Orlando Junior Academy (OJA) joyfully welcomed alumni, former staff, and friends to their campus on Sabbath, April 18, 2026, for a Legacy Open House celebrating the school’s 120th anniversary. Nearly 200 former students, parents, teachers, and staff gathered for what became a heartfelt homecoming, filled with warm reunions and shared memories.
Founded in 1906 in downtown Orlando, Fla., just steps from what is now AdventHealth, Orlando Junior Academy has served generations of families for more than a century. Today, the school enrolls students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, though it once offered classes through ninth grade.
Alumni in attendance represented a remarkable span of generations, a visible testament to the enduring impact of the school. Among those present was Lylyan Wynn-Burns, who began first grade at Orlando Junior Academy in 1938, and graduated from eighth grade in 1946. Former principal Harry Mayden also attended. He served as principal from 1968 to 1978, while his wife worked as the school’s administrative assistant, and all four of their children attended Orlando Junior Academy.
OJA’s rich heritage is reflected in the many alumni who proudly share that their parents, and even grandparents, also walked the halls of this school. To honor these multigenerational connections, Orlando Junior Academy is establishing a Legacy Scholarship that will provide $500 annually to children of OJA alumni. Families interested in learning more are encouraged to contact the school directly for details.
Orlando Junior Academy also invites former students and families to reconnect through its Alumni Association database. Alumni may register through the school’s website, discoveroja.com.
For 120 years, Orlando Junior Academy has remained a place where faith and learning come together to nurture young hearts and minds. By God’s grace, the school continues its mission of ministering to families and sharing Christ with future generations.
Florida | July 2026
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