Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future
From our first graduating class to today, we're proud to carry forward the traditions and values that shaped us at Felix Varela Senior High.
Started by the class that started it all.
Felix Varela Senior High opened August 28, 2000 in The Hammocks — named for Father Félix Varela, the Cuban priest and human rights advocate — built to relieve overcrowding at G. Holmes Braddock and Miami Sunset High. The Class of 2003 was Varela's first graduating class, since they arrived as 10th graders in year one. The Class of 2004 — who started as freshmen — was the first class to spend all four years as Vipers, and it's the class that founded this alumni association.
As the school neared its 20-year mark, we realized how deeply the Viper spirit has carried through the decades. What started as a solution to overcrowding became a community where friendships were formed, lessons were learned, and legacies were born.
Today, our alumni span the globe, achieving incredible things in education, business, the arts, public service, and beyond. We believe it's time to reconnect, reflect, and reignite that spirit — not just to look back, but to give forward: reunions and networking, scholarships and school support, and recognizing students who carry the legacy forward, like our Viper Spirit Award.
Timeline
Felix Varela Senior High opens August 28 in The Hammocks under founding principal Millie Fornell, named for Father Félix Varela, to relieve overcrowding at Braddock and Miami Sunset High.
The Class of 2003 walks as Varela's first graduating class.
The Class of 2004 — the first to spend all four years as Vipers — graduates, and later founds the Alumni Association.
Connie Navarro succeeds Millie Fornell as principal.
Boys' soccer brings home the school's first state title, the FHSAA Class 6A championship.
Boys' soccer repeats as FHSAA Class 6A state champions and adds a national title the same year.
Varela enrolls 51 students displaced by the Haiti earthquake — the second-highest number of any Miami-Dade school — with added counseling and new AP French sections to support them.
Nery Fins becomes principal, leading the school for the next 12 years.
Adrian M. Sánchez becomes principal, continuing to lead Varela today.
The association organizes formally: a class directory, a giving program, and a home for every Viper to find their year.
Have photos, dates, or details from your class era? We'd love to add them — email info@varelavipersalumni.org.
Celebrating students who carry the legacy
“Education and student connection have always been close to my heart, and the chance to honor our alma mater through the Viper Spirit Award is a privilege. Each year, one senior is recognized for their pride, perseverance, and leadership as a true Viper. Being invited to present this award for the past two years has been a powerful reminder of why our alumni community exists and why we continue to strengthen our bond with students, staff, and future graduates.”
Amy Miller
Our Board Members
Amy Miller
Eleni Miralles
Patricia Corrie
Kristina Delvalle
Krystel Bosques
Want to join the board? Get involved and tell us how you'd like to help.
Silver and Green
Silver and Green, those colors we do hail.
Our flag flies above us saying “We Shall Not Fail.”
Silver and Green, these colors give us fight,
Our team marching proudly onward, glist'ning and bright.
Silver and Green, make us Vipers through and through!
Hail our Varela High, our Alma Mater Varela High —
we sing out with pride, “Our Varela High.”