Stroll through the vineyards of success with Victoria Ash '88
LISA
THE STORM KING SCHOOL JOURNAL SUMMER 2024
Board of Trustees
Officers
Robert Ginsburg ’72
Chair
Robert Docherty ’72
First Vice Chair
Kerryane Monahan ’92
Second Vice Chair
Roger D. Auerbacher ’66
Immediate Past Chair
Christine E. Watson ’94
Treasurer
Scott Rutter ’73
Secretary
Lisa Shambaugh
Head of School – Ex-Officio
Steven Bluth ’83
Alumni Council President
– Ex-Officio
Trustees
Ila Barton ’92
Charles Cordero ’92
Johnathan Flores ’12
Michael Fischer ’82
Peter Fox ’77
Ken Goldwasser ’78
Richard Grossman ’79
Bruce Hanson ’62
Neil Novesky P’25
Trustees Emeriti
Michael Brower ’63
Robert Cory III ’63
Jack D’Angelo H’13
Thomas Delaney ’58
Stephen Duffy ’71
Peter Duggan H’58
Lawrence Fain ’58
Stanley Freilich P’11
Herbert Gelhardt ’48
Racey Gilbert ’60
Margaret Harbison
Hon. Harold Kennedy ’73
Peter Lamb ’72
Bettina Murray GP’20
Arthur Reis ’75
John Settel ’50
Jeremiah H. Shaw P’95
James Sollami P’02,’08,’09
Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54
Peter Wunsch ’73
The Storm King School does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origins, age, disability, or any other classification protected under State or Federal law.
On the Mountain is made possible by the enormous effort of our school community.
Special thanks go to:
The SKS Alumni Council
Victoria Ash ’88
Bonnie Cayea Newman P’92,’93, G’22
Lynn Crevling ’72
Daniel De Luzio
Dr. Paul Feffer
Anne Fulton
Patrick Fulton
Sarah Fulton ’09
Jonathan W. R. Lamb
Marek Pramuka P’20
Michaela Pramuka P’20
Toni Scherrer
Lisa Shambaugh
Denise Sollami
Cem Taviloglu ’19
Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P’19
Ke Dana Xu ’24
OTM Contact info: otm@sks.org
OTM: The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson NY 12520
On the Mountain , the official journal of The Storm King School, is published for the benefit of the greater school community including alumni, families, friends, and faculty. On the Mountain is designed to communicate the School’s mission, values, and culture with accurate information and stories about members of the school community past and present, current news, upcoming events, and other information of interest to our community.
On the M ountain
The Storm King School Journal SUMMER 2024
FEATURES
4 Bidding Farewell
Head of School Jonathan W. R. Lamb reflects on his retirement after 14 years at The Storm King School and a prolific career in education.
8 Looking Ahead
Join the SKS community in welcoming SKS’ incoming Head of School Lisa Shambaugh
10 Victoria Ash ’88
Take a stroll through the vineyards of success with wine executive and entrepreneur Victoria Ash ’88.
16 Cem Taviloglu ’19
Join Cem Taviloglu ’19 as he pursues his passions for chemistry and mead making as a craft beverage entrepreneur.
22 Career Week 2024
See how SKS’ Career Week connects successful alumni and students with similar career interests.
DEPARTMENTS
2 From the Head of School
3 Comments
26 Mountain Road
Global Community Day; Land Acknowledgement; SKS’ new astronomy class; International Trip to Peru; SKS Senior leads Black History Month; SKS Gives Back on MLK Jr. Day, I am SKS: Dana Xu ’24; Fall & Winter Athletics Record; Visual and Performing Arts Showcase.
46 The Common Room
The Alumni Council: Our Vision, Our Words; Why I Give: Bonnie Cayea Newman P’92, ’93, Past Faculty; The New Dyar Hall Campaign; Alumni Basketball.
52 Events
53 Class Notes
56 In Memoriam
LEFT: Executive Chef Andrew Comey is serving up delicious noodles at the recently updated International Station in Henderson Dining Hall.
FRONT COVER: Storm King's Walter Reade Jr. Theatre has a brand new look.
BACK COVER: Storm King's 18 Heads of School since its founding in 1867.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
From The Head of School
Jonathan W.R. Lamb
Dear Storm King Family,
It is my privilege for a final time to invite you into the wonderful world of The Storm King School that is shown in this edition of On the Mountain, the official journal of our school community. You will find some great features about our alumni helping at career night, and a double feature about two alums from different decades who are helping to satisfy sophisticated palettes with their contributions to the world of wine and craft beverages. We had several alums come back for the annual alumni basketball game, and news about this year’s alumni awards is also included in this issue of OTM.
This issue will also show you some of the things our students have achieved this year, offering meaningful service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, traveling to Peru over Thanksgiving Break, and leading this year's Black History Month activities among other accomplishments. You can also see them performing on stage in our fall dance and musical recitals, and in our fall theater production of The Crucible.
You will see that our students are also thriving academically. Our 8th Grade History class started their fall term by researching and creating a Land Acknowledgement Statement to honor the Munsee Lenape who once lived on the land where our campus now rests and our returning students are excited about some new additions to our course offerings next fall, including an Astronomy class.
Recently, while exploring our archives, we came across a 1999 letter written by former Headmaster
Phil Riley to former Headmaster Frank Brogan. The letter outlined a plan to build a new academic center, possibly in the area where Dyar Hall stands today.
In the months before the spring of 2020, our school was well on its way to building this longplanned and much needed academic center. It has been a challenge to restart our efforts after such a long pause, but I am also pleased to report in this edition that we have renewed our plan to complete this exciting project. The “New Dyar Hall” will double most of our classroom space, add two additional STEAM classrooms, and provide other modern appointments to meet our academic programming needs. You will find rendered images and more information about the proposed building later in this issue.
As always, we hope you enjoy these stories and the many others about our school highlighted in this volume of On the Mountain. As you read them, I’m sure you will find inspiration and pride in the accomplishments of our school community as I have always done.
In closing, I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone in the Storm King School family for their dedication and contributions to the School. Thank you for everything that you do to help make The Storm King School the special place that it is.
Sincerely,
Jonathan W. R. Lamb Head of School
Comments
Correction: Our Mountain Road neighbor and friend of The Storm King School, George Muser, kindly reached out to us to clarify an important point of SKS history that erroneously appeared in our last (Winter 2024) issue. On page 12, within the chronology of important dates highlighting the School’s 100-year history as The Storm King School, the article suggests the Cobb House, now the Vladimir Art Center, was connected with the School’s second headmaster, Oren Cobb. George and the Muser family, longtime residents of the Mountain, clarified this point as follows:
“I wanted to congratulate you on another great SKS magazine - It is so bright, interesting and upbeat. But one errant notion is getting lodged into historical record like George Washington’s cherry tree–that the Cobb house previously owned by SKS alum Bob Cobb was connected with the School’s second headmaster, Oren Cobb. Years ago, I asked Bob who said very emphatically that there never was any connection between the two families. Dr. John R. Cobb, Bob’s father and a respected surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, bought that enormous stable house as a weekend retreat from the city around 1950. Bob bought it from the estate when his father passed away sometime in the 1970s.”
We thank you, George, for correcting our historical record, and for sharing your firsthand knowledge of our Mountain’s history and its residents who are an integral part of part of our history and community. Page 12 , On the Mountain,Winter 2024
“With our parents living overseas and my brother David (SKS ’58) and I needing to prepare for college in the US, we needed to attend a boarding school. How fortunate we were to find The Storm King School with its breathtaking situation on a mountain with dramatic vistas of the Hudson River. Add to that a rigorous academic curriculum which enabled me to pursue studying architecture at my university of choice (UVA ’64) and setting me on the road to life. Storm King was thus a most critical step, for which I remain grateful, on that path–one that proved to be fruitful and filled with blessings. For that reason, I am a member of the 1867 Society.”
— Robert Parke, Class of 1957 For information about including
1867
After 14 remarkable years at The Storm King School, Jonathan “Jon” Lamb embarks on a new chapter as he retires from his esteemed role as the 17th Head of School on June 30. His departure comes only three weeks after delivering his final commencement address to the Class of 2024, marking the culmination of his tenure. Throughout Jon’s 14-year journey, including a decade at the helm, Storm King has experienced remarkable growth and navigated numerous challenges, all while remaining steadfastly dedicated to our mission of inspiring our students toward academic success and confidence in an inclusive and diverse learning environment that embraces character, balance, and trust. In an era where many independent schools have faced adversity, Jon’s leadership has brought about substantial enhancements to Storm King’s infrastructure, academic offerings, and fundraising endeavors, ensuring the preservation of our school’s legacy for generations to come.
As proud grandparents and parents of two daughters, Jon and his wife, Susan “Toni” Scherrer, who has served as the Associate Director of Admissions at Storm King, will depart The Homestead House as they begin their new adventure in Virginia. There, they will continue to enjoy cooking, reading, and gardening while being closer to their grandchildren.
Jonathan W. R. Lamb
In sharing his reflections on his 40-year career and his time at the helm of The Storm King School, Jon reaffirms the profound significance of our collective mission as educators and our commitment to Storm King. As we bid Jon and Toni farewell, let us take solace in the enduring legacy they leave behind—a legacy that will continue to inspire and guide us as we navigate the new path ahead.
Bidding Farewell
Reflections on a 40-year Career in Education
“Forty-two years ago in August 1981, I attended my first opening faculty party at a boarding school in Connecticut. New faculty members were offered the opportunity to sing their college song in front of the group. I didn’t remember any college songs, but I knew a couple of Irish tunes. One started out ‘I saw a flea heave a tree 20 miles out to sea,’ so I got up on a chair and offered that. (Song title: Who’s the Fool Now?) Afterward, the veterans told me that I was the only new teacher to ever take the bait and sing. Maybe it was gullibility that prompted me to start a career in boarding schools. It’s only natural that just weeks away from retiring, I look back over my experiences.
