On the Mountain Fall 2019

On the Mountain

THE STORM KING SCHOOL JOURNAL FALL 2019

Voyage of a Lifetime —KEN SWAN ’72

Creative Writing:

A HERO'S JOURNEY Volleyball: SKS' Rising Stars

Board of Trustees Officers

Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 Chair Michele 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 Sands Tobin P’20 Christine E. Watson ’94 Trustees Emeriti

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 origin, 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: Lynn Crevling ’72 Anne Fulton P ’09 Sarah Fulton ’09 Jonathan W.R. Lamb Jeanette McMahon P’17 Marek Pramuka P’20 Michaela Pramuka P’20 Toni Scherrer Eileen Swan Ken Swan ’72 Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P’19 OTM Contact info:

On the

M ountain

The Storm King School Journal FALL 2019

F E AT U R E S

4 Voyage of a Lifetime

otm@sks.org

Ken Swan ’72 talks of the challenges, adventures, and lessons learned while sailing around the world

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

10 The Future is Bright for SKS Summer Programs

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: Students enjoying their first formal dinner of the 2019-20 school year.

ON THE COVER: FRONT: Girls Varsity Volleyball players Jojo Gong ’20 and Zoe Buddie ’22 at the net during HVAL Semi Final versus Oakwood.

BACK: Faculty and staff playing volleyball against the seniors in 1971. Headmaster Frank Brogan is in the plaid shorts to the right, and Assistant Headmaster Thad Horton in sweatpants with his back to the camera.

The summer of 2019 was busier than ever with the success of our growing Summer Programs

14 Morgan Papera ’20 Meet this Storm King senior who is "into everything" and epitomizes SKS' core values — Truth, Respect, Responsibility

16 Volleyball: SKS' Rising Star This fall has been an exciting season for SKS Athletics, especially the rising girls volleyball team

D E PA RT M E N TS

2 From the Headmaster 3 Letters & Comments 18 Mountain Road 151st Commencement, Spring Musical Mamma Mia!, Faculty Profile, Spring Athletics: Team Summaries, Model UN, NHS Inductions, The Plunge, From the Classroom: Writing & Literature from a Hero's Perspective

32 The Common Room Reunion Weekend 2019, Alumni Awards Recipients 2019, Meet our New Trustee, Alumni Council Update

38 Events & Notes 39 Class Notes 40 In Memoriam

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From The Headmaster JONATHAN W.R. LAMB

Dear Storm King Family The 2019-20 school year has gotten off to a tremendous start. We opened school in September with an enrollment of 190 students, a record opening number. And two months later when we set the clocks back in early November the positive ‘new school year’ energy is still going strong.

Over the past seven years, Storm King has made remarkable progress. In the summer of 2012, our Board of Trustees met with key administrators to establish a strategic vision for the School (https://sks.org/strategic-vision-2012-2022/).

That work led to our last two five year strategic plans which established specific goals of increasing enrollment, enhancing our campus to mirror the beauty that surrounds us, increasing revenue to support improved facilities and scholarships, creating more efficient ‘systems’ in all of our offices, and continuing to rebuild and connect with our alumni and friends of the School. All of the goals of the first plan were met well ahead of schedule, and we have met all goals to date in the 2017-22 Strategic Plan.

Those of you have been part of our community during this period have not only witnessed the changes, but many of you have actively participated in helping us grow and move forward. Thank you for all that you have done.

In the days ahead, we will be reaching out to all of you as we move toward one of our major goals which is to build a new academic center. This building will address both our growing student body and provide a teaching and learning setting that meets the needs of 21st century students and faculty. During the summer, a committee of trustees and administrators helped to identify an architect for the building. Some steps remain before we can identify a calendar and develop full plans for the project, but we hope that you are as excited as we are about this important step for the School.

This fall’s edition of On the Mountain features wonderful stories about alumni, current students and programs, and updates about many campus events including last June’s Reunion Weekend, our 151st Commencement, and campus activities over the past year.

Sincerely, Jonathan W.R. Lamb

Letters & Comments Dear OTM, I just finished reading the piece in On The Mountain re: Maia and Frank Brogan.

Thank you for such a well-written and informative narrative. Although I did not know the Brogans, I did spend a little time at that same dining room table at Spy Rock!

The Brogan’s life-long commitment to youth and education along with their drive to contribute to leaving this world better than they found it, shines through.

Regards, John G. Stebbins ’78

Missed one of our past issues?

You can view previous issues of the OTM online by visiting:

sks.org/on-the-mountain/ "On Schoolhouse Pond" was written in tribute to Maia Brogan by Lynn Crevling ’72, in collaboration with Meg Brogan Adley and Tom Donahue, and published in On the Mountain Spring 2019 pg. 14

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“Whatever your dream is, if you are Ken Swan, you can make it happen” — Eileen Swan

4 / MOUNTAIN ROAD

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

KEN SWAN ’72

Meet Captain Ken and the Reluctant Sailor

Voyage of a Lifetime

BY ELIZABETH WILSON TAVILOGLU P’19

For many, international travel is more often a dream than a reality. But, sometimes, in between our daily obligations and the humdrum of our 9-to-5s, the hidden adventurer within us still gazes out the window, dreaming of dropping everything just to travel the world.

For one Storm King alumnus and his wife, the idea of circumnavigating the globe by sailboat had been on the table since they first met, not to be uttered again for the next three decades. Then, following successful careers and 30 years of marriage, the dream resurfaced with a vengeance. So, the couple bought themselves a sailboat, retrofitted her, and the rest is history.

If you can keep up the pace, cruise along with us to see how this chemical engineer-turned sailor with a knack for fixing things realized his life-long dream and sparked the imaginations of our students and the hidden adventurer in all of us.

T

hroughout the school year, Thursday nights at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre are set aside for the community to come together and enjoy engaging presentations, impactful speakers, games, and other events. That was certainly the case on the evening of September 26, 2019, when the School hosted two very special guests as the year’s first Thursday Night Speakers— Storm King alumnus Ken Swan ’72 and his wife Eileen.

Affectionately known in cruising circles as “Captain Ken and the Reluctant Sailor,” the couple returned to campus after many years to share their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned while sailing around the world. “Whatever your dream is, if you are Ken Swan, you can make it happen,” explained Eileen in her opening words. “We first met in Ireland when Ken informed me we would be sailing around the world someday– and then did not mention it again for more than 30 years,” she joked. “In December of 2014, Ken retired and everything changed. Before a group of friends he announced, finally, that we would sail around the world. So, in 2015, we bought a sailboat and the rest is history.”

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the best weather. Of course, most participating boats have a crew of six or seven people for the journey. We were just two,” explained Eileen.

From Engineer to Captain

Exploring with a power rigger in the Cocos Keeling Island Group

Moving from a successful career in chemical engineering to a lengthy stint on the high seas was a surprisingly easy decision for Ken Elieen and a Koala

27,550+ Nautical Miles For the next hour, Ken and Eileen took the audience through a series of breathtaking slides illustrating their journey that lasted nearly three years from the time they first purchased Aurora in 2015, through the six months they needed to retrofit and test her, and the two-year sailing journey which began and ended in the British Virgin Islands on beautiful Saint Lucia.

6 / KEN SWAN ’72

Our students were riveted as they watched a colorful slideshow and listened to the engaging couple take turns telling stories about their adventures—the preparations, the hardships, the highs and the lows, and the natural beauty they experienced along a route which took them from the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, on to the Pacific Islands, around the Cape of Good Hope, across the South Atlantic, up the coast of Brazil, and back to Saint Lucia for the finish.

Several students raised their hands with the simple question of “How did you do it?” “We sailed with the help of a cruising organization called World ARC. Circumventing the globe with World ARC allowed us to cruise in the company of other boats while giving us a lot of free time to explore as we wished,” explained Eileen. “The pace set for each leg of the journey helps to keep the fleet together and communicating, while enjoying the shore-side activities as a group, and keeping with

As the couple continued to talk about their encounters with local residents and unique wildlife at each destination, it became evident that moving from a successful career in chemical engineering to a lengthy stint on the high seas was a surprisingly easy decision for Ken, even though both he and Eileen had been new to sailing. “I knew absolutely nothing,” Eileen laughed. “I’m not even a good swimmer.

Ken, on the other hand, has always had a keen interest in knowing how things work...and how to fix them. If there is one thing you learn while sailing around the world, it’s that you have to make things work,” she explained as the students laughed. “These skills are critical–maybe even lifesaving.”

“Lifesaving they were, indeed,” continued Ken, as he told of their most trying moments at sea. “We had many wonderful experiences, but we also had some terrifying ones,” admitted Eileen as she described how they weathered storms, fixed malfunctioning sails in high winds, pumped out water, repaired equipment, and patched leaks. Their encounter of spending 21 nights in a row on the open seas in pitch blackness was especially harrowing, prompting Ken to ask the audience “Are we crazy?”

Finnish Affinity Ken attributes at least some of his craziness and his affinity for sailing, loosely in part, to his Finnish heritage. “All four of my grandparents came from Finland arriving in New York on sailing ships. All my relatives (with the exception of a sister and niece who live in Sonoma, CA) still live in Finland. That must count for something,” he said with a smile. “When I was 10, my dad took me out for the first time on a small sailboat, a Sunfish, into Vineyard Sound, MA, for a sail. About a mile off shore we got stuck in a thick bank of fog. After tacking around for a while, my dad asked me which way it was back to the beach. I looked left and right then pointed to the left. He said ‘Nope, it’s to the right.’ So, we sailed to the right and ended up back on shore. I was awed. Within days of that first sail I decided that I would sail around the world someday.”

Stillman Hall 9 By the time he arrived at The Storm King School as a freshman in 1968, Ken had already become a fan of the outdoors, spending most of his time “outside and in the woods with friends.” “As I was less than a focused student back then, Dad thought it would give me an advantage to go to a private school. We checked out a few but I fell in love with the

magnificent campus setting up on the Mountain, applied for my freshman year at Storm King, and was accepted starting Sept 1968 —a million years ago,” Ken explained.

“I still thoroughly enjoy nature and gained a great respect for it during my years on the Mountain, mostly from art teacher and naturalist Lance Elwell,” Ken continued. “One of Lance’s great deeds was to leverage the talents of the Mountaineering Club to ‘un-paint’ all the graffiti present on the south side of Storm King Mountain.”

Ken also explained that his fascination with what “some adults call engineering” also began at an early age.

If fact, he credits his teachers at SKS and his time on the Mountain with growing his interest and setting him on the right path. “It all began right there in Room 9 of Stillman Hall,” he explained to the students. “At Storm King, I definitely leaned more toward the nerdy end of the spectrum, getting more pleasure out of science and art than sports.”

Functional Fixedness “Alan Bernstein, my chemistry and science teacher at SKS, held a small engines class where each student had to fix a broken lawn mower engine. He took us through the steps; first, understanding how the thing worked and then learning the practical applications. During that course, one of the concepts I learned was that of ‘functional fixedness.’ Basically, things are developed to fit a need or form and Homo sapiens get used to using those things in specific ways. What they don’t realize is that there are most likely many other ways things can be used should a different need or crisis arise— like when sailing off-shore and something critical breaks! This ‘thinking out-of-the-box’ concept, or should I say ‘talent,’ learned at SKS has served me very well through the years; most recently during our circumnavigation, fixing stuff on board while sailing with Eileen double-handed around the world,” he explained.

“Another thing I did not do much of before arriving at SKS was to plan ahead. Procrastination was one of my main pre-SKS skills. SKS, in an informal way, taught me to become a planner. Funny enough, I have read numerous studies on traits of highly successful people and all pointed out one of the characteristics or traits of all successful people is that they plan ahead. It was that planning which allowed Eileen and I to live the dream– traveling and completing the circumnavigation, that is,” Ken continued.

wittingly or not, proved to be critical during the voyage. Ken then embarked on his career designing and building pharmaceutical and biotech facilities for multinational companies including Schering and Merck.

