2024 KIS Labor Day Reunion

2024 KIS Labor Day Reunion

`Please come and join us at the KIS Labor Day Reunion for hours and days of reminiscing and reconnecting with your classmates, teachers, and other alumni. All ages are welcome.  KIS Principal, Corey Stixrud, KIS Development Officer, Kalyani Gandhi-Rhodes, and Alumni Coordinator, Manjusha Ninan will be in attendance to answer any of your questions on the exciting things happening at the school.  The KFI Board of Directors will be having an in person meeting on Friday, so please approach our Board Members during the weekend to ask questions about KFI, how to donate, and share your ideas.

There is a Sunday service for those who would like to attend, complete with an always amazing volunteer choir, as well as swimming, zip-lining, rock climbing, volleyball and hiking. The days are spent for the most part sitting about in/outside cabins or at the tables in the pavilion chatting with classmates and alumni, those you know and new friends you meet. You may end up ‘chopping and chatting’ while in the pavilion. This usually involves the chef of the day placing vegetables and cutting boards in front of you to chop while you chat with your old and new friends. All meals are family-style Indian food cooked on site by our own alumni. Meals may include dosai, sambar, idli, tandoori chicken, Kerala fish fry, and various vegetarian dishes, among other dishes. There are also non-Indian kids’ meals available for anyone.

The camp has lots of different styles of cabins that sleep between 4 -20 people, some with attached bathrooms, as well as Adirondack lean-to’s. You will need to bring your own bedding/sleeping bag and towel for these cabins. There is also plenty of space to pitch a tent. All accommodations are first come, first served. If you are not the camping type, higher-end rooms with attached bathroom, provided bedding, towels and AC are available but limited and in great demand. Please contact Mary Coleman Lowry about reservations, lowrymary36@gmail.com. There are also plenty of hotels and motels in the area.

Dates:
Wednesday, August 28 – Monday, September 1, 2024

Where:
Camp Kirchenwald
1 Cut Off Road
Lebanon, PA  17042

For more information, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @KISLaborDayReunion or email KISLaborDayReunion@gmail.com

A New Scholarship! South East Asian Regional Scholarship (SEAR)

The SEAR Scholarship is presented annually to two deserving students from the Southeast Asian region, initially being granted to students of Burmese origin entering Grade 11 at KIS. These students are recognized for their exceptional personal character, outstanding academic achievements, and unwavering determination to overcome challenges. The scholarship seeks individuals who not only strive for personal success but also demonstrate a profound commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.

This scholarship has been initiated by KIS Alumna Ms. Maureen Aung-Thwin (’66) in loving memory of her mother, Margaret Aung-Thwin, a dedicated educator and former KIS faculty member. It embodies the spirit of perseverance, academic excellence, and commitment to community values that Mrs. Aung-Thwin exemplified throughout her life.

Margaret Aung-Thwin’s legacy as an educator and translator is deeply ingrained in the SEAR Scholarship. Her multifaceted career spanned various countries and cultures, reflecting a life dedicated to education and cultural exchange. She was the first of fourteen children born to John F. Hodgson and Naw Thet Po, and she pursued her education with a BA and B.Ed from Judson College in Rangoon and an M.A. from SUNY Cortland. A Fulbright Exchange Scholar, she taught in various international settings, including schools in Rangoon, Kodaikanal, and Cornell University, and led adult education programs for the Miccosukee Native American community in Florida. Her significant contribution to Burmese literature, particularly through her translation of Ma Ma Lay’s “Not Out of Hate,” highlights her dedication to bridging cultural divides through education.

This scholarship is not merely a financial grant; it is an invitation to join a community that values educational excellence, cultural understanding, and a commitment to improving the world. It is a tribute to the enduring impact of a remarkable educator and a testament to the power of education to change lives.

