On the Mountain Fall 2018

On the Mountain

THE STORM KING SCHOOL JOURNAL FALL 2018

SKS JUNIOR SERVES ON CAPITOL HILL SKS Senior Performs in Italy A Maverick with a Mission —BALAZS SZABO ’63

Board of Trustees Officers

Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 Chair Michelle T. DeFreece P’14 First Vice Chair Joseph W. Blount ’74 Second Vice Chair Scott Rutter ’73 Secretary Myles Megdal Treasurer Jonathan W. R. Lamb Headmaster – Ex-Officio Scott H. Cantor ’73 Alumni Assoc. President – Ex-Officio Trustees

Ila Barton ’92 Robert Ginsburg ’72 Lawrence “Lon” Gratz ’61 Bruce Hanson ’62 David Hartcorn ’73 Robert Docherty ’72 Renee Tobin P’20 Trustees Emeriti

Maia Brogan – Honorary Michael Brower ’63 Robert Cory III ’63 Jack D’Angelo H’13 Harrison M. Davis III ’56 Thomas Delaney ’58 Stephen Duffy ’71 Peter Duggan H’58 Lawrence Fain ’58 Michael Fischer ’82 Stanley Freilich P’11 Herbert Gelhardt ’48 B. deRacey Gilbert ’60 Margaret Harbison Hon. Harold Kennedy ’73 Peter Lamb ’72 Bettina Murray GP’20 Arthur Reis ’75 David Riker ’50 John Settel ’50 Jeremiah H. Shaw P’95 Karl Soderlund P’91 James Sollami P’02,’08,’09 Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54 Suzanne van der Woude P’74,’75 Peter Wunsch ’73

The Storm King School does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origins, age, disability, or any other classification protected under State or Federal law.

On the Mountain is made possible by the enormous effort of our school community.

Special thanks go to: Balazs Szabo ’63 Lynn Crevling ’72 Anne Fulton P ’09 Sarah Fulton ’09 Martha Kwon Jonathan W.R. Lamb Kimberly Marshall P ’21 Marek Pramuka P’20 Michaela Pramuka P’20 Toni Scherrer Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P’19 OTM Contact info:

otm@sks.org OTM: The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson NY 12520 On the Mountain, the official journal of The Storm King School, is published for the benefit of the greater school community, including alumni, families, friends, and faculty.

On the Mountain is designed to communicate the School’s mission, values, and culture with accurate information and stories about members of the school community past and present, current news, upcoming events, and other information of interest to our community.

PHOTOS: LEFT: Junior Jordan Golding from Kingston, Jamaica, reaching new heights during a soccer game against the Darrow Ducks.

ON THE COVER: FRONT: SKS Junior Pierce Pramuka ’20 stands among his fellow Senate Pages in front of the Capitol Building.

BACK: Storm King's School Council from 1960 First row, L. to R.: Bastian, Gilbert, Roberts, Murphy. Second row, L. to R.: Hanson, Bick­nell, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Lange, Mclaughlin.

On the

M ountain

The Storm King School Journal FALL 2018

F E AT U R E S

4 Balazs Szabo ’63 A look into the incredible journey of Hungarian-born SKS alumnus Balazs Szabo and his passion for art and supporting young artists

10 An SKS Junior Serves on Capitol Hill Pierce Pramuka ’20 gets a taste of a life and career on the US Senate floor

16 SKS & Black Rock Forest: A Shared History Learn about the work of Dr. Ernest Stillman and how his legacy benefited Black Rock Forest and The Storm King School

19 Meet Director of College Counseling Martha Kwon See how our Department of College Counseling plans to help our students gain acceptance into the colleges of their choice

20 SKS Senior Asia Raacke Performs in Italy This summer Asia traveled to Citta della Pieve, Italy to perform at the world-renowned International Opera Theater

D E PA RT M E N TS

2 From the Headmaster 22 Mountain Road 150th Commencement, Spring Musical West Side Story, From the Classroom: Student Literary Works, Service Learning at SKS, Fall Pep Rally & Fall Athletics

30 The Common Room Sesquicentennial Reunion, Career Night 2018

34 Events & Notes 35 Class Notes 36 In Memoriam

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From The Headmaster JONATHAN W.R. LAMB

Dear Storm King Family, This past October, I had the opportunity to attend a “scien- the material. tific modeling lesson” in Lindsey Plummer’s Environmental A colleague once told me this: A hundred years ago, students Science class. This approach has been adopted by the Science came to our classrooms ‘knowledge poor’ and ‘experience rich.’ Now Department with the specific goal of actively engaging stu- they come to us rich with information but ‘experience poor.’ Whether dents. Lindsey graduated with Honors from Amherst College one fully agrees with this assessment or not, what we do know with a degree in Geology and is in her second year of teaching at is that providing a rich set of experiences is one way to fully Storm King. At the start of the class, we were given four images engage our students. As adults, we all know that activities of fossilized organisms, such as sports and thethree sets of map coorater provide ‘experidinates for each, and a ence rich’ opportunilatitude and longitude ties that many of us map of world contienjoyed in our years nents. In our groups, we in school, and we conwere asked to plot the tinue to feature these three locations of each as part of our program. species. It turned out But actively engaging the sites were located our students in their on different continents classes is one our most far from one another. important goals at The Given only this inforStorm King School. mation, Ms. PlumStorm King is blessed mer asked the class with the spectacular to “do what a scientist setting that surrounds would do and come us. Ms. Plummer will up with a claim, evitake advantage of this dence, and reasonwhen she takes her ing to explain what is class into Black Rock going on.” Operating Forest and our surHeadmaster Jon Lamb and his wife Toni Scherrer, Associate Director of Admissions, like student-scientists, rounding landscape underneath the Bell Tower we immediately began to study land use, to consider and condeer and coyote popTHE EFFORTS OF OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS AND jecture. How could the ulations, biodiversity, same lizard or animal and other topics. In THEIR WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE NEW APPROACHES exist in these far flung our increasingly techTO TEACHING AND LEARNING IS CENTRAL TO WHY WE regions? Were there nological world, when ARE SO SUCCESSFUL. common resources? all of us, but especially All of us were immediyoung people, spend ately connected to the large amounts of time ‘puzzle’ we were to solve. The theories students developed working or playing on various devices, the need to provide and shared in this process then lead into Part 2 of this ‘litho- active engagement as a central part of the classroom experisphere lab,’ which introduced the theory of continental drift ence is greater than ever. Over the past five years, our faculty and concept of geomagnetism. Student-generated theories members have learned techniques such as scientific modand reasoning were further tested as they moved deeper into eling, project-based learning, and place-based curriculum.

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They worked with educational innovators like Grant Lichtman, and discovered ways that ensure our students are actively engaged and excited about learning.

In the following pages you will read about some of the experiences we use to engage and enrich our students: • our partnership with Black Rock Forest—where students and faculty research, paint, write and learn, run cross country, and recreate • one student’s summer internship as a Senate page • our most recent school musical, West Side Story • community service at area animal rescues, the Newburgh Armory, local soup kitchens, and more

SAVE THE DATE REUNION 2019 June 7-9, 2019

• an English class which created children’s books from scratch and published them These are just a few examples of what makes The Storm King School such a vibrant and exciting place for young people (and adults!) to grow and learn. The efforts of our faculty and students and their willingness to embrace new approaches to teaching and learning is central to why we are so successful. Toni and I celebrated our 40th anniversary this past October. Having the opportunity to experience the energy of young minds at work is a great anti-aging formula. On the day I wrote this piece, 15 alumni had gathered to meet with our juniors and seniors on Career Night 2018. Several also stayed on to teach a class. Many had not returned to campus for years and all had a chance to return to their roots to give back and revitalize themselves. I hope that this edition of On the Mountain helps energize you and keeps you connected with our wonderful school.

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EITHER I WILL ACCOMPLISH IT BEFORE I DIE, OR I WILL DIE TRYING —Balazs Szabo ’63

Hungarian protesters march in Budapest on October 25, 1956 (Foto©Fortepan/Nagy Gyula)

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BALAZS SZABO ’63

A MAVERICK WITH A MISSION

BY ELIZABETH WILSON TAVILOGLU P’19

N

otable Storm King alumni with many talents have colored the decades since the School’s founding in 1867. But one alumnus of the Class of 1963 has managed to stand out, even among these incredibly successful ranks. With his artistic and literary accomplishments, and his perseverance in the face of adversity, Hungarian-born Balazs Szabo has managed to make his mark on the School, the nation, and the world. His ongoing story is legendary, and even after the most recent tragedy – the unexpected death of his oldest son Sandor earlier this year – Balazs’ zest for art, life, and love have prevailed.

There are many words to describe Balazs Szabo the Soviet occupation of Hungary. “The first – artist, author, poet, and patriot; family man, part of my life set the course to my maverick father, and philanthropist—the list is long. But personality. When my parents divorced, I was as one looks into his bright, hazel-green eyes, separated from my brother, Barna, and sent to still sparkling at the age of 76, only one word live with my grandparents who were highly culcomes to mind­—resilience. Whether it be the tured in the arts. There, I was raised as an only story of his idyllic childhood in Hungary shat- child and thus grew very independent. Nature tered by a gripping escape from communist was my friend and the richness of my grandrule, his journey to the United States in search BALAZS SZABO—ARTIST, AUTHOR, POET AND PATRIOT; of a new life, his school years including those at FAMILY MAN, FATHER, AND PHILANTHROPIST Storm King, or his struggles as an artist, Balazs has faced many setbacks and has come back parents’ love and cultural background shaped each time even stronger. my foundation as a person.”

