Melis Huda Kaya ’25 (Turkey), who ultimately hopes to be either an OBGYN or orthopedic surgeon, selected one of the world’s oldest and most historic universities over University of Aberdeen and Brunel University of London.

Sooyoung Choi ’25 (South Korea) will seek a degree in Chemical Engineering at Northwestern University and ultimately aims to go into the consulting business for engineering firms. He also received offers from University of Southern California, University of Michigan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Rochester Institute of Technology, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara.
 

Maria Rozanova ’25 (Ukraine) will study Environmental Studies with a potential double major in Business Administration at the University of Southern California, choosing the oldest private research university in California over UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, Northeastern University, Santa Clara University, Florida Institute of Technology, College of Charleston, Rhodes College, and University of British Columbia. 

Sarah Isabel Mesaric ’25 (Switzerland/Portugal/Germany) will hone her talents at the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. She was a perfect seven for seven on her applications, having also secured offers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, American University of Paris, University of the Arts London, Emerson College, and City, University of London.

Charles Puckett ’25 (USA) will enroll in the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Civic Leadership, a new school that was founded to "prepare a rising generation to contribute to the flourishing of our state and nation." He ultimately hopes to pursue a career in business and politics and chose to be a part of the inaugural class of the School of Civic Leadership after also considering offers from Wake Forest University, Southern Methodist University, and Auburn University.

Raphael Yee ’25 (Malaysia) will attend the excellent private research university after also considering offers from Loyola University, Case Western Reserve University, Edinburgh University, University of Glasgow, University of Nottingham, and NYU Shanghai.

Nicoletta Veronica Piazza ’25 (United States/Italy) selected the prestigious private research university over Wake Forest University, Southern Methodist University, and The Catholic University of America.

Anton Besanidis ’25 (Russia/Switzerland/Greece) will continue to play ice hockey for HC Lugano as he works on a degree in Economics and Business at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

Joy Wang ’25 (China) will pursue a degree in Photography and Imaging with a minor in Film or Related Studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, a training ground for artists, scholars of the arts, and filmmakers. She was previously accepted at Fordham University and then withdrew the remainder of her applications because her application to NYU came with an Early Decision (ED) binding agreement.

Giada Giuliani ’24 (Italy/Brazil/France) plans to study either Comparative Literature or Psychology at Brown after also receiving offers from all five of the other universities she applied to: The New School, IE Madrid, The American University of Paris, Southern Methodist University, and Fordham University.

Mariaurora Rosso ’24 (Switzerland), who competed in two world robotics championships while at TASIS, plans to pursue a career in aerospace engineering, astrophysics research, and scientific writing.

Following 11 years at TASIS, Annie Bezikian ’24 (Italy/Armenia) is headed to southern California after also considering offers from University of St Andrews, University College London, King’s College London, University of Warwick, New York University, Fordham University, Chapman University, Clark University, and University of San Diego.

Michael Maffe ’24 (USA/Switzerland/China), who excelled academically and made significant contributions to the TASIS community outside the classroom over the course of his six years at the school, also fielded offers from Loyola Marymount University, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and UC Santa Cruz.

Caroline Odfjell Titland ’24 (Norway) plans to study Business Communications and Digital Media and dreams of one day being a professional singer. 

Sasha Svirina ’24 (Russia), who ultimately hopes her passion for science, pharmacology, and neuroscience will enable her to work on curing diseases such as Alzheimer’s, was also accepted to Utrecht University, Maastricht University, Queen Mary University, The University of St Andrews, and Sussex University.

After 14 years at TASIS, Giorgio Ippolito ’24 (Italy/Switzerland), whose plan is to become a chef and one day open his own restaurant, will hone his craft at a school with a worldwide reputation for excellence in teaching culinary and pastry arts.

Well-rounded IB scholar Sarah Wexler Brodie ’24 (USA) chose one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious schools over University of Edinburgh and Durham University.

Lalita Stromayer ’24 (India/USA), who intends to also pursue a minor in the performing arts, chose Skidmore over Oberlin College, Syracuse University, University of Rochester, and University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Sakura Tanaka ’24 (Japan) went a perfect 6-for-6 on her university applications, also receiving offers from University of Toronto, London School of Economics and Political Science, King’s College London, Durham University, and University of Manchester.

Veronica Kurtic ’24 (Croatia/USA) was accepted to the only two universities she applied to—University College Cork and American University of Paris—but has decided to pursue other interests before continuing her education. 

Class of 2023 Salutatorian Claudia Clarke Gosalvez (Spain/United States) will enroll at Trinity College Dublin as a Pre-Medicine student after also considering offers from Yale University, Brown University, Emory University, Case Western Reserve University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Glasgow, University College London for Medical Innovations and Enterprise, and University of Navarra for Medicine.

William Derek Pacini ’23 (Italy/United States) chose the first-rate university, where he also intends to minor in Aerospace Engineering and Electronic Intelligent Systems, over Brigham Young University, Rice University, University of Utah, and University of California, Davis.

