Illustrious alumni return, share & give back, too!

By Gloria Burns….

Kevin Vega poses with MCS students on recent visit to alma mater.

Miami Christian School takes full advantage of its illustrious list of graduates who generously return to MCS to speak to student assemblies and share with the students how they achieved their success.  Among that remarkable group of alumni is Kevin Vega (’98) who recently visited the campus and addressed the students.  The crowd was inspired and impressed by Vega, who holds the distinction of being the youngest chief engineer in the history of NASA.  Vega recounted his post-MCS journey to Wentworth College on a baseball scholarship to obtaining a position at NASA.  While in college he worked on developing the Honda Insight Hybrid, ways to measure pollution, and, as a senior project, developed a non-invasive probe to help detect cancer.  His senior project won first place in the Senior Project Engineering Competition of all Northeast Universities.

As part of the Doral Business Council, Miami Christian School’s representatives recently helped with a luncheon and auction on Sept. 23, raising funds for Safe Haven for Newborns.  In addition, MCS students volunteered at the 5K Freedom Run at JC Bermudez Park on Sept. 10. They may also have been seen at many other upcoming charity walks and runs, but if not, you can bet the students are busy doing some kind of community outreach, something MCS holds in high regard as a commitment passed along to all students.

One of their many pet outreach projects, especially for Beta Club and the MCS Elementary School, is Sunil’s Home Orphanage in India. The two student groups raise money year around to help the orphanage give a loving home to homeless children who would otherwise live on the streets, alone and unprotected. At the end of the last school year, the groups had raised $1,800. A check for that amount was presented to Lynn Bauer, (aka: “Mama Lynn: to the orphans) by Donna Gehring and Dr. Teri Logan before Bauer’s most recent trip to India this past August.  On her return, Bauer visited the MCS students, displaying photos of the children with their new computers MCS donations had provided.  Bauer also entertained the students with updates on the children as well as their many animals, some tame and some not.  Bauer even put together a beautiful color photo booklet for each of the students so that they can see how old friends have grown while viewing newest children arriving at the Home since her last visit.

On the sports front, student athletes are participating in football, cross country and volleyball. Both the Varsity and Junior Varsity volleyball teams began their seasons without defeat. In addition, MCS studentAlex Yaniz was recognized for his achievement as Junior Bowler of the Year, and as winner of the Top 8 Average Tournament for South Florida during the Greater Miami USBC Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner Sept. 17.

Wayne Clark, who attended MCS from Kindergarten through 10th grade, was recently sworn into the University of Florida Police Department.  A graduate of FIU with a degree in Criminal Justice, Clark has worked for the State of Florida for several years, first as a Probation Officer and now as a Police Officer. He now resides in Gainesville with his wife Alline, who is a dental hygienist. Proud mother, Joanna Clark teaches First Grade at MCS.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.