Lucaya International School Alumni Page

Our Toy Drive was a huge success, with over 80 gifts generously donated by our students and families. These gifts will bring smiles to children all around the island.

Thank you for your incredible support, and a special thank you to Ms. Waterhouse for leading this wonderful initiative!

The students of Lucaya International School, organized by dedicated teachers and led by Alban Pageron (Year 9) and Rowan Russell (Year 10), have raised $1,075 to support Hampton School, Jamaica.

Hampton School, a boarding institution, is currently accommodating students whose homes were significantly damaged during Hurricane Melissa.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire LIS community for coming together to support those in need. Your generosity is making a real impact!

Sophie Paine, Head Girl, Class of 2015

Hi LIS Community! I’m writing to you from Cambridge in the UK, where I’ve found a home over the last 4 years.

A brief update… After graduating from LIS in 2015 I headed up to the East Coast of the US, where I studied for an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Education from Brown University. On my very first day at Brown, I somehow found myself in a rowing boat (I wanted to try something new). Less than four years later I had fallen in love with the sport and was on a flight to the UK to attempt to make the British Under 23 team. Six weeks after that I was off to the U23 World Championships, where I ended up with a silver medal around my neck!
My rowing journey continued for another 2 years, where I studied at the University of Cambridge for two Masters degrees (one at the Business School, another in the Sociology department). I was lucky enough to become President of the Women’s rowing team in my 2nd year, leading the team to an epic victory in the 75th Boat Race against Oxford. To this day, I maintain that standing on a podium spraying champagne at your friends is one of the coolest things you can do!

Ultimately, I put down my oar in the Summer of 2021 and embarked on a new journey in the ‘real world’ as a strategy consultant at a boutique firm in London. I work in a small team, which in many ways reminds me of my days at LIS, when classes were sometimes as small as 3 students.

I remember in Primary School when the IB Learner Profile was engrained in our heads – we all needed to be reflective, principled communicators who took risks and were open minded to new experiences. I must admit, while I wasn’t quite sure why the same 10 words seemed to appear in front of us at every opportunity (pinned to the walls, spray-painted on the quad concrete…), I’ve now come to realise their importance. Every successful team I’ve been a part of, whether on or off the water, has embodied these principles in one way or another. So, thank you LIS, for laying the foundation for an awesome, adventure-filled journey – and for teaching the most important things. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Class of 2017

Aaliyah, a recent graduate from the University of Law, Birmingham, UK, looks to share her experience that led her to this point in her studies. She notes, it was often very difficult because of her eagerness to achieve and competitiveness amongst her peers, but she quickly realized the only competition she was in was with herself. She now promotes the importance of timing, and mental well-being, as they both continue to play a critical role in her achievements.

Aaliyah received the prestigious Razors Edge scholarship and graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2021 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a specialization in paralegal studies. Following the major adjustments of Covid-19 that impacted her final years of studies, Aaliyah decided to refrain from attending law school. After the pandemic, she decided to relocate to Turks and Caicos Islands in which she interned at T Chal Misick Associates as a legal secretary. In three months, she was promoted to become the legal assistant for the partner and founder of the firm. With the knowledge she gained from this experience, she knew with certainty that becoming a barrister would be her ultimate goal.

Aaliyah and her family endured a tragic loss this year, and she has decided to take another gap year and will commence the Bar Professional Training course in London in 2024. Upon completion, she looks forward to her final step of her journey and getting called to the bar in 2025, where she would achieve her ultimate goal to practice as a barrister. Aaliyah’s advice for students who think they must race the ‘clock’: “ This idea of completing something before a certain age or time period is crippling and mentally exhausting. Life is full of curveballs and the key to successfully overcoming them is adaptability. When one can adapt to change, nothing can knock you off your feet. Finally, everyone’s path is different. I beg you all to pay attention to your own journey and remember to enjoy life and its changes on the way.”

LIS Alum Sophie Paine!

As we start the build up to The Gemini Boat Race, we wanted to re-introduce you to the Presidents of the four squads.

Today you meet Women’s President Sophie Paine who is studying at
Sophie rowed for four years at Brown University, and this is her 2nd year at Cambridge. Her biggest rowing achievement so far has been to win Silver in the U23 World Championships for Great Britain in the women’s eight.

Sophie would love to have Olympian Helen Glover in her crew! Maybe one day it may be possible for these two amazing women to row together but until then, read more about Sophie and her 2021 Boat Race team in the free to download digital magazine

READ MORE HERE - ↘️

https://boatrace.pocketmags.com/magazine/reader/209338/76



Stay safe, stay away, watch The Boat Race 2021 live on the BBC.

Are you a former LIS alum? Please complete our Alumni Questionnaire!

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James Tuchel, LIS alumnus Class of 2008!

James writes from his home in California about his experience working at SpaceX!

"I manage a group of mechanical engineers in the ground engineering department. Basically, we design all of the stuff at SpaceX that doesn't go to space! Specialized equipment for launch pads, recovery vessels, and production & test sites that support all of SpaceX's rockets, spacecraft, and satellites."

James received his undergraduate degree as a Design Engineer, Lotus F1 Team at Enstone UK and his Masters of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. He has worked at SpaceX, Los Angeles for 6 years as a Mechanical Design Engineer, was Lead Engineer for 4 years and Mechanical Engineering Manager for 1 year.

James offers wisdom to our students on making their dreams come true: "Most people will tell you that it is impossible to break into competitive fields or that there is an oversupply of qualified people and you don't have a chance. This is categorically untrue - don't listen to them. In fact the best organizations in this world - should you be interested in pursuing them - are desperate to find the caliber person they need. Be intellectually curious and pursue your interests aggressively and uncompromisingly. Don't wait for the right circumstances to try things - go out and break down doors and make them happen for yourself. Try and consider the world from a first-principles perspective - question what you think you know, and also what others think they know. Don't accept the status quo or any reason supporting it that isn't grounded in physics - everything else is negotiable. Above all remember that everything that exists in this world was put into motion by other people who are no smarter or more capable than you are."

Thank you James! Your words and experiences
are inspiring!

LIS ALUMNUS DEFENDS PHD DISSERTATION

LIS is pleased to share the news that Dr. Connor Goodrum, Class of 2010, recently defended his Ph.D. dissertation: "Conceptually Robust Knowledge Generation in Early Stage Complex Design" in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Connor is the eldest son of Gitte and Jim Goodrum and he was educated at LIS from the early years through to the completion of the IBDP programme.

This is a notable accomplishment and LIS is proud of his achievements in the academic world and to have been part of his academic journey.

Are you a former LIS alumnus? Send your email address to [email protected] and help us keep in touch!

The LIS community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Class of 2010 alumnus Pedro Trujillo. Our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and all those who were touched by his life.

Marlena Leonard Class of 2015

ALUMNI SIGHTING! Class of 2012 JULIA GEIGER "Tune in to Puls4 at 20.15 TONIGHT to watch my episode of Ninja Warrior Austria! How far do I get? Do i make it to the warped wall? Do i make it to the Finals? I’m here to show that pretty little dancers can rock a Parcours just like all the tough other athletes👊🏻💪🏻 Always by my side are my trusty sneakers!! They gave me a great feeling throughout the Parcours ❤️ "