I have spent my career living and working in three boarding schools: teaching, coaching, ‘dorm-parenting,’ and helping to lead other educators. The tasks
of caring for and raising young people are full of hundreds of daily demands, surprises, and challenges. The focus on these can exhaust us and make us forget to reflect on the long-term nature of what we do. During the 12 year ‘school-before-college cycle’ that our students travel, we measure their work on a regular basis. But in many ways, the most meaningful indicators of their success and ours come much later. Do our students end up leading successful lives professionally, do they become positive citizens? Do they carry on the joy of learning that we hope our schools nurture? Do they keep thinking and asking good questions? Has the character we sought to build, the sense of equity and justice, the empathy and caring our schools emphasize made its way into their adult lives? Do they impact the communities where they live years later? Of
Jonathan W.R. Lamb
course, the answers to such questions are not easily found, and in the daily lives of schools, maybe we can only give so much time to projecting beyond next week or next year. But, from time to time we ask the larger question: Does our work actually make a difference, does it help create a better future?
My mother used to say that we change the world one person at a time. The world needs young people who believe fiercely in the values we advocate in our schools. We want them to carry what is best about our schools into practice in their lives and pass that on to their children. I know the work that we do helps our students learn and practice these ideals. I believe that the daily tasks that take up so much of our work and worry help build the foundation for that better future. I do this work for the joy it brings me today and for the hope it offers tomorrow.
When I volunteered to sing that song four decades ago, I did it because we were there to build comradery and expel our nervous energy before the real work of that school year began. That one year turned into many more. Thoreau wrote “to affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts.” In each school I served, the work was always shared by a community of teachers and other adults who affirmed the common values of our schools and gave themselves over to ensuring the quality of the days of our students were rich and meaningful.
As an administrator and, eventually, head of school, I know with certainty that it is this shared effort that ensures our impact. I embrace all of you who were part of the school communities I found myself in, and applaud those of you who continue the work and make a difference in the lives of your students and colleagues, enrich -
ing your own lives in the process. Toni and I want to thank everyone who shared our time at Storm King– students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members, parents and friends. The Storm King School is in a good place today because of the collective effort of all of you. The future is bright. Our incoming Head of School Lisa Shambaugh and I have had the chance to speak many times since her appointment. Lisa is excited and ready to do great work building on our success and bringing a new and improved vision to this wonderful school overlooking the river and Storm King Mountain. Storm King will always be our favorite place to work and both of us have long been grateful to close out our careers here. We wish Lisa and the entire Storm King School family the greatest of success in the years ahead.”
Celebrating 14 Years at SKS
Thank you, Jon, for being a guiding light, a mentor, and a friend. We wish you a retirement filled with joy, fulfillment, and boundless happiness. We say farewell to you all, but never goodbye.
— Ray Hecht P’19 Assistant Head for Finance, CFO
Toni and Jon taught me to love Storm King. In addition to having a detailed understanding of what our school offers, and who we are, they have a tremendous vision for what the school can be.
— Jeanette Perk Jacobson Admissions Associate
Looking Ahead with Lisa Shambaugh
Meet The Storm King School’s 18th Head of School
During the quiet months of summer, The Storm King School is busy welcoming an important new member to the school community. After many months of collaboration with the Board Chair, the outgoing Head of School, and members of SKS’ faculty and staff, Lisa Shambaugh is assuming the role of our 18th Head of School in July of 2024.
A Colorado native, Lisa is relocating from her current home near Washington, D.C. to the SKS campus in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Having spent her undergraduate years at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie and then starting her career in college admissions at Manhattan’s Barnard College, Lisa has long been enamored with New York and the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. “I’ve lived for 15 wonderful years in the Washington D.C. area, first working at George-
town Day School and then for nine years at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Before that, my life and career have taken me to California, Europe, New Hampshire, and Japan. I’m excited now to return to New York and to become acquainted with the Hudson Valley,” she explains.
Joining the Storm King community from her position as a key member of the senior administrative team at St. Andrew’s, Lisa says that, along with its majestic location, the School’s small size, diverse student body, and strong sense of community were among the factors that drew her to the School. “I felt like the opportunities and the challenges outlined with the position were well-aligned with my professional experiences and strengths. During my first interview with the Search Committee, I appreciated the way the committee members put me at ease. While they certainly took their roles seriously and asked me tough questions, the group was also quick to laugh and to joke with each other, and with me. I felt immediately like I could just be myself,” she continues, “and that told me a lot about the culture and community of SKS.”
One aspect that resonated in particular with Lisa was the fondness for the School expressed by everyone she met including trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, as well as current students and parents: “As I learned more about SKS through each individual’s experiences, their high regard for the School was evident. I loved hearing about their time spent here, their interactions, and how they felt they were able to challenge themselves, explore new interests, and grow during their time at Storm King.
“When I came to campus for my finalist interview, I was warmly welcomed from the beginning. One of my first meetings was an early breakfast with day parents and faculty members. We had to keep adding chairs to the table as more people joined the conversation, and I was so impressed and moved by how many community members carved out time to be a part of the process of selecting the School’s next Head. Throughout all of my interviews and subsequent encounters with the SKS community, I’ve loved the level of engagement, good humor, and passion for the School’s mission, past and future,” she continues.
After the bustle of the search process concluded, Lisa had the time to reflect upon her time spent on campus getting to know Storm King and the school community. “I could see myself in this role at The Storm King School, and felt well prepared to lead the School. I truly hoped that the search committee and the community felt the same way. I was thrilled when I received the offer for the position. It was a wonderful and life-changing phone call,” she explains. “I am honored and humbled to have been selected as The Storm King School’s next Head of School, and I look forward to becoming a part of the community.”
Lisa’s life’s work as an administrator, educator, diversity practitioner and her extensive background in enrollment management, strategic planning, and international student programming puts
her in a strong position to lead SKS well into the future. She anticipates a smooth transition thanks to consistent communication and onboarding by the Board of Trustees and the current Head of School. “Outgoing Head Jonathan Lamb has been very generous with his time, and we’ve met regularly throughout the school year to help prepare for the transition. The Board Chair and I have also met several times, and I’ve attended the winter and spring board meetings. I’m also honored to have been invited to address the graduating class of 2024, which has provided me with an inside look at one of the School’s most important traditions,” Lisa continues.
In describing what she wishes to accomplish first in her new role, Lisa says “Listening. I really believe the most important thing I can do in my first year at SKS is to listen and learn about the School, and what is on people’s minds. I plan to meet with as many community members as possible including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents during my opening months. I want to hear what people love about the School and would never want to change, and to hear about their hopes for the future as The Storm King School moves forward.”
One of the first projects that Lisa and the Board will take on will be the creation of a new strategic plan for Storm King. This will allow school leadership to identify more specifically the areas of focus for the years ahead, and to plan the pathway forward for the campus, community, and academic programs. “I’m really excited to continue the conversations that were started during the hiring process. Several people shared with me their ideas for how the School can continue to excel and grow in certain areas. I’m eager to dig into those topics more deeply.”
Lisa concludes, “On a more personal note, I’m looking forward to moving into The Homestead with my husband, Jay, and our dog, Perseus. We have already felt warmly welcomed by the SKS community and look forward to making this our home. I’m also eager to experience and learn more about the SKS traditions during my first year, beginning with ‘Mountain Day’ and taking in the beautiful views from the crest of Storm King Mountain together with the community.”
I was always onE
To push limits, Think outside the Box, and seek Freedom from restrictions.
—Victoria Ash ’88
Victoria Ash ’88 at SKS
A STROLL THROUGH THE VINEYARDS OF SUCCESS
Wine Executive and Entrepreneur Victoria Ash ’88
Welcome to the rosé-colored world of Victoria Ash ’88, whose career in the wine industry has been as diverse and flavorful as the labels she champions, and where the art of the grape intertwines with the art of the deal.
From her early days in sales to her current roles as a wine industry leader and entrepreneur, Victoria’s story from the East Village of Manhattan to the vineyards of California is a testament to forging one’s own path, thinking outside the box, and having an appreciation for a good bottle of wine.
Raised in New York City’s East Village, Victoria's story challenges convention. Her mother, a prominent art curator for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, introduced her to a world of sophistication and creativity from a young age. “My upbringing was immersed in the art world, courtesy of my mother. Her role at Seagram also meant that our household was always stocked with an impressive array of wines. While my focus initially leaned towards environmental science and lobbying, my exposure to fine wines and spirits from a young age undoubtedly planted the seeds for my eventual career path in the wine industry.”
From Manhattan to the Mountain
Despite being the only child at most adult gatherings, Victoria embraced the opportunity to push boundaries and explore her independence, often finding herself drawn to the allure of Manhattan’s nightlife during the ’80s. It was during her teenage years that she began to contemplate her future more seriously. Needing a change of scenery, she approached her mother with the idea of attending boarding school. This decision marked a pivotal moment in Victoria’s journey, leading her to The Storm King School.
“I was always one to push limits, think outside the box, and seek freedom from restrictions. While the transition from city life to a boarding school setting
was challenging, I gained valuable life skills such as resilience and the ability to adapt to new environments. Assistant Headmaster Kolewe, who was also my math teacher, stood out as a mentor. While he always kept a watchful eye on me, he also provided invaluable support and guidance, especially in subjects like algebra where I struggled. His encouragement and belief in my abilities left a lasting impression on me.”
Reflecting on her time at SKS, Victoria says that the structured environment taught her better study skills and the importance of seeking help when she needed it. “Storm King equippped me with a sense of independence that served me well in higher education. It instilled in me the confidence to pursue my passions, which eventually led to my early career in lobbying and later, the wine industry.”
A Budding Lobbyist
During her college years at Syracuse University and SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry College (ESF), Victoria’s interests and her mother's encouragement led her toward environmental science. “After exploring various career paths within the field, I was drawn to lobbying where I could hone my advocacy and communication skills.”
