2007 Kudner–Leyon Golf Outing

The 2007 Kudner–Leyon Golf Outing, held Friday, September 21 at Chester River Yacht and Country Club was a tremendous success thanks to a sold-out field of golfers and a record number of sponsors and donors.

"It was an amazing day to cap off eight years of fundraising for the Kudner–Leyon Visiting Writers‘ Program." says Co-Chair Chris McClary ‘91. Classmate and friend to both Ariana Kudner ‘91 and Amanda Leyon ‘91, Chris was the inspiration behind the effort to establish a permanent memorial for the girls who were killed in an automobile accident in 1994. "We are sincerely grateful to everyone who helped with this year‘s outing, which raised nearly $30,000 for the fund. That money will be added to the Kudner–Leyon Memorial Endowment which was established several years ago to ensure that the program will be a permanent part of the lives of local schoolchildren," says McClary.

Ariana and Amanda were both deeply interested in the literary arts. Amanda was already a published poet; Ariana’s love for books was inherited from her father, Art Kudner, founder of Tidewater Publishing.

The Kudner–Leyon Visiting Writers’ Program, hosted by Kent School in Chestertown, benefits children from across the Delmarva peninsula. It is unlike any other program in our region, featuring nationally acclaimed writers and illustrators such as Jack Gantos, N.E. Bode and Peter Catalanatto. Each writer has a unique approach, combining group discussions with one-on-one opportunities for students to work directly with accomplished writers to learn writing and illustrating techniques. "You never know what will inspire a child. Each year, we have marveled at the connection between writer and student and the magic that happens when a child realizes that each of us has a story to tell. The most valuable part of the KLVW Day might be a seed that is planted that will not grow to fruition for years." says McClary ‘91.

See highlights from the Kudner–Leyon Memorial Golf Outing: 2006 Kudner–Leyon Memorial Outing

2007 Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer

on Friday, March 30, Kalli Dakos visited Kent School as the 2007 Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer. Through group presentations and hands:on projects, Ms. Dakos worked with students from Kent School, Worton Elementary and Radcliffe Creek. Author of Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig and other delightful stories, Kalli Dakos is an elementary school teacher, poet and writer. She visits schools all over the United States and Canada with a program entitled "A Celebration of Life in the Classroom." "Students and teachers play poetry with me, and even the most reluctant readers and writers are pulled into literacy through the use of toys, props and poetry that celebrate the special moments in students’ and teachers’ lives." Visit Kalli’s site at: www.kallidakos.com