Commencement Tributesto

The SeniorsPresented by Michael K. Mulligan, Head of School,

on behalf of the Faculty

Saturday, June 2, 2001

T H E T H A C H E R S C H O O L

C L A S S O F

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T H E T H A C H E R S C H O O L

C L A S S O F

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GGood morning! Let me start by stating what will become quite obvious soon

enough: A Thacher Commencement, at least in its present incarnation, is not

for the faint of heart. As many of you know, in our version of this ceremony, we

take the time to ask each senior to come to the podium, to take the limelight for

a few moments—well, let’s be honest, minutes—and to listen to some

observations I will make about him or her.

What you will hear in each comment is a sense of not what a senior has done at

Thacher but, rather, who he or she has been to us here. These are not lists of

accomplishments nor summaries of careers so much as they are glimpses at

character. We know they are not perfect representations, nor complete, nor

definitive. But we hope that through them, each senior will hear just how valued

he or she has been, as a member of this fine class and as an individual who has

brought particular gifts to it, to the Thacher community and, in many cases, to

the world beyond these gates.

This takes time, but we believe that honoring each student is precisely what this

day was made for.

You should know, too, that our idiosyncratic commencement is not for the

alpha-lovers. The diplomas are conferred at random; Peter Robinson, Assistant

Head of School, will choose in a willy nilly—if nonetheless dignified—manner.

Be ready: you just never know when your child will be called to join me here.

Let’s begin the festivities!

Michael K. Mulligan

Head of School

CHRISTY DIAN ACQUISTAPACEWhere others might hesitate, Christy blazes full-speed ahead and simply does:riding full-tilt around the Gymkhana Field, one hand on the pole of a flagflapping furiously at the horse’s side, the other capably on the reins; or swinging apannier chock-full of gear up over the crossbars of a packsaddle so that a horsetrip can move out onto the trail; or willingly taking on a solo in ChamberEnsemble that sends her impossibly pure soprano voice up into the stratospherewith an ineffable sweetness; or writing personal essays with exuberant vividnessand honest, unrestrained detail. As one of her teachers once wrote, “Christy istremendously sensitive to the significant and the memorable in life.” Christy is, inshort, both grit and grace, power and gentleness. She casts a long shadow, sosignificant is her example and achievement in those areas she has chosen for herfocus these four years.

BLAKE LANIER ADAMS-AYERSTo catch a little bit of Blake’s essence, look to the horses he has helped to trainduring his time at Thacher, beginning with the once-infamous mustang “Jaws”: intheir eyes, see gentleness where fear and doubt once lived; in their coats, seeresponsibility and care of feeding and grooming; in their movement, see therewards of daily discipline, the results of Blake’s judiciously applying a sensitiveeye and touch, and so competently riding the line between yielding and holding.Other qualities have informed Blake’s academic pursuits: “possessed of a finemind, a keen sense of irony, and an eye for the absurd” (in the words of one of histeachers), Blake brings engagement and great thoughtfulness to his work. And hisreal legacy? It is that other students may now safely and confidently ride themounts he has gentled so well—Blake’s lasting gift for generations of Toads tocome.

YASMINE HUSAIN ARASTUIn Yasmine, an outward serenity overlays inward discipline; she moves through herdays with inimitable grace—and an equally inimitable giggle. And those days arefull to brimming with what Yasmine has chosen to spend her talents and energieson: with the duties of a rigorous course-load, with raising her lovely alto voice insong or pointing her camera for the yearbook, with service to Thacher’sresidential life, as well as to the greater community of Ojai. Yasmine attends toevery one of these with seriousness, persistent effort, and thoroughness, driven bya true and animated curiosity that likes to peek around corners. Yasmine’sfrequent “Aha!”s contain both the satisfaction of discovering and the thrill ofdiscovery; the fact that she is generous in sharing those moments with othersattests to her essential belief in the importance of association, of connection:Yasmine is extraordinarily sensitive to and appreciative of the luminosity and hefteach thread of humanity contributes to the whole fabric.

DAVID ALLEN BABBOTTDave was lured west from Vermont by family roots in California and to Thacherspecifically by an inherent affinity for the values this school holds dear. Thematch, we feel, was made in…Shangri-la. Dave made the transition with affableease. His lively intellect, driving inquisitiveness, and insistence on ever broadeninghis knowledge and perspective all combine to make Dave a treasure around theseminar table, an estimable opponent in any debate, a stimulating companion onthe trail or around the campfire; in fact, it’s hard to figure whether the fire orDave accounts for the sparks. And those fly as well when Dave takes to court orfield, where he has been an undisputed leader and an ardent competitor—someone the other team would just as soon not see across the net or down thefield, but someone we’re glad to hear when he takes to the risers to sing. As forthose several moves in your young life, Dave, we offer a line from your classmateMeredith Walker’s story Flight: “The terrific thing about migration is that nomatter where you are, you’re always aimed for home.”

MICHAEL GORDON BACKOne way to fill the big shoes of older siblings is to grow big feet. Mike has donethis—obviously—on the literal level; but more important is the metaphoric. Bynot shirking from academic or athletic challenge, Mike has, in fact, discoveredthat he can blaze his own educational path, that his learning is most meaningfulwhen he helps to create its context—for example, pursuing independent projectsin Spanish language and poetry, or embarking on a language immersion trip toMexico. Mike’s teammates and peers look to him for leadership, both on thecourt or field and off it, and Mike provides. A natural athlete and a lover of allthings competitive, Mike also provides any crowd in the bleachers with his specialkind of pyrotechnics, especially in soccer and basketball, where he clearly makesthings happen. We’re grateful for the fireworks—and for the very fine young manwho has set them ablaze.

ANDREA LOUISE BLACKA quietly determined trailblazer for whom boarding school was definitely a roadless traveled four years ago, Andrea has made Thacher her own on all possiblelevels. She invests fully in painstaking preparation for whatever task is before her:a long or challenging reading or writing assignment in English, a critical lacrossegame or tennis match, a difficult studio art problem, an Environmental Sciencelab. “I wish,” said one of her coaches, “I could bottle Andrea’s enthusiasm,dedication, and desire.” Her classroom teachers would agree and would add tothat list of valued and admired qualities her gentle kindness, her natural sense ofperspective and balance even when the world of school, sports, and “other” spinsalarmingly fast, and her understated but crystalline appreciation for the web ofrelationships with family, friends, and teachers of which her life is so beautifullywoven.

ALDEN HOOPER BLAIRTo a discussion in class, to a formal dinner table, to a confab in the section, Aldenbrings keen and genuine interest to every interchange. He learns for the sheerlove of it; he has energy, he sees the connections (and the comedy), and heremains entirely engaged in everything from current events to history long past.No wonder one of his teachers once called him “the spark of the class,” andanother proclaimed, “Alden’s the reason I teach!” That animated intellectualenergy translates into the physical when Alden takes the stage or hits the trail orocean: singing and acting, camping and kayaking, cracking everyone up with hisCalvin & Hobbes interpretations or riffs on Monty Python. Yet our highlyaccomplished wilderness man and supremely organized Camp Supply Guru canstep down readily and easily from that throne to help others in myriad ways andmany: one-on-one or in groups slightly larger, Alden is also our touchstone formoral goodness and kind action.

