ASSIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY EUROPEAN GALA June 1, 2019 TIPI am Kanzleramt Große Querallee Berlin, Germany Message from ASSIST President Bob Stanley Welcome to our European Gala, celebrating ASSIST’s 50th anniversary year! We gather to celebrate the ASSIST Family, whose many members have built a remarkable legacy over 50 years: 5,385 Scholars and their parents representing 52 countries, 285 member schools in the U.S., countless thousands of peers, host families, teachers and coaches, and a ready army of volunteers. This special year began with the arrival at Pomfret School of our 175 highly enthusiastic Scholars from 21 countries. A four-day orientation launched them into their academic, co-curricular and community adventures as they began their year-long experience in America. If history is a prelude, more than 90% of them will attain honor roll achievement in their 82 independent schools across the country; they will make a notable impact on their communities through their active participation in extracurricular and athletic endeavors; they will develop strong interpersonal relationships through long- lasting friendships with their classmates, teachers and host families. ASSIST is thriving, and never in our history has our mission been more important than it is today. We vigorously maintain our enduring principles while adapting our approach to meet the needs of each rising generation. We nurture international understanding when we develop talented leaders who are scholarly in intellect and who enthusiastically and gracefully engage in the world around them as responsible global citizens. With your continued support, ASSIST will remain a leader in the field for years to come. Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate 50 years of achievement. Dinner Program Prelude: My ASSIST Moments; Niklas Mügge ‘18 Welcome Remarks: Aukse Jurkute ‘93 Eva Vogel ‘93, Mezzo-soprano / Hendrik Heilmann, Piano Seguidilla (Act I of the Opera Carmen); George Bizet, 1875 Some Enchanted Evening: Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, 1949 I love Paris: Cole Porter, 1953 ~ Serving of Starter ~ World Premiere: ASSIST: Opening Doors to the World Produced and directed by Paul G. Sanderson III; Our Town Films, 2019 Keynote Address: Arnoldas Pranckevičius ‘97 Head of the European Commission Representation in Lithuania Introduction by Julia Martyni-Orenowicz ‘11 ~ Serving of Main Course ~ Roots-Americana with St. Beaufort Featuring Henric Hungerhoff ‘01, Joe Jakubczyk, Dan Wall Wolf / A Mercenaries‘ Band: ©St. Beaufort, 2015 I‘m Coming Back But I Don’t Know When / Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms Our Responsibility for the Future of ASSIST Johannes Reck ’02 / Tao Tao ’02 Introduction by Eszter Sarkozi ‘11 Introduction of ASSIST’s President: Richard P. Hall Remarks by ASSIST’s President Bob Stanley Eva Vogel ‘93 / Hendrik Heilmann German-born mezzo-soprano and ASSIST alumna Eva Vogel ’93 (The Masters School) was awarded her BA from Mannes College of Music in New York and her Masters in Music from Yale University. Privately, she has also worked with Christa Ludwig and Brigitte Fassbaender. Having completed her studies, Eva Vogel became a member of the opera studio at Cologne Opera before being engaged as a permanent soloist at Düsseldorf Opera as well as Innsbruck Opera. There, she was able to extend her wide repertoire with various roles from different well-known operas. Today, she is also known throughout Europe for her numerous appearances as a guest soloist. Eva Vogel will soon return to touring worldwide with the Berlin Philharmonic, performing in New York, Vienna, Paris, Tokyo, and Taipei. Hendrik Heilmann, originally from Berlin, studied piano at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and song interpretation with Wolfram Rieger. He finished his studies with master’s courses with a number of further renowned musicians. Having won the Steinway competition at age 16 and being awarded the special prize in the “La Voce”-competition, Hendrik now teaches at both the Universität der Künste and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. He also often accompanies the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, and is frequently invited as a guest musician at music festivals and performances throughout Europe. Keynote Speaker Arnoldas Pranckevičius ‘97 Arnoldas is originally from Lithuania and was an ASSIST scholar in 1996/1997 at New Jersey’s Montclair Kimberley Academy. He graduated from Panevėžys Gymnasium 5, which has produced the highest number of ASSIST scholars from Lithuania during the last 27 years. For the last two and a half years, Arnoldas has been working as Head of the European Commission Represen- tation in Lithuania. Before joining the Commission, he spent 11 years at the European Parliament in Brussels, serving as foreign policy adviser to two EP Presidents Martin Schulz and Jerzy Buzek, focusing on relations with Russia, Eastern Partnership, Western Balkans and Asia, coordinating the work of the Cox-Kwasniewski special mediation mission in Ukraine, working in