Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, recently wrapped up its inspiring FOCUS Week culminating with a vibrant Culture Celebration and Parade, February 24-28. FOCUS Week, which stands for “Focus On Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice,” is a biannual tradition at MHA, designed to deepen students’ faith through daily chapel services and engaging messages about Christ’s love and sacrifice.

This year, MHA was honored to welcome Miguel Tello as the guest speaker. Tello is an experienced educator, mentor, and certified mental health coach with over 20 years of experience. His journey includes serving as a missionary in Bolivia for 11.5 years where he directed a children’s home and cofounded another children’s home and boarding academy in the jungle.

Today, he and his wife, Tara, run PM Orchards, a ministry dedicated to helping young adults transition into adulthood, strengthen academic skills, secure college scholarships, and break cycles of trauma.

With a heart for education and mental health, Tello delivered daily chapel messages for each of MHA’s school levels, sharing powerful personal stories of God’s faithfulness and practical ways to “Abide in Christ.” His messages deeply resonated with students, including MHA junior student Logen, who shared, “This was one of my favorite FOCUS Weeks. I really appreciated how Mr. Tello shared the struggles he faced, yet he always reflected on how much God continued to bring positives into his life.”

The week concluded with MHA’s Culture Celebration and Parade, where students proudly represented their cultural heritage through traditional attire and colorful flags. The gym was alive with energy as classrooms marched in, displaying the diverse backgrounds that make up the MHA community.

A special missionary spotlight was shared by Gabi DuBose, wife of MHA fifth-grade teacher Jason DuBose, who talked about her experiences as a student missionary in Palau, followed by an inspiring message from Tello about how Christ answers prayers—even in the most unexpected ways.

To top off the morning, students and guests enjoyed a selection of bite-sized foods from around the world. Cindy Roldan, MHA’s director of Student Services, who coordinated the event, reflected on its impact, saying, “It was so much fun seeing our students proudly representing their heritage. Though we come from different backgrounds, this celebration reminded us that we are all One in Christ.”

MHA hopes to expand the Cultural Celebration and Parade into a larger community-wide event, inviting even more families and friends to take part in this meaningful tradition. Roldan concluded, “As MHA looks to the future, traditions like FOCUS Week and the Cultural Celebration will allow MHA to continue to foster a learning environment where faith, heritage, and community come together, shaping and inspiriting the next generation.”

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.