As we enjoy the holiday season and eye the new year with optimism, we offer a look back at some of the many highlights from the past 12 months at TASIS The American School in Switzerland.
The Place I Am Lucky To Call My Home
Alex Gabriel ’23 and Mariaurora Rosso ’24 began the year by expressing their appreciation for the TASIS campus. Read Alex’s article, “The Place I Am Lucky To Call My Home,” and Mariaurora’s graphic feature, “My Favorite Place on Campus” to learn more.
CNN Journalist Daniella Diaz Speaks to Students About Courage, Kindness, and Humility
TASIS was honored to welcome CNN congressional reporter Daniella Diaz to campus on February 7–8, marking the second installment of the 2021–2022 TASIS Speaker Series.
Celebrating Internationalism
With 60 nations represented in the study body, TASIS had much to celebrate during this year’s International Week, which was held February 14–18.
35 Skiers and Snowboarders Compete in 2022 Fleming Cup
More than 200 High School students spent the long weekend of February 23–26 in Engelberg, where they enjoyed skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and other winter activities. The capstone of the week was the Fleming Cup race, a beloved TASIS tradition that was revived last year after a lengthy hiatus.
Pontus Sirén ’89 on Perseverance, Generalism, and the True Meaning of Success
The TASIS alumnus, a partner at the growth strategy consulting firm Innosight, delivered a keynote address in the Palmer Center on the evening of March 7, marking the third installment of the 2021–2022 TASIS Speaker Series. Mr. Sirén, who previously served as CEO of the biotech company Bioneris and as an across-industries consultant for the renowned Boston Consulting Group, also spent two days visiting with High School students in biology and economics classes.
High School Theater Program Delivers Three Outstanding Performances of Into the Woods JR.
Director Julie Frazier-Smith, Music Director Eugene Villanueva, and an incredible cast and crew put on three wonderful performances of this adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
Winter Athletics Return With a Bang
The winter athletics season featured dominant play from the Varsity Badminton team and a refreshing return to something resembling normalcy for all student athletes at TASIS.
College Counselors Hit the Road
As part of their ongoing efforts to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of university admissions, TASIS College Counselors Conor Fritz and Kirk Mitchell visited universities in London, Cambridge, and Paris in April.
Tales from Thailand
Over the course of the two-week spring holiday in April, 20 students and six faculty chaperones worked closely with OurLand, a wildlife reserve and education center located at the southern tip of the Western Forest Complex and Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary. They visited three types of wildlife sanctuaries to learn about ethical elephant tourism, talked to those on the front lines of human-elephant conflict, and helped out locals when and where they could.
Robotics Team Proudly Represents Switzerland at World Festival
Coach Amy Bloodworth and the inspiring all-female team of Mariaurora Rosso ’24, Maddy Costa Felix ’26, Serafina Ballerini ’26, Olivia Canga ’26, and Diana Xiao ’26 were one of just 108 teams in the world to compete at the 2022 FIRST Championship World Festival in Houston, Texas, over the course of April 20–23.
Athletes of the Year
Athletic Director Masa Yo hosted a Spring Athletic Awards assembly for all High School students and faculty members on the afternoon of May 16.
Six Students Inducted to Cum Laude Society Chapter
The Cum Laude Society aims to promote learning and sound scholarship in secondary schools while recognizing exceptional scholastic achievement. With the addition of six exceptional scholars from the Class of 2023, the TASIS chapter now totals 44 members.
Faculty Honor Three Juniors for Commitment to Service
Each spring the High School Faculty selects three exceptional students from grade 11 to receive the prestigious Junior Awards.
A Five-Star Spring Arts Festival
The 48th annual TASIS Spring Arts Festival included the Elementary and Middle School musicals, an all-school concert, several music recitals, a dance and theater showcase, a conducting workshop, and a visual art exhibition.
Members of the Class of 2022 Reflect on Their TASIS Experience
Highlights from the 2022 Senior Banquet included inspiring remarks from Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff, uplifting speeches from six members of the Class of 2022, and two lovely musical performances.
Presenting the Amazing Class of 2022
TASIS held its 66th Commencement Ceremony in the Palestra on the morning of May 28.
Class of 2022 Receives 259 Offers of Admission from 157 Universities in 19 Countries
With help from an outstanding faculty and first-rate College Counseling Office, all TASIS students who planned to attend university successfully found a new home for the following year.
Graduation Awards
Fifteen members of TASIS’s 66th graduating class earned special recognition at the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
University Day
The College Counseling Office was honored to host admissions representatives from New York University, London School of Economics, University of St Andrews, and University of Leiden on May 30 for a “University Day” that consisted of a variety of informative programming designed primarily for grade 11 students as they prepare to enter the most important stage of the college admissions process.
Middle School Says Goodbye to Eighth-Grade Class
The Middle School held its annual Moving-Up Ceremony in the Palmer Cultural Center on the afternoon of June 9. The special ceremony included student speeches, musical performances, the presentation of awards and diplomas, and more.
Elementary School Bids Farewell to Fifth-Grade Class
The Elementary School’s annual Moving-Up Ceremony was held in the Palmer Cultural Center on the morning of June 10 and included student presentations, musical performances, and the presentation of diplomas.
