MLC History Night 10/23/25

ON OCTOBER 23, 2025, 200 people filled MLC's auditorium for History Night, our first all-eras get-together since the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2018.

It was very good to see so many old friends !!!!

When kindergarten teacher Sarah Walden called for people to stand and cheer, decade by decade, every era was well represented.

Sponsored by the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA), the Friends of MLC advocacy group, and MLC administrators, History Night was conceived to facilitate a periodic reconnection of MLC with its past. Organizer Alisa Welch has posted photos, and her remarks, here and here!

The MLC community met our personable and energetic new principal, Ashlee Hudson—who knew she wanted the MLC job, worked to get it, and is now very focused on reversing the trend of declining enrollment.

Cheers and laughter greeted the official debut of filmmaker and MLC alumna Paty Baum's 2004 documentary MLC: The Early Years. It offered those gathered—some perhaps a bit taken aback—an unvarnished view of choices made by founders and early students as they found their path through MLC's unaccustomed early freedoms.

Alisa shared advice given to her by former teacher Lew Frederick (who was in attendance): MLC has been supported, occasionally saved, by ADVOCACY, lent energy when the community shows up—as it did this night.

Time and great love went into extensive displays of MLC memorabilia, photos, documents, magazines, calendars, a fifty-foot version of the MLC Timeline created by middle-school students, and a display in the famous hallway of Room B1 honoring founding teacher Betty Mayther. People had to be dragged from the halls into the auditorium for the event to start.

To connect with the MLC History Project—the ongoing effort to present MLC history through stories and images, essays and historical documents, presented on this website—all were encouraged to tell their stories through writing or video interview. THANKS to all who have done so or plan to, including the lovely short reminiscences on this page!

Thumbnail: in the run-up to History Night, alumni worked together on Facebook to identify the students in this 1969 photo of MLC's very first class of graduating high-school seniors:

1. Steve Haight, 2. Gillian (Lanny) Hughes, 3. Doug Howell, 4. Katy Izquierdo, 5. Geoff Seaman, 6. Mark McGrath, 7. Janice Stephenson, 8. Tad Savinar, 9. Barry Dragoon, 10. Nancy Woodruff

The things that brought us to MLC were its concept, the K-12 cross-age learning experience, the community focus, and the supports the students have, with a variety of safe adults—teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, parent volunteers, etc. Oh! And let's not forget overnight camping trips and KCLC! (Avin Starr, parent)

My family visited for a middle school open house. We loved how inclusive it was—as well as all the art! (Bonney Johnson, parent)

I started at MLC because my sister was not doing well in her other high school. My mom somehow found out about MLC and was for my sister going there. She also put me in when I was in eighth grade. I graduated in 1993. I have been a lifelong artist since graduating MLC. (Carrie Majhor, alumna)

The best thing for me was the freedom to advance at my own pace—in math, computer programming, high-school level classes before high school, etc. And to be creative in great classes like Emil's Inventors' Workshop. I'm sure the head start I got in math and everything else helped me go on to a degree in Physics, and a 36-year career with Intel. And I had a blast here and made lifelong friends. (David Miller, alumnus—and son of 1970s teacher Judy Miller!)

I was a student for all of my most important years. The smell of the hallways, the squeak of the floors, the views from the windows. They are the foundation for all my imagination, for all of my dreams. My five-year-old brother is starting kindergarten here and it feels like I am stepping into a memory. I feel about MLC the same way I feel about my childhood home. (Jade Amundson, alumna)

I remember my teachers the most from MLC. Avril, Susan, John, Cami, Sara, and everyone are all very important people to me. The community that the passionate and loving staff create here is so unique and I'm so grateful to have gotten my start here! MLC should keep engaging kids in nature, field trips, art, self-exploration, creativity, and curiosity in their learning. (Olivia Paynter-Welch, alumna)

MLC is so supportive and all the teachers will help you with anything. I'm so glad I came to the school. Thank you MLC for everything. (Tallulah Starr, student)

I remember all of my amazing kind teachers who shaped my time at school to be filled with art, creativity, fun, and joy. It was a unique experience that I wouldn't have gotten at any other school and for that I am grateful. (Vonnegut McDonough, alumna)

Poster and program!

Principal Ashlee Hudson's day-after message.

Displays honoring founding teacher Betty Mayther (courtesy of Mary Slac)

Shelly Sophia Crawford, Joshua Peterson, and Mary Slac (courtesy of Mary Slac)

Thanks to those who shared these written reminiscences!