September 2021
From the return of students and faculty and a successful start of school to breathtaking hut hikes and inspired athletic competitions, we take a photo-driven look at the past month at TASIS. Review the month
Despite the many challenges the pandemic has imposed upon travel in the past year and a half, we remain committed to our signature Academic Travel Program, a central pillar of our mission and the TASIS experience. Learn how the program has been strengthened for the 2021–2022 academic year, including the addition of the world-renowned Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.
See our new Academic Travel page
Learn about the size of each division, the number of students who are new to TASIS, which nations are represented, which languages are spoken, and more.
See our presentation of the numbers
Read about the first-year members of the TASIS Faculty and the current faculty members who have transitioned to new leadership roles for the 2021–2022 academic year.
In recognition of Mrs. Fleming's profound effect on generations of students and educators, we commemorated September 10—Founder's Day—by offering a look at some of our favorite letters written to her on birthdays past, including one from a former president of the United States!
We discuss a new documentary film by one of our own, catch up with a geopolitical affairs expert, marvel at how many alumni children attended our Summer Programs, and discuss other recent accomplishments by our amazing alumni. Read the latest edition of Alumni Notes.
In other news, keep an eye on your mailboxes as the 2021 TASIS Today drops in mid-October! If we don't have an updated postal address for you, please update your contact information to ensure you get your copy.
We were thrilled to welcome these young alumni back to Lugano in August to celebrate their one-year anniversary after they were forced to miss out on a live graduation back in May 2020.
Supported by a tremendous faculty and an exceptional College Counseling Office, all members of the Class of 2021 who aspired to attend a post-secondary school this year have successfully found a new home. These students achieved 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. This month we offer a look at the TASIS journey and future plans for eight remarkable students from the Class of 2021. 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 Male 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, University of London.
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.
![]() TASIS Admissions Visits Please click on the links below to schedule a meeting with a member of our Admissions Team in your area or request a video meeting.
Upcoming Alumni Reunions October 15, 2021 St. Francis Yacht Club, 700 Marina Blvd., San Francisco, California, USA November 19, 2021 The Yale Club, New York City, NY, USA
![]() TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND Via Collina d'Oro, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland
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