“Either I will accomplish it before I die, or I Although Balazs’ early life with his grandwill die trying,” says Balazs when referring to his parents was a happy one, his undying curioslatest endeavor and what he sees as his legacy— ity to meet his father eventually prevailed, folthe establishment of a yet undiscovered living lowed by his running away with the circus. The artists’ museum near Raleigh, North Carolina next few years were perhaps the most difficult, where he resides. But it also seems to be the when his biological mother reclaimed him and personal motto he’s followed all his life which forced him to live with her in Budapest. “After is marked by a chronology of literary and artis- two years of physical and emotional abuse, I ran tic accomplishments. away and found my father and stepmother. The next morning, I appeared with all my bruises CHILD OF CHANGE in Hungary’s highest court. When the judge His first novel, Knock in the Night (2006), is per- saw my injuries, he immediately granted perhaps the best way to learn about the influ- manent custody to my father,” explains Balazs. ences that shaped the man that is Balazs Szabo Now surrounded by his family’s creative today. The younger son of charismatic Hungar- influences, Balazs’ passion for the arts blosian-American actor Sandor Szabo, Balazs was somed, especially his talent for “doodling” as raised by his maternal grandparents during he calls it. Unfortunately, the good life was not

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BALAZS SZABO ’63

Balazs’ father Sandor Szabo

SELECTED FOR EITHER THE GULAG OR EXECUTION, BALAZS MADE HIS ESCAPE JUST BEFORE DAWN Balazs with John Garrett ’63

to last. The Soviets crushed the Hungarian revolt of 1956. Balazs’ father, who had never joined the Communist Party and sided with the revolution, was placed under house arrest by the Hungarian secret service along with Balazs and the rest of the family.

Selected for either the Gulag or execution, Balazs made his escape

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just before dawn, his family following a few hours later.

“After a day or so, we all crossed the Austro-Hungarian border at different points, uncertain of each other’s fate. Several weeks passed and we had a joyous reunion at the Eisenstaedt refugee camp in Austria. When my father was presented with a prestigious offer to go to the U.S., we boarded a four-engine propeller plane and made our way to freedom—but not before its two engines burst into flames causing us to crash land in Ireland first,” explains Balazs.

A NEW LIFE According to Balazs, the memories of suffering, defeat and escape were still fresh on their minds as he and his family stepped through the gates of Camp Kilmer in New Jersey and into a new life. “Things began to change dramatically after

losing my country and becoming a refugee. I was accustomed to change, and dealing with it became second nature. All of the upheavals in my young life prepared me for this new journey to a new land, speaking a new language, and adapting to a new culture in the USA,” he explains. “The adjustment for me was phenomenal. America’s freedoms and the endless generosity of the people were unparalleled and strange,” admits Balazs.

As an elite refugee, Balazs’ father was immediately awarded honorary citizenship in Rhode Island.

He later moved to New York City where he learned English quickly, leading to a prolific career on and off Broadway, as well as in film and television. In fact, it was Sandor’s first Off-Broadway debut, ironically playing a Russian in a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters, which led to Balazs coming to Storm King. A cultured American couple, Ann Scott Morningstar and Robert P. Morningstar, had seen the play and fell in love with the entire Szabo family. Having no children, they decided to embrace Sandor’s two boys as their own and pay for all of their living expenses as well as their education.

ARRIVING AT STORM KING While Barna was placed at an Episcopal high school in Washington, D.C., Balazs’ first stop was the Peddie School in New Jersey. But after a year, Peddie proved to be too large to recognize Balazs’ uniqueness and talents. “It was too big to be nurturing, and outside of sports, I was lost. Mrs. Morningstar immediately found what she thought would be best for me. That was Storm King,” he explains.

“Arriving at SKS was strangely like coming home.

Outside of some good-natured teasing and heckling of a foreign kid with long hair, I was accepted, especially when kids saw that I was a good soccer player and a budding artist. I grew to love all of my 125 brothers and nearly all my teachers. The teachers at Storm King cared about my education and my well-being, so I blossomed.”

“I especially loved my history teacher, Mr. Ernest Krag, who was deeply interested in my first-hand experience under communism. We would sit on the grass and talk when time allowed it. You can imagine what SKS meant to me being situated in the clouds overlooking the Hudson River, protected and far from the world full of evil and cruelty.” Another of Balazs’ fondest memories was his time playing on the “incredibly talented” varsity soccer team. “Our coach, Robert Went, was a brilliant coach—a real pedagogue.

The value of working together humbly as part of the

team without showing off was a valuable lesson.”

According to Balazs, along with the academics and athletics, it was the close-knit friendships and sense of community that set Storm King apart and has continued to serve him throughout his life. “Knowing that I benefited from one of the country’s best private school educations gave me a lot of confidence over the years,” admits Balazs. “Even today, I often meet people with a higher level of education than myself, but who lack the well-roundedness I attained at Storm King.”

ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS It is also the friendships he made on the Mountain that has kept Balazs coming back. He sees his frequent trips back to Storm King as opportunities to recharge and reconnect with his dearly-missed friends. “I’ve been back for several reunions over the last three decades, as well as through five decades of incognito reconnaissance visits! I never told anyone.

I just wanted to touch “holy ground” again without being disturbed while I renewed my zest for life. As I have always said about myself and my friends from SKS: “We are lucky to be among the many branded by love, deep memories and laughter for life. Even once we meet after many years, I still recognize this trait in all of my friends from Storm King.”

One very special and enduring friendship was the bond that Balazs, and many of his classmates, forged with Headmaster Warren Leonard (1957-1967) and his wife Marion. Leonard became headmaster at the cusp of the greatest era of growth at the School since the times of Carlos Stone. The newly appointed Board Chair Stephen P. Duggan, who recruited the Leonards from another prestigious New England prep school, was initially impressed with Warren’s record as a mathematics teacher and his devotion to the educational world. At the same time Marion was a trained librarian – a library being part of Duggan’s vision of a “new Storm King.”

forward with his plans to revolutionize the campus. During the period of expansion and development which followed, Warren became a driving force, helping Duggan to secure the funds and overseeing the construction of six new buildings. According to his students, while accomplishing all of this, Warren’s warmth and attention toward them never diminished, but grew. This is how Balazs and many of his fellow alumni including John Garrett ’63, Bob Cory ’63, and Racey Gilbert ‘60 came to love the Leonards and remain their lifelong friends.

Today, with the School at the start of its second great era of change as outlined in its 2022 Strategic Plan, it is only natural that Balazs and his group of friends are among the first to come together and help, each in their own capacity and style. Through their efforts to honor their headmaster and

express their admiration for his legacy, these four alumni have collectively taken the first step toward realizing Storm King’s current plans to build a new academic center with their dedication of the Warren Leonard Lobby.

As John Garrett said in his opening words dedicating the upcoming lobby at the 2018

Balazs’ potrait of Headmaster Warren Leonard

WE ARE LUCKY TO BE AMONG THE MANY BRANDED BY LOVE, DEEP MEMORIES, AND LAUGHTER FOR LIFE SKS Boys Soccer Team ’62

CATHEDRAL BUILDERS When the Leonards arrived on the Mountain in the summer of 1956, Warren set about reorganizing the School’s faculty and improving its academic programs and student life. A sportsman himself, Leonard was also behind the controversial decision to do away with football at Storm King and replace it with soccer—a move that was initially protested, but praised by parents and still enduring today.

As Warren and Marion worked diligently at improving the inner workings of the School, Duggan moved

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Sesquicentennial Reunion Banquet: “Achieving and thriving in its 150th year is a remarkable accomplishment. We are here tonight to celebrate the culmination of the efforts and leadership of many “cathedral builders” who enabled the Storm King School

Temp. location of Balazs’ Artist Discovery Museum

to stay relevant and viable since 1867. Those of us that were students here between 1957 and 1967 had the good fortune of knowing one such “cathedral builder”— Warren P. Leonard.”

Following John’s speech, Balazs was called to the podium to unveil his contribution to the new lobby—a magnificent original portrait of Warren Leonard which combines Balazs’ many artistic styles.

“As I left SKS, my life catapulted me on to the world stage, so I often couldn’t stay directly in touch with friends; Warren and I became very close as adults, so I often stayed in touch through Warren and Marion; so much so, that nearly a decade later, my wife and I were invited to stay with the Leonards in Rome for two months,” explained Balazs to his fellow alumni. “The gift of my posthumous portrait of

THE CONCEPT OF THE STARVING ARTIST DOESN’T HAVE TO BECOME A REALITY FOR THE TRULY GIFTED Balazs with his sons Sandor and Dominik as children

Warren was inspired by this sentiment, and by my closest SKS friend John Garrett. It was my pleasure to create it and I hope to see it hanging in Storm King’s beautiful new academic building in honor of Warren much sooner than later.”

RICH ARTIST, POOR ARTIST In the years that followed his departure from Storm King, Balazs’ passion for sketching took over while he fluctuated between formal education and self-instruction. His father, Sandor, had arranged for Pal Fried, a famous Hungarian painter living in New York City and former student of Renoir in Paris, to privately tutor Balazs. “I later returned my full scholarship to the Pratt Institute and took a ship to Europe to attend the Fine Arts Academy in Vienna, then the Bauhaus-oriented Angewandte School of Art,” continues Balazs. “After traveling and painting in Istanbul, Budapest, and Sweden, I returned to the United States in 1965.”

At the age of 24, Balazs was living in Chicago and working odd jobs to support himself and his painting. It was then that he had his first big break as an artist—a commission to paint the portrait of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. Relocating to Hollywood in 1967, Balazs became an art director at Liberty Records, which was later acquired by United Artist Records. From 1967 to 1971, he remained in Los Angeles and continued to work as an art director. It was yet another catastrophe that would bring Balazs to Hawaii where he would reside for the next 20 years —the devastating 6.5 California earthquake of 1971.

AN ISLAND CAREER “My professional career in the islands began with a one-man exhibition and a large mural commissioned by the State Foundation on Culture and Arts, opening many doors,” explains Balazs. As his reputation grew, he was selected by Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi for a solo exhibition in Honolulu’s city hall for the national Bicentennial in 1976. In 1986, Balazs released his self-designed and published art book featuring a 3D relief cover, titled The Eye of Muse—a 40-year retrospective collection containing 106 pages in color plates. In 1987, the book won the US Print Design Excellence Award out of over 35,000 contestants. In late 2009, Balazs published the sequel, The Eye of Muse II, containing a collection of surrealistic paintings.

Today, Balazs portraits, large murals, and surrealist works are internationally known and can be found in private and in corporate collections

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BALAZS SZABO ’63

throughout Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Europe and the United States.