CHRISTOPHER LYON BONEWITZA clever and witty chameleon of the very best kind, Chris has been many things tous these four years, some more public than others: a Chamber and Chorus singer,a lovesick Orlando, a dashing horseback rider, an Italian womanizer, a wonderfulolder brother and younger brother, a U2 wannabe, a probing physicist, ananimated discussor of Ralph Ellison, a highly articulate, if mute, king. (We’ll letyou figure out which are roles he’s played, and which are the real thing.) Chris’sversatility is mental as well as purely physical, and the impression he leaves isindelible, on younger students in his care, on his classmates, on faculty and evenfaculty children. For Chris, as changeable as he has the talent and imagination tobe, has an immutable and admirable center from which he operates: it is onemade of thoughtfulness, generosity, common sense, and essential goodness. Wewill miss both that center and the astonishing permutations at its edges.

JENNIFER LAUREN BOWIEJenn may look like one single person here today, but those of us who’ve watchedher work and play in the Thacher world and beyond it know well this secret: she’sa whole army. What Jenn accomplishes in one day astounds those who watch her—and takes her from classrooms to the yearbook office to the darkroom to MiddleSchool to Ojai and Oxnard (community service of several kinds) to volleyballcourt to soccer field. Where others might be breathless from covering so muchground daily, Jenn feels genuinely enlarged and enriched by each experience, towhich she brings exceptional discipline, considerable creative and intellectualprowess, and unmitigated thoughtfulness. That sense of personal expansion isrooted in a simple truth about this unassuming and magnanimous young woman:She understands intuitively that by seeing the need in others and by respondingto it, she beautifully and completely fulfills the singular promise of self with whichshe was born.

MARY ANN BRONSONA brainy dynamo in every single subject, Mary Ann could leave most of us in thedust. But catch-me-if-you-can is not her M.O.: rather, Mary Ann seeks connectionthrough ideas. It’s not sufficient to walk through the garden alone: Mary Annwants the company of someone else with whom to marvel at the dew on those peapods over there, at the vermilion bugs on those leaves, to soak it all up completelyand indelibly, on the intellectual as well as on the experiential level. Though heracademic work stands often as the paragon, that is not what her teachers admiremost; it is, instead, the style with which she applies a surpassing mind. As one ofher teachers wrote: “Mary Ann poses those rare inquiries where the question’scontent enlightens the class while its phrasing lightens the mood.” Charismatic,fun-loving, musical, loyal, and giving, Mary Ann has spread light, in the words ofEdith Wharton, in two ways—as “both the candle and the mirror that reflects it.”We feel fortunate to have basked in her glow.

MATTHEW DESMOND BREWERIt’s one thing to be tall; it’s another altogether to act it. From ninth grade onward,Matt has carried himself with honor and integrity, and with an uncompromisingsense of fairness, committing himself over and over to this School’s expectationsand traditions. Put Matt in a classroom, and you’ll witness that standard andresolve: in his element especially in history, he provides his peers with an exampleof steady application and serious purpose. Put him on a lacrosse or soccer field,and he leads from behind, as it were: his force in the goal or as a defensemanripples forward, a surging wave of competence and competitiveness that liftseveryone before it. Put him on stage and he works hard to get his character right,to sing “Under the Boardwalk” perfectly in pitch. Put Matt at the bottom of a sixty-foot ravine with three horses tangled in tack and near death, and he acts with fierydetermination to free the terrified beasts and set them right again on the trail. Puthim on the list of Thacher graduates, and witness our sterling pride in all he hasaccomplished.

FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER BROWNPresent Chris with a philosophical concept or a formidable defense on theopposing lacrosse team, and he’ll confront them with equal verve, courage, andsheer delight. Chris fairly revels in the stuff of which his Thacher life’s been madethese four years: no area, it seems, is not deserving of his good humor, can-doapproach, high standards and full-on attention. Blend these qualities with athought-full, agile mind and a effervescently active curiosity and you’ve got astudent valued in any discussion, in any academic area, in any forum. Chris alsounderstands that all this without a sense of the community context—without, inother words, people—is quite empty. That Chris counts so many in the Thachercommunity, from the youngest to the oldest, as part of his circle of friends is atribute to his caring, his inclusiveness, and the personal groundedness thatsomehow makes his arms, already long and strong, even longer in his constantand solicitous reaching out.

ERIC PRESTON BUTTSA photo taken this spring at a track meet shows a tensely muscled sprinter justbefore the crack of the starting gun; hands placed just so, feet in the blocks, he’slooking down the track towards the finish line. The runner is, ironically, Eric, whois a baseball player—but the picture tells much about the person he is: preparedfor the race physically and mentally, a little worried but eager, intensely focusedon what he needs to do to do himself and his team proud. The snapshot remindsus of yet another element in his approach to life: Eric fits in as much as he can inany given day (in addition to the “usual”—that is, homework in five or six classes,quality time with the people he cares so much about, athletic practices—a trip tothe local convalescent home, some piano practice time, a minute with his youngersister). Eric works overtime for personal improvement, even with the knowledgethat his own progress is to a large degree dependent on and intimately boundwith that of teammates, schoolmates, friends—every one of whom holds him inthe highest esteem. And, we might add, affection.

KEVIN EDWARD CAHILLKevin can take all kinds of sow’s ears—a man-down situation in lacrosse or a slowroller in baseball, a physics problem, a stubborn little horse named Tish—andturn them into silk purses. The tools he uses are his honest work ethic, astunningly sharp mind, and a disciplined and resolute approach. Though thewords “inherent mobility, lateral quickness, and intelligence” came from a coach,they could well be applied to the other areas of Kevin’s Thacher life, where Kevintakes full advantage of all the learning possible. Yet to the extent that he isexceptionally conscientious in his classwork and athletic endeavors, he is alsomodest and unassuming about his many successes. As Kevin himself once wrote,“I’ve learned that relationships with anyone, including a horse, are best if they arecentered on mutual respect.” It is clear that what’s on the inside of this boy issomething of which Sherman Day Thacher would be proud.

BLAKE HARRISON CALDWELLBlake is not interested in fanfare or public praise: rather, he aims high out of aninterior mandate for personal evolvement. Even as he’s opted for increasinglymore difficult courses, his trajectory has been outward and upward: focus,preparation, and consistent effort to fulfill his intellectual potential have clearlymarked Blake’s academic life. As well, his passion and dedication have moved himsuccessfully on all kinds of courts and fields—and have inspired others to applytheir own diligence to their desires. Optimistic and enduringly patient, Blake is aleader by both position and example. As his advisor recently wrote, “I only hopethat Blake realizes the positive impact he is having on the lives of those aroundhim.” We would add that in this way, Blake has become a teacher where he wasonce a student. Nothing could make us prouder.

CLARISSA DIANE CALDWELLIt is Clarissa’s great gift that she is, by example and word, an inspiration to others.(Humble and entirely self-effacing, she would also probably be surprised to knowthis.) Her independence and maturity, best demonstrated by her choosing tospend eleventh grade in France last year on the SYA program, combine withpatience and empathy to make her central to the lives of her family and friends—the latter including the equine variety, for which she has a special affinity andtalent. Her coursework bears a particularly personal stamp, as her teachers abroadand at home here attest: in the words of one, it comprises “a unique blend ofscholarship and emotion,” and in those of another, “an especially livelyimagination and a playful intellect.” A wise and deep soul, Clarissa demands muchof herself, and in the bargain, generously invites others to places where theybecome better students and people for her healthy example and influence.

