BULLETIN

A DAY IN THE Life

Alumni Weekend 127th Commencement

SUMMER 2017 Make this issue

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DEPARTMENTS 3 On Main Hall 52 5 Letters A Day in the Life 6 Alumni Spotlight Follow the lives of three Taft students. 14 In Print By Debra Meyers 16 Around the Pond 32 Sports 42 Annual Fund Report “Bring Me Little Water, 72 Alumni Notes Sylvie” drew rave reviews 94 Taft Trivia during Collegium’s 64 performances in San 127th Commencement 124 Milestones Discover Francisco and Santa Monica Remarks by Pressley M. Millen P’17 this year. Use Layar on Scan this page interactive content these pages to enjoy the performance. PETER FREW ‘75 Download thep free T Layar Ap INTERACTIVE PRIN 64 IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN INTERACTIVE READING EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES MORE Here’s how it works: THAN JUST TURNING THE PAGE, THIS ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN IS FOR YOU. WE’RE PLEASED We hope you enjoy TO INTRODUCE A UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY THAT this interactive 52 EMPLOYS AN “AUGMENTED REALITY” (AR) issue of the Bulletin, 1Download the free 2Look for the Layar symbol 3Open the app and position your BROWSER TO ACCESS DIGITAL CONTENT THROUGH and look forward to Layar app on your on images throughout mobile device over the page. THE PRINTED PAGE. BY SIMPLY SCANNING SELECT your feedback! mobile device. It is the Bulletin. You’ll find Tap your screen to activate the PAGES WITH YOUR MOBILE DEVICE, YOU WILL BE available for both iOS them here and on pages scan. The associated digital ABLE TO VIEW VIDEO CLIPS THAT ADD DEPTH AND and Android. 9, 22–23, 54, 55, 57, 59, 61, content will begin playing on ENJOYMENT TO YOUR READING EXPERIENCE. 62–63 and the back cover. your mobile device!

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 1 On Main Hall A WORD FROM HEADMASTER WILLY MACMULLEN ’78 SUMMER 2017 Volume 87, Number 4

EDITOR Linda Hedman Beyus LIVING ON THE COMMONS DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AN EXCERPT FROM 2017 COMMENCEMENT REMARKS Kaitlin Thomas Orfitelli Earlier this week, I snuck ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Debra Meyers out of my office and drove to New Haven, where I hide, in a PHOTOGRAPHY wood-paneled reading room in Robert Falcetti Yale’s Sterling Library, when- ALUMNI NOTES EDITOR ever I have a talk to write. The Hillary Dooley parking meter maxed at two hours, so I twice had to take ON THE COVER DESIGN | Even Horace Dutton Taft was sporting Good Design, LLC www.gooddesignusa.com breaks, emerging blinking into a jaunty hat on Alumni Weekend to the sunlight to take get some SEND ALUMNI NEWS TO greet hundreds of alumni and their Taft Bulletin | Alumni Office air, and to walk by the Green. families and friends for a several days The Taft School In every way, the Green is the of celebrations. ROBERT FALCETTI 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT 06795-2100 center of the city. [email protected] Colonists arrived in New DEADLINES FOR ALUMNI NOTES Haven in 1638, seven men Fall–August 30 | Winter–November 15 | Spring–February 15 | Summer–May 15 wintering over, and about 250 arriving in April to try SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO Cathy Mancini | Alumni Records to somehow wrest a life out The Taft School of thick woods and thin soil. Taft ONLINE 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT 06795-2100 That they survived is some- [email protected] Find a friend or past Bulletin: thing of a miracle, but what is The New Haven Green F11PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM taftalumni.com 860-945-7777 | WWW.TAFTALUMNI.COM more astonishing is this: one of the first things they did was to plan the town Green. It’s amazing. Barely able to eke out survival and with arable land scarce, the first thing they did was to commit to Visit us on your phone: taftschool.org COMMENTS? TELL US! We’d love to hear what you think about the stories in this Bulletin. a space where they could gather—to trade, worship, discuss, remediate, resolve, educate. Think of We may edit your letters for length, clarity, and content, but please write. what that said about their conviction that a community of desperate and diverse voices could only What happened at today’s game? Linda Hedman Beyus, editor taftsports.com endure if there was a commons. And so the 16-acre, nine-section plot has remained. Taft Bulletin And that’s where this talk starts and finishes, where you seniors once began and now end: on a 110 Woodbury Road Shop online: taftstore.com Watertown, CT 06795-2100 green, and with my hope that the work we have done with you will help you for life in the commons. [email protected] As you know, the history of New England is, in some ways, about how we have gathered on facebook.com/thetaftschool communal spaces; and if our discourse as a nation is inevitably imperfect, at turns divisive and The Taft Bulletin (ISSN 0148-0855) is published quarterly, in February, May, August, and November, by The Taft School, 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT 06795-2100, rancorous and uniting and uplifting, that it even happens can be traced to our commitment to the and is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of the school. twitter.com/taftschool All rights reserved. “Common spaces, we are reminded, are about the bringing together of instagram.com/taftschool citizens, around religion, trade, civics, and education. They are physical and bit.ly/taftlinkedin spiritual loci, the means by which in our best moments as a people we are vimeo.com/taftschool our most humane, visionary, and wise, and where we find ways to gather,

Please recycle this Bulletin or share with a friend. debate, and listen, to experience literally and figuratively commonality.”

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commons. Some 170 towns in this state still have a green, a commons, like the one just a few steps LETTERS from this campus. Common spaces, we are reminded, are about the bringing together of citizens, around religion, trade, civics, and education. They are physical and spiritual loci, the means by which in our best moments as a people we are our most humane, visionary, and wise, and where we find ways to gather, debate, and listen, to experience literally and figuratively commonality. my experiences prepared me for my life. I Oriocos’ Origins The authors of a favorite book titled Common Fire write: have just retired from 10 years of teach- After the Class of ’62 celebrated their Many Americans in an earlier time…participated in some kind of commons—a shared space that ing nursing students. I never imagined 55th Reunion in May, an email discussion anchored the American vision of democracy. Whatever its form, the commons marked the center of a myself at Taft becoming a teacher, but I followed about the origins of the names shared world…. By happenstance and intention, [diverse] people met and talked together with some sense know that my Taft teachers supported of Taft’s student choral groups, Hydrox of shared stake, something in common. me, encouraged me, and influenced me. (who sang at their Reunion Dinner) As the world has never been more complex and dynamic, the irony is that it has also never Funny, that is how my students described and Oriocos. Here are two excerpts: “I will remember looked more like a colonial commons, never more in need of disparate citizens who can gather and me at the end of each semester. you as the converse to meet the pressing planetary challenges. I like to think you seniors learned here some- I receive a number of alumni maga- A little more back ground about the choral thing about participation in the commons. zines: Chatham Hall, Wheaton College groups. The Orinoco is one of the longest class that grew Here’s Common Fire again, noting that technology and transport have created a new commons— (Norton, Massachusetts), and Georgetown rivers in South America. Most of the a global town green where we are inextricably tied and interdependent: University. The Taft Bulletin is always the length of the river is in Venezuela, where enormously, [This] new commons is global in scope, diverse in character, and dauntingly complex. We are simul- most interesting and informative. Beezer Manning was a young petroleum who cared deeply taneously fragmented into loose and shifting associations of individuals, interest groups, and tribes, yet —Holly Holmes Williams Ross ’74 engineer for Standard Oil and part of a drawn more closely into a larger web of life. As the world shrinks, as the diversity of our species and the… team that discovered one of the biggest and publicly limitations of the planet…[on which] we all depend become more evident, [we] must reach out for some Connected by Class Notes oil fields in the world. And it remains so for others… new set of connections, some more adequate way to make sense of a world gone boundaryless, a world now The Bulletin was pleased to receive this letter today. He contracted malaria and had to paradoxically larger, smaller, and more complex. Alumni Notes Appreciation from longtime class secretary Pete Greer ’53, be evacuated back to the States. It was and which gave We all see a shrunken world, with economic interconnectedness, strains on basic resources, I am not sure when or why I began to read who agreed to let us share it with our readers. determined that he could not return to need for environmental cooperation, concerns about security and tribalism. We will need people the Alumni Notes all the way through. Venezuela. He was given a medical separa- me a stubborn who can collaborate across difference, who can together think critically and creatively, who can be I think it has something to do with my When I was asked to take on the task of tion with a significant financial package. optimism that part of diverse teams, who can debate and empathize with equal parts passion and compassion, intellectual curiosity that was stoked at class secretary, I thought it might be a bur- He then joined the staff at Taft. He who see both shared responsibility and opportunity. Taft some 40-plus years ago. Some of what den, but that has not been the case. I’ve had started the Oriocos, which was to be the voices we Seniors, I hope you understand that what we have tried to do is prepare you to participate in I have gleaned from the notes over the the best people to work with at Taft and called the Orinocos but the Pap mis- need on the this global commons. Your years here have been rehearsal: every class debate you took part in, years: potential vacation destinations from cherish the rapport and friendship that has spelled the word, dropping the ‘n.’ every essay you completed, every conversation with an advisor, every team or group you were on, pictures and descriptions; books to add grown up. I also enjoy the contact with my I know this how? After we graduated global commons every speech you heard, every political discussion we hosted, every group project you presented, to my “to read” list; a better understand- classmates, and while I’m not overly aggres- from Taft, my parents moved to Liberia, every editorial you penned, every dorm problem you resolved—it was all to help you as a citizen ing of the many Taft graduates that have sive about contacting them—not wanting West Africa, and over that summer I con- would be and leader in the commons. left—and are leaving—their mark in the to intrude in anyone’s life—I do look for- tracted malaria. Over the years Beezer and arriving soon.” You make me optimistic. Not because of what you did—though your accomplishments in aca- world. I have learned about history from ward to hearing from them and sharing I had many conversations about malaria demics, athletics, arts, and service were remarkable. Because of what you are. I see in you a rare the people that lived it. I have laughed out their news with the others in our class. as we both contracted the repeating type. empathy, caring, resilience, and humility. You were not perfect. You wrestled with sociopolitical loud at the political discussions and the My brother, Jay ’50, attended Taft for —Marty Keller ’62 issues of incredible complexity and potency. You perhaps said things you wished you had not, or inside jokes that run from issue to issue. three years before I went there, so I can realized you might have listened more closely. But I will remember you as the class that grew enor- I have read tidbits of wisdom and look back in class notes and see names of Hydrox mously, who cared deeply and publicly for others, whose empathy vastly expanded, and which gave have wanted many times to thank the alumni dating from 1946 to 1947 that I Whoever came up with the name thought me a stubborn optimism that the voices we need on the global commons would be arriving soon. individual for taking the time to put it recognize or know. I read their class notes the all-male group was called Oreos, like the Perhaps we are all like those starving New Haven colonists, living precious and vulnerable lives, into writing. In the Winter 2017 Bulletin and those about three years beyond 1953, cookie, instead of Oriocos, and so named dependent on each other, desperate for cooperation, our survival assured only if we can find com- (page 55), it is Nick Giobbe ’51 that I so I keep up with people who were lower the female group after the parent company mon ground. That we must debate and argue, even fiercely, is a given. Surely those colonists on would like to thank for sharing his phi- mids when we were seniors. I really feel Hydrox. By the time the school learned of that muddy green in the early 17th century did. But for that discourse to be productive, for our losophy of life and his “life’s little lessons.” connected to Taft and enjoy it immensely. the mistake, everybody decided it was OK. shared existence on the commons to endure, we will have to have a deep, empathic conviction that Having turned 60 recently, I appreciate —Peter Greer ’53 —David Forster ’62 we share together a small and fragile space. his opening statements: “At our age it is easy to contemplate the end rather than the future. Life is still full of excit- Correction ing opportunities and challenges, which In the spring issue’s Alumni Spotlight about Joyce Poole ’74, the 2017 Horace Dutton motivate us mentally and physically.” Taft Alumni Medal honoree, on pages 6–7, we neglected to add that her father, Willy MacMullen ’78 I think back to the three years I spent Robert (former faculty member and coach), was also a graduate of the Class of ’50. at Taft and can only be thankful for how

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b Firestone in the SuperKarts! USA Pro Tour Spring Nationals in Sonoma, California, where he had a second-place finish.

. Firestone, a board member for Race Day Foundation, demonstrates data acquisition for kids enjoying the SuperKarts! USA Pro Alumni SPOTLIGHT Tour Spring Nationals in Sonoma, California.