LEGACY OF LOVE Currently residing in his New World Shangri-La of Hillsborough, North Carolina, Balazs continues to work on what he considers his ultimate legacy – opening his museum dedicated to the work of living yet undiscovered artists. The nonprofit museum is called The Balazs Artist Discovery Museum of North Carolina, with plans for an eco-friendly 7,000 square foot building containing an art studio, gallery, library, and a botanical garden housed underground in Hillsborough. “The concept of the starving artist doesn’t have to become a reality for the truly gifted. It’s an unfortunate fact that many people with incredible talent are never discovered. I want to change this. It’s my goal to give the art and the young artist a chance,” continues Balazs.

As he repeats his mantra, “I will accomplish it before I die, or I will die trying,” tears come to Balazs’ bright, hazel-green eyes–the memories of Sandor, his 35-year-old son’s recent murder in New York City still fresh in his memory. “I have since had a sign from Sandor, letting me know that everything will be fine. His message inspired me to create a large 6’ x 4’ painting to commemorate him,” continues Balazs. “Now, all of my work and my purpose in life are becoming clear once again. I will dedicate an art shrine within the museum for him. The museum’s focus on the living artist, especially those who struggled and persevered, seems even more fitting

now than ever,” says Balazs.

Once again, in the spirit of a true Storm King “cathedral builder,” it seems that Balazs, too, will persevere. Like his zest for life, even in the face of adversity, his legacies of love will endure, remaining viable and relevant well into the 21st century in the Warren Leonard Lobby at Storm King, his undiscovered artists' museum, and in museums and collections across the globe.

Balazs with his sons Sandor and Dominik

To purchase a copy of Balazs’ book Eye of Muse, with proceeds going to The Storm King Fund, please contact Sarah Fulton at sfulton@sks.org

150 Years on the Mountain This hardcover edition commemorates the School’s rich heritage through historical narrative and hundreds of archival and contemporary photographs.

Purchase for $150 with proceeds benefiting The Storm King Fund.

To order, please visit: sks.org/Book

Order your copy today! sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 9

SKS

KS JUNIOR SERVES ON CAPITOL HILL Pierce’s acceptance into the U.S. Senate Page program is not only indicative of his outstanding ability and tenacity, but it

also speaks well of the programs and opportunities that are afforded to all of our students at SKS.

—Dennis Costello,

P

ierce Pramuka ’20 was appointed by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) to serve as a Senate Page on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. last summer, giving the Storm King junior the rare opportunity to watch the legislative process in action from a perch on the rostrum of the United States Senate.

The US Senate Page Program has been a fixture of the Senate for 189 years. Grafton Hanson, the first Senate page, was a nine-year-old D.C. orphan appointed

by Senator Daniel Webster in 1829. Throughout the 19th century, Senate pages were often seen running through Capitol Hill corridors, filling senators’ inkwells and snuffboxes, transporting correspondences, organizing documents, and performing other general tasks. They were typically orphaned or underprivileged boys around the age of 12, hired to help their struggling families. Young girls were first appointed in 1971 and since its beginnings, the program has continued to evolve into one of the most exclusive experiences for government-minded youth. Alumni of the Senate Page Program have been known to go on to prestigious, high-ranking positions, and some have even been elected to Congress themselves.

Today, Senate pages can be found dressed in their signature dark blue suits throughout the Congressional complex delivering correspondence and legislative material, preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

They must be appointed by their state’s senator and entering their junior year of high school. With applications coming in from all 50 states and only 30 positions available each term, these highly competitive roles are attained by few that apply.

english and history teacher

Standing at the podium of the US Senate Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery

Balazs’ father Sandor Szabo

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SKS JUNIOR SERVES ON CAPITOL HILL Q: How long were you a Senate page, and how did you hear about the program? I served in June and again in August. I am very interested in working for the State Department and serving our country when I graduate from college. I was looking for an internship during my summer vacation in this field.

Besides, my mom threatened that if I didn’t find something to do during the summer break, she would take me to our local grocery store every morning and make me work at the cash register. A classmate’s mother told me about the Senate Page Program during one of Storm King’s Thursday-night dinners. I applied and interviewed for the position. I was accepted in April.

to give a campus tour to a group of SKS alumni. One of them, Mr. Bob Parke ’58, resides in Washington, D.C. I didn’t have his number, so I called Painter’s—a local B&B where Mr. Parke stayed, only to learn that he already checked out. Next, I called the School’s dining hall in case he was there having breakfast.

Miraculously, he was still on campus. He was kind enough to bring my passport and saved the day. Thank you, Mr. Parke!

What was the application process like? I had to submit two essays, a résumé, a list of extracurricular activities, transcripts, and letters of recommendation through Senator Schumer’s office. I was interviewed twice by Senator Schumer’s staff. I was also asked about my interest in government and future plans.

What initiated your interest in government? I’m a member of Storm King’s Model UN program as well as an active member of the student government. I’ve always been interested in government and diplomacy; however, learning about international relations in the Model UN program piqued my interest in domestic and global politics. Being a student at Storm King is like being immersed in a study abroad program in the United States. You get to meet and live with students from all over the world. It’s fascinating to see and hear their perspectives on important issues.

Did you have to prepare for the internship? Yes. Once I received a letter of appointment from Senator Schumer, I had to complete and submit numerous forms to receive security clearance by the government. All male pages wear government-issued navy blue suits, white shirts, and matching ties—I had to get measured. Everyone on Capitol Hill can recognize a page because of the suits we wear. Most importantly, I received a face book with the photos and names of all 100 senators. Our job was to know who they were, which state they represented, and where they sat. We were tested on this. We weren’t allowed to enter the Senate chamber unless we could name each senator with 100% accuracy.

A funny story: I had few months to prepare, and I read each registration form over and over again. We had to arrive and check in on June 10, which was the same Sunday as Storm King’s alumni reunion. As we inched through the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore, more than four hours into our drive towards Washington, D.C., I suddenly realized that I forgot my passport. Without it, I couldn’t begin my internship. I panicked, and my father nearly had a heart attack. Do we turn around, drive back to New York, and miss the orientation?

Then, I remembered that the day before, I had volunteered

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Standing with the Secretary of the US Senate, Julie Adams.

What did you think it would be like working for the Senate, and how was the actual experience different from your expectation? I didn’t know much about the page program before I applied for it. I expected to work in the senator’s office and carry things between the office buildings. However, on our very first day, we were escorted to the Senate floor. There, Senator Booker, Senator Cruz, and Senator Warren came to meet us and to introduce themselves . . . all these people you see on TV. The entire experience exceeded my original expectations. The atmosphere was different than how we perceive it, too. All the Democrats and Republicans are friends. They talk and joke, and there isn’t a huge split down the middle where everybody hates each other and disagrees.

Also, on the first day, the staff members took away our cell phones and locked them in a safe until the end of our appointments. Saying goodbye to my parents was easy; however, living without my phone was something I

never expected to do. I did manage to survive without my phone—just barely.

Did the camaraderie among the senators surprise you? Yes. I always assumed Democrat leader Senator Schumer and Republican leader Senator McConnell would be enemies . . . and the Democrats and Republicans wouldn’t talk to each

In the Capitol subway with Senator Booker and fellow page.

other. At one point, a group of senators were sitting in a circle, talking. I had to get something off one of the desks nearby, so I overheard their conversation. I thought I would hear some government secrets, but instead it was, “My vacation was great,” and, “My grandkids are doing awesome.”

There is also the impression that senators and their staff don’t work hard, and nothing is further from the truth. These people are there constantly, until 3:00 am at times, working.

There is always something to do. It never stops.

What were your day-to-day responsibilities? We had to be in the Senate an hour before it convened to pass around “dailies” which included the congressional record with the senators’ speeches from the previous day, calendar of business and the executive calendar. Once the Senate was in session, we did some menial tasks, brought them water, set up their podiums, and collected their speeches when they were finished. We also delivered legislation around the Capitol. The

House of Representatives does everything electronically—the votes and correspondence—but in the Senate, everything is still completed vocally with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

We helped keep the information moving and made sure the Senators had everything they needed.

As a freshman, at a Model UN conference, drafting a resolution.

How much training did you have before you started? The Senate usually goes into session at 3:00 pm on Mondays, so the first day, we had a three-hour training session beforehand. Then it was, “The senators are here. Let’s go.” On my second day, Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island was giving his weekly “Time to Wake Up” speech about climate change.

He didn’t sit in his assigned seat, and I was trying to get him water. It took some time to figure out where his cup was supposed to be delivered. By the time I had everything ready, he started talking. I thought, “Oh my god, I’m screwing this up.

His speech is going to be ruined.” I was told to just go and deliver his water while he was talking—so I did. That was my most nerve-racking experience there.

Were you more comfortable going into the second term knowing more about what to expect and what needed to be done? Yes. Returning in August, I knew what was expected.

Also, we were told in the beginning that we weren’t supposed

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SKS JUNIOR SERVES ON CAPITOL HILL to talk to the senators. I learned by the end of June that’s not really true at all. They’re all nice and get excited talking to us, so I was more engaged and focused on building relationships.

I went to every office in the Capitol Building and asked about their jobs. I also went to the parliamentarian’s office. They are in charge of keeping the rules of the Senate and advising senators on the order of the rules. They explained a lot about the process to me and gave me a copy of the standing rules of the Senate.

Also, one of the careers I’m considering is becoming a JAG (judge advocate). Senator Wicker, the senior senator from Mississippi, was a JAG. It took me a long time to work up the courage, but I approached him on his way to vote. I told him how I wanted to be a JAG officer, and I expected to get shooed away. He was great and shared his thoughts and experiences with me. He also advised me on what I should do for college—a US senator!

one day, and John who is the youth governor of North Carolina. I enjoyed being in a place where everyone had the same interests as me, and we were all working and living together.

We were also allowed to leave the dorms together and hang out on the weekends, so that made it really fun, too. We became very close and still keep in touch.

What do JAG officers do, and what sparked your interest to become one? A JAG is a lawyer in the military. They represent military generals, give legal advice, and defend military families in court. I really want to go into a law. I also want to join the military because I feel like that would be a rewarding career. As a JAG, I could be both.

What kind of political action or legislation were you able to witness? When I was there, the Senate was passing appropriation bills, which designate how much money goes to different government agencies. In June, the migrant family separation issue came to the forefront. Witnessing that was emotional.

Some of the senators gave passionate speeches, and Senator Hirono from Hawaii broke into tears as she was speaking.

