Alumni News

For 33 years, Ms. Sushila Elias has been a quiet but constant presence at Kodaikanal International School. From the telephone office and reception desk to the alumni office, generations of students, staff, parents and alumni have known her warmth, care and dedication. As KIS celebrates 125 years, her story reflects the spirit of community, belonging and service that continues to define the school.

For Shekinah (Class of 2000), KIS began as a childhood leap into the unknown and grew into a lifelong anchor. From a young student finding friendship and belonging, to returning years later as an educator, her journey reflects the enduring spirit of the school—one rooted in care, connection, and community.

Now, as her daughter Shifra (Class of 2026) prepares to graduate, their stories intertwine across generations. Though shaped by shared spaces and values, each has carved her own path, bound by a common thread: compassion, service, and relationships that last far beyond the classroom.

At KIS, what endures is not just an education, but a way of being—one that students carry with them, wherever they go.

Joy Morshed ’99 has built a career defined by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to challenge convention. After studying molecular biology and genetics and spending nearly two decades working across leading global food companies, Joy took a leap into entrepreneurship—founding Tiger Cafe Foods Inc. (TCF), a strategic firm connecting food manufacturers with major international clients.

What makes his journey particularly meaningful is the role of the Kodai community. From the early stages of building TCF, Joy brought together fellow alumni as advisors, creating a foundation of trust, shared experience, and collective ambition.

When Ruth Mabry, Class of 1986, returned to KIS as the keynote speaker for the Field Day Alumni Dinner, she brought with her a powerful reflection on the moments, values, and relationships that continue to shape a life long after graduation.

From childhood memories of Solvik and Loch End to her work in global public health, Ruth’s address explored what it means to live with empathy, build bridges across difference, and carry Kodai’s enduring values into a complex world.

Her message was a reminder that the future we choose to build is shaped not only by big ambitions, but by the quiet, consistent practices of kindness, service, and connection.

Ketsa Jerome's journey from KIS to becoming a registered architect in Australia is rooted in curiosity, creativity, and a deep sense of community. Growing up on campus, her early experiences, from imaginative play and hands-on projects to inspiring teachers, shaped her understanding of design as both creative and practical. Today, through her own practice, she creates spaces that enhance everyday life, guided by the belief that architecture is not just about how things look, but how they function, feel, and support the people who use them.

From early morning games on the courts to legendary hikes in the Palani Hills, Sandra Schoeninger helped define what it meant to be a Kodai student. Her dedication to sport, character, and community shaped the school’s culture and inspired generations to strive for their very best.

For Pratap Chahal, Kodai International School was more than a place of learning — it was where a way of seeing the world quietly took root. Through everyday life at KIS, shaped by diversity, shared responsibility, and deep human connection, he learned respect, resilience, and curiosity. Food became central to those years, not just as a source of nourishment, but also as a memory, a ritual, and a means of community.

Years later, after a career shaped by classical training, relentless kitchens, and immersive supper clubs, Pratap recognises how deeply those early experiences continue to inform his values: care for people, integrity in work, and an understanding that meaning often lives in the unseen. Kodai remains not something to recreate, but something to carry, intact, formative, and quietly enduring.

From her formative years at Kodaikanal International School to leading Parle Agro as its CEO, Schauna Chauhan’s journey is rooted in curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning. Her boarding school experiences shaped her confidence, independence, and leadership, lessons that continue to guide her approach to business, people, and purpose. Under her leadership, Parle Agro has driven innovation, sustainability, and a strong “Make in India” vision, while her definition of success remains simple and powerful: never stop learning. Her story is a testament to the lasting impact of community, values, and education in shaping meaningful leadership.

KIS alumni Valerie Newsom Guarnieri (Class of 1984), now Assistant Executive Director of the World Food Programme, traces her lifelong commitment to humanitarian service back to her days on the hill. Inspired by Kodai’s spirit of community and service, Valerie has spent over three decades leading global efforts to fight hunger and uphold humanity in the world’s most challenging contexts.

From launching a pioneering agri-food company to championing community-led environmental initiatives, Murali Sundar has built a career at the intersection of commerce, curiosity, and care for the land. As founder of Marcatus QED, he transformed supply chains by uniting competitors, farmers, and global brands through collaboration and education. Murali credits Kodaikanal International School with shaping this ethos: “KIS trained my eyes and mind to see the good in differences.” Today, he remains a strong supporter of the Centre for Environment and Humanity (CEH), envisioning it as a living model of sustainable education and community empowerment. His journey reflects not just entrepreneurial grit, but a deep-rooted commitment to giving back to the ecosystem's natural and educational that shaped him.