HANNAH MURDOCK CARNEYHannah’s impress at Thacher began with the first kind smile she smiled in ourmidst. And her mark has deepened exponentially to take in any aspect of Thacherlife you could name, from the humanities, science, art, or math classrooms to thelibrary where she volunteers her time and energy, from the concert hall to thesoccer field, from dorm life to dusty trail, from humans to horses. What Hannahunselfconsciously and unselfishly contributes to each of these areas is the stuffthat not merely lasts but actually multiplies, both in the individual and in thecommunity of which she is so integral a part: cultural refinement, ethical strength,a lively intelligence, measured and consistently applied diligence, readycompassion, a gentle humor, and an uplifting, if sometimes sly, wit. Hannah’smoral goodness will serve as our obbligato long after she has lifted her bow fromthe string for the final time in our admiring presence.

LAUREN FERRIS CERREBy force of her quietly intrepid character and sunny personality, Lauren madesmooth and joyful a transition to Thacher that could have been downright hardlast year. In fact, it took no time for certain elements of community life here to beassociated expressly with her: the Special Olympics centered in Oxnard, thesoccer midfield, the concept of Zero Waste, the St. Joseph’s dining room. As theseactivities suggest, Lauren is honestly invested in the concept and experience ofcollaboration and cooperation for the betterment of all: instilled in Lauren is apowerful appreciation of other cultures and a heart-felt empathy for those lessfortunate. Economist Joe Dominguez wrote, “To be frugal means to have a highjoy-to-stuff ratio. If you get one unit of joy for each material possession, that’sfrugal.” Thus does Lauren embody, through her resolute, principled action, bothfrugality and generosity. Six economical words to end: too late arrived; too soongone.

CLAIRE HONORÉ CICHYEquipoise and grace: these are perhaps the most visible qualities in Claire’s firmpossession. They inform her personal style and reflect her belief that by attendingcarefully, deliberately to each facet of her life, she thereby polishes the whole andmakes of it a brilliant representation of who she is. In her classes, Claire impresseswith her uncompromising work ethic and the thoughtfulness of her verbal andwritten inquiry. Equally valued are her skill and determination as an athlete(especially on the soccer team), and her inclusive and supportive approach tostudents of all ages, whatever the venue. As one teacher said, “Claire is wonderfulcompany on any hike.” Amplify that word “hike” to the metaphoric, and you’llunderstand that on this four-year trek called Thacher, Claire has been animportant and greatly appreciated compadre, by force of her most estimablecharacter.

LOGAN ELIZABETH CLARKIn Logan are intertwined some charming oppositional impulses: the placid andthe excitable; the respectful and the irreverent; the serious and the goofy. She canuse her exquisite soprano voice to serenade Ojai’s senior citizens with tunes fromtheir youth—or, as part of her indefatigable Indoor Committee work, to give theThacher Assembly a new spin on “Domine.” She also engages inherent dualitieswhen it comes to the many academic, athletic, or artistic tasks of her life: a trustedintuition combines with a strong analytical impulse; flights of fancy link withfactual groundedness. Flight and ground mix again when Logan takes to the trackor cross-country course: there, she breaks records without the slightest hint ofpride. Highly sensitive to the needs of others, grateful for the opportunities shehas, hugely contributive, Logan cares genuinely about this local world and thatbeyond our immediate view. She has been a beacon whose light, though not longin our midst, has nonetheless reached far.

CANYON CODYWhen Canyon leaps down the steps from the Senior Lawn to speak at Assembly,the crowd parts happily—and is never quite sure what’s up: An imminent dunkingcontest in the gym? Some showdown between the Current Events Club and the SirWinston Churchill Debating Society in Room 14 tonight? Something going on inthe election we should know about? Canyon’s passions and curiosity know nobounds, it seems—and thank goodness, neither does his energy. Resourceful,eager, wide-eyed, funny, and fun-loving, Canyon is always poised to carpe diem—forthat matter, to carpe any idea, activity, endeavor that he views as worthwhile. Histrademark zeal is matched by an incisive intellect and a dedication to his chosenendeavors: around a seminar table or a campfire, or on a full-court press, Canyonis more fully present in the moment than most of us will ever be. What’s up?Just…everything.

MATTHEW JOSEPH COHENFair. Perceptive. Loyal. Refreshing. A list of words to describe Matt would starthere and then trail off because the more you think about him, the moreimpossible it gets to use only adjectives. This is because Matt is all about action:from his trademark hustle on the baseball field to his choice of academicprogram, Matt does not mess with Mr. In-Between: he says what needs to be said,does what needs doing, without fanfare or self-promotion. He also sets animportant example of balance: Matt knows that time on the field, at the diningroom table, in Los Padres, is valuable, personally meaningful. That he is atalented mediator demonstrates the critical application of this impulse tomaintain healthy perspective. As Roy Campanella said about Matt’s favorite sport,“To be good, you’ve gotta have a lot of little boy in you.” We value the maturitythat’s grown in Matt these years he’s been with us—but we also urge him never tolose the boy who keeps it all fun.

KERRY BAKER CONNOLLYIt was Kerry’s strong sense of independence and individual direction thatpropelled her from east coast to west four years ago. Always, in fact, Kerry knowsexactly where she wants to go, and with an iron will (and a great sense of irony),pursues her goals to their logical ends. Kerry never shirks from the tough issues,historical or current, global or local; and, blessed with the skills of a goodraconteur and debater, she enthusiastically grapples with them. Though she’s notalways satisfied with the conclusion reached in a debate or discussion, sheunderstands that such answers are merely way-stations on the road to the fullestunderstanding possible; she comprehends at a fundamental level that most bigquestions have moving targets for answers. Lively, thoughtful, and well-informed,Kerry affirms the belief of essayist George Santayana: “Intelligence is quickness inseeing things as they are.”

EMILY ALISON DACHSEmily moves with uncommon ease among all the constituencies, all the extendedfamily members of Thacher. She reaches to others out of a genuine interest inwhat they think or feel, and she communicates her own opinions and ideaseloquently and forcefully. Energetic in analysis, eager to tackle a plate piled highwith courses, athletics, and community responsibilities, Emily has been aneffective leader both in front of and behind the scenes. Of her importancearound the discussion table, there is no doubt: “She was absolutely invaluable toour class,” remarked one of her teachers. Gutsy and devoted, especially as a soccerplayer, Emily will be remembered by many with an image from what was the gameof her life thus far: frozen in a moment of “diving, horizontal, in the highlight-reelrescue of a blistering shot on goal.” In fact, unembarrassed about her belief inwhat Thacher stands for, Emily, has, in many ways and often unobserved, been agoal-keeper—in fact, a vision-keeper—for this school’s values.

