Maranatha Christian Academy

3 This fall, we saw excellence across the board from MCA students. Below are some highlights we're proud to share. Manatha Highlights The sheriff's office hosted a hero essay contest and juniors Makenzie Traver, Morgan Wilcox, and Mellenie Redick were selected as winners. Each winner was interviewed by the sheriff's department in February and the interviews will be used in a video promotion for a tribute golf tournament to recognize fallen heroes. Regan Reider won the ACSI Spelling Bee and has advanced to the next round, which will be held in Texas. Cole placed fourth. Morgan Wilcox was selected as the State of Kansas winner in the Voice of Democracy essay contest. She has advanced to the national level and will compete in Washington, D.C. Eighth graders have initiated a new outreach project called Operation Love Bomb. On Valentine's Day, every K-12th grader took four treat bags to a business of their choice on Shawnee Mission Parkway to bless them. Each treat bag contained a card from MCA, the student, and the Gospel of John, as well as a chocolate candy bar and granola bar. Our eighth graders worked incredibly hard to collect supplies and assemble the treat bags for distribution. Kinder-Prep students bring Mrs. Fogh much joy! DRIVER'S ED PROGRAM TO BEGIN FALL 2018 T his fall, MCA will introduce a driver's education program. We will have one class per quarter and the class will be during the "0" hour, 7-7:45 a.m. The program will run for six weeks (30 days) and there is a 10-student limit per class. Bryan Burdette will be the only instructor. Mr. Burdette has been teaching driver's ed through a commercial driving school in Frontenac, Kan., for the past seven years. The class will have an additional fee, which has not been finalized yet. For more information, contact Mr. Burdette at burdetteb@ma-kc.org. MARANATHA FAMILY NEWS Robb and Lisa Eaton are proud parents of two Maranatha alumnae, Emeri and Micah '14. Emeri accepted a position as a full-time worship pastor at Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert, Ariz., as she finishes her online studies with Ozark Christian College (OCC). Emeri is married to Evan Kornosky. Micah attended three semesters at OCC in Joplin, Mo. Robb is semi-retired and is a bus driver for First Student. Michael Elliott reports that his daughter, Sara '16, attends MidAmerica Nazarene University and was accepted to the honors program. Michael is a real estate appraiser and lives in Lenexa. Clair and Joan Gordon say that as parents to a Maranatha teacher and grandparents to a student, they "have always been proud of Maranatha's educational and life encouragements. Keep it up!" Chris and Donna Johnson report that their daughter, Kayla, has been at Maranatha since she was 2 years old. She is now nearly 13 and in the seventh grade. "We love the time and attention the teachers show to our daughter. She knows her teachers love and care about her. That's something you can't buy." The Johnson family lives in Shawnee. Pat Metzer reports her grandchildren attend Maranatha. She is retired and lives in Downers Grove, Ill. Pat quilts, volunteers to feed the homeless, and teaches religious education to sixth graders. Linda Smith resides in Shawnee. She teaches first grade at MCA. Linda and her late husband, Bob, have three children: David is an assistant U.S. attorney; Rachel '89 is an OT and married to Steve Raydo '88; and Evan is a youth missionary with a mission in France. Melissa Whitney is a mother and baby nurse at St. Luke's Hospital of KC. She lives in De Soto, Kan.

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