Her lobbying career began in Albany, New York, where she worked with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), focusing on high profile, non-environmental issues such as increasing the tobacco tax. She excelled at the strategic aspects of lobbying, relishing the opportunity to craft arguments, build coalitions, and influence legislative outcomes. Her next move was to Washington, D.C., where she aimed to delve deeper into the world of public affairs and lobbying.
Although she found success in D.C., it didn’t take long for Victoria to miss New York and the culture and relationships she left there.
A Leap of Faith
One day on a visit to her mother’s home in East Hampton, she came across a job opening for Director of Sales and Marketing at a winery on the North Fork of Long Island. Recognizing the potential to apply her skills, Victoria convinced the winery owners to give her a chance. This marked the beginning of her deep dive into the world of wine. “My entry into the wine industry was somewhat serendipitous. It was a leap of faith that ultimately led me to develop my career and thrive in the wine business.”
Corporate Wine
After building success on Long Island and in New York City, Victoria felt ready to make a bold move and relocate to California. Joining E. & J. Gallo, she embraced many new challenges, including managing her own sales teams and navigating the corporate landscape of the largest family-owned winery in the world. “While my sales background in New York prepared me for the role, adapting to Gallo’s corporate culture in California was a learning curve. However, it exposed me to a different facet of the wine industry and provided valuable insights into consumer behavior and brand management.
After several years with Gallo, I felt a desire for new challenges and opportunities for growth,” continues Victoria. “This led me to pursue new opportunities that aligned more closely with my evolving career aspirations.”
Wine Country
Victoria’s next stop was the fine wine company Allied Domecq. “It was a fantastic company, more along the lines of Seagram where my mother worked. I also met my husband, Karl Zeigler, there! That really solidified my time in California. Before that, I didn’t think I would stay here forever,” Victoria continues.
Today, Victoria’s career has taken another significant turn. She has recently co-founded Roseade USA. “Roseade Spritzer is a refreshing and delicious twist on a wine spritzer with all natural, premium ingredients” she explains. Alongside Karl, Victoria has played a pivotal role in bringing the brand and its production to the US and building it from the ground up. In the time that remains, Victoria is also enjoying her latest role as West Division Manager with Scheid Family Wines, managing sales across seven states in the western US. Her amazing journey serves as an inspiration for wine enthusiasts and budding entrpreneurs alike.
“My advice to aspiring wine professionals is simple: embrace curiosity and never stop learning. The industry is constantly evolving, driven by shifting consumer preferences and emerging trends. Develop a strong professional reputation, build relationships, seek out mentors, and never stop exploring new opportunities. And above all, never lose sight of your passion for wine and the unique stories behind each bottle. That’s what sets this industry apart and makes it so rewarding to be a part of.”
victoria Ash ’88
Victoria and her Husband Karl Ziegler
“When I started at SKS, I wasn’t sure what I was good at. I knew that I enjoyed making things, like chemical reactions, occur. In my 10th grade chemistry class, I began wanting to understand why they occur. Then, things really took off.”
— Cem Taviloglu ’19
A HONEYED PURSUIT: AN ALUMNUS’ JOURNEY TO MEAD MASTERY
Meet Cem Taviloglu, Class of 2019
In the rolling farmlands of Pine Bush, New York, under the shadow of the Shawangunk Ridge, a sweet revolution in the Hudson Valley’s craft beverage industry is quietly fermenting. Here resides Cem Taviloglu, a 2019 alumnus of The Storm King School– a young chemist and entrepreneur whose love for honey has ignited a passion within the realm of libations. From childhood memories and kitchen science experiments to the genesis of a burgeoning meadery, Cem’s journey is as golden and intricate as the honeyed elixirs he meticulously creates.
Born and raised in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Cem’s early years resonated with a symphony of diverse influences, cultures, and tastes. “I feel lucky to have grown up in such a historic place connected to two cultures,” he recalls, referring to his American mother and Turkish father. “In Turkish culture, family and food are everything. By nature, people are very particular about the origin and freshness of the foods they eat. My Turkish grandfather even grew a special rose in his backyard garden, the Isparta rose, just to make rose jam.”
It was also Cem’s paternal grandfather who brought delicious raw honey and other breakfast treats from their hometown of Rize, which lies on Turkey’s northern Black Sea coast. “Rize is famous for its mountains and slop-
ing meadows, so the honey is amazing,” continues Cem. “My American grandfather also loved honey. We always brought him jars of chestnut honey sold by local beekeepers on the outskirts of Istanbul. Delicious honey has always been around and I’ve always been captivated by it.”
Along with his love for honey, Cem’s interest in science and chemistry began in the kitchen. “I was always mixing unlikely things together, making baking soda bubble up with vinegar, creating slime with glue and borax, and other fun experiments. When I got a little older, I became fascinated with fermentation and yeast, and began making bread.”
When Cem arrived for the 8th grade at The Storm King School, his kinetic abilities in science were given
the chance to blossom and grow. “When I first started at SKS, I wasn’t sure what I was good at or even what I liked, and that used to cause me stress. I remember it was in Ms. Kolach’s 10th grade chemistry class that something changed and I began to feel engaged with academics. I knew that I enjoyed making things, like chemical reactions, occur. When I began wanting to understand why they occur, things really took off.”
“As a junior, I took Biology, and as a senior, I took Dr. Feffer’s Physics class as well as AP Bio with Mr. Vondras. I even wrote my college essay about my passion for biology and protecting the natural world.” When Cem committed to attend the State University of New York’s Environmental Science and Forestry College, known as SUNY ESF, his plan was to study environmental biology. “Despite my request, I received an acceptance letter from their Chemistry program. It raised an eyebrow, but ESF was always my first choice. I figured I would transfer programs once I got through my basic requirements freshman year.”
Once he settled in at college, Cem found himself doing well in biology, but also excelling in chemistry, particularly organic chemistry. “I really surprised myself. Where many of my friends found it challenging or boring, I was fascinated and wanted even more lab time. I also accepted an offer from one of my professors to work as a research assistant on a university research project. After discussing future paths with my advisor, I decided to remain in the chemistry program and focus on natural products."
Despite the challenges at college posed by the pandemic, Cem thrived academically, finding solace by burying himself in his studies to fill the void during extended periods of remote instruction. It was also the time that Cem began experimenting
with making mead and wine. “I first heard about mead through the TV series, ‘Vikings’, so I did some online research. Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage, predating wine, and that really sparked my interest. I fermented my first batch using grocery store honey and bread yeast. It was really terrible,” he laughs. “Something pushed me to keep going. I wanted to make something delicious, so I continued to do research and experiment with different methods and flavorings. I also sampled as many meads as I could and took a wine-tasting class to help me refine my palate.”
As his interest in fermented beverages grew, Cem sought out an internship at a well-known Hudson Valley winery. There, he acquired hands-on knowledge in viticulture, as well as the operations, marketing and sales aspects of running a winery and a tasting room. “The winery also had some hives on their property and sold the honey along with their wines. When I suggested making mead, they let me use their honey and their equipment. I made my first commercial batches there, where we held tastings and sold the mead during special events. When I saw that people actually liked my product, everything came together in my mind. I knew I wanted to make mead and open my own meadery someday.”
To make his dream a reality, Cem felt he needed to gain business and marketing experience that would help him channel his scientific passion into building a business and a brand. “I had room for a few electives during my senior year at ESF, so I enrolled in a business course at Syracuse University. There, I saw a flyer for a university-sponsored business plan competition that had a significant monetary prize. I decided to enter it with a plan for my meadery. I thought that if I won, I could use the money to start my business after graduation. If I lost, I would still gain a lot of experience and get expert feedback on my business plan,” Cem continues.
“I worked late nights and weekends for more than three months on top of my academic load. When I got the letter that I was in the final eight out of more than 80 entries, I couldn’t believe it. As I presented my plan to the judges, I felt like I was on ‘Shark Tank.’ Ultimately, my work was really well-received and I came in fourth place. I didn’t win the money, but it gave me a lot of confidence and I left with a solid plan to start my mead business.”
Now armed with knowledge, a vision, and a plan, Cem was anxious to return to the Hudson Valley after graduation to continue working in the industry and launch his meadery. “I decided on the name Golden Horn Meadery which refers to the historic inlet of the Bosphorus that embraces Istanbul’s Old City. It has such a rich history as the crossroads of the world where people from various cultures would come to mingle and trade. At the same time, mead was an important part of the Vikings' culture and they were known to drink mead out of horns. It seemed like the perfect name representing both a part of myself and the history of mead,” Cem explains.
After renovating an old shed at his home in Pine Bush, New York, Cem has set up a professional, well-equipped micro meadery where his first batches are bottled and ready for sale. “Initially, I will focus on distribution supported by promotion on social media, online sales, and tastings at local farmers markets,” continues Cem. “My long-term goal is to transform the mead industry from a niche within the wine market to become the next up-and-coming drink of choice for those who prefer wine over beer or cider, and want to try something differ-
ent.” He believes that the key is producing consistent, high-quality meads that appeal to younger consumers like himself.
Beyond the bottom line, Cem believes his true measure of success will lie in the joy of sharing his passion for honey and mead with others. “Time will tell and I am crossing my fingers,” says Cem confidently. “When I look back over the last several years, I can’t believe how much has changed. I remember presenting my first business plan for an imaginary sports club in Ms. Mowat’s economics class at SKS. Now, I have a business of my own and I’m selling my first bottles. I think what SKS does very well is exposing students to many different areas and ideas that spark their interests in various ways,” says Cem. “I would tell today’s Storm King students to take advantage of everything SKS offers and get inspiration from others along the way.”
With the launch of the Golden Horn Meadery, Cem’s odyssey from childhood memories in Istanbul to academic successes and starting a business is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. As his honeyed pursuits continue, and his meads quietly ferment in their vessels, they carry with them the essence of centuries-old traditions and the promise of a vibrant future for the Hudson Valley’s craft beverage scene. With every sip of his mead, we raise a glass to honor the sweetness of Cem’s journey–a reminder that following one’s dreams can lead to something truly golden.
