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people be kind to others since our actions are the one sure form of immortality. He concluded his advice this way: “Every act of individual self creation has an effect, however slight, on the context in which we all live together; the nature of your acts—whether cruel or kind or neutral—determines the nature of your immortal legacy. The more your acts are kind, the more they will influence others to be kind…and will live beyond you and along with those…[to] become our shared gift to future generations—again, our shared immortality.”
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of our lives or give us a clearer understanding of who we are.” He suggested to seniors that they are rising into the work force at an advantageous time in which technological, biological, and medical advances are skyrocketing, thereby opening new frontiers for exploration and discovery. He urged seniors to seek or study areas of “forbidden knowledge” and to develop a balanced character of virtuous attributes while managing scientific abilities for the betterment of all creatures of the
School Year Ends The last week of School found students studying and taking final exams prior to the AllSchool Banquet, the one time of the year when awards are presented for outstanding achievement. In a departure from routine, this closing Banquet was actually held before all final exams were given and tallied since Thacher’s Baseball Team was playing in the CIF Finals in Long Beach during the traditional slot for the Banquet. Under the pepper trees on The Pergola as the sun dipped to the west, amid note-passing and freshmen serving, the entire community gathered to dine and to wish Thacher’s Nine good luck on the diamond. This chapter of the Cum Laude Society added its new members All-School Banquet head table: David Gal and the named academic, equine, and Marvin (Senior Class President), Robert Brownell Shagam Awards were bestowed. Finally, School (School Chair),Terry Twichell, Michael Mulligan, Chair Robert Brownell gave a thoughtful and Charlie Munzig (School Chair ’02-’03) farewell address to the student body; his thoughts can be found on page 23. world. The complete text of Dr. Sophocles’ talk appears on Thacher’s website: www.thacher.org. Baccalaureate Service In a departure from Thacher’s traditional commencement festivities, the Baccalaureate Service was held Friday evening as the sun began its descent below the horizon. As birds soared overhead and horses brayed, Aristotle Sophocles, MD, gave an inspiring speech entitled “Mission Possible.” A physician, attorney, university professor, businessman, and owner of his own medical software company, Dr. Sophocles spoke of high school graduation being a defining moments that can “either change the course
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Joy Sawyer-Mulligan, who serves as the president of Thacher’s Cum Laude Society, announced this chapter’s newest members; a list of those members who “hold dear the qualities of excellence, justice, and honor” (the Society’s motto) may be found on page 20. Other special awards followed and concluded the evening. While being an accomplished athlete is an integral part of earning The Elizabeth Helms Adams Perpetual Sportswomanship Award (often referred to as the award given to the best female athlete in the graduating class), athleticism is, by no means, this honor’s most important criterion. The commitment to excellence, teamwork, ability to elevate the play of others, and, above all, sportsmanship were key determinants in selecting Elizabeth Toeller for this Award. She served as Captain of both Soccer and Lacrosse Teams, won “Most Inspirational Player” kudos, was inducted into Ventura County’s Hall of Fame for Athletes, and was chosen for the Third Team All-CIF Team in soccer. The Perpetual Sportsmanship Award follows criteria similar to that of the previous Award; this year it was presented to two senior male athletes. The first displayed steely-eyed determination and powerful leadership through championship seasons in soccer and lacrosse this year. Jaime Everett served as Captain of the Soccer Team, was voted “Most Inspirational,” and brought tremendous intensity to the level of play. He car-
Senior Banquet
From the Outdoor Chapel, seniors accompanied their guests to the Forest Cooke Lawn for the Senior Banquet. The audience glimpsed into the keynote speaker’s tenure at Thacher when senior Claire Faggioli reiterated some phrases employed by Thacher’s teachers in describing her father’s studies here. She wove these tidbits into an amusing introduction of the geologist-turnedwinemaker-Dad with whom she’s grown up; it was a beautifully crafted introduction that brought smiles, laughter, and praise from him. Justin thanked the faculty and administration for creating a community that has “educated, nurtured, and mentored students in the Seniors Mercedes Farrell and Eita Hatayama arrive for classroom, on playing graduation fields, in the dorms, and in the outdoors, through times of ried that commitment to excellence and leadillness, injury, and personal ership onto the lacrosse field in the winter need.” The complete text of where, once again, he captained his Team to the Aristotle Sophocles, MD, shares his Baccalaureate Address, Justin’s speech begins on page 24. top of the Condor League and was placed in the “Mission Possible”
Spring / Summer 2002 page 19