TARA EMILY DESJARDINSTara knows intuitively what is important in her life: sharing her gifts and goodnesswith others, caring for those hard-pressed to care for themselves, realizing herown significant potential so that she can give more back—and her daily activitiesbear testament to these priorities. No-nonsense and supremely self-sufficient, Taraorganizes and then participates in community service projects often three timesweekly, galvanizing others to help, as well, and even brilliantly conceiving of a planto bring some elderly guests to Thacher for occasional meals. Tara’s empathy forothers matches her efficiency, the latter of which comes to bear dramatically inher academic life. And hers is a full life that she manages executively andproficiently. An insightful and very talented visual artist, Tara achieves in thestudio what, in a very real way, she does everywhere else in her life here: to ourlasting benefit, she brings the invisible into the light.

ANDREW MICHAEL DeYOUNGWhen Andrew arrived at Thacher three years ago, a transformation began to takeplace: away from Chicago and no longer the littlest brother of four, he became,even without kissing any toads, our confident and way-beyond-competent Prince.An admirable work ethic powers his study, and natural curiosity drives him to takeideas outside the classroom for pondering and discussion; furthermore, Prince’shumility allows him to accept guidance and suggestion with grace and to put themto beneficial use. Though he is an intense competitor when he’s at the net, Princeknows well how to lighten up: his wry humor and ability to connect with youngkids, his peers, and adults make him a treasured member of this community.When Princey said recently in Assembly, “I know you’ll find it hard to believe thatthis is my last sports announcement…” we all laughed and nodded, knowing thatcertain royal footwear is, indeed, hard to fill.

ROBERT DOUGLAS DICKSONTo see Rob on the cross-country trail or track is to witness a remarkable ability toput a team’s gain above one’s own pain. When called upon to dig deep and comeup with the resolve to see the race through, Rob is always there. (He has also doneso far afield from Thacher—for example, on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.)He is actively participatory, too, when a play or other performance needs staging,lights, and sound: in this arena, Rob is both highly knowledgeable and devoted tothe art. Mechanically gifted, he can build or fix almost anything—which, with hisphysical strength, skill, and knowledge of the outdoors, makes him an estimableand at times invaluable companion on a camping trip, especially one that getsinto any sort of difficulty. Blessed with an incisive and analytical mind and avoracious hunger for reading widely, Rob especially engages with all thingshistorical, seeing compelling links and making leaps with a mental agility werespect and admire.

MICHAEL RENAN DISNERThe moral fiber in Mike Disner is dense, even infrangible, and it supports andinforms his every action. Both seen and unwitnessed, he acts from an innate senseof rightness that, when combined with a deeply felt appreciation for what othersbring to the table, makes him a model of goodness not merely for youngerstudents but for peers and adults, as well. But don’t be mistaken: though Mike canbe dead-on serious, responsibly mature, acutely focused in his studies, his belovedbaseball and his acting, he also revels in the sort of boy-fun that winds him up inthe middle of Lower School pig-piles or in foggy pastures at 2 a.m. playingCapture the Flag. His yen for adventure of all kinds, intellectual, spiritual, athletic,keeps him moving—out in what some call the real world and here, in the closecommunity of Thacher. By his very presence, Mike makes our world, without adoubt, the real one.

BONAWYN CHAUNCEY EISONWhile Bonawyn might argue that he’s been blessed with unusual opportunities, wewould assert that opportunity has simply been the by-product of what makes himunique. In this experience of Thacher, Bonawyn has invested tirelessly, on everylevel, at every turn, accomplishing not only much personally, but providingimportant benchmarks for others. Provocative and engaged with his coursework,Bonawyn has always sought to understand from the inside out; his doing soprompts the deeper comprehension by others around him. On the athletic fieldsand track, he is as tough mentally as he is physically. But Bonawyn effortlesslytrades toughness for compassion when he’s in the company of classmates andschoolmates: his charisma goes deeper than mere charm to qualities far moreelemental. Blessed, you say, Bonawyn? It is we who have had that boon these fastfour years.

TERESA JOANNE ENRIGHTEven the wilderness survival training she’d had before she got to Thacher didn’tprepare Tessa for her first day here as a new junior: “Scary does not even begin tocover it,” she recalls, shivering slightly. Seeing Tessa go sprightly from one class toanother, watching her hop in the van to head to Acacias and St. Joseph’s to singfor the elderly every week, or cheerfully join the discussion fray in English orpolitical philosophy, or splash into the ocean with her kayak, or curl fingers andtoes around the nubs of a boulder—well, it’s hard to remember what she had togive up to come here and to believe that the transition was ever difficult for her.In two very short years, the amiable, funny, and dedicated Tessa has woven herselfinextricably into the fabric of her class. She has shown us all, incontrovertibly andsparklingly, what it means to meet challenges with courage, resiliency, and gusto.

HEATHER JOY FERGUSONHeather ‘s teachers often remark that they learn from her. This arises in part fromHeather’s independence of thought, her singularly creative take on the ideas thatswirl around her in a wide variety of disciplines; it comes, too, from Heather’sexpression, which is forceful and clear. The hustle that infuses Heather’sacademic life characterizes her other activities: depending on the season, shemoves energetically from yearbook to singing to riding to Indoor Committeemeetings to soccer. And in this last lies perhaps Heather’s finest personal quality:her steely-eyed refusal to be bowed by even repeated and serious injury. Just as shehas taken the reins of her education firmly into her own hands, so has shedetermined—with unusual bravery—to own her life, even when the path isdecidedly boulder-strewn and all uphill. We admire her endurance and thestrength of soul that provides for it.

CARINA ANN FISHERCarina embraces paradox. A ranch girl whose urbanity enables her to movecomfortably through many settings, she is incontrovertibly her own person, onewho is willing to be uncomfortable as she seeks what is true. Drawn to the ironic,yet rooted in a caring optimism, she speaks her mind and lives by her loyalties inways that have made an indelible impression on her friends and classmates.Directly and thoughtfully, Carina has shown us what not to take for granted; byapplying herself to her coursework, to her ceramics, and to the campingprogram—especially kayaking—she has demonstrated commitment and won herown growth. When her journey presents her with rapids, either real ormetaphoric, she gracefully and gratefully learns the lessons offered by theterrain—when to hold on, when to let go, and at last, who to become.

MEREDITH MACRAE FLANNERYMeredith would have to get out a dictionary to find out what the word “limits”means. Limits just do not exist in her worldview. To her, the boundaries some puton definitions of, say, “teacher” and “student” make no sense: we can all learnfrom each other, she’d argue. Furthermore, no academic subject is off-limits: ifMeredith is intrigued by a course offering, she signs up for it. And her pursuit ofknowledge is never less than exacting and exhaustive. That personalexpansiveness extends in Meredith to her tennis, soccer, and lacrosse, where,championship titles or not, she simply loves the physicality, the competition, thecamaraderie: equally, they make her heart race, her smile broaden. By virtue ofher multitudinous gifts, Meredith raises the bar for the rest of us—but doesn’tmind a bit if, after she jumps it, we sneak underneath. For her, it’s all just part oflife; and life is good.