Cem handling bees
CAREER WEEK 2024
Six Decades of Alumni & Parents Make 2024 Career Night a Success
Career Week at The Storm King School was more successful than ever this year! Six decades of alumni and two current parents spanning from the 1960s to the present volunteered their time and expertise recently to speak with our students virtually or in person. Their collective goal was to coach them on choosing a profession, getting into college, and sharing highlights of their lives and careers after graduating from Storm King.
Careers explored this year included mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering; psychology; investments and banking; social media; criminal law; architecture; entrepreneurship; graphic design; fashion; visual arts and gallery administration; health, fitness, and wellness; nursing and medical administration; and astrophysics.
From top Left: Zeyi Tommy Tang ’14, Shu Shen ’13, Scott Cantor ’73, Tina McDaniel Walsh ’01, Jutta Appiah ’17, Nicelle Beauchene P ’26, Ashley Cabrera ’19, Steven Bluth ’83, Michael Pock ’94, Brion Lipschutz ’77, Kevin Dresser ’90 and Kevin Corriston ’76
Andrea Lopez-Moctezuma ’25, Ashley Cabrera ’19, Bijou Sene ’24 and Ryder Henrikson ’26
This exciting week of learning and reconnecting culminated in Career Night 2024 on the evening of Thursday, March 28. After a jovial formal dinner with the visiting alums, juniors and seniors talked with various classrooms in rotation, allowing them to get different perspectives and introduce themselves to a variety of career paths.
All of the presenters provided the students with great tips for success while the format provided a personal atmosphere where many alumni were seen laughing along with the students and talking fondly about their time at Storm King. As for the students, most felt that they took away valuable knowledge, great advice, and interesting stories from the event:
Marisa Chapman ’24
“I learned the value of sticking to my morals and following my passions, even in challenging situations.”
Daniel Zhang ’25
“The session in Mechanical Engineering was really helpful in terms of career planning and opportunities for engineers.”
Caroline Cunningham ’24
“Psychology is an incredibly multidisciplinary field that can inform so many aspects of your future life and career.”
Annie Cosgriff ’25
“I hadn’t realized how much of the architectural process was collaborative. I learned a lot about how buildings are planned and constructed. I especially liked the teamwork aspect.”
The Storm King School community sincerely thanks all of the Career Week 2024 presenters for sharing their time and wealth of knowledge with our students:
Bruce Hanson ’62
Mechanical Engineer/Medical Devices
Jodie Gerson PsyD ’91 Psychology
Peter Fox ’77
The Investment Industry & Linkedin for High School/College Students
Kevin Corriston ’76
Criminal Law
Tommy Tang ’14
Electrical Engineer
Shu Shen ’13
Senior Software Developer
Brion Lipshutz ’77 Architecture
Kevin Dresser ’90
Graphic Artist
Ashley Cabrera ’19 Fashion Event Director
Jutta Appiah ’17
Investments/Banking
Scott Cantor ’73
Personal Training/Health/ Fitness Entrepreneur
Naunet Leonhardes-Barboza ’20 Incoming Astronomy PhD Student, UC Santa Cruz
Career Week 2024 was off to a great start when 2020 alumna Sophia Grausso joined Dr. Rigg’s Creative Writing class. Sophia, who majored in English at Fordham University, began by leading Dr. Rigg’s students through an engaging introductory exercise. The challenge was to write stories one sentence at a time. “Each student wrote a sentence and then handed the paper to the person on their left. That person wrote the next sentence and then handed it on again. This happened until the paper went all around the table, with each student adding a sentence each time. At the end, several students read the stories that were generated out loud. They were very good!”, explained Dr. Rigg.
Next, Sophia talked with the class about her own work and presented some of the zines (small-batch independent works) she has worked on or is published in. Then, the students turned their focus to discussing several very short stories called ‘Flash Fiction.’ “I met with Sophia earlier this year to prepare for her visit. She recommended these short stories which I assigned as reading homework before she arrived,” explained Dr. Rigg. “We then read one of Sophia’s flash fictions together and asked her simply to listen while we discussed it. The students loved
the story, and Sophia commented afterwards that it was a wonderful experience for her– the first time she had heard others discuss one of her works.”
At the end of class, the students were given time to work on their own flash fiction stories. “They will finish those for homework, and we will share them with Sophia, who has promised to give some feedback,” continued Dr. Rigg. “Overall, having Sophia with us was a very positive experience and I believe the class got a lot out of it. The highlight for me was having the opportunity to discuss one of her stories with her there in the room. My students were very excited to see an excellent writer just a few years older than they are, and who took English classes here at Storm King.”
Many thanks to Sophia for graciously volunteering her time and sharing her experiences with our students, and to Dr. Rigg and his class for welcoming Sophia so warmly into their classroom.
About Sophia Grausso ’20
Sophia Grausso is a 2020 graduate of The Storm King School. She is a recent graduate of Fordham University in New York City with a Bachelor of Arts in English and concentrations in Creative Writing and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In both of these fields, Sophia achieved high honors, including induction to Alpha Chi Omicron, Fordham’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Society.
--
--
Alumnus Finds Creative Ways to Encourage
Design Thinking
Mr. Carruthers’ Intro to Art class had a very special visitor when alumnus and architect, Brion Lipschutz ’77, joined the class for an interactive session during 2024 Career Week. Mr. Lipschutz, known for designing academic and art buildings on college and university campuses, and for teaching architectural design with Drexel University’s Architectural Engineering program, coached the students on ‘design thinking’ and the basics of architectural drawing.
After a short introduction, Mr. Lipschutz had the class pass around an everyday object–a plastic oat milk bottle–and asked each student to describe something about it. “Design thinking begins with ‘design seeing’, he explained. “Learning to look at everything through this lens requires you to open your eyes and notice the details you would otherwise overlook.”
To illustrate how the concept is applied in the world of architectural drawing, Mr. Lipschutz brought out bright red peppers to demonstrate the difference between a plan, a section, and an elevation. First, he cut a pepper in half horizontally, showing the class the cross-section of the pepper. “This view would be equivalent to a plan, which is from above looking down.” Next, he cut another pepper in half from top to bottom. “When looking into the pepper from the side, this would be a section.” Then, holding a whole pepper upright, he demonstrated the elevation view. To conclude the exercise, each student was given a cut pepper and asked to make a detailed drawing of what they saw, keeping the
plan and section concepts in mind.
The next exercise was a still life drawing of a miniature city made of small boxes set up in the center of the classroom. Each student was asked draw the city as an elevation from their vantage point in the classroom. “Elevation has no dimension, so practice seeing the objects as one-dimensional shapes,” continued Mr. Lipschulz.
Later in the day, Mr. Lipschutz remained on campus to participate in 2024 Career Night where he continued to talk with groups of students about his career as an architect, his college experience, and his time at SKS. Thank you to Mr. Lipschutz for sharing time and wealth of knowledge with our students and helping to make Career Week a success!
About Brion Lipschutz ’77
Mr. Lipschutz earned a BS in Environmental Design from Philadelphia College of Art and a Master of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a registered architect in several states – Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey; and a member of the American Institute of Architects.
Mr. Lipschutz taught at Drexel University in the Architectural Engineering program, a core foundation class that covered basic architectural drawing principles using three-dimensional abstract and exercises to heighten observation skills. Design exercises were used to emphasize the nature of function, structure, and materials and their impact on the design process. Mr. Lipschutz has been a principal in the firm Kleinrock Studio Architecture since 2011.
Career Week 2024
Global Community Day
Students Share Their Cultures
Storm King School celebrated its diversity with Global Community Day 2024, an event featuring students from over 20 nations sharing their cultures through various activities across campus. The day began in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre with cultural performances including poetry readings in native languages, a traditional dance, and a multilingual rendition of “This Land is Your Land,” followed by the annual International Flag Parade. Students then engaged in a range of activities such as Turkish Coffee-making, a Chinese Tea Ceremony, Tibetan sand mandala-making, and Latino dance lessons, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of the school community.
The event culminated with a Global Lunch that offered a taste of international cuisine with dishes like beef empanadas, pozole, samosas, kofta, and sushi. International Student Co-Coordinators Mrs. Centeno and Ms. Katz expressed their gratitude for the successful celebration, emphasizing that Global Community Day not only reflects the school’s diverse spirit but also strengthens the sense of global unity among students. This day of cultural exchange and appreciation highlighted the school’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every culture is celebrated.
Honoring the Lenape Students Explore Indigenous History of the Hudson Valley
In Mr. Fulton’s Middle School History class, students have been busy learning about the history of New York’s Hudson Valley, and more specifically, the native people who once lived on the lands surrounding Storm King Mountain before the first European settlers arrived. “The class covers world history and explores how geographers would view the world continent by continent,” explained Mr. Fulton. “We started with North America while using the Hudson Valley as a historical lens, beginning with Native American history.”
According to Mr. Fulton, the students used their investigative skills to delve into the stories of the Lenape peoples, the original inhabitants of Hudson Valley and its surrounding areas. The unit resulted in the class gaining a better under-
standing of the land and how the Lenape lived in harmony with nature without exploiting its natural resources. To demonstrate what they learned, the class worked together to write a Land Acknowledgement for the campus of The Storm King School.
“The assignment allowed us to show our appreciation for the land where we now reside and learn, acknowledge the injustices that occurred, and pledge to take care of it as its original owners once did,” continued Mr. Fulton, who was very pleased with his students’ work.
“The class was very engaged with this topic and the assignment improved their fact-finding, writing, critical thinking, and communication skills,” concluded Mr. Fulton. “We are very fortunate here at The Storm King School to be able to incorporate our beautiful campus and the history of our local area into our curriculum.”
