Dear Fellow Alumni,

It's that time of year when we begin measuring time by holidays, through parties and meals.  Winter seems to be the busiest season as we try to meet professional and personal obligations, dividing our time between family and friends.  I know our alumni calendar has surely felt the winter hustle!

Homecoming celebrated classes ending in '0s and '5s with an action packed weekend - check out pictures below. Following on its heels, on October 16th, we held our second annual MKA Day, which was an even bigger success than the inaugural year, raising $992,000 for the Annual Fund.  We expanded the audience and garnered support from our entire community.  The goal for alumni participation this fiscal year (ending on June 30, 2016) is 13%; as of today we are at 7%.  Will you please help us reach our goal - the size of your gift does not matter, but your participation does.  You can make your gift online at www.mka.org/giving.  

We are excited to work off turkey dinner at our Alumni Hockey and Basketball Games on November 27th, followed by a reception at Tierney's.  And finally, we are proud to be hosting our Networking Event on Thursday, December 3rd at the famous iHeartRadio offices in NYC, with special thanks to Owen Grover '91.

As always, I encourage you to take a moment to nominate your candidate for any one of our alumni awards. Please visit www.mka.org/awards for criteria, nomination forms and past recipients. Nominations are accepted all year.

Warm wishes for a happy, healthy and restful holiday season!

Best,
  
Jaclyn (Latzoni) Spedaliere '00
President,  MKA Alumni Association
MKA JAM - November 18, 2015
Join in Community. Envision the Future.

In the coming year, MKA will undertake an ambitious and innovative strategic planning process in which every member of the community can have a voice. Participate in an online conversation (JAM) this on Wednesday, November 18, between 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. 

A JAM is a moderated, online exchange that is part creative brainstorming, part active dialogue, and part focus group. The JAM is open to all alumni, parents past and present, faculty and staff, and current juniors and seniors. Mark your calendar and get ready to  JAM with MKA this Wednesday, November 18th!

CLICK HERE  for the JAM topics and to register for the JAM.
Alumni Winter Games Day

Join us on Friday, November 27, for the Alumni Winter Games Day! 

Basketball and hockey games start at 4:30 p.m. with a reception at Tierney's from
6:30-8:30 p.m. Sign up to play, or come out to cheer on your fellow alumni.  

For additional information and to register, please visit:  www.mka.org/ahg.
Tickets are $25, which includes a T-shirt, open bar and food at Tierney's Tavern.  
Alumni Networking Series
Thursday, December 3rd, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

The Alumni Association of Montclair Kimberley Academy invites you to an evening of networking. Whether you're looking for your first job,  preparing for a mid-career change, or  simply hoping to expand your professional connections,  join us and come network with members of  the MKA alumni community.  

We are honored to have Karen Sullivan '80, Executive Director, Dr. Oz The Good Life Magazine; Owen Grover '92, Senior Vice President and General Manager, iHeartRadio; Lisa Gittleman '93, Senior Recruiter and Marketing Manager, The Woods Group; and Alfredo Bequillard '97, Director, Lazard Freres and Co., as our guest speakers.  

We are especially grateful to Owen Grover '91 for providing the venue at the iHeartRadio Corporate Headquarters located at 125 W. 55th Street, 12th floor, r ecently featured as one of the "World's Coolest Offices" in Inc. Magazine.   Check it out here: 

Owen Grover '91
Alfredo Bequillard '97
Lisa Gittleman '93
Karen Sullivan '80











REGISTRATION $25 registration fee. Hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and soft beverages will be served throughout the event. ($20 registration fee for alumni under 21 years of age.)

CLICK HERE to register and for bios on our speakers.  Questions?  Please contact Lois Montorio: lmontorio@mka.org.

Football = Family

Forty-five years ago, the Montclair Academy Varsity Football Team of 1970 was part of something very special. They were the first team in Montclair Academy history to be undefeated going into their final game. No other MA or MKA football team had achieved that record...until this year.  The 2015 MKA Varsity Football Team was 8-0 going into their last regular season game on November 7th, and the Montclair Academy team of 1970, joined by members of other Academy football teams, attended the game in a show of their Academy pride in Cougar Nation.

Those in attendance included Kevin Basralian '71 , John Blondel '74 , Tom Brueckner '72 , Stewart Carr '74 , Geoffrey Close '71 , William Crawford '72 , Erin Crawford '74 , Louis Gioffre '72 , Robert Jackson '73, Dean Paolucci '73 , Earl Perretti '74 and Henry Talbot '72 .  Former coaches, athletic directors, faculty members, wives and family members also attended including Carmen Marnell, George Hrab and Judy Nesbit.
 
At halftime, Dean Paolucci '73, Tom Brueckner '72 and Geoff Close '71 hosted a tailgate party in the Walden Place parking lot behind the field for members of the Montclair Academy football teams.

Our MKA team did not disappoint, soundly defeating their opponent, Sussex County Tech, 60-0.  Next stop for the team is Saturday, November 14, 1:00 p.m., vs. Mater Dei Prep in the first round of the NJSIAA playoffs on Van Brunt Field. Go Cougars!
Legacy Students - The Next Generation of Alumni

At the All-School Gathering in October, a day when students, faculty and staff from all three campuses "gather" under one roof at the Upper School, we had the pleasure of seeing many of our students perform. 

