Rockets light shines during Appalachia Encounter Retreat 

During their six-day Appalachia Encounter Retreat, 25 seniors and four faculty members learned and served in eastern Tennessee in partnership with the Glenmary Home Missioners. 

This marks the 43rd year that McNicholas has traveled to areas in Appalachia to serve the rural poor and build a community both among themselves and with the people in the Appalachian Mountains. Although this is a longstanding tradition, this trip had its own unique challenges when remnants of Hurricane Helene caused students to lose access to electricity and running water for three days. 

Senior Gavin Gerhard said living and serving in these conditions helped him discover “a newfound appreciation for the simple things in my life like running water or electricity that I would usually take for granted.”  

Senior Megan Longmore recounted how this experience helped her form a deeper bond with her classmates and the people they served. “We were each given a yellow flashlight to use and made do with what we had. This experience helped us to grow even closer to each other and make the most of our time serving others.” 

Over the decades, this service-learning retreat experience has deepened the commitment of hundreds of McNicholas students to embrace lives rooted in Christian faith and service.   

Senior Lynn Sandmann said, “No other retreat at McNick offers such an in depth, perspective-changing experience, so I am so thankful to have been a part of this fall's Appalachia Encounter Retreat.” She recommends every student should go if they have the chance. “I'll never forget the memories I created while on Appa, and the friendships I made and people I met while there are so special to me.”  

Theology teacher Mr. Jeff Hutchinson Smyth said, “It is truly a joy and privilege to accompany students in this way as they grow in faith and in their commitment to service and discipleship, and as they become more bonded together in their friendships.” He applauded the group for their flexibility and resilience during the trip. “While much of our week was spent under the cover of clouds, that never dimmed the students' light, and even after we lost power, I can assure you that it most certainly did not diminish the students' energy.”