PETER WILSON FRYKMANThe Mountain Biking Club, the Tea Club, the Thacher Film Society, the FlyFishing Club. Spain, China, Costa Rica, Tibet, Portugal, Haiti, the British Isles.There may be four clubs currently lacking a president and several foreign localeswondering what hit them, but there’s only one word to describe Peter:omnivorous. Peter’s appetite for knowledge is gargantuan, and, though he addstangible value to discussions right here at desks and around seminar tables, thetruth is that classroom walls can hold him only so long. Then, self-confident andbold, he’s busting out, seeking in lands abroad, on mountain trails, in fast-flowingrivers, those people and experiences that will answer some of his persistentquestions. Peter’s antennae quiver constantly, picking up on the latest currentevent or New York Times editorial, an event on campus or one half-way ’round theworld. That he’s been so tuned in at Thacher is to our great delight and enduringappreciation.

MAXWELL ANDREW GREENEWhether or not he’s ever read Ray Bradbury, Max has taken to heart a directiveattributed to that author: “Be the only you that’s truly you on earth.” ImitatingDarth Vader to advertise an Indoor Committee event, cutting loose on his guitar,holding forth on Leda and the Swan or on atherosclerosis, doing investigativereporting in Ojai on “updog” (you’ll have to ask Max what that is), urging on hisactors as he films another scene for one of his indies, Max is entirely Max. And heis green—by which we mean he is all growth and creativity and fecundity andhope that that color represents. Gregarious, witty, captivating, Max often uses hisspecial magnetism for the good of this community and for causes beyond: amongother things, he’s been innovative with creating more variety in school socialevents, he’s served the elderly meals at homes in Ojai, and he’s raised awarenessmoney for furthering AIDS research. In all this, Max uses materials that will last—good humor, kindness, integrity—to build enduring and important bridgesbetween people.

EDWARD BROOME GRETHERThe approach that Ted brings to his classes, to tennis, to his music, and to theother areas of Thacher in which he is counted on as a leader rests on afoundation of four essential qualities: dependability, determination, dedication,and delight. Though the last may be understated in Ted, it is quietly present inhim; the others speak vociferously in his visible daily actions. The monikeraffectionately given him by his tennis coach—“Mr. Consistency”—works for Tedacross the board and makes of him a valuable secret weapon on the court, in thedormitory, or in an especially squirrely lab in Environmental Science. Connectedto the land and the ocean by virtue of his upbringing, Ted is both wonderfullywell-grounded in the principles that guide him and, with four years of Thacherunder his belt, ready to sail. Like Ulysses, he will, we expect, “roam with a hungryheart…beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” We wish him safe voyage.

ESTHER GUZMANA moment in this winter’s musical, Babes in Arms, captures well how most of us inEsther’s thrall feel: she sits on a stool—the older, wiser, heart-too-big BunnyByron—among the kids at her feet; they are looking to her for guidance in themiddle of this mess they’ve created. So she sings a story to them: and no onewants that song (or any other one Esther’s singing) to end. Ever since her debutin the Thacher-Cate Coffee House three years ago (in which Esther won for us theTony Dunn and the League Championship, solo), it’s been like this. But there’smore to Esther, of course: her intellectual power and ability to cope increasinglysuccessfully with the academic rigor here; her unfailing kindness towards a host ofyounger students whom she genuinely calls “friend;” the personal integrity thatforms her unshakable core. Still, we come back to that flawless voice, an amazinggrace—and the discipline it takes to make it great, the courage it takes to use it sooften. And we know, when Esther sings, how it’s going to be in heaven.

ERIN THOMAS HAFKENSCHIELErin is as sunny as they come. And like the sun, she warms, she promotes growth,she gives hope and always—always—brings cheer to those under her salutaryinfluence, whatever their age, whatever their position. But this is no Erin-go-lightly—at least that’s not all she is: Erin loads herself up with the mostdemanding courses she can; she confronts complex dance routines and dauntingopponents on the soccer or lacrosse field with gumption and arduously-honedtechnique; she thinks long and deeply about religion, race, gender—all the bigand worthy issues; a true egalitarian, she stands fearless, stalwart, and tall for rightaction. It is said that words move, but examples draw. The example Erin has set,without expectation of recompense or recognition, has certainly brought many toher, for their own betterment. The ripples surely extend: for by elevating others,Erin has, in small ways and large, raised the level of goodness in this little city on ahill.

MICHAEL LIGHTFOOT HAMMERMike’s way of being in the world is both highly active and unusually reflective:while his questions, widely ranging in topic, never stop, Mike himself does, at leastmomentarily—to listen to the answers, to observe the results. On the coast ofMaine or right here in the Los Padres, Mike expresses an uncanny ability toabsorb what is around him—trigonometric rules, an aviary-bound bird or one infree flight, Spanish grammar, a decaying orange in the compost he’s just turned,the strings of a banjo as they’re plucked—and make sometimes miraculous linksamong them. In this way, Mike is undeniably a poet: a sense of the metaphoric iselemental in him. Thoreau, who, like Mike, often saw the world in terms of “as if,”advocated that one ought to “[s]implify the problem of life, distinguish thenecessary and the real. Probe the earth and see where your main roots run.” Mikehas done just this. That some of those main roots connect him to Thacher is ablessing for us.

KATHERINE ANNE HARMONThere is in Katie a certain courtliness and an arresting duality: a manner, abearing, that somehow embodies both stasis and movement, that suggests bothconsciousness and freedom from thought. In fact, Katie is one of those peoplewho, despite significant artistic, kinesthetic, and literary gifts, keeps everything inits proper place, casting serenity over it all. Original and astute, she can peer intoa text—English or French—and see what others cannot, then bring it to thesurface to share and to engage others’ opinions. In her dance—ballet, modern,jazz—and in her creative writing, Katie achieves that often elusive impression ofeffortlessness, even as she invests arduously in the training and practice thatprecedes a performance or the final version of a poem. It is an elegant, studiedmagic in which she trusts—and by which we are enriched and brought to a higherawareness and appreciation.

LAUREL HADLEY HASTINGSWhen we think of Laurel, we cannot help but picture her as she was in one of herfinest moments: during her Senior Exhibition, kimono-bedecked and aglow inboth the beauty of rustling silk and the assurance that she has learned muchabout the women who have worn the same dress. Laurel knows how to root outthe important details, whether they are woven in cloth or embedded in a piece ofliterature, or art or a slice of history; she is adept at both analysis and synthesis. Ofher part in their classes, her teachers have written of her “energetic and upbeatclassroom presence” and of her “positive influence on classroom dynamics.” Thatuplifting spirit finds its way into hearts beyond Thacher, as well, most often andconsistently to the elderly at St. Joe’s and Acacias. Combine spirit with speed on asoccer midfield, and you’ve got a critical member of a varsity squad. In short,Laurel inspires with her gracefulness in both thoughtful repose and in dynamicaction. We are grateful for that example.

ADELAIDE APPERSON HEARSTLooking for Addie? Glance up, way up: see that sheer-faced rock? See that spiderylooking object on the side? That’s Addie, moving skyward, inch by inch, finger-hold by tenuous toe-hold. Careful and calculating, Addie has come to know themedium and to understand her relationship with it, not as its conqueror but as itstranslator to those who will never scale the heights she does. This is equally true ofthe other aspects of Addie’s life: even as she pushes intellectual, physical, andspiritual limits, she seeks and establishes a remarkable balance : between hardwork and robust fun, between smiling inside and outright guffawing, betweenrespect and irreverence, between generosity to the large community of Thacherand unselfishness to her circle of close friends, between thought and action. Letthe ascent be tough, be arduous, be long: Addie is game and more than up to thechallenge.