Driver Nick Firestone Mitchell ’84, who reached out to another the 1999 Indy 500. Jones encouraged ’84, left, at the 50th alum, Adam Bronfman ’81, to sponsor him to get into go-karts, the training anniversary of the Firestone. “I never would have been able ground of the exclusive race car world. NORRA 1000, a Mexican electric carts we might see at an amuse- off-road/rally race, with to race that off-road car that many times Firestone nabbed 12 top-three finishes ment park, the ones that Firestone races his co-driver/navigator had Adam not helped us out. It was just in International Karting Federation races and tunes himself have six gears and PJ Jones, son of Parnelli too expensive,” he says, “so I’ll be forever between 1987 and 1989. After he gradu- 38 horsepower, allowing them to blast Jones, the 1963 Indy 500 winner and one beholden to Adam because we got our foot ated from Princeton that year, he headed from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 sec- of the best drivers in in the door and got a lot of experience.” to Europe to compete with some of the onds. (For comparison, a 2017 Porsche the U.S. Their fathers While “the car broke a lot when most competitive drivers in the world in 911 Carrera does it in four seconds.) used to race in the we were first driving,” Firestone fin- the Opel Lotus Euroseries and the British He’s on the national series for Baja 1000 and other off-road races at the ished in third place the first time he Formula 2 for about three and a half the karts, has “won a little bit of same time, but this entered the Baja 1000, the off-road years before his team went bankrupt. prize money,” and races every few was the first time that race that takes place in Mexico’s Baja He returned to the weeks. He recently competed in the Nick and PJ had ever and joined the Firestone Indy Lights raced together. California Peninsula. After he returned National Off-Road Racing Association to Princeton following the palate- series, the highest step on the Road (NORRA) Mexican 1000 Rally, which whetting racing experience, he got a to Indy driver development program is a lot like the Baja 1000 that he com- call from 1963 Indy 500 champion for the elite IndyCar Series. He fin- peted in back in his school days. and family friend Parnelli Jones, who ished his 1993 season by achieving the “Really,” Firestone says, “I race Four-Wheeled Love Affair offered to coach him over a summer. fastest race lap and took sixth place go-karts because I was forced out of “I’ve always said I can teach some- in Indy Lights in 1993 and 1994. the sport before I wanted to be.” But NICK FIRESTONE ’84 has loved racing Annabel ’20, just finished her lower-mid back of racing.” When he told his inter- one to drive, but I can’t teach them the A few years later, after going through the sport he’s stumbled into is still since age 3. It’s in his blood; his great- year. While touring colleges with his viewer there that his dream was to win desire to win,” Jones told Motor Sport the Rookie Orientation Program for the “extremely competitive,” perhaps even grandfather, Harvey Firestone, started mother, in town from their hometown of the Indianapolis 500, the man shut in 1999. “Nick has never given up on 1999 IndyCar 500, Firestone’s ultimate “more competitive than NASCAR,” the eponymous tire and rubber company Phoenix, Firestone floated the idea of bor- Firestone’s file and the two spent the his racing dream, and now that he’s got- dream was crushed when he didn’t make according to seven-time Formula One that still dominates the roads today. rowing $5,000 to build an off-road race next 25 minutes talking about racing. “It ten the right opportunity, I plan to be the field. “I did everything except the race, World Champion Michael Schumacher. And while the 51-year-old has now car. He vowed to document the process got to the point that my mom came up track-side wishing him the best of luck.” which was kind of a bummer,” he says. Firestone sums it up like this: raced among the most acclaimed drivers and submit it with his college application. and interrupted the interview because Firestone is the first member of his But it didn’t turn out so badly. Now “I’ll do this until I physically can’t do in the world, his decision to follow the “She went for it,” he says, and the tour was leaving!” Firestone says. family to race professionally (that’s say- Firestone is “back to his roots,” racing it anymore, because I love it.” j passion may have received a boost during while he ended up at Princeton, he Firestone’s racing career got a start ing something considering he has 44 the go-karts he started his career with. his years at Taft—where his daughter, believes Duke accepted him “on the thanks to friend and classmate Derek cousins), and he set his sights on winning But unlike the five-horsepower, one-gear —Sam Dangremond ’05

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A Healing Counselor A Baker Who Serves RISDON PRISON in Risdon Vale, are stabilized and coping while in prison.” actually feel pretty motivated, and I guess Tasmania, can be a grim place. It houses A typical day starts with an early I bring that to my work,” she adds. FROM ROSEMARY FOCACCIA and men and women who have committed morning meditation class for inmates This summer, Hass is returning to the pistachio olive baguettes to Asiago sour- all sorts of crimes and, until recently, with complex needs, followed by anger United States to catch up with her fam- dough crisps and sundried tomato and was cited for an outdated design that management classes or a nonviolent ily, but she plans to return to Australia, cheese rolls, the Old School Bakery in penned prisoners in cells that did noth- communication class, and then she sees and potentially her work at the prison. Delray Beach, Florida, is known for fresh ing to help an inmate’s mental health. inmates for one-on-one counseling. Hass Meanwhile, she’ll focus on her naturo- bread with a delicious combination of Enter Liila “Lee” Hass ’77. also oversees groups that help inmates with pathic practice. Naturopathy is one of the taste and texture. Since 1999, owner Billy A trained naturopath, yoga instruc- writing, fitness, and even basic spelling. oldest forms of medicine on earth. It orig- Himmelrich ’82 has been running the tor, and counselor, Hass works as a Paperwork takes up the rest of her days. inated in , in the form of Ayurveda, bakery and providing bread to the top high-needs support counselor at Risdon, Caring for herself is key to being though the Greeks also used naturopathy restaurants, hotels, and country clubs and her role is to focus on inmates with able to reconcile her peaceful work for healing. Naturopathy focuses on in Southeast Florida, including Palm mental health issues and other dis- and the challenge of her work coun- treating the whole person, rather than Beach, Broward, and Dade counties. abilities—people who have brain injuries seling inmates at the prison. focusing on just treatment of the dis- Despite his passion and success, from long-term drug use or trauma or “I don’t know how peaceful I really eased part of the body. As Hass notes, Himmelrich says he ended up in the who have other mental health issues. am,” she admits. “You should see me in the “father” of medicine, Hippocrates, bakery business by accident. It started “I would say that at least 50 percent a traffic jam, even after 35 years of daily often prescribed fresh air, sunshine, a with learning French at Taft. “After my of the inmates at Risdon have some kind meditation practice. But I think what it healthy diet, rest, and herbal medicine mid year, I went to France and did an of mental health condition, so that’s a lot takes is remembering who I am, my own as primary treatments for disease. exchange program with the U.S. Trust of people to see,” Hass says. “I recognize history of struggles, and my own ability to Hass says naturopathy involves for Historic Preservation and worked in that most of the people who are incarcer- move through adversity. So I bring some assessment and treatment of illness the countryside.” He returned to Billy Himmelrich ’82, ated have a history of either witnessing of that, and I bring the calmness I get in a non-invasive way. Her treatments France to study for his junior in front of one of his ovens at Old School or experiencing some form of trauma, from daily yoga and meditation practice.” include dietary advice, the use of year of college. Taking Bakery. DAVID DURBAK usually during childhood. Besides caus- Hass also tries to walk outside every supplements, and herbal medicines. advantage of a great ing distress and offending behavior, that day, and on the weekends she hikes in Yoga, too, plays an integral role in exchange rate, he spent can also lead to substance abuse and the the Tasmanian bush, communing with Hass’s life, and it’s a practice she began at some of that time being potential for suicide and self-harm. So a the wild and wonderful natural beauty. Taft under the tutelage of dance instruc- wined and dined by fam- in the second class he bought a local bakery (the original Old big part of our role is to help make sure “Basically, I like people and being tor Janet Mariani, who incorporated ily friends. “Within a year, ever held at the profes- School Bakery) and set out to get cus- that prisoners who are at risk of self-harm around challenging situations, so I sun salutations and other yoga poses as I had eaten at half of these sional cooking school at tomers. “I would bake through the night part of her warm-ups in dance classes. Michelin 3-star restaurants,” the Ritz Hotel in Paris. and drop samples off,” he says. “I got the “During my senior year at Wesleyan, says Himmelrich. “I fell in love The following Breakers Hotel as a customer. Once I got I took a yoga and meditation class as an with French food, and when I went back years included several jobs learning the Breakers, I found it easy to get other Hass hiking on the Myrtle Gully Track extracurricular subject, and have been to Emory, I taught myself how to cook from famous French chefs before he hotels and restaurants on ‘The Island,’ in the Cascades, doing them both ever since,” Hass says. with Wolfgang Puck’s Modern French moved to Washington, D.C., and got similarly in Delray. We grew organically in Tasmania. She traveled to India and studied yoga, Cooking for the American Kitchen.” a job making the bread and pasta at I that way, and we grew by 50 percent ROBERT BLAKERS and taught yoga classes while in gradu- After college he worked at J.P.Morgan, Ricchi, a Tuscan restaurant. After a few every year for the first six or seven years.” ate school at New York University. Since but had a change of heart when the stock other successful restaurant jobs, he Today, the bakery has evolved into mainly then, she’s taught yoga all over the world, market crashed. “I told my parents I opened his own bakery in Baltimore. wholesale with a small storefront. from the Philippines to Central America to wanted to go to graduate school. They In the late ’90s, Himmelrich, his As the bakery grew, so did Russia to Uganda, landing back in Australia, said, ‘That’s great! What do you want wife, Shelly, and their children, Max and Himmelrich’s involvement in the com- where she’s lived since 1993, and settling to do?’ I said, ‘I want to go to cooking Charlie ’17, relocated to Delray Beach to munity. He expanded his philanthropic into work at the notorious Risdon Prison. school in France.’” Himmelrich enrolled be closer to Shelly’s family. Right away, endeavors and convinced the Palm Beach While she takes a well-earned break, Hass will continue her efforts to live a peaceful life. “Yoga and meditation every morning without fail,” she says. “Keeping fit and enjoying what I do.” j Scan this m Lila “Lee” Hass ’77, at the Risdon Prison Complex, where she is a prison counselor, in Risdon page to —Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow ’84 Vale, Tasmania. JODI THORNE see Billy bake baguettes! Alumni SPOTLIGHT

County Food Bank to take his unsold bread. More recently, he and his wife A Q&A with Max Sandvoss ’98 chaired Delray’s first Empty Bowls event—a grassroots effort to raise of First Light Farm & Creamery money for hunger relief. With the purchase of a $25 ticket, attendees receive a meal of soup, bread, and a handcrafted bowl to take home. Sandvoss at the vat making For the Delray Empty Bowls event, one of the creamery’s the Himmelriches partnered with artisanal cheeses. the Center for the Arts and rented the public park from the city. They adopted the Empty Bowls slogan, “Eat simply so others can simply eat” and organized a strong volunteer base by involving the local high schools, churches, and businesses. “What was really cool is that our servers were ‘celebrity servers,’” says Himmelrich.

“We got the president of the local Max Sandvoss ’98 university, Florida Atlantic University, WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GOAT runs with the herd the city commissioners, and the local farm and creamery owned by Max Sandvoss ’98 in at First Light Farm & Creamery in newscaster. We had an NBA star, past upstate New York and his transition from actor to Upstate New York. mayors, and the current mayor. In experienced farmer and cheesemaker. Max, known addition to the artisan bowls we gave as Stephen while at Taft, runs First Light with his away to everyone, the student pot- brother, Trystan, and their team of employees. With evocatively named cheeses like Sun-Kissed tery that we sold was from the local What do you love the most about Are you glad you moved Caprese, Tuscan Sunset, and Moonshot, he and his schools who had made Palm Beach doing this work? back East? brother are committed to the entire natural process, County Food Bank their community I love where I live. I love making the Between my brother, Trystan, and me, with grass-fed animals and organic pastures, and they service project, and had volunteered kind of food I want to eat. It’s particu- we’ve been exposed to a lot of what’s sell their cheeses at farmers’ markets and to stores to work at the event as well.” larly gratifying to develop friendships out there, what’s possible. I’ve lived and restaurants across their region. Historically, the neighboring with chefs who love our cheese. many different places, and I miss most Palm Beach Empty Bowls event m Sandvoss with his goat herd at of them, but I’m glad to be where I am. usually had 600 attendees and raised First Light Farm & Creamery. What are some of the hardest [Ed. note: Sandvoss’s mother and step- $20,000–$25,000. The Himmelriches’ Why raise dairy goats? make cheese. We moved to Western New parts of your farming life? dad happen to have a dairy farm up the Delray event attracted 1,500 attendees What made you and your brother York and started First Light in 2010. The hardest part of this job is kid- road from where he and his brother started in many wineries and high-end co-ops and raised $150,000 for local people start with them, and how did ding season, when hundreds of First Light. The area is perfect for dairying, Do you still purchase milk from and small markets in Buffalo, Rochester, in need. the cheesemaking begin? babies are born. It is busy. with a temperate climate with fertile soil.] As for what he likes most about I have always loved goat cheese and goats, a neighboring organic cow farm Syracuse, and throughout the Finger Lakes. We’re in 52 Wegmans in New York, New his job, he says, “I love feeding but my life didn’t head in that direction for cheesemaking? What’s one of the crazier What’s next for your business? Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. people. Not to be served, but to at first. After college, I was an actor for First Light is right up the road from an funny moments? Our goal is to bring our cheese The next step for us is Whole Foods, serve…I chose to be a baker over a a couple of years, mostly TV and indie extremely well-managed organic Jersey We make a wine-brined goat’s milk Gouda east to , Boston, and hopefully in the Tri-State Area and the chef because by baking for more than movies, and I lived in LA. Toward the dairy. Right now our goat herd is 190 called Moonshot. Two years ago, using a everywhere great in between, includ- Northeast soon. Look out for it! 250 restaurants, I get to participate end of my time there, my agent got in a milking does strong, so we make fresh GoPro camera, we decided to try to catch ing , and west to Ohio in the lives of all 250 places.” But major car accident and was in a coma for and aged organic cow’s milk and goat’s some footage of goats drinking “wine” that and beyond. Wegmans is taking us Do you still do a Dairy Share the truth is, Himmelrich has ben- many months. I got a chance to rethink milk cheeses of many different kinds. was really just molasses and water. They company-wide this fall, so we’ll be in CSA (community supported efited the lives of many more. j what I wanted to do with my life. went nuts for it, and we got lots of awe- six states beginning Labor Day! j At the time, my brother was work- What’s the current focus for agriculture) program for your —Hillary Dooley some footage of our goats drinking “wine” your products, and where is dairy products? —Linda Hedman Beyus ing at a small farmstead creamery in from wine glasses and even right out of the your time directed most? We have a dairy CSA that delivers See more about First Light at the Pacific Northwest. I visited a couple bottle. Goats are pretty great on-camera tal- times, and it felt right, so I moved there Right now First Light is on the menus of our milk, cheese, and yogurt to mem- firstlightfarmer.com and ent, and they always get a laugh out of me. instagram.com/firstlightfarmer. and learned how to care for goats and about 150 restaurants. Our cheese is carried bers in Buffalo and Rochester.

