The caliber of students at Pine Forge Academy seeks every opportunity to broaden their horizon as they develop into mature, independent adults. We offer a variety of programs which are unique to the achievement level of the students and are specific to the interest of the students. Pine Forge Academy is dedicated in its mission to provide a myriad of programs, events and activities that will enable our students to choose God as their Savior; to think clearly and independently; to act wisely with conviction and integrity; and to appreciate their responsibilities to God, themselves and mankind.

National Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) is a national club for high school students who excel in academics, possess leadership qualities and hold to the highest level of characteer and integrity. Requirements include being a sophmore, junior, or senior who has maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better, demonstrated qualities of Christian character, scholarship, leadership, and service. New members are inducted in the NHS every spring and membership carries an obligation to meet and participate in the activities of the local society.

Pine Forge Academy has been a member of NHS since 1979. Students wishing to join the National Honor Society should complete a Student Activity Information Form and submit it to the Registrar.

SALT (Spiritual Academy Leadership Training)

The Spiritual Academy Leadership Training (SALT) Conference, is an annual conference for student leaders who are the class and campus organization officers. The conference helps a diverse racial mix of student leaders in the Columbia Union Conference academies create a vision of Christian leadership for their campus during the current school year. Stuents from the Union's junior and senior academies meet to develop a spirit of unity and cooperation; to share programs, both successful and unsuccessful; to develop a Christian philosophy of leadership; and to receive motivation to become even more effective leaders. The planned program includes group exercises, role playing and professional motivational speakers and organizational executives.

Pine Forge Academy has participated in SALT for the past 14 years. For the first time, our campus was the host academy for the 2009 SALT conference.

MITHS (Minority in the Health Services)

MITHS is a challenging, intense three-week summer program sponsored and designed by Loma Linda University to introduce Black Seventh-day Adventist students to the health sciences. Pine Forge Academy students selected for the program are exposed to career opportunities in science via a structured program that circulates 15 - 20 high school students in almost every medical department and administrative offices of Loma Linda University Hospital (Loma Linda, California). Students also learn time management and study skills. The MITHS experience prepares the student for his/her senior year and exposes them to expectations in college.

MITHS is available for junior applicants who maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Pine Forge Academy students have attended MITHS for over 12 years and have been awarded over 50% of the slots for many years.

Community Service

Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of community service activities while matriculating through Pine Forge Academy. We believe that great leaders must know, experience, and appreciate giving of themselves in service to mankind. In Matthew 23:11 it says "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." The knowledge gained in their core subjects and vocational classes, as well as their Bible classes, equips the students to give service to the local community, reaching as fas as Philadelphia, and extending overseas. Most students give beyond the 25 hours that are required each school term.

The service activities include visiting and performing at nursing homes, cleaning up the community, packing care bags for victims of Hurricane Katrina, tutoring at our local schools, and distributing food and clothing for the homeless in Philadelphia. Additionally, the students have gone overseas to Trinidad, Barbados, and Puerto Rico, where they painted, completed small repairs, conducted Vacation Bible School and Senior Citizens' Day. Very often, these service activities are enhanced with the performances of the Creative Arts and choir groups. The motto for the students is, "Being blessed means blessing others."

Mentoring

The Pine Forge Academy Mentoring Program provides opportunities for our students to learn life lessons outside the classroom. These opportunities offer exposure to a variety of careers, social development and character building. For Career Days, people from various professions discuss the necessary skills and educational requirements for their occupation with a classroom of students. Also, the social and character mentors are the guest presenters during dorm and joint chapels. They address various topics such as 'just say no', decision-making, peer pressure, etiquette, etc.

The young men of Handy Hall Mentoring Program culminates in a Rites of Passage ceremony. Each year, our most recent alumni attending college or professional schools return to campus for a weekend to relate their higher learning experiences, the development of their spiritual life, and social situations that demand strong, sound character. The mentoring program brings the students together with caring individuals (volunteers) who offer guidance, support, and encouragement focusing on the development of the character and competence of the students. If you want to participate in the Mentoring Program, please contact Vice Principal Kris Fielder at (610) 326-5800 extension 212 or Dean of Students Pearl Jones at (610) 326-5800, extension 211.

Peer Mediation

To help students choose and develop alternatives to self-destructive behaviors when confronting intra-personal, interpersonal or inter-group conflicts, Pine Forge Academy has developed a proactive approach to discipline called 'Peer Mediation'. Mediation is a communication process in which a student with a problem works together with a neutral third party (a fellow student peer mediator), to solve the problem. A Pine Forge Academy student can become a peer mediator by receiving votes from both students and faculty members.