by kfi | Nov 15, 2025 | In the Spotlight, Projects - current |
DeJong Memorial Music Award 2025
Recipient 1 – Mengutsunuo Shurhozolie – Class of 2025
Mengutsunuo joined KIS in Grade 11 and carried a strong passion for music and perofrming arts. She was part of the advanced choir and performed at several stage events.“I am filled with a lot of gratitude for this place has given me so much. From the friends I have made along the way to the encouragement that I have received from my teachers, KIS has led me to become who I am today. KIS has inspired and motivated me to develop my passion for music through many practices, rehearsals and performances. I have accomplished things that I never thought I could. As I move forward, I intend to pursue musical theatre through formal education, acting and live performances. I intend to improve my skills in voice and acting and exploring different genres of performing arts. Thank you for the award, I am very grateful for being a student at KIS!”
The Keith and Marcine DeJong Music Legacy is supported through KFI’s Keith DeJong Music Award and Scholarship Fund.
by kfi | Nov 15, 2025 | In the Spotlight, Projects - current |
Recipient: Anushka Moudgil, Awarded for two years, Grade 11 & 12
Anuskha is the recipient of the Russell De Valois Scholarship (23-25). Having studied in a Cambridge program prior to KIS, Anushka was looking for an academic program that would allow her to enhance her worldview in Economics and Business. Partly Russian and partly Indian by ethnicity, Anoushka was a wonderful student with a keen interest in STEM subjects. Apart from her academic pursuits, Anoushka immersed herself in our Music and Hiking program. In her own words, “As my two years in KIS came to a conclusion, I left Kodi with a myriad of memories and experiences. Whether it was having discussions with my teachers, lounging on the library lawn with my friends, or just taking in the beauty of Kodaikanal out on hikes, everything KIS had offered me helped me grow. To grow in intellect, to grow in kindness, to grow in friendship and understanding. To me, these memories and experiences aren’t just something to look back fondly on, but also lessons and reflections of how I was able to develop myself into a better person, and how I can keep developing myself further. For instance, KIS has helped me foster a stronger learning attitude to the point where right now, during the summer break, I can’t help but try to teach myself some more German, piano and music theory! KIS has also helped me determine what I would like to continue doing. Though initially I was unsure if I could handle the intensity of Medicine, after much thought and encouragement from teachers and my career counselor, I feel confident in my choice of pursuing Medicine at Saint Petersburg State University. I would like to thank you dear donors once again for helping my reality take the shape that it did and for helping me set the stage for me to shape my future.”
by kfi | Nov 14, 2025 | In the Spotlight, Projects - current |
Recipient: Vedika Dave, Awarded for 2 years, Grade 11 and 12
Vedika Dave was awarded the KIS STEM scholarship for Women (23-25). Vedika aspires to be a Scientist pursuing her passion in Bio Chemistry. Originally from Gujarat, Vedika has already made many strides in her chosen field, working with eminent professors in Indian Universities and assisting them with their research work. At KIS, she was a member of Science National Honors Society, and was head of the Girls in STEM club. A skilled dancer, Vedika was a constant in any school performance. Overall, Vedika has been a valuable addition to the KIS community! In her own words, “Studying at KIS was a transformative experience for me. The IBDP has been an extremely rigorous program and it has stretched my abilities in several ways. I have also had the opportunity to connect with students from so many different backgrounds and I feel like these friendships will last a lifetime. I am thankful to all my donors who have made this journey possible for me.”
by kfi | Sep 25, 2025 | North America Alumni Events |
A week has passed since we packed up from Camp K, yet the glow of reunion still lingers. The laughter, the music, the endless meals and conversations—they’re the kind of memories that fuel you for the year ahead, and the kind that make you vow to come back for the next one.
The Journeys
Each of us has our own story about getting to camp. For me, it took some doing. I left Los Angeles in the dark hours of Tuesday morning, spent the night in a no-frills motel outside Philadelphia, and caught a train to Elizabethtown. Teresa Teves picked me up shortly after I arrived, and before we even set foot on campgrounds, we detoured to Costco in Harrisburg. There, with Ted Hahn, Pam Schmitthenner, and Lisa Lindell Hoh, we filled carts to the brim—supplies enough to feed an army of Kodai-ites.
We rolled into camp after two, famished and half-afraid that lunch was over. But Joe Rittmann was waiting with a hot meal: pepper chicken, pork vindaloo, vegetable rice palau, rajma dal, chapatis, and steaming chai. A feast after a long trip.
Setting the Stage
The first days belong to the advance crew—hauling gear out of storage, readying kitchens, and warming up old friendships. Mario Belido lifted spirits further with his legendary ribs, corn on the cob, and baked beans for supper. We sat around the Schreiberhaus kitchen tables, tired but happy, catching up as the smell of smoke and spice wrapped around us.
