by kfi | Aug 27, 2019 | Archives |
Sophia Mozhui came to KIS, from Nagaland, in search of its multicultural environment where students could interact and learn from each other. Sophia joined KIS with much reluctance from her mother to send her daughter far away from home. Today, Sophia and her family have had no regrets about her decision to join KIS.
Coming from a family heritage of music, Sophia was thrilled to learn about the music program at KIS. She already had a dream to play the violin since a child. “Music has always been a constant force in my life. One day while watching the Tom and Jerry Show on television I saw, Tom play the violin. Ironically it was this scene that inspired me to learn the violin since then,” recounts Sophia.
“Ever since I got a hold of my first violin it has become an extension of my body. Playing the violin always took me to another realm of freedom and expression that words could not provide. Music kept me grounded and rooted. It brought out and improved my ability to articulate my thoughts,” she continues.
“At KIS I had one of the best violin teachers hands down! KIS gave me the experience of playing in a school orchestra. I also became the orchestra master. Through the school’s music field trips, it gave me the opportunity to go to different places. My favorite experience includes performing at the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) music festival in Singapore,” shares Sophia.
Recently, Sophia attained the Keith Dejong Memorial Music Scholarship to use towards her passion for music. “Being chosen for such a prestigious scholarship fills me with deep gratitude. I am thankful to KIS for supporting my passion for music while I was a student here. To be awarded this scholarship has really motivated me to further pursue my hand in music.”
Sophia leaves school with mixed emotions of excitement and anxious anticipation, ready to embrace the new chapter in her college life. Sophia has committed to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, pursuing a Major in Business Administration and a Minor in her biggest passion – Music.
– Manjusha Ninan, Alumni Coordinator
by kfi | Oct 23, 2018 | Archives |
KFI welcomed three new members to the KFI Board of Directors: Jane Cummings (Class of ’57), Martin Messick (Class of ’83) and Jagat Sheth (Class of ’87). Other board members present for the video conference meeting were Bill Martin (President), Vijay Naidu (VP), Mary Coleman Lowry (Treasurer), Akshay Birla, Daryl Miller and David Piet, as well as ex officio members Corey Stixrud (KIS Principal) and Sylvia Rogers (KFI Administrator). KIS Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie Cauvet and KIS Alumni Coordinator Manjusha Ninan also participated as Invitees.
Highlights of the board meeting:
- The board passed a budget with a goal of raising $50.000 in the July 2018 through June 2019 fiscal year.
- The KIS Alumni Office’s current focus is to update its alumni records. Many alumni email addresses are not longer valid and many alumni have no contact information at all. Facebook and class reps are being used to reach out to those alumni.
- The donated hospital equipment to Van Allen Hospital arrived safely. KIS generously funded the in-country shipment and customs clearance expense to bring the donated equipment to Kodai.
- The formation of several committees took place. A Development Office Committee was formed to establishe a Development Office at KIS responsible for fundraising worldwide. Other committees include Finance, Nominating and Fundraising/Communications.
Please contact Sylvia Rogers, KFI Administrator, at admin@kfi-us.org, or any of the board members, click Board, for further information and clarification of the issues discussed.
by kfi | Oct 23, 2018 | Archives, North America Alumni Events |
Dear Kodai Friends
We were twenty-five (25) KIS alum and friends from across MN at Kodai Lunch at Macalester Plymouth United Church, 1658 Lincoln Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105. My apologies for inadequate directions to the church parking lot. Please turn south on Macalester Ave off Grand Ave, go past Lincoln Ave and turn right just south of the church.