ROBERT EMMETT HOPKINSEven forgetting the fact that Emmett is our Plant and Planet steward, we must(with a nod to the poet Andrew Marvell who turned noun to adjective) call hisabilities vegetable. They are many, various, and do they grow and perpetuate! Withhis prodigious intellect and a hunger to know more, Emmett has taken everydiscipline to mind and heart, seeking challenge at every turn and responding withastounding fluency and precision. He is tireless in his application, expressive inhis writing, astute in his problem-solving. But he does so modestly, unobtrusively;he supports and helps his classmates with generosity and genuine interest in theirsharing the table with him. Emmett is also the first to roll up his sleeves—to shovelcompost, to memorize his lines and practice his drawl, to repeat that particularshot in basketball until it’s perfect, to get the Lower School and its youngdenizens into shape for formal inspection. Unpretentious, genuine to the marrow,Emmett has made this Thacher soil rich.

DELORIA DAWN LANE MANY GREY HORSESThe initial road to Casa de Piedra may have been many miles long, but Dee hascompleted the odyssey of Thacher with characteristic courage and tenacity. Shehas applied her common sense and good mind to the academic tasks before her;and to the cross-country and track teams, she has dedicated her natural speed andinnate leadership, inspiring teammates and even opponents; to personalrelationships, to the Thacher family, and to established friends in Ojai’s homelesscommunity-at-large, she has brought an encompassing heart and a refreshingopen-mindedness. In her vision for the future, Dee is far-sighted: with hoperooted in what she herself has accomplished and what she has seen others do, shelooks confidently towards what is possible. It makes perfect sense, then, that hername means Daybreak Morning Star. Like the star that announces the sun’s arrival,Dee is infused with optimism and with a light uniquely hers.

ERIN KATE JOHNSONGive Erin a complex calculus problem, a formidable opponent on a soccer field, abook on chaos theory, a Saturday night to plan for the School—and watch as shefurrows her brow for a second, then smiles and nods thoughtfully, then rips intothe challenge, emerging with success fast in her hand. But it’s not success shekeeps for solely herself; in fact, Erin sees her gifts—powerhouse physicality, speedof mind and body, acute determination—as best when they’re shared, and shespreads the wealth with humility, warmth, and good humor. (Even without anylines, she is fall-off-your-chair funny in a skit.) Coming to Thacher as a juniordemands emotional flexibility and a willingness to jump in: Erin has done this,not both feet first, but by taking a flying dive into sports and classes, into thecampus social whirl, into now-fast friendships, smiling unaffectedly all the while.That soaring out and then down—and the splash that follows—is what we willremember most vividly about Erin.

BRIAN JOHN KELLYTrying to keep up with Brian as his mind whizzes along, taking hair-pin turns,making quick reverses, and even occasionally jumping ditches, is simultaneouslyexhilarating and daunting. Mostly, we just say, “Take us along!” and get ready foran adrenaline rush—because Brian does take us, on roads in virtually everyacademic discipline. While his nimble mind asks always for more challenges (thebigger, the better), Brian is no lone ranger: his intellectual magnetism andgenuine analytical passion draw other students into his circle of inquiry. Initiativeand responsibility are the hallmarks of Brian’s contributions; his generosity isquiet and often unseen, but very present as an aspect of who Brian is at his center.Perhaps most important to us is this: Brian has matched the value of honor that isat the core of this school and community with his own deeply-rooted sense ofpersonal integrity.

TIMOTHY JERRY LANGERThat TJ appears so low-key but is actually intense—even at times blazing—is partof his mystique, his charm, and his effectiveness. In the crunch—say, a criticalrelay in track, a decisive offensive play in a soccer game, an exam in AP Chemistryor Statistics—TJ is mega-focused, burning white-hot with the intellectual orphysical speed, strength, and energy he knows well how to channel for optimalsuccess. Yet in other moments, the level-headed TJ is perfectly relaxed, a witty andclever companion in a conversation, a devoted friend who’s right there somehoweven before you need him. What TJ cares about he invests in passionately: keepingthe lacrosse goal clear of the opposition, performing well in his classes, remainingloyal and steadfast to his good buddies of four years. Our King of the UnProm, hewears the crown with good-naturedness and élan.

GRACE LOGSDONThe campus is still and quiet. Then, from somewhere, a laugh rents the air. It isunaffected, completely genuine, entirely encompassing of everything in its circle.It is…Grace. Grace finds humor and delight in many situations because she is soattuned, so alive; she understands beauty and irony both as artistic, literary,mathematical, and scientific concepts and as ideas that express themselves in dailyactivities. And there is no one who more willingly, lovingly embraces you for whoyou are, no holds barred. It’s no wonder that community service of all kinds hasbeen a foundational element of Grace’s life. But laughing and love aren’t all:Grace has discovered her passion in an academic and experiential area—the seaand its inhabitants—and she has melded seriousness and insight with shoulder-to-the-wheel diligence to become increasingly a scholar in the field and a dedicatedenvironmentalist. Grace’s appreciation for the nobility of every individual, everyspecies, endears her to us all; and her laughter refreshes us daily, exploding likewater glinting in sunlight. We will miss it—and her.

TYLER BOYD MANSONTyler was, we’ve heard, simply born with the affable nature we witness daily in him.Whether he’s taking part in data-collection for a science lab, lounging on the lawnwith friends, or tossing his little sister upside down on his shoulder, Tyler is easy-going and amiable. Part of this is Tyler’s essentially open-minded approach topeople; in his happy presence, you feel, simply, accepted. Yet coexistent with thesequalities is a vibrant kinestheticism: on a skateboard ramp built with his ownhands, on a lacrosse or soccer field, on a cresting wave, Tyler coils and uncoilswith velocity, brawn, and —for his size—a surprising sort of balletic ease. Thoughthe catechism of Tyler’s life is primarily physical and athletic, he also engages athoughtful mind and increasing expressiveness when involved in personal writingand political philosophy debate. Above all, Tyler is comfortably who he is; and hiswinning talent is in allowing others to be who they are, without criticism orjudgment.

GAVIN TODD ALEXANDER McCLINTOCK“The sea comes in like nothing but the sea,” begins a poem by Glyn Maxwell. Andso it is with Gavin. Uniquely and unselfconsciously himself, he moves through theevents that fill his days joyfully, responsibly, grinningly, his briefcase swinging at hisside, his skateboard tucked under his arm, his hands white with climbing chalk.Gavin takes on academic risks and physical ones with equal relish, and he ismethodical and complete in his work even as he flashes with connections:between, say, the concept of torque in physics and as applied to a particularsurfboard, or between a fictional depiction of World War II and the bona fidehistory informing it. Connections are critical, too, in Gavin’s personal life: familyand friends, younger students and faculty children (who are all glee under hisattention)—all are beneficiaries of Gavin’s generous and nourishing outreach. Inworlds of people and ideas, mountains and oceans, Gavin is happy and supremelyat ease.