Seeing how moved some of the senators were about these issues was heartwarming, and I found the legislation really interesting. Then, at the end of my term, Senator McCain passed away. His body was brought into the Rotunda to lie in state. That was on my last day as a Senate page, and we were part of the funeral service. The vice president spoke as well as the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate. I saw the McCain family at the front. The reporters were taking pictures of us because Senate pages meant a lot to Senator McCain. I didn’t get to meet Senator McCain because when I was there in June, he was in the hospital, but Emma, one of the pages who served with me, was the last page to ever be appointed by him.

What were the living arrangements like? Did you get to know the other pages? We lived in Webster Hall a dormitory two blocks away from the Senate. It was nice; the beds were comfortable, and they always had food out for us. It was similar to a campus dormitory at SKS. I had two roommates; one was from Mississippi, a guy named Lane who wants to be president

14 / SKS JUNIOR SERVES AT CAPITOL HILL

Standing with Senator Collins—Maine’s Senior Senator.

Did you see the president? I did not get to meet Mr. Trump.

I saw him in person walking by, but I never talked with him. However, both of the vice president’s daughters were Senate pages, so Vice President Pence made the effort to come and talk with us. He thanked us for serving and knew each page by name.

Were you able to learn more about the Senate process? There are officers on the Senate floor who keep order of the floor called doorkeepers. Whenever there was a vote, I stood next to them. One explained what was happening and why they were doing certain things; what the political reason was or what rule they were following. For example, there is something called a cloture vote, which means that instead of endlessly debating an issue, the Senate must act within 30 hours. Also, when I was curious about an issue, I would go to the Senate library underneath the Capitol and ask the librarian for a document

or a book I could read during my down time. People also have the impression that senators come onto the floor and do and say whatever they want, but that doesn’t happen very often.

One day, the senators wanted to vote on a bill, but to vote on it, they needed unanimous consent where no one objects—but senators were objecting. A woman named Laura Dove, who’s the secretary of the majority, was in the corner of the Senate

Sitting on the rostrum of the US Senate during a vote.

pointing at each senator before they objected. She was choreographing the entire thing. She wasn’t telling them what to do, but she knew exactly what was going to happen . . . when and where and how. Nothing really happens in the Senate that isn’t planned for. And whenever something does, the senators get really angry.

What was the best part of the program? The entire experience was amazing; however, the highlight came when I received a personal meeting with Senator Booker of New Jersey. From the beginning, Senator Booker was one of the friendliest Senators there (along with Senator Hirono). He took time to chat with us and he would ride the Senate subway with the pages. Once, after an important behind-closed-doors lunch, he invited a handful of pages to share lunch with the senators. I wanted to meet him personally. I wanted to speak to him about his views, his past experiences, his time at Stanford University.

. . . This is where Storm King and the alumni reunion from this past June came into play again.

At the alumni reunion, I met with Mr. Joe Blount ’74. He, too, was a page back in the ’70s. I asked if he would be willing to use his connections and put me in touch with some of the senators during my internship. He laughed. One month later, I reached out to Mr. Blount and asked him to help me

Speaking to Senator Leahy from Vermont.

schedule a meeting with Senator Booker. I felt bad inquiring, but I thought it can’t hurt to try. Less than 24 hours later, as I was coming back to my dorm late in the afternoon, a message was waiting for me. “Pierce, run to Senator Booker’s office; he is waiting there to meet you.” I turned around and sprinted to the Dirkson Office Building. Mr. Booker was there, and we had a great conversation. Thank you, Mr. Blount, for making this happen.

In conclusion, it’s really amazing to have been a part of our government’s process. I doubt many other countries provide an opportunity for young people to get involved in their government and literally help pass bills and legislation. I’ll be back one day, not as a page but as a US senator. I’ll be eligible to run for the office in 2031.

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SKS & BLACK ROCK FOREST

A Shared History

Overlaying views of The Storm King School and Black Rock Forest from 1930 and 2016

W

hen one of The Storm King School’s earliest graduates (c.

1860s)—New York banker James Jewitt Stillman—chose to settle in the Hudson Highlands with his family, no one could have predicted the degree to which his legacy, and that of his son, Ernest, would shape the history of the area and of the School.

Like many of his wealthy business associates of the time, including William Rockefeller, Edward Harriman, and J.P. Morgan, James Stillman was drawn to the area’s natural beauty where he wished to build a family estate in an exclusive community that would rival Tuxedo Park, NY. To realize his vision, he began to purchase large tracts of land surrounding Storm King Mountain including homesteader’s farms and areas used for logging. Like most of the Highland forests during the early twentieth century, the property had been cut over numerous times and its timber used as fuel for nearby iron furnaces and brick kilns.

STILLMAN’S LEGACY James Stillman never realized this dream. Upon his death in 1918 the property around Storm King remained undeveloped and reverted to his youngest son, Ernest, who was then practicing medicine in the village of Cornwall. Unlike his father, who came from a time of industrial capitalism, Ernest inherited the property during a more progressive era when reformers such as Theodore Roosevelt were challenging the unregulated practices of big business. Thus, rather than construct an elite Hudson River settlement, Ernest decided to nurse the deforested Dr. Ernest Goodrich Stillman; Photo courtesy of the Rockefeller Archives

16 / A SHARED HISTORY

up the cause. Along with other local and mountain residents, they succeeded in establishing the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference, a group staunchly opposed to the plant, and gained legal standing in a precedent-setting Supreme Court case to fight the project on behalf of the public. Following nearly 20 years of litigation, it is said that their nationally-publicized victory gave birth the modern American grassroots environmental movement and it helped to preserve Black Rock Forest and Storm King Mountain for generations to come.

Throughout the case, Harvard continued to steward and maintain Black Rock Forest until 1989 when the University sold it to Willian T. Golden, a well-known investment banker, philanthropist, and champion of science. In an effort to prevent development and preserve the forest in the spirit of Stillman’s legacy, Golden formed The Black Rock Forest Consortium—a group of scientific and educational institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, New York University, the New York Academy of Sciences, and The Storm King School, among others.

Con Edison’s proposed hydroelectric project

land back to health.

Inspired by the ideas of one of America’s first professional foresters, Mr. Gifford Pinchot, Ernest Stillman created Black Rock Forest in 1929. As Black Rock’s first bulletin stated in 1930, the forest was deemed a “laboratory for research in problems of forest management and for the demonstration of successful methods in practice.”

In the years following, Dr. Stillman continued to expand the original parcel of land to encompass more than 3,800 contiguous acres. He personally funded numerous scientific experiments within the forest, and saw to its longevity by endowing Black Rock and bequeathing it to his alma mater, Harvard University, after his death in 1949.

STILLMAN, SCIENCE, AND SKS Today, Black Rock Forest is a living laboratory for field-based research and education, encompassing native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that are increasingly rare in the region. The 3,838-acre forest features dramatic topography, more than 1,000 feet of relief, numerous lakes and streams, and high species and habitat diversity. This has always been a great advantage for The Storm King School, which has benefited from its shared history and its close proximity to Black Rock since its founding in 1867.

Along with his love for preserving the Black Rock Forest, Dr. Stillman was always a strong supporter of The Storm King School. So much so that he was elected to the School’s Board of Trustees in 1926 and served as the Board Chair from 1932 until 1941. Even after his retirement from the Board, it is said that Dr. Stillman visited campus often. According

BATTLE FOR STORM KING While Stillman’s intention was to keep the Forest “constantly useful and constantly flourishing” (The New Yorker, 1984), other forces were threatening the very fabric of the local environment. In the 1960s, Con Edison’s plan to build the nation’s first pumped storage power plant on Storm King Mountain posed a threat to Black Rock Forest, much of which was to be submerged under the proposed plant’s storage reservoir. A legal battle ensued when citizens groups and local residents challenged the project in court led by attorney and former SKS Chairman of the Board Stephen P. Duggan.

Duggan, a senior partner and litigator at the prominent law firm Simpson, Thatcher and Bartlett, along with his wife, Beatrice (Smokey), immediately took SKS students at Black Rock Forest

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 17

to a 1950s edition of The Quarry: "All through Dr. Stillman's long contact with The Storm King School, he consistently promoted the highest standards of education. As a result of his work, hundreds of young men have benefited and in turn, are serving their communities and their country. Because of his faith and his policies, The Storm King School is recognized by educators as one of the fine preparatory schools of the eastern seaboard." To acknowledge the important contributions of Dr. Stillman, the Stillman Science Building on the Storm King campus was dedicated in his memory in 1961 by Headmaster Warren Leonard.

Today, Dr. Stillman’s legacy lives on through many aspects of academic and student life at Storm King.

Lasting SKS traditions such as Mountain Day, first instituted by Headmaster Anson Barker in 1932, sends Storm King students on an annual trek through Black Rock Forest. Countless alumni recall hikes under the tunnel and through the woods (even when the 9W highway didn’t yet exist), and time spent reflecting at Black Rock’s pristine reservoirs. The School’s innovative curriculum, which highlights experiential learning, integrates use of Black Rock Forest for outdoor classroom activities, scientific experiments, and environmental studies. In the

Sources:

spirit of good neighbors, the School’s Community Service Program coordinates many hours of service in the forest clearing trails, participating in wildlife and foliage studies, and helping to prevent erosion.

GOOD NEIGHBORS Another way The Storm King School strives to be a good neighbor is through fundraising to benefit research and education at Black Rock.

In May 2018, the SKS Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) organized a group of fellow students and faculty to “Take the Plunge” into the icy waters of the Hudson River for the third year in a row, raising money for their cause. The event—another tradition at the School involving Black Rock—is the culmination of a year-long, student-led campaign which also includes hot dog sales, pool tournaments, and other fundraising activities on campus. At the conclusion of the 20172018 school year, NHS students presented the Executive Director of Black Rock Forest Consortium Dr. William Schuster with a check for $2,908.25 resulting from their efforts.

Headmaster Jonathan Lamb summarized Storm King’s relationship with Black Rock Forest in a few words during the ceremony: “The Storm King School has always had a great partnership with Black Rock, founded by Dr. Ernest Stillman. Our school wouldn’t be what it is today without Black Rock Forest, our shared history, the use of its facilities, our membership in the Consortium, and the vision and support of Dr. Stillman over the years.”

