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Young Alumnus Returns as Taskforce

Posted on Aug 19, 2010

YOUNG ALUMNUS RETURNS AS TASK FORCE

Spending a year as a student missionary or a task force worker is a challenging yet rewarding experience for many college students who take advantage of the opportunity.  These students work overseas or become staff at academies across the nation.  Entering into his second year of college, MacKenzie Miller ‘08 was one of many students praying about taking a year off from college to serve, but not yet sure where God would lead him.

After MacKenzie graduated from Dakota Adventist Academy two years ago, he headed to Union College to begin studies in the psychology program to become a counselor.  An avid basketball player, he was a student leader on and off the court at DAA, being involved as an officer of both the Student Association and his class, and as a resident assistant.  This past February, when DAA attended the basketball tournament at Union, MacKenzie went to watch a couple of games and cheer on the DAA Knights.

In between the games, Chris Morrison, DAA's boys' dean and PE teacher, started talking to MacKenzie about the need for a new assistant boys' dean next year.  MacKenzie had not really considered the possibility of coming back to DAA, but in his prayers he had asked God to put him where God could use him.  A couple months later, MacKenzie spent the weekend recruiting with DAA's principal, Leonard Quaile, and he knew that God was clearly opening the door for him to return to DAA. 

In addition to the task of assistant boys' dean, MacKenzie will be organizing intramurals for the students, helping coach basketball, and supervising study halls and an online computer class.  He knows there is a lot of work ahead of him this year.  He is eager to make the most of it and is ready to work with the students, some of whom were freshman when he was a senior.  

MacKenzie is also excited to be closer to his family once again.  His parents, Wayne '77 and Karlene '78, have a farm near Napoleon, ND.  He is also following in the footsteps of his cousin, Jordan Vliet, who served last year as assistant boys' dean.  The DAA staff, many of whom had MacKenzie as a student, is excited about the addition to the team and knows MacKenzie will be a positive leader for the students.

By Rachael Boyd