The Storm King School Journal: Summer 2023

THE STORM KING SCHOOL JOURNAL SUMMER 2023

Board of Trustees

Officers

Robert Ginsburg ’72

Chair

Robert Docherty ’72

First Vice Chair

Roger D. Auerbacher ’66

Immediate Past Chair

Christine E. Watson ’94

Treasurer

Scott Rutter ’73

Secretary

Jonathan W. R. Lamb

Head of School – Ex-Officio

Steven Bluth ’83 Alumni Council President – Ex-Officio

Trustees

Ila Barton ’92

Charles Cordero ’92

Richard Grossman '79

Bruce Hanson ’62

Kerryane Monahan ’92

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

Michael Fischer ’82

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

Suzanne van der Woude P’74,’75

Peter Wunsch ’73

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

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

Special thanks go to:

Anton Berning ’23

Steven Bluth ’83

Julia Carrano

John Carruthers

Dr. Nicole Cervantes

William Close ’88

Lynn Crevling '72

Anne Fulton

Sarah Fulton '09

Racey Gilbert ’60

Ken Goldwasser ’78

Vincent Iannuzzi-Sucich ’23

Jeanette Jacobson

Jonathan Lamb

Dr. Tim Lance

Felipe Meira Araujo ’24

Taylor Moreno ’23

Marek Pramuka P'20

Michaela Pramuka P'20

Kenzo Sadiku ’23

Toni Scherrer

Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P'19

OTM Contact info: otm@sks.org

OTM: The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road

Cornwall on Hudson NY 12520

On the Mountain , the official journal of The Storm King School, is published for the benefit of the greater school community, including alumni, families, friends, and faculty. On the Mountain is designed to communicate the School’s mission, values, and culture with accurate information and stories about members of the school community past and present, current news, upcoming events, and other information of interest to our community.

On the M ountain

The Storm King School Journal SUMMER 2023

FEATU RES

4 An Adventurous Harp

Get to know this year’s Alumni Arts Award recipient, William Close ’88, and his musical creation, the Earth Harp.

6 Students Take Flight on Two Amazing International Trips

Experience the journies of our intrepid students and faculty who traveled to Italy and Costa Rica during Spring Break.

12 Career Night Returns to Campus

See how more SKS alumni than ever are engaging with our current students and helping them choose a career path.

DEPARTMENTS

2 From the Head of School

3 Comments

16 Mountain Road

MLK Jr. Day; Arts Showcase; A Model Year for Model UN; Faculty Profile: Jeanette Jacobson; I Am SKS: Kenzo Sadiku ’23; Fall & Winter Sports Results; 7th Annual Poetry Festival; Winter Stage Performance: Our Town; Global Community Day/Earth Day Celebration; A Senior’s Passion Project; Independent Study; Winter Academic Awards; NHS in Action; Startup Club

40 The Common Room

The Alumni Council; Welcome New Alumni Council Members; Meet our new Trustees; New Sculpture Graces Campus; Advanced Art Students Visit NYC Gallery; Why I Give - Ken Goldwasser ’78

46 Events

47 Class Notes

52 In Memoriam

PHOTO CAPTIONS

LEFT: SKS students Jen-Yang “Lancas” Liu ’24 and Anton Berning ’24

FRONT COVER: Dance instructor Jeanette Jacobson in front of the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre

BACK COVER: Dancers in 1992 from left: Hilary (Cayea) Fuller ’92, Kerryane Monahan ’92, Megan