-- Mountain Road --
UNDER THE STARS
Astronomy Shines Bright at SKS
Astronomy took center stage at The Storm King School recently, igniting enthusiasm for the cosmos among students and faculty alike. From witnessing an awe-inspiring solar eclipse to immersive field trips, and the addition of a new introductory Astronomy course, the School is successfully fostering a deep appreciation for the wonders of the universe among its students.
On “Eclipse Day,” our AP Physics class embarked on a memorable journey to Port Henry, New York, where they experienced 100% totality against the backdrop of Lake Champlain’s horizon. With clear skies, students were treated to a breathtaking view, giving them an experience they will remember for years to come. Meanwhile, the rest of the SKS community gathered together on campus, donning viewing glasses to witness the celestial event together.
The community’s enthusiasm for astronomy extends beyond just witnessing cosmic events. For this year’s 10th grade field trip, students spent the day at SUNY New Paltz, where they explored the depths of space at the John R. Kirk Planetarium. The students also contemplated the intersection of art and science at the Dorsky Museum, leaving their mark on the exhibit wall with their creative contributions.
In addition, science instructor Daniel DeLuzio is teaching a new introductory Astronomy course. Mr. DeLuzio has a degree in Astrophysics and worked on astronomy research projects in Australia, New York, and Arizona before joining the faculty at SKS. The course will delve into various topics including the Solar System, stellar life cycles, galaxies, observational techniques, historical perspectives, and contemporary cosmological discoveries, and will be ideal for students who may wish to take an alternative
to physics to fulfill their science requirements. “Our goal is to have students learn the history of the field, practice some of the mathematics that lead to such mind-bending theories, and explore some hands-on creative projects,” explained Mr. DeLuzio.
The stars also aligned at the School’s 2024 Career Night when alumna Naunet Leonardes Barboza ’20 returned to campus to share her college and career plans with current SKS juniors and seniors. Naunet is currently a senior undergraduate majoring in Astrophysics at Wellesley College. Her journey in astronomy has taken her to prestigious research internships at institutions like UC Santa Barbara and the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics where she has used the Hubble Space Telescope to study nearby dwarf galaxies, contributed to the NASA TESS mission to discover new exoplanets the size of Jupiter, mined databases to learn about a peculiar binary star system, and is now writing a thesis searching through 220 million spectra from the Gaia spacecraft to find new carbon stars.
As The Storm King School looks ahead, Science Department Chair Dr. Paul Feffer and our science faculty are eager to nurture and graduate more students like Naunet, inspiring them to explore the mysteries of the cosmos. “With the introduction of the new Astronomy course, and our Science Department’s continued mentorship, SKS will be well-poised to prepare the next generation of upcoming astrophysicists and astronomers,” explained Dr. Feffer.
-- International Trip --
STUDENTS EXPLORE PERU
Exciting international trips have become an integral part of the student experience at The Storm King School, enhancing our academic and community service programs and adding another dimension to our vibrant student life. This year, during Thanksgiving Break, an intrepid group of students and faculty traveled to experience the rugged natural beauty, history, and culture of Peru. Their eight-day excursion began in Lima, then on to Cusco, where the group traveled through the Andes Mountains by train to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. A highlight of the trip was the days spent helping out at a local orphanage.
All photos for “Students Explore Peru” were taken by talented SKS Daniel Zhang ’25
-- Black History Month -Leading with Energy & Purpose
As Black History Month was celebrated across the nation, the hard work and enthusiasm of one Storm King School senior made February a time to remember for our community. Known for her vocal talent and her commitment to spreading awareness about Black experiences and culture, Madison Bishop’24 took the lead in planning a series of memorable activities to help SKS celebrate Black History Month.
Madison’s leadership shone as she orchestrated a diverse array of events, from creating an educational slideshow about notable Black figures to organizing a themed formal dinner and a spirited Kahoot! trivia game. These events were designed to engage students and faculty alike, emphasizing lesser-known individuals in Black history, such as Shirley Chisholm and Marsha P. Johnson.
The month also featured an Advisory period that delved into Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling,” and facilitated discussions on the film “The Color Purple,” deepening the community’s engagement with Black history and culture. Madison, working closely with the Black Student Union, ensured these activities not only celebrated Black achievements but also fostered a comprehensive understanding of Black experiences.
Reflecting on the month, Madison remarked
on the balance of stress and reward in organizing these events, expressing hope that they foster a tradition of recognizing and celebrating diversity throughout the year at SKS, not just during Black History Month. She articulated a vision where the legacy and achievements of Black Americans are celebrated consistently, reinforcing the strength and unity of our diverse community.
-- Community Service --
SKS Spends MLK Jr. Day Giving Back
The spirit of giving back was alive and well as The Storm King School commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 15, 2024. While most of the nation had the day off, our students and faculty were busy learning about Dr. King’s legacy and volunteering for causes benefiting the local community. This year, SKS racked up nearly 700 hours of service on this special day.
The day’s program began with half of the student body watching and discussing a documentary video while the other half volunteered for various service activities. After lunch, the groups switched places so all students had the chance to participate in both the video and discussion, and a service activity.
‘During the discussion sessions, students watched ‘Eyes on the Prize – Bridge to Freedom 1965,’ a documentary about the historic 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. After the video, the groups answered questions about the events and discussed how they reflect on society and civil rights today.
For their half-day of service, students participated in various on and off campus activities. Some traveled to the Newburgh Armory to help the staff organize supply closets and donated clothing. Others withstood chilly temperatures in Black Rock Forest and at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum to remove invasive species. Other off campus activities included trips to visit senior citizens at the New Windsor Country Inn, help rescued pets at the Hudson Valley SPCA, and organize food prep and storage areas at a local soup kitchen.
On campus, the Black Student Union (BSU) held their annual clothing drive, collecting 10 bags of clothing throughout the day for donation to La Iglesia Del Buen Pastor Soup Kitchen. In the dining hall, students were busy writing more than 100 letters of support to cancer patients for Amy’s Ray of Sunshine. Throughout
the day, there were also various clean-up activities running in the gym, art center, theater, and Ogden Hall.
While all this was going on, Mrs. Shrem and Mrs. Centeno were busy heading this year’s New York Blood Center blood drive in the gymnasium. With the help of several students and all of the donors who volunteered, 61 pints of blood were collected–the highest record to date for Storm King and enough to save approximately 183 lives.
“Both students and faculty really stepped up and worked in the spirit of the day. Everyone did a great job, had fun doing it, and their work really made a difference,” explained Head of School Jonathan Lamb. That same feeling was shared by all who participated, making Storm King’s MLK Jr. Day of Service a great success once again this year.
“My time at SKS has been full of love. It truly feels like a big family who cares for you.” — Dana
I Am SKS: Ke “Dana” Xu ’24
by Sarah Fulton ’09
Meet Dana, a member of the class of 2024 at The Storm King School. With her outgoing personality and creative spirit, Dana encompasses what it means to be a Storm King School student. Whether she is directing a movie, collaborating with peers or showcasing her talents on stage, Dana’s enthusiasm and dedication shine through in everything she does. As she approaches the end of her high school journey, Dana’s presence will leave an indelible mark on her peers and teachers alike. Join us as we delve into Dana’s story exploring the impact of her personality and passion on her academic pursuits and extracurricular endeavors at The Storm King School.
Q: Tell us about your background.
“I’m from Jiaxing China, a city near Shanghai. It’s a normal city, not a big international city that’s smaller than New York City.”
Q: Why/how did you come to Storm King?
“I came during the COVID-19 pandemic – I was tired of the overly competitive private school I studied at in China. It was hard on my mental health and did not allow for creativity and for my personality to shine. I wanted to pursue filmmaking, and since SKS has such a great video production department, realized I would have more opportunities attending here. I didn’t tour before I arrived – I couldn’t believe how beautiful and green the campus is, and how friendly the people were.”
Q: What have you been involved in at SKS?
“I currently serve as the student body President and I’m a part of the National Honor Society. I am performing at every school music recital as a guitarist and singer. I’ve also performed on stage in the theater productions and love taking photos and making movies on campus.”
Q: What has your experience been like at SKS? Have you faced any challenges?
“Storm King is filled with a lot of culture and people from many backgrounds. I appreciate the inclusive environment it provides – it allows for many voices to be heard. I haven’t faced many challenges, my past three years here have been quite smooth, enjoyable and comfortable.”
Q: What are your goals in the future? Where do you think you’ll be?
In the fall I’ll be attending NYU Tisch, getting a dual degree in business (producing) and filmmaking. I’m not sure where I’ll be – I’m looking forward to exploring in college, I plan to be on the rowing team and trying out rock climbing.”
Q: What would you say about your time at SKS?
“My time at SKS has been full of love. It truly feels like a big family who cares for you. I’ve made great friends like Alex and Johnny – I plan to stay in touch with them and visit when I can.”
Q: What will you remember most?
“I’m excited to announce that I am making a new film about my favorite memories at SKS. The last scene will feature people sitting around a bonfire. I even wrote a song for it. Being together, sitting outside, and enjoying my friendships is something I will miss when I’m in the city.”
Q: Any other thoughts/comments?
“Storm King has helped me in my creative/artistic journey. Before I came here, I only played a little guitar, and had never taken a lesson before. The school encouraged me to try new things and be on stage with confidence.”
MUSIC & DANCE
-- Winter Play -THE
CRUCIBLE
Rivets the Audience
One of Theater’s most haunting stories set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 1600s was brought to life at The Storm King School and it was as powerful and thought-provoking as ever. Two riveting performances of Arthur Miller’s 1953 classic, The Crucible, took place at the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre recently courtesy of The SKS Performing Arts Department and the play’s talented cast.
Based on the historical events of the 1692 Salem witch trials, the play depicts the real consequences of false accusations based on blind religious faith and the extreme behavior that can result from dark desires and hidden agendas. The play’s four acts follow the dilemma of John and Elizabeth Proctor, a farming couple who get caught up in the witch trials after Abigail Williams, with whom John had an illicit affair, accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft in hopes of taking her place at John’s side. Desperate to clear his wife’s name, John attempts to convince the court of her innocence, but instead finds himself in trouble when Abigail turns on him. The end of the play, based on true events, is both tragic and disturbing as John is arrested for witchcraft himself.
