Panther Pulse - July 2025 by ASMilan

ASM ALUMNI COMMUNITY

CONNECTING TALENTS

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Welcome to the Panther Pulse where every beat counts!

ALUMNI VISITS

If you would like to take a walk down memory lane, we would love to have you back for one day! Please feel free to book a tour of the campus and reconnect with teachers and staff from your school days You can directly book your visit with Eloise Vadukul, Alumni and Events Coordinator at evadukul@asmilan.org

Greetings Panthers, wherever in the world this finds you! I hope you are well

I’m sitting at a relatively quiet campus on this late June afternoon It has been a busy end of year here, starting with the Class of 2025 Graduation on May 25th, when 77 Seniors graduated. Following in rapid succession, we had the Athletics Awards Banquet; the High School Play (‘12 Angry Men’ in the round in the Library, student directed!); the Upper School Concert; the ES Concert, 5th and 8th grade moving on ceremonies, exams, field days, and more! It has been a fast-paced race to the finish. Students had their last day on campus June 18th, and Teachers had their final work day June 19th Along with the above milestones at the end of a school year, we took time out this June for some very special recognitions Piera and Santina, familiar faces at ASM for 47 years, have retired We honored their contributions with a student-led assembly, and alumni gathering on campus, and a faculty send off. ASM presented them with gifts, including honorary diplomas We also marked another transition as the Costa brothers will no longer be providing bus service to ASM, again a partnership that has lasted over 40 years. In less happy news, several ASM seniors were adversely affected by changes in US policies regarding international students attending universities in the United States. Rule changes have meant much longer waiting periods for some visa seekers, and the three week moratorium on visa appointments left some of our students unsure if they’d even be able to apply for their student visas. We still have some of our really great seniors–good students and lovely humans– who had been accepted at top universities in America, wondering if they will be granted visas and forced to make ‘back up plans’ to attend schools in the UK, Canada, or Europe Imagine your non-American classmates at ASM suddenly unable to pursue their long-held dream of attending a US college or university it has been very jarring

Despite any challenges to the American ‘brand’ , ASM’s enrollment continued to grow during the school year and we ended in June with 903 students from over 7 ressure on our facilities, and this spring, the Board engag

Associates to help us develop our next campus m e have the most enrollment pressure–to grow. Exciting t

I hope to see some of you at the ASM Alumni Re e first night to share some updates and I look forward t

Have a lovely and safe summer,

ASM Director since 2019

ASM’S US FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Welcome to the American School of Milan Alumni Community, where we deeply value education's role in shaping young adults' futures We are super excited to offer the establishment of ASM’s Foundation in the US for alumni and families who want to prioritize their philanthropic giving to ASM

The Foundation will allow ASM to strengthen alumni relations and encourage student-led projects This initiative underscores a commitment to fostering a community that positively influences society and champions educational advancement We are immensely thankful for the support received at all levels, as it significantly contributes to our mission.

“ I know how influential ASM has been on the lives of the people who attended, ” says Wayne Rutherford, ASM’s Director.

“ The connection with alumni is important to ASM's ongoing mission, and our alumni's support of ASM's financial well-being, through gifts to the ASM Foundation, means that the school will continue to positively influence the lives of hundreds of students every year by helping us realize our mission of inspiring students to become global citizens who 'positively impact our world' . ” The ASM Foundation will prioritize funding for projects and programs that: Strengthen Alumni Networks: Providing opportunities for alumni to connect

philanthropic choice Click here to make a donation to the Foundation now

MAKE A DONATION

Alumni of the Month

What was your favorite subject and/or teacher at ASM, and did this change after you left ASM? Or grow stronger?

My favourite subject was always music, whether it was jazz band, being in a rock band with my friends or singing in the school musicals! It’s still my favourite now - I work as a radio producer and spend my workdays listening to music, making playlists and going to festivals and concerts to discover the best new artists

Have you been back to visit ASM, and if so, has anything changed?

Berni Botto, Class of 2015 Assistant Producer BBC News

I’ve only been back once, around a year after my graduation - a lot had changed then (new teachers, new facilities) and I’m sure a lot more has changed since!

Give us three words to describe your experience at ASM?

The best education

What skills or knowledge did you learn from ASM that helped you in your future/career?

I learned everything I know at ASM! The variety of classes, electives and after-school activities has been really helpful both in my previous job as a news journalist and now that I work in music radio, whether it’s an understanding of languages to interview international artists or IB economics and Model United Nations preparing me to write interviews for three UK Prime Ministers. But above all, I think ASM encourages curiosity - giving students the space to ask good questions, explore ideas and foster a love for learning which extends far beyond our school years.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Be open to opportunities and change! You don’t have to decide your whole future when you pick your IB subjects aged 16 - study the things that interest you at school and university, and a great career will follow

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently and if so why?

Nothing! I believe that all the experiences we live through happen for a reason - I’m grateful for the opportunities I had at ASM, and have found myself in what really feels like a dream job.

Alumni of the Month

What was your favorite subject and/or teacher at ASM, and did this change after you left ASM?

Or grow stronger?