“Bernie [Alan Bernstein] was responsible for causing me to pursue a career in chemistry… but, more importantly, he nurtured my intense interest in knowing how things worked. I combined those two things and ended up with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Then I worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for almost 30 years designing, constructing, and starting up biotech, organic synthesis, and pharmaceutical facilities both locally and abroad,” Ken continued. “I was lucky to be working at the advent of biotechnology and was charged with building the first interferon manufacturing facility. During the project, I had the privilege of working with some excellent scientists and engineers while we helped shape the biotech industry. But I always remembered Bernie.”

The Innkeeper's Daughter “My second stroke of luck came when I met Eileen, my Eilo,” continued Ken with a smile. “Schering had a challenging project going on in Ireland in 1980 and sent me over to investigate. I unwittingly ended up meeting my future in-laws on that trip when I stayed at their Vale View Hotel out in the hills of County Wicklow.

Ken canoeing on Moodna Creek with the SKS Mountaineers

"At Storm King, I definitely leaned more toward the nerdy end of the spectrum, getting more pleasure out of science and art than sports." — Ken Ken and Eileen observing wildlife in Lombor, Indonesia

Shaping Biotech & Pharm Following graduation from SKS in 1972, Ken went on to study at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), earning a BS in Chemical Engineering. Then, shortly after college, he received his pilot’s license, allowing him to acquire skills in navigation, radio, and weather– which all,

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 7

Islands,” Ken continued. “We became great friends over the next year or so. After she refused me twice, she finally consented the third time I asked her to marry me. So, I married the innkeeper's daughter, Eilo, from County Wicklow, Ireland in 1984!”

Four days after the wedding, Ken and Eileen came to the USA, a country she had yet to visit. Eileen settled in quickly and eventually became so ensconced in America, she was elected the mayor of their town, Lebanon, NJ, and later served in numerous high-level capacities advocating for the environment. “After a time, my Eilo ended up running state planning for NJ where she did many good deeds,” explained Ken proudly. “Her best was protecting almost 1 million acres known as the NJ Highlands which provides water for over 5 million NJ residents now, and more importantly for generations to come.”

The Finish

Ken at the helm of Aurora

"I live to learn, experience as much as possible, and have fun. I also enjoy a bit of excitement but I expect that will start to wane at some point." — Ken Eileen at a vegetable market in Vanuatu

8 / KEN SWAN ’72

After eight weeks, I reported back to headquarters. They asked me go over again to see the project through. So I ended up living at the Vale View Hotel for two years. My second year at the hotel, I met this lovely girl standing in the doorway to the main bar when I went to get lunch.” After that first encounter, Ken couldn’t get her out of his mind for the rest of the day.

“That night, my princess (then a secondary English and history teacher) was still there. She was running the place while her folks were away on vacation in the Canary

In light of her impressive resume and everything she accomplished over the years, Eileen went on to tell the students in her closing words that the voyage was still the greatest thing she ever did. “For me, it was not only the most challenging time of my life, but also the most rewarding,” she explained. Ken, equally successful in his career as a chemical engineer, also professed a similar sentiment after crossing the finish line. “It has been a great adventure. Of course, we felt a great sense of accomplishment crossing that finish line. The world became a much smaller place to us over those 15 months. It is a wonderful planet we live on and is well worth the effort to explore and better understand it. There were no prizes for overall ratings at the final awards dinner but Aurora, in 15 legs, took four firsts, three seconds, and three thirds. Not bad for an old girl and a crew of two!”

Closing Advice Following the presentation, the couple was met with hearty applause and cheers from the students, who remained upright in their seats, engaged, and asking interesting questions throughout the evening. One student, senior Gabriel V. ’20, was particularly moved

by Ken and Eileen’s story: “Mr. and Mrs. Swan went above and beyond in the presentation of their travels. The entire slideshow consisted of stunning pictures taken by Mrs. Swan herself. There was not a single photo that did not have a fun and exciting story tied to it. The audience was captured by the amazing tales of travel, adventure, and discovery shared with us. Each story spoken made the audience feel a sense of freedom or adventure as if they were there themselves.

Although the entire time in the theater was spent by

them sharing stories, you knew it was only a fraction of what they had actually experienced. Their time spent with us is greatly appreciated and I wish them well and happy lives.”

On lessons learned and advice to the students for the future, Ken reciprocated the sentiment: “I live to learn, experience as much as possible, and have fun. I also enjoy a bit of excitement but I expect that will start to wane at some point. I was very lucky to find a wonderful lady and convinced her to marry me and share the fun. That was the best thing I have ever done along with having our daughter, Lara. I expected I would get more serious as I aged but that has not happened yet.

Even though I was a chemical engineer by profession I liked to think of myself as more of a ‘comical engineer.’ I found that the most productive environment to study and to work in is a happy, fun, trusting one.

It was always one I had here at Storm King and it was always one of my goals to provide this in my working life. Having this is a no-brainer success enabler. I hope all of you have found this here on the Mountain and will find or recreate it in your own future lives.”

"It was not only the most challenging time of my life, but also the most rewarding" — Eileen Sunset at sea

SKS Charitable Gift Annuity Income for Today, a Legacy for Tomorrow

A charitable gift annuity with The Storm King School is a gift that gives back. It can provide you and/or another beneficiary with a stable income for life. You may also receive an immediate tax deduction.

To learn more about the 1867 Society, contact Tom Fogarty at tfogarty@sks.org or 845. 458. 7564

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Atletico de Madrid's 2019 soccer camp held at SKS

The Future is Bright for SKS Summer Programs

K

nown for its rigorous academic program, vibrant student life, and close proximity to New York City, SKS attracts 195 young scholars from all over the nation and the world during the school year. More recently, SKS’ scenic, mountaintop campus has also become a strong contender for hosting high-quality summer programs and the summer of 2019 was busier than ever with a total of eight programs and nearly 300 young campers enjoying the SKS campus.

The fun began in early July with soccer kicking off SKS’ summer program roster once again this year. Following the success of the Arsenal Soccer Camp in the summer of 2018, Atletico de Madrid, another well-known European club, chose our campus for their summer training camp. After a week of drilling and training on the main athletic field, nearly 30 young players and their coaches left the Mountain smiling and with great things to say. A second group called Global Learning Travel soon followed with 26 middle schoolers and their teachers from China who used the campus and its great location for their English Immersion in NY program through July 30.

In addition, SKS welcomed the New York Fencing Academy and their total of nearly 150 international fencers of varying ages, who took advantage of SKS’ recently refurbished fencing rooms in the gymnasium from July 21 through August 10. After their departure, Thrust Fencing Academy continued to use the campus and athletic facilities through August 18.

Alongside our visiting camps, summer 2019 also saw the expansion of SKS’ own summer enrichment programs run by SKS faculty. Fifty boarding and day campers converged on campus for SKS’ Mountain Biking & Personal Development and Summer Theatre on the Mountain programs, and the Storm King Summer Film School. To top off the summer line-up, Storm King’s much-anticipated Fashion Design Workshop took place on July 29 through August 10. During the two-week Summer Fashion Workshop

10 / SKS SUMMER PROGRAMS

Summer Theater on the Mountain

program, students learned essential sewing and design skills and created their own clothing and accessories. The program culminated with a mini fashion show attended by parents and local media.

Based on the growing success of SKS’ summer programs, planning for next year is already underway according to SKS’ Director of Summer Programs Ben Harnick: “In the summer of 2020, we plan to host an even wider variety of camps and larger groups of students who want to take advantage of our beautiful campus and facilities. We also anticipate the continued success and growth of our own programs like Theatre on the Mountain, Fashion Design, Mountain Biking, and Filmmaking based on the positive feedback we’ve received so far.”

SUMMER THEATER ON THE MOUNTAIN “Our hope is that SKS’ own programs will also help to bring in new, full-time students for the upcoming academic year. They are a great way for teens with interests in these areas to work with our faculty and get to know our school,” continued Mr. Harnick. “The Summer Theater on the Mountain program is a great example.

During the summer, the campers followed a program very similar to what our fulltime students do during the school year. After two weeks of hard work, they put on two lively performances of Disney’s High School Musical. One student loved the program so much that she decided to enroll full time this fall.

According to Storm King’s Performing Arts Chair Anne Fulton, who ran the program and co-directed the musical with Sarah Fulton ’09, the summer program was a great success despite the challenges of working within a two-week time frame. “We actually found the short rehearsal period to work really well– we had five hours a day of very concentrated work with the cast,” explained Mrs. Fulton. “We started out working primarily on the music. Billy Blair, our Music Director, was very organized and quickly divided the cast up into groups according to their vocal range. He had the cast singing harmonies on the first day and by the second day had all full-cast musical numbers taught.”

“Learning the dance routines in such a short time was also a challenge,” continued Mrs. Fulton. “SKS’ dance instructor Jeanette Jacobson worked with the cast on the dance numbers from 2:00-4:00 pm each day and had all of them ready by the end of the first week. My co-director Sarah Fulton and I staged the scenes and

worked with the campers on their lines and characters throughout the day when they weren’t singing or dancing, so there was constant activity throughout every day. In addition to being wonderfully talented, the campers were very enthusiastic and cooperative, so the process was fun for everyone. We also had four campers who worked backstage building and painting the set while the others rehearsed.”

“High School Musical was the right show for our first summer theater camp as there are a lot of parts and the kids were already familiar with the characters, story, and songs. The audience’s response to the performances was wonderful,” continued Mrs. Fulton.

“We had a full house for the Saturday performance and they gave the kids a standing ovation. The campers and their parents all said that they’d love to participate again next year and that they were telling their friends to join as well. The fact that we offer boarding and meals sets our camp apart from other local programs and makes it attractive to working parents.”

SUMMER FASHION WORKSHOP Along with theater, Storm King’s Summer Fashion Design Workshop was another new program offered for the first time in 2019. Also a two-week program, the fashion workshop was designed to complement Storm King’s Fashion Design course offered during the school year. During the program, fashion-minded students learn the technical skills of sewing, pattern making, and the creative skills of sketching and working with fabrics including printmaking on fabrics, and 3-D design. The program also touches on the history of design, fashion marketing, and the manufacturing

Summer Theater on the Mountain

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SKS Summer Film School

process including sustainable fabrics and industrial processes.

SKS art teacher Megan Liggett, who teaches the course and runs the summer workshop, said there has been growing interest in SKS’ fashion program and while the camp isn’t as intensive as the full-year course, it offers a sampling of projects students would work on during the school year. “The summer workshop is a great opportunity for prospective students to test the waters before committing to a full semester of classes,” explained Ms. Liggett. “The theme we worked toward was “summer beach” and by the end of the two-week workshop, participants created and took home an ensemble fit for the beach.”

“The first day of camp focused on learning to sew by hand as the students created felt name tags, a sampler baby tapestry, and a pillowcase. These simple pieces allowed the campers to learn various stitches and perfect their skills,” continued Ms. Liggett. “We also looked at the differences between natural and man-made fibers and took a field trip to JoAnn Fabrics which allowed the students to pick out their own materials for their beach outfits. The beach outfits consisted of a tank top, a circle skirt, plus accessories, jewelry and hats.

The high point of the two-week program was a mini fashion show, called Fashion in Paradise, where the campers showed off their beach creations to family, friends, and local media. It was the perfect ending to celebrate the campers’ hard work and two weeks filled with hands-on learning. “I’m very proud of all my summer students, and I hope to see them back in 2020, as well as in my fashion class at SKS,” continued Ms. Liggett.

SKS SUMMER FILM SCHOOL On the same day the Summer Fashion Workshop held their fashion show, the Storm King Summer Film School presented a short film created by the young filmmakers who participated in this well-known SKS summer program.

The hands-on workshop, run by SKS’ Director of Video Production Zhenya Kiperman, teaches students to write, direct, act, edit, produce, and present a short film.

The participants worked intensively with Mr. Kiperman during the three-week program which involved one week of scriptwriting, one week of shooting, and a final week of post-production. “We had a very ambitious schedule. Three weeks is a very short time, even for professionals, to create and produce a quality film,” explained

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Mr. Kiperman. He was pleased with his students’ progress and stressed that each one brought something different and unique to the experience.

The premiere screening of ‘Study Hall’ took place at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre on August 10, 2019. ‘Study Hall’ is a heartwarming story about two teenage girls stuck in study hall for 24 hours who learn about life and each other. Following the screening, Mr. Kiperman and his pupils discussed their experiences and answered questions about the project and the program.

