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Academy Alumni in the News |
Avishar Barua ’05 has been named one of Columbus Business First’s most influential leaders for 2024. This list includes 125 Central Ohio executives, thought leaders, influencers and others who are leading conversations about the region’s future. Barua has competed on hit cooking shows like Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, been voted as top chef in Columbus for two consecutive years by Columbus Underground, opened two successful restaurants with Joya’s and Agni, and was a semifinalist for the 2024 James Beard Award. Earlier this month, he participated in a Bexley Public Library speaker series in which he shared his influences and inspirations for cooking, his unorthodox path to becoming a chef and the roles in which public libraries have played in his culinary education. You can watch the discussion by clicking here. For more alumni press clips, click on the following links:
If you have clips (either in print or on the web) to pass along for future issues, please send them to info@columbusacademy.org.
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Erich Hunker '81 Named New CEO at Columbus Humane |
Erich Hunker ’81, Columbus Academy’s assistant head of school for development and external relations since 1999, has become the next chief executive officer at Columbus Humane, a local nonprofit with a mission to fight animal cruelty, help animals in need and advocate for their well-being. His final day was June 14.
In his role at Columbus Academy, Erich oversaw fundraising, alumni relations, parent relations and marketing/communications departments and functions. He spearheaded two successful capital campaigns, a robust annual giving program and a significant increase in the school’s endowment through philanthropic and deferred gifts while also leading the organization through institutional rebranding, its first-ever advertising campaign and the school’s centennial celebration in 2011.
“Coming back to work for an institution that changed and shaped my own life was an incredible opportunity presented to me 25 years ago,” Erich says. “Through these years, I have met and worked alongside so many kind and generous parents, alumni, colleagues and friends of CA who have invested significant amounts of their time and philanthropic resources to make the school even stronger for today's students, which included my own children Sam ’16 and Ryan ’20.”
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Register for Alumni Weekend 2024 |
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Join us October 4-5 for a memorable weekend of milestone class gatherings, signature programming and nostalgia-inducing festivities that strengthen your Viking pride! All Columbus Academy alumni, friends and family are invited to attend. With special recognition for class years ending in 4 & 9 as well as members of the Class of 1974 – celebrating their 50th reunion! All events on campus are complimentary for alumni and guests. Click here to register today!
Friday evening will feature an All-Alumni Welcome Tailgate, complete with tailgate-style food and a livestream of the game against archrival Bexley. Return to campus Saturday for a slate of morning events including the Golden Viking Breakfast with Head of School Melissa Soderberg (for alumni celebrating 50 or more years since graduation), the ever-popular Brunch & Coffee with CA Legends and – new this year – the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which is open to all guests to attend. Campus tours will also be offered by senior class tour guides. There is a special schedule planned to honor the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1974, and class members are encouraged to RSVP directly to Director of Alumni Relations Michael Haddock. Additionally for all Academy alumni, if you haven’t heard from your class about reunion plans and/or have any questions, please also contact the Alumni Office with that inquiry.
Finally, registration for the 16th Annual Golf Outing on September 30 will open soon and be included along with more details in next month’s newsletter.
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Supporting the Academy Experience |
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Donations at this time of the year help immensely with summer professional development for our faculty as well as unforeseen tuition assistance needs for our families. There is still time to join in the 2023-24 Annual Fund before the fiscal year ends on June 30! You can donate online, mail your gift to the school (attention: Annual Fund) or contact the Development Office if you have questions. Thank you all for your invaluable support that makes the Academy experience possible for students today!
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This month’s Viking Vantage recognizes Jay Canowitz ’84. After graduating from Columbus Academy, Jay earned a B.A. from Miami University and J.D. from University of Cincinnati College of Law. Jay has been in the executive search profession for over 30 years and is currently the president of Ives & Associates, an executive search firm in Columbus. In his free time, Jay enjoys traveling with his wife and playing pickleball with friends. He is also a member of the Columbus Academy Alumni Board and will be celebrating his 40th class reunion this fall during Alumni Weekend.
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“The best way to predict your future is to create it,” guest speaker Ricky Joshi ’97 said to Columbus Academy’s 105 new graduates at our 111th Commencement on June 3. “The final result might not look like you imagined – in fact, I would argue it will not look like you imagined – but some dream will become a reality. Revel in the potential, the positive, and remember – life is a journey, not a destination. I wrote that quote in my yearbook 27 years ago and it still rings true.”
Check out the year-end recap, including links to awards, photos and video by clicking here.
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The spring issue of THRIVE, Columbus Academy’s magazine, was released in May and mailed out to alumni, families and friends of the school. This edition spotlights an essay by alumnus Lee Solomon ’14 – who is also featured on the cover and currently serves on our Alumni Board – about how his time at Academy “brought out the best” in him. Lee was a standout athlete for the Vikings and went on to play baseball at Lipscomb University before he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 25th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. After competing multiple years as a minor-leaguer, Lee stepped away from the game to pursue his career as an attorney, and he now works at BakerHostetler in Columbus.
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Send In Your Class Notes
We love keeping in touch with our alumni, and we want to hear all of your latest news.
Have you recently changed your name? Moved to a new home? Been promoted? Changed your line of work? Please go to the Alumni Updates Form to share these details. Providing the school with this information will help ensure you receive reunion updates, regional event invitations and the latest news from your alma mater!
Have you recently earned a new title or degree? Have details about an exciting trip or recent accomplishment to share? Gotten engaged or married? Added a new little Viking to your family? Please use the Class Notes Form to share these exciting life updates for inclusion in the class notes section of an upcoming edition of Academy’s magazine.
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