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 11 Alumni SPOTLIGHT Alumni SPOTLIGHT

A Climate of Change

AMY LYND LUERS ’84 is not one to interested?’” Luers says. “I said, ‘No, to unwind Obama-era clean-air stan- to help society. She went and knocked wilt from a challenge—even as the because I’m not moving the family to dards for power plants and cars. on the door of its nearest office to planet warms. D.C.’ My husband said, ‘That’s ridicu- “It’s obviously a really tough time in learn more about the organization and When Latin American villagers needed lous. Of course, you should do it.’” the context of the leaders that President wound up meeting the colleagues with help getting access to clean water, she Several months later, Luers finally Trump has brought in to lead the dif- whom she started Agua Para La Vida. answered the call. She cofounded an NGO did answer that call, signing on to ferent areas and agencies of relevance,” Luers went on to earn a Ph.D. in envi- called Agua Para La Vida to help build be the assistant director for climate says Luers, who returned to California Amy Lynd Luers ’84 ronmental science and a master’s degree in in Washington, D.C. potable water systems in the region. resilience and information, a posi- this year to a senior leadership post international policy studies from Stanford When Google wanted to explore tion she held for the final 19 months at the Skoll Global Threats Fund. University, as well as a B.S. and M.S. in how it could help with environmental of ’s presidency. The San Francisco-based founda- environmental systems engineering from issues, Luers again answered the call. She Perhaps now more than ever, tion was created by Jeff Skoll, the first out of that,” Luers says. “This is an area She traces the origins of her life’s Humboldt State University in California. co-initiated the effort, a project to use Luers and her scientific peers face the president of the online auction giant that we need to continue to lead on.” calling to Taft and to Middlebury She has recently been named the Google’s technology for monitoring of the toughest gauntlet in the great climate eBay and a philanthropist. Luers is Trump’s EPA head has come under College, where she gained an affin- new executive director of Future Earth, environment and deforestation, which led change debate. It’s not rising ocean director of climate change at the grant- heavy fire for saying he does not ity for science and the outdoors. a 10-year initiative to advance global to the creation of Google Earth Engine. temperatures or melting polar ice making organization, whose mission is believe carbon dioxide emissions are a “At Taft, I remember I took AP sustainability science, and will start So, when the Obama administration caps. It’s not super storms or smog. to “confront global threats by seeking primary contributor to global warm- Physics,” Luers said. “Certainly, I remem- at the organization in September. came calling on Luers to join the Office It’s political climate change—and solutions, strengthening alliances, and ing. Luers shares her thoughts. ber there hadn’t been many girls that had It’s been a circuitous route for Luers, of Science and Technology Policy as a a pivot by the Trump administration spurring actions to safeguard the future.” “I really believe you’re not going to taken the AP Physics exam for years.” and thanks to her efforts at Google, climate change expert, it only seemed on the very environmental policies Even more dramatic of a departure convince someone of something unless After graduating from Middlebury, scientists were able to see the for- logical that she would jump at the offer, espoused by Obama. was Trump’s recent decision to withdraw they’re open and willing to be convinced,” Luers moved to California, where she ests through the clouds. The problem right? Not so fast. Uprooting her family That shift started with Trump’s the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. Luers says. “I do think there are folks worked in the theater. When she saw a solver in Luers has always been able to from their Bay Area home gave Luers, appointment of global warming skeptic “I think it will be a hard thing for the that do think this is a very important Science for Society magazine in a Berkeley, see the forest through the trees. j who is married with a son, pause. Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental secretary of defense and the secretary of issue for their kids, for the economy, California, bookstore, it spoke directly —Neil Vigdor ’95 “Someone asked, ‘Would you be Protection Agency, which is trying the state to engage in the world if we pull and for our leadership in the world.” to her passion for science as a means

Perfecting His Craft

FOR DONALD MOLOSI ’05, it’s hard station, I was one of the first children to was such a life-altering experience in all that off-Broadway debut earn him critical at the of today, was recently he also sees how drama can be used to to remember a time when he wasn’t per- ever work on TV in Botswana.” Television the best ways,” he says. As soon as he acclaim, he also won Best Actor and Best published in the collection, We Are All Blue, improve his community. For over a decade, forming. Born and raised in Botswana, he was a natural fit for Molosi, who at that arrived, he threw himself into the arts. “I Solo awards for his work. marking the first time in Botswana that a he’s worked with the United Nations and spent much of his childhood as an actor time was already performing in various was in every play and musical. I did Damn Committed to perfecting his craft, play has gone from the stage to print. the African Union on various humanitar- and was involved in children’s shows spon- stage shows around the country. Yankees and You Can’t Take It With You, as Molosi continued to study, earning a Although Molosi acknowledges that ian projects. Mostly recently, he has been sored there by UNICEF, from an early age. A top student at Maru-a-Pula School well as many other smaller performances.” master’s in theater and performance he’s “primarily an actor by training,” he “closely involved with campaigns to place “When I grew up,” he recalls, “we had no in Botswana, he won a scholarship to After Taft came , an studies at the London Academy of Music felt compelled to write when he discov- African history in African classrooms. It TV station. When we did get a national TV attend Taft for a postgraduate year. “It experience that also provided one of the and Dramatic Art. Since then, he has ered a lack of strong African characters. “I will be through the arts that Africa’s educa- major turning points in his acting career. performed on stage and in film, recently became a playwright by necessity because tion revolution will come, and I am thrilled There, Molosi performed Blue, Black appearing alongside and stories that I wanted to tell were not in to be witnessing that already.” and White, his own one-man show, as Rosamund Pike in , a plays. I wanted to portray dignified and To this day, he credits Taft with giving part of Dialogue One, a theater festival film focused on Botswana’s first presi- complex African protagonists, and I could him the tools to succeed. “Taft was a crash organized by his mentor, Omar Sangare. dent, Sir . not find them,” he says. And, Molosi says, course in how to remain faithful to your Due to the success of that show, the off- Khama was also the subject of Molosi’s learning the art form from the other side humanity in a world that might sometimes Broadway festival United Solo invited Blue, Black and White, which, as he explains, has “only helped me approach other play- contest that humanity,” he says. “Our Molosi to perform in 2012. Not only did “tells of how Botswana’s inaugural first wrights’ work better as an actor myself.” motto, Not to be served but to serve, is at couple was interracial. That broke taboos, For Molosi, the theater brings an the heart of all I do today. I am extremely b Donald Molosi ’05 performs in an award- upset the British Empire, and set in incredible magic. “Plays are immediate,” grateful to Taft for setting me on a path of winning play he wrote, Blue, Black and White, motion the creation of a non-racial African he says, “and you get lost for two hours possibility for the rest of my life.” j at Maitisong Theatre, in , Botswana. The play was also the first-ever Botswana play republic.” That work, along with his play in another reality. I love that immersive —Christopher Browner ’12 staged off-Broadway in New York City. Motswana: Africa, Dream Again, which looks aspect.” But beyond just entertainment,

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 13 IN Print

A KIND OF FREEDOM MRS. SMITH’S SPY SCHOOL HOUSING THE NEW ROMANS: ODE TO MY AUTUMN SIMPLE COMPLEXITY: GOLF...THE CRUELLEST OF GAMES Counterpoint FOR GIRLS ARCHITECTURAL RECEPTION Antrim House A MANAGEMENT BOOK The Choir Press Margaret Wilkerson Simon & Schuster AND CLASSICAL STYLE IN Victor Altshul ’52 FOR THE REST OF US Cheever Hardwick ’59 Sexton ’00 Beth McMullen ’87 THE MODERN WORLD A GUIDE TO SYSTEMS THINKING Oxford University Press “Like all the best poetry, Altshul’s Ode Morgan James Publishing In his latest book, Hardwick takes an Sexton’s debut novel explores the legacy In McMullen’s middle grade debut novel, Edited by Elizabeth to My Autumn is written out of the William Donaldson ’74 irreverent, humorous, and insightful look of racial disparity in the South through a a girl discovers her is Macaulay-Lewis ’98 and poet’s sense of mortal urgency,” writes at the game of golf and all it involves. poignant and redemptive family history. actually an elite spy-training program, Katharine T. von Stackelberg poet Clare Rossini in her endorsement. Every manager knows a business is a Decades of struggle with the dreaded Evelyn is a Creole woman who comes and she must learn the skills of the “Whether taking on the perspective system, yet very few have studied sys- game have resulted in this work, which of age in New Orleans at the height of trade in order to find her mother. In the last 20 years, reception studies of a ruminative blue heron, exploring tems thinking or systems dynamics. is based on the assumption that golf is a World War II. Her family inhabits the After a botched escape plan from her have significantly enhanced our under- the tragedy of a brother’s mental ill- This is a critical oversight, one which game—and a rather odd one at that. As upper echelon of black society, and she is boarding school, Abigail is stunned to standing of the ways in which classics ness, or coming to terms with one of Simple Complexity helps remedy. such, golf should be a source of amuse- forced to choose between her life of privi- discover the school is actually a cover have shaped modern Western culture, but the many writers, artists, and musi- Management consultant, repeat ment rather than anguish, certainly in the lege and the no-account man she loves. for an elite spy ring called The Center, little attention has been directed toward cians who serve as co-conspirators CEO, and business professor Donaldson case of amateur players. A word of warn- In 1982, her daughter, Jackie, is a along with being training grounds the reception of classical architecture. in his art-making, Altshul tracks his describes how systems naturally form and ing: This is not a book for those who take frazzled single mother grappling with her for future spies. Even more shock- Housing the New Romans addresses thought and emotion with an inten- behave, and reveals systems tenets that all themselves or the game very seriously. absent husband’s drug addiction. As she ing, Abigail’s mother is a top agent this gap by investigating ways in which sity and clarity that draw us in. managers must know. The author reveals “Sports were always a bit of an obses- comes to terms with his abandoning the for The Center and she has gone MIA, appropriation and allusion facilitated “This is a poet equally at home in free the fundamental system archetype at sion, [but most have disappeared] due family, he returns, and she must decide with valuable information that many the reception of classical Greece and and formal verse, and the music of the work in any enterprise and prescribes new to injuries,” the author writes. “I am if resuming their life together is worth people would like to have, at any cost. Rome through the requisition and poems is consistently convincing. His ways to reinvigorate management think- now left with a bit of shooting, clumsy the near certainty he’ll leave again. Along with a former nemesis and redeployment of classicizing tropes to voice has similar range, moving from ing. Simple Complexity provides a systems efforts at fishing, and golf. I have played Jackie’s son, T.C., likes the creative charming boy from her grade, Abigail create neo-antique sites of “dwelling” tender compassion to incisive political context that powerfully enriches tradi- golf sporadically since childhood, hence process of growing marijuana more than goes through a crash course in Spy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. commentary to rueful self-awareness. tional management thought and practice. I have been witness to the silly game for the weed itself. After Hurricane Katrina, Training 101, often with hilarious— The volume, across nine essays, And the author is also capable of being Donaldson is a professor of man- over 60 years and have watched it grow the New Orleans he had known didn’t sur- and sometimes painful—results. But covers both European and American scintillatingly funny in his poems, a rare agement at the Joseph W. Luter III exponentially over that period. I have vive the storm. Fresh out of a four-month Abigail realizes she might be a better iterations of place making, includ- feat. But finally, it’s the felt sense of School of Business at Christopher been living in the English countryside stint for drug charges, he decides to start spy-in-training than she thought, and ing Sir John Soanes’ house in London, the life behind the work that makes it Newport University and has over 30 for over 25 years and move between over. For Evelyn, Jim Crow is an ongo- the answers to her mother’s where- the Hôtel de Beauharnais in Paris, hard to put down Ode to My Autumn.” years of experience in his roles as a England, Scotland, and Portugal chas- ing reality, and in its wake new threats abouts are a lot closer than she thinks. and the Getty Villa in California. Altshul is a practicing psychiatrist board member, president, and CEO of ing little white balls into bushes.” spring up to haunt her descendants. McMullen lives and works in By focusing on structures and in New Haven, Connecticut, and is a eight companies. He is the founder and The author of several books, Born and raised in New Orleans, Northern California with her hus- places that are oriented toward private faculty member as well as a graduate president of Strategic Venture Planning, Hardwick graduated from Washington Sexton studied creative writing at band and two children. Visit her life—houses, hotels, clubs, tombs, and of Yale University School of Medicine. a management consulting firm that & Lee University with a bachelor of Dartmouth and law at UC Berkeley. She at bethmcmullenbooks.com. gardens—the book provides a multiplic- His has published several books of assists boards, investors, and senior arts in journalism, and later received spent a year in the Dominican Republic ity of interpretative frameworks that poetry, and lives in New Haven with management teams maximize results. a doctor of jurisprudence from the working for a civil rights organiza- may be applied to the study of architec- his wife, Laura, also a published poet. University of Colorado Law School. j tion and writing. Her stories have been tural reception. This critical approach published or are forthcoming in Grey makes this volume the first of its kind Sparrow Journal, Limestone Journal, Broad! in the emerging field of architectural Magazine, and The Massachusetts Review. and landscape reception studies. She lives in the Bay Area, California. If you would like your work added to the Hulbert Taft Library’s Alumni Authors Collection and considered for this column, please email the editor ([email protected]) and mail a copy to: Taft Bulletin | The Taft School | 110 Woodbury Road | Watertown, CT 06795-2100

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For more information, visit Frew who, along with Laura Monti ’89, www.taftschool.org/news directs the program. “Their 32-hour intern- ships and inquiry-based research papers form the basis of the culminating project.” Dreher adds, “Preparing a research paper builds understand- ing around an issue, then actually doing something hands-on makes for POND a very well-designed program.” AroundBY DEBRA MEYERS the This year, GLI Scholars worked in pairs or small groups on their projects. “There were some logistical chal- GLI Scholars (from left) Abby lenges with the students being spread Hazel, Minna Holleck ’18, Opening Doors to Change across schools throughout Waterbury and and Nate Rivard planned an Watertown,” notes Frew, “but it better rep- awareness and fundraising GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE resents the true collaborative experience we walk to benefit South Sudan.