More recently, ‘Study Hall’ was accepted by the New York Short Film Festival along with the SKS Summer Film School’s 2018 production of ‘Heaven Can Wait.’

Both films screen in early November 2019 at New York City’s Cinema Village and the students involved will receive IMDB credits for their work. “I am very proud of my summer students again this year and the success of the program has really come to light. I’m looking forward to meeting more young filmmakers next summer,” explained Mr. Kiperman.

MOUNTAIN BIKING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Another growing summer program is called Mountain Biking & Personal Development, also known in short as Focused Riding. This two-week program combines mountain bike skill-building with personal development and academic support. Based on the principles outlined in Dr. John Ratey’s book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, the program is designed to increase focus, attention, and mindfulness for students with ADHD and executive functioning challenges.

Now moving into its third summer, Focused Riding has succeeded in attracting campers from the Hudson Valley and as far as Chicago. With its mixture of rigorous riding and daily exercise, academic work, eating healthy, and limiting the use of electronics, the program provides campers with an ideal balance of learning and fun.

The program was created by Storm King’s Director of Academic Support David Mendlewski, who is also an avid mountain biker and coaches mountain biking during the school year. “I got the idea after a friend, whose 14-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD, told me how mountain biking had helped the boy improve his focus and his organizational and time management skills in school,” said Mendlewski. “It seemed only natural to combine my 20-plus years of working with kids with attention deficit disorders and other learning challenges with my passion for mountain biking.”

According to Mr. Mendlewski, a typical morning

during the program begins with a 30 to 45-minute warm-up ride on campus and in Black Rock Forest, immediately followed by academic work focused on reading comprehension. After lunch, students travel to fantastic locations across the Hudson Valley for their afternoon rides. This past summer, the group visited beautiful locations including Stewart State Forest, Minnewaska State Park, and took an overnight trip to Lake George. They also had a great time trying out their skills at the Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park on obstacles from easy to very technical such as logs, bridges, and jumps.

“Our academic theme this year focused on reading, writing, and presentation,” continued Mr. Mendlewski.

“The campers chose their own topics including artificial intelligence, how over-the-counter medications affect the brain, dinosaurs, and others. The skills they learned over two weeks culminated in a PowerPoint presentation to their mentors, fellow campers, and parents on the last day of camp.”

“On the final day, the campers also competed against one another in a race on the trails near Ogden Hall so their families could witness their progress. We also ended with a Rock Ceremony where each student was handed back the rock they collected on the first day of camp in Black Rock Forest. We want them to keep the rock as a reminder of their accomplishments and the goals they set for next summer,” said Mr. Mendlewski.

With two successful summers completed, Mr. Mendlewski is already planning for summer 2020. “One of our campers, Max from Chicago, wishes to return for the third summer in a row. I would like to begin promoting our more experienced campers to become Counselors in Training (CITs). Working with a few CITs would allow us to accept even more students into the program, while still keeping a very personal focus on each camper,” explains Mr. Mendlewski.

“I’m very pleased with the outcome of the program and the progress of our campers. Next year can only get better!”

PAUL & COLLEEN RYAN P’23 FACES IN PHILANTHROPY “The Storm King School isn’t just a school. What our boys are getting out of it is so much more. Not only is the School about educating students, but it also focuses on teaching the student as a whole on an individual basis. The kindness of the teachers and their investment in our children’s success, not only as students but as people, and the lifelong skills that they are developing, are invaluable. This is our second year at the School. Right from the beginning the boys were smiling and making friends as well as participating in events and volunteering for off-campus service trips such as the Newburgh Armory.

When you get so much out of an experience, it feels right to give back, regardless of the amount. We want to ensure the School has sufficient parental support to help maintain the campus and attract new students and faculty. That is why we give.”

— Colleen Ryan P’23

Mountain Biking and Personal Development

The Storm King Fund sks.org/give sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 13

MORGAN PAPERA ’20

I amSKS

enough. Then, my mother discovered Storm King.

I came to visit the campus and I loved it. On the day of my visit, I shadowed two girls, Caroline H. and Allegra W., who are still my best friends today. I remember sitting in on Mr. Bennett’s math class that day. He is a great teacher and his class was really fun. Making the decision to come to Storm King was easy.

Q: How do you think SKS compares with other schools?

MP: I think the biggest difference is the amount of support students have here.

Not just academically, but outside of class; from teachers, coaches, dorm parents, advisors, and other students. It really feels like a family. The small classes make it almost impossible not to participate and teachers pay a lot of attention to each student. Before I came to SKS, I would never speak in class. Here, I was always encouraged to talk, even if I had the wrong answer. I was able to build my confidence and, now, I have no problem speaking in class, making a presentation, or performing on stage.

Q: Now as a 5-year senior, how has the School changed since you arrived?

MP: I have seen the improvements made in the girls’ dorms and also how much

A

ll of our students at The Storm King School are exceptional, each in their own way. While some excel academically, others command the athletic field, grace the stage or the canvas, or work tirelessly to serve our local community. Sometimes, however, a student will come along who manages to stand out, even among this highly talented group, and emerge as a leader and a role model wearing many different hats.

Meet Morgan Papera ‘20. Morgan is a 5-year senior at SKS, and is best-known by her peers for her excellent grades, her calm demeanor, her talents as an actress and singer, and as Morgan herself says: “getting involved in everything.” In a recent interview with On the Mountain, Morgan told us about her journey at SKS which began in the eighth grade, her future aspirations in the hospitality industry, and how she has come to embody the School’s core values and everything that is Storm King.

the Theater Program has grown. But more than the School, I’ve seen myself change from the eighth grade until today. For example, when I first arrived, I had never played sports. I was so uncoordinated that Ms. Barbosa actually had to teach me the right way to run in order to play soccer! I switched to volleyball in 10th grade and I’m a captain this year. We won the HVAL trophy last year and we are doing great again this year.

I think my sophomore year was a turning point for me. That’s when I really began to come out of my shell. In addition to sports, I got involved in dance, the

Q: Where are you from and what brought you to SKS? MP: As a child, I used to live with my mother in Newburgh, New York, and later moved to Verona, New Jersey, about 30 minutes away from New York City. I stayed there with my grandmother for several years. Unfortunately, both my family and I felt my former schools weren’t challenging

14 / I AM SKS

Morgan at Mountain Day in her eighth grade year at SKS

choir and theater. Last year, as a junior, I got to play the lead role in the spring musical Mamma Mia! It was an amazing experience and I’ll remember it forever. This year, I’m not acting in the fall production, but I’m helping out the stage crew behind the scenes on a regular basis.

Q: Besides athletics and the performing arts, what else have you been involved in?

MP: As a junior, I worked as a Resident Assistant in my dorm. I really liked being there to talk to the other girls and give them advice or help when they needed it. I was also a member of the School’s Judicial Committee last year. This year, I am serving as the President of the National Honor Society (NHS) and am leading a new Student Council committee called the Menu Committee.

Q: What are your plans for the Menu Committee?

MP:

The food at SKS has always been good, but in general, many students wanted more of a say in what they eat and what is on the menu every day. Also, we have so many international students with different tastes and requirements. The Student Council surveyed the students last year, and based on the results, they decided to form a committee. Once it was approved by the School, they asked me to lead it. My goal is to get people excited about the food, have even more variety, and get everyone engaged in what they eat. I want to please as many people as possible. Our plan is to meet with Chef Andrew and the dining staff a few times a month to discuss any complaints or issues students may be having with the food, to talk over items in the suggestion boxes, and to recommend specific items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For example, this month, students are asking for foods like sweet potato fries, hamburgers, and more menus that

In the Capitol subway with Senator Booker and fellow page.

include beef and seafood. We even asked to have sushi on some days.

Q: What are your aspirations after graduation from SKS? MP: I am very interested in a career in the hospitality industry. For college, my first choice is Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. My mother also studied hospitality there, so I would be a legacy. I have also applied to other colleges known for their hospitality programs including Northern Arizona University and the University of San Francisco.

Growing up, my dad owned several restaurants in New Jersey and in Ithaca, New York that served French cuisine, and now he has a catering company that also features French cooking. I spent a lot of time in his restaurants and even learned to be a hostess and wait tables when I was 14. The business side of running a restaurant really interests me.

My mom has also influenced me a lot. She teaches Menu Planning at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and sometimes we plan menus together. I also like the creative aspect and the “front of house.” One day, I hope to open my own restaurants or coffee shops.

Maybe I can come back to SKS someday and make the subject of my tenth grade cornerstone project—to open a coffee shop in the student center—a reality. I already have the business plan completed!

Winter Concert 2018

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 15

Girls Volleyball:

The Rising Stars of SKS Athletics

After the excitement of winning their first HVAL championship in 15 years last fall, the girls volleyball team hit the ground running this year. With the return of several strong and experienced players and the addition of some highly-skilled new faces, the team is ready to take on the HVAL (Hudson Valley Athletic League) once again and expected to rank high in their class (New England Prep School Athletic Conference– Class D). The secret to their success: a combination of hard work, dedication, skill building, and the newest addition to their routine–mindfulness and meditation.

T

he last several years have been exciting ones for Storm King Athletics, especially for the girls JV and varsity volleyball teams. Last fall, both squads ended a power-packed season on the highest possible note when the varsity team became one of SKS’ five HVAL champions that swept the conference in all five sports offered during the fall season.

The win was the School’s first championship title for volleyball in 15 years and a benchmark for the team.

Fast-forward to the start of the fall 2019 season; the team’s positivity and determination was evident right out of the box when they beat archrival Faith Christian Academy 3-0 in their season opener. Coach Jeanette McMahon was ecstatic about the win and about her team’s progress since she began coaching at SKS four years ago. “Beating FCA out of the gate was a very important accomplishment for the girls. Historically, we have always lost to FCA in the first round. The team has worked hard for the past several years and it was an important win for them. It also helped to set the tone for the rest of the season,” she explained.

16 / GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

each game and practice we do deep breathing exercises together. For example, in our home game against Kent, I took the team downstairs to the wrestling room so we could meditate for 10 minutes before hitting the court. This allowed them to relax, breathe, shut off their brains, and be more focused during the game. It is also great way to combat shaky hands when they serve,” she explained.

A BUILDING TEAM According to McMahon, the team has the advantage of being, as she calls it, a ‘building team.’ “The loss of several of our senior players last spring didn’t affect the rest of the team too much. Many girls this year have a higher level of individual skills than in previous years.

Also, we have juniors and seniors with a lot of accumulated skills and our younger girls also have great skills. JV has been a great feed into the varsity. We combine practices; we put three or four teams on the practice roster, so we do a round robin so all teams get a chance to play.

Running our JV squad in parallel always guarantees a strong line-up the following season,” she continued.

“We are also lucky to have some great new talent on the roster. Five new team members have been playing consistently well along with five returning players to give the team significant depth this year,” explained McMahon. “Seniors Jojo Gong and Morgan Papera are our varsity captains, while junior Amy Wang is the JV captain. Newcomers Seina Kusunoki ‘20 and Sude Bakal ‘21 are superb setters, and Zoe Buddie ‘22 and Jojo attack the ball every chance they can. They are also very versatile players and that is a big advantage. They can move to the ball, communicate well with the hitters, and they also have a great back row game. Senior Rory Tobin is also a key returning player and has come back strong following a pre-season injury,” explained Coach McMahon.

POSITIVITY WINS With an undefeated record in the HVAL, and only one loss this season, the team is set to clinch the top seed in the upcoming HVAL Championship Playoffs. The girls are also under strong consideration for a top seed in the NEPSAC Tournament later this fall. “Our success means a lot, but more importantly, our team and each individual player exemplify good sportsmanship,” continued Coach McMahon.

“I’m a big supporter of positivity, so I was very happy when I heard the School teamed up with the Positive Coaching Alliance this year. Every player has a story. As a coach you have to relate to them, and in turn, the players must relate to others on their team, and on the opposing team. Positivity always brings the best results win or lose. At the end of each season, our girls work to become better players, better athletes, and most importantly, better people.”