SKS students and faculty before they “Plunge” into the Hudson River for Black Rock

• blackrockforest.org • Black Rock’s Hidden Past: A History of Land Use Practices Prior to the Creation of Black Rock Forest, Dr Neil Maher- Assoc. Professor of History , Rutgers University; blackrockforest.org/files/blackrock/content/MaherHistoryCompleteText.pdf • Storm King School archives • findagrave.com/memorial/24561760/james-stillman • findagrave.com/memorial/105472832/ernest-goodrich-stillman • The Cornwall Local, 1962

18 / A SHARED HISTORY

FACULTY PROFILE

and Community Outreach Programs and STEM Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Admissions at the United States Naval Academy. Previously, I worked as the Director of College Guidance at The Gunston School in Maryland, the Director of College Advising at Seisen International School in Tokyo, Japan, and as an independent college admissions counselor serving families in Tokyo. I also spent a year as the Athletic Director at Seisen International School.

Q: Can you tell us about your background and family?

MK: I grew up in rural Virginia, in the historic county of Hanover. Upon graduation from UVA, I traveled to Japan for my first teaching position. That is where I met my husband Tony, a US naval officer serving on board the USS Fife. We have two children who we raised across five countries, six states and 14 residences. Our son, Nathan, graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2016 and he is a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps serving abroad. Our daughter, Sarah, graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2017, earning a degree in community health. She is presently studying nursing at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

Martha Kwon

MEET STORM KING’S NEW

Director of College Counseling

T

he Storm King School was pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Martha “Marti” Kwon as the School’s new director of college counseling in August, just in time for the 20182019 school year. Her appointment follows the retirement of Mr. Jim Leppla, who served as SKS’ college counselor for more than a decade. As the newest member of The Storm King School administration team, Mrs. Kwon brings with her a prestigious education and a wealth of experience. She started the year off running with the mission of building even further on the momentum the College Counseling Office has achieved in recent years.

Q: What activities do you pursue in your free time?

MK: As a sport, I enjoy running. I have always been a runner, even during my travels. Lately, I have been taking advantage of the wonderful trails here on Storm King Mountain! I am also an avid quilter and a co-partner in a family quilting business along with my sister and husband.

Q: How would you best describe yourself?

MK: I would say I have a knack for mentoring students in their journey towards discovering the version of themselves they wish to become…Each requires guidance and care that reflects purposeful thinking and collaboration with all of those invested.

Q: Can you tell us about your education and career in the field of college counseling?

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Kwon to the Storm King community. We are confident that she will do tremendous work for our school and our student body in the coming years.

MK: I earned my B.A. in History from the University of Virginia, and my M.Ed. in College Counseling and Students Services from the University of Maryland. I am currently completing my Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at George Washington University.

For the past four years, I had been serving as the Director of School

For more information about The Storm King School’s College Couseling department please visit: sks.org/academics/college-counseling/

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SKS SENIOR

Asia Raacke

PERFORMS AT ITALY'S INTERNATIONAL OPERA THEATRE

L

ast summer, Storm King senior Asia Raacke traveled to Citta della Pieve, Italy, to perform at the world-renowned International Opera Theatre. Asia was chosen as a soprano in the Theatre’s 15th annual opera titled Sacco e Vanzetti : gli uomini e chi li amava (Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men and Those Who Loved Them) which took place on August 24 – 26, 2018 at Teatro Comunale Accademia degli Avvaloranti in Citta della Pieve.

The opera tells the story surrounding two Italian immigrants— Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti—and highlights the humanity of the two characters and the intertwined hopes of immigrant children who yearned for justice and the American dream. Each performer represented an actual child who labored in the looms or mines of 1920s Massachusetts, or was a family member or friend of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, the central subjects of the opera.

During the five weeks prior to the opera’s world premiere, Asia had the opportunity to work with several renowned international professionals and other children and teens from all over the world. According to Karen Lauria Saillant, founder and artistic director of International Opera Theater, the opera is “a unique opportunity for schoolage sopranos to sing in this beautiful opera house under the guidance of Italian Maestro Mauro Fabbri, resident conductor at The Finnish National Opera and State Opera Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.”

Following her audition, Asia was one of 14 children and teens from

20 / SKS SENIOR PERFORMS IN ITALY

across the United States who were chosen to participate in this transformational program. Asia, who consistently plays leading roles in Storm King’s theater productions, and performs as a lead vocalist in the Storm King Choir, was both surprised and thrilled to participate. Here is what she had to say about this once-in-a-lifetime experience:

Q: How did you find out about this program and what made you want to audition?

AR: A vocal professor at Julliard sent out an email about the program to a few people she knew, one of them being a close family friend. She sent the email to my mother. As I was standing in line for ice cream on field day at Storm King, I got a call from my mom about the program. I looked at the email and what the children were going to do. They described a rigorous schedule where I would learn new techniques to improve my classical voice. I didn't put a lot of thought into the audition and I just did it for fun. I didn’t think it would really be possible for me to get in.

Q: What was it like training with the international professionals there? What did you learn?

AR: It was great! Our director was a retired opera singer and she taught us some breathing techniques. I learned very quickly that there is no excuse for leaving the theater early or not showing up.

Unless you were sick or something, you dedicated yourself to the project. Your world was that opera and everyone contributed their specialty to make sure that it happened. The professionals were surprisingly patient and good with the younger ones.

Q: How was your overall experience and how do you think it helped you as a performer?

AR: My overall experience was unforgettable, with a pinch of stress. Every day challenged my ability to remember words and melodies. Operas usually take months to prepare for, and we only had one.

We had to learn everything so quickly. During off hours I would be studying. But there were hours where I would take strolls around town, get a bit to eat, and everything felt better. Learning how to relax during stressful times was important, especially in the days before opera. The whole experience improved my discipline, my cooperation with others, my technique, and stress relief methods.

Q: What are some of the other interesting things you did in Italy during your five weeks there?

AR: We were in Italy during the celebration of Mary's Ascension to Heaven called Ferragosto. For 10 days or so, the streets were filled with vendors— food, clothes, kitchen utensils, jewelry, toys, and a lot more, and games such as archery. My mom, and a friend and I, watched a play about the three districts of the town. There was sword fighting, fire performances, and acrobatics. On the last day of the celebration there was a parade, and at the end, a flour fight! People gathered in the streets and threw flour at each other. There was so much flour in the air that you couldn't see 10 feet away. I also went to see the Duomo in Siena, explored a little bit of Florence, and went on a tour for a day in Rome.

Photos (left to right): Asia on the balcony at the International Opera Theatre; Asia performing in Sacco e Vanzetti : gli uomini e chi li amava (Sacco and Vanzetti: The Men and Those Who Loved Them); Asia points out her name on the cast list; Asia at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

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SKS SERVICE LEARNING IS EDUCATIONAL, EXPERIENTIAL, & FUN “A critical component of growth for young people is engaging in volunteerism.”

— BEN HARNICK, DIRECTOR OF SERVICE LEARNING Participation in Service Learning, or community service, is a hallmark of the Storm King experience, and a requirement for graduation at The Storm King School.

With the depth and breadth of the program continuing to grow, Storm King’s reputation as a valued community service partner has also grown exponentially. Storm King’s partners including Black Rock Forest, the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, the Newburgh Armory, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, the Town and Village of Cornwall, and several area pet rescues, have learned that SKS students are a valuable resource and can contribute to meaningful causes that improve the community.

Along with increasing and diversifying service opportunities, program Director Ben Harnick strives to change the way students perceive community service. “Our goal is to become something that students want to participate in, rather than a requirement.

Volunteering creates opportunities for students to gain insight into themselves and the world around them. This facilitates personal growth and builds useful skills. We want them to come back and become life-long servers of their communities."

22 / SERVICE LEARNING

2018 Fall Standings PEP RALLY INSPIRES SCHOOL SPIRIT

Girls Soccer Season Record: 7-4

The colors of autumn have arrived on the Mountain, but rather than orange and red, the Storm King campus turned blue– CODE BLUE, that is. On Tuesday, October 2, the entire school community put aside Dress Code and wore something blue to get ready for SKS’ Fall Pep Rally. The event took place in the gymnasium to celebrate our fall athletic teams, foster school spirit, and have fun.

DJ music was pumping as students, faculty, and parents poured into the gymnasium to enjoy the festivities. The rally began with a fast and furious game of speedball. It was the eighth grade teamed up with the seniors against the other team of freshman, sophomores, and juniors. As the fans cheered, both sides displayed great skill in combinations of soccer and basketball moves. The excitement grew with the help of the SKS Cheerleading Club and Ms. Liggett, who was painting faces in blue, white, and gold. Fans were also greeted with a table of delicious baked goods courtesy of the Storm King School Parents Association.

After the game, each of Storm King’s seven varsity and JV fall athletic teams made a dramatic entrance to the gym as their coaches and captains called out their names. With the cheerleaders revving up the fans, all of the teams received plenty of applause. The most cheers went to the girls cross country team—Storm King’s newest team on the roster—after they placed first in their first two meets of the season last month.

The fans also enjoyed a short performance by Mr. Nelson’s music students who played great pep rally numbers including "When the Saints Go Marching In" and the theme from Star Wars. Athletic Director Joseph Graziosi concluded the rally by thanking his coaches, teams, and students, and reminding all that the “Drive for Five” HVAL trophies is officially on.

HVAL standings: 1st Place

Boys Soccer Season Record: 14-4 HVAL standings: 1st Place New England Class D Rankings: 3rd Place

Boys JV Soccer Season Record: 2-4 Girls Cross Country Season Record: 9 first-place finishes 2018 HVAL Champions!!!

Boys Cross Country Season Record: 10 first-place finishes 2018 HVAL Champions!!! Undefeated!!!

Girls Volleyball Season Record: 10-3 HVAL standings: 1st Place

Girls JV Volleyball Season Record: 3-1

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 23

150 COMMENCEMENT: CLASS OF 2018 MAKES HISTORY TH

O

n Saturday, June 2, 2018, The Storm King School held its historic 150th commencement on the lawn in front of the Stephen P. Duggan Bell Tower. A speech given

by NY Assemblyman James Skoufis highlighted the ceremony as 26 young men and 15 young women from 5 continents, 15 countries, and 5 states were awarded their diplomas. Families and friends from all over the world were greeted with clear skies as they gathered to watch this talented group of new graduates transition to the next phase of their lives and become alumni of the School.

