a school to provide much-needed educational opportunities to young people. During their tour of the state, church leaders happened upon the show farm of A.B. Chance, just outside of Centralia, MO. After much negotiation, prayer, and nothing short of a miracle, Mr. Chance sold the farm to build what would become Sunnydale Adventist Academy. In the telegraph which would serve as the sales agreement for the property, Mr. Chance wrote: “Must have that school. Must give young people of Missouri a place for an education. Can’t think of anything nicer for my showplace than have it turned into school for our youth!”

The school opened in 1946, with students and staff building most of the structures during that school year, that you see today. The dairy continued to run and the main barn became the worship hall and auditorium until it was replaced in ## by A.B. Chance Memorial Hall, which is the silhouette you see here today.

Sunnydale Adventist Academy is a boarding academy which offers educational opportunities in a Christ-centered environment for 9th through 12th grades. Students come from across the country and the world to attend Sunnydale. Our current students are from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Moldova, Russia, Costa Rica, Columbia, Mexico and Guatemala. Our students are involved in music, arts and athletics, as well as yearly mission trips and community service. We are grateful to be a part of the Centralia community, past, present and future.

For more information on the early history of Sunnydale Adventist Academy, we sell a book written by Dorothy Rice, a long-time Centralia native, called “Born in a Barn”. If you would like a copy, please contact us at info@sunnydale.org or call 573-682-2164 ext.200.