A MINDFUL APPROACH Along with consistent practice and working on individual skills like setting and serving, the team works on building both physical and mental stamina and a positive attitude. “We have a new and interesting approach this year,” continued Coach McMahon. “I attended a class on mindfulness for leaders and teachers this past summer at the Garrison Institute. I’ve always believed in the benefits of meditation, so I decided to incorporate it into the girls’ routine. Now, before

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 17

151ST COMMENCEMENT

LARGEST CLASS IN RECENT HISTORY

O

n Saturday, June 1, 2019, at 10:00 am, The Storm King School held its 151st Commencement on the lawn in front of the Stephen P. Duggan Bell Tower for the School’s 61 graduating seniors. It was only the second time since 1960 that the School graduated a class larger than 60 students. A speech given by alumnus Senator Robert G. Torricelli ’70 highlighted this year’s ceremony as 23 young men and 38 young women from five continents, 17 countries, and four states were awarded their diplomas. Families and friends from all over the world were greeted with glorious weather as they gathered to watch this diverse and 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 Dr. Tim Lance, and Senator Torricelli entered the venue followed by the smiling Class of 2019. True to Storm King tradition, students representing the 17 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 and reviewed the accomplishments of the graduating class: “Today is about us acknowledging you and your accomplishments.

Ninety-two percent of the Storm King Class of 2019 participated in at least one varsity sport, and 70% of the class played on a conference championship team, winning a total of 34 Hudson Valley Athletic

18 / MOUNTAIN ROAD

League (HVAL) Championships over the past four years. During that same period, senior class members played on teams that have received 23 New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Post-Season Tournament bids, won two NEPSAC Championships, along with two HVAL Sportsmanship Cups and two NEPSAC Regional Sportsmanship Cups,” said Mr. Lamb.

In addition, Mr. Lamb explained that the senior class was also involved in the arts and serving the local community, with 34 seniors who were involved in 56 performances in theater, dance, music, or film, and the class as a whole completing over 6,500 hours of community service over the past four years. In addition, he commended the seniors for logging more than 20,000 miles on trails in Black Rock Forest while running cross country, mountain biking, hiking, and participating in other outdoor activities. He also praised the members of the National Honor Society for helping to raise a combined total of $11,000 for Black Rock Forest, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the American Cancer Society over the past four years.

“When I think of this class and all that you have achieved, I wish to point out that the diploma you will be handed today is not just about your academic achievements,” continued Mr. Lamb. “I have said many times that our role as a school is not just to get you ready for college. Storm King and college are part of a vector, a path, to the rest of your lives. As a class that is part of the generation that must solve so many problems, let me tell you that I believe solutions are possible and I believe in your ability to accomplish those solutions.”

Following the next song “I Was Here” performed by the Storm King Choir, Mr. Lamb introduced Storm King’s 151st commencement speaker: alumnus and Senator Robert G. Torricelli ’70. During his address, Senator Torricelli encouraged the class “not to worry” about the future and assured them that success is within their reach. He also stressed the importance of moral character and having the courage to stand up for what is right.

“There has never been a better time to be alive; never more opportunity, never a better chance to take your times, your country, your generation, and shape it into what you would have it be,” explained Senator Torricelli. “Be people of courage. Not the common kind, the uncommon kind–committed simply to what you believe in your own heart is right. I know you have many commitments in your lives. You will create families and children of your own. You will pursue careers, you’ll have friends, you will commit yourselves to institutions, but remember that in the course of your lives, you carry one other obligation. That is service to your country, whatever it may be, and to your people, whoever they may be. Community and collective action are the great missing elements in this country, in our time. You are now armed with something that so many people, of so many generations, in so many places in the world, never had.

You have an education, you have knowledge, you have the keys to the kingdom and the future,” explained Senator Torricelli.

At the conclusion of Senator Torricelli’s speech, the Storm King Choir performed “For Good,” followed by the presentation of the 2019 Commencement Awards

by Dean of Academics Dr. Tim Lance, Vice Chairman of the Storm King Board of Trustees Ms. Michele DeFreece P’14, Headmaster Lamb, and Senator Torricelli. After the awards, Mr. Lamb asked the underclassman 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 Dr. Lance, Mr. Lamb, and Senator Torricelli. 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 Storm King Alma Mater before the processional exited the lawn to conclude the 151st 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 friends, family, and faculty members to say their farewells .

Commencement Award Recipients The Storm King Cup: the highest commencement award presented to a senior who has distinguished themselves by their personal qualities and their accomplishments. The recipient is chosen by a vote of the faculty, staff, and students.

Tiana Vazquez ’19 The Headmaster's Cup: since 1938,this award, inscribed “for cheerfulness of spirit and enthusiasm,” has been given to a senior whose love for the School is profound.

Riccardo Semenza ’19 The Spy Rock Cup: awarded to a senior whose performance and contributions to the School have fostered its best interests and traditions .

Zoe Stene ’19 The Riley Cup: to honor in perpetuity an outstanding member of the staff and an outstanding senior who have contributed to the School’s community ethos in practical and creative ways.

Anne Fulton - Faculty

Paul Cohen-Addad ’19

Storm King Scholars: granted to those seniors who have consistently achieved at the highest academic levels and who have contributed significantly to other areas of campus life.

Kolby Braxton ’19

Maya Buranbayev ’19

Max Chen ’19

Caitlin Jones ’19

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 19

MAMMA MIA! Lights up the Stage

I

n the midst of February's cold and blustery weather, the Mountain was bursting with the warmth and color of the Greek Islands. Three performances of SKS’ winter musical MAMMA MIA! complete with colorful, summer sets and costumes, comedic acting, and memorable song and dance routines lit up the stage at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre courtesy of SKS’ Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Set on a colorful Greek Island, Sophie, played by Tamar Haham McGowan ’19, is a young woman about to be married. When she discovers that any one of three men could be her father, she invites all three to her wedding without telling her mother, Donna, played by Morgan Papera ’20. Donna, who was once the lead singer of Donna & the Dynamos, has invited her outspoken and hilarious former backup singers, Rosie and Tanya, played by Olivia O’Blaney ’21 and Asia Raacke ’19. The ever-thickening plot also served as a background for a wealth of ABBA songs including “Money, Money,” “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” and “Take a Chance on Me,” to name a few.

Storm King’s Director of Theater Anne Fulton, who directed the show along with Karen Eremin of Cornwall’s Step It Up Summer Stage, was confident in her students and her colleagues when she chose Mamma Mia! as the School’s musical production this year. “Our veteran student-actors did a wonderful job of meshing their acting, singing, and dancing skills for this production, which featured several complicated group numbers,” explained Mrs. Fulton following the performances.

“We played to full houses for all three shows and each one got a standing ovation.

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The cast worked tirelessly with Music Director Alva Nelson and Choreographer Jeanette Jacobson to learn the choreography and songs. They were 'off book' early in the rehearsal process, which helped a lot since we had to cancel a few rehearsals due to winter storms and several cast members came down with colds the week of the show. All the students really stepped up to the plate and pulled the show together. It was also great to have Ben Harnick and his 6-year-old daughter, Eleanor, in the cast. The cast and crew really enjoyed working with them,” she continued.

Regarding the performances of SKS’ student-actors and actresses, Mrs. Fulton was ecstatic: “Morgan Papera ’20 showed tremendous strength and dedication while battling a cough and sore throat the week of the show. She had several solos and duets in addition to the big chorus numbers like “Mamma Mia” and “Money, Money,” and it was very stressful for her to think that she might not have a voice for the performances. She recovered, though, and gave a fantastic performance as Donna Sheridan. The leading cast was also supported by the memorable performances by some of our younger actors, including Alex Neighbors as Harry Bright, Joe Sullivan as Eddie, and Conall Sweeney as Pepper.”

Mrs. Fulton also took a moment to acknowledge the cast and crew’s graduating seniors.

“Dance Instructor Jeanette Jacobson and I have worked with Asia Raacke, Tamar Haham McGowan, Caroline Hecht, Stuart Hutzler, Tanestrran Chandran, Caitlin Jones, David Lu, and Jessica Zheng on several productions and they’ve been an absolute pleasure to work with. The same is true for stage crew members Steven Muller and Zoe Stene who assisted Technical Director Lindsay Brown throughout the production. We will miss them, and we wish them all the best in their future theatrical endeavors! In addition, several of our 'Theater Alumni' came to see the show: Pedro Nuno ’16, Olivia deBree ’18, Catherine Pomeroy ’18, and Joseph Dawson ’18 all were in the audience. We appreciate that they took the time to support our current theater students!”

MAMMA MIA!

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 21

e n n A n o t l Fu

STORM KING'S

Performing Arts Department Chair Anne Fulton and her daughter, Sarah, in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre

P

eople will often say long after graduating high school that there is one teacher who stood out, who made a difference in their lives, taught them important life lessons, and left them with lasting memories. For many Storm King students that teacher is Performing Arts Department Chair Anne Fulton. As Storm King’s longest-tenured faculty member, Mrs. Fulton is known as a kind, supportive, and talented mentor who succeeds in inspiring even the shyest to take risks, step outside their comfort zones, and accomplish things on stage they never thought possible. Join us as we get to know this important member of the Storm King community who has contributed in so many ways to the success of our students and our school.

Q: As our longest-tenured faculty member, what has been your mission and vision for your students and the School?

“More than anything, it has been to provide them with a wonderful, meaningful experience in the theater and at the School in general. There’s something about theater that forges a strong bond among young people. There’s a camaraderie and empathy that develops out of the shared experience of performing in a show that is hard to replicate in other areas.”

Q: Could you tell us about your background and any other important experiences that shaped who you are as a person and a theater professional?

“I think becoming a mother was the single greatest factor in defining who I am today. I have tremendous empathy for teens and the struggles they face in the world we’ve created. I also think that working in Manhattan for years shaped my work ethic and greatly broadened my management experience.

I grew up in Jersey City, NJ, the second of four children. My parents made a point of exposing us to theater from the time we were very young. My father’s

22 / MOUNTAIN ROAD

career in banking relations in New York City gave him and my mother many opportunities to attend Broadway shows.

My mother would play the cast albums for us, instilling in us a love of musical theater in particular.

I attended New Jersey City University and was president of Tower Players, our student-run theater group.

After graduation, I went to work for a Wall Street law firm, but continued to study acting at HB Studio at night for two years. My husband and I also performed for four years with the New York Renaissance Faire and worked with various community and regional theater groups over the years.”

Q: Can you tell us how you came to SKS and your experience here?

“I worked in NYC for 18 years, for several corporate law firms. My husband and I moved from Rutherford, NJ, to Cornwall-on-Hudson when my daughter, Sarah, was two years old and have lived here ever since. My son Patrick was born here and I was a stay-at-home mom until he was nine and Sarah was 14. In 2005 I saw an ad in the local newspaper that auditions were being held by a community theater group at The Walter Reade, Jr. Theatre for Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. It seemed like a great opportunity to get involved in theater again. My kids and I auditioned and were all cast in the show. We had a wonderful experience and continued to perform with the group in a variety of plays and musicals.

Harold Heno, who was the SKS Performing Arts Chair at the time and the community theater group’s liaison

Faculty Profile with the School, asked me to apply for a position that opened in 2006 as a production manager for the School’s theater department. I began my career with SKS at that point and I’ve taught English, Art, Public Speaking, and Acting over the years. I’m currently teaching Acting and working in the Development Office, while also directing the School’s plays and musicals. I became Performing Arts Chair this year, and directed our first summer theater camp this past summer called Summer Theater on the Mountain.

My daughter, Sarah (’09), also attended SKS and performed in shows throughout her time here. She has so many great memories of the rehearsals and performances and is now working at SKS in the Development Office; she also assists with the shows and has a wonderful rapport with the theater students.

Q: How has the Performing Arts Program at SKS progressed over the years?

“One of the reasons the School became involved with the community theater group in 2005 was that there were so few SKS students involved in theater at the time. It was beneficial to Storm King to have the shows opened up to adults and kids in the community. It also provided us with the ability to perform musicals with large casts like Oliver!, The Sound of Music and Mame at a time when there weren’t enough kids in our theater program to do so.