“The Crucible was a challenging play to produce due to the intensity of the subject matter,” explained Performing Arts Department Chair Anne Fulton. “We decided to do the show with a minimal set and props to portray the starkness of
the time. Each cast member had a substantial amount of dialogue and cues to memorize, and the history behind the story had to be understood to make the play believable. For a few students, it was their first experience performing on stage. Madison Bishop ’24 and Mohanad Amashal ’25 as the Proctors, Andrea LopezMoctezuma ’25 as Abigail, and Caroline Cunningham ’24 as Mary Warren handled their scenes very well. All of the cast gave excellent performances and I’m very proud of their accomplishments. I’m also looking forward to working with many of them again on our upcoming musical, Cinderella, this spring.”
Congratulations to the cast for their outstanding performance and thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and parents who supported our student-actors and the show. A special thanks to the stage crew for making the show happen behind the scenes.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Cast of Characters (in order of appearance):
Betty Parris: Kaitlyn Machado ’27
Reverend Samuel Parris: Ethan Bagdasarov ’25
Tituba: Bijou Sene ’24
Abigail Williams: Andrea Lopez- Moctezuma ’25
Susanna Walcott: Isabella Borelli ’26
Mrs. Ann Putnam: Dana Xu ’24
Thomas Putnam: Yusei Suzuki ’25
Mercy Lewis: NaRae Tillman ’24
Mary Warren: Caroline Cunningham ’24
John Proctor: Mohanad Almashal ’25
Rebecca Nurse: Matilde Bishop ’24
Giles Corey: Nicole Tomasini ’24
Reverend John Hale: Jasper Lung ’24
Elizabeth Proctor: Madison Bishop ’24
Francis Nurse: Burak Odemis ’25
Cheever: Adrian Yang ’27
Willard: James Bennett (faculty)
Deputy Governor Danforth: River Tippin ’24
Sarah Good: Stephanie Li ’24
Student Artists RECOGNIZED by SCHOLASTIC
Congratulations
to a group of talented Storm King School student artists who have been recognized by Scholastic for their outstanding work at the Hudson Valley regional 2024 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The students received their awards on February 2, 2024, at SUNY New Paltz and their art was on display through the month of February in the college’s Fine Arts Building.
Dana Xu ’24, who received a Silver Key award in the Film & Animation category for her short film titled “Tomorrow,” said that her work was inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
“Gabriella, the main character in the story, was created based on my experience of jealousy and desire. I believe there is always evil in every human being, though in different forms. We are constantly trying to suppress the expression of evil, but we cannot deny its existence. If we let it out of control, bad things will happen, like in the film. However, it might be just an illusion, a dream, or a simple thought,” — Dana
This short film was also an official selection for the Swedish International Film Festival, Catskill International Film Festival, SIFF’s 20th Anniversary, and Boston International Kids Film Festival. It also received an Honorable Mention from the Independent Shorts Award in Los Angeles and Best Young Filmmaker from the Gothamite Monthly Film Award.
Sid White ’25 won a Gold Key award in the Digital Art category for his work titled “Alien Dissection.” According to Sid, his inspiration came from images he had seen of deep sea creatures that were discovered floating on the surface of the ocean or washed up on beaches.
“They paint pictures of these animals, for instance the colossal squid, as being pitiful, ugly creatures. I have no doubt that [the colossal squid] would be awe inspiring in its natural habitat. This piece reflects that message–a creature that was probably dignified and beautiful brought up into the human world where it is left ugly and dissected,” — Sid
Dana Xu ’24
Sid White ’25 Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24 Cathy Chen ’28
Eva Garcia Darres ’26
Angelina Chin ’24
by Dana Xu ’24
Alien
Dissection by Sid White ’25
Storm King’s other winners included a self-portrait in the Drawing & Illustration category by 8th grader Cathy Chen ’28 and comic drawings by Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24 titled “Model Skinny” which received a Gold Key award in the Comic Art category. “The inspiration for the comic stemmed from my frustration with female beauty standards and how unachievable they are. I wanted to create a sort of monster to embody my frustrations,” Aitana explained. In addition, Garcia Darres ’26 and Angelina Chin ’24 received Honorable Mentions for their entries in Drawing & Illustration and Fashion.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. Students from across the country submit nearly 350,000 original works each year in 29 different categories of art and writing including photography, painting, digital art, poetry, science fiction & fantasy, and others. The top student artists and writers at the regional level are then moved on to the national stage which will be judged in March 2024.
Winning a Scholastic award at any level is a noteworthy achievement and can play an important role while applying for college and future scholarships. Kudos to Aitana, Dana, Sid, Cathy, Eva, and Angelina for their excellent work!
Student Art Celebrates Human Rights
Storm King School student-artists brought their ideas about human rights to life this winter at ‘An Artist’s Response to Human Rights’– an exhibition celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Their works were on display at the Orange Hall at the SUNY Orange campus in Newburgh, New York, through January 25, 2024.
The exhibition, organized since 2012 by the Orange County Arts Council, Cultural Affairs at SUNY Orange, and the Orange County Human Rights Commission, offers young artists a venue to express their feelings about the importance of human rights in today’s world through their artwork, essays and poems.
The Storm King School was among nine participating area high schools including Newburgh Free Academy, Minisink Valley High School, Washingtonville High School, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Cornwall Central High School, James I. O’Neill High School, Pine Bush High School, and Valley Central High School. Over 140 works of art are on display with 17 pieces of art submitted by SKS students. The art was created in several mediums including painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, found objects, ceramics, and clay.
Participating Storm King Students
Shuo Wang ’24, Ana Cabrera ’25, Rebecca Vannetti ’24, Mei Ki Liang’25, Fernanda Paramo ’25, Dante Allen-Segev ’25, Teresa Kably ’25, Amber Lewis ’25, Imen Saruhanogullari ’24, Sharon Cohen ’25, Isabella Santana ’25, Dantia Saucedo ’24, Milo Miga ’25, An-Jhih Chin. ’24, Matrena Mishina ’25, Isabella Suero ’24, Xudong Luo ’24
Red Space by Eva Garcia Darres ’26
THE ALUMNI COUNCIL
“Our
Vision Our Words”
by Lynn Crevling ’72
These are the words that Alumni Council members chose to set their vision for SKS and the alumni community at its January 2024 meeting.
The words reflect members’ thinking about their role on the Council. At the meeting, Council First Vice President Dr. Jodie Gerson ’91 challenged members to model and carry these words into their work this year.
CONNECTIVITY, COMMUNITY
One of the ways that the Storm King School Alumni Council has put the vision of connectivity into practice is in growing a new Alumni LinkedIn Group.
“We want alumni to connect with one another by joining, posting and commenting on careers, education, mentoring, internships, offering job opportunities, seeking job opportunities, and more,” according to Outreach and Development Committee member Peter Fox ’77.
The Council envisions a vibrant SKS network, and will work to build and strengthen alumni as a supportive community. Many recent graduates and young alumni are on LinkedIn and older alumni can be a resource for younger alumni, perpetuating the SKS community that so many of us valued in their experience on the Mountain.
Lisa Veyka ’83, Chair of the Outreach and Development Committee, has noted “It’s amazing to see all the things that alumni do and their many talents and accomplishments! One member recently asked the SKS Alumni LinkedIn Group for volunteers for an interview for a graduate school research project and she received help from another alum with the expertise that she needed.
That’s exactly what we hope for!”
Search for Storm King School Alumni Group on LinkedIn, join, and start a conversation!
COMMITMENT, RECRUITMENT, GROWTH
This year, the Council welcomed Michael Pock ’94 for a second three-year term on the Council effective July 1. Michael has done just about every volunteer role there is at SKS over the years. He is a stellar example of commitment, an alumnus who continues to generously give his time.”
The Council continues its recruitment of Council members for growth in building a community of support for alumni and the School. Please contact lcrevling@ sks.org if you have an interest in joining a great group of alumni.
ENGAGEMENT
This year, the Outreach and Development Committee has been brainstorming how to increase engagement, especially among our young alumni who were most recently on the Mountain. The early years after SKS are busy spent absorbing all the new experiences that come with the next stage of life, but we want young alums to know that, through it all, they are still, and will always be, a part of SKS.
The Committee’s work has led to a new initiative:
a young alumni event that will center on a conversation with 11th and 12th grade students. College and grad school-aged alumni will be invited to participate in this conversation to be held in mid-January 2025 during a period when SKS is back in session but some colleges are still on break.
“This should be a safe and open dialogue where students can ask about whatever they want to know pertaining to life after SKS, whether that be ideas on how to connect in a much larger educational community; alum experiences in various majors; college athletics and clubs; the benefits of dorm vs. apartment life; how to seek out the right internships; saving and spending wisely or working while in school; and anything else they can think of. My first few years after SKS were guided by friends of mine who had graduated a grade above me, and I want every graduating student to leave with those same connections and resources so that SKS can continue serving them even if they may no longer physically be there,” said Committee member Jaime Cunningham ’16.
VISIBILITY, COLLABORATION
“Each year, the awards for alumni and past faculty on Reunion Weekend bring visibility to important people at SKS who inspired and led us. Recipients are selected and presented in collaboration with the larger alumni community,” according to Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Paul Jerry ’69.
The awards’ nominations process begins on Reunion Weekend each year and concludes on December 31. Nominations are received on the SKS website: https:// sks.org/alumni-overview/alumni-awards/.
GIVING
At each of its meetings, Alumni Council members are briefed on the School’s needs and its support by the community.
“Independent schools like ours can’t exist without giving. We so often hear alumni say “SKS changed my life or saved me.” If that’s true, don’t we want to give for the current and future generations to have that same experience?” commented Alumni Council President Steven Bluth ’83.
