5Oth Anniversary Celebration
Celebrating 50 Years
Life Christian School began in 1973 as a preschool with six children, operating within the church facility as a ministry of Life Center Church. In 1974, the school established its first kindergarten class. This marked the beginning of our journey towards expanding into an elementary school and, ultimately, a full K-12 institution.
A key factor to our steady growth over the years is summed up in one word: leadership. Over the past 50 years, our leadership has never wavered in its commitment to our mission. The Buntain Learning Center was built in 1985, providing space for our growing school. In 1994, we expanded the Buntain Learning Center to include additional classrooms, office space, and the Korum Activity Center.
In 1996, the LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) Program was started to provide services to learning-challenged students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. The program’s purpose is to teach these children learning skills to help them overcome their learning disabilities and transition back to the traditional classroom.
As school enrollment steadily increased, we continued to add to our campus. In 2000, we completed another addition to the Buntain Learning Center: upper school classrooms, a fitness center, fine arts facilities, and administrative offices. The Tyler J. Saugen Success Center was created to include a state-of-the-art media center for all students and new learning classrooms for the LIFE Program. In 2018 the Hjelseth Athletic Field was created due to a gift from the Names Family Foundation.
Upon completing the first of four strategic planning efforts in 2000, the school strengthened its focus on a strong academic core and to inspire young people to become world changers with skills in communications, creativity, relationships, and technology.
Over the past five decades, Life Christian Academy has added many student programs, including ASB, National Honor Society, Rotary Interact Club, the Student Leadership Institute, our International Student program, mission trips, and a full complement of fine arts and athletic programs. We are committed to inspiring students to become world changers equipped to be relationship builders, effective communicators, creative contributors, and technologically savvy.
LCA is distinct in its commitment to creating a diverse Christian community. Our students represent the school in their outreach, as well as in community and global service. In recent years, our students have participated in mission and learning trips to Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
The LCA Alumni Association now has almost 1,000 graduates worldwide. The school now enrolls second-generation students from alumni families. Life Christian Academy is accredited by AdvancedEd and certified by the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we reflect on our rich history and look forward to a bright future, continuing our mission to provide exceptional Christian education and inspire the next generation of world changers.