Over the past several years, the program has grown exponentially. We already have 40 students signed up to do the winter musical this year. We have wonderful teachers in the department who have helped attract students to participate. Jeanette Jacobson is our dance teacher and choreographer, Alva Nelson is our music director and Lindsay Myers-Brown is our technical director and stage craft instructor. The students enjoy working with them and participation has grown as a result. We also have Karen Eremin working with us a director and costumer on a part-time basis. Her energy and vision has been an asset to the program over the past several years. My daughter Sarah co-directed our Summer Theater on the Mountain camp with me and helped to create a wonderful program that will continue next summer and beyond.”

our Associate Director of Admissions, Kevin Jacobson in the cast of West Side Story last year and our Summer Programs and Service Learning Director Ben Harnick and his daughter Eleanor in the cast of Mamma Mia!.

Q: What are your visions and plans for the Performing Arts Program in the future?

“I would, of course, like to see the program continue to grow! We had our music and dance recital in October and it was evident how far the students have come over the past few years. There was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from the students in the audience as well. I would also like to continue to raise our program’s profile in the community; we were sold out for Mamma Mia! as well as for our summer show, High School Musical and the casts received standing ovations for their performances. I want to see that level of excitement and interest continue and even increase. I would also like to grow the summer program; it has tremendous potential to bring new theater students to Storm King. I hope to offer more opportunities to attend shows in NYC in the future as well. I would also like to have more international students participate in the shows (although I’ve seen a definite increase in their interest over the past few years).

Q: What do you want your students to say about SKS, 5, 10 even 20 years after graduation?

“That they received an outstanding education and that they were taught by people who genuinely cared about them. That they met people from all over the world and shared some of the best times of their lives with those people. That they know they always have a home away from home with us on the Mountain.

Our school has made great strides over the past several years in improving its physical plant and the School’s academic programs and has the potential to thrive well into the future. I’m happy to have been a part of its growth and hope to continue to share a love of theater and all performing arts with our students, their families and the community. “

Q: What are your most memorable moments during your 13 years with the School?

“As a director, I’m extremely proud of our students’ performances in Cabaret, West Side Story and Mamma Mia! as well as The Importance of Being Earnest and our current production, The Diary of Anne Frank. It was also a pleasure to have our CFO, Ray Hecht, our Assistant Dean of Students, Jim Bennett and SKS' 2015 production of Our Town

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 23

SPRING ATHLETICS 2019

Team Summaries

T

he weeks preceding graduation at The Storm King School are always filled with events and activities designed to conclude the school year on a positive note. One such event was the presentation of Storm King's 2018-2019 All School Athletic Awards. On Thursday, May 23, 2019, the School's coaches acknowledged SKS’ talented student-athletes from the fall, winter, and spring seasons as they presented the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) and Coaches Awards in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre. The awards ceremony followed a festive banquet dinner in Henderson Dining Hall in celebration of a fantastic year for Storm King Athletics and the conclusion of a great spring sports season.

In his opening words, SKS Athletic Director Joseph Graziosi reviewed the impressive numbers earned by Storm King student-athletes throughout the year. “Our teams won a total of 9 championship titles. This is a record; something that has never been accomplished before. Winning takes talent, but to repeat as a champion takes character and integrity. Seven out of these 9 championships are repeats. Some teams have been repeating champions 2, 3, 4, as many as 6 times,” explained Coach Graziosi to the audience, as he continued to break down the numbers.

“In the fall semester alone, we had 98 students on championship teams. Our fall teams totaled 50 wins and only two losses. Overall, the Cougars enjoyed 126 wins this year–that's 75% of their conference games and 66% overall. Tonight, we're here to celebrate our great athletes, who are also great people. It's been a great year for Storm King Athletics,” he continued.

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE As they wrapped up their seasons, SKS’ spring coaches agreed. Girls Varsity Lacrosse Coach Jeanette McMahon, who was the first spring coach to hand out awards, reported a season record of 3 wins and 4 losses. “With all the rain this spring, we had tough field conditions and several cancellations, but the girls persevered. They fought hard through our final two games, losing to St. Luke's 5-14, but ending the year

24 / MOUNTAIN ROAD

strong with a decisive win against The Masters School 15 -8. I am sad to see our seniors Shania Roerich, Tiana Vazquez, Jessica Zheng, and Savannah Buon go. I am also looking forward to coaching our returning girls next year. The team is excited to have Sophia Grausso ’20 back again as the goalie. This year, she made 72 saves!

Also returning are Sally Zhang ’20, Kaitlin Bou ’23, and Romee Choi ’21 on offense; Sam McCullough ’20, Carly Neville ’22, and Sofia Bove ’22 on midfield; and Tina Jarearnphan ’20, Helen Shen ’20, and Maddy Mendlewski ’22 on defense,” explained Coach McMahon.

Girls Lacrosse MOP Award: Samantha McCullough ’20 Girls Lacrosse Coaches Award: Sophia Grausso ’20

BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE Next, Coach Graziosi returned to the podium to recognize the efforts of the boys varsity lacrosse team. “The Storm King boys lacrosse team ended their season with a 12-8 loss at Woodhall School in an epic battle to the finish and a 2-7 overall record. All season these young men gave courageous efforts as many were learning a new sport. Their heart, valor, and determination have been second to none in my time at Storm King.

I am very proud to have been associated with these boys during the season and look forward to building on the foundation for greatness that they have laid. I also want to thank Coaches Hughes and Bennett for their efforts this season. With more than 15 returning players, Storm King is on the cusp of dominating the HVAL for several years to come,” explained Coach Graziosi.

Boys Lacrosse MOP: Dias Aidossov ’21 Boys Lacrosse Coaches Award: Michael McCullough ’22

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS TEAM Girls Tennis Coach Nancy Greenhill was pleased to hand out the awards to the girls varsity tennis team, who ended their season with a 9-2 record, captured their fourth consecutive league championship undefeated, and qualified for the New England championship as the third highest seed this year. “We have had the pleasure to face such a wide range of competitive schools throughout our competition season this year. What strikes me the most about the Storm King girls varsity tennis team is their level of sportsmanship on and off the tennis courts. This was an amazing team where I was able to play 14 different players in at least one match while bringing home the HVAL championship for the 4th year in a row,” explained Coach Greenhill.

Girls Tennis MOP: Maria Fedosenkova ’19 Girls Tennis Coaches Award: Peiyu Margo Yang ’19

BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL Coaches Vondras and Gillett were next to take the microphone to talk about Boys Varsity Baseball. The team, led by a core, close-knit group of seniors, made tremendous improvements by finishing the 2019 season with a league record of 4-3 and 4-5 overall.

“Senior captain Aidan Sweeney led the team in almost all offensive categories compiling a .481 batting average and hitting three home runs,” explained Coach Gillett. “Aidan also took on a bulk of the pitching and catching duties. Senior Alonso Gonzalez finished third on the team with a .308 batting average and led the team in runs scored with 10. Senior Lorenzo Pretto earned two victories on the mound and played a steady outfield. Other senior contributors were Sebastian Garrido and Jason Lin. SKS will count on returning underclassmen Conall Sweeney ’20, Chris Chang ’20, Jason Shrem ’21, Pep Viveros ’21, Daniel Braveman ’22, and Michael Hong ’22 to build on this year's successes in the 2020 campaign,” he continued.

Baseball MOP: Lorenzo Pretto ’19 Baseball Coaches Award: Aiden Sweeney ’19

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS TEAM The boys tennis team, who finished with an 11-2 overall record this year, succeeded in capturing the HVAL league championship for their 6th consecutive year. The coaches thanked the efforts of all their team members, some since their 8th grade and freshman years, who have contributed to this team's ongoing success. The coaches were also proud to send team captain Guillermo Ramoz-Sanches ’19 to the New England Class A Tennis Championship Invitational this season, where he had victories over Groton, Watkinson, and Loomis-Chaffee before losing in a Double Super Tiebreaker to Groton in the finals of the Consolation Bracket.

Boys Tennis MOP: Guillermo Ramos-Sanchez ’19 Boys Tennis Coaches Award: Yihong Joseph He ’19

ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM According to Coach Kolach, the SKS Ultimate Frisbee team also had a great year finishing with a 3-7 overall record. “At the start of the season, we practiced every day on the lower field and started off our season with true grit and determination in our opening game against PDS, the undefeated champions from last year. We battled bravely in the intense wind conditions on their home field but didn’t come out victorious. Our team was determined. We finally emerged with a win against Darrow. We took the home field advantage in a muddy, neck-to-neck game and we

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Island in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Storm King’s small but enthusiastic team had the chance to compete twice this season and finished both competitions with a lot to be proud of, despite frequent rain. Coaches David Mendlewski and Ms. Plummer focused on skill and stamina-building during the team’s practices in Black Rock and Stewart State Forests and commended the efforts and progress of their team members.

Mountain Biking MOP: A. River Holasek ’20 Mountain Biking Coaches Award: Joseph Sullivan ’23

finally got our first win of the season,” explained Coach Kolach. “After that, the team stayed between 4th and 5th in the league until the last few matches. However, final exams and the long journey to Darrow took a toll on the players and we finished our season with a loss. Overall, we had fun and the team’s determination to find new Frisbee-throwing techniques made our season great. We devised a plan of attack at every game and always had a drive to succeed,” she continued.

Ultimate Frisbee MOP: David Lu ’19 Ultimate Frisbee Coaches Award: Jordan Golding ’20

VARSITY MOUNTAIN BIKING Assistant Coach Lindsey Plummer announced the awards for SKS’ varsity mountain biking squad. The mountain bikers enjoyed their first year at SKS as a competitive varsity sport in competition with other schools from central New York to Long

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GIRLS SOFTBALL Coach Megan Liggett handed out the awards for girls softball, a team which resumed competition from two years ago following a hiatus last year. “This year was my first year as a full-time coach at Storm King. Some of the team members were more experienced players returning from two years ago and some were new, never having played softball before. During our season, we practiced hard and had lots of ups and down, but, in the end, we became a really good team. Even with all of our rain cancellations and our final record of 0-3, I’m proud of what the team accomplished this year,” explained Coach Liggett.

Softball MOP: Ashley Cabrera ’19 Softball Coaches Award: Liwei Wang ’20

SKS MODEL UN TRAVELS TO NYC #NHSMUN

O "NHSMUN 2019 was amazing!

We kicked off the conference on the floor of the UN General Assembly, where delegates from every nation on Earth meet and solve problems together."

— Pierce Pramuka ’20

ver the 2019 Spring Break holiday, a hard-working group of Storm King students interested in international affairs and economics traveled to New York City for the 2019 National High School Model United Nations Conference (NHSMUN).

The NHSMUN Conference took place at the United Nations General Assembly and the Midtown Hilton Hotel on Friday, March 1, through Monday, March 4. This is the second year the SKS Model UN Team participated in the conference, which included over 2,900 students from over 200 high schools around the world. SKS was well-represented by students from all grades: Dominique Gooden ’21, Sophia Grausso ’20, Samantha McCullough ’20, Alex Neighbors ’22, Pierce Pramuka’20, Helen Shen ’20, and Jessica Zheng ’19.

At the conference, the Storm King Team represented Myanmar (Burma), a very challenging country according to SKS’ Model UN Mentor Michael Hauser. “The issues the team worked on included explosive remnants of war, preserving endangered languages, combatting wildlife and forest crime, and addressing barriers facing minority groups in the workplace,” he explained.

Pierce Pramuka ’20, a veteran Model UN team member, had great things to say about the Conference. “NHSMUN 2019 was amazing! We began on the floor of the UN General Assembly, where delegates from every nation meet and solve problems together. During closing ceremonies, Ambassador Susan Rice (former National Security Advisor and US Ambassador to the UN) gave the keynote speech. It was an awesome experience that has expanded my worldview and allowed me to make friends from all over the globe,” explained Pierce.

Alex Neighbors ’22 also shared his positive experience: “The event was very educational and helped me learn a lot about the world. We met people from everywhere; from countries like Nigeria to places like Italy. We all worked hard and did a lot of research, but it paid off,” explained Alex.

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NHS INDUCTIONS 2018-2019

19 New NHS Students

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he flame of excellence burned brightly at The Storm King School when the Storm King Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) inducted its newest members for the 2018-2019 academic year. At two separate candle-lighting ceremonies, a total of 19 juniors and seniors received the honor of induction to this prestigious academic society. The ceremony for the fall semester was held on Thursday, January 10, and for the spring semester on Thursday, May 30, in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre.

