Utahns plan Mexico trip to aid needy

PLEASANT GROVE — School has been out for weeks at Liahona Academy, but that hasn't kept students from coming back to visit.

While packing boxes with donated clothing, they laugh about memories from the past school year and reminisce about what the next one will hold for the recently accredited private school for children from families who count themselves among the LDS faithful.

But by the time school starts back up in September, these students will be a little older and maybe a little wiser — thanks to a summer service trip to Mexico.

"It's going to be a growing experience," 16-year-old Zachary Jorgenson said as he placed a sweater into a nearby box.

In July, a number of the school's local students and its "distance learners" — students from across the nation who use DVD versions of Liahona classes to supplement their home school education — will join school staff and parent chaperones on a trip to Mexico City.

There, the students will be housed at Benemerito, a private school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But Benemerito isn't a private school by American standards. Most of its 2,500 students receive scholarships from the LDS Church because their parents cannot afford any portion of the tuition.

Some have only one set of clothes, said Liahona history teacher Brent DeGraff. Others need a white shirt to wear to church on Sunday.

All will be recipients, however, when Liahona students bring donated clothing, supplies and toys to Benemerito students. Similar donations will be made at two nearby orphanages.

"I think its putting your academics into application," said principal Kolleen DeGraff.

The DeGraffs founded the grades 6-12 school in 1998 to provide LDS parents with an alternative to public schooling that "focuses on academics without forgetting religion."

Since that time, the school has relocated twice and is again looking for a new location. The school currently serves less than 100 students. The DeGraffs hope to find a location large enough to begin admitting additional students from its waiting list.

The school currently provides more than 1,000 distance learners with DVD classroom lessons from the Liahona Academy, and that number is growing.