After 10 chimes of the bell and the sound of bagpipes, the processional of faculty led by Headmaster Jonathan Lamb, Dean of Academics Harold Heno, and Assemblyman Skoufis entered the venue followed by the smiling senior class of 2018. True to Storm King tradition, students representing the 15 nations making up the senior class greeted the audience in their native languages, followed by a moving rendition of “America the Beautiful” by the SKS Chorus.

After all were seated, Mr. Lamb welcomed the seniors and their families: “Today is about us acknowledging you and your accomplishments. It has been another tremendous school year, thanks to the hard work of the faculty and staff, and to all of our students. When I think of this class and what you

24 / COMMENCEMENT 2018

have done during your time at Storm King; when I think about some of the choices that you have made individually and collectively; when I think about the qualities I have seen in so many of you, I see you as a special group of people.”

Mr. Lamb went on to outline some of the accomplishments of the class, including 24 HVAL Championships, 14 bids to the New England (NEPSAC) tournaments, two NEPSAC Tournament Championships for the boys basketball team, countless academic, creative, and artist accomplishments, and more than 5,000 hours of service volunteered in the local community. He also congratulated the class on their exceptional college acceptance record. First and second-choice acceptances were at an all-time high for the Class of 2018, with graduates leaving Storm King for Cornell, Georgetown, New York University, Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design, Bucknell, George Washington, USMA West Point, Farleigh Dickenson, Fordham, Syracuse, SUNY at Stony Brook, Penn State, University of Southern California and many other prestigious institutions.

Following the next song “This is Me” by the Storm King Choir, Mr. Lamb called Storm King’s 150th commencement speaker to the podium. “It is with great pleasure that I introduce New York Assemblyman James Skoufis, a Hudson Valley

The 2018 commencement speaker NY Assemblyman James Skoufis

native who’s principal motivation as an elected official is to level the playing field and be a voice for the underserved and voiceless,” he said. During his address to the senior class, Mr. Skoufis stressed the importance of “stepping up” for this generation and those to come, and charged the new graduates with “protecting the ideals of the School, the country, and the world.”

“Whether you’re from here in the United States or you eventually plan to return to your home country, we need you to step up. We need you to step up not only for the rest of us, but for the generations that will come after you as well. It could mean running for office; it could mean serving your community’s needs as a volunteer; it could mean giving back once you enter the corporate world; it could simply mean lifting a neighbor up who you know is struggling. If you have the will to be a decent human being, you’ll no doubt find the most appropriate outlet for your goodness,” explained Mr. Skoufis.

At the conclusion of Mr. Skoufis’ speech, graduating senior Scott Rolon sang “Corner of the Sky,” followed by the presentation of the 2018 Commencement Awards by Dean of Academics Harold Heno, Vice Chairman of the Storm King Board of Trustees Ms. Michele DeFreece P’14, Headmaster Lamb, and Assemblyman Skoufis. After the awards, Mr. Lamb asked the underclassmen in the audience to stand for their official promotion to their next class year. Following the class promotions, diplomas were presented to the senior class by Ms. DeFreece, and the seniors were congratulated by Mr. Heno, Mr. Lamb, and Mr. Skoufis. As the new graduates exited the stage, Assistant Headmaster for Student and Residential Life Alan Lewis carried out the important duty of flipping the tassels on their caps from right to left, thus officially completing their high school careers and concluding their lives on the Mountain.

Emotions were high among the graduates as all rose to sing the Alma Mater. Then, once again to the sound of bagpipes, the processional exited the lawn to conclude the 150th commencement at The Storm King School.

Following the ceremony, the graduates and their families gathered on the athletic field to toss their caps and mingle with faculty members to say their farewells.

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 25

T

he show that changed musical theatre forever over 50 years ago came to life once again at The Storm King School, and it was as powerful and emotionally charged as ever. Three performances of Bernstein and Sondheim’s West Side Story took place at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre on February 23-25, 2018 courtesy of the SKS Department of Visual and Performing Arts. The Sharks and the Jets were back in force, gang against gang, with star-struck lovers from each side to complicate the rivalry. It was by far the largest and most complicated musical put on by the students to date and the entire cast and crew has a lot to be proud of.

Storm King’s Director of Theatre Anne Fulton, who directed the show along with Karen Eremin of Cornwall’s Step It Up Summer Stage, was confident in the abilities of her students and colleagues when she chose West Side Story as the School’s musical production this year. “It’s my favorite musical, and I felt that we had students who could handle the demanding vocals, acting, and dancing,” explained Mrs. Fulton.

“The students are the same age as the characters, and there was also an opportunity for members of our faculty and staff to play the adult roles. The plot is engaging as it deals with issues that are still affecting people today. It’s also a very dance-heavy show and Jeanette Jacobson is an excellent choreographer. Alva Nelson, our music director, was very familiar with the show and was able to teach the songs quickly; he put together a great orchestra, too.”

The production featured a large cast of Storm King students, some of whom were experiencing theater for the first time: Asia Raacke ‘19 graced the stage with her ethereal vocals as Maria; theatre veterans Scott Rolon ’18 and Jack Besterman ‘18 commanded the roles of Tony and Riff, while Allegra Walker’19 as Anita and David Lu ’19 as Bernardo kept the audience captivated throughout. Storm King’s Assistant Head of School for Finance Ray Hecht played Lieutenant Schrank, along with faculty members Jim Bennett

26 / WEST SIDE STORY

as Officer Krupke, Kevin Jacobson as Gladhand, and Dennis Costello as Doc. “The student-actors really enjoyed working with the adults in roles that are very different from what they are used to. The adults also felt that it was a valuable experience to work with the kids. It was great for those of us on the production team to have them with us,” continued Mrs. Fulton.

According to their mentors, the cast went through an amazing metamorphosis since they began rehearsing over the winter of 2017. “Students who hadn’t previously danced were learning complicated choreography. This is definitely the most amount of dancing I have choreographed in one of our musicals. So many of the songs had multiple dance breaks and were much longer than typical musical songs. At the final dress rehearsal, I cried happy tears. I knew we had a hit on our hands,” said Mrs. Jacobson.

“We had very strong singers in the leads, but we also had a chorus of students who sang through some very complicated musical numbers with relatively little experience,” continued Mrs. Fulton. “Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim are both known for the complexity of their compositions, and I appreciated the efforts of our students who did justice to their work."

One of those students was Cem Taviloglu ’19, who played the role of A-Rab from the Jets. It was his first experience on stage and he found himself in a challenging role. “In the beginning, it was hard to learn all the lines and the cues. Then we began rehearsing the dance routines and the songs. It was really hard to act, sing, and dance at the same time.

The last week, it all seemed to work and when we rehearsed with the orchestra, it made a huge difference,” Cem explained.

For many ecstatic parents, and all who came out see the show, this production was yet another example of the thriving Visual and Performing Arts Program offered at Storm King. “I was pleased beyond all expectations. I’m so proud of how well the show turned out,” Mrs. Fulton said with a smile. “I’ve worked in the theater program at SKS for the past 13 years and I’m happy to see the program progressing and our student participation growing.”

We’re looking forward to our 2019 Winter Musical,

Mamma Mia!, which will be performed Feb. 22 -24.

Save the dates!

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 27

-- FROM THE CLASSROOM --

STUDENT LITERARY WORKS PUT SKS ON THE MAP

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n its pursuit of academic excellence and its mission of preparing students for college and beyond, Storm King has claimed its place as one of New York’s premier independent boarding and day schools. In particular, the work of the English Department exemplifies the high standard of academics set here on the Mountain.

With an emphasis on critical reading, writing, and analytical skills combined with experiential learning opportunities, Storm King’s English curriculum has made SKS a top choice among young literary enthusiasts. At the forefront is Storm King’s Creative Writing class which allows students to analyze the works of famous writers and poets while they create, produce, present, and publish their own works from start to finish.

AUTHORS IN THE MAKING What makes a story great? That was the question juniors and seniors in Storm King’s Creative Writing class set out to answer last spring. Their task: create and publish a professional quality children’s book from scratch. The interdisciplinary project, which took two months to complete, allowed the students to use their creativity, share ideas, find commonalities, and learn the stages of publishing such as storyboarding, illustration, and desktop design. The aim of the project was to give them the experience of book publishing in a professional setting.

The project began with brainstorming and discussion about the students’ favorite childhood stories, and stories handed down in their families and cultures through the generations.

With a diverse class including students from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, students searched

28 / FROM THE CLASSROOM

for shared commonalities as they talked about meaningful family experiences and related to childhood stories from other cultures.

Students were asked to analyze the stories’ meanings, pull out the timeless elements, extract the lessons and morals, and identify with themes or characters. Next, they began to survey the children’s books published by other authors.

They examined how a particular story was told, what words and dialects were used, and other elements that made the story work. Students also examined the design and layout of the books and discussed elements such as font size, style and illustration and determined how these elements contributed to the stories as a whole.

With the knowledge and skills gained, the next step was to begin creating their own children’s books. First and foremost, the students created a plot line using techniques including straight writing from start to finish, brainstorming a flow of dialogue, or choosing a theme such as sharing, fear, or being different. Some students chose to use anthropomorphism— the technique of having animals, rather than humans, tell a story—which is common in children’s books.

One step closer to publishing, the next task was learning the storyboarding process. The students had the option of pairing up with a student-artist or doing their own illustrations. Some students chose to have full control over their work while others chose to brief their artist on the theme, plot, and characterization in their stories. The class also completed an online workshop in desktop publishing to prepare them for publishing their books on blurb.com. The published books were ready in time for the students to present them at a reading during the 2018 Spring Arts Weekend in April. The books are currently available for sale online as e-books and hardcover editions.

THE VOICE OF YOUNG POETS Poetry is another literary form that students in the Creative Writing class learn to master. Their professional-quality work is published annually in the School’s student literary journal

called The Voice. Their latest collection of poems appears in the 2017-2018 Red Wheelbarrow Edition, the newest issue of The Voice which became available earlier this fall.

Student publications such as The Voice have always been an important component of academics and student life, and have taken on many forms throughout the School’s history.