Federica De Bianchi Named Khan-Page Master Teacher
Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff announced that Middle School Italian Literature Teacher Federica De Bianchi is the recipient of the 2022 Khan-Page Master Teacher Award.
TASIS IB Scores Hold Steady as Global Average Drops a Full Point
Eight seniors scored 40 or more points on the May 2022 IB exams, and Class of 2022 Valedictorian Alexia Dochnal achieved the first perfect mark in school history! The mean score posted by the 39 students who earned an IB Diploma was 35—a full three points above the 2022 worldwide average.
A Record 46 Students Earn AP Scholar Awards
High School students took 264 Advanced Placement exams in the spring and scored a 4 or higher on 50 percent of them. The 46 AP Scholar Awards smash the previous high of 37 that was set in 2021. Learn more about the outstanding results.
Many Paths to Success
TASIS students achieve their goals in a number of different ways: by earning an IB Diploma, by taking AP courses and scoring highly on the corresponding exams, by performing well on standardized tests, by writing excellent personal statements, and by exhibiting an impressive commitment to a combination of the arts, athletics, local and global service, and leadership positions on or off campus. In short, there are many paths to success at TASIS.
TASIS Summer Programs Return in Full Force
From waterskiing on Lake Lugano and exploring Switzerland’s beauty to pursuing new interests and making lasting friendships, the 2022 TASIS Summer Programs offered something for everyone.
Return of Reunions
2022 saw a flurry of alumni reunions on campus and across the United States. All classes were invited to a reunion in Washington, D.C. while the Classes of 1982, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2012, and 2017 met in Lugano, the Class of 1990 gathered in New York, and the Class of 1985 reconvened in Chicago.
Opening Day Statistics
TASIS opened the 2022–2023 Academic Year with a record 750 students from 59 nations.
Introducing The Lounge
TASIS held an opening celebration for The Lounge, an exciting spot for students to gather and enjoy delicious food, on September 12.
“I Still Have Dreams About TASIS”
TASIS was honored to welcome celebrated poet and former faculty member Kiki Petrosino to campus on September 19–20 as the School’s third Linda Buchanan Poet in Residence.
International Day of Peace
Led by Opsahl Global Service Program Director Patty Clardy, on September 21 the TASIS community participated in a number of activities designed to promote kindness and highlight the importance of living together peacefully as a global community.
TASIS Honored To Exhibit at WOPART
Thirty artworks created by current and former students were featured at the seventh edition of WOPART, a prestigious international art fair devoted to works on paper, over the weekend of September 23–25.
University Fair Sets a High Bar
Spearheaded by the College Counseling Office, TASIS was delighted to welcome admissions representatives from 54 schools to campus for a robust university fair on the afternoon of September 26.
TASIS Families Celebrate Life of M. Crist Fleming
Middle School and High School parents attended classes, enjoyed an elegant evening at Villa Principe Leopoldo, and watched an assembly that commemorated the incredible life of TASIS Founder M. Crist Fleming on October 6.
Energy Vault Co-Founder and CEO Robert Piconi Kicks Off 2022–2023 TASIS Speaker Series
Mr. Piconi delivered an engaging keynote address entitled “The Innovator’s Journey” in the Palmer Cultural Center on the evening of October 17 and spent two days visiting High School biology, chemistry, physics, and economics classes.
First-Rate Faculty
Faculty excellence is the core of the TASIS experience, and we love to highlight the remarkable work done by our teachers. In October, our student writers had the opportunity to interview a faculty member of their choice and add their stories to our growing collection of Faculty Features.
Robotics Program Continues To Shine
The TASIS Robotics Program has now expanded to the High School level. Mariaurora Rosso ’24 recapped the VEX Robotics qualifying tournament at the International School of Basel, which saw two TASIS High School teams place in the top three.
Academic Travel Across Europe
Our Middle and High School students had a wonderful time learning and exploring in Austria (Vienna and Baad), Czech Republic (Prague), France (Dijon, Paris), Germany (Nuremberg), Italy (Finale Liguria, Florence, Liguria, Modena, Piacenza, Rome, and Venice), Malta (Mdina), and Switzerland (Geneva, Gstaad, Leysin, Valais, Zermatt, Zurich, and various alpine huts in Ticino) throughout the fall.
High School Theater Presents The Imaginary Invalid
Director Matthew Frazier-Smith and the TASIS High School Theater Company delivered four incredible performances of the classic Molière comedy over the weekend of November 17–20.
Sweet November Dance Company Presents Kaleidoscope
Dancers from the High School, Middle School, Elementary School, and Faculty performed in front of a full house in the Palmer Cultural Center on the evening of November 22
Fall Athletics Awards
At a special assembly hosted by the Athletics Department on the afternoon of November 29, former World Cup winner and Premier League star Cesc Fàbregas spoke to the entire High School and helped present this fall’s athletics awards.
The Holidays at TASIS
The final few weeks of school before the winter holiday were packed with concerts, performances, holiday parties, and a number of community-building events organized by the amazing TASIS Parent Association.