My favorite subjects were math and history I had many favorite teachers (I was at ASM for 12 years), but I fondly remember Mr Freda (Theory of Knowledge) and Mr Goetz w

think outside the box, Ms O’Brien, Ms Winters, Ms Charles, Ms Cioffi, Mr Newton, Mme Lacombe, and s

Economics and Finance, which are an evolution of

history and help

and grew stronger

Chetan Sahai, Class of 1993

Have you been back to visit ASM, and if so, has anything changed?

I came back to ASM in September 2021, as my children were starting EC and 2nd grade! Lots of things have changed, the infrastructure is more modern, the library is beautiful, the gymnasium has been upgraded, though the football field is smaller (or I am bigger) I still found the brick walls on which we also used to write upon and Santina and Piera still running the cafeteria!

Give us three words to describe your experience at ASM?

Lots of opportunities for growth (in academics, sports and arts) Setting standards of excellence Instilling a love for learning. Feeling that I could contribute to the world

What skills or knowledge did you learn from ASM that helped you in your future/career?

Well, I learned how to read and write! And coding and touch typing, and gained a world perspective and had many leadership opportunities. Overall, I learned how to adapt to change, to look at problems as challenges, to interact with people from all over the world and make friends easily, and was lucky to be able to develop a rounded personality with interests in different fields. These helped me in my career as I moved to different companies, industries and countries, and had to lead people from different backgrounds

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Put in the effort to keep closer relationships with classmates and with teachers after you leave school Learn how to manage and invest money early on.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently and if so why?

Maintain closer ties with the school friends and teachers after leaving school. ASM is an international school with many people coming and going, and then also dispersing geographically after school However, since we build strong ties and a sense of belonging during the school years, it would be worthwhile to treasure and keep nurturing them over the years rather than letting them dissipate. Building the ASM alumni community is a great initiative!

Alumni of the Month

What was your favorite subject and/or teacher at ASM, and did this change after you left ASM?

Or grow stronger?

My favorite teacher was Mrs Ciotti her classes in American

History and Literature were unforgettable Even though I never became a history expert, her passion and storytelling made every lesson feel alive Ironically, I didn’t fall in love with history, but I did end up falling in love with America where I ended up living for a while!

Alberto Ferrari, Class of 1997 Brembo VP of Brand Management

Have you been back to visit ASM, and if so, has anything changed?

I haven’t had the chance to go back yet, but I’d really love to. That said, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t recognize it! Time changes places, and I imagine ASM has grown and evolved just like its students do Still, I bet the heart of the school the energy, the people, the spirit is still the same.

Give us three words to describe your experience at ASM?

Competitive, Diverse, Eye-opening

What skills or knowledge did you learn from ASM that helped you in your future/career?

One of the most valuable things I took from ASM was the ability to communicate across cultures. Being surrounded by classmates and teachers from all over the world taught me how to listen with empathy, adapt my perspective, and find common ground In today’s global world, that kind of cultural fluency is more than a soft skill it’s a superpower

What advice would you give to your younger self?

It’s okay not to know exactly who you are or where you’re going what matters is staying curious and nurturing your passions One day, those passions will quietly shape the direction of your life and drive many of the things you do

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently and if so why?

I’d go back and win that varsity tennis tournament no question about it!

Alumni of the Month

What was your favorite subject and/or teacher at ASM, and did this change after you left ASM?

Or grow stronger?

There are honestly too many to name I loved English with Mr

Van Pelt, Film with Mr Rickwood, and Math with Mr Sareen

However, Computer Science with Mr.Waldron and Mr. Goss

has stuck out to me the most, being my first introduction to programming and learning about computer systems. This class is the reason why I pursued a bachelor's degree in Data

Analytics, however, I continue to take classes like English and other Behavioral Sciences pursuing those subjects for fun.

Elena Viazzo, Class of 2022

Have you been back to visit ASM, and if so, has anything changed?

I have visited ASM and it has changed a lot both times. The school grew a lot by creating more learning spaces for the elementary school side I still follow the high school ASM Instagram page and every time they post something about a fun event I get pretty jealous and think, “how come we never did that?”.

Give us three words to describe your experience at ASM?

Fun, Challenging, Community

What skills or knowledge did you learn from ASM that helped you in your future/career?

Many of my classes pushed students to think critically about everything and I think when it comes to the future and with my career, critical thinking helps make me intellectual and help me understand the world around me; it makes for riveting conversations and open-mindedness

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell myself to enjoy middle/high school while it lasts. They’re the last few years where I get to have fun and do school while being able to stay with my parents and get to know my teachers on a personal level Once you leave for college that lifestyle completely changes and it forces you to grow up a little.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently and if so why?

I definitely took everything for granted while at ASM and I never really understood how privileged I was to be able to get a top-notch education in Milan So I think one thing I would change is that I would more appreciative of everything there was to offer, instead of looking forward to leave. That probably would’ve taught me to love some of the classes I didn’t enjoy as much

Farewell to Piera & Santina

For the past 47 years, Piera and Santina have been pillars of the ASM community, giving their time, care, and nourishment to generations of students. Over the past two weeks, we have celebrated their incredible dedication and the love they’ve shared through food and beyond!

Our students honored them with a special, student-led assembly, while alumni and community members gathered to recognize the lasting impact Piera and Santina have had on ASM and the many families they

served They even received their very own American School of Milan Certificates.