In its earliest years, the journal featured amusing stories and sported other names including The Crumb (1880-1887) and The Echo (1900-1905). The Echo appeared on and off a number of times over the years with issues published well into the 1950s.

The Voice in its current form can be found in the Storm King archives as far back as 1969 featuring articles about school happenings and student perspectives on various topics. Today, under the guidance of the English department, the publication is a polished collection of student works including poetry, prose, and visual arts that rivals those of experienced authors, poets, and illustrators.

The latest collection of poems published in The Voice – Red Wheelbarrow Edition was inspired by US Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963), who, in sixteen words, helped to redefine poetry in his famous poem “The Red Wheelbarrow.” The young creative writers were tasked with writing about everyday experiences that exemplify Williams’ philosophy of literary modernism and imagism. The students rose to the challenge by writing more than 65 thought-provoking poems with original illustrations by several talented Storm King art students.

POETRY FESTIVAL PUTS SKS ON THE MAP Another important event celebrating the language arts which

has taken hold at Storm King is the annual poetry festival.

The Second Annual Storm King Poetry Festival was held in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre on the evening of Saturday, April 28, 2018. The festival hosted young poets from SKS and other independent schools in the region, including Poughkeepsie Day School, Rye Country Day School, New York Military Academy, Millbrook School, South Kent School, Greens Farms Academy, Beaver Country Day School, and The Gunnery School.

Now, in its second year, the event has received a great deal of praise, not only from the judges and parents, but also from the families of other schools who participated.

The Annual Poetry Festival is the brainchild of SKS English teacher Peter Rowe and English Department Chair Jeremy Freeman, who said they received more than 125 poetry submissions from around the region this year. At the event, the 19 poems chosen as finalists were judged by Storm King alumnus and poet Mr. Steve Hirsch ’77 and Hudson Valley Poet Laureate Mr. Robert Milby.

English Department Chair Jeremy Freeman believes that the event is important to showcase student work and academic talent. “I believe we see an important cross section of high school youth on display at the poetry festival. It supports and uplifts a group of young writers whose spirits are best characterized as empathetic, highly self-aware, curious, introverted, introspective, philosophical, and artistic – traits that are much needed and perhaps overlooked in today’s world,” explains Mr. Freeman.

Many thanks go to Storm King’s English Department and to our talented students, whose collaborative efforts have put The Storm King School on the literary map as a destination for aspiring young writers and poets.

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 29

REUNION 2018:

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS!

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early 150 alumni of The Storm King School returned Alumni Association meeting led by the newly-formed Alumni to the Mountain for the 2018 Sesquicentennial Cele- Council. The Alumni Council is made up of 14 alums with class bration and Reunion Weekend which took place on years ranging from 1954-2014.

Friday, June 8, through Sunday, June 10. Alums hailed from Guests enjoyed a BBQ lunch held on Ledoux Terrace, where as far as Australia and the United Kingdom to closer locations alumni had the opportunity to socialize and meet current like New Jersey and Connecticut to help their alma mater cel- Storm King faculty and staff. After lunch, some alumni took ebrate 150 years of history, reunite with guided tours of the campus where they saw old friends, stay in their old dorm rooms, new additions and improvements made and reminisce about their time once spent over the last several years. Throughout the At the same here. Many alumni, who hadn’t been back afternoon, alumni could be seen tossing moment we honor since their graduation, commented on Frisbees on the athletic field and competour first 150 years, the state of the campus, saying “it never ing leisurely in corn hole matches. looked better.”

In the late afternoon, attendees gathwe must turn The festivities began Friday evening with ered in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre where our view to look a Welcome Reception held at The HomeHeadmaster Jonathan W.R. Lamb showed a stead, the headmaster’s residence, where retrospective of historical slides and narahead toward old friends enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and rative including information about the the future… beverages accompanied by the music of exceptional state of the School today and our own Alva Nelson's jazz ensemble. As visions for the future: “Welcome home, more alumni and their families arrived, all of you, and to The Storm King School’s the sound of laughter rang out over the lawn as old memories Sesquicentennial Reunion Weekend and Celebration. The were relived and friendships rekindled. last five to eight years have shown a dramatic move forward Saturday, June 9, began with a delicious breakfast prepared by our school. This is due to the incredible gathering of talby our chefs, followed by a memorial service on the lawn at ented people that have come to the Mountain over the last 10 Memorial Rock remembering Storm King alumni who had years in the form of faculty, board members, staff, alumni, passed away over the last year. Following the service, many students, and friends. I am fortunate to be Head at a time alumni walked up to Ogden Hall to participate in the annual when the School is truly moving in this direction and have a

30 / REUNION 2018

chance to bear witness and share this success with all of you and all of those who have been responsible for this progress… but we are not, by any means, done. At the same moment we honor our first 150 years, we must turn our view to look ahead toward the future… We must remain in the continuous improvement mode.”

Mr. Lamb’s narrative was followed by the presentation of the 2018 Alumni Awards, beginning with Sports Hall of Fame (SHOF) inductions: SHOF members Daniel Loh ’52 and Richard Broughton ’54 presented the induction of William Perry ’53 for baseball, soccer, football, and basketball; past staff-member Karen Hayes Szvoren (1979 – 1993) and SHOF member Chad Merrill ’84 presented the induction of Steven Bluth ’83 for soccer, baseball, basketball and tennis; and Marc Eisenshtat ’98 presented the induction of Cara Castronuova ’98, a Golden Gloves boxer and fitness athlete who got her start on the SKS wrestling team. The Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award was presented by former faculty Chris Oostenink (1988 – 1993) to Scott Chrysler, dean of students, lacrosse coach, and English teacher from 1989-1997.

The Alumni Awards were followed by a gathering at The Homestead and the much-anticipated banquet dinner held at Orr Commons. The banquet was kicked off by Development Director Tom Fogarty, who talked further about the School’s capital campaign and future plans to build a new Academic Center. Next, members of the classes of ’60 and ’63 – John Garrett, Bob Cory, B. deRacey Gilbert, and Balazs Szabo – introduced the naming of the Warren Leonard Lobby which will be constructed within the new Academic Center. The lobby will serve as a focal point to welcome students, faculty, and visitors to the building, honoring their late Headmaster. The group raised over $100,000 to name this new space. Szabo also unveiled his original painting of Warren Leonard that will be hung in the lobby.

With the conclusion of the presentations, the guests turned their full attention toward the food, fun, and one another for the rest of the evening. The atmosphere in Orr Commons was jovial as old and new friends laughed, reminisced, and shared memories, making the Sesquicentennial Reunion 2018 a great success. Many thanks go out to all who were involved, especially our returning alumni and their families.

To connect with friends and stay abreast of alumni news and upcoming events, join our online Alumni Directory: sks.org/alumni-directory

Photos (left to right): Alumni and their families raise their glasses to the future of SKS; Steve Bluth ’83 and Chad Merrill ’84; Malcolm Phillips ’97, Dee Kolewe, Sunil Sunderraj ’89, past faculty Jason Steiker, Charles Cordero ’92, Mike Juran ’86, past faculty Scott Chrysler, Carita Gardiner, Karen Szvoren, Chris Oostenink, Jim Hayes, Leslie Pearl, Andy Shenkler ’93, Ila Barton ’92, and Joel Priest; Welcome Reception at The Homestead

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 31

1

LARGEST CAREER NIGHT IN SKS HISTORY

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n Thursday, October 18, 2018, Storm King alumni from various decades shared their professional experiences with our juniors and seniors at Career Night. This year, 15 alums came back to the Mountain for the event—the largest roster of alumni talent in recent years. They talked with our students about choosing a profession, getting into college, tips for success, and shared highlights of their lives after graduating from Storm King.

Meanwhile, the students learned about a myriad of possible career paths firsthand, including aviation, tourism, international business, education and coaching, fundraising and philanthropy, hospitality, information technology, social work, human resources, fashion, promotions, event planning, acting and producing, forensic psychology, real estate, investment banking, photography, music, radio and TV production, and government.

The event featured lively roundtable discussions where groups of students rotated around the room to sit at different alumni tables every 15 minutes.

This allowed them to get a variety of perspectives and introduce themselves to a variety of career paths. The format provided a personal atmosphere where many alumni were seen laughing along with the students and talking fondly about their time at Storm King. As for the students, most felt that they took away valuable knowledge, great advice, and interesting stories from the event.

Several alumni also spent extra time on campus to teach alongside Storm King faculty. On Thursday, October 18, Stephen Paley ’60 spent the morning with Alva Nelson’s Advanced Music Theory class where he

32 / CAREER NIGHT 2018

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shared his invaluable experience in the music, television, and publishing industries. After classes on Thursday afternoon, information architect and UX designer Jared Caponi ’90 gave a special presentation on art in the digital world known as “augmented reality”—a new art form that involves creating art in virtual space as it relates to real-life backdrops.

Friday, October 19, saw three more classes led by alumni. Celebrity make-up artist Shenelle Mays-Smith ’01 demonstrated the importance of make-up in the fashion industry in Ms. Liggett’s Fashion Design class, while actor and Executive Producer Ricky Paull Goldin ’82 conducted one of Mrs. Fulton’s acting classes. There, he critiqued scenes from the upcoming fall production The Importance of Being Earnest and gave the students tips on breaking into the world of professional acting. To conclude the day, alumni Tom Delaney ‘58 and Andrew DaSilva ’06 spoke to Storm King Psychology students about social work, child welfare, and substance abuse.

Many thanks go to each one of our alumni who graciously donated time away from their busy schedules, including Aaron Adderley ’88, Steven Bluth ’83, Dr. Symeon Braxton ’94, Scott Cantor ’73, Jared Caponi ’90, Andrew DaSilva ’06, Tom Delaney ’58, Michelle Arginsky Farber ’83, Sarah Fulton ’09, Ricky Paull Goldin ’82, Yasmine LaBarca ’95, Shenelle Mays-Smith ’01, Michael McAfee ’75, Stephen Paley ’60, and Michael Pock ’94.

