ENID — Oklahoma Bible Academy is going strong for a 100-year-old.

The private secondary school was founded in 1911 as the Meno Preparatory School, operated by New Hopedale Mennonite Church. The school moved to Enid in 1983.

The school recently celebrated the beginning of its century year with 100 feet of birthday cake — but the big celebration is yet to come. In August, there will be a Saturday golf tournament, an alumni gathering, worship service and a Saturday night banquet.

OBA Headmaster Paul McDonald said his family ties to the school go back a long way.

“My wife’s grandfather graduated from OBA in 1937,” McDonald said.

The original founders largely were Mennonites who wanted their children to have a Bible-based education and know German, McDonald said. Now students come from all Christian denominations.

“Our largest population is Baptist now,” McDonald said.

Learning German no longer is a big priority, but teaching Christian values along with the basic curriculum of reading, writing, science and mathematics has not changed.

“Spiritual formation and academic rigor are not mutually exclusive,” McDonald said.

Indeed, McDonald points to the fact northwestern Oklahoma’s only two National Merit Scholar semi-finalists are OBA students.

“Last year we had a finalist,” McDonald added.

Looking toward the future, an ambitious 50-year expansion plan calls for buildings to be added across the school’s 80-acre campus on West Chestnut. These will include a field house, learning center, wellness center, education building, performing arts center, campus housing, a tennis center and campus nursery. The plan also calls for the addition of a soccer field.

A combination practice gym and classroom building currently is under construction.

“We’re kind of tight around here,” McDonald said. “We’re using the library for a classroom.”

Aug. 1 is the intended completion date for the building. The $1.25 million needed to build it was raised before the first hammer was swung. That’s because moving the school to Enid in 1983 and being beset by an oil bust nearly cost the operation of the school.

“The school has a no-debt policy,” McDonald said of the difficulties the school went through at that time.

Having a $1 million endowment for tuition assistance is another goal for the school’s second century. The endowment fund, already gathering money, nearly is at its goal, McDonald said.

About 160 of OBA’s 285 students attend high school. Some lower-income families have been able to access the school because of assistance with the $4,500 tuition.

As for the New Hopedale Mennonite congregation that launched the Meno Preparatory School a century ago, they still look on like proud parents even though the school now is in Enid.

Pastor James Suderman of New Hopedale Mennonite Church is on the board of directors for OBA and also has two children enrolled at the school. Three other church youth likewise are students at OBA.

“I’ve got a lot of alumni here at church, and former board members,” Suderman said.

Suderman said he believes the school New Hopedale gave birth to has a long and meaningful life ahead.

“I’m very optimistic and encouraged by the direction that the school has,” Suderman said. “I think I came on to a really good school board, and I’m very positive about the future.”