the Committee for Foreign Affairs and with the Interparliamentary delegations. Previously, in 2004-2005, he served as Lithuanian President Adamkus’ domestic policy adviser. Arnoldas holds an EU affairs MA from Sciences Po Paris, where he was a Rotary World Peace Fellow, and an International relations BA from Colgate University, USA. He also studied journalism at Vilnius University, deepened his knowledge of political science and international institutions during separate semesters in Geneva and Washington, DC, interned at the US Senate, Radio Free Europe, UNESCO, the European Parliament and Lithuania’s MFA. Paul Sanderson / St. Beaufort As producer, director and president of Our Town Films, Paul G. Sanderson III has enjoyed considerable success in creating television documentaries and educational programs. Since founding Our Town Films in 1992, Mr. Sanderson has won over 30 national awards, including nine CINE Golden Eagles. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has honored Mr. Sanderson by placing one of his films in its permanent collection. As the son of ASSIST Founder Paul “Sandy” Sanderson, Paul has produced and directed several films for ASSIST, including tonight’s premiere short film feature ASSIST: Opening Doors to the World (Our Town Films, 2019). St. Beaufort is a multinational roots- americana trio based out of Berlin. Their featured line-up of musicians on this evening includes ASSIST Alumnus Henric Hungerhoff ’01 (St. Andrew’s School), Joe Jakubczyk, and Dan Wall. Founded in 2014 and drawn together by a passion for acoustic music and storytelling, St. Beaufort’s energetic performance has captured the hearts of audiences all over Europe from the Scottish Highlands down to the southern coast of Sicily. Their sound builds on a foundation of banjo, guitar and violin, with alternating lead vocals and warm three-part harmonies. They craft songs with a driving intensity that transports listeners to wilder places and simpler times. Richard P. Hall / Bob Stanley Richard P. Hall has served ASSIST as a member of the Board of Directors since 1983 and as Chair of the Board since 2005. He taught at the Berkshire School and Phillips Exeter Academy, then served as the head of the upper school at Seven Hills School before moving on for the next 28 years to serve as the headmaster of the North Shore Country Day School, director of the International School of Brussels, and head of school of the Washington International School, from which he retired in 2007. He has also served as a Trustee for the National Association of Independent Schools, the Madeira School, St. Albans School, and the International Student House of Washington, D.C. Bob Stanley spent the first years of his career in the business world as an executive for G. Fox, a division of the May Department Stores Company. He then shifted his career track and began a life-long commitment to education, joining the faculty of his alma mater, Suffield Academy, in 1987. He spent thirteen years at Suffield as an English teacher, dorm parent, football and hockey coach, and in a variety of leadership positions, admissions, alumni and parent relations, development, communications, technology, and Dean of Students. Bob left the Academy in June 2000 to assume the leadership of ASSIST. Bob is a graduate of Suffield Academy, Brown University and Yale Divinity School. He and his wife, Anne, who also works for ASSIST, live in Suffield, CT, along with their two daughters, Jordan and Olivia. The AFTERPARTY Desert buffet in Foyer DJ Andreas Rumpf in Main Hall, as of 10:30 p.m. Networking, pictures, further activities: First floor lounge and terraces Online and around the world: Share your ASSIST Experience on our Social Wall! Post using #50yearsassist on Instagram Email item to [email protected] (please only 1 photo at a time) Post directly on ASSIST’s Facebook page. “My ASSIST Experience in One Word? Studious” Rytis Masiliūnas ‘05 Woodberry Forest School Lithuania “My ASSIST Experience in One Word? Enriching” Paula Franke ‘16 Albuquerque Academy Germany “My ASSIST Experience in One Word? Transformative” Judit Hegedus ‘92 Deerfield Academy Hungary Johannes Reck ‘02 / Tao Tao ‘02 ASSIST alumnus Johannes Reck ’02 (Woodberry Forest School) grew up in Cologne, Germany and holds an M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He is the Chief Executive Officer at GetYourGuide, which he co-founded in 2009 while attending the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He leads the company’s long-term vision and strategy, and has grown the company into the leading booking platform for incredible travel experiences from start to finish. ASSIST alumnus Tao Tao ’02 (Woodberry Forest School) is a native of Beijing, China and co-founded GetYourGuide in 2009. Today, he serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, leading business operations. Tao studied economics at Tilburg University and physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Since GetYourGuide’s being founded, Tao has headed several strategic company functions, including Business development, Supply, and Customer Service.