CHANGING THE WORLD is not an abstract concept to Taft’s Global Grace Dreher ’18 Leadership Institute (GLI) scholars, collected comfort it is an imperative. This year’s class of items for children GLI program graduates tackled proj- in foster care. ects that not only raised awareness about global issues, but took meaning- ful steps toward impacting them. “Sometimes we’re so focused on all we have to do here—sports, academ- ics, extracurriculars—it’s hard to turn outward and remember that there are other issues in the world that we should Walk for South Sudan participants experienced what be doing something about,” says GLI it was like to carry heavy buckets of water, a fact of Scholar Grace Dreher ’18. “This pro- life for many women and children in the region. gram showed me how easy it can be. If high school kids can do something that makes such a difference, everyone can.” want to achieve through this partnership.” provides children in crisis with pieces donations and stuffing age-appropriate Dreher was one of 10 Taft students Dreher worked with Waterbury Careers of comfort to call their own, things like backpacks filled with comfort items, to be selected to join the program’s second Academy junior Heaven Begum to lessen books, clothing, toys, and school sup- donated to a local My Stuff Bags affiliate. cohort in the fall of 2015. With 10 stu- the trauma of the foster care experience. plies. Armed with brochures about the “We’re fulfilling the Global dents from Waterbury schools rounding “Our research showed us that there organization and lists of the items most Leadership Institute motto of think- out the class, the group embarked on an are a number of issues with the foster needed to fill comfort bags, Dreher and ing globally but acting locally, which is 18-month experiential learning journey, care system, and that many children end Begum spent an afternoon outside of a very exciting for us,” notes Dreher. carefully crafted to enhance their under- up with huge deficits due to their fos- local retailer talking about foster care Minna Holleck ’18 and Waterbury standing of global issues, while developing ter care experiences,” says Dreher. “But and collecting donations for the project. GLI Scholars Abby Hazel and Nate Rivard the knowledge and skills they need to what struck us the most was how often “Some people made purchases in the also took action locally to impact a prob- effect meaningful change. The curriculum children move—it is not uncommon for store,” says Dreher, “but others donated lem thousands of miles away. The trio includes talks by local and global lead- children in foster care to have 10, 20, or cash. We collected huge bins filled with hosted a walk at Watertown’s Veterans’ ers and scholars, teambuilding events 30 homes in their lifetimes. And when books, toys, and clothing. It was really Park to benefit Water for South Sudan, a and experiences, diversity leadership they move they are often only given a amazing to see how generous people were.” nonprofit organization that brings clean, workshops, and field trips. Students also black trash bag to carry their belong- Dreher also held a fundraiser on cam- safe water to hundreds of thousands of participate in a summer service internship. ings—really just basic necessities—in.” pus, selling doughnuts after study hall, people in remote South Sudan villages. “The GLI experiences are all scaffolding Dreher and Begum found a California- which went toward the purchase of back- As a middle school student, Holleck for the culminating project,” explains Baba based foundation, My Stuff Bags, that packs. She and Begum are now sorting the read A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 17 Around the POND

Park. The New York Times bestseller shares “I started thinking about the idea of the simply do not have access to clean water.” the true stories of two 11-year-olds liv- walk, and thinking about distance,” Holleck “There were some remarkable ing in Sudan at different points in the says. “I thought it would be a meaningful projects this year,” Frew says. nation’s history. In 2008, Nya works to connection to walk 3.7 miles here, as 3.7 Students tackled everything from secure water for her family by walking two miles is the average distance that women renewable energy and urban garden- hours each way to a freshwater pond; she and children walk for water in Africa.” ing to LGBT rights in schools and early makes the trip twice each day. In 1985, Nearly 50 people turned out for childhood education and literacy. Salva becomes one of the “lost boys” of the walk, where Holleck, Hazel, and “Many of my friends are also GLI Sudan—refugees who cover the African Rivard raised more than $1,200 for Scholars,” says Peter Horne ’18, who continent on foot as they search for their Water for South Sudan. Participants studied gang violence in Chicago for his families and for safety and shelter. also experienced just a small taste of culminating project. “When you sign on “I was captivated by and shocked at what it is like for the children of South for a program like this you don’t real- the conditions described in the book,” Sudan, carrying heavy buckets of water ize how much it will touch every aspect explains Holleck. “In South Sudan, women at the event and walking while balanc- of your life—that you and your friends and children are walking up to eight ing jugs of water on their heads. are going to spend so much of your free hours each day in 100-degree heat just “I think that a lot of people know a little time talking about your projects, shar- to get a small amount of dirty water.” bit about the difficult situation in South ing insights about renewable energy The story stuck with her, and imme- Sudan,” says Holleck, “but not enough. or gang violence. The doors this pro- diately came to mind for her GLI project. The reality is that many, many people gram opens are pretty amazing.” j

Margaret Fitzgerald Wagner ’93 Joins Board of Trustees

TAFT ALUMNI HAVE ELECTED of industry groups that work to shape including Patsy Odden’s New England Margaret Fitzgerald Wagner ’93 to public policy around affordable champion girls’ hockey teams. She serve her alma mater as the newest housing, including the Institute for treasures her Taft classroom experi- member of the board of trustees. Responsible Housing Preservation, of ences and is grateful that they made Wagner is a graduate of Yale (B.A., which she became president in January. her both literate and numerate. At TAFT STUDENTS PLANTED 1997), and MIT (M.S. R.E.D., 2005). Massachusetts Governor Charlie graduation, she was class speaker and FOUR TREES ON CAMPUS— ONE FOR EACH CLASS—TO She has worked in the affordable hous- Baker recently appointed her to the was awarded the Aurelian Award. CELEBRATE EARTH DAY ing industry since 2000, first with board of directors of the Community Wagner’s interest in Taft was AND ARBOR DAY. There are a consulting firm and since 2005 as Economic Development Assistance awakened early in life, as her family now three new sugar maples a developer and investor. Wagner is Corp., a quasi-public corporation lived next to the headmaster’s house. in the field behind Bingham Auditorium, and a new beech currently a managing partner of First that provides funding and other sup- Many members of her family are Taft tree by the main gate. The Atlantic Capital LLC, a real estate port for community-based nonprofit graduates, and her mother was on the Taft community also raised investment company in Boston that affordable and supportive housing faculty for several years. She has been funds to donate to the Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion focuses on the acquisition, owner- developments in Massachusetts. active in Taft affairs since graduation, Trees project, which is working ship, and redevelopment of affordable At Taft, Wagner served on her working at the summer school, serv- to counter the effects of global multifamily housing communities Class Committee for three years and ing as head class agent, reunion chair, deforestation by planting one throughout the United States. Her was a member of one of the great and a capital campaign fundraiser. billion new trees by 2025. interest in housing was sparked by her groups of monitors in Taft history Wagner and her husband, Rod, are first “real” job after college, as an analyst who instilled good citizenship through the parents of two smart and humorous of housing and health care bonds with fun. After a sports injury ended her children, Jack, 10, and Annie, 8. They Standard & Poor’s in San Francisco. effectiveness as a participant, she live in a repurposed industrial loft in Wagner is involved with a number devoted herself to managing teams, Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood. j

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Bien Joué

TAFT STUDENTS MAY NOW JOIN achievement and recognition.” second- and fourth-place finishes the celebrated ranks of national Students also established a French in the state of Connecticut, respec- French language scholars. French Club on campus this year, and for tively; both earned sixth-place teacher Sarah Gray established a Taft the first time, 16 students sat for Le honors at their level nationwide. chapter of the Société Honoraire de Grand Concours, the national French The French National Honor Society Français—the French National Honor exam. Both the exam and the Honor recognizes high school sophomores and Society—this year. Thirty-nine students Society are sponsored by the American above in the United States who have were inducted into the inaugural class. Association of Teachers of French. maintained a 90 average all year in their Taft-PAL Summer Program Awarded Local Grant “Bringing the French National “More than 79,000 students French language courses; its motto is Honor Society to Taft is part of a took the exam nationwide,” Gray L’homme qui sait deux langues en vaut THE TAFT SCHOOL-POLICE ACTIVITY not do well on the required standardized In each year, the progress has been broader initiative to create more vis- explains. “Fourteen of our students deux, “The man who knows two lan- League (PAL) Summer Enrichment testing. These are highly motivated learn- measurable and meaningful: individual ibility and opportunity for our language earned awards, ranging from honor- guages is worth two men.” Community Academy has been awarded a generous ers with very good grades who are just not SSAT scores have increased by an aver- students,” says Gray. “It is important able mentions to gold medals.” service is mandatory for members, as grant from the Connecticut Community familiar with the kinds of questions they age of six to nine percentage points in all to celebrate their accomplishments Two Taft students did excep- is a high grade point average overall, Foundation. The funding supports will see on the SSAT. It is not a question three areas, verbal, math, and reading. within the academic realm at Taft tionally well: Magda Kisielinska in addition to an A in French classes the enrollment of 85 local students in of ability so much as it is exposure to the “We’re very proud of the way this pro- while opening the door to national ’18 and Macy Toppan ’18 earned during the semester of selection. j the academy. type of material presented on the test.” gram has grown and the results we have The Taft-PAL Summer Enrichment Seven rising eighth-grade students achieved,” Monti says. “Helping students Academy was established in 2011 by enrolled in the first summer session. In recognize that they have the academic Waterbury native and Taft faculty member six short years, the program has grown ability to strive for things they might 2016 NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR JAHANA HAYES Laura Monti ’89, with her husband and Taft exponentially, now enrolling 85 rising not otherwise have thought possible is visited Taft to share her thoughts Academic Dean Jeremy Clifford. Their goal sixth- through ninth-grade students in incredibly important and very reward- on the role of educators, and to was to provide meaningful summer oppor- the four-week program, and hiring Taft ing. We could not do any of it without reflect on the honor that elevated the Waterbury, Connecticut, teacher tunities for area students while opening students and alumni, as well as program the generosity of organizations like the to the world stage. “Education is educational doors. The original curriculum alumni, to lead classes in SSAT prepara- Connecticut Community Foundation.” about building both knowledge and was built around SSAT preparation. tion, academic skill development, study The Taft-PAL Summer Enrichment character,” Hayes told the Tafties. “A lot of Waterbury students are inter- habits, and an array of electives that Academy also receives financial support “Everyone has an obligation to go out into their communities and help.” ested in applying to Taft and schools like cover topics like astronomy, public speak- from the Edward E. Ford Foundation Taft,” says Clifford, “but sometimes do ing, music, and financial management. and the Ion Bank Foundation. j

Based in Waterbury, the Connecticut Community Foundation offers resources and services to nonprofits, students, and donors in 21 towns that make up Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. Learn more atconncf.org.

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c VERONICA RISUCCI ’18 performed Ljósið, the Icelandic word for light during the Spring Dance Concert. Risucci choreographed and performed the piece with Haley Snow ’19, with Dancelighting by Zygimantas Jievaltas ’17.

. LIBBY DAWE’17 choreographed Boys as part of her Independent Dance Tutorial. The work incorporates both music and dance moves from “boy bands” through the ages, from The Temptations to the Back Street Boys.

b ERIN FARRELL ’20 performed excerpts from Giselle, featuring original choreography by Marius Petipa, with additional choreography by Meghan Buchanan.

You’ll be entertained if you scan these pages!

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 23 Around the POND

STEM Students Shine

STUDENTS IN TAFT’S SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) PROGRAMS ROUTINELY TEST THEIR METTLE AGAINST THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. TAFT ENJOYED A PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION CIRCUIT, EARNING HONORS AND ACCOLADES ACROSS DISCIPLINES. HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST ACADEMIC YEAR.

SCIENCE “events” across a range of disciplines, around the globe that competed in the from forensics and astronomy to event, Daniel Yi ’18 finished fifth in c Taft scientists Sonny An ’17, Daniel physiology and ecology. At the end Division 2, while Sonny An ’17 earned Yi ’18, Yejin Kim ’18, and Portia Wang of 23 events, Taft’s “A” team earned the second-highest score in the region. ’18 faced 50 teams from across the a sixth-place finish overall in a field Northeast at Yale University’s 19th of 49 teams. Taft’s teams earned six annual Physics Olympics. The team medals overall, including a second TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING was awarded the bronze medal after place medal by Taft Team B mem- five rounds of competition. The five, bers Bill Lu ’19 and Mihir Nayar ’19 c Two teams represented Taft at the 2017 45-minute challenges were developed for their robotic arm. Approximately Trinity College International Robot m Math Team by members of the Yale physics faculty 15,000 schools participate in Science Contest. The challenge requires teams to robotic arm that can move objects with those problems, earning one point for to test students’ knowledge of com- Olympiad events across the nation. build autonomous robots that can navi- precision, using a specific set of materi- each correct answer. The team’s 163 plex physics concepts, and their ability gate a model home in search of a fire, als. There were separate categories for cumulative points earned them the to apply that knowledge effectively c Taft was the regional winner in the represented by a burning candle, and students in grades 9 and 10 and those in top spot in Litchfield County, best- THE TAFT SCHOOL SUMMER and creatively to solve problems. 2017 Physics Bowl competition, spon- then effectively extinguish the flame. grades 11 and 12. In the Grades 11–12 ing second-place finisher READING COMMITTEE has selected sored by the American Association of Shasha Alvares ’17, Jona Vithoontien Competition, Taft did best in the design by more than 30 points, and nearly Trevor Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime: c Two teams of 15 students traveled Physics Teachers. Taft bested perennial ’17, and Julia Kashimura ’20 built a category, with Taft A taking first place doubling Hotchkiss’s score. It also Stories from a South African Childhood, as to the University of Connecticut to regional powerhouses, including the robot that successfully extinguished and Taft B placing third. In the Grades gave them the Connecticut state title the all-school summer reading book. A New York Times bestseller, Born a Crime is a compete in the Connecticut State Academy of Aerospace/Engineering, the candle on all five trials, the best a 9–10 Competition, Taft finished first and a top-10 spot in New England. comedic yet compelling and inspiring story Science Olympiad. Within each team, for the win. Of the more than 7,000 Taft team has ever done. Teams are also in the essay category and second on the of one man’s coming of age, set during the competitors worked in pairs to tackle students from nearly 600 schools encouraged to prepare presentations test, securing a second-place finish over- c More than 350,000 students from twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. In addition that describe the process of develop- all. Nearly 600 schools from across the over 6,000 schools participate in the to reading Born a Crime, each Taft student ing their robot; Alvares won first place nation competed for the overall prize. American Mathematics Competition is asked to read a second book chosen from in her division for her presentation. (AMC) each year. Only 5 percent of a list of more than 50 selections offered by Taft also earned a 2017 Outstanding all 11th- and 12th-grade competitors faculty members. Connecticut Robot award from the MATHEMATICS advance from the first round to the Connecticut chapter of the Institute of American Invitational Mathematics Electrical and Electronics Engineers. c The competitive season tradition- Examination (AIME), while only 2.5 ally kicks off with the annual Math percent of 9th and 10th graders are c The Technology Students Association Bash, a competition among peer prep invited to move on to the prestigious (TSA) Tests of Engineering Aptitude, schools. Tafties took on competitors second round. Taft had seven students Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) from Choate, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, and qualify for the AIME. Peter Yu ’20 competition is a one-day challenge in Kent at both the advanced and inter- was particularly impressive, earning a which teams of eight students apply mediate levels. Sonny An ’17 took top near-perfect score in the competition. math and science knowledge in solving honors in the advanced-level individual Yu and An were among the 500 com- real-world engineering problems. The round, while Taft edged out Hotchkiss petitors chosen to go on to the United theme for this year’s competition was to secure the meet’s top honors. States of America Junior Mathematical Engineering the Environment, which Olympiad (USAJMO) and the United consisted of three categories: an essay on c The New England Mathematics League States of America Mathematical the development and improvement of (NEML) hosts monthly contests, run- Olympiad (USAMO), respectively. the use of renewable energy; an 80-ques- ning through March of each school “Making this cut is a significant tion test on topics related to identified year. NEML events consist of a set of accomplishment,” math teacher Joe Zipoli scenarios and researched by teams prior six problems of increasing complexity. ’84 explains. “We’re talking about a frac- to the event; and the construction of a Students work individually to solve tion of the top, of the top, of the top.” j

