Ken Smith named the MKA 2015 Founders' Cup Recipient!

Congratulations to Department Chair of the Middle School Physical Education department and the Middle School Coordinator of the Department of Athletics, Kenneth Smith who was named the recipient of the 2015 Founders' Cup for Teaching Excellence. Presented annually by the Alumni Association, the Founders' Cup is based on nominations from all MKA constituencies. The award honors a full-time faculty member who exemplifies the highest levels of teaching and who contributes to the well-being of the MKA community, both in and out of school.

Smith, who received his B.S. from Gordon College, has taught at MKA since 1984. Ken holds an "A" license from the USA Soccer Federation and the Advanced Coaching Diploma from the USA Ice Hockey Association. He was a tri-captain for the ice hockey team at Gordon College and received the coach's award in 1982. Ken continues to play soccer and hockey in an adult league. He is an avid water-skier and lake trout fisherman.

Alumni Council president Jaclyn Spedaliere '00 presented the award at the end of year faculty meeting, adding her own personal reflections of having Coach Smith as her soccer coach for all four years of her Upper School experience. She went on to read quotes from students, alumni, parents and peers received on Smith's behalf, among which were the following:

Ken has been teaching and coaching at MKA for decades, and has been a positive influence on hundreds of young men and women at a critical stage in their lives. Nobody sets a better daily example of living a life of 'character' and 'ethics' than Ken, and I am very grateful that he was such a wonderful role model for our three children.

Coach Smith has always gone above and beyond the classroom and the soccer field. As a former student/athlete of his, I learned life lessons from him, such as perseverance and determination.

Coach Smith always encouraged us to fight hard, to never give up no matter the score, and to always do so with integrity, your head held high, always representing yourself, your family and your school respectfully .... all life lessons.

I was a better student and athlete because of the person he portrayed, and the person he so instilled in all of us to be.

As a proud MKA alumnus, I often reflect on my time at the school, remembering friendships forged and lessons learned. The majority of these terrific memories include Ken Smith. Ken is a great mentor ... when I think of educators who took me from the "beginning to end" at MKA, Ken Smith is the first and only person I can consider as an all-encompassing educator.