D E P A R T M E N T S S P O T L I G H T - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H TSusie, Julia ’01, Sarah ’98, and Jim GrahamAlex ’98, William, Carol, David, Will, andChristopher BrowneHeadmaster Lance Odden congratulatesValedictorian Matt Allessio.No greater model for this exists thanyour headmaster, Lance Odden. His passionto create a school which is a model of whatall good schools should be has literally transformedTaft into one of this country’s preeminentindependent schools. Withoutquestion, the greatness of this institution liesin the lengthening shadow of one man andis a tribute to his passionate commitment.It is with a continuing salute that I considerhim my most valued mentor.As Neil Simon said at Williamsmany springs ago, “Passion is thesuperbowl of enthusiasm. To have passionfor life is not only to wake up in themorning and hear the birds singing, butit’s taking the time to open the windowto see where they’re perched. That’s oneof the side effects of passion; you pay attentionto the details, and it’s the detailsthat determine the quality of life.”Commitment and its companion piece,passion, take courage, and success in life isproportional to courage. Take a chance, entertainrisk—and failure. Think back on yourexperiences here at Taft. I suspect that formany of you it was the triumphs in the areasyou were initially afraid of that, in the end,have meant the most.Don’t be afraid of failure—but don’tbe afraid of success. We actually suffer froma national ambivalence about success. EvenCully Platt receives the Non Ut Sibi Award from Volunteer Programdirector Baba Frew.Abramowitz Award winner Robin Osborn with Dean of FacultyLinda Saarnijoki.Mark Potter Award in ArtExcellence in studio art.Lindsey Marie MacDonaldThomas Sabin ChaseAward in ArtSignificant perception,originality, and developingtalent.Daniel Anthony McArdleMelanie Adrienne RoysterThe Dance AwardAlison Morgan HangerGeorge H. Morgan AwardContribution to thesuccess, effectiveness, andwell-being of Taft singingorganizations.Adaline Rose StrumoloThe P.T. Young Music AwardContribution throughleadership, personalachievement, anddedication to music at Taft.Timothy Wild CarterThe David EdwardGoldberg Memorial AwardFor outstanding independentwork.Melanie Adrienne Royster24 Summer 1998