We were honored by our senior alumni: Dr Bob and Mrs. Luann Carmen and son Mr. Chuck Carmen, Dr Miriam Naumann McCreary and husband Ken, niece Mrs. Cristina Nissen, Mr. John and Mrs. Faye Naumann. Great to see Mr. Paul and Mrs. Margaret Christiansen, Mrs. Marion Greene, Mrs Judy Kessler and son Mr. Joe Kessler, Mrs. Lisa Lindell Hoh and son and granddaughter, Mrs. Mimi Lindell, Mr. Joel Otten, Mrs. Jody Ramer, Dr. Tim Ramer, Dr. Joe and Mrs. Marty Rittmann, Mrs. Lynn Stoltz, Mrs. Pauline Yardy, Mrs. Dorothy Dejong, and Dr. Steve Zorn who spoke on behalf of Bethania Kids and led us in sung prayer.
Our great thanks to Jody for organizing and for chole, dal, and rice. To Mrs. Judy Kessler and Joe for abundant biriyani from Kumar’s thanks to their Thrivent Action Group grant. And to Dot for green beans, to Cristina for potatoes, for Joe for masala chai, green chili chicken and sides, for Paul and Margaret for dried mango, for Joel for banana chips, and others who brought fruit and tasties. And thanks to you for helping clear up.
Thanks with deep appreciation to those who donated a total of $340.00 to KFI for the KIS CEH (Center for Environment and Humanity). A small donation was made to the church and $300 was sent to Mrs. Louise Riber, Administrator KFI, 216 Viewcrest Rd, Bellingham, WA 98229. Online donations can be given here: https://www.kfi-us.org/donate-kfi/
Also, read here: https://www.kfi-us.org/environment-education-center/
If you know of any persons you think would wish to be included on our email list, please let me know: joeritt@gmail.com
Please keep Sat, October 7, 2023 for our next Kodai Lunch this Fall again at Macalester Church.
Have a great Summer. Cheers, joe
by kfi | Sep 25, 2018 | Archives, Projects - completed |
We thank you very much for the $8,000 KFI sent last fall to promote environment issues, enabling hiring Dr. Rajamanikam and his wife Lekshmi R. during the Spring Semester this year. They were given an office, worked with the Maintenance Deparment, participated in recycling and other activities, and presented in some classes and assemblies, etc., a big contribution to our functioning as a “Green School.”
As regards extension activities in Kodaikanal community, we had listed some expected quantifiable achievements, and we hereby report on them. Dr Rajamanikam spent full-time as follows:
1) Number of schools, hotels, others, that installed recycle bins and conducted good use training
We have installed sustainable solid waste management systems in 18 schools, 11 hotels, and 3 gated communities in and around Kodaikanal, by June 2018, which are functioning OK.
2) Number of schools, hotels, others, which invited presentations about recycling, showing interest
22 schools, 3 higher education institutes, 13 hotels, 4 NGOs, and 8 gated communities invited our presentations and outreach demonstrations, which were done. These have to be followed up
3) Number of wards or household areas in town that have begun recycling waste
We have been working informally with several individual households; 3 wards of Kodaikanal town are interested in working with us. This should be done through proper channel so Kodaikanal Municipality has to give government order for working with these wards; but as elections have been long delayed (because of death of the previous Chief Minister), there is still no elected Municipal Council Chairman nor ward members.
4) Quantity of recyclables collected and processed, and its estimated percentage of all town waste
Around 27 tonnes of dry-waste has been recovered through KIS initiative from these schools and hotels in Kodaikanal, which is only some 2% annual waste generation rate. But the Municipality still has no policy or budget for separating recyclables from trash. We are awaiting elections for the Municipal Council to be elected, and meanwhile we deal with the state-appointed Commissioner. Fortunately, he has assigned an old building and location where recyclables are now sorted by an agreed agent working with us.
5) List of environment-related projects undertaken by KIS students with advice of these experts
– Composting bins on the campuses now where they can bring home and dorm organic trash
– Sorting of recyclables in the 2 Recycle Centers—many students do this for their service hours
– Cleaning up around different parts of Kodaikanal
– Distribution and sale of cloth shopping bags to replace plastic
– Asking tourists in vehicles to give over their throw-away plastic junk
– At school student functions, use of drinking fountains or good bottles instead of disposable cups
– All students now have good water bottles, and throw-away plastic bottles are banned on campus
6) Number of KIS classes or groups in which the 2 experts made presentations and advised
Frequently worked with Grade 5 to 12 students on solid waste management and biodiversity conservation.