CYRUS TACHOLE MENENDEZ-BADERWhat Cyrus does each winter sports season is symbolic of his finest qualities: as thevarsity lacrosse team’s face-off man, he must be intensely focused, physically andmentally poised, determined and uncompromisingly tough. His coach calls himan “arrive early-stay late” kind of athlete—an approach Cyrus has used to achievein other areas: although he’s humble about it, Cyrus is adept at cello, viola, bass,violin, and guitar. Lacrosse sticks and stringed instruments are one thing—buthuman connections are also critical to Cyrus, and he has established lasting andloving relationships with Thacher friends and with others: his Italian host family(through the Experiment in International Living) and residents at two localsenior homes. It is to Cyrus’s great credit that at the top of his “life’s goals” list isthis: “to help others accomplish theirs.”

LILY ANNA MITCHEMWhile some new sophomores might stumble a bit in joining a class alreadyestablished, Lily hit the ground…well, dancing when she arrived. Yet while her skilland talent have moved her as a dancer, singer, and actor across our stage andothers with remarkable beauty these three years, it is another element that evincesour admiration and appreciation: it is the attitude of willingness and purepleasure that Lily brings to the task. Developing a character, working as anensemble player, accepting direction with grace and eagerness, she simply lovesthe art of it all. Lily’s enthusiasms also include any good classroom discussion,where she flourishes in the process of debate and discovery. She also invests hersignificant energies in community issues—both on this campus and in the city ofOjai, where she has selflessly worked with the Ojai Youth Foundation. Civic-minded, Lily is also civic-hearted: both inform her actions and earn our lastingrespect and affection.

CAITLIN PATRICIA OLSON-MULHOLLANDIn her daily rituals, Caitlin breathes life and concreteness into the abstract valueswe sing about in The Banquet Song: “honor, fairness, kindness, and truth.” Eachquality finds expression in a gesture, many unconsciously motivated: a literaryanalysis entirely her own from start to finish; a Community Council meeting runwith focused attention to each speaker and with genuine respect toward his or herviews; quiet help with a freshman’s saddling up a horse too tall for him to reach;returning to a calculus problem or a historical moment as many times as it takesto understand it thoroughly, organically. What stamps Caitlin’s uniqueness is hercomplete and unaffected appreciation of all that Thacher has offered, even as shehas given back so continuously and so liberally: she has wrapped her arms aroundit—and us—in an embrace whose imprint will last well beyond her leaving.

JOHN WESCOTT MYERS IIGallant and gutsy, serious when he needs to be and fun-loving the rest of the time,Wes is happiest when he’s in the middle of some adventure—riding a wave orriding hell-bent-for-leather through a gymkhana event, landing his plane on ashort runway or himself on high-jump foam behind Upper School, soaring off aspeed-bump on his little rag-tag banana-seat pink bike. Sure, he loves numbersand formulas and equations—but the concepts of mathematics, physics,chemistry, and statistics are, for Wes, really just good reasons to get in gear and doit. Herein lies Wes’s forceful magnetism: merely think about this young man, andyou start to feel the wind in your face, the little hairs on the back of your neck rise.Physical strength and speed are also part of what makes Wes the powerhouse he is.The words of a film critic about a contemporary actor might well have beenpenned for Wes: “Just airborne and free and maybe a little crazy…he’s a show-offwithout vanity.” Now that’s some high-flight trick.

SMITHA MANDHA REDDYSmitha provides the sort of model behavior and spirit that quietly moves in alldirections: downward in ages to younger students, across to peers, over to adults.For if you observe Smitha as carefully as she does the world around her, you seeincarnate certain qualities that make a community like this a better place to workand play for everyone: unqualified respect for others, compassion for theunderdog, seriousness of academic and human purpose, reverence for theSchool’s cornerstone virtues of truth and honor, kindness and fairness. This allmakes Smitha sound very solemn. In fact, though she is undeniably self-possessed,she mixes into all her activities and pursuits an appreciation for humor and plainold good fun. Smitha loves the journey as much as any arrival, and she takesgenuine pleasure in making the trip with others whose growth and happiness sheherself positively and unconsciously promotes.

ERICA ALEXIS DAVIDSON REYNOLDSErica may be the bewreathed fairy-wand conductor of the Middle School chorus,but trust us when we say there is nothing middling about this young woman. Whatshe does she does thoroughly and well and with a memorable joie de vivre. Ericaseeks out risks and adventures, from those found in AP classes in several subjectareas to those represented by a rigorous, year-long study-abroad program. Andshe meets them with self-possession, maturity, and a winning, if paradoxical,combination of equanimity and unbridled enthusiasm. Erica is known andesteemed for her depth of insight and ability to push a classroom discussion intouncharted territory; her unaffected curiosity quite simply elevates both her owninquiry and that of her classmates. Erica’s delight in life finds perhaps its mosttelling expression when it comes out in song—and when that song raises thespirits of members of Ojai’s senior community. They—and we—are grateful forthat delight’s having found so uplifting a voice.

ELIZABETH VIRGINIA SANSEAUWhen we talk about heart, we think reflexively of Elizabeth. A combination of thenurturing, the steadfast, the dedicated, the loving, it is what she brings to herpersonal relationships with family, peers, and faculty, to every tennis, soccer, orlacrosse practice and game, to her demanding and many classes, to her severalcrucial leadership roles. But that’s not all: Elizabeth also contributes physical andintellectual talent, an everything-in-its-place sense of order and organization, athoroughness and efficiency that is both the key to her success and, let’s face it,the envy of many. That she does all this with a perpetual broad smile tells us thatElizabeth has, by nature and experience, gained that place where proportion anddelight, earthbound stability and flashing radiance hold equal sway. It is a placeboth beautiful and rare.

KEVIN ROBERT SCHMIDTHe tinkers, he debates, he mulls, he fine-tunes: Kevin is never more content or athome than when there’s some sort of puzzle on the table in front of him.Engaging his highly mathematical mind and often brilliant powers of analysis,Kevin has at it, and often emerges mere seconds later with his original version of“Eureka!” Kevin packs those skills of observation and problem-solving into hisbackpack, as well as his long-nurtured and loving bond with the outdoors, whenhe heads to the wilderness; there, he has often been like an adjunct facultymember, his expertise and leadership matching his energy and passion forcamping. But Kevin’s area of greatest influence and generosity has been, by far,that of the technical theater: Kevin’s contributions to lectures, concerts, dances,and staged radio shows have come several times weekly, as he’s mixed sound andlight to often splendiferous artistic effect. When people exclaim after Thacherperformances, “What a show!” we know just who’s behind that curtain making itall happen.

NICOLE ROSE SILVERMANNikki is an alchemist: what she touches she transmutes. Words, floating loose,combine under her influence to make, say, literary or historical analysis ofstunning precision and depth—or to make powerfully compelling poetry. Issuessuch as racism and injustice, priorly muddy or inchoate, become clarified in hergaze, and in her translation, gain inestimable persuasive power. People, hurt oranxious or confused, heal and become clearer-sighted in her care andnurturance. But do not presume effortlessness. In fact, like every good magician,Nikki brings to bear on her art qualities of meticulousness and diligence, knowingthat to be fully realized, gifts must be activated by patience and practice. A literarycritic commenting recently on the twentieth-century poet James Merrill wrote,“his work persists in making pain yield gracefully either to solace or to insight.” Soit is with Nikki, but more: she invites others into the goodness and humanity thatawaits on the other side.

