Katerina Rodostianos '26, a Canadian student, has chosen to pursue a major in Life Sciences at the University of British Columbia, selecting it over the University of Toronto and Queen's University. Her journey at TASIS The American School in Switzerland began in grade 8, and she quickly made an indelible mark on the campus community. As the Class of 2026 Salutatorian, she earned the top International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma score in her cohort with an impressive 44 points and was inducted into the TASIS Cum Laude Society chapter. Her academic excellence and leadership were further recognized with both the Salutatorian Award and the Headmaster's Award at the Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony. Beyond her academic achievements, Katerina was a force in athletics and student life. She served as co-captain and MVP for both the Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Track & Field teams, also excelling in Varsity Badminton. Her dedication earned her the Pride Award for four years of continuous three-sport participation, multiple Triple Tiger Awards, and the Female Athlete of the Year Award. Additionally, she was a student co-leader for an Opsahl Global Service Program trip to Zambia, served on the student-directed Global Service Program Board and the TASIS Speaker Series Committee, performed in school musicals, and participated in the Dante Club, Ski Club, IB Executive Council Rotary Club, Spirit Club, and Fishing Club. In a reflective interview after graduation, Katerina shared insights into how TASIS prepared her for college, the influence of the College Counseling Office, and the experiences that inspired her most. She credited her IB and AP courses with building her confidence to handle university-level workloads, noting that writing Internal Assessments and the Extended Essay made her feel ready for academic challenges ahead. She also expressed gratitude to Ms. Fishbein from the College Counseling Office for guiding her through the Canadian university application process, despite its lighter essay requirements. Katerina highlighted transformative experiences such as watching a pineapple roll down Cinque Terre hills, scuba diving in the Canary Islands, and her Global Service Program trip to Zambia, where she immersed herself in local culture and learned profound lessons from children who found joy with simple toys. She fondly remembered teachers like Ms. Nijssen, whose IB Mathematics course she initially feared but came to love with the support of stroopwafels and pepernoten, and Ms. Anderson, who led a tight-knit Theory of Knowledge class. Mr. Chellman also left a lasting impact on her learning approach. Katerina emphasized that she will miss the diversity of cultures at TASIS, having been surrounded by four hundred students from various backgrounds, and the close friendships she formed since 8th grade, including daily morning muffins and the cherished 'senior table.'
Katerina Rodostianos '26, a Canadian student, has chosen to pursue a major in Life Sciences at the University of British Columbia, selecting it over the University of Toronto and Queen's University. Her journey at TASIS began in grade 8, and she quickly made an indelible mark on the campus community. As the Class of 2026 Salutatorian, she earned the top International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma score in her cohort with an impressive 44 points and was inducted into the TASIS Cum Laude Society chapter. Her academic excellence and leadership were further recognized with both the Salutatorian Award and the Headmaster's Award at the Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony. Beyond her academic achievements, Katerina was a force in athletics and student life. She served as co-captain and MVP for both the Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Track & Field teams, also excelling in Varsity Badminton. Her dedication earned her the Pride Award for four years of continuous three-sport participation, multiple Triple Tiger Awards, and the Female Athlete of the Year Award. Additionally, she was a student co-leader for an Opsahl Global Service Program trip to Zambia, served on the student-directed Global Service Program Board and the TASIS Speaker Series Committee, performed in school musicals, and participated in the Dante Club, Ski Club, IB Executive Council Rotary Club, Spirit Club, and Fishing Club. In a reflective interview after graduation, Katerina shared insights into how TASIS prepared her for college, the influence of the College Counseling Office, and the experiences that inspired her most. She credited her IB and AP courses with building her confidence to handle university-level workloads, noting that writing Internal Assessments and the Extended Essay made her feel ready for academic challenges ahead. She also expressed gratitude to Ms. Fishbein from the College Counseling Office for guiding her through the Canadian university application process, despite its lighter essay requirements. Katerina highlighted transformative experiences such as watching a pineapple roll down Cinque Terre hills, scuba diving in the Canary Islands, and her Global Service Program trip to Zambia, where she immersed herself in local culture and learned profound lessons from children who found joy with simple toys. She fondly remembered teachers like Ms. Nijssen, whose IB Mathematics course she initially feared but came to love with the support of stroopwafels and pepernoten, and Ms. Anderson, who led a tight-knit Theory of Knowledge class. Mr. Chellman also left a lasting impact on her learning approach. Katerina emphasized that she will miss the diversity of cultures at TASIS, having been surrounded by four hundred students from various backgrounds, and the close friendships she formed since 8th grade, including daily morning muffins and the cherished 'senior table.'
