It often seems like in our age the concept of the "Renaissance man", or woman for that matter, has become something of a distant memory.

Vicente Chavarria sits immersed in Miami Christian's atlas.

If one were to be described as a "Renaissance" individual in the not-so-distant-past one had to be skilled in a variety of disciplines, i.e. scholarship, music, the arts, etc.

But in this age of specialization, we see many athletes who are rarely scholars, many more doctors but fewer general practitioners, and often a consuming immersion in work that precludes interest in other forms of recreation.

It would seem then that Vicente Chavarria, a seventh grade honors student at Miami Christian School, is truly a throwback. The 11-year-old Chavarria has distinguished himself in a variety of areas, most recently when he won the school-wide geography bee, a feat described in last month's Tribune.

"Vicente has always been exceptional," explained his mother Leonor, a CPA. "He started reading when he was just two-and-a-half and by six he could read English, Spanish, and music."

He has won every school geography bee since the fifth grade, but that shouldn't come as any real surprise given that he had mastered the map of the United States before he was five. He has also been the school's spelling bee champion over that same time period, making it to the county competition every year.

Chavarria, who lives with his mother and his father Vicente, Sr., a doctor, has also skipped two grade levels since starting Miami Christian, an impressive enough feat on its own but even more so given his extra-curricular activities.

"I play the piano, guitar, and flute, but the flute is my main instrument," he said. "I love playing but I also love arranging music. Most recently I arranged Moon River by Mancini for the middle school ensemble to perform."

Chavarria is also an avid reader, especially of mystery novels, and he loves to write them as well in his spare time.

And if that weren't enough, Chavarria is also something of a computer nut, and is always tinkering with the settings on his machine.

"I like playing with it," he explained, "seeing what it can do."

Chavarria and his parents are grateful for the opportunities that Miami Christian has given him and the friends he has made there.

He concluded, "The school in general has opened lots of doors for me, challenged me to be better. (Miami Christian Principal) Dr. Logan, my teachers, my friends, my Mom, Dad, and all the rest of my family.