NHS’ Storm King Chapter recognizes students for their academic achievement as well as their active involvement in school activities and community service. New inductees are carefully chosen by SKS faculty each year for their outstanding performance in the four areas the NHS deems essential for its members– Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. These characteristics have been associated with NHS membership since its founding in 1921.

SKS’ NHS Advisor delivered the opening words at both ceremonies, where the students were praised for their outstanding work during the school year and recognized the SKS Chapter’s first officers, including President Tamar McGowan ’19, Vice President Zoe Stene ’19, Secretary Haohui Zheng ’19, and Treasurer Caroline Hecht ’19: “This year, we have been honored once again by the hard work and dedication of the members of this organization. We also wish to to celebrate and recognize the merit of the students being inducted.”

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Meet the 2018-2019 Inductees: Paul Cohen-Addad ’19, Derek Liu ’19, Guillermo Ramos Sanchez ’19, Morgan Papera ’20, Naunet Leonhardes-Barboza ’20, Rory Tobin ’20, Linyin Wang ’20, Heying “Helen” Shen ’20, Pierce Pramuka ’20, Jasmine Yuan Tian ’20, Emmanuel Davis ’20, Dorothy Huanran Mao ’20, Samantha McCullough ’20, Sophia Grausso ’20, Ashley Cabrera ’19, Xuechun Iris Zhang ’19, Jordan Golding ’20, Guy-Paul Delisfort ’20, Matthew Pelton ’20

In addition, SKS’ NHS Advisor outlined the students’ year-long fundraising efforts to benefit Storm King’s neighbor Black Rock Forest: “During the 20172018 school year, the students raised nearly $3,000 for research and education in the Forest. This year, they have more than doubled that amount to reach a total of nearly $7,000 over two years.” At the spring ceremony, Black Rock’s Executive Director William Schuster was present to accept a check from Headmaster Jonathan Lamb and the students.

Shania Roehrich ’19 was also recognized at the spring ceremony for her dedication to the SKS Green Team, her ongoing initiative to eliminate plastics and promote the use of stainless steel straws and recyclable bags in the school store, and her support of Hudson

River shoreline cleanup efforts led by Riverkeeper.

Four NHS members also received Excellence in Action Awards for their active contributions to NHS’ efforts. Shania received the Excellence in Action for Service Award for her work with the Green Team. Morgan Papera ’20 was given the Excellence in Action for Character Award for her leadership in SKS concessions and the organization of the SKS Poetry Festival. NHS President Tamar McGowan ’19 received the Excellence in Action for Leadership Award for her contributions at the Newburgh Armory and the Peer Tutoring Program. NHS Secretary Haohui Zheng ’19 was awarded Excellence in Action for Scholarship for her consistently high GPA and her dedication to the SKS athletics program in basketball and tennis.

Reflecting on the contributions of the NHS throughout the year, Headmaster Jonathan Lamb thanked the students for all that they do to represent the characteristics of the NHS and SKS: “Congratulations to all of our new inductees and thank you to all of the NHS members for the work you’ve accomplished to get you here, and for representing the very best of NHS’ values and those of Storm King.”

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radition lived on at The Storm King School when the entire school community united around a good cause and had some fun this spring. For the fourth year in a row, a group of SKS volunteers took “The Plunge” into the icy waters of the Hudson River to raise money for Black Rock Forest.

“The Plunge” is the culmination of a year-long fundraising campaign run by the Storm King Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). In the weeks before the event, NHS members collect donations toward the names of faculty and students who volunteer to “take the plunge.” The names with the highest donation totals are then charged with jumping into the river.

The day of “The Plunge”–Friday, April 12, 2019– was cold and blustery as students, faculty, and staff made their way down to the riverbank at Cornwall Landing. The crowd watched, laughed, and cheered as the grimacing student and faculty volunteers splashed their way into the freezing water. The top five faculty members were the first to go in led by Dean of Academics Dr. Lance; followed by Headmaster Lamb, Dean of Faculty Mr. Freeman, and Science Department Chair Dr. Feffer. Next to jump in were the top five students: David Ma ’19, Rory Tobin ’20, Denys Bobchuck ’19, Bin Robin Hu ’19, and Carly Neville ’22.

Before plunging into the river, Headmaster Lamb took a moment to thank the NHS, the volunteers, those who donated money, and all who participated in the event. “This is our fourth year of doing “The Plunge,” and our second year raising money for Black Rock Forest. I want to thank everyone who participated–as organizers, donors, and river-plungers. And, if you think it’s too cold, remember the weather back in January,” he said smiling.

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-- FROM THE CLASSROOM --

WRITING AND LITERATURE FROM A HERO'S PERSPECTIVE

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he work of the English Department at The Storm King School in recent years sets the bar high for academic excellence and exemplifies how our faculty strives to achieve deeper learning by actively engaging their students in innovative, interdisciplinary ways.

A recent addition to the English course roster called A Hero’s Journey-Science Fiction & Fantasy does just that by combining the elements of more traditional creative writing and literature classes with history, theater, folklore, and art–all from a hero’s perspective.

The theme of a ‘Hero’s Journey’ has been taught in high schools and colleges everywhere, but none have done so quite like the teachers at SKS. Based on mythologist Joseph Campbell’s ‘monomyth’– a storyline involving a hero who embarks on an adventure, faces a crisis, emerges victorious, and returns home changed or transformed– SKS’ version of the class allows students to examine and experience the deep, metaphorical transformation that heroic figures in every place and time period seem to share, then introspectively apply what

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By Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P’19 Photography by Tanestrran "Tanes" Chandran ’19

they’ve learned to their own lives.

Juniors and seniors who choose the class are asked to “imagine themselves as heroes who are awakening and already on a journey” and given a blank sheet of paper as a class syllabus with the phrase “We are going to create together!” The course kicks off with the exploration of classic heroic journeys from around the world including Beowulf, L’Morte D’Arthur, and William Wallace as Braveheart, before moving to more contemporary tales, metaphors, poems, and myths including William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus,” Whitman’s “Oh Captain, My Captain,” Coelho’s The Alchemist, The Lord of the Rings, and The Matrix among others.

Throughout the course, students explore these works while completing a variety of challenges, literary exercises, and ongoing comparative analyses including essays, creative writing assignments, oral presentations, and short films. Each student also keeps a written journal of their learnings throughout the class.

One important and powerful writing exercise is the “Letter to My Future Self,” which is designed to help each student create a framework for their own personal transformation. Once their letters are complete, the students submit them to an online platform which will send the letters back to them after five years.

For example, Xuechun Iris Zhang ’19 was influenced by Braveheart in her letter to her future self: “There was a great line in Braveheart: ‘Every man dies, but not every man really lives.’ I hope you can really live instead of just making a living, and make your life meaningful.”

Another student, Yen-Ting Lin ’19, wrote a compelling message to his future self: “What are the values you hope that you have lived your life by? What is your dream? Have you followed your bliss? Have you visited the places you said you would? Or, are you caught somewhere in the “belly of the whale” or The Matrix? Have you been making time for the things you really love? What is your worst fear? What are the character flaws that you have successfully overcome?”

Toward the end of the course, the students’ final quest is the creation of a unique, heroic character based on their own personal journeys. The course culminates in an out-of-the-box final presentation where the students ‘become’ their characters and present their personal transformations to the class. This past spring, the Enchanted Forest above Ogden Hall was the perfect location for a series of twilight readings during final exam week which counted for a large portion of the students’ final grades.

The campus came alive as the newly-formed heroes converged around a campfire surrounded by burning torches to assume their roles and talk of their transformative, sometimes emotional, journeys. Aside from everything they learned, several of the students commented that the course benefited them on many different levels.

“It was the closest thing I’ve seen to a high school philosophy course.

I guess the biggest thing I learned is that I should heed the call to be a hero, not deny it, and follow my heart,” said Steven Muller ’19 in his final monologue.

Kolby Braxton ’19, chose to present an eloquent speech for his final monologue: “The journey involved great pain but the boon was undoubtedly worth it. Through it all, I was able to restore bonds with

my family. By letting go of my obsessions, I was able to find my exit.

Now I follow my own path. The road ahead is difficult, but, like Sisyphus, I will carry on. I will soar with complete freedom towards my dreams with a heart braver than that of any Geat. But a hero is nothing without his companions. We are all knights of the same roundtable and we have each been called to complete different quests...and quest we will until the day comes that we meet again.”

Another student, Noah Mendlewski ’20, summarized his feelings in his Hero’s Journal that perhaps best describes the value of the class from a personal perspective: “The class is much different than any others you have taken or will take at Storm King, or at any other school. It has taught me to open up, and be the person who I am truly meant to be.”

THE CLASS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHERS YOU HAVE TAKEN OR WILL TAKE AT STORM KING, OR AT ANY OTHER SCHOOL. IT HAS TAUGHT ME TO OPEN UP, AND BE THE PERSON WHO I AM TRULY MEANT TO BE. — NOAH MENDLEWSKI ’20

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REUNION WEEKEND 2019

MARKS SKS’ 151 YEAR! ... the sounds of good conversation and laughter echoed over the campus grounds as alumni relived memories and rekindled friendships.

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early 130 alumni spanning many decades returned to the Mountain for The Storm King School’s 2019 Reunion Weekend where they reunited with old friends, stayed in their old dorm rooms, and reminisced about their time spent here. The event took place on Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9, marking the School’s 151st year. This year, alumni and guests hailed from as far as Spain, Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, and Arizona to closer locations throughout New York and New England. Two alumni attended to celebrate their 65th reunion and the first alumni father and daughter enjoyed a return to the Mountain together.

The festivities began on Friday evening with a welcome reception held at The Homestead, the Headmaster’s residence, followed by a barbeque dinner on Ledoux Terrace. As the guests arrived and the evening progressed, the sounds of good conversation and laughter echoed over the campus grounds as alumni relived old memories and rekindled friendships. Many guests remained on the Terrace well into the evening before heading to their dorm rooms for the night.

The following morning began with a hearty welcome breakfast in the dining hall, followed by a memorial service held on the lawn before Memorial Rock remembering members of the Storm King community who had passed away over the last year. Following the service, alumni walked up to Ogden Hall to participate in an Alumni Association meeting led by the Storm King School Alumni Council.

For the rest of the afternoon, guests enjoyed a BBQ lunch held on Ledoux Terrace where alumni had the opportunity to meet current Storm King faculty and staff. After lunch, some alumni chose to go on a tour to see all the changes and improvements to campus made in recent years, hike the trails in Black Rock Forest, or walk to up to Storm King’s summit at Spy Rock.

Later in the day, attendees gathered in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre for the presentation of the 2019 Alumni Awards.

The first awards were given to three deserving alumni who were inducted into The Storm King School Sports Hall of Fame. Recipients Bruce Dennison ’68, Jermaine Miller ’02, and the wife, children and grandchildren of the late Peter Boden ’63 accepted the awards allowing three more alumni to join the ranks of this coveted group whose distinguished athletic record, dedication, and commitment while at SKS went beyond expectations and embodied the core values and mission of the School.

The Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award was the second award at the ceremony. This year’s recipient, Dr. Les McLean, an SKS faculty member, coach, and mentor from 1970-74, received a standing ovation when he accepted his award, which he said was a result of the incredible team of colleagues and administrators that supported him and each other on the Mountain. Dr. McLean was known by his students for his humanity, imagination, and sense of humor and taught biology and organized and led student activities.

Following the Alumni Awards, guests enjoyed lively conversation on Ledoux Terrace before entering the dining room in Orr Commons for the much-awaited banquet dinner. The meal was kicked off with welcoming remarks by Headmaster Lamb before the guests turned their full attention toward the food, fun, and one another for the rest of the evening.

The energy in Orr Commons was high as old and new friends laughed, reminisced, and shared memories. The stories and hugs continued as the group moved out to the terrace to enjoy their final night together in the shadow of the Mountain they once called home.

Reunion 2019 was a great success and many thanks go out to all who were involved, especially to our returning alumni and their families.