Criterion for granting the KIS SEAR Scholarship

  • The scholarship will be granted to a Burmese origin residing in Myanmar or outside and is seeking an admission at KIS in grade 11.
  • The applicant should demonstrate a strong financial need (i.e., family income that is not sufficient to cover all education-related expenses at KIS).
  • Applicants should excel academically and exhibit outstanding personal character. The recipient will need to maintain a grade-point average (GPA) above 3.3.
  • Applicants should exhibit determination and perseverance in the face of challenges and should possess a strong will to succeed.
  • “Concern for Others” is a key KIS value. Applicant must not be involved in activity that affects the peace, decorum or democracy in their host country.

Amount Awarded

  • This scholarship is a two-year grant covering full tuition and development fees for two students incoming in Grade 11 until graduation.

Support the SEAR Scholarship

Partially funded by the generosity of Ms. Maureen Aung-Thwin, this scholarship also relies on the collective support of KIS and the alumni community, including former students and friends of Margaret Aung-Thwin. Your contribution can make a significant difference in shaping the futures of these promising young individuals.

Contribute to this important scholarship by going to this link:  https://www.kfi-us.org/donate-kfi/

If you are in India, you can also donate directly to KIS through their Website at https://www.kis.in/support/make-your-gift

 

Class of ’59 and ’61 Reunion

Class of ’59 and ’61 Reunion

Kodai kids had a really lovely reunion in Edmonds Wa this September 10 -14. It was an eclectic group, with a nice assortment of “other years” joining the mainly ‘59 and ‘61 ers who organized it. SaraAnn Lockwood and Virginia Herlong we’re the chiefs, assisted by a number of locals who provided great support.

Our agenda was Different from traditional reunions in that we were at a hotel rather than a retreat center and our days were separated by the choices of activities offered. One group had a beautiful tour of Whidbey Island and others puttered around the marina and into the quaint town of Edmonds.

Both evenings were well planned. A KODAI Alum staffer showed slides and spoke to us of the impact the alumni are having on the school development. The second night, David Rugh from Woodstock ‘50’s era spoke of his research on whales. He joined in our Whale Cruise the next day, when we were treated to lengthy sightings of three wonderful species of Washingtonian whales .

Special for the ‘61 attendees was the fact that we came together 24 hrs earlier than others and were able to have a particularly meaningful time of personal sharing Sunday night. We especially delighted in several new attendees. The following day we gathered for a collectively created feast at Steve and Donnas beautiful home in Mukilteo.

Of all the reunions many of us have attended, this one reportedly was more intimate and satisfying for the connections, old and new, that became possible by the setting, the program and the participants who chose to come.

Shabash to all!

Alumni Week 2023 at KIS

Alumni Week 2023 at KIS

Alumni Week 2023 at KIS, March 1-6

In March 2023, over 150 alumni guests visited Kodai for the Field Day Alumni Reunion Weekend celebrations.  There was such a great show of love and community as the Classes of '71, '73, '93, '95, '03 and '13 returned to Kodai.  When asked about "why they would leave the comfort of their daily routines and homes to return to Kodai", many responded fondly that they were simply returning "home."

The celebrations included a formal banquet at the Alumni Hall for all the alumni visitors, staff and the graduation class of 2023.  The decor was stunning, the program varied and well put together, and the food was amazing.  The alumni had other arranged activities, including tours of the main campus and the Ganga campus, the Pep Rally prior to Field Day, Alumni races, Canteen in the Quad, and the famous Field Day lunch served on a banana leaf (with some of the older folks struggling to sit cross legged!).

The Class of '73, who was celebrating their 50th reunion, had 20 class members, and 5 spouses attending.  They spent several days together at Pandy and Gowri Bhaskeran's Yercaud coffee estate before coming to Kodai. It was a beautiful and full 9 days of bonding and getting reacquainted.  By the end of the reunion, everyone left reluctantly, but with a promise to keep in touch and keep the life-long friendships going.

The Class of '71 was unable to hold their 50th reunion in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.  They jumped on the opportunity to come to the 2023 Alumni Week to celebrate their 52nd reunion.

Much gratitude goes to all at KIS for their thoughtful, loving and well organize Alumni Week!