If you would like to participate as a mentor at Career Night next year, please contact Lynn Crevling at lcrevling@sks.org Photos: 1 standing Headmaster Jon Lamb, Michael Pock ’94, Dr. Symeon Braxton ’94, Scott Cantor ’73, Stephen Paley ’60, Aaron Adderley ’88, Steven Bluth ’83, Michael McAfee ’75, Ricky Paull Goldin ’82, Sarah Fulton ’09, Michelle Arginsky Farber ’83, Andrew DaSilva ’06, Jared Caponi ’90, Tom Delaney ’58, seated Yasmine LaBarca ’95, Lynn Crevling ’72, Shenelle Mays-Smith ’01 2 Acclaimed Photographer and veteran of the music industry, Stephen Paley ’60 sharing some of his experiences with students 3 Yasmine LaBarca ’95 answering students' questions about Forensic Psychology 4 Storm King junior Pierce Pramuka touring a group of alums before the Career Night Roundtables 5 Celebrity make-up artist and SKS alum Shenelle Mays-Smith ’01 showing students (and faculty) a few tricks of the trade using sophomore Emily Elizabeth Kent as a model 6 Students are riveted as Jared Caponi ’90 tells about his career as a User Experience Designer and Information Architect 7 actor and Executive Producer Ricky Paull Goldin ’82 at Career Night 8 Aaron Adderley ’88 sharing his international business experience as president of the Bermuda L. F. Wade International Airport

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 33

REUNION 2018

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Photos: 1 Tom Rempe ’97, Sele Birchwood ’09, Luke Sollami ’08 and Logan Sollami ’09; 2 Malcolm ’97 and Joe ’95 Phillips; 3 past faculty Carita Gardiner, Ila Barton ’92, and past faculty Karen Szvoren and Chris Oostenink at breakfast; 4 Han Feuer ’09, Sarah Fulton ’09 and Marilyn Heno-Cervantes ’10; 5 Paul Jerry ’69, Don Friedman ’68, and Bruce Dennison ’68; 6 Balazs Szabo ’63, Andrea Szabo, Chris Brooks ’63, Ted Gross ’62, Bob Cory ’63, Bruce Hanson ’62, Michael Brower ’63, Stuart Wilson ’63, John Garrett ’63 & Rose Garrett

To see even more friendly faces: photos.sks.org/Alumni

4 SAVE THE DATE NYC Holiday Party: November 29, 2018 Alumni Basketball Game: February 10, 2019 Reunion Weekend: June 7-9, 2019 For more information please visit: sks.org/Alumni-Events

34 / EVENTS & NOTES

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Class Notes Bruce Dolph ’50 wrote to say you CAN be (almost) 86 and still be kicking: As my friends tell me, "it’s better to be six feet over the ground rather than six feet under!" My time at SKS was three years as a day student (I lived in C-on-H), and as a senior I lived in the top floor of Cottage. After leaving SKS, I graduated from the US Naval Academy and was commissioned in the USAF, where I became a pilot. That career was short-lived and I returned to SKS to teach 9th and 10th grade math, and help coach baseball and basketball with Herb Sauer and Dave Van Dyck. Being single, I had a room in the Cottage and helped keep control of the seniors (along with Van Dyck). It wasn't easy!

I later got a job as a computer programmer (one of the early ones), and in a couple of years had joined IBM in Marketing, where I spent the next 30 years. My favorite assignments were in Vienna, Austria, marketing exclusively to Eastern Europe—CSSR, Yugoslavia, and Hungary while the Iron Curtain was still up.

BUT, my greatest love is for Africa —East Africa in particular. I have been there working 21 times! I started as a Peace Corps Volunteer when I retired from IBM, then went back as a church missionary to a clinic for disabled children, and most recently as a volunteer consultant in the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, working in 10 different countries building business plans for agricultural collectives. It has been a delightful experience (including malaria), and has reinforced for me the concept that no matter what the differences are, we are all brothers and sisters under the skin.

After living for 42 years in Manhattan Beach, CA, we have moved to Palm Desert, CA, and are now surviving the summer heat. I am active - God has blessed me with good health - and we are off to Africa once again, this time purely as tourists. I volunteer at three places; the Zoo, the Air Museum, and the local hospital. I live on a golf course, but have to wait for the cooler weather to play.

While at SKS, I was the varsity baseball captain—and the Assistant Head Boy—and played softball in a church league until last year. I should have hung up my spikes several years ago! I do remain a loyal Dodger fan, and root hard for Navy and the Denver Broncos.

I loved my years "On the Mountain" both as a student and teacher. It kick-started me on a life that I hope I have lived well. And as Johnny Carson once said, "There's more to come!"

I'm taking MY commercial break now. I hope to get back home to the Mountain before long.

Brian Harrington ’60 wrote: I have long since retired and am having a great time. I’ve been traveling a lot with Martha, especially for bird-watching and getting away from southeastern Massachusetts in Feb./March. We spent over a month in Costa Rica earlier this year. I am still doing some work as consultant (contractor) to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, especially focusing on a sandpiper called the Red Knot which I have been researching for decades. It’s one of the most amazing migrations in the animal kingdom, in my unbiased view. Alas, it is a threatened species. I am stepping down after six years as president of a local watershed association, and meanwhile becoming more active with climate change through the Citizens Climate Lobby.

Geoffrey Field ’80 wrote: Unfortunately, I could not make this year’s Career Night due to my schedule, but Lynn Crevling’s invitation prompted me to pause and reflect on the full spectrum of my SKS memories (1976-1980). I recalled the friendships, the majestic Storm King setting, the cold winters, and the outstanding mentors who were a blessing to me and many other students. I was surrounded by some wonderful people, such as the Hortons, Bill Cesario, Mary Meynardie, the Kolewes, and Coach V. My father continually reminds me that his decision to enroll me in the SKS program was one of the best decisions he ever made. I did have a small part in that decision process, and to this day, I unequivocally concur.

Since my graduation from SKS in 1980, I served 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, a

How are you?

Communities thrive on communication. If you don’t see any news about your classmates, it’s because no one has sent us an update. We’d love to hear from you—and keeping up with the Storm King community has never been easier. web: sks.org/Classnotes call: 845. 458. 7517 email: classnotes@sks.org

Please let us know how you’re doing.

Please go to sks.org/Classnotes for the most up-to-date information on classmates, including obituaries. sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2018 / 35

“Marine One” Aircraft Commander for President Bush (20012005), served as the Commanding Officer of a Marine squadron that safely and successfully deployed to Iraq twice (20062008). In 2008, I chose to retire from the Marine Corps achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since then, I continue to work in the aviation industry, supporting my passion for flight and stewardship, piloting a three-crew medical helicopter.

My wife Phyllis and I have three sons and three grandchildren. Other interests besides spending time with family include fishing, kayaking, and spending time in warm weather. I am blessed to have experienced four years at The Storm King School, and without question, it was one of the reasons I live a purpose-driven life, experience a successful aviation career, enjoy community service, and maintain good health. Thank you SKS. Gregory Frank ’89 wrote: Hi everyone! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on the Mountain this year. I’m living on Long Island, have two kids in high school, and remember our time at SKS like it was yesterday. Feel free to reach out on Facebook, and hope you’re all doing well!

Monifa (Meachem) Tarjamo ’90 wrote: I ran into Gregory Frank, class of 1989 in Boston. Our sons were playing in an ice hockey tournament and happened to be in the same rink, but playing on different teams. I was up from Maryland and Greg was up from Long Island. It was a great surprise and so fun catching up! This is our second surprise meeting in a hockey rink - last year it was in Long Island.

Storm King Proud!

Bridget Wickiser ’18 wrote from her gap year teaching in the highlands of Ecuador: “You will have no electricity and you will be teaching English for about nine hours a day,” they told me when I arrived. I immediately felt myself choke down tears while wondering what I gotten myself in to this time. I fought back the little voice that was reminding me that I should have just gone to college right away. I left so much behind in the States: my family, Reese’s peanut butter cups, autumn with its bright red and yellow leaves, and all of my friends. I traded all of that for concrete floors, saying “no se” every few seconds, and eating Guinea pig for breakfast. Negative thoughts about not being able to handle this for eight months began creeping

36 / CLASS NOTES

into my mind, but after the first week of my time in Ecuador, all my fears proved unfounded. On my the bus ride out of Quito on the way to Cayambe, I looked out the window at incredible mountains and a volcano and I found myself feeling very small, but determined to be a positive force in this beautiful land. In the weeks that have followed, I've found that teaching English has challenged me to use every ounce of patience I have while looking for creative ways to communicate and integrate into the elementary school, my host family, and my community outside Cayambe. The transition to moving to Ecuador has not been easy, but I feel so much more helpful because the work is really needed; so I am happy to roll up my sleeves and help with my host family's farm animals and chores, the teaching of the Kitwa children, and the integration into my community. I'm grateful for the years of preparation and international experience that The Storm King School provided me and I'm thankful to the Global Citizen Year leadership for all the help in providing me tools to prepare for the culture shock and for adapting to my home here in the highlands of Ecuador. The experiential education that the SKS staff provided helped me learn so much.

In Memoriam 1945

1972

Paul Denecke

Sebastian Houseman

Dec. 10, 2016

June 6, 2018

1948

1976

Norman Jeavons

Douglas Rodham

July 15, 2018

Dec. 13, 2016

1968

1995

William Morris

Kevin T. Van Amburgh

Nov. 21, 2014

July 21, 2017

1971

2011

Carl Zirkenbach

Shea "Dylan" Kaarby

Aug. 10, 2018

Oct. 22, 2018

FACULTY AND STAFF 1969 Peter A. Hendricks Feb. 28, 2018

This year, instead of asking you to ‘donate’ to The Storm King School, we ask that you invest in us.

With every gift received and pledge made, your generosity supports academic innovation. It is our responsibility to create an academic environment where our students are active participants in their education. You are supporting an engaged student body in becoming productive global citizens in the 21st Century.

We hope you will join us today in supporting our School and learning community. We are excited about the future of The Storm King School and the individual futures of our students.

The difference between donating and investing lies in the impact - with your investment you expect to see a real and quantifiable impact on the community you have supported. At Storm King, your investments are key to every outcome and we are happy to see the results every day on our campus.

For more information contact:

Make your gift online at:

sks.org/give

The Storm King School Alumni & Development 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520 845. 458. 7522 sks.org/A-Tradition-of-Support

On the Mountain

The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER SINCE 1867