DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 | |
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WINTER GREETINGS FROM
HEAD OF SCHOOL
PETER BECKER ’95
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Click directly on the image to view a holiday message from Head of School Peter Becker '95. | |
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Each year, Taft invites a Morning Meeting speaker to campus to deliver a Veterans’ Day talk. This year, members of the Taft community were honored to hear from Thomas W. Gross '69 (Col., USAF, ret.).
“I did not leave Taft intending to go into the military,” Dr. Gross explained. “It was 1969, and 500 American males, mostly teenagers, were dying in Vietnam every week….Several years later, I was not drafted, after bouncing through a few jobs, a severe economic recession left me with few options, one of which was a few years of military service.” Dr. Gross enlisted with the United States Coast Guard, where he completed four years of active duty. With help from the GI Bill, he went on to college, then medical school.
“In my practice and in the middle of my career, I realized that I was missing something,” said Dr. Gross. “I realized that in my warm, well-lit emergency department, I was receiving the injured patients that came by helicopter—the very same type of patients that I, myself, used to deliver. But I had nothing at stake; I was risking nothing, and I was being well compensated for my time. So I joined a reserve helicopter rescue squadron of the California National Guard, a part-time job, which did not interrupt my medical career, but actually complemented it. It took me back into the field, on a part-time basis, back into the darkness, into the mud and the rain, to offshore helicopter rescues, to Katrina, to Ukraine, and to Iraq.”
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MacMullen Affordability Initiative Update
Thank you to all who participated in honoring Willy MacMullen '78 and Pam MacMullen for their many decades of service to Taft. We are thrilled to report that Taft has received commitments of $25 million in support of scholarships and financial aid in their honor, a significant investment that will not only expand access to education but also empower talented individuals who might otherwise face financial barriers. This generosity will create a ripple effect, fostering a community of diverse students here at Taft. We are deeply grateful to the individuals and families who have supported this initiative.
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Grateful for You!
Your gifts to the Taft Fund help provide the best in academics, arts, athletics, volunteer programs, and financial aid for all Tafties. During November's Taft-Hotchkiss Young Alumni Challenge and Giving Tuesday, 424 participants contributed a grand total of $270,384. Each and every donation makes a difference to the Taft community, and we can't thank you enough!
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Meet Peter Becker ’95!
Head of School Peter Becker '95, Director of Admissions Peter Frew '75, and Chief Advancement Officer Lawrence Crimmins enjoyed connecting with the Taft community across the globe this fall. During their three-week tour of Asia, the trio met with Taft alumni, current families, and prospective families in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, and Seoul. Mr. Frew and Mr. Crimmins extended their journey with visits to Bangkok, Singapore, and Tokyo.
After a little holiday downtime, Peter Becker will be back on the road, heading to the Southeast U.S. and Texas, where he is eager to meet more Taft alumni, families, and friends!
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Alums enjoyed some holiday cheer in Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. You can view photos from the New York City gathering here. | |
SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS | |
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Music for a While
Taft's Music for a While concert series returns with a full schedule of performances ranging from rousing stride piano and jazz concerts to a night at the opera and traditional offerings from Collegium Musicum. Free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Upcoming performances include pianist Andrew Armstrong and Friends on January 19, 2024, and Jazz from the Undercroft with the T.J. Thompson Trio on February 10, 2024.
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Saturday, February 10, 2024: Alumni Hockey
Join us for this annual event hosted in memory of Scott W. Richardson '82. The coed game starts in Odden Arena at 11:30 a.m.
Stay for lunch after the games, then stick around to cheer on the Rhinos during their regular season match-ups. See you on the ice!
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Save the Date!
Reconnect, Recollect, Renew, Relax—Reunion 2024
Mark your calendars for
Alumni Weekend!
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87th Service of Lessons and Carols
Students, faculty, neighbors, and friends walked the luminaria-lit path from main campus to Woodward Chapel on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, to attend Taft's 87th Service of Lessons and Carols. The service included readings by faculty, staff, and students, and seasonal music from Collegium Musicum, the Chamber Ensemble, and the Woodward Brass Ensemble, conducted by Bruce Fifer and T.J. Thompson. Click directly on the image above to watch the service.
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Student Perspectives on AI at Taft
Academic Dean Jennifer Kenerson and Taft's AI Taskforce welcomed Charlotte Blair '24, Sally Higgins '25, Elise Taylor '24, Michael Werblow '26, Michael Xu '25, and Bernice Zhang '27 to a December faculty meeting in Bingham Auditorium to answer previously submitted questions about AI.
"The faculty meeting featured a fascinating student panel discussion about the role AI plays in teenagers' lives," says Assistant Head of School for Faculty and Academics Edie Traina. "The students shared valuable insights about the impact of emerging technology in both professional and personal realms. It is also a wonderful example of our thoughtful and talented student community."
Special thanks to Taft's video production team for capturing the full meeting, below.
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Fall Dance Showcase
The spotlights shined on the creativity, energy, and dazzling talent of Taft's dancers and musicians on December 3. The Fall Dance Showcase featured original student choreography and dance performances accompanied by the Taft School Chamber Orchestra. You can watch the entire performance by clicking on the image above.
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2023 Fall Athletics Season Wrap-up
The 2023 Fall Athletics Season was filled with big stories, big moments, and big achievements by teams and by individual players. While Field Hockey and Boys’ Soccer may have dominated the headlines with their NEPSAC Champion and Finalist titles respectively, other teams were making their mark, including Girls’ Cross Country: Each varsity runner recorded a personal best time NEPSTA Division 1 Championship race. Catch up on all the sports news, including the Fall 2023 athletic awards and Hotchkiss Day results by clicking below. Go Big Red!
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Fall Signing Ceremony
Twelve student-athletes participated in Taft’s Athletics Fall Signing Ceremony on campus on November 8 in Bingham Auditorium. The ceremony celebrates those students making commitments to continue their academic and athletic careers at the college or university level. Coaches, families, teammates, and the full Taft School community were invited to the event. Individual photos of each student-athlete can be found on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
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Forging New Pathways in 2024 | |
By supporting the Taft Fund, you help generations of Tafties forge their own paths, create their own futures, and define their own successes. Gifts of any amount make a difference. | | | | |