JAMAL SCOTT THORNESIt was Jay’s desire for more—in particular, more rigorous academic challenge andthe chance to develop the skills of independent living—that brought him toThacher three years ago, and it is a hunger that has moved him to greater andgreater achievement during his time in this extended family. Strong powers ofobservation combine in Jay with a fine mind and a deeply held personal pride tomake of him an increasingly successful student. And his physical gifts—speed,resilience, grace—ally with unshakable persistence to create in him acommanding and highly respected basketball, soccer, and baseball player.Through his own heart-and-soul play and serious approach to the game, Jayelicits the best in others. Jump-shots or leaps of faith—Jay takes them all eagerly,knowing that you can’t win if you don’t try. We admire Jay’s backbone andhis spirit.

ANTHEA NOEL TJUANAKISFor people like Anthea was created the phrase “take no prisoners.” What she seesas worthy she pursues: an understanding of Faulkner or of a physics concept, aLeague championship in lacrosse or soccer, the best possible expression of amood or person or place in her studio art work. Mind-bogglingly energetic inboth thought and action, Anthea sees the world kaleidoscopically: she looks at thewhole of something or someone, then sees the parts, appreciates each one forwhat it is individually and as an elemental part of the larger piece. In this way, sheis both scientific and artistic, analytical and expressive. Always and forever, Antheawill be our Rosalind from As You Like It: funny, evolving, witty, dazzlingly bright,dynamic, dissatisfied with the status quo, even a little edgy—and, through all of it,capable of moving everyone to a higher plane of existence.

JONATHAN MOSS TUCKERStepping boldly off the edge of the world (“anyplace west of 495,” for those NewEnglanders out there), Tucker came to Thacher three years ago ready to take thevalues and practices of this community in an unembarrassed, full-on bear-hug.Immediately, Jonathan’s talents and special gifts were manifest: his provocativeand innovative view of characters in fiction and in life; his incisive intellect andzest for inquiry of almost anything and everything; his discernment and capacityfor making historical and literary connections; his sense of the team or groupeffort and his part in it; his ceaseless generosity in the form of sharing open-mindedly and open-heartedly his ideas and opinions, Krispy Kremes, a copy of abook he’s just devoured, or time just to talk. What’s best is this: Jonathan isunabashed in his appreciation of the life he feels lucky to lead; he takes none of itfor granted.

MEREDITH ARDEN WALKERIn her two, too-quick years with us, the name “Meredith Walker” has come to besynonymous with invention, with originality, with independence, with the stage,small or large, indoors or out. Meredith’s ever-attentive receptivity, as well as herhoned ear and keen eye, grant her access to worlds some of us only dream of. Buther real genius lies in the fact that she can take the textures, sounds, smells, andpeople of those worlds, translate them through poetry, prose, music, or acting,and thereby bring us into closer contact with otherwise unimaginable riches. Asastonishing as Meredith’s artistic range is, it is equaled by other potent anddefining qualities that mark her as a person and as a student: heruncompromising dedication to excellence in all that she takes on, hercommitment to at-risk children in her work beyond Thacher, her devotion tomaking the days of an elderly woman or man brighter. No, Meredith would say,not brighter, exactly. Rather, try luminescent or incandescent. You see? Her voice hasinfused us totally.

EMMA LLOYD WHITE“Original”—that’s the word you’ll hear repeated like a mantra if you talk toEmma’s teachers about her work as a student. It’s as though, even whilesauntering straight ahead, Emma is more able than most to see the world in all itsbeauty and complexity from myriad and many angles: from below, above, back,front, sideways. And here’s her special magic: through her creative and analyticalwriting, in her applications and interpretations in so many subject areas, Emmahelps us as well to see it anew, more completely. Her abilities run broad and deep,across the disciplines, and so does her pervasive esprit. The creative process—inwriting, in performing, in photography and drawing—may be arduous, but it isone with which Emma engages honestly, directly, and passionately. The twinkle inthis girl’s eye is actually the harbinger of a sparkling and ebullient Emma-muse.

MATTHEW KESTRAL WILSON“The winds and waves,” wrote eighteenth century historian Edward Gibbon, “arealways on the side of the ablest navigators.” And in Matty, we witness a fullexpression of such a marriage of talent, skill, focus, and the support of nature.Hands, heart, and head form a union in him that is often amazing to thosestanding by: as we listen to his expressive interpretation of Liszt’s piano literature,or as we try to keep our eye on the blazing ball he’s pitched across home plate, oras we witness his successfully driving a calculus problem to its logical conclusion,we are often slack-jawed in admiration. Involved in his own learning, pushing hisown limits, Matty balances his pursuit of individual goals with a rare sense ofdedication to the larger good. We trust, in sending him off today on his nextjourney, that fair winds will follow him—and that the waves coming toward hisboat will be nothing compared to the wake behind him that he alone will create.

LEE EMERSON WITTLINGERLee is often received by those in his wide circle of influence with awe, pure andsimple: his instructors and peers in virtually all his subjects stand amazed at thefacility with which he can solve a problem or convey his understanding of acomplex idea. This lightening-quick mind, as well as intellectual ambition andunadulterated delight in the inquiry, activates the success Lee has achieved in hiscoursework these four years. In the words of one faculty member, “Lee ispossessed of the rare perspective to see the absurdities in life, the insight to lookdeeply and the skill to express himself clearly, forcefully, and memorably.” But it’snot merely mathematics or politics or literature that Lee comprehends so readily,so completely: on teams, in the dorm, around campus generally, Lee discerns, aswell, the more subtle mechanics and exigencies of moving in the world of people.An exemplary debater, he is also a dedicated friend.

SIMON XIWorldly-wise and quadri-lingual (quinti-lingual if you count computer-speak),Simon may have entered the Thacher gates unobtrusively three years ago, but hewill certainly leave a large and—if this is possible—loud hole in our midst whenhe heads out today. Simon is, in the words of his teachers, a consummate scholar,the keeper of a zinging analytical mind that has taken him to heights in nearlyevery science and math course available to him. Simon is no solitary academician,though: he not only shares what he knows with others in and out of classroom andlab, but uses his rarified knowledge and respected expertise to promote theSchool’s technical progress. (Thanks for those résumés, Simon!) If Simon is awizard, and we think so, he’s certainly a benevolent one who has worn his robeswith distinction, admirable responsibility, and great humor.

Front cover: Original photograph by Robert Douglas Dickson, CdeP ’01

The Thacher School5025 Thacher Road • Ojai, California 93023

www.thacher.org

Because you are careful listeners, you will no

doubt have noted that what I just read is all

in the present verb tense. The qualities I’ve

spoken about are, even as we are still

gathered under this tent, still active in our

lives. Importantly, they will continue to be,

in subtle ways, for time to come, as the positive

influence you have had, especially on younger

students who will return in the fall, expresses itself in the acting out of

Thacher’s values by those who watched you closely and now follow you.

But the moment—sad and happy, bitter and sweet—has come, and it is time

to shift tenses—to put these so-cherished aspects of you seniors into a just-

barely past.

To do so, I now call you…graduates of Casa de Piedra, Class of 2001!

Michael K. Mulligan

Head of School

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ET

HACHER SCH

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