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 25 Around the POND

TAFTIES MOUNTED THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS CLASSIC, And the Halo Goes To…

TAFT STUDENTS TOOK HOME TOP honors in several categories during this year’s Halo Awards. Sponsored Kaedi Dalley ’18 The by Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre earned her second consecutive Halo and presented at the Palace Theater, Award this year, this the Halo Awards celebrate excellence time for her comic Glass in theater arts productions across role as Donkey in Connecticut high schools. More than Shrek, The Musical. 40 awards were presented this year Menagerie to nominees from 64 high schools. Kaedi Dalley ’18 was awarded the 2017 Halo for Best Comic Female Performance in a Musical for her inspired and memorable turn as Donkey in Taft’s production of Shrek, The Musical. This was Kaedi’s second consecutive Halo, having been named 2016’s Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Taft students were also repeat winners in the Fearless category, which honors nontraditional productions that often explore social issues. Raymond Bai ’18 from the Peanuts comic strip during their for their work on The Laramie Project. directed this year’s Fearless Award win- teenage years. The play debuted in New Tafties earned Halo Award nomina- ner, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage York in 2004. This was also Taft’s second tions in 12 unique categories this year. Blockhead, an “unauthorized parody” consecutive Fearless Award, with student Congratulations to everyone involved that imagines the lives of the characters directors taking home the prize last year with all of this year’s productions. j

Non ut Sibi in Nicaragua

KNOWN AS “THE CITY OF THE MIST,” Jinotega is 1,000 feet above the sea level, in a valley surrounded by spectacular mountains. Here Taft students designed English language lesson plans to meet the educational objectives prescribed in a curriculum built by their host organization, Outreach 360. The program consisted of two, two-hour English language camps each day.

(From bottom, clockwise) Lauren Anderson ’20, Gabby Gonzalez Carpio ’17, and Joanna Kleszczewski ’18 were among the 13 Taft students who traveled to Jinotega, Nicaragua, during Spring Break, where they established a “pop-up” school and taught English to local children. In Focus: NYBG

Shasha Alvares ’17

TAFT IS FORTUNATE TO ENJOY A TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. During Spring Break, photography teacher Yee-Fun Yin traveled to The Garden with five Taft students, where they were welcomed by an NYBG photographer who took them through the Hail and Farewell storied conservatory, sharing tips on the care of cameras FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, more Tafties made Georgetown University their destination than any other single school. This year in humid environments, the tide has turned, with the University of Virginia taking the top spot, followed closely by Colgate. Overall, Taft will be effectively and offering technical instruction on capturing represented at the nation’s finest colleges and universities. great still images of flora. The number of students from this year’s graduating class attending a given university is reflected in parentheses following the school name. Those with no parenthetical reference will welcome one Taft student this fall.

Amherst College (3) Fairfield University Pitzer College University of California, Babson College (2) Fordham University (2) Pomona College Santa Barbara Bates College (3) Franklin & Marshall College (2) Princeton University University of Colorado Boston College (3) Georgetown University (3) Quinnipiac University at Boulder (2) Boston University (4) Georgia Institute of Technology Rollins College (2) University of Connecticut (2) Bowdoin College (3) Gettysburg College Saint Michael’s College University of Maine Brown University (4) Grinnell College Sewanee: The University University of Miami (2) Cauviya Selva ’17 Bucknell University (2) Hamilton College (2) of the South (2) University of Michigan California Polytechnic State Harvard University (3) Simmons College University of Notre Dame University, San Luis Obispo Harvey Mudd College Skidmore College University of Pennsylvania (2) Carleton College Haverford College Southern Methodist University (3) University of Richmond (4) Carnegie Mellon University (2) High Point University St. Lawrence University (3) University of Southern California Chapman University (2) Indiana University at Bloomington Stanford University University of St Andrews (3) Clarkson University Johns Hopkins University Stonehill College University of Vermont Colby College Marist College SUNY Buffalo State College University of Virginia (6) Colgate University (5) Massachusetts Institute Swarthmore College Vanderbilt University College of the Holy Cross (2) of Technology Syracuse University Wake Forest University (2) Columbia University McGill University (2) The University of Alabama Washington and Lee University Concordia University—Montreal (2) Michigan State University The University of Texas, Austin Washington University in Connecticut College Middlebury College (2) Trinity College (2) St. Louis (2) Cornell University (4) New York University (2) Tufts University (2) (2) Dartmouth College (2) Northeastern University (3) Tulane University Williams College Davidson College Northwestern University Union College (New York) Yale University (3) Dickinson College Oberlin College of United States Military Academy— Yale-NUS College j Duke University (2) Arts and Sciences Army Elon University (3) Occidental College (3) University College London

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 29 ROBERT FALCETTI

Campus LENS Logan Clew- Bachrach ’20 cools off at Bantam Lake. Spring SPORTS BOYS’ GIRLS’ GOLF TENNIS 12–3–1 18–0 FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS (four consecutive years)   NEW ENGLAND NEW ENGLAND In his opening remarks CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS at the Spring Sports Awards ceremony, Headmaster Willy MacMullen ’78 described the extraordinary BOYS’ GOLF success of Taft athletics this past spring: 12–0 GIRLS’ FOUNDERS LEAGUE TRACK CHAMPIONS TAFT’S  ANDOVER INVITATIONAL 10–3 CHAMPIONS FOUNDERS LEAGUE  CHAMPIONS WESTERN NEW ENGLAND INVITATIONAL GREATEST CHAMPIONS

“I have not done a thorough check of the SPORTS archives and records, but by any measure, GIRLS’ CREW SOFTBALL FOURTH BOAT this season stands out as  remarkable and probably FIRST EVER 9–5 NEW ENGLAND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND historic in terms of CHAMPIONS SEMIFINALISTS SEASON wins and championships.” Taft’s varsity teams, which all had winning records, compiled a total EVER! record of 211–65–1, just over a 76 winning percentage. Four teams BOYS’ were Founders League LACROSSE BOYS’ CREW champions, two with THREE BOATS TO GRAND FINALS AT undefeated seasons, 11–6 NEIRA CHAMPIONSHIP and two were New RANKED #23  NATIONALLY BEST-EVER TEAM FINISH England champions. (ranked in top 25 three of last four years)

32 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Drew Powell ’17 tees off at the Watertown Golf Club for a Deerfield match. For more on the spring season, please visit www.taftsports.com

WRAP-UP Spring Sports BY STEVE PALMER Photography by Robert Falcetti

Girls’ Golf 12–3–1 c FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS c NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS

Taft won the Founders League Tournament for the fourth year in a row, this time by four strokes over Hotchkiss. Taft had three Founders League All-Stars, co-captain Grace Dreher ’18, Portia Wang ’18, and Julia Kashimura ’20, who combined for the team-low score of 169. For the first time in five years, the Rhinos were victori- ous in the Pippy O’Connor New England Tournament, competing against 25 schools and over 110 individual golfers. Kashimura tied for 2nd with a round of 82 and Wang tied for 4th with a round of 83, both helping to distance Taft from the rest of the field on a rainy and windy championship day at the Watertown Golf Club. Taft shot a combined team score of 345, nine strokes better than the 2nd-place team. Key victories for the season included matches against and Loomis. In addition to Dreher, Wang, and Kashimura, key players all season were co-captain Avery Andreski ’17, Marisa Mission ’17, and Olivia Wivestad ’19.

b Julia Kashimura ’20 checks the slope of the green before putting at the Watertown Golf Club during the Founders League Championship.

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 35 Spring SPORTS Spring SPORTS

Boys’ Golf 11–0 Rhinos dispatched as the #6 seed. Captained by George Boys’ Lacrosse 11–6 c FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS and Choate in the first two rounds, Gould Award winner Sydney Trevenen c ANDOVER INVITATIONAL and then went toe to toe again with ’17 and Eugenie Greeff ’17, the team The Rhinos won exciting one-goal games CHAMPIONS Kingswood, a rematch of last year’s final. went 6–0 early on, defeating Berkshire versus Hotchkiss (12–11) and Trinity- c WESTERN NEW ENGLAND This time, Taft won the day and the New (9–0), Deerfield (5–3), Loomis (6–3), Pawling (15–14) to finish with a final INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS England title, a hard-fought 4–3 win. Miss Porter’s (7–2), Westminster (5–4), USA Today national ranking of 23. Five Throughout the season co-captain Ogden and Sacred Heart (6–3), with the last of Taft’s losses came to teams ranked in The 2017 boys’ golf team will go down Timpson ’17 led the way at #1 singles, of these matches played without Greeff the top 15 nationally. Tri-captain Kyle as one of the most dominant teams in and with four-year player Jacques Pellet and Fran Hough ’18 due to their season- Salvatore ’17 led the way with 37 goals and the history of golf at Taft. The Rhinos ’17 formed the #1 doubles team. Dylan ending injuries. The second half of the 30 assists, earning All-America honors won three tournaments with a com- Powell ’18 and co-captain Aaron Pezzullo season saw the Rhinos lose matches for the second consecutive year, and was bined team stroke average of 75.4. A ’17 locked down the #2 and #3 singles to talented teams from Hotchkiss, named the Lance Odden Midfielder of the 16-stroke victory over Loomis in the spots and the second doubles team, while Greenwich Academy, and Hopkins (0–9), Year for Western New England. AJ Barré Peter Oh ’17, Gabe Rissman ’19, and but rebounding with wins against Kent ’17 earned Academic All-America honors Peter Horne ’18, rounded out the singles. (7–2) and Choate (7–2). The Rhinos for his performance both on the field After their New England title, Taft had took on Hotchkiss (#3 seed) in the first and in the classroom. Newcomers George one more challenge, facing New England round of the New Englands but could Grell ’17 (34g, 13a) and Jake Simon ’17 Class B champions Hopkins, away. This not turn the tables on their rivals. (0.56 save percentage) joined tri-captain match was tighter than the tournament Individual highlights included Founders Griffin Adair ’17 and Salvatore as Western finals, with Taft prevailing 4–3 only League award winner Kate Zhang ’20 Division I All-Stars. Billy Dobensky ’19 and with the final match when Oh came back going 8 and 5 on the season playing in tri-captain Joe Hardison ’18 (86 ground- SPRING ATHLETIC from 1–5 down to win at #4 singles. the #1 and #2 singles positions, and balls) earned All-Founders League honors. AWARD WINNERS captain Sydney Trevenen’s impressive The highlight of the season was a thrilling 6 and 3 record playing as high up as #2. 10–9 win over #13 Deerfield in which the Crew Award Ben Olsen ’17 Girls’ Tennis 8–5 Next season the team will be captained Rhinos played hard-nosed lacrosse to down Ben Moffa ’17 by Lily Turner ’18 and Hough, and one of the best teams in the country. From Sophie Kamhi ’17 The Rhinos were a talented and dedi- they will be joined by returning play- this talented senior class, Taft graduated Jacques Pellet ’17 cated team that made a strong run ers Kate Zhang ’20, Macy Toppan ’18, at least four Division I players (Harvard, Softball Award returns a volley. Anna Rasmussen ’17 for the league title and qualified for Minna Holleck ’18, Regan Brewer ’19, Duke, and two to Brown) and two Division PETER FREW ’75 the New England Class A tournament Kira Siebrecht ’19, and Nico Gusac ’19. III players (Hamilton and Gettysburg). Wandelt Lacrosse Award Eliza Denious ’17

Odden Lacrosse Award Western New England Invitational Griffin Adair ’17 Boys’ Tennis 18–0 Goalie Jake Simon ’17 was particularly memorable as Taft c Kyle Salvatore ’17 FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS anticipates a Deerfield played excellent team golf on one c NEW ENGLAND CLASS A shot as Taft captain Girls’ Golf Award of Connecticut’s top courses, Bulls CHAMPIONS Griffin Adair ’17 moves Marisa Mission ’17 Bridge, and Beau David ’17 won the in to defend. George D. Gould Tennis Award individual title with an even-par score This may have been the best tennis team Sydney Trevenen ’17 of 72. In winning the Founders League in the history of Taft, and the Rhinos Championship for the third time in four have been on a roll, making the New Alrick H. Man, Jr. Tennis Award Ogden Timpson ’17 years, Chris Gaeta ’18 won the indi- England finals three times in recent Aaron Pezzullo ’17 vidual title with an even-par round of years. This year’s team was the deep- 71 and paced the team to an excellent est in school history, as Taft marched Galeski Golf Award Drew Powell ’17 total of 375 strokes. To achieve so much through the regular season with 6–1 Hunter Ramee ’17 on the golf course, team depth was a or 7–0 wins against Deerfield, Choate, huge factor, and throughout the spring, Hotchkiss, and Loomis. The real tests Stone Baseball Award the team received great efforts and low came against power Kingswood, last Eric Holzman ’17 Kevin Mulhearn ’17 scores from co-captain Drew Powell ’17, year’s New England champ (4–3 win) co-captain Hunter Ramee ’17, Jonathan and Brunswick (4–3 win), and those Seymour Willis Beardsley Track Award Elkins ’20, Rex Riefler ’19, Henry two wins sealed Taft’s #1 tournament Michael Wasserstein ’17 Horne ’20, and Charles Donaldson ’17. ranking for the third year in a row. The Sojung Kim ’17 Spring SPORTS Spring SPORTS