Thank you to Council members for bringing these visions for our community forward– tangible love in action. Council members lead the way with their support in the form of time, talent and treasure, exemplifying a valuable commitment to our Storm King School.
The SKS Alumni Council 2023-2024: Richard Bailey ’02, Steven Bluth ’83, Scott Cantor ’73, Jaime Cunningham ’16, Lauren FitzHarris ’97, Peter Fox ’77, Jodie Gerson ’91, Jordan Golding ’20, Paul Jerry ’69, Yiqi “Jack” Liu ’11, Dominique Manpel ’79, Jim Perlberg ’70, Michael Pock ’94, Ross Sober ’92, Lisa Veyka ’83; Alumni Council Secretary Lynn Crevling ’72
Steven Bluth ’83 at
Senior Dinner 2024
WHY I GIVE
By Bonnie Cayea
“As a faculty member I had firsthand experience seeing that every donor and every dollar could make a difference.”
—Bonnie Cayea Newman
Newman P’92, ’93 G’22, Past Faculty 1987-1994
In 1987, my journey began as an art teacher at The Storm King School. The following year I became chair of the Arts Department. During my time on the Mountain, I wore many hats. I taught Photography, Foundation Art, Printmaking, Ceramics, and Advanced Placement Art. I chaired the Yearbook Committee, designed sets for dance and drama productions, served as a dorm parent, had library duty, chaperoned for a prom, gave senior slide shows, was a student advisor, and I even drove a van!
As a faculty member I had firsthand experience seeing that every donor and every dollar could make a difference. Storm King’s small community experience promotes cultural and social growth. It is where priceless memories are made, not only for its students, but also for its faculty. From my
own personal experience, I witnessed the impact this school made on its students. Two of those students happen to be my daughters, Hilary Cayea Fuller ’92 and Megan Cayea Schreiner ’93.
Hilary is a high school special education teacher; she also teaches Earth Science. Megan is an RN for United Hospice. Her office is located in Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, New York, where she serves as hospice nurse navigator. Megan’s daughter, Jane Mae Schreiner ’22, is entering her junior year at Union College in Schenectady, New York. She plans to study a trimester abroad next spring.
Social media has made it possible for me to connect with many of my former students. I love seeing my former students doing well, sharing, working hard and fulfilling their dreams.
Although I have been enjoying my retirement for many years, I have always contributed to the SKS Annual Fund. I invite others to join me in giving back to support the educational programs and activities that make the SKS experience extraordinary!”
The Smiling Face of Storm King
Denise Sollami P’02, ’08, ’09 Retires After 25 Years
In this time of change here on Storm King Mountain, our community reflects on the departure of a beloved figure who has been a cornerstone of our school for more than two decades. Mrs. Sollami, with her infectious smile and unwavering warmth, has been a constant presence on the SKS campus, embodying professionalism, hard work, and hospitality. Her genuine kindness has touched every student, parent, alumni, and member of the SKS community.
Denise’s journey at SKS spans over 25 years, during which she has worn many hats. Initially serving as the assistant to both the Academic Dean and the College Counselor, she later assumed the role of Executive Assistant to the Head of School, a position she has held for the past decade. She has stood not only as a source of information and counsel for many, but as a pillar of support, radiating positivity and extending a helping hand to all who crossed her path. More than just a welcoming face, Denise’s influence runs deep at Storm King, intertwined with the very fabric of the School.
Reflecting on her SKS career, Denise fondly recalls the care given to students–a hallmark of the Storm King experience. She is thrilled to have witnessed the evolution of SKS firsthand, noting the substantial increase in student enrollment and the expansion of campus facilities to accommodate the growing community. Along with
these changes, Denise highlights the School’s continued commitment to academic excellence and an enriching student experience.
Among her fondest memories are the Senior Service ceremonies, where she witnessed the heartfelt gratitude expressed by graduating students to the faculty, staff, and friends who have shaped their SKS journey. For Denise, these moments were especially meaningful as she proudly watched her three sons graduate from SKS, each finding success in their post-secondary endeavors.
As Denise bids farewell to her SKS family, she expresses gratitude for the friendships forged and the memories shared. While she will undoubtedly miss the bustling campus life and the camaraderie of her colleagues, Denise looks forward to embarking on new adventures, including spending quality time with her family, traveling, and pursuing her love for the arts and music.
In her parting words, Denise encourages Storm King to “keep doing what it’s doing,” a testament to her belief in the mission and values of SKS. As the School moves forward into the future, Denise’s legacy will serve as a guiding light, reminding all who make SKS and the Mountain their home, of the power of kindness, dedication, and a warm smile.
Anne Fulton P’09, Sarah Fulton ’09, Ingrid Ciunga P’23, Elizabeth Taviloglu P’19, and Denise Sollami P’02, ’08, ’09, on the 2024 Reunion Boat Cruise.
The NEW Dyar Hall PROJECT
The HALLS of the FUTURE
The Storm King School enters its 157th year in a position of strength and positive growth. Our enrollment has increased over the last decade despite pandemic and economic setbacks. Likewise, the profile of our students continues to rise, hailing from more than 20 nations each year and attending increasingly competitive colleges, universities and art schools across the world.
The School is at a crucial turning point in its history. The international admissions environment is increasingly competitive and our aging campus and outdated learning spaces are struggling to keep up with their academic needs and overall expectations.
If Storm King is to continue to provide a transformative educational experience for future generations, we must take immediate, concrete steps to preserve the School’s ability to carry out its mission. The expansion and renovation of Dyar Hall is a crucial first step toward overcoming these challenges and securing the School’s legacy moving forward.
The New Dyar Hall will double the size of 12 out of the School’s 17 main classrooms and add one additional large classroom. Eight new, large classrooms will be built in the newly constructed space. The existing Dyar Hall will be renovated to create two large STEAM classrooms. All spaces will be equipped with new furnishings and updated equipment that will allow interactive classroom setups where teachers and students will have the space and facilities to collaborate, work comfortably and safely.
As of January 2024, Storm King has secured $1.3 million in its campaign fund, generously donated by members of our alumni community. The cost for the New Dyar Hall Project is estimated at $2.7 million. This includes $2.2 million for the construction and an additional $500,000 to furnish the new building and renew the parking area. Ultimately, $1.4 million in additional funding is needed to complete this exciting renovation.
If you will invest in this project and help Storm King reach its goal, please contact Sarah (sfulton@sks.org) or Lynn (lcrevling@sks.org) in the Alumni and Development Office.
IT’S BACK!
Alumni Basketball Returns
After a four-year hiatus, Alumni Basketball Day was back in action! The much-anticipated tip-off between alumni, current students, and faculty took place on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in the SKS Athletic Center. It was a fun afternoon filled with excitement and incredible talent on both sides of the court. This year, the Alumni Team took home the win with an 87-74 score over the SKS Student/ Faculty Team.
Enthusiastic Storm King graduates spanning several decades filled the alumni bench, including John Lopes ’01, Victoria Dos Santos ’11, Trevor Hughes ’13, Chris Smith ’22, Precious Omoshola ’23, Sele Birchwood ’09, RJ Delahaye ’22, Dennet Rivera ’03, Shauntice “Puddin” Hunt ’01, and Richard Bailey ’02. There were two “honorary alum” appearances made by Andrew Baynes and Ugo Nwa Chukwu. To show their support and cheer them on, the other alums in attendance were Storm King School Trustee Johnathan Flores ’12, Daniella Jones-Baynes ’97, Dick Broughton ’54, and Jim Perlberg ’70.
Former SKS basketball coach Kevin Houston (1998-2006) refereed the game alongside faculty member and Associate Dean of Students Sara
Sandstrom. At half-time, the students took part in a half-court shot contest, with two students winning prizes.
Throughout the game, the Alumni Team kept the heat going until the very end, playing our talented student-athletes and faculty members. The crowd cheered as the alumni sank the final basket and defeated the home team. In the end, the students weren’t too upset by this year’s loss and were highly impressed by our skilled alumni. All had a great time and agreed that the most important thing was getting back on the court at their alma mater, seeing one another, and having fun.
1 Back row from left: RJ Delahaye ’22, Christopher Smith ’22, Sele Birchwood ’09, Sarah Fulton ’09, Jonathan Lopes ’00, Johnathan Flores ’12, Precious Omoshola ’23, Trevor Hughes ’13, Richard Bailey ’02, Lynn Crevling ’72, Dick Broughton ’54, Jim Perlberg ’70; Front row standing: Dennet Rivera ’03, Daniella Jones-Baynes ’97, Shauntiece “Puddon” Hunt ’01; Kneeling: Victoria Dos Santos ’11 and Andrew Baynes 2 Precious Omoshola ’23 playing for the Student/Faculty Team challenges Jon Lopes ’00 3 College payers Christopher Smith ’22 (Alfred University) and RJ Delahaye ’22 (Franklin Pierce University) 4 Shauntiece “Puddon” Hunt ’01 5 Precious Omoshola ’23 reacts to the refs’ call while standing beside past coach Kevin Houston and Associate Dean of Students Sara Sandstrom 6 Marisa Chapman ’24, Athlete of the Year and Sele Birchwood ’09 go head to head 7 Trevor Hughes ’11
Events & Notes
Vicky Liu ’17 Visits Campus John Carruthers, Visual Arts Departmemt Chair, Yunqi "Vicky" Liu ’17, and Head of School Jonathan W. R. Lamb; Florida Pat Finnegan, Lynn Crevling ’72, Tyler Crawford (Treasurer of the Annette Urso Rickel Foundation), Jay Rickel-Finnegan ’02 and staff Kathy Syvertsen in Delray Beach, FL; Head of School's Retirement Dinner Trustee Johnathan Flores ’12, the SKS Cougar (Trustee Ila Barton ’92) with Head of School Jon Lamb and Assistant Head for Academics Tim Lance Ph.d; Cedric Zhao ’23 Visits Campus; Florida Alumni Gathering Toni Scherrer, Jon Lamb, Peter Fox ’77, Richard A. Epstein ’59, Michael Fischer ’82, Glen B. Rabin '80, Laurie P. Smith ’92, Jennifer Forman Hubbert ’92, Roger Auerbacher ’66; Campus Visitors Yusei Suzuki '25, Mohanad Almashal '25, Anton "Tony" Berning '25, and Jaime Kababie Sefami '25
Vicky Liu ’17 Visits Campus
Florida Alumni Gathering
Florida
Head of School's Retirement Dinner
Cedric Zhao ’23 Visits Campus
Campus Visitors
Class Notes
Tom Delaney ’58 wrote “It has been an eventful year for me. My younger granddaughter, Monique Law, graduated from Montserrat College of Art; Nancy and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary; and Thacher Island Lighthouse continues to light up our bedroom. Plans for the spring included a cruise up the Mississippi and taking in a Red Sox/Braves game at Fenway. I keep reminding my daughter and granddaughters that the Braves used to be in Boston!”
