Faculty Awards – Alice Edwin (English) Prize and the Martin Engelbrecht (Economics) Prize

Initiated by alumni from KIS, these were instituted to facilitate the renaming of the English and Economics academic Prizes at KIS, to the Alice Edwin (English) Prize and the Martin Engelbrecht (Economics) Prize, respectively. Mrs. Alice Edwin and Mr. Martin Engelbrecht are beloved educators who taught at KIS in the 1970s and 80s. Each Prize will be a certificate of recognition, and each Prize will be awarded annually to the student(s) who is recognized to be the top English and the top Economics student(s), respectively. 

Alice Edwin English Prize:  Recipient Maya Arun, Grade 12

Maya Arun has displayed some outstanding qualities as a learner and more specifically, as someone who has the rare ability to truly see into texts of varying types, observe authorial choices, uncover textual subtleties and express herself in both, the spoken and written form, with aplomb. Her engagement with the subject went far beyond the confines of the classroom. She contributed to the local magazine, the Kodi Chronicle and also chose to do a literature IB extended essay. This piece of work, in particular, marked her out as someone who was enthusiastic to push the boundaries of her knowledge and her attempt to analyse Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale through the lens of post-structuralism was, to say the least, remarkably courageous and testament to her traits of being a risk-taker and an inquirer. It is for these reasons and others that Maya was the proud recipient of the Alice Edwin English Prize, 2023.

Maya plans to attend the University of Alberta, Canada to study Psychology

Personal Statement from Maya

I first joined KIS in the second grade when I was seven years old. When I first visited the school a few months prior, I was most drawn to the library on Ganga campus. Having never been to a library before, my affinity for reading stemmed from my attraction to the Ganga Library and the many hours I spent reading there. Kodai school was responsible for much of my initial development in reading, and my writing skills for what they are now. In middle school, I participated in short story writing competitions facilitated by the school. In high school, my love for English was encouraged by the IB English Language and Literature course. It is through this course that I’ve found the writing I enjoy most is that of analysing literature. While I don’t currently intend to pursue English in university, I hope to find alternative outlets for my inclination towards the subject.

Martin Engelbrecht Economics Prize:  Recipient – Tanisha Dodla, Grade 12

Tanisha Dodla is an intellectually curious and constructive student when it comes to her knowledge of Economics and its mathematical aptitude. Her self-driven interest helps to push herself to be engaged in class and to be able to produce the best of the assignments. Tanisha has the aspirations to look at this complicated subject’s complexity and intertwined system. Her understanding of economics and her ability to apply it to real life is in-depth. 

Tanisha is a stalwart among her peers.  Despite facing many obstacles and challenges, she has held unwavering love for the subject. This love is reflected in her choice of economics as one of the subject areas for her world studies extended essay. Her creative and lateral thinking attributes, along with the passion to collaborate with her peers by understanding their perspectives makes her a worthy scholar of Economics. With her calm demeanour, patience and dedication, she has become an inspiration to her peers and juniors. 

Tanisha plans to attend Macalester College in Minneapolis, to study Economics and Public Policy

Personal Statement from Tanisha

I was honored to receive the Martin Engelbrecht Economics Award from the head of the department Ms. Sophia. I have loved economics since I was first introduced to it through the invisible hand theory. These past two years have allowed me to explore economics through my extended essay and research paper with the help of my economics teacher Ms. Gandhari. I will study economics and mathematics in college in the United States, and being bestowed with this award made me feel validated in my efforts over the years! 

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The KIS website, KIS Archives, contains a treasure trove of stories, pictures, notable persons, and memorabilia related to the history of
Kodaikanal International School. Click on this site and risk getting lost in this world for several hours!

Some of the highlights of the Archives include a collection of school yearbooks,“The Eucy,” beginning in 1940, and an assemblage of historical photographs of Kodai and its early (white) settlers. These include pictures of transportation up the Coolie Ghat, views from
Coaker’s Walk, and sights around the Kodai lake and township. In addition, there are class pictures through the years, beginning in 1901,
and recipes from the 1950 (5th edition) High Clerc Cookery Book. (Porcupine Meatballs, anyone? Page 49!). At present the Archives
house Eucys from 1940 through 1999, but uploading continues so keep checking. Just a glimpse of all the different front cover designs of the
Eucys through the ages is a treat.

In response to a grant request from KIS for the funds remaining in the Archives Fund, originally established by the Class of 1961, KFI has assisted with the part-time salary of Barbara Block, Class of 1976, to allow her to continue work on the archives, especially the Nora Mitchell Collection.
The Nora Mitchell Collection was a large bequest made to the school after Nora, a much-loved and highly respected teacher from 1964 to
1986 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.

Barbara Block is not only cataloguing this collection but is bringing the KIS Archives to the attention of students, staff and alumni around the
world. She and Manjusha Ninan, KIS Alumni Coordinator, wrote an article for the “Flag Green” about the Nora Mitchell Collection which
can be viewed at The Nora Mitchell Collection – KIS Flag Green. They have also very creatively initiated an all-school photo competition
which involves cooking a recipe from the High Clerc Cookery Book and submitting a photograph of it. Barbara can be seen presenting the
cookbook to the students at a weekly “Vanakkam” (assembly) at Barbara Block Presents KIS Archives.