07/27/2026
Thank you so much for the shout out Totino-Grace High School, I am completely honored and humbled. This school taught me so much on how to lead and to have pillars of service, community, faith, and education. I have carried theses foundations close to heart in everything I do and they for sure show through here at Marys Cafe with our amazing community of customers and staff.
Alumni Highlight: Makana Burke '13
For Makana, every step of his journey has prepared him for the next.
Today, he owns and operates Mary's Cafe in Vermont, the family restaurant where he spent childhood summers working alongside his grandparents. After graduating from Totino-Grace in 2013, Makana followed his entrepreneurial instincts opening a design store, attending photography school, working as an apprentice electrician, supervised valet operations for major Los Angeles hotels, and returning to Totino-Grace as an assistant lacrosse coach. When his grandparents retired in 2024, Makana stepped in to continue the family legacy. "All of those experiences prepared me for this opportunity," he says. "It just felt like the right time."
At Totino-Grace, Makana immersed himself in campus life, participating in varsity hockey and lacrosse, Jazz I, Pep Band, Show Choir, Student Ambassadors, Campus Ministry, and Link Crew. His favorite memories came with the lacrosse program, where the Eagles reached the state tournament during each of his varsity seasons. "The lacrosse team felt like family," he says, crediting Coach Hoban for helping shape his leadership and character.
Makana also remembers the lasting impact of teachers Mike Schimek, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Voss, and Mr. and Mrs. Neumann, along with the lunch crew who made campus feel like home. Looking back, Makana says Totino-Grace gave him much more than an education. "I found my entrepreneurial spirit at TG. It was where my mind expanded beyond the classroom." The values of community, service, family, and faith continue to guide him today. "TG made me the person I am today. It prepared me for the real world."
Whether leading a team, coaching student-athletes, or welcoming guests into Mary's Café, Makana continues to build on the foundation established at Totino-Grace. Serving others, creating community, and carrying forward a legacy that feels like home.