Ken Stuart ’65 sent a photo from their cruise from Sydney to Singapore. He and partner Lisa are shown with a Komodo Dragon in Indonesia. Ken said, “They had us travel around the world to get there and home.”
David Feltman ’72 wrote “It’s 1974. Ostensibly attending George Washington University in DC, I spent much of the semester cutting class to attend the Watergate hearings (I was a Poli Sci major after all!). After Nixon’s resignation, I bought an old camper van and set out across the country in wannabe hippie style with a girlfriend and an oversized puppy, traveling west camping along the way and passing through Emporia, Kansas. At some point, I realized my SKS class ring had disappeared. In 1974, a junior high school coed in Emporia cut class (there’s a theme here) and rode her bike to the local park. At the playground, she found an SKS ring with engraved initials DCF. She took it home, placed it in her jewelry box, and forgot about it until 2024 when she retired and was clean-
ing out boxes of childhood mementos. Thanks to the internet, she was able to find an email address for the SKS Alumni Office and reached out. The Alumni Office checked the Class of ’72 roster and saw that I was the only grad with the initials DCF, forwarded the email to me, and I was able to retrieve the ring from Kansas. It arrived at my home in Tampa, Florida 50 years after I lost it.”
George Klein ’73 wrote that he is keeping busy with his four grandkids, volunteering as a docent at Turtle Back Zoo, and officiating soccer.
William Close ’88 and The Earth Harp Collective is in residence at Los Angeles’ new Moxy Hotel Level 8, a venue described as ‘a one-of-a-kind amalgamation of gastronomy, mixology, and immersive entertainment.’ The hotel commissioned a massive 40-foot earth harp stretching across the ceiling of the Asian concept restaurant Lucky Mizu, with performances Thursday-Saturday
every week. “Essentially, it’s like dining in a music box,” explains one of the venue’s owners Jonnie Houston. “And with all the wood treatments, the sound is fantastic. It’s a tranquil experience.” Level 8 is open to the public, offering a great chance to experience the Earth Harp Collective’s amazing music. William, a Grammy Award winning artist, received SKS’s Alumni Arts Award in 2023. It was great to see his surprised and happy face when he recognized the presenter of the award– his art teacher Bonnie Cayea Newman.
Seyhoon Oh ’93 visited The Storm King School while in the US for a business conference in Boston. Seyhoon earned an MA in Business Management from Clark University and is the owner of Jiwon Medical Co., Ltd. It was his first time back at SKS since graduation. In addition to walking campus, he had lunch and talked with students from South Korea. He wrote “Thank you so much for taking your time to show me around and bringing back my happy memories. I really had a great time. I can’t believe it has been over 30 years!! It felt like few years ago. Time really flies.”
Lindsay Newborn Plott, ’97, PhD, MHR, CFCM wrote “I moved back home to Washington, D.C. in 2021 after my father passed away. Life has changed. The move has been difficult; however, I continue to stay positive. I’ve spent many years living in suburbia, going back to school as an adult, and raising children with my husband. I wasn’t ready to lose my father or for all the changes I’ve experienced in the wake of that loss. In 2018, at Old Dominion University, I wrote my dissertation on antiracist activism, policy feedback theory, and visual culture. I’ve taken over 20,000 photographs, documenting the world around me at the intersections
of government, national security, and racial justice. I’ve missed Storm King. I miss the Hudson and the mountains. I’m hoping to get back to New York sometime soon for a reunion or just to visit and remember. I hope my friends on the Mountain are well.”
Nobu Matsuno ’99 came to visit the SKS campus for a trip down memory lane and to shop at the school store for SKS items to take as gifts on his trip to Japan in March. Here he is (top left) with Travis Taylor ’98 (top right) Takako Sano ’98 (bottom left) and Aiko Suzuki ’98 (bottom right). He wrote “Had a great night catching up with good old friends from high school at the sushi restaurant Aiko and her husband opened up. Even though we didn’t see each other for 25 years, it brought me back to high school from the moment we met! Thank you very much Aiko and Masatomo-san! It was one of the best sushi meals we’ve had. We are so coming back!”
Gabriella Quartey ’17 wrote “As of now, I am in my senior year at Lehman College about to graduate with my Bachelors in Art, Psychology, and a minor in Dance. I am on the Dean’s List as of February 26, 2024 and I made it on to the PSI CHI Honor Society for Psychology students where I was inducted on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. During the Summer, I work at a day camp called Breezemont in Armonk New York. Although the kids can be exhausting sometimes, their tenacity, laughter, and joy override that exhaustion. I love my kids so much. Every year for the last three years, I have worked with different five-year-old girls and they are a delight. Summer 2024 will be my fourth year working at Breezemont and I love every moment of it. I will be starting graduate school soon and I can’t wait. I want to do something with Dance and Psychology.”
Pierce Pramuka ’20 recently graduated from The University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, specializing in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Over the next ten months, he will work as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Chicago Medical Center, testing the effectiveness of a new drug in clinical trials while completing the medical school application process. Additionally, he will be commissioning in the US Air Force, where he hopes to serve as a trauma surgeon.
Michael Smith ’23 wrote “After I graduated from the Storm King School in 2023, I adapted to my new college lifestyle at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts very quickly. Being an athlete that played in the fall, I moved in a couple weeks before regular students. I did not know how the first day of classes would go or if I would adapt to the new style of classes, but Storm King had prepared me. My soccer season started and I was very nervous that I wouldn’t play very much, but I started in 13 of the 14 games in our season and was asked to be a captain for next year. Overall, my first year was great and I finished with a 3.45 cumulative GPA.”
Sofia Nobrega ’21 sent news: “This summer, I will be interning in Madrid at a Psychology clinic where I’ll gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and communicating with clients. At the University of Washington (Seattle), I have been working part-time as the testing center lead at Disability Resources for Students (DRS), an office that provides accommodations for students with disabilities during exams, alongside conducting research in a lab. Our lab explores how stereotypes and social identity shape people’s choices and behaviors, where I’ve developed skills in coding and experiment management. I am excited to further my career skills and expand my professional network internationally. I’d also like to express my gratitude to SKS for their ongoing support and encouragement post-graduation, as well as always emphasizing the importance of maintaining an ambitious mindset.”
Nina Gannon ’23 is at Baruch College studying finance and Jan Reijer Bagijn ’22 is attending Fordham University majoring in Computer Science. Nina wrote “Reflecting on my transition from high school to college, it’s clear that the memories made at Storm King have left a lasting impact on my life. At the heart of these memories is Jan, my high school sweetheart and constant companion. One of the highlights of my high school experience was watching Jan lead the soccer team as captain. Being there to cheer him on remains one of my fondest memories. On my end, I found my place in the spotlight through participating in all of the musicals. Whether it was belting out show tunes or rehearsing late into the night, those moments brought me immense joy and a sense of belonging. The experiences I had here have played a fundamental role in shaping my personal and academic journey. I’ve been taught resilience, adaptability, and the value of true friendship.”
In Memoriam
SKS is saddened by the passing of the following members of our community. As is our custom, they are remembered during Reunion Weekend.
1946
John “George” Grill 12/18/2023
1947
Eric H. Smith 11/11/2021
1952
G. Wayne Asker 4/14/2024
1952
Dan Loh 1/8/2024
1953
Donald H. Potter 5/31/2022
1954
Anthony “Tony” Pallotta 6/12/22
1959
Peter Huxtable 11/19/23
1960
John Christopher March 2/16/24
1967
Tony Gair 3/29/2023
1968
Geoffrey H. Smith 10/12/2023
1969
Alan Edward Devries 6/25/2023
1972
Terrance R. Brennan 5/14/2024
1974
Dirk Robinson 1/6/2024
1975
Michael Pozo 4/19/23
1979
Stephen N. Shaw 4/2/2021
1980
Andrew Fox 12/19/21
1983
Peter Hewel 12/3/2023
Faculty/Staff
1956-1959
Gould Patchin Colman 3/1/2022
1957-1962
Arnold Toback 6/17/2023
2003-2004
James Cargill Woodruff 11/30/22
We Are Storm King!
In the 100 years since its naming, Storm King has become known as the caring community we are today: a place for students to explore their dreams, discover their future potential and forge their own paths. Many of these wonderful memories and experiences are provided through your support of The Storm King Fund. It contributes to scholarships, financial aid, new programs, creative and personalized learning and helps to update resources and facilities.
If you have yet to make a gift, please consider supporting The Storm King Fund, helping to continue to foster a supportive and inspiring environment for our students, and keeping the legacy of our school strong. And remember, we all are Storm King.
Make your gift online at: sks.org/give/ The Storm King School
Alumni & Development
314 Mountain Road, Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520
845. 458. 7522 sks.org/the-storm-king-fund
Miles Lucas '21, Olivia Mende '22, Jordan Golding '20, Caitlin Jones '19, past Faculty Marquetta Felder, and Giselle Morales '18