Nitya Dalmia ’23 (India) turned down offers from Boston University, Chapman University, and Emerson College in order to enroll at New York University, where she will pursue an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a focus on screenwriting. 

Michelangelo Vecchio ’23 (Italy) will study Economics and compete for the Varsity Sailing team at Bowdoin College after also being recruited by Boston College, Tufts University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

2023 Cynthia Whisenant Award for Excellence in English Literature recipient Nitzan Alex Gabriel ’23 (Israel) has chosen to attend Reed College after also considering offers from the only two other schools she applied to: Sarah Lawrence College and Bard College.

2023 Excellence in Science Award recipient Spencer LeGresley (Canada) will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan after also considering offers from University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Pennsylvania State University.

Caroline Francis Krajicek ’23 (Kenya/United States) will pursue a degree in International Relations at the ​​University of San Francisco Honors College after earning a full scholarship as a Black Scholar. 

David Ariza Solans '23 (Spain), who speaks six languages and also received offers from Northeastern University and SOAS, hopes to enter the field of diplomacy and one day serve as a delegate for the United Nations. 

Susanna Campbell ’23 (United States) intends to study Economics or Commerce at the University of Virginia, choosing the prestigious public research university over University of Georgia and University of Alabama.

Alejandro A Orozco ’23 (United States/Colombia), who intends to pursue a career in law, will attend the University of Texas at Austin after also gaining admission to the other five schools he applied to: University of Houston, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University, and Trinity University.

Following seven years at TASIS, Silvia Cribari ’23 (Italy) chose the historic Scottish university after also fielding offers from University of Warwick, University of Manchester, Northeastern College London, and Colby College.

Marat Kurmanaev ’23 (Russia/Spain), who speaks six languages and studied at TASIS for eight years, selected the world-class business school over IE Business School in Madrid.

Nina Mondin ’23 (Brazil/Italy) has decided to attend Loyola Marymount University after also receiving offers from Chapman University, San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and Whittier College.

Alexia Dochnal ’22 (Poland) will seek a degree in Comparative Literature at Yale University, where she was admitted early and invited to join the Directed Studies program, a special academic program for first-year students that she was hand-picked for due to her “truly exceptional academic record and broad intellectual interests.” 

Alejandra Cova ’22 (Venezuela) will seek a degree in Human Science and Global Health at Georgetown University after also considering offers from Loyola University Chicago, Tulane University, University of Florida, Northeastern University, and University of Miami.

Valentina Alencar Barros ’22 (Brazil) will seek a dual degree in Global Studies and Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), choosing the prestigious public research university over Emerson College, Boston College, University of Southern California, University of Miami, New York University, and Loyola Marymount University.

Following three excellent years as a boarding student at TASIS, Demetrius Essaris ’22 (Canada/Greece) intends to study Law at Queen Mary University of London, selecting the esteemed public research university over Royal Holloway, University of London.

Giorgia Papes ’22 (Switzerland, Italy, Costa Rica) will work toward a Foundation Diploma in Design and Media at Ravensbourne University London, selecting the prestigious digital media and design school over the University for the Creative Arts.

Among other highlights, current TASIS students read poignant speeches written by their alumni parents at special Founder’s Day celebrations held in the Palestra and the MCF Piazza on the afternoon of October 1.

Autumn Bachofen ’21 (USA) has accepted a Presidential Scholarship to attend the Kilachand Honors College at Boston University and will begin her studies in the fall of 2022 following a gap year in Paris.

TASIS lifer Ben Asher Marconi ’21 (Italy/ Switzerland/Brazil) has decided to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London after also fielding offers from University College London and Polytechnic University of Milan.

2021 Excellence in Art Award recipient Gabriela Herrero ’21 (Brazil) will seek a degree in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University after also considering offers from UC Davis, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

2021 Michael Ulku-Steiner Leadership Award recipient and Athlete of the Year Zhan Sarsenov ’21 (Kazakhstan) will study Civil Engineering at New York University after also considering offers from Boston University, Fordham University, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, King’s College London, SOAS University of London, Queen Mary University of London, and Royal Holloway.

Following an exceptional four years at TASIS, Joy Mack ’21 (USA) will pursue a Literature/Writing degree at University of California San Diego with the aim of managing a publishing company one day.

Aspiring actor and writer Ella Grace Abisi ’21 (USA) will study English Literature and Theater at Colby College after eight outstanding years at TASIS.

Leonid Serbinov ’21 (Russia) will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at University of California San Diego, choosing the large public research university over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University of Manchester.

Adele Virgilio ’21 (Italy), who spoke very little English when she started at TASIS in grade seven, will study Medicine at University of Lausanne with the aim of pursuing a career as either a pediatric oncologist or pediatric cardiologist.

This month we celebrate our alumni making waves in film, television, and song. We also mourn the passing of a TASIS Hellenic legend.