Caitlin Ladda (left) and Casey Borella
Robert D'Alessandro
(right)

One of the highlights included Casey Borella '19, Caitlin Ladda '19 and Robert D'Alessandro's '19 performing "Sky Full of Stars & Clocks." Caitlin is the daughter of  Jennifer Jones Ladda '84 , and Robert is the son of
Robert D'Alessandro '86
 
to see their performance. 
We Miss You!

Don't Miss Out ...on important Alumni information!

MKA needs your help to ensure that our database has the most up-to-date information about our alumni.  Addresses, phone numbers and emails change every day and many people simply forget to let us know.  Nothing is more frustrating than missing out on reunion information or invitations to regional alumni events.  This will be especially true for alumni of years ending in 1 or 6...Your reunion is next up in October 2016.

Be the first person in your class to know!  CLICK HERE to stay in touch,  or call Debbie Allen in the Alumni Office at 973-509-7941 to update your contact information.  It only takes a minute!  
Reunion Weekend Recap

Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2015 offered something for everyone, beginning with the Friday night Athletic Hall of Fame induction of Ed Conlin '84 and Karen Ladenheim-Martos '85 and followed by the Reunion Luncheon on Saturday.  Alumni at the Luncheon witnessed a new tradition with the Upper School Chorus singers performing all three alma maters.

Kassie Canter '75
 received the Distinguished Alumna Award in front of her classmates and peers, and she used the opportunity talk about MKA's Community Scholars Program, encouraging alumni to join her in providing an MKA education to deserving students. 

Alumni partied the night away at venues in Montclair and neighboring towns, and those who were still standing gathered on Sunday morning for yet another new tradition, a
co-ed Alumni Soccer game.    

The Homecoming football game recognized the late former captain Jason Spiotta '88 and welcomed his family to the field to celebrate his legacy here at MKA.  

Please CLICK HERE for photos from the weekend.
MKA Day - October 16, 2015 
One Day Did Make a Difference!

Parents, alumni, grandparents, students, faculty and staff came together to surpass our MKA Day goal of $250,000, thereby releasing a $50,000 challenge gift, ultimately raising more than $900,000 to benefit our students and faculty. This was a truly unprecedented day of giving at MKA proving that one day really does make a difference.  

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 with the greatest participation rate of 35%!!  

Our goal for alumni participation this year is 13% - right now we are a little over 7%.  Will you help us reach our goal?  If you have not yet made your annual fund gift or pledge, please visit www.mka.org/giving.  Remember, it is not the size of your gift that matters, it is your participation.

As always, your generosity is deeply appreciated.  
Alumni Association Awards Committee

Montclair Kimberley Academy follows the lives, and proudly celebrates the accomplishments, of its alumni. Two awards specifically honor outstanding alumni achievement. The annual Distinguished Alumni Award bestows recognition for outstanding achievement, and the Athletic Hall of Fame Award is given every other year to an individual, team or coach who has brought distinction to the school through excellence in athletics. 

In addition, the Founders' Cup Award is sponsored by the Alumni Association in recognition of MKA's strong tradition of teaching excellence, dating back to 1887. The award will be presented to an outstanding faculty member who is most representative of the best qualities of MKA teaching. 

The Alumni Association also oversees the Honorary Alumni Distinction Award which honors an employee of the school who has served MKA for 10 years, in any capacity. Nominees can be teachers, administrators, custodians - anyone who has made the kind of mark on MKA that unquestionably deserves merit and recognition.  

The Awards Committee of the Alumni Council, chaired by Brittany Berckes '06, welcomes your participation in nominating candidates for these awards. Nominations are accepted year-round.  Please CLICK HERE for criteria, past recipients and nomination forms.  Thank you for your assistance.

Alumni Council 2015-2016

We are so grateful to the volunteers who generously donate their time to serve on the Alumni Council.  The following alumni volunteers comprise the Alumni Council for the 2015-2016 fiscal year:

Jaclyn Latzoni Spedaliere '00 - President
Jessica Simpson Cook '99 - Executive Vice President
Dennis Rodano '87 - Treasurer
Amanda Englander '04 - Secretary
Klaudia Pyz '98 - Networking Vice President

Members:  Bryan Becker '96,  Brittany Berckes '06,  Lindsay Braverman '01,  Casey Breslow '03,  Jonathan Bruno '02,  Jared Cook '01,  Rich Cosgrove '84,  Pamela D'Amato Davis '89, Caitlin Di Ruggiero '06,  Michael Fortunato '02,  Lauren Hyman Kaplan '93, Cooper Knowlton '03,  Angela McCaffrey '06,  Diane Ridley-White '84,  Rich Stanton '87,  John Thompson '03,  Lee Vartan '96 .
 
Advisory Members: Dan Carson '83, J. Kent Walker '80
Mark your calendar!
Don't miss these upcoming events...

 

November 27 - Alumni Winter Games Day - Games: 4:30-6:00 p.m., Reception: 6:30-8:30 at Tierney's

 

December 3 - Alumni Networking Event - 7:00-9:00 p.m., iHeartRadio Corporate Headquarters, 125 W. 55th St., 12th fl.

 

Questions?
Please contact Alumni Director  Lois Montorio  
by email or by phone at 973-509-7939.