7) NGOs and other civic organizations in which KIS and the experts made substantial contribution
Worked frequently with Kodaikanal Rotary Club, Kodaikanal United Christian Youth Federation, PCK Women’s group, Kodai Smile Group, and Palani Hills Conservation Council
Ms Lekshmi R. was assigned by the Principal to write environment curricula for grades 6 through 10, which has taken considerable research and consultation. This now has to be integrated into the already busy Middle Years IB program and other activities. Also, Ms Lekshmi has been working to generate overall ideas about Environment for KIS, as requested. And lately she has worked on identifying laboratories, greenhouse, landscaping, etc for the proposed Environment Education Center.
This school year Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshi are regular KIS salaried staff, and the new KFI funds requested and sent are for helping to set up educational aspects of the new Environment Education Center.
Budget:
KFI gave $8,000 for Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshmi for last semester. Lekshmi has been working to finish her PhD in Pondy University so was absent for some time, so there is a balance, which has been added to the new KFI funding for this semester:
New KFI fund for Environment Center etc ($12,050) Rs. 808,675
Balance from KFI fund for last semester 96,558
Total for Environment Center this semester Rs. 905,233
Clarence Maloney
KIS Volunteer for Environment
August, 2018
by kfi | Aug 22, 2018 | Archives |
Dear Members of the DeJong Family,
I would like to thank you for your generous award, which I received last week and am grateful to have been one of the recipients of the award this year. Not only will this greatly impact my future financial investments, but will also be used as a stepping-stone towards my aspirations in music. In regards to my experience in music, I did several ABRSM exams throughout my time here at KIS. I passed the Grade 5 theory exam in 2011 and also passed the Grade 8 piano exam in 2015. As a student here, I was privileged to be given various opportunities that have strengthened my musicianship and passion for music. I was part of several choir groups for the past 6 years, one of which I served as the Choir Vice President, as well as a student section leader and conductor. I also had the honour of being part of a prestigious choir festival in Muscat this semester. Along with these involvements, I’ve also performed at school assemblies, Rock Concerts, in the Chapel praise and worship group, house concerts, springs concerts and winter concerts. During my senior year, I received a distinction in Grade 5 Voice and passed the Trinity Diploma Exam in Piano Performance, which was another solidifying block in the development of my musicianship.
I hope to carry on with my ambitions in music at Moody Bible Institute, where I will be doing a B.A in Music and focusing on piano performance, performing in choirs and writing arrangements. I will use this scholarship as a foundation for my investments for my education abroad and also as a way to help me move forward with my future in music. This award will also significantly benefit certain financial aspects of my college education, which will contribute to my overall expenses for my education abroad.
Once again, I would like to thank you for this award and knowing that this award will greatly help me in my future endeavours in music; it continues to give me hope that my aspirations in music will be achieved. As a recipient of the DeJong award, I will remember to uphold the honours of this award and acknowledge it as a reminder of how far I have come in music and how much more I will learn and grow in the future.
With warm regards,
Jane Jaikumar
by kfi | Aug 22, 2018 | Archives |
To the DeJong family,
This is to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to you for the money that you have granted me. I understand that this is no insignificant sum of money and this fund will be indispensable in my pursuit of a musical education. During my time at KIS, I wasn’t able to take IB Music as a course but have been very involved in the school’s music program through my involvement in events such as Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Kodai Unplugged and Rock Concert.
I intend to use this money to help finance my education at Berklee College of Music in Boston where I have been accepted for their undergraduate program.
Yet again, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly generous and helpful grant.
Sincerely,
Inesh Krishnamurthy, KIS Class of 2018
