Class Notes Summer 2025

1970s

Looking for Dragons

My name is Scott Barnes. I was a student at Joint Embassy School (JES) for the 1974-1975 school year. I graduated on June 4, 1975, and left for the United States shortly thereafter. My experiences in Jakarta were some of the best in my life, which brings me to my request. I am looking for a way to contact a friend of mine. Her name at the time was Ann Welke. I believe it is Ann Welke Forrest now. She was a fellow Senior like me. I'd really like to contact her, and if you could send me any helpful information, I would be most grateful!

If you have any information on Ann, let us know at alumni@jisedu.or.id.

1980s

Dragons in the Wild

Alumnus Dino Vega (Class of 1980) came across not one, not two, but four Dragons in the Wild during his recent travels — in two separate countries!

He reconnected with “old friends” Roeland van Donk and Hans Berg for a sunny day out in The Hague, and also enjoyed a long-overdue catch-up with Abe Rosal and Gerard Hechanova in Manila.

1990s

On Campus

Dorothy van Miert & Greg Maras (1992)

Celebrating 36 years of friendship, former prom dates Dorothy and Greg returned to JIS for a stirring walk down memory lane — even recreating a photo at the exact same spot from 33 years ago.

“So much has changed — crazy to see JIS now has an ambulance, bank, ATM machines, and elevators on campus! However, we’re lucky that the hut by the Dragon Fountain was still there, where Greg and I were able to take our photo together,” Dorothy said.

Dorothy now lives in Manila, while Greg has made Jakarta his home.

Danielle Trawick (1993)

“It was incredibly special to show my family the halls I once walked and the huts where I formed lifelong friendships. JIS is more than just a school — it’s a magical community that will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Danielle. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Amsterdam, where she works as a Talent Acquisition and Employer Brand Leader.

Yuko Oyama (1996)

When Yuka was invited to speak as a guest art and design professor at a Bandung university, she jumped at the chance to take a quick trip down to Jakarta and JIS. Her visit wasn’t just motivated by nostalgia; it was an homage to her artistic roots, which started at the Cilandak campus and has since flourished into a calling and career at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Germany.

Megan Tribe, née Graff (1997)

One highlight of Megan’s recent holiday in Indonesia — with stops in Bali, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta — was returning to JIS with her children. 

“I have been back to JIS a few times over the years but really wanted my kids to see the school that had such an impact on my life. A lot has changed, but many things were the same, and I was able to share a lot of memories with my kids,” she shared.

Megan now lives in Canada, where she works as a freelance coach.

Emma Matson, née Grant (Class of 1997)

Emma treasures the many reminders of her JIS years, including her varsity jacket, now proudly worn by her son. 

“All of my treasured reminders of JIS have a special place in my house. It was such a beautiful school in which to learn and grow — it wasn't until I left it that I understood how much JIS and its wonderful teachers had taught me, and they were lessons that extended far beyond the classroom walls. I'm so proud to be a graduate of the Class of 1997,” she shared.

Emma now lives in Perth, Australia, where she is a Philanthropy Executive.
 

Ryan Egger (1998)

It was a summer vacation to remember when Ryan made sure to include Jakarta and JIS in his travels. With pride and wistful nostalgia, he guided his wife and two children through the campus where he had spent his formative years from Grade 6 to 12.

Ryan now lives in Austin, Texas, where he is a Strategic Business Manager.

Dragon Updates

Marvin “Gamot” Agraviador (1994)

Marvin credits his years at JIS with shaping the “grateful human” he is today. Now, he is passionate about giving back to younger generations through the arts. Over the past decade, Marvin has designed and built a steel drum instrument through his project Hum Drums Relax, creating a simple curriculum that uses rhythm and sound to help people connect with their inner artist and overcome shyness. His journey into artistic expression began at JIS, where some of his fondest memories include being part of the Dance Team with Mrs. Elizabeth Dinlocker.

2000s

Looking for Dragons

My name is Lucas Shulman, a JIS graduate from the Class of 1992. I'm looking to reconnect with Kaoru Hayashi (Class of 1996 or 1997). I have some news to give her regarding my mother, who tutored her and home-stayed her for a bit. If you have Kaoru's contact information, could you forward her my email?

If you have any information about Kaoru, let us know at alumni@jisedu.or.id.

Dragon Wedding

Sharul Sonthalia and Isabella Rao, both proud members of the JIS Class of 2013, reconnected in 2019 when they happened to meet at Elizabeth Street Garden in New York City’s SoHo. What began as a chance encounter quickly grew into a relationship! In 2024, the couple got engaged and returned to Indonesia, with Sharul now involved in tech startups and investments while Isabella teaches English at the French School Jakarta.