If you would like to connect with friends, join our online Alumni Directory at https://sks.org/alumni-directory and stay abreast of alumni news and upcoming events by updating your record in the directory with current email and mailing addresses.

Photos: (Top) Henry Jova ’68 with daughter Tirza Jova ’03, (Center) Victoria Dos Santos ’11, Jordan Behrens ’10, Michael Phillips ’09, Sele Birchwood ’09, Han Feuer '09, Sarah Fulton '09, Crystal Findley '11, Siobhan Rodriguez ’08, Gahlia Greene Kaufman ’10, Johnathan Goodman ’09 and Spencer Jackson '09 (2nd from bottom) Peter Boyce ’54, son of late Headmaster Burke Boyce, shares reflections at Memorial Rock (Bottom) Members of the Class of 1969 celebrating their 50th

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Robert Chace ’68 displays Bruce Dennison’s SHOF award

2019 Alumni Award Recipients

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he Storm King School Alumni Council was pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Alumni Awards this spring, namely, the Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award and the new inductees to the SKS Sports Hall of Fame (SHOF). As per tradition, the awards were handed out during 2019 Reunion Weekend which took place on June 7-9, 2019.

The SKS Sports Hall of Fame Marking the School’s 151st year, three deserving alumni were inducted into The Storm King School Sports Hall of Fame. Bruce Dennison ’68, the late Peter Boden ’63, and Jermaine Miller ’02 joined the ranks of this coveted group whose distinguished athletic record, dedication, and commitment went beyond expectations and embody the core values and mission of the School.

BRUCE DENNISON ’68 Bruce Dennison ’68 earned eight varsity letters in his four years at The Storm King School: four in baseball, two in soccer and two in basketball. Bruce earned the first of his four baseball varsity letters in his freshman year. By his junior year, Bruce began to excel as a three-sport varsity athlete, earning four additional varsity letters, two in soccer and two in basketball. As a senior, Bruce was elected Captain of both the soccer and baseball teams and was designated Soccer MVP. His nominators wrote: “Bruce Dennison was a superlative athlete. He had native athleticism that gave him the ability to surpass others, appearing almost effortless, despite a dogged focus and determination. He was always gracious, as a winner, and even more so, on the rare chance that the team lost. I remember Bruce as a warm, friendly guy, belying that competitive nature. He’s one of those special classmates that we all wanted to emulate.”

PETER BODEN ’63 In his four years at SKS, Peter Boden ’63 earned 10 varsity letters, was the captain of two varsity teams and was named Athlete of the Year in 1963. He played on the varsity soccer team in 1961 and 1962 and was captain of the team in 1963; he was on the varsity basketball team in 1961 and 1962 and made captain as a senior in 1963; and he was on the varsity baseball team in 1961, 1962 and 1963.

Peter was remembered not only as an extremely gifted athlete but also as a great leader and role model to his fellow teammates. He was known for his hustle, encouragement of others, and contagious determination to win.

His nominators from the classes of 1962, 1963 and 1964 wrote: “Pete, who had a profound influence on me being welcomed and accepted by the school, encouraged our teammates to play our very best while enjoying each other on and off the field and court. He pushed and encouraged the other guys on each team to play as hard as they could, and to play as a team.”

Peter Boden passed away in 2014. Pete’s wife, adult children and grandchild attended the awards ceremony on Reunion Weekend for his induction.

JERMAINE MILLER ’02 Jermaine Miller ’02, Varsity Basketball Team captain in 2001 and 2002, led the team in scoring and rebounding and was a leader on and off the court. Jermaine was voted Storm King School’s most outstanding athlete in 2002 and also received the Superb Achievement Award for Scholarship, Leadership and Athletics. He is the first Storm King School student to receive a D1 basketball scholarship, attending and playing for Drexel University.

His basketball team coach, Kevin Houston, described Miller: “By far the hardest working player I had the opportunity to coach during my tenure there. He was extremely coachable, focused, driven, and had a great desire to improve and develop his vast array of skills. He has a cheery and magnetic personality and is a gifted leader. More than that, he is an outstanding husband and father of four wonderful daughters. He is most deserving of the recognition of being inducted into the Storm King Hall of Fame.”

John Prentice ’64 with Sue Boden and Pete Bowden Jr.

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Jermaine Miller ’02 with past coach Kevin Houston

and learn from him. His steady hand and selfless accessibility to students was unparalleled. Students sought him out constantly for advice and counsel on far-ranging issues, from the deeply personal to academic to lessons about life.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients. Please join us for Reunion Weekend 2020 to be held on June 12-14, 2020. Nominations for the 2020 awards will be accepted until 12.31.2019. Please visit sks.org/alumni/alumni-awards-new.

To make nominations for the Arts, Humanitarian, Clark Faculty Excellence Awards, and Sports Hall of Fame go to: sks.org/alumni/alumni-awards or contact Lynn Crevling at 845.458.7517 Dr. Les McLean accepts his award from Alumni Council President Scott Cantor ’73

The Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award DR. LESLIE MCLEAN 1970-74 Established in 2006, The Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award is given during the School’s annual Reunion Weekend to a former faculty member of longevity whose dedication transcends the classroom and whose high ideals have become part of the student-centered tradition of The Storm King School.

Miss Margaret Clark retired from The Storm King School as a member of the faculty in 1938, completing 44 years of service as an art teacher. Over the years, Margaret’s responsibilities grew, and by 1912, she was in charge of the entire Lower School. During WWI, she ran the infirmary as well as the entire administration, while continuing to teach her legendary art classes. Margaret was the designer of the original SKS school crest we still use today.

The Reunion 2019 recipient Les McLean was described enthusiastically by his past students as the consummate SKS faculty member and mentor. He taught biology with rigor, enthusiasm, and humor. His students said that Les was successful at breaking down complex concepts into understandable components.

An enthusiast for student activities, it was said that Les “led the charge,” whether it was organizing trips to NYC to Broadway shows or sporting events, or providing guidance as an advisor for campus committees and events. As the head varsity coach, his strong coaching led teams to achieve tremendous track records on the field, winning the soccer championship back-to-back in 1971 and 1972 and reaching the Westchester Championships in baseball.

At the same time, Les was described as a southern gentleman—both a statesman and guardian for doing the right thing, and comporting oneself in work, sport, and in life with dignity, integrity, and honor. His nominators wrote that what made him effective as a role model was that he never lost his humanity, his imagination, his joy in life, and his sense of humor— moving seamlessly from moments of utmost gravity involving student challenges to lighter moments where his youthful exuberance emerged while he participated in scrimmages.

A nominator wrote: “You just wanted to hang around Les

SKS Welcomes New Trustee CHRISTINE (LUG) WATSON CPA ’94 The Storm King School is delighted to welcome Christine (Lug) Watson as the newest member of the School’s Board of Trustees. Upon her graduation from Storm King, Ms. Watson went on to do her undergraduate and graduate work in accounting at the University of Georgia. She is a tax division partner with the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City. For the past two years, Ms. Watson has served honorably as 2nd Vice President of The Storm King School’s Alumni Council and prior to that has been a regular attendee at both regional events and at annual reunions. She is married to Mr. Robert Watson and the couple has one child.

Ms. Watson’s training as a CPA and experience on the Alumni Council provides her with a good understanding of the School’s strategic position and insights into the School as it moves forward.

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Heard at the Council

Alumni Council Establishes Two New Awards While Meaningfully Engaging Alumni

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he 2019-2020 Alumni Council year was off to a great start as members gathered on campus in October to put their plans in motion for the upcoming year. This fall, the Council welcomed two new members to their ranks: Judy Romano ’79, an attorney from Florida, and Monifa Tarjamo ’90, a homemaker from Maryland. We are delighted to have both women serving on the Council as they bring wisdom and insight into the School’s expanding alumni engagement programs.

Photo: Alumni Council's October meeting (left): David Gilmore ’61, Scott Cantor ’73, Madison Sergi ’14, Johnathan Flores ’12, Richard Broughton ’54, in rear-guest Bob Chace ’68, Judy Romano ’79, Charles Cordero ’93, hidden Steve Bluth ’83, Monifa Tarjamo ’90, Larry Spiegel ’69, guest Jim Perlberg ’70 Not in pictured: Jack Besterman ’18, Sele Birchwood ’09, Adam Eisen ’80, Luke Sollami ’08; 2 new council member Monifa Tarjamo ’90; 3 new council member Judy Romano ’79

ALUMNI ARTS AND HUMANITARIAN AWARDS ESTABLISHED First up on the meeting’s agenda was a discussion surrounding the two newly-created SKS Alumni awards and the effective strategies in the calling for nominees.

SKS Alumni Arts Award - Established in 2019, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by a Storm King Alumnus/a in the visual, performing, film, and literary arts. The inaugural SKS Arts Award will be presented during The Storm King School’s Reunion Weekend in June of 2020.

SKS Alumni Humanitarian Award - This award will recognize a member of the SKS Alumni body for extraordinary accomplishments and contributions supporting human welfare, the environment, or social reform which may include lifesaving work or research, the alleviation of suffering, social justice, or the improvement of quality of life, the environment, or socio-economic status.

The SKS Alumni Humanitarian Award is as much about extraordinary work on behalf of the human condition as it is a shared teaching occasion for the students of Storm King. Therefore, the award will be presented during a selected All-School Assembly on a date that is yet to be determined.

SECOND ALUMNI SURVEY TO BE ADMINISTERED IN MARCH 2020 Following the discussions regarding the inaugural awards, the Council turned its focus on the administration and marketing of its second of three SKS Alumni Surveys developed in 2018. The purpose of the surveys is to collect data which the Alumni Council will use to strengthen overall alumni communication,

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engagement, programs, and support. In March of 2019, the first survey was conducted, and its strong results have already been used to guide the work of the Council and Alumni Office.

Part II of the survey will focus on overall alumni communication and will be administered in March of 2020.

SKS 2020 REUNION WEEKEND ACTIVITIES REVIEWED One of the key issues that were discussed during the fall meeting is a review of the School’s traditional Reunion Weekend (June 11-13, 2020) and the streamlining of the many activities that are incorporated within its relatively small window of time. To that end, the Council discussed several options that may make the weekend experience more enjoyable, while at the same time, allowing classmates and friends ample time to catch up and reminisce.

MRS. ANNE FULTON PRESENTS AT THE COUNCIL One of the many benefits Council members enjoy is to hear from current faculty and staff about their specific programs areas.

This fall, the Council was treated to a presentation

by Mrs. Anne Fulton, the Chair of the Performing Arts Department and the School’s longest-tenured faculty member. Mrs. Fulton spoke of the School’s renowned theater program and the demand that has grown up around the program, its productions, and the performances it produces. She remarked on our students’ many talents and the opportunity that surrounds the program for them to discover theater and stagecraft. Today, the School’s performances are played to audiences that fill the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre to capacity which brings wonderful visibility and resources to the program.

For the first time this past summer, the School hosted its own Summer Theater on the Mountain program led by Mrs. Fulton and her department’s highly-skilled staff. The program's outstanding success yielded a wonderful performance of Disney’s High School Musical and added a new student thespian to the Storm King community. Mrs. Fulton closed her remarks by stating that all SKS Alumni, parents, and friends are invited to any of the performances throughout the year. In November 2019, the Storm King players will be performing The Diary of Anne Frank.

COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL Following a lunch with members of the Board of Trustees,

Sarah Fulton presenting to the Council during Reunion Weekend

MEET OUR NEW ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS!

who were meeting simultaneously, the Council reconvened for a presentation about the strong state of the School and updates as to its strategic direction. One of the interesting points shared is that in the last six years, The Storm King School campus has grown by more than 16 acres and its net assets have increased significantly. One area of concern is, while the School now enjoys a record enrollment, the annual fund gift per student ratio is shrinking as alumni participation has not grown at the same pace. This critical ratio is an important metric as The Storm King Fund serves to underpin access to talented and deserving students who otherwise would not be able to afford the School’s extraordinary educational opportunities. The good news, however, is that alumni support of the Storm King Fund continues to increase with alumni representing more than 55% of total giving and the Board of Trustees representing another 20% of total gifts and giving to the Fund.

