Excerpt from a speech given by Toni Mullen, Director of Alumni.
One of the benefits of being the first person in a new position is a clean slate: I can create an atmosphere of my own design. To me, an important aspect of this position is to acknowledge the “significant others” in ISKL’s history. According to Wikkipedia, a “significant other” is a gender-blind, politically correct term to refer to a person's partner in an intimate relationship without disclosing his or her marital status or sexual orientation.
Ok, this is not the way I think of a “significant other”.
Years ago, when I was teaching in a small private school for children with learning and attention issues, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Robert Brooks, who works for the non-profit Center of Development and Learning. He discussed the “resiliency of children” and the idea of “significant others”. This is and I quote ”any person outside your typical family setting who has great importance to an individual's life or well-being as well as the reception of particular social norms.” End quote. A significant other is a consummate contributor to one’s development, a supporter as we struggle through a decision, a champion of you and your causes, all without conditions, without payback, without expecting anything in return.
I suspect we all have a few “significant others” in our past. I also think our “significant experiences” at international settings such as our years at ISKL, my years in Bogotá, Columbia and Tokyo have shaped and formed who we are today.
So, I take this opportunity to recognize one of ISKL’s “significant others” with the - Alumni “Panther Pride” Award. This annual recognition will be awarded to an inaugural recipient today and thereafter be open to nominations on the ISKL website.
The "Panther Pride" Award is presented annually to a distinguished alumnus/a who attended ISKL for at least one year. He/she exemplifies the highest standards and influences of the ISKL community, or has helped advance the future of the ISKL or alumni community. All nominations received will be kept confidential. The deadline for nominations is last day of May.
I would like to recognize Lee Ann Letourneau, Class of ‘74 as the inaugural recipient of this award. Lee Ann, thank you for your life-long support and enthusiasm for ISKL. Thank you for the many people you have tracked down over the years and encouraged them to reconnect to their alma mater. Thank you for your technological support in maintaining a highly interactive website and providing support to other ISKL class websites. Thank you for being a “significant other”, not only to the institution of the school, but also to other alumni across the continents and across the decades. You are, indeed, a master at demonstrating: "Panther Pride". . Congratulations.
Michael Gaw '74, Lee Ann Letourneau '74 & Martin Fischer '73 at the Kansas City Reunion.
Lee Ann standing in front of her 1974 Varsity Basketball trophy during her vist to ISKL for the 2009 Alumni reunion.
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Kirstin Chevez ’87 is this year’s deserving recipient of the 2010-2011 ISKL Alumni “Panther Pride” Award. Many of you may remember her as Tina when she entered ISKL as a young elementary student. Through her years at ISKL she was involved in a variety of activities such as soccer, badminton, forensics and Thespians. She also held officer positions in the Student Council and was a lifeguard for four years. Since her graduation, she has developed into a mezzo-soprano opera singer and is now well established performing around the world.
