Connections - Winter 2008

From the Alumni Association President Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of KCD, It is my pleasure to write you my first Connections letter as alumni board president. I am honored to accept this role, as I am a proud graduate of the class of 1980 as well as a parent to Catherine (grade six), Elizabeth (grade four), and Alexandra (grade four). I could not begin this letter without giving many thanks and much appreciation to my fellow classmate, Jana Clanton Dowds ’80, who stepped down after four years of service as alumni board vice president and president. Jana, thank you for all you have done for KCD these past few years. The Alumni Board and Kentucky Country Day as a whole are better because of your service and hard work. It am also thrilled that Pai Charasika ’94 has accepted the role of alumni board vice president. If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Pai, then I suggest you do! He is a vibrant and enthusiastic young man who will add a great dynamic to our Alumni Association.

It is hard to believe we are in our 36th year as Kentucky Country Day School! It was wonderful to see so many alumni come out last year to our 35th Anniversary parties, from the alumni family tailgate in October to the golf outing and BBQ party in June. It was evident that all the alumni were impressed with the school’s continual growth and development.

The party at Ted (KCD ’86) and Elizabeth Mitzlaff’s home in February to honor our predecessor school alumni was truly a highlight in our school’s history. Over 150 alumni of Aquinas Prep, Kentucky Home School, Kentucky Military Institute, and Louisville Country Day gathered together on a cold night in February to catch up with friends and classmates. We even had a few alumni who traveled to Louisville for the party from as far away as Virginia! I am very pleased to announce that we will have another alumni party this year on February 7, 2009, at the home of Fred (KCD ’70) and Julie Davis. Fred and Julie had such fun at the Mitzlaff’s last year that they have offered their home for the party in ’09! The wonderful news is that we will invite the alumni of all the predecessor schools as well as the alumni of KCD. It is guaranteed to be a special and memorable night, and I hope to see many of you there!

It is with great excitement that I announce the success of our first year of KCD Reconnect.

KCD Reconnect is an internship program for KCD’s young alumni that was developed under the leadership of Jana Dowds ’80. We placed twelve young alums last summer, and you can read about their summer experiences on page 26. KCD Reconnect will continue to offer internships for the summer of 2009 as well. Please contact Mollie Mulloy, director of alumni relations, for more information on our program.

As always, please continue to keep in touch with us! KCD has launched a new online alumni directory called My Backpack. This system is wonderful and easy to use. Please visit www.kcd.org and click on My Backpack to update your alumni class notes, address changes, etc. You can also search for other alumni and members of your class, as well as donate online to the KCD Fund. User names and passwords were mailed out this fall. Please contact the Alumni Office at KCD if you need assistance logging into the system. We hope you find this tool useful and helpful!

In closing, I want to remind you that Kentucky Country Day is a special place. It has offered so much to me as well as to my children, and I am sure many of you feel the same way. We are all so fortunate to be a part of it. As you consider the opportunities that have been given to you, as well as the relationships you have made this holiday season, I am sure many of you will trace these opportunities and relationships back to Kentucky Country Day. Sincerely, Susan Dabney Lavin ’80 Alumni Association President