Scott Gill '79 and friend Susan Studebaker-Rutledge '80 stopped by to visit the Woodlands campus. Susan, a longtime Singapore resident, was happy to tour Scott's favorite Singapore places, including Newton Circus and Orchard Road. On campus, Susan and Scott toured around with Heather Presnail from the alumni office, who showed them the Memory Garden and around the rest of the campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the trip, Scott wrote to us at the alumni office: "I had a spectacular trip although EVERYTHING has changed...Thank you so much for arranging my visit with Heather. She was most gracious and marvelous tour guide of the campus...Susan Studebaker Rutledge joined me and we discussed several ideas for possible fund raisers at the '79 Reunion in Houstonon July 10. I'm still assembling all my pictures and editing / rewriting my encrypted journal entries and when completed I will forward to you..."

 

Michael Crocombe also dropped by today. He is living happily with his wife and 8 children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2009: Russell Leidich '92 stopped by today. He was pleased to walk around the Woodlands campus, which he hadn't visited before. He enjoyed seeing the Memory Garden, and was happy to catch up with a few of his former teachers. It was the Thursday afternoon before everyone in the high school left for Interim Semester, so Russell was lucky to catch Mr. Cox, Mr. Rives and even Mr. Baker, who was running out the door to head to Mersing for his Island in the Sun Interim Semester trip.

 

Russell was impressed by his teachers' memories; all three remembered him as a high schooler, and were eager to hear how he'd been since leaving Singapore. Russell was equally interested in what kept these great teachers at SAS for 20+ years each.

 

Mr. Cox told us the story of his journey to SAS. He started his time in Southeast Asia as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia, where he met his wife. In 1981, finished with his Peace Corps duties, he stopped over in Singapore and saw an ad for teachers at the American School in the phone directory. He spent several hours with Superintendent Lyden, and was hired to start in August 1981. Mr. Cox told Russell that the enthusiastic students continue to make his job as a chemistry teacher fun.

 

Russell shared that after Singapore, he put in ten hard years in Silicon Valley, and was about to transfer to a job in China. On the way to China, he stopped to visit the Philippines, where he also lived as a child. He decided to stay in the Philippines indefinitely, and is now thinking of relocating to either Vietnam or Singapore. Russell was especially interested in the work of the SAS alumni office, and was hopeful to help out with Web 2.0 activities and to be part of the SAS College and Career Day in September. Thanks for visiting Russell!

 

Picture (right): Russell with Mr. Ho in the high school cafeteria

 

 

February 26, 2009: Today was a momentous day for Mr. David Peck. Father of SAS alums Jason, Sabrina and Vanessa, Mr. Peck was thrilled to visit the SAS campus today. After 3 children, 38 school years and nearly SGD$900,000 in tuition fees, Mr. Peck delivered his daughter Vanessa's last tuition check to SAS this afternoon. Superintendent Brent Mutsch and Business Director William Scarborough were on hand to congratulate Mr. Peck for this noteworthy event.

 

Mr. Peck said that his children's education was always a priority for him and his wife, and that every penny they spent to send their kids through SAS was worth it. He praised both the academic program and the sports program, which he said gave all of his children a chance to stay active and grow as well-rounded individuals. Jason is currently living in Singapore, Sabrina recently completed her master's degree at UConn and is a 4th grade teacher in Connecticut, and Vanessa is planning to attend Northeastern University for their 6 year physical therapy program in the fall.

 

Dr. Mutsch and Mr. Scarborough thanked Mr. Peck for being an active member of the SAS parent community for so many years, and praised his commitment to his children's education. They sent him off with an SAS alumni bumper sticker to put on his car next to his Maine bumper sticker, and an SAS alumni ball cap to wear when he comes to campus to get his IASAS fix. Thanks Mr. Peck!