Girls’ Lacrosse 12–3 scored, and Eagan earned All-America Boys’ Crew 57–22 honors. A great group of returning (Individual boat records) The Rhinos were focused and ready to players, including captain–elects Katie put in the work necessary for a suc- Piechnik ’18 and Natalie Witkowski In their dual-meet races and regat- cessful season from the first day this ’18, will lead the team next year. tas, Taft’s four varsity boats compiled spring. Finishing in 2nd place in the an overall record of 57 wins versus 22 Founders League, Taft came away with losses. The first varsity lineup of co- big wins against Deerfield (12–8), Girls’ Crew 50–15 captain Ben Olsen ’17, Thomas Muller Hotchkiss (10–9), and Choate (15–4). (Individual boat record) ’18, Jay Lavallée ’17, co-captain Ben Taft’s crew of seniors made for a deep Moffa ’17, and Taro Sochi ’18 (cox) and well–balanced team, led by co– This season Taft fielded seven full boats earned a bronze medal at the Founders captains Eliza Denious ’17 and Nina (four varsity, three lower boats) and Day regatta. The second varsity boat, Garfinkel ’17, as well as fellow seniors over 30 rowers. The Rhinos raced well with Jack Ewing ’18, Ben Roberts ’18, Bridget Slocum ’17, Katherine Queally early but really proved their talent at the Jason Bab ’17, Nick Mortimer ’18, and ’17, Sam Manfreda ’17, and Natalie Founders Day regatta, where each boat coxswain Zoe Eberstadt-Beattie ’18, Muskin ’17. Denious and Paisley Eagan earned a spot in the afternoon heats and was beaten by only two opponents all ’18 led the team in total points and goals the team earned an overall 5th place. The season long, posting a record of 20–2. This same boat won a silver medal at Founders Day. All four varsity boats quali- fied for the New England Championship Paisley Eagan ’18 moves toward regatta; three of four qualified for the the net in a afternoon finals—the first boat doing game against Girls’ crew so for the first time since 2004. At the Sacred Heart. practicing on end of the day, Taft finished 5th in the Bantam Lake. team-points trophy—its best showing in the 25-year history of the program.

following weekend, the girls’ first boat earned a 2nd place behind Winsor in the Boys’ crew DuPont Cup, winning over St. Mark’s, practicing on Miss Porter’s, Gunnery, and Pomfret. Bantam Lake. The whole team swept the final varsity race of the season, winning the Alumnae Cup for the third year in a row over Gunnery, Berkshire, and Canterbury. All four boats were seeded well going into the NEIRA, and both the first and fourth boats earned spots in the final races. The first boat—Lily Thebault ’18, Emma LaRose ’18, and tri-captains Sophie Kamhi ’17, Emily Drakeley ’17, and Sumi Kim ’17—went on to place 9th in New England. The fourth boat became Taft’s first-ever New England champion: Sarah Ince ’18, Kaia Whiteley ’18, Phoebe Autio ’18, Taline Almasian ’19, and Megan Sng ’19 won the Grand Final. With only four seniors on this year’s squad, the Rhinos will be an experienced and talented crew again next year. Kamhi will continue her rowing career next year at Dartmouth.

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 39 Spring SPORTS

Boys’ Track 11–3 Farrier ’17 (discus and javelin), and Matteo Girls’ Track 10–3 Mangiardi ’17 (400m and 4x400m), who c FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS After dominating the sprint events for together accounted for 38 of Taft’s 83.5 the past several years, the Rhinos used a points. Trevor Esilu ’17 (300m hurdles), This strong team of multisport athletes balanced lineup this past spring to earn Marcus Alleyne ’17 (4x100m relay, 200m) won the Founders League title in dramatic a record of 11–3 and race to a 2nd-place and Sammed Bawa ’20 (200m, long fashion, coming from behind to nose ahead finish in the Founders League meet, fall- jump, 4x100m relay) also contributed of Choate by 2 points on the final event. ing just short of champion Loomis, but crucial points. At the New England meet, This was the Taft girls’ first Founders edging out Hotchkiss by half a point. Wasserstein had a great day, winning the League title since 2005 and the 4th overall. There were many heroes that day as the 800m (1:58), placing 6th in the 1,500m, In a true team effort, many athletes scored boys scored in 14 of the 17 events, led and combining with Alleyne, Mangiardi, in multiple events: So Kim ’17 (800m, by tri-captains Michael Wasserstein ’17 and Calvin Palmer ’18 (4th, 800m) to 1,500m, 4x400m relay), Molly Lohuis ’18 (800m, 1,500m, 4x400m relay), Andrew finish second in the 4x400m relay. (100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 4x400m relay), Mary Alice Ewing ’18 (4x100m relay, 4x400m relay), Taylor Jacobs ’18 (800m, 1,500m), and Tise Ben-Eka ’17 (javelin, Micah Umeh ’19 discus). But no one typified the all-in effort competes in a shot put event. more than Kayla Robinson ’19, who scored in the shot put, triple jump, long jump, and Liz Barré ’19 competes in 4x100m relay, and Liz Barré ’20, who won the hurdles. the pole vault and scored in the 4x400m relay, 100m hurdles, and high jump. The Rhinos also had a great day at the New England meet as Kim (1,500m), Jacobs the team in hits, runs, and RBIs and won (800m), Lohuis (300m hurdles), Barré the Softball Award for her outstanding Twins Morgan, (100m hurdles, pole vault), and Robinson play. Collette earned Founders League left, and Ally (shot put) all placed in their events with honors and was a stalwart behind the Trimper ’19 personal records. Top sprinter and co- plate. Another Founders League All-Star, during the Berkshire game. captain Jada Newkirk ’17 won the 200m Alli Kalvaitis ’18, pitched well, including and finished 4th in the long jump, break- four shutouts and 106 strikeouts to only ing the school record in a leap of 17-10.5. six walks on the season. For their excel- lent seasons, Rasmussen and Kalvaitis were named Western New England All- Softball 9–5 Stars. The team will miss the leadership of c WESTERN NEW ENGLAND Collette, Rasmussen, and Sperry, as well SEMIFINALISTS as three-year starter Reece Olmstead ’17.

Taft reached the Western New England Semifinals again as they finished the sea- Baseball 11–7 son with a 9–5 mark. Playing one of the tougher schedules, Taft earned a #4 seed in Senior tri-captains Eric Holzman ’17, the playoffs and hosted a strong Deerfield Kevin Mulhearn ’17, and Nick Cutler ’17 team. In a closely contested battle, Taft led the team to an 11–7 overall record, won 4–2 and played the following day and an 8–6 Colonial League record. against undefeated Westminster. The team Holzman (pitcher/first base) was 3–3 battled but could not find a big hit in a 2–5 with 1 save, hit .342, and will pitch at a .410 average and 18 RBI. The team Middlers Dylan Kim, Nolan Grooms, loss. With a team batting average of .396 Army next year. Mulhearn (pitcher) was beat Choate twice in the same season Beau Root, and Dom Patille, and lower and an 8–4 regular season mark, Taft’s 2–1 with 1 save and will pitch at Holy for the first time in recent history, and middlers Walker Wonham, Cole Torino, offensive attack was led by tri-captains Cross next year, and Cutler hit .326 for just as they did last year, beat Hotchkiss and Stefan Kim saw significant play- Mary Collette ’17, Anna Rasmussen ’17, the season. Troy Shepherd ’17 (McGill twice. Zane Segalas ’18 and Winston Salk ing time this season and will form the and Morgan Sperry ’17. Rasmussen led next year) led the team in hitting with ’18 will serve as co-captains next year. core of the team for the near future. j

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 41 AnnualBecause Fund REPORT 2016–17 of Annual Fund REPORT 2016–17

TaftYOU students are educated today for tomorrow. 2017 Annual Fund Class Agent Awards SNYDER AWARD MCCABE AWARD ROMANO AWARD YOUNG ALUMNI Largest Annual Fund amount Largest Annual Fund amount Greatest increase in participation PARTICIPATION AWARD P’03, ’06, ’09, Chairs of the Former contributed by a reunion class 50 contributed by a non-reunion class from a non-reunion class Highest participation from a Parents’ Fund; Joanie Dayton, Chair of A highlight of the Annual Fund years out or less Class of 1990: $112,505 less than 50 years out class 10 years out or less the Grandparents’ Fund; and hundreds year was the May 1 Day of Class of 1987: $67,470 Head Class Agent: Ben Levin Class of 1990: 42% from 34% Class of 2011: 39% Giving, which generated both of Class Agents across more than a half- Head Class Agent: Head Class Agent: Ben Levin Head Class Agents: enthusiasm within each class and Cinda Goulard Lord CLASS OF 1920 AWARD Nick Auer and Sara Guernsey century of class years. I am grateful and a healthy competition between Greatest increase in Annual Fund YOUNG ALUMNI humbled to work with such a wonderful classes from each decade. I would CHAIRMAN OF THE dollars from a non-reunion class DOLLARS AWARD SPENCER AWARD group of talented and dedicated people. like to congratulate the Classes BOARD AWARD Class of 1990: Largest Annual Fund amount Largest number of gifts I also want to take this opportunity to of ’11, ’04, ’99, ’84, ’75, ’67, ’57, Highest percent participation Increase of $61,860 contributed from a class from classmates who have and ’46 for achieving the highest from a class 50 years out or less Head Class Agent: Ben Levin 10 years out or less not given in the last five years extend special thanks to the staff of the level of Annual Fund participation Class of 1967: 51% Class of 2009: $7,563 Class of 1977: 16 new donors Alumni and Development Office for keep- for their respective decades Head Class Agent: Head Class Agent: Ben Brauer Head Class Agents: George (Bill) McCarter Margot Huber Heckler and ing the Taft community connected and during that successful one-day Wendy Wurtzburger Schmid strong—they work tirelessly and without campaign. Each winning class was recognized with a seat plaque in much fanfare, but their impact is great Awards determined by gifts and pledges raised as of June 30, 2017. Bingham Auditorium. The Class of and deserving of our sincere appreciation. ’99 deserves special mention for Dylan Simonds ’89, Annual Fund Chair It takes consistent, deep, and broad having the highest participation support from all corners of our commu- (over 21%!) on the day. Thank You! With another solid year for the Annual nity to build and sustain the Taft we know Fund on the books, I am very pleased to and love. And while we are fortunate to be Our alumni raised over $191,851 Parents’ Committee 2016–17 announce that we exceeded this year’s able to build upon a strong foundation of from 501 alumni in 24 hours— more than double the goal of 240 budgeted goal with contributions of past giving, the future wellbeing of Taft Marietta Lee and Jeff Keeler,Chairs Sue and Bill Groner Sara and Robert Savage donors—so my hat’s off to the Hilary and David Allen Debbie and Paul Guiney Marni and Bill Schwartz $4,518,232 from 43% of alumni and has been entrusted to our stewardship. hundreds of donors and Class Michelle Andrews Abby and Brian Hail Lisa and Harry Segalas 92% of current parents. I know that I I am truly grateful to all of the donors Agents who made it all possible. Bridget Baratta Shelly and Bill Himmelrich ’82 Anne and Joe Sheehan speak on behalf of all of Taft in express- who have made this year’s Annual Fund a Lisa and David Barr Stephen ’85 and Laura Angela and Kevin Siebrecht ing my gratitude to our Annual Fund success, and I look forward to working with The Parents’ Fund also Sónia and John Batten Black Holt ’85 Laurie and Scott Sommer successfully participated in the Pam and Scott Bowman Kim and Fred Krieble Ryder and Brooke donors for their generosity and devo- many of you to reach higher and achieve May 1 Day of Giving, which Melissa and Michael Bradley Winnie and Barry Ma Sheppard Stahl ’84 tion, and for the example they set for even more in the year and years to come. resulted in an outstanding Victoria and Timothy Brewer Gigi and Averell Mortimer Chinelo Umeh the rest of our community to follow. $130,661 raised from 88 donors— Rhys and Amanda Eileen and Michael Nelson Lydia and Ted Verheggen Shepard Brooks ’91 John and Joan Atwater Nolan ’81 David Wang and Nana Chiu We owe much of the success of the With my warm regards far surpassing the goal of 50 Leslie and Kevin Coleman Liza and John Nugent Karen and Ray Winicki donors! Congratulations to the Annual Fund to the commitment of an and thanks, Marie and James Crouch Tom Olsen and Mary Boosalis William ’79 and Lisa Zonino parents of the Class of 2019 for incredible team of volunteers, includ- Mary and Michael Darling Nini and Benoit Pellet Woodworth ’79 having the highest participation— ing the Parents’ Committee; Marietta Licia and Christopher Dawe ’81 Victoria and Kirk Posmantur Jenn and Joe Yamin ’85 also recognized with a seat plaque Becky and Michael Elrad Bridget and Doyle Queally Kimber and Harry Yerkes ’82 Lee and Jeff Keeler P’16, ’18, Parents’ in Bingham Auditorium. Clare Evert-Shane and Steven Shane David Rupert and Sarah Ondaatje Lisa and John Zinno Jeff Keeler and Marietta Lee, Fund Chairs; Stuart and Jean Serenbetz Stefanie and Paul Feidelson ’85 Elizabeth and Robert Russell Alison and Scott Zoellner ’83 Parents’ Fund Chairs

42 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 43 1

2 3

1.The Rhino mascot’s spirit isn’t dampened by the weather during the Alumni Parade.

