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Author: Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake is editor-in-chief of the Southern Accent. She is a senior journalism major who has been published in the student newspaper over 60 times, a record she began as a reporter her freshman year. She has also served as news editor and managing editor. Passionate about storytelling and in-depth reporting, Amanda strives to use her writing talents to help others. Writing and publishing a book is a pinned ambition on her bucket list.

The Collegedale Spanish-American Seventh-day Adventist Church, commonly referred to as SuCasa and currently located on Colcord Drive on Southern Adventist University’s campus, is working on building larger and more advanced church facilities on College Drive East next to Collegedale Academy.  On Oct. 11, SuCasa began construction with a groundbreaking ceremony, according to the SuCasa Church …

As COVID-19 cases rise in the United States, Seventh-day Adventist universities have adopted numerous policies to mitigate its spread among students and faculty.  The United States currently has 12 Adventist universities, all of which are offering some form of in-person classes or labs this semester. These universities have all taken different approaches to prevent the …

The average number of academic credits taken per full-time student in a fall semester at Southern Adventist University is currently at an all-time high, according to Associate Vice President of Financial Administration Doug Frood.  Before the fall of 2017, Frood said he could count on the average amount of credits taken per student being between …

Over the summer, some Southern Adventist University students began working as daily health assessment workers. According to Editorial Manager for Marketing and University Relations Janell Hullquist, a special task force of campus leaders—including medical personnel—established this new job alongside the Daily Health Assessment when campus began to reopen in July.  This new safety measure requires …

Though COVID-19 forced the Evangelistic Resource Center (ERC) to postpone its 2020 mission trips, students discovered other ways to serve during the spring and summer months.  In April, ERC sponsored Vespers over Zoom that attracted between 20 and 30 students each Friday night, according to ERC’s World Missions Associate Director Raul Rivero. From May 11 …

Written by Amanda Blake and Estefania Sanchez This year, because of COVID-19, food has been removed from all Student Association (SA) events. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Tennessee Department of Health, there are three safety precautions that decrease the chances of spreading the virus: wearing masks properly, washing …

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Photo of volunteer chaplains doing a bonding activity with each other. September 6, 2026. (Photo by Aidan Sammons.)

Southern Adventist University’s Talge Hall has introduced a volunteer chaplain program designed to strengthen community and provide students with spiritual support. The program brings together 11 student volunteers who build relationships with residents, check in with students, work alongside resident assistants and assist with spiritual programming. Directed by Aidan Sammons through the Office of Ministry …

The Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient monument for Corporal Desmond T. Doss at the Veteran's Memorial Park of Collegedale. Monday, October 26, 2026. (Photo by Melea Hwang).

Collegedale’s annual Veterans Day celebration will include the unveiling of a star-shaped monument honoring the U.S. Space Force at Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park. Hosted by American Legion Desmond T. Doss Post 257, the Nov. 11 ceremony will feature the Collegedale Academy band and is expected to draw local and state officials. In addition to the …

Valeishka Cruz, who is a junior majoring in Liberal Arts Education, shares her experience going on a vision trip. October 30, 2026 (Photo Taken by Christine Lee)

After 25 years of Southern Adventist University students sharing their testimonies through local and global mission work, ERC Missions is turning those experiences into a book. Directed by Alex Castillejos, the project organizes student stories around themes such as forgiveness, miracles and personal transformation. Featuring experiences from students like Johnny Rojas, Celeste Mandujano and Jacob …

Students in Professor Christie Wilder's policy class pose for a picture with Congressmen Chuck Fleischmann. Tuesday, October 13, 2026. (Photo courtesy of source).

Southern Adventist University social work students traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for continued funding for the Federal TRIO Programs, which support low-income, first-generation and disabled students pursuing higher education. Through meetings with congressional staffers and a follow-up classroom visit from Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, students helped secure his commitment to join the nonpartisan TRIO Caucus. …

Headshot of Dennis Negrón. (Photo sourced from Southern Adventist University Website)

Dennis Negrón, Southern Adventist University’s vice president of Student Development and Title IX coordinator, will leave the university on Nov. 18 after 33 years of service. His resignation follows concerns about an inappropriate social media repost on his personal Instagram account. University administration stated that an investigation found no wrongdoing and that Negrón made the …

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