Luis Miranda

Today veterinary student Luis Miranda defended his graduation project, the use of whey as a supplement to piglet feed. He found that using whey increased the profitability of production, and decreased diarrhea.

Luis has been working for the far-off municipality of Alto Beni, helping the local government write grants to make their rural communities more successful. This is a very important job: most rural development done by local government relies on grants from the government and non-governmental organizations, but most rural municipalities do not have people capable of writing and managing grants.


Photo: New graduate Luis Miranda poses with his father after his successful defense.

When he spoke after receiving his grade, he said, "Sister Damon got all of us together at the end of our year of pre-university studies, and we all thanked her. But she told us, 'I appreciate your thanks, but what I really want is for you to become professionals -- that will be your real thanks to me.'" Well, today she got her wish with Luis Miranda.

Alumni Association

Sarah and I have held alumni reunions in the past, but the one we organized yesterday in Caranavi is likely to be our last -- because the graduated decided yesterday to form an Alumni Association and organize their own meetings from now on!


Photo: Sister Christine Cullen, MFIC, joined the group. Sister Chris helped build the original structures at the College in 1993.

After a dip in the pool and lunch from the grill, veterinary grad Dani Chambilla proposed the association to the group, which quickly approved the idea, and elected officers to get a plan together.


Photo: New President of the Alumni Association Javier Álvarez with his officers Zenón Maquera, Dani Chambilla, Pastor Acho, Efraín Ajnota and Félix Bohorquez.

The new association will help us immensely with contacting grads about job and educational opportunities, channel support to the College, and keep the family together. The next meeting is planned for March, so soon there will be even more to report!