Alumni News! – 5.28.18

Dear Alumni:

First, thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the Middle States Re-Accreditation Survey in May. Your input and engagement are critical for us to provide a world-class education for students on St. Croix. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to using this Self-Study Re-Accreditation to continue improving all parts of our School.

Second, this is always an exciting time of year around school—and I hope those of you on Island will have a chance to visit. From prom last weekend at the Buccaneer when our students were dressed to the nines, to Orange White and Blue Day this past Friday when unbridled passion came out in healthy competition, and from Senior Thesis presentations (we’ll have the last two on June 1) to commencement on June 2, it has and will be action-packed.

This is also an exciting time because our youngest alumni, those in college, return to give updates from around the globe and re-connect with faculty who impacted their lives. Just in the last week I met with recent graduates who smashed school swim records, earned 4.0 in their first year, developed fluency in Spanish during a GAP year abroad, and much more. The GHCDS alumni network grows stronger every year!

This has been an extraordinary school year, and everyone at our School will take enormous pride on June 5 when we cross the finish line. We are grateful for all of your support and look forward to seeing you in the weeks and months ahead.

Kind regards,

Kari

Esterlyn’s House Presents Hurricane Maria Recovery Funds to Good Hope Country Day School

On May 9, 2018, Country Day School Alumna and Trustee, Nesha Chistian-Hendrickson presented Head of School, Kari Loya with a check for $5,000 for Hurricane Maria Recovery efforts at GHCDS.  Head of School, Kari Loya stated “we will only become a world-class school if we engage all of our talented alumni throughout the country and the world in meaningful ways.”  CDS Alumi, Emron ’99 and Ezmon ’03 Walwyn did just that by donating $5,000 from their non-profit Esterlyn’s House to aid GHCDS in Hurricane Maria Recovery Efforts.

“Esterlyn’s House wants to spread our message of hope and compassion. We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community.  However, collective action can greatly impact the world. Through advocacy, philanthropy and outreach activities, our team strives to assist those enduring the calamities and tribulations that occur in life.  It is not a matter of if but when will these issues occur.  We will be here to lend a helping hand.” Ezmon & Emron Walwyn

Established in November 2016 by St. Croix Country Day School alumni Ezmon Walwyn’03. Esterlyn’s House was created in order to assist in the care of patients and their families in need.  “In 2005 my father suffered a stroke in the Caribbean Islands and had to be medically transported to Miami. I had to fly emergently to Miami and meet my mother in his hospital room.  She slept in the hospital day and night.  Fortunately, I had a high school friend that was living in Miami.  He helped us out in running errands, allowed me to stay in his apartment and drove us around to find facilities to assist in the care of my Dad, “recounts Emron.  While training in Geriatrics and Palliative care Emron cared for numerous patients and families that were in the same situation, needing services like transportation, housing and respite care.

For more information on GHCDS email Linda Stamper-Keularts at lstamperkeularts@ghcds.org or call 340.778.1974 ext. 2113.   For more Information on Esterlyn’s House visit https://www.esterlynshouse.org/

 

Ezmon Walwyn, CDS ‘03

What year did you Graduate

I graduated from St. Croix Country Day School in 2003.

After leaving CDS, where did you go?

After I graduated CDS, I left to Chicago and attended Northpark University.  I then transitioned to Olympia College to earn a Medical billing and coding diploma and finished at Devry University with Bachelors in Health Service Management.

What are 2-3 greatest memories as a student?

I enjoyed Mini-gusto because we traveled to Spain to study and speak the Spanish language in its native form.  As of today, it is still the only time I have ever set foot in Europe or traveled that long on a plane.  Now that I live in Miami, I am using Spanish regularly.  I must have had a 12 year hiatus of speaking Spanish but somehow those years have stuck with me.

The steel pan class was awesome and I enjoyed preparing for the Semi-annual shows.  I still enjoy listening to it today.

Did you have a favorite teacher or teachers? and Why?

Mrs. Venetis

Her class room felt like a place you could just hangout in if you were having a bad day.  She always had an open door policy.  She was kind and approachable.  She just knew how to instill discipline and order in the class with a gentle touch.  Great Teacher!

Mr. Summerhayes

His class was hard, but he made sure you learned. I can still remember my modified scientific method:

• Identify and define the problem
• look for regularities
• wonder why regularities exist
• form a hypothesis
• test hypothesis and reproduce results.

If you had that you got at least 5 points on your test. I just needed to memorize the other 95 things he had on the test.

Orange, White and Blue Day! – Remember when…

 

Alumni Join In The Fun!

   

Young Alumni Summer Plans!

 

Hailey Coates, GHCDS’17

Major: Psychology/Bio Medical Engineering at Fordham University in New York City

Hailey is home on St. Croix for the summer and will be working at Cafe Christine.  She will also be interning with Dr. Greg Moormon.  The highlight of Hailey’s year was meeting Denzel Washington.

 

 

Curtis Walker, GHCDS’14

Major: Psychology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo

CJ is home on St. Croix for a few weeks to connect with friends and family.  He then travels to Massachusetts where he will be coaching soccer and sailing at Camp Winadu.  The highlight of his school year was working the East Hawaii Special Olympics with his teammates.

 

 

Elise Stamper, GHCDS’17

Major: Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University in Virginia

Elise is home on St. Croix for the summer and will be working at Joyia Jewelry, exploring her artistic side, making jewelry and at Undercover Books in Gallows Bay.    The highlight of her year was finishing her year with a 4.0 GPA in both semesters.

 

 

Marshall McCormick, GHCDS’17

Major: Athletic Training at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas

Marshall is home on St. Croix for the summer and will be working at Sharkey’s and continuing his studies by doing an online course.  He will also be interning with Kendall Holmes at Studio 360 VI.  The highlight of his year was being accepted to a very selective and intensive athletic training program at his University.

 

 

Kari Currence, GHCDS’15

Major: Psychology at Columbia University in New York City

Kari is home on St. Croix for the summer and will be making beautiful jewelry at Crucian Gold.  The highlight of her year was making it through her first year as an RA (Resident Assistant) and achieving Dean’s List.

 

Congratulations Alumni!

Savannah Logan, Master of Science in Data Science from University of San Francisco

Ensign Harry Hoffman, US Coast Guard Academy

Firas A. Idheileh,  Business Administration, Management and Leadership from Rider University

Jessica Holt, Master of Social Work from New York University

 

Help us celebrate our alumni by letting us know who we should be recognizing.  Submit suggestions and details to lstamperkeularts@ghcds.org or kpedrini@ghcds.org.

Click here to update your information with us!

Join us at Commencement on June 2, at the St. Croix Educational Complex Auditorium at 5:30PM.

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