My Thursday began with Bob Edwards calling from the road at dawn. He’d been driving since 3 a.m., and was hoping his coffee and a green chili omelet be ready when he arrived. I was on omelet duty, and between 7 and 9:30 I cranked out thirty of them, only burning two (they were eaten anyway). By then the camp was filling fast—Joe Kessler and Zuhair Gafur were busy with check-ins, voices echoed through the halls, and I gave up on napping once Maureen Aung Thwin and Toni Stepanik appeared in the Schreiberhaus lobby. That’s the beauty of reunion—you never know who you’ll bump into, and every encounter sparks a story.
Food, Fire, and Friendship
Meals this year rose to a new level thanks to Joe’s mastery in the kitchen and the contributions of many others. Thursday night brought chapli kebabs, Indad pork, and tomato curry. Friday the activities moved to the Pavilion, and the morning started with Mike Kolumban’s dosa, coconut and peanut chutneys, and sambar, followed by a hike through marshes, woods, and meadows led by Rob Granner, and ended with Hans Schmitthenner’s Tandoori Chicken with all the trimmings for supper. Banana Leaf Restaurant catered several spectacular meals, each one a festival of flavors—shrimp curry, rasam, biriyani, khorma, poriyal, chapatis, and more.
Cooking class with Louise Baxter, and yoga class with Sabrina Edwards Granner, chai breaks, and firepit gatherings filled in the spaces between. At night, guitars came out, voices blended, and the circle of firelight drew us close. By Saturday, with more than 140 campers present, Camp K felt like its own small village—alive with song, storytelling, happy hours, and the sheer joy of being together again.
Highlights
- The Weather: This year there was no hurricane or heat wave; just beautiful early-fall weather—chilly mornings and mild days.
- Music & Firelight: From Ellen “Dash” Walters leading singalongs in the Pavilion to Chris Granner on guitar at campfires—whether at Schreiber or up by the cabins—music was everywhere, the heartbeat of each night.
- Shared Passions: Talks and updates reminded us of our roots—Ron Koepke on Bethania Kids, Liz Easter and Iti Maloney on KIS, Margaret Greene on KFI.
- Saturday Feast: Banana Leaf’s dosa truck was a showstopper—freshly grilled masala and Mysore dosas, chutneys, sambar, rice, and Dash’s music floating through the pavilion.
- Volunteers: So many pitched in to help that I can’t name you here. You know who you are. You made a tremendous contribution to the success of the reunion.
- Class of ’66 Happy Hour: Maureen and Toni hosted their customary gathering in the Schreiberhaus lobby.
- Church Service and Music: Bob Granner accompanied Rob Granner and Bob Edwards in Cesar Franck’s Panis Angelicus, and the ad hoc choir, conducted by Wendy Osterling and accompanied on keyboard by Barbara Pickard Hays, filled the room with hymns. Ann Staal’s sermon was deep and meaningful.
Closing Notes
On Sunday, Ray Weddington served breakfast of Bombay toast with sausage and bacon, and fresh fruit, followed later by a final catered lunch before departures began in earnest. Leftovers turned into one last shared meal for the stragglers, unwilling to let the weekend end.
Camp Kirchenwald 2025, as always, was more than a reunion—it was a reminder of why we keep coming back. The food fills us, yes, but it’s the friendships, the laughter, the familiar faces across the firelight that carry us forward. Until next year.
by kfi | Jul 15, 2025 | In the Spotlight |
Dr. Brad has served as an educator and school leader for 25 years at locations in Africa and Asia. Prior to joining KIS, he lived in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, where he was Vice Principal at Woodstock School. His previous tenure at Woodstock stands testament to the long standing history that Woodstock and Kodai share. Brad comes with the knowledge that helps him navigate the rich legacy of our school and alumni community.
A teacher, published researcher, and senior administrator since 2001, Dr. Brad thrives on group dynamics and relishes the challenge of channeling collective passion into collaborative initiatives. Student wellbeing is his guiding principle; every initiative he undertakes places students first.
Dr. Brad believes strongly in character development, the vital importance of role-modeling, active classroom pedagogy, and holistic education. He is committed to the promotion of integrity, kindness, forgiveness, and other core Christian values that infuse individual well-being.
A native of the US Carolinas, Dr. Brad grew up between beautiful beaches and mountains, which fostered an appreciation of the powerful role outdoor education can play in whole-child development. He and his family have since embraced nature’s wonders wherever they go, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the coastlines of Japan and China. This leaves much for them to explore in the Palani Hills and surrounding coasts.
