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

by | Mar 8, 2024 | Announcements, In the Spotlight, Projects - current | 0 comments

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

by | Oct 20, 2023 | Announcements, North America Alumni Events | 0 comments

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

by | Mar 30, 2023 | Announcements, North America Alumni Events | 0 comments

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!

Keep in Touch

Keep in Touch

by | Apr 28, 2022 | Announcements, In the Spotlight | 0 comments

Keep in Touch!

Kodai Friends International Website

Kodaikanal International School Website

KIS Alumni Association Facebook Page

KIS Archives: Page through Eucys through the years, find a new recipe
in the Highclerc Cookery Book, travel the world through Nora Mitchell’s
photos and journals

KIS Hiking Over the Decades: An Interactive Photo Timeline
– add your hiking story and/or pictures

Wish you could watch a virtual tour of what the school
looks like today?
Missed that Quad Talk on …?
Wonder how the 2020 KIS production of The Music Man
compares to the 1967 version?
All this and more can be seen on the KIS YouTube Channel

The Nora Mitchell Collection

The Nora Mitchell Collection

by | Nov 24, 2021 | Announcements | 0 comments

The Nora Mitchell Collection was a large bequest made to the school after Nora, a much-loved and highly respected teacher from 1964 to 1968, died. Besides being an excellent teacher of German, Indian Social Studies, and Geography, she was an avid traveler. The collection includes her travelogues and pictures, beginning in 1951 with her European travels, through her arrival in India in 1956, to what appears to be her last trip in 2000 when she was living in London.

In response to a grant request from KIS for the funds remaining in the Archives Fund, originally established by the Class of 1961, funds were sent to help pay the part-time salary of Barbara Block, Class of 1976, to continue work on the archives, especially the Nora Mitchell Collection.

Please enjoy the Nora Mitchell Collection by clicking HERE.