World Changers

STUDENT LIFE World Changers Retire

Secondary teacher Cindy Brown retired in May after teaching at MDCA for 15 years. She taught high school journalism, middle school creative writing, and middle school English. “To be part of such an incredible school community is one of my life’s greatest blessings,” she says. “I was strict, but I absolutely loved my students, and they knew it. It was so special when alumni would come back to visit me, even if they hadn’t had my class since middle school.” Mrs. Brown is the only person in her immediate family who did not graduate from MDCA. Her husband, Dr. Rick Brown, graduated in 1977; their daughter, Lauren, in 2004; their son, Parker, in 2009; and their son, Davis, in 2013. “We each deeply cherish MDCA,” she says. “Our three kids had the best education and sense of community at MDCA, starting when our oldest entered preschool in 1988 until our youngest graduated in 2013.” Her three kids were MDCA multiple-sport athletes, homecoming court representatives, Seven Year Club Sports inductees, and Senior Superlatives. Each achieved a “first” at MDCA, too. Lauren was the first female inductee into the Seven Year Sports Club for two sports: golf and cheer. Parker was MDCA’s first quarterback in 2005 and is still the only one to start in that position for four years. Davis was one of the first four football players inducted into the Seven Year Club for football in 2013, and he was a founder of THE WAY in 2011, a student-led service club that still provides community outreach over a decade later. Mrs. Brown served as the club’s sponsor from 2013 until her retirement. “I LOVED watching students shine the light of Christ to others,” she says, “and it makes me so happy that two former members, Ashton (Davis) Ward and Kayley (Ross) White, will take over.” Even though she’s the only person in her family not to graduate from MDCA, Coach Brown has spent more hours on the campus than any of them. Her first “official” role at MDCA was as her daughter’s junior high cheer coach in 1997. Shortly afterwards she became nationally-certified and became the Varsity Coach. “I thought I would quit coaching when my daughter graduated in 2004,” she laughs, “but that obviously didn’t happen. I loved the girls.” This past January, Coach Brown was recognized for coaching at MDCA for 25 years. “Besides developing better athletes, coaching at MDCA has given me the opportunity to teach teen girls about the God who loves them and sent His Son to die for them.” She has two favorite cheer memories. The first was when she got approval from the MDCA Board to incorporate music routines into the cheer program. The first routine was (appropriately) to Space Jam’s “Are You Ready for This?” during halftime of a basketball game on February 4, 2003. “The gym erupted in applause when the squad finished, and the girls cried with joy.” Her second favorite memory was when MDCA began its football program in 2005 and being on the sidelines with cheerleaders virtually every game since. Her favorite thing about coaching, however, is the enduring relationships with many former cheerleaders. “Coaching has blessed me with lasting bonds that often develop between an athlete and a coach,” she says. “It is a special joy to attend bridal showers, weddings, and baby showers for my former girls, and to see the way God is working in their lives.” In July, the Browns traveled to Zimbabwe, Africa, for Davis’s wedding to Thabile (Tabby) Tshatedi. Davis and Tabby met in the MBA program at Lipscomb University, where she had been a Division I tennis player for four years. In addition to Coach Brown’s husband and children, six other MDCA alumni also traveled to Africa for the wedding: Wes Means ('13), Chace Miller

MDCA Alumni in Zimbabwe

('13), Dylan Rocca ('13), Case South ('13), Chad Simmons ('15), and Emily Curley ('16). MDCA Administrative Secretary Diana Bay and her husband, Jeff, also attended the festivities. “I’m thankful God chose MDCA to be part of my family’s journey,” Coach Brown says. She will still be on the MDCA sidelines during football season, but will also spend more time with her children and five grandchildren, who all live in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. She and Dr. Brown will eventually move there to be near them and her large extended family.

At our annual Volunteer Breakfast event, Jennifer Deleon was awarded with a globe to recognize her 18 years of service as a World Changer at Mount Dora Christian Academy. A familiar face to our campus, Deleon has had two daughters attend and graduate from MDCA. Her oldest, Kaylee (Seibert), married her MDCA high school sweetheart, Conner, in December of 2016. Kaylee is a RN in the ICU at AdventHealth Winter Park. They just welcomed their first son, Jackson McKay Seibert, in February of this year. Deleon's youngest daughter, Amelia, graduated from MDCA this past May. She is currently attending Clemson University to study biological sciences in the pursuit of becoming a physician. Deleon was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom and wanted to be a part of her children's day-to-day life. "Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing them go off to school; however, I wanted to be involved." This led her to become involved in the P-T-A and volunteer. Her favorite part of volunteering at MDCA was being a room mom. "The endless planning of class parties and watching the kids have a moment away from academics is priceless. Being a room mom is a great way to be involved, and you get to meet so many of your child's friends' parents. I have friends for life that I met and shared the room mom experience with." Some of her favorite memories volunteering include selling puppy chow, watching one daughter cheer at all the sporting events and the other's tennis matches, all the fun at Fall Festivals, chaperoning field trips, watching the butterfly garden come to life, watching the kids have a blast at the Boosterthon Color Run, working Chicken Suppers, eating school pizza on Fridays, and being a part of the countless classroom parties. Her advice to parents on volunteering is that, "Volunteering is easy, and everyone can do it! You can be as involved as you want to be, and there are so many opportunities. My advice is to experience all things MDCA, not just things that your child is involved with. Go to sporting events, help in a concession stand, go see a theater production, or help in the classroom." Although she doesn't have any set plans, Deleon is looking forward to spending her free time loving on her sweet grand baby and taking trips to South Carolina. MDCA will miss her positive attitude and servant heart.