A small boarding school in Sun Valley that focuses on athletics is looking to make a big mark on the sports world. Kris Miller is executive director of the Native American Christian Academy (NACA). He has witnessed first-hand the success of the students and has one objective for the young athletes: “Our goal is to have the best Native American sports academy on the planet.”
While that may seem like a lofty goal for a school of 41 students, a look at their athletic success makes it a possibility worth considering. The NACA Warriors compete in the Desert Pine Sports League, where they’ve taken the lead since 2008 in cross country, volleyball and basketball, and now, with a new soccer program, they have their eyes on a soccer championship.
The school, which boards students from the third through eighth grades, boasts a volleyball court, gazebo, basketball court, $30,000 worth of playground equipment and Frisbee golf, all donated by supporters, non-denominational churches and the Church of the Nazarene. The equipment, drive and support of their leaders give the students the right ingredients for success.
“These kids bring their gifts with them and we just bring them out. We’re blessed with great coaching, but it’s really the athlete’s talent,” said Miller.
The students are primarily Navajo, with a few Hopi and Apache students. Their most recent success came in a cross country championship that, according to Miller, was fueled by the students’ own drive to succeed and overcome obstacles. “These kids come from tough backgrounds. They either have broken homes, families that can’t provide for them or have no place for them to stay. Their experiences create an extra fire that they choose to drive them in a positive way,” he explained.
Miller has seen how the school’s athletic program has had an affect on the students’ self-esteem. “Some of these students come here with their hair pulled down in front of their faces, looking down and very withdrawn. Some of that is cultural, but a lot of it is what they’ve had to deal with. Now you see them, and they are outgoing and confident. Athletics gives them confidence.”
Miller believes it’s that sort of success that creates champions. He referenced the cross country team in McFarland, Calif., a primarily Latino community that is one of the state’s poorest towns. During the 1980s the high school coach realized the tremendous potential of the high school athletes seeking to overcome their environment and coached the cross country team to a state championship.
“We can compete at any level,” he says of the students at NACA, but he’s not just talking athletics. The school is seeing the students succeed academically while across the country nearly 40 percent of Native American students drop out of school.
At NACA, the students live on campus, with dorm parents who help mentor them and work to build the character of their students. The school has worked to broaden the students’ horizons through trips to Hawaii, Florida and Indianapolis, where they perform in plays and musical productions.
Miller explained that the coaches have a shared objective in helping the students build confidence. “They learn about the world beyond them, that it’s a bigger story about getting a job, or going on to college or the military.”
According to Miller, he would like the number of students at the school to reach 70, and someday provide an education through high school. The cost for attending the school and living in the dorms is minimal for families. While the average tuition for a student at the academy runs about $13,000 a year, families are only charged $50 per month. The rest is made up through tax credits, donors, sponsors and any excess funds attained through the Christian Network Foundation.
With groups regularly coming to the school to help with construction projects and provide programs, the school also contributes to Holbrook’s economy, as those people stay in town and use the amenities that are available.
Miller has high hopes for the students who attend the school and believes that their success will benefit not only the school, but also Holbrook as they gain statewide attention for their athletic abilities.
Native American Christian Academy elementary student Nicholas Madison (right) goes for the ball in a soccer match. As an athletics-based boarding school, NACA’s students are all excelling athletes.
