Andrew Szalay

When Andrew Szalay reflects on his years at Christian Central Academy, he sees it as more than just a school—it was the foundation for his faith, friendships, and future. “My dad always said I was a product of CCA,” he shares. “I did everything, other than attend church, through CCA. Sports, extracurriculars, my friends were all there.”

Andrew attended CCA from fifth grade through graduation, and during that time, he immersed himself in academics, athletics, and leadership opportunities. He found his place on the soccer and basketball teams, joined student council, and participated in mock trial. But one of his most significant experiences was starting a student newspaper.
“The newspaper was a big deal for me,” Andrew reflects. “It allowed me to lead something, manage reporters, and oversee publishing. I loved the teamwork that went into making a monthly newspaper—it was really a magazine that looked like a newspaper.” The experience helped develop his leadership skills, communication abilities, and appreciation for collaboration—skills that would serve him well in his future career.

Teachers at CCA also left a lasting mark on Andrew, but none more so than his middle school English teacher, the late Mrs. Bonnie Wells. “She took me from an apathetic student to someone who realized I had potential if I applied myself,” he shares. “During my time with her, she nurtured me from not wanting to bother with school to eagerly wanting to see what I would discover about myself through my lessons.” Her encouragement and guidance not only transformed his approach to learning but also instilled in him a lasting confidence and curiosity that carried far beyond his years at CCA.

After graduating, Andrew pursued a degree in Political Science at Canisius College. His education at CCA had instilled in him a strong work ethic and the ability to think critically, which proved invaluable as he entered the professional world. Moving to Washington, DC, he served as a registered lobbyist for the mortgage industry during the foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession—a time of immense economic uncertainty. The transition from a faith-based environment to the fast-paced world of politics and policy was challenging, but Andrew leaned on the foundation of faith he had built at CCA. “My Christian faith become wholly conscious when I started attending CCA in 5th Grade. It became a lifestyle. I had to re-learn how to foster it when I moved to work in Washington, DC, which was harder and took more intentionality than when I was at CCA,” he shares.