UK CRAN Reprersentative Jackie Bethea Cuyvers '96 looks forward to London Event October 17

Celebrating Connections Overseas: Jackie Bethea Cuyvers '96
I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the new Cranbrook Kingswood alumni representative here in London. It’s a unique privilege to help connect and support such a dynamic and far-reaching community. Cranbrook Kingswood has always been a place that fosters creativity, innovation and a supportive community, and I can’t wait to see how we’ll continue that tradition as a growing alumni family here in the UK.

 

My journey with Cranbrook Kingswood began when I entered as a freshman boarder, having grown up in Michigan. Before attending, I’d visited the art museum, science museum, and planetarium on campus, so I was already familiar with the beauty and history of the school. But coming to CK as a student was an entirely different experience.

 

Cranbrook Kingswood has its own vernacular—maybe not quite Esperanto, but something close. My friend Andrew Stettner ’91 tried to prepare me, but I’m not sure you can ever be fully ready. Going to Cranbrook Kingswood is like traveling to a foreign country—a welcoming one—where you quickly learn the lay of the land and the language of its unique culture.

 

From navigating “the ramp of the Chinese dog” or making my way up "Woodchip" to deciding whether to take the bus and “shoot the hole” to get to class on time, Cranbrook Kingswood life was a whirlwind of discovery. My friends Jay and Brad Hibbard '96, both “lifers,” helped me get up to speed, but soon enough, I found myself not just conversant in the school’s traditions but fluent. It’s this kind of immersion into a close-knit community that makes Cranbrook Kingswood so unique.

 

During my time there, I had the privilege of learning from an exceptional and diverse faculty. Prospero Dagbovie, my advisor from Togo, was one of the most compassionate and inspiring individuals I’ve met. He, along with teachers like Herb Snitz, who demystified math for me, and Scribner Jelliffe, who challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, shaped my academic experience and who I am today. Every interaction left an impression, helping to build a network of lifelong connections that spans the globe.

 

Having friends and alumni around the globe has led to some incredible adventures, like going to the sumo wrestling in Tokyo with Mayuko Okoshi Homma '97. When I moved to London, I reached out to CK alumni I knew—people like Jerlyn Jareunpoon-Phillips '96 and was delighted to be here to welcome Erin Weems-Mcguire '93 to the U.K. I’m incredibly excited to take on this role, facilitating new connections and rekindling old ones for our Cranbrook Kingswood community in the U.K. 

 

To register for the London CRAN Event, click here. Email alumni@cranbrook.edu for further details or information about upcoming events in other regions.
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