Rundle at 40: Our First Graduating Class

Our First Graduating Class

In 1989, just four years after Rundle opened its doors, we celebrated a milestone that would mark the beginning of many more to come: the graduation of our very first class. Though small in number, this group holds a lasting place in Rundle’s history, representing the first of many graduating classes across Rundle Schools.

Rundle’s first graduating class was represented by Jennifer Bruce, Anoop Bungay, Joel Crowe, Lori Ann Harvey, Huw Jeffries, Danny McCuaig, and Kerry Wu.

To honour and reflect on this special moment, we spoke with two members of that class, Anoop Bungay and Lori Ann Harvey, to hear their memories and thoughts on being part of Rundle’s beginning.

Lori Ann Harvey (2025)	Anoop Bungay (2025)

When asked how it felt to belong to that pioneering group of first graduates, Anoop shared emphatically: “It was amazing, a god-given privilege to be a part of the first eight students of a school program that kicked off clearly a proven education success, forged out of the decades of experiences of Dr. Conklin and Dr. Collett.”

Lori Ann reflected on the unique sense of community that came from starting from the ground up, and how Rundle’s student culture started with them: “There were no traditions already in place, we were the ones who got to start them. With only a few of us, our class felt more like a family than a group of classmates. We celebrated each other’s successes and worked our way through our differences. Being part of this small graduating class taught me the importance of community, and creating your own path when one doesn’t exist yet.”

(College Senior High, 1987–88. Anoop B. pictured bottom right; Lori-Ann H., bottom row, second from the left.)

When asked why they came to Rundle in the first place, both Anoop and Lori Ann were drawn to Rundle for one of the same reasons families choose it today: small class sizes.

For Anoop, a close friend and fellow Rundle alum convinced him to join the school. He recalled how his friend “raved about the Rundle program and how cool the school is because of its small class sizes,” which motivated him to transfer to Rundle College the following school year.

Lori Ann shared a similar story, explaining that she felt “lost in the large class sizes” of her previous school. So, once she and her family heard about how Rundle College was offering a smaller, more personalized learning environment, they knew it was the right choice for Lori Ann.

Looking back 36 years later, Lori Ann continues to feel a deep connection to the school she helped shape.

“It is remarkable to watch Rundle College grow over the past 30 years or so. I guess in a small way I still feel connected to its roots, knowing I was a part of the foundation. As a teacher, I have had students transfer to Rundle College after elementary, and I share with them my experiences of being part of their first graduating class … quite proudly!”

Anoop also reflected on the friendships and memories that have endured through the years after graduation: “Great times; great memories; great education; great teachers; great opportunity, great friends and friendships, all lasting until today. Even if we seldom talk or see one another, the love, the memories, the recollections remain.”

From that very first graduating class in 1989 to today’s graduates, Rundle’s story remains one of love and connection that continues to shape who we are today.