They celebrated their wedding in 2025 with family and friends in Ubud, Bali. Isabella also carries a special JIS legacy as the granddaughter of Nagaraja Rao and Shankarama Rao, who were part of our school’s founding group in 1951. Congratulations on your marriage, Sharul and Isabella!

On Campus

Erin Hulme, née Barrett (2000)

Fresh from her Class of 2000 reunion in Bali, Erin returned to JIS for the first time in 25 years, this time with her children. 

“Walking back onto my high school campus after 25 years was like opening a time capsule. So much has changed, yet so much felt the same,” she shared.

The visit was made all the more meaningful by the chance to walk her children through the story of her formative years and show them where her Dragon Spirit began.

David Ho, Reed Rising, Sean Widjaja (2010)

Best friends David Ho, Reed Rising, and Sean Widjaja traveled from across the world to reconnect while attending the Bali wedding of one of their former classmates. Before that, they made sure to free up an afternoon for a return to JIS.

David is now an actuary, Reed is a cybersecurity director, and Sean runs a multinational education startup.

Joshua Racho, Clara Kusno (2012)

Reuniting on familiar ground, longtime friends and fellow 2012 Alumni Joshua and Clara Kusno recently enjoyed a “surreal” visit to the Cilandak campus. 

“Visiting JIS felt so surreal! The new improvements to the campus are so advanced and sophisticated — we wish we had those during our time there. Although a lot has changed, it’s still comforting to know that the bone structure, such as the modules, is still in the same place,” Joshua shared. 

Joshua is currently a Business Development Manager based in Munich, Germany, while Clara works in Jakarta as the Marketing Director for Double Deer Group.

Dragon Updates

Jun Shirai (Class of 2005)

After graduating from JIS, Jun returned to Japan and studied at Kyoto University before beginning a career in Human Resources with Toyota Motor Corporation. Over the past 15 years, he has built an international career, with assignments in Suzhou, China; Bangkok, Thailand; and soon Istanbul, Turkey, where he will relocate in January 2026

Carissa Finneren (Class of 2012) 

Can you tell us a bit about your new book, A Gentle Eruption, and the inspiration behind it?

Step into the shoes of someone who experienced something we can all relate to: self-reflection during the tumultuous pandemic lockdown. Through my personal accounts and raw recollections, my Covid-era journey of self-discovery takes me down memory lane, revisiting a sometimes difficult and challenging past. 

I explore themes like family, belonging, culture, spirituality, identity, healing, and more. Each story is told in a unique format — poetry-like tales that bring to life the core memories that have shaped who I am today. My past often floods into my work, producing a gentle eruption of honest and curated content that was published years after I wrote the book.

I was inspired by the people around me, those who were really using the lockdown to explore their creative side. I asked myself if I was brave enough to do what they were doing, and then I found out I was. Being at home also inspired me, as I was in a very familiar and comfortable environment, to remember all sorts of memories in the stillness of it all.

Your book offers a very personal look into your life while exploring the themes of belonging, identity, and healing. What do you hope your readers will take away from your story?

I am generally comfortable sharing personal stories and being vulnerable in this way because I want my stories to resonate and connect with readers. I aim to provide something real and raw — honest and authentic. I hope my stories can benefit them in some way, whether through personal growth, healing, or their life journey in general. I want readers to know that they, too, can create something that brings them happiness, and that they can transform difficult situations into something meaningful, whether it’s a book or another form of expression. I believe art can serve as a powerful healing modality, and I hope my stories inspire and give readers the courage to pursue their dreams.

Proceeds from A Gentle Eruption will go toward supporting women survivors and funding future workshops through arts for women. What inspired you to connect your book to this cause, and what impact do you hope these contributions will have?

I have known women who were hurt in this way in the past, and standing by those who are doing their best to heal from unimaginable pain will always be close to my heart. I want to support them in any way I can. In this case, I can contribute by donating a percentage of proceeds from book sales when purchased through Arts for Women. I dislike feeling powerless, a feeling I’ve often experienced when trying to help women going through abuse. Now, I am taking action in a way I can, making a positive difference. 

The impact I hope to create is to provide these women with opportunities to heal further and to feel loved and supported by others. I want them to know that I stand with them and that a better future awaits. I also want them to understand that they are not alone.
 

Do you have a life update you'd like to share with fellow Dragon Alumni? Or do you want to let your former classmates know what you've been up to? Share your story with us: alumni@jisedu.or.id