2.1967 alums John Plume, Anthony Dupee, and Rob Jennings enjoy the 50th Reunion’s cocktails in the Woolworth Faculty Room.

3Joyce. Poole ’74, the 2017 Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal honoree, with her daughter, Selengei, and her sister, Ginny ’80.

4.Rod Moorhead ’62 and wife Alice and son Rodman ’97 join former 4 headmaster Lance Odden at the Alumni Golf Outing.

5.35th Reunion alums Abby Donahoe Harle ’82 and BJ Richardson ’82 (formerly known as BJ Dingee) at a gathering at the home of classmate and Taft faculty member Six hundredAlumni alumni, with family and Jon Willson ’82. friends, returned to campus this past May and didn’t let spring showers prevent them from celebrating. From 5 6 Faculty member Jack Kenerson ’82, the 70th Reunion for the Class of ’47 6. celebrating his 35th Reunion, to the 5th Reunion for the Class of ’12, with former faculty member three days of gatherings helped renew Linda Saarnijoki; his wife and faculty member Jen; and former faculty friendships and foster new ones, and member Ted Heavenrich. give alums a glimpse into the life of an Weekend exciting2017 and ever-changing school that also honors tradition and its long history. Photography by 7.Gathered for their 30th Reunion, a group of 1987 classmates enjoy the Since a picture is worth a thousand words, ROBERT FALCETTI, hospitality of Taft faculty member we hope you enjoy a look at some of the ANNE KOWALSKI, Alison Almasian ’87. gatherings and familiar faces. AND JIM SHANNON 7 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 45 8

1 2

1.A little fun with Taft’s mascot in the Registration Tent.

2.Faculty Emerita Patsy Odden and Headmaster Emeritus Lance Odden with Pam and Willy MacMullen ’78 outside Woodward Chapel, after the Service of Remembrance. 3 4

3.Several alumni learn about Taft’s admissions process during a Back to Class session led by Taft’s director of admissions, Mike Hoffman ’97.

4.Three generations of Tafties of the Offutt/Hodges family, with friend Emmett Berg ’19 (at far left): Nalty Hodges ’19, Bill Offutt ’57, and Jane Scott Offutt Hodges ’87.

5Limbo. time at the 5th, 10th, and 15th Reunion Bash!

6.Faculty members Greg Hawes ’85 and Rachael Ryan reunite with Ashley Barronette ’07 during the Headmaster’s Dinner. 5

7.Emily Moore ’07, Carra Herron Fraker ’07 and husband Jonny Fraker ’06, and Kara Iacoviello ’07 enjoy Dinner at the Headmaster’s.

8.Dedicated marchers at the Alumni Parade were undaunted by the spring rain. 6 7

46 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 1

2 3 1.Alumni Weekend’s poignant Service of Remembrance at Woodward Chapel.

2.2007 fun at the Reunion Bash for the 5th, 10th, and 15th Reunions at the Heritage.

4 3Former. faculty and staff members Andi and Will Orben ’92, back at Taft for his 25th Reunion, with daughter Beatrice.

4.Class of ’72 45th Reunion alums Steve Pond, Jim Farley, Ed Gordon, and Thomas Ruppel, with Pam and Willy MacMullen ’78, who hosted the Headmaster’s Dinner.

5 5H.K.. Seo ’07 visits with faculty member John Piacenza and former faculty member Jean Strumolo Piacenza ’75.

6.Wick Shreve ’97 with his husband, Craig.

71962. classmates, celebrating their 6 7 55th Reunion, proudly march in the Alumni Parade.

8.Jim Sylvan ’67, Towt Dunn ’67, and John Weld ’67 with their wives at the 50th Reunion Cocktails.

9Noel. Pena ’97 and his family enjoy the Headmaster’s Dinner. 8 9

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 49 9

11974. classmates return to Taft to cele- brate classmate Joyce Poole receiving the Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal; from left, Paul Klingenstein, Brian Lincoln, Jim Mooney, Marian Reiff 1 2 Cheevers, and Hank Brauer.

2.Enjoying the Class of ’82 get-together at classmate Jon Willson’s home, Harry Yerkes, Shawn Brazo, and Chris Hunter.

3Eliza. Davis ’12, with her mom, former faculty member Linda Saarnijoki, and former faculty member Jim Mooney ’74. 4

4Art Johnson. ‘57 and Ellie Rittman with former Taft staff/faculty members Ledlie and Ben Pastor ’97 at the Headmaster’s Dinner.

5Bob. Gries ’47, at left, celebrating his 70th Reunion, and Jim Morrison ’43, visiting his alma mater from 3 5 Colorado, share a moment with Headmaster Willy MacMullen ’78 at the Old Guard Luncheon.

6.2012 classmates Jordan Stone, Kevin Trotman, and Taylor Persechini catch up at the 5th, 10th, and 15th Reunion Bash.

7.Head monitors Eliza Denious ’17 6 7 and Nick Cutler ’17 lead the way for the Alumni Parade. For more 8.Jack Crombie ’92 and his family photographs enjoy the Headmaster’s Dinner from the weekend, including under the tent. reunion class photos, visit www.taftphotos.com/ Alumni-Weekend-2017. 9.Silvia Bonachea-Cabrer ’97 and her family with Taft’s friendly rhino. 8

50 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 53 18 Tuesday APRIL

A DAY IN THE Life BY DEBRA MEYERS Mary will pursue a career in the sciences, following in the footsteps of her mentor and AP Biology teacher, Laura Monti ’89.

m - - the nervous system. How do we think? How do our do nervous the think? How we do How system. “This is my thing,” Mary says excitedly. “This“This Mary be a to going I’m thing,” is why excitedly. is my says G BLOCK, 8:15–9:15 AM AP Biology It April is late cor the Advanced Placement (AP) and just around exams are Bates, early decision Mary to accepted A senior who was is carryingner. six Laura ’89 is thoroughly and teacher Monti Science of APs. them courses, three AP her of Biologymethodically sure material make working through to reams exams. the This for week: ready are students body systems—the sys immune nervous the tem, endocrine the and system, system. I love major. neuroscience our bodies do send signals cause How changes? that chemical muscles move? me.” all amazing to It’s

MARY COLLETTE ’17 MARY -

All In All The best part her large is the time she spends with circle of she says, of Mary friends—on the sofa in Collette’s day, and rowdy room, meals in the Dining Hall. But spend a little time with her, soaking up the sun on Jig patio, Lauren’s you’ll find it hard one part to call any of She is “all in” with everything better than the next. her day bringing she does, heart, soul, and a pure joie de vivre that is nothing short of contagious. Devoted to service and Devoted to Mary a natural athlete, passions combines her of as student head Through Taft’s Service Sports programs.

j A DAY IN THE Life

AFTERNOON EX Softball Practice A natural leader, Mary is one of the captains of the softball team. She and her teammates are still pumped from Saturday’s 16–0 win over Canterbury, and hoping to take some of the energy into tomorrow’s game against Westminster. “We definitely have a strong drive to beat Westy this year,” notes Mary. “They always seem to be a tough tournament opponent for us. I’m excited to give them our best effort tomorrow.” It’s a good practice, with everyone on their game. Mary shares some positive and motivating words with her teammates, but has other busi- ness to conduct. She needs to talk with Coach m The depth and breadth Tom Antonucci about trying to schedule a soft- of her friendships ball clinic with students from Waterbury’s Police is one of the things that defined Mary’s Activities League (PAL) program. Mary is the time at Taft. student head of Taft’s Service Through Sports program, and hopes to fit in both the clinic and a stuffed animal drive for young patients at area Evening hospitals in the next few weeks. Team dinner in the Dining Hall is one of the C BLOCK, 12:30–1:15 PM best parts of Mary’s day. But after a long day, she is also looking forward to getting home to play a little guitar, do some homework, and spend Lunch time catching up with her parents. Like most This won’t be one of those treasured lunch Scan nights, Mary hopes to be asleep by midnight. this page blocks with her friends, it will be a working lunch She will sleep well after a full but rewarding day. to join the for Mary. Another look at the material for an drum circle! upcoming AP Statistics quiz, an email to the Taft community reminding them to come to Wednesday A BLOCK, 1:50–2:35 PM night drum circle, and then a quick look at her training schedule: Mary is running a half marathon b Mary has traveled at the end of the month, and has just started to Jazz Workshop the world playing taper her training. Tomorrow is Grandparents’ Day, a standing gig for Taft’s Jazz Ensemble. Mary bass guitar with Taft’s “I’ve run some 10ks,” says Mary, “but never a plays bass guitar with the group, and has traveled with them across the U.S. Jazz Ensemble. half marathon. I think it’s going to be fun. I like to and around the world. While class typically meets in the Band Room, today challenge myself and do new things. I like setting they are on stage in Bingham, running the Grandparents’ Day set and blocking new goals, then working hard to achieve them.” their positions on stage. Mary is front and center, and in her element. And on race day, like most of her Sundays, Mary After a quick sound check, warm up, and a few runs through Santana’s “Oye is already double-booked: “I just signed up to per- Como Va,” the group is on to Count Basie’s “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” a clear form at Taft’s Coffee House the night of the half favorite for Mary, and one in which she performs a solo. They practice their marathon,” she says. “I hope I’ll have the energy!” bows, and Mary is off. “I need to run home and get my things for softball practice,” she says. Scan this Run…literally: Mary is a day student who grew up on North Street, just on page to the edge of campus. watch Mary “Growing up, I thought of Taft as my backyard. It wasn’t until I was older play bass! that I realized that the place I played ball with my dad at night was one of the top boarding schools in the nation.”

54 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 55 57 3 Monday APRIL

A DAY IN THE Life BY DEBRA MEYERS . page to Scan this Scan this watch L.J. Collegium perform with L.J. lends his vocal talent to both Oriocos and Collegium at Taft.

m The Oriocos performance leaves L.J. with The Oriocos L.J. performance leaves so want is an open“Next we weekend, weekend - com movies in the show The to votes group I might not have met otherwise,” says L.J. says met otherwise,” I might not have his Monday into drop to minutes only a few morning meeting of Mons with Director Student Activities Koshi. Sarah The School meetMons with Koshi every morn Monday - weekend. coming the plan activitiesing to for relatively something do smaller scaleto that’s there “since L.J., says plan execute,” and easy to people campus on be than usual.” fewer may visiting take off heads to L.J., and rooms, mon his AP to Human class. Geography families He parents prospective from will questions answer sharing details about his time way, the along of and depth of the his Rhino pride. Taft at “Collegium has because been great it gives 9:30-10:25 AM StudentAdmitted Events the when Taft, at It Admitted is Student Day school newly prospective welcomes accepted, a full of and day events campus for to students has been tapped greet to L.J. programming. class, escort and to families but first parents willhe Lobby: perform in Lincoln them for nearly is a member of Oriocos, Taft’s L.J. century-old, a cappella student-led, singing joined Oriocos as an upper mid, L.J. group. auditioned for successfully he after year one choir. showcase Collegium Musicum, Taft’s will performHe with Collegium today, later giving another look at families prospective depththe of arts the Taft. at program of opportunity the music me love my explore to know a lot get of to kidswhile allowing to me

For many families For many families L.J. is a visiting Taft, welcoming friendly and ambassador.

j

L.J. FOLEY ’17 L.J.

- He is bright, articulate, He is an academic, is the quintessential Taftie. an artist, and involved. Foley L.J. ways, In many community is deep and are days long; his commitment to the Taft and an athlete. He is a leader and a role model. L.J.’s in balance. each is a study day L.J., For unwavering. A Study in Balance A DAY IN THE Life

E BLOCK, 1:00–1:40 PM

AP American m L.J. loves competitive sports, and the Government camaraderie that comes with being part of a team. It may be “senior spring,” but L.J. is still carrying AFTERNOON EX . Dorm duty gives L.J. a full course load—three of his six classes are APs. a chance to catch up with his friends and With political science on his radar as a potential Scan this dorm mates at the Evening college major, AP American Government is one Lacrosse Practice end of a long day. page to of L.J.’s favorite classes. Teacher Rachael Ryan When his practice schedule and workload allow, L.J. heads back hit the field is preparing students for an upcoming in-class L.J. is a talented athlete and a serious competitor. to the Athletics Center after dinner. with L.J. essay exploring civil rights and civil liberties. The He played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse in each of “If it’s soccer season I might play an hour of wall ball to practice preparation includes a student presentation on his four years at Taft. lacrosse skills, or during lacrosse season I may just go back and North Carolina’s repeal of portions of the so-called “I like being competitive, and I like the camara- lift,” L.J. says. “After dinner is usually a good time to work out.” “bathroom bill.” L.J. offers details of the economic derie,” says L.J. “I consider myself pretty to close Today’s schedule was exceptionally full, so L.J. skips the gym implications of the bill, noting that both the NBA to all of the kids on each of my teams. I appreciate and heads straight to the library. He has an hour or so to study and the NCAA balked at holding events in that that I was able to play all three sports at Taft, and before reporting for duty in CPT. state when the bill that limits LGBTQ protections to play them successfully.” “As a Mon, I am on duty every Monday night in my dorm,” was enacted. The events, L.J. notes, are big revenue Mondays start in the locker room, debrief- explains L.J. “I get there by 7:50 or so to check kids in for study hall.” generators for the state; their loss was akin to non- ing Saturday’s game. This week’s 16–7 win over L.J. also sees dorm duty as an opportunity to catch up with governmental economic sanctions. Canterbury means spirits and energy are high as his peers and spend time with the teacher on duty. He visits with “I think repealing portions of the bill should the players make their way out of the locker room a few friends and checks in with his dorm mates before finishing help North Carolina,” L.J. adds, “because it shows for “Madden Madness,” Coach Robert Madden’s his homework. He is soon back on the job, signing juniors in for an effort to resolve some of the issues that origi- eponymous, 12-minute plyometric workout, built the night at 10:15, and doing the same for seniors at 10:45. nally concerned both organizations.” to increase individual speed, strength, and agil- “As a Mon it’s my job to sign kids in for study hall or nightly ity in his players. It is a Monday tradition, and an check-in,” says L.J., “but it also my job to just be here, always set- important part of the team’s conditioning routine. ting the right example.”