ALUMNI COUNCIL SPONSORED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Since its establishment in 2017, the Storm King School Alumni Council has placed SKS Alumni engagement squarely in an upward trajectory as seen in the new awards, speakers, Career Night participants, regional gatherings and events, and in the thoughtful and conscientious participation by the members themselves.

As the SKS Alumni Council continues to move forward with its work this year, SKS Alumni should look for calls for nominations for the two new awards, invitations to regional gatherings throughout the country, offers to play in the School’s annual Alumni Basketball Game to be held in January, invitations to attend regular Alumni Council meetings, and requests for their presence at this year’s Reunion Weekend festivities, particularly for SKS classes ending in 0s and 5s.

Alumni Basketball Game 2019

Judy Romano ’79 - Judy attended The Storm King School in 1977-1979.

After graduation, she attended college at SUNY Oneonta, had opportunities to travel to Italy and India, and to participate in a semester long internship with the Legal Aid Society located in Washington, D.C. After earning a BS in Business and Economics, she moved to Fort Myers, FL. She enrolled in law school and earned a JD from the University of Florida. After practicing law in Fort Myers and Naples for several years, she opened her own practice focused on estate planning, estate administration, tax and real estate in 1997.

“I feel very fortunate to have found The Storm King School as a young person and boarding student. I certainly learned a lot in that short time, not only academically, but about people and life. The beautiful setting, the talented and dedicated teachers and administrators, and my fellow classmates contributed to my growth as an individual and I am hoping to be able to give back through service on the Council. I expect that I will learn as much or more as I can teach or give and I welcome the opportunity to do so on the Alumni Council.”

Monifa Tarjamo ’90 - At SKS, Monifa was involved in the Blue Key Club, on the yearbook and newspaper staff, played varsity soccer, and was a varsity cheerleader. She is a graduate of Hamilton College ’94 and earned a Master’s in Journalism from New York University in 1998. “I loved my years at Storm King and I believe it prepared me for the real world by nurturing my compassion, curiosity and desire to take risks. At Storm King, I developed a joy of volunteering, which I still continue today and have passed on to my four children.

I’d like to be a part of an Alumni Council that wants to reach out to alumni in different ways to get them reconnected and excited to be back involved with Storm King.”

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 37

CAREER NIGHT 2019

1

2 CLASS VISITS

3 ALUMNI GATHERINGS

6

4

7

5

8 2

9

NYC Holiday Party: November 21, 2019 Alumni Basketball Game: January 12, 2020

CAMPUS VISITORS

SAVE THE DATE

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11

Reunion Weekend: June 12-14, 2020 For more information please visit: sks.org/Alumni-Events

12 38 / EVENTS & NOTES

CAREER NIGHT 2019: 1 Career Night 2019 from left: Jeni Spaeth ’81, Joel Levine ’62, Eric Gatsik ’97, Derek Gordon ’80, Headmaster Jon Lamb, Chandler Zhang ’14, Dominique Manpel ’79, Scott Cantor ’73, Brian Lydell ’91, Seth Leichter ’95, Lynn Crevling ’72, Jeffrey Steiger ’74; 2 Chandler Zhang ’14 speaking to SKS students; 3 Brian Lydell ’91 speaking with SKS students; 4 Jeffrey Steiger ’74 speaking with SKS students; CLASS VISIT: 5 Larry Spiegel ’69 speaking to an Economics class; REGIONAL GATHERINGS: 6 San Francisco, California - Tom Fogarty, Director of Development and Nader Fathi ’77; 7 Connecticut - Standing from left: Bill McDonald ’64, Larry Spiegel ’69, Bob Chace ’68 Seated from left: Jan Ferrucci ’74 and Dan Natchez ’61; 8 LA, California - Douglas Baughman ’96; 9 Texas Regional Event: Trustee Robert Ginsburg ’72, David Laster ’60 & Anthony Bissell ’64; 10 Maryland Standing from left: Michael Moore ’72, Lynn Crevling ’72, Director of Leadership Support and Alumni Relations at SKS, seated from left: Past Faculty Robert Thompson (19891992), Ross Sober ’92 and Monifa Tarjamo ’91; CAMPUS VISITORS: 11 "Coach Casey" Robert Went, past faculty 1953-1962 with his original SKS jacket; 12 Visitors Diethard Kolewe, past faculty 1977-2000, Jason Soderlund ’91, and Marty Vollmuth, past faculty 1977-1983

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

Class Notes James H. Brewster ’39 Last Spring, James H. Brewster, Class of 1939, sent a note of regret that he could not attend this 80th reunion. In a telephone conversation that followed to thank him for his RSVP, Mr. Brewster recalled fondly playing tennis and fencing at SKS. He ranked th 4 on the school fencing squad, and the 1939 Quarry reported that he also “played a brilliant game of chess and a mean game of pool.”

Jim relayed that he went on to Cornell University after SKS and graduated in three years. He worked for one year at Atlantic Refining Company; then joined the American Field Service where he served in North Africa, on the Italian Campaign, and was sent to Northern Germany to “clean up” the concentration camps. Jim recalled their work at the Belsen camp where soldiers discovered approximately 60,000 prisoners, most of them half-starved and seriously ill and 13,000 corpses, including the body of Anne Frank. Jim’s AFS unit later was sent to India to prepare for the invasion to liberate Singapore. After his service for the American Field Service, Jim returned home to the US to do graduate work at the University of Illinois, earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1949. He then began a long career teaching chemistry at Purdue University, and writing and reviewing scholarly articles, until he retired in 1981. After retirement, Jim and his late wife Chris, a fellow chemist, traveled to Hawaii, New Zealand, Iceland, England, Scotland and Wales. He reports that at age 96, he lives independently and enjoys spending time tending to his flowers on his patio, and listening to talking books about history and biographies.

(Note: The American Field Service (AFS) was founded for American volunteer ambulance units to rescue wounded soldiers in battle during World War I. The AFS was reactivated during World War II, and from 1940 until 1945 AFS volunteer drivers served in France, North Africa, the Middle East, Italy, France, Germany, and India and Burma.

The AFS ambulance drivers evacuated more than 1,000,000 casualties during both World Wars. Today, AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. is an international nonprofit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.)

John Toney ’69 “First of all, a big thank you goes to Steven Sims, Larry Spiegel, and Paul Jerry for reaching out to me personally and inviting me to the 50th reunion on the Mountain. My wife and I had a great time and the SKS staff was so welcoming! Such memories were discussed and laughed about. I had visited SKS once before, in 1999, unannounced, when my soon-to-be wife and I were attending a wedding on a weekend that

was close by. We got to go into the Cottage and saw my room. What a memory. Nothing was different! I, like Tom Leeds, another 5-year high schooler, enjoyed the “interesting” blend of fellow Cottage residents.

Let’s just say we were unique.

Before graduation, Herb Sauer told me (after reviewing my grades): ‘I think you would do better in a larger student population.’ I took him up on his word and went to the University of Oklahoma for a year and a half before returning and joining the family business of picture framing and gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania. After 20 years and that business closing, I became a sales representative for a music company distributing CDs and cassettes to retailers, eventually becoming National Sales Director for the largest independent record distribution company in the US. Right now, after one week of retirement (from Weight Watchers that I worked at for 11 years), I became the National/International Sales Director of Soundsmith, a phono cartridge company based in Peekskill, NY. I also am Executive Director of Direct Grace, a non-profit record label benefiting the eradication of childhood slavery throughout the world. All this and I teach spin cycling classes in YMCA’s here in middle Tennessee where I live with my wife and our cat Oscar. I have one daughter who teaches middle school and is the advisor to students to colleges in the San Francisco Bay area. No slowing down this grad.”

Dana Crevling ’77 “As a child I dreamed of going to Africa to see wild lions. Over the summer, my dream came true on a trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe with my sister Lynn ‘72. Highlights were successfully tracking a lion on foot, watching elusive wild dogs hunting, and learning about the complexities of the anti-poaching efforts that involve community development and buy-in as the key to conservation. It was a powerful, breathtaking experience of a lifetime.”

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.

sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Fall 2019 / 39

Amy Bright ’79 "Forty years ago, the Class of 1979 walked through the grounds of The Storm King School as students for the last time. Some of us have been back multiple times and have seen the many changes that have been made, while, for some, this is the first time back and it may seem overwhelming. The School has made great strides over the years, and with my past experiences as a student and my current ones as an alumna, I am so proud to call The Storm King School my Alma Mater. I’d like to thank all of my Storm King teachers for helping me become the “me” I am today. Thank you everyone for making our 40th Reunion the best one ever!!"

Sanford Worth ’02 "Since my time at Storm King I spent several years in the Air Force and relocated to the West Coast to attend college at Art Center College of Design and Arizona State University. I am currently working as a production designer and art director in the entertainment industry. I married the love of my life in 2016 after more than a decade together and this year we have recently relocated back to Phoenix and purchased our first home.

I own a small Los Angeles / Phoenix-based company that provides design and fabrication and labor services to the entertainment industry. I have managed to keep in touch with a few people over the years and think of most of my time at SKS fondly. Hope everyone is doing well."

Aurora Chen ’14 “Following my time at SKS, I moved to Boston and attended Boston University. I have a BS in Communications and have been working in the legal field ever since. I will begin law school at the University of Bologna in Italy this Fall.

My fondest memories of Storm King involve sports activities. The bell would ring and in the fall, it was volleyball; in the winter, it was wrestling; in the spring, it was initially tennis and eventually softball. Sports gave me a chance to meet teammates instead of classmates and coaches instead of teachers. They also gave me a chance to vent the day off. When the day’s last bell would ring, the atmosphere at SKS drastically changed.

Suddenly, I was not just a student anymore. I was practicing to represent SKS at sporting events and I could smell the competition in the air. I was honored and committed. While volleyball remains to this day my favorite activity, I loved sports during the spring. I looked

40 / CLASS NOTES

forward to being outside and experiencing the beautiful Hudson Valley landscape. The view was spectacular from the soccer field.

My greatest regret is that our volleyball team did not win the HVAL cup during my senior year. Nevertheless, we were a winning team.

I do not regret a single day of practice or scratch on my knee. On the field I had teammates, but outside the field, sports gave me a chance to build a family."

Skylynn Gyuro ’15 “Storm King has prepared me for life after high school in and out of the classroom. I am so thankful for the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my father, Edward Gyuro, who graduated in ’77. Currently, I am attending Calvin University in Grand Rapids Michigan where I will be getting my bachelor’s degree in special education (cognitive impairments) and elementary education.

I also am playing collegiate lacrosse which has had a huge impact on my life. This summer I had the privilege to come back to SKS and work at the summer program with the Director of Summer Programs, Ben Harnick. I have learned and grown tremendously from this. Storm King has given me special friendships and experiences that I will truly cherish forever.”

In Memoriam 1941

1976

Dr. Lynne T. Greene

Thomas Evans

May 5, 2019

June 11, 2019

1954

1977

James Roderick Gross

Homer Odell Anderson

May 7, 2019

April 10, 2019

1962

1977

Ken Bijur

Herbert C. White

September 22, 2019

September 15, 2019

1970

1987

Robert Quiri

Lisa Bornstein

2019

2012

1970

FACULTY & STAFF

Robert Thompkins 2019

1971

Margaret Van Dyck August 22, 2019

John Alan Schwartz

John Parnell

August 13, 2019

October 10, 2018

Becoming a Storm King Sustainer is a great way to increase your support of The Storm King School’s people and programs by making smaller monthly gifts to the Storm King Fund. Recurring gifts are a perfect way to ensure that you are recognized among the SKS faithful every year. They are also a great way to fit giving into your budget by allowing you to break a larger gift down into more manageable recurring amounts. Sustainer gifts can be made by credit card, electronic funds transfer (EFT), or bank draft and can be made monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually.

SPREADING OUT YOUR GIFT CAN ADD UP AND IT’S EASY!

$5 per month

Meal Money for a Student Athlete

$25 per month

Two Physics Lab Robots

$50 per month

Costumes and Props for the Spring Musical

$100 per month

Digital Academic Resource Access

Visit www.sks.org/Give or call Anne Fulton at 845. 458. 7521

On the Mountain

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

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER SINCE 1867