WINTER 2022 | VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6
TAFT E-NEWSLETTER
The View from Taft
What’s on your reading list? English Department Head Eileen Fenn Bouffard ’98 lets you know how current Taft students might answer that question.
Celebrating Excellence

Karen L. Stevenson ’75 Honored with 2022 Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal

Karen Stevenson’s life is a study in firsts, perseverance, and extraordinary achievement. This year, she becomes the first woman of color to be honored with the Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal, given each year to a person whose life work best reflects the essence of the Taft School motto: Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret; Not to be served, but to serve.

Taft's New Alumni Engagement Council

Taft recently established an Alumni Engagement Council—a diverse group of alums working together and in concert with the Alumni and Development Office to bring energy, leadership, and ideas to Taft’s alumni community. The council will function as both a focus group and sounding board as they work to define what is meaningful and important to Taft alums in terms of engagement and communication, while allowing community members to feel heard, welcome, and connected.

When Taft opened its doors to women 50 years ago, the range of experiences and perspectives reflected in our community grew exponentially. So did the range of talents. We invite you to enjoy the musical talents of Taft alumnae in this virtual concert, featuring Caroline M. Hitchcock '75, Alex E. Forbes '76, Vanessa H. Holroyd '90, Kate D. Schutt '93, Bergin M. O'Malley '95, Mia E. Borders '05, Meghan J. Spangenberg '20, and Lila F. du Pont '21.
Upcoming Alumni Events
Conversations for Continuous Change
Thursday, February 24, 7pm EST
Virtual Event
Taft continues its work to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. Led by Thomas Allen, Dean of Community, Justice, and Belonging, we will discuss Taft's Alliance and Affinity Groups, define what it means to be an ally, share an update on Taft's DEI work, and conclude with a Q&A for attendees. Please note this event is open to all alums.
Pro Soccer Action in Texas!
Sunday, March 6, 3pm CST
Join us at Q2 stadium in Austin, TX, as Austin FC takes on Inter Miami FC. Tickets are $75 for porch table seating, and include a private tour with Austin FC founder, majority owner and CEO Anthony Precourt '89. Space is limited.
50 Years of Coeducation: Taking It Back to the '70s
Tuesday, March 8, 7pm EST
Virtual Event
Join some of Taft’s female trailblazers as they recall the school's first years of coeducation, how those years shaped the next five decades, and how where we've been will continue to shape our future. Moderated by Dean of Faculty Edie Traina, the conversation includes Faculty Emeritae Patsy Odden, Linda Saarnijoki, and Gail Wynne; alumnae Leslie Herrlinger Lanahan ’73, Sally Childs Walsh ’75, Karen L. Stevenson ’75 and Merrill W. Weyerhaueser ’78. 
We're Coming to Charleston
Thursday, March 17, 6-8pm EST
Eugenia Leath Burtschy '95 and Lawrence R. Burtschy '85 will graciously open their home to Tafties for an evening of community and connection. Join us!
Alumni Weekend: May 13-14, 2022
Calling all classes ending in 2 and 7… We hope to see you back on campus in May!
  • Join fellow alums and walk the traditional Alumni Parade!
  • Celebrate the 50th anniversary of coeducation!
  • Interact with current students and attend engaging open classes!
  • Enjoy a range of activities across campus while connecting with old friends and making new memories!
  • It all wraps up with a party on campus on Saturday night! 
 
Registration opens in March 2022.
Making the Most of Taft Connect
Q&A with Director of Constituent Engagement Amanda Pulawski
 
Our digital alumni community, Taft Connect, is a place to renew acquaintances, meet fellow alums, connect professionally, become a mentor or mentee, leverage connections, and more. How does it work? Read on.

Q: What are the benefits of joining Taft Connect?
Taft Connect is an easy way to stay connected to Taft and your fellow rhinos. It offers the opportunity to find Tafties in your geographical area, your profession, be a mentor, find a mentor, and more. 

Q: How do the benefits differ from those of other social networking platforms, like LinkedIn?
While I think our go-to social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, allow you to engage with people you already know, Taft Connect allows you to broaden your Taft connections across decades; it allows you to safely and consciously grow your circle of connections across the full Taft community.

Q: How does the mentoring component of Taft Connect work?
Being a mentor is as simple as checking a box during registration, which lets others know they are welcome to reach out to you. To find a mentor, you can search by job function, industry, geographical area, or even company. Of course, our office is always willing to help with this, too. I recently used the platform to connect with a few eager students looking for internship opportunities. 71% of our users have opted in as mentors—a true testament to the fact that the Non ut Sibi spirit continues long after Tafties leave campus.

Q: Is there a quick sign-on then get started tutorial available? 
Yes: visit taftconnect.org! You can sign up through your LinkedIn, Facebook, or Gmail accounts, though registering is not limited to those platforms. You can find helpful tutorials on how to navigate the platform here.

You can also download the app to your iPhone or Android.
Campus News
Black History Month
February is Black History Month and Taft is celebrating with a series of speakers, educational activities, movies, and gatherings.
Living the Arts: Pearl Young '18
Pearl Young ’18 returned to Taft in January to work with members of Dance Ensemble. The group performed a piece from Young’s repertoire at their winter concert.
College Bound: Student-Athletes Commit to College Programs
Twenty-two student-athletes participated in Taft’s Athletics Winter Signing Ceremony on February 2 in Bingham Auditorium. Who are they and where are they headed?
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