58 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 59 61 20 Tuesday APRIL

A DAY IN THE Life BY DEBRA MEYERS - Kaedi is the alto section leader and frequent soloist with Collegium.

m Kaedi quickly joins the conversation, and Kaedi and quickly conversation, the joins “English is the course I like the most,” says says “English most,” the I like course is the The exception. is no classAnd today has been ing the small group breakout sessions. Palmore’s sessions. Palmore’s breakout smalling the group full participation open style invites and easy, thoughtful dialogue, Kaedi and in kind. responds quite naturally slips into the role of leader dur of leader role the into slips naturally quite Upper Mid English Kaedi’s class taps into Palmore’s Derek a deep and leader strengths: She is a natural convictions, in her She is passionate thinker. passion. that to give eagerand to voice allows everyone articu to - Palmore Kaedi. “Mr. is they feel way in whatever themselves late speaking more me, that’s for most appropriate; so than writing. His acknowledgment of my be to me is encouraging—it inspires eloquence very in class active discussions analyses.” and The Haunting of Hill Shirleyreading Jackson’s House. G BLOCK, 9:30–10:15 AM . atch Scan this Collegium

her signature Kaedi perform page to w All Waters,” with

piece, “Sound Over F BLOCK, 8:15–9:15 AM Collegium Musicum There be today: is a good done to deal of work Collegium will perform next twice in the three days—on campus Friday in New and evening run time to There isn’t the City Sunday. on York concerts, the Brucefull set but list for Director least a part through at group the leads ofFifer song,each “Sound solo, Over Kaedi’s including It that one and is a stunning piece, All Waters.” Kaedi has performed with Collegium times, many during in San Spring Francisco most recently - audi in the Halley, Paul with itsBreak creator, Kaedi heard peers And while her have ence. perform last the times over number the many still in class visibly moved this they on are year, performance. applaud and breathtaking her day,

KAEDI DALLEY ’18 KAEDI DALLEY

- She is not a cog in a wheel, the wheel but itself—a driving force, moving There to Kaedi is a quiet rhythm day. Dalley’s with a everything community, around her forward unwavering with subtle, yet is a passionate voice in the Taft intent. She gift and spirit that inspire and resonate. Giving Voice to Passion Giving Voice A DAY IN THE Life

MEETINGS BLOCK, 2:55–3:30 PM Gospel Choir Scan these “Music is a very, very, very big part of my life,” pages to says Kaedi, “one that I take very seriously. I try listen to Kaedi to do whatever I can, despite my pretty busy at Gospel Choir schedule, to be engaged with music at Taft.” rehearsal. And she is: Kaedi sings with Hydrox, the all- female a cappella group on campus, performs at Taft coffee houses, helped plan and performed at the MLK Day celebration, quite memorably (and truly) became Motormouth Maybelle in Taft’s production of Hairspray, and showed both her vocal and comic chops as Donkey in Shrek, The Musical. She is also the student leader of Taft’s Gospel Choir. Before rehearsal begins today, Kaedi needs to get a headcount for Gospelfest 2017, a multi-school event at Hotchkiss in May. It is her job to coordinate travel when the group is on the

m Kaedi hits her academic road, and to communicate rehearsal and perfor- stride in Derek mance schedules. It is when she begins to sing, D/DH BLOCK, 12:45–2:00 PM Palmore’s English class. however, that she fully comes into her own. Lunch It’s Thursday, which means Kaedi is one day away from the next SHOUT: Taft Gender and Sexuality Alliance gathering. Kaedi and Kimberly, SHOUT co-heads, will use this lunch block to make plans for the upcoming session. “We try to meet every Friday,” explains Kaedi, “and that remains pretty consistent. We often have 20 or 30 people come to talk about a pretty wide range of issues. We might talk about cur- rent events—we have talked about Trump and his policies and how they might affect the LQBTQ+ community—or we’ll have general discussions Evening about topics that feel relevant. We have evolved JV Golf team practice (“It’s very calming—just you and the ball…”), dinner, SHOUT to encompass everything from really study hall, and, of course, music. chill conversations in a hang-out spot, to educa- “I practice in the piano rooms in the evenings,” says Kaedi. “Going to the camp tional lectures with research and slideshows.” that I went to last summer made me realize that this is the career I want to pursue. This year Kaedi also cofounded a new I would like to be a professional singer—a performer in the music industry.” club on campus, Taft Stands in Solidarity. With support from Taft’s Kilbourne Summer Enrichment Fund, Kaedi “We have about 30 active participants,” says traveled to Los Angeles last summer to attend the A Cappella Academy. Only Kaedi. “Our intent is to be aware and responsive 13 percent of the high school-aged students who auditioned for a spot at the to what is going on in the world. We held a sit-in b Kaedi wears many academy were accepted. She will return this summer, having been accepted in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter move- leadership hats in through an even more competitive audition process. the Taft community, ment in the fall. It was very exciting; I was both including that of “I am always working to mature my voice and grow as a performer,” says a little nervous and a little bit thrilled to conduct student head of Kaedi. “Taft’s resources and opportunities have helped me do that—I take and take part in something so important.” the Gospel Choir. advantage of every opportunity here that I can.” j

62 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 63 Commencement speaker Pressley Millen, father of Pressley M. Millen Trevor Esilu ’17, from Maeve ’17, with Gabarone, Botswana, Headmaster Willy with his mother. MacMullen ’78. Speaker Parent of Maeve Millen '17

Mr. MacMullen, faculty and staff, family and friends, and above all, members of the graduating Class of 2017: greetings and congratulations! I am very happy to be part of this Commencement and want to thank you all for having me. Even though we live in North Carolina, 597 miles from the Taft campus, we have been—and been treated as—mem- th bers of the Taft family for the past four years. Through our own daughter and other friends here, we’ve gotten to see how this school takes promising kids The pre-ceremony ritual of chalk and turns them into young women signatures on and men who fulfill their promise…. 127 Centennial Quad’s I want to tell you a little bit about sidewalks. a boy who went to Taft over 90 years b Proud graduate David Vogelstein ’17. ago. Some of you may know his story, but I suspect that most of you don’t. It’s one worth hearing, and if you want to learn more about him you can read the Commencement Taft Bulletin from Summer 1998…. “The 21st century is going to provide you As a young man after Taft and col- BE BRAVE lege, Varian Fry ’26 had had a fairly with no shortage of opportunities to , undistinguished career as a journalist, to STAND UP to bullies, to NEGOTIATE with but, more importantly, he had a great moral compass. As a journalist, he trav- and OCCASIONALLY DEFY authority, and eled to in the mid-1930s and he did not like what he saw. Then, in to HELP those in extreme circumstances.” August 1940, about 14 years after he left Taft, he was offered a job with the Photography by Pressley M. Millen Emergency Rescue Committee…. ROBERT FALCETTI —

Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 65 Pressley M. Millen cont.

He was dispatched to Marseille in the south of France. This was just three months after the Nazis had defeated France at the beginning of the Second World War. The Germans occupied Paris and the northern part of France while the

Faculty member southern part was ruled by a puppet gov- Shannon Lenz Guidotti ernment in the town of Vichy. This was receives the William well before the U.S. entered the war and and Lee Abramowitz Award for Teaching this country was still technically neutral. Excellence from Dean Marseille is a tough seaport city in the of Faculty Edie Traina. best of times, and in the summer of 1940 it was packed with refugees from all over Europe. And they were all desperately looking for a way out. The refugees were all seeking to go west—going east meant imprisonment and quite possibly death. And Fry…showed up in Marseille with nothing but a typewriter and a suitcase Tise Ben-Eka ’17 receives the Class with $3,000 cash, and the job of trying of 1981 Award, to get out as many refugees as he could. along with two In those dark days, the most val- other seniors, from Jalissa Rodriguez ’17 ued document was something called Susan McCabe. with her parents. an “exit and transit visa” that would get a refugee out of France and through Spain, on to Portugal, which was a

Eliza Denious ’17 Head Monitors Eliza Nick Cutler ’17 neutral country. From there, a traveler Denious ’17 and Nick could get to Cuba or South America, Head Monitor Cutler ’17 carry the Head Monitor or occasionally, the United States. If class stone to its new you’re at all familiar with the plot of the home in the wall of movie Casablanca, these visas were the “People are what make Taft a special Centennial Dorm. “Graduations are a celebration of documents for which refugees would place…. High school is a time for moving on to a new life milestone, beg, steal, and even kill, as in that film. learning how to be comfortable but maybe more importantly, to Fry was operating in a foreign coun- with yourself, for figuring out who celebrate the memories we have try and right under the nose of the you are, and we have spent the made together at Taft. Together, Nazi secret police, the Gestapo. Under last two, three, four years growing the key word, is one that we as a the law in Vichy, France, refugees were up together. Like any team that class use quite frequently. We do required to surrender on demand to the needs to discover how to work as a everything as a group. We eat meals Gestapo for deportation to the east. unit, we stumbled at first, but now together, do afternoon activities Upon arrival in Marseille, Fry got right we have merged the two pieces, together, hang out together, and to work. He found people who could forge togetherness and independence, are curious and creative…together. travel documents or bribe Vichy officials and have come to be a true family.” Mr. Mac has said throughout the to look the other way. He chartered leaky year that our community is a table, boats that could slip out of the harbor on and for the community to function dark nights. He located places to hide ref- properly everyone must have a Gabby Gonzalez Carpio ’17 and ugees while they waited for their papers seat and a voice at the table.” her big fan on a special day. to come through. In his work, he was aided by a U.S. State Department official

66 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 67 Lauren Fadiman ’17 Pressley M. Millen cont. Class Speaker named Hiram Bingham, whose father “As you leave…stand in wonder at this was a U.S. senator from Connecticut. place and all the world. For this brief And Hiram was more than happy— Sophie Kamhi ’17 steps forward to moment you occupy a profound liminal against direct orders from Washington, receive her award as Valedictorian. space: you own both this campus and by the way—to issue as many visas as the future; you will not long be in this he could, even ones with fake names. position, as soon you will inevitably It’s reasonable to think that the things be consigned to the history of this Fry learned here were the same qualities place, thrust ever forwards. Perch on that made him successful in Marseille. a stone and gaze at the world around What kind of person can just show up you. How big the pond is when you in a place where he knows absolutely no stand at its edge, how widely the fields one and immediately get the lay of the Class speaker Lauren Fadiman ’17, seem to run when you sit in their land and begin to act effectively? Maybe who received the revered Aurelian caress. Take a final deep breath, and The Baird family with several Taft someone who’s done that same thing Award for “sterling character, high generations: from left, Nolan ’86, when she’s come to a school like this. Matteo Mangiardi ’17, scholarship, and forceful leader- release it slowly. Your words will linger Nick ’20, graduate Karalyn ’17, left, and AJ Barre ’17 ship,” along with five other awards. in the atmosphere of this place.” Noah ’16, and Lanny ’54. “Fry had learned how to work with others— Family members cheer on their graduates. not just as an individual— toward a greater shared goal, which is something else you all have learned here."

Fry had learned how to work with oth- ers—not just as an individual—toward a greater shared goal, which is some- thing else you all have learned here. Fry, when you think about it, was someone who had learned to engage with the world, not just a campus in Connecticut, or New York, or even Paris. He was willing to go to…one of the toughest places on earth, because that’s where he could best be of use. Maybe, like a lot of you, Fry also learned to inculcate that particular prep school relationship with authority that can best be described as “nego- Cauviya Selva ’17 and her family tiable.” He knew when it was time to celebrate her achievement. obey authority, but also knew when and how to circumnavigate it. He also

68 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 69 Pressley M. Millen cont. Senior Dean Pope’s sunglasses reflect Taft’s buildings. had a knack for knowing when to safely ignore authority. And—not lightly— he knew when to defy authority…. His bravery was impressive, but, as Mr. Mac puts it, there’s always the important question of whether you are effective. And was Fry ever effective! In 13 months in Marseille, with the Gestapo and Vichy authorities breathing down his neck and with Fry breaking the law every day, he was credited with saving over 2,200 refugees from what would almost always have been certain death. Among those were the artist Marc Chagall, who later designed the famous Peace Window at the United Nations in New York. He also helped save Hannah Arendt, who became the world’s fore- Bagpipers lead seniors and Taft’s most philosopher on the subject of faculty members totalitarianism. And Claude Levi-Strauss, into Centennial acknowledged as one of the 20th centu- Quad filled with ry’s greatest anthropologists. All of these family and friends. were people whose nationalities or poli- tics or heritages had them on the run…. In 1994, 28 years after his death, Michael Wasserstein ’17 Fry became the first American citizen to be honored among the Righteous Class Speaker of Nations at Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust memorial. This honor is given only to those who voluntarily “About a month ago, I was hiking risked their own lives to help the vic- with my dad, and he asked me the tims of the Holocaust. Only four other one thing that I learned the most Americans have been so honored. at Taft. He was fascinated when I Sonny An ’17 is awarded Varian Fry’s heritage is now your told him that I learned to interact the honor of Salutatorian. heritage as Taft graduates. The 21st and engage with people, rather century—as we’ve all learned—is going than any academic concept. to provide you with no shortage of [As part of] a community, we have opportunities to be brave, to stand up learned this incredibly important to bullies, to negotiate with and occa- skill of interacting with others. sionally defy authority, and to help And the unique togetherness that those in extreme circumstances. In our class exemplifies will also help short, opportunities to put into prac- us engage with others in the future. tice the things you’ve learned here. j With such a global population at Class speaker Michael Tise Ben-Eka ’16 with her family Taft, I encourage you all to reach Wasserstein ’17, who and Taft teaching fellow Idara out and maintain these powerful won several prizes, Foster ’11, far left. Pressley Millen P’17 is a senior fellow enjoys the ceremony Raya Petrova ’17 with her connections that we have made.” at the Duke School of Law and has with classmates. teacher Laura Monti ’89. led a distinguished life as a lawyer, educator, and public servant.

70 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 Taft Bulletin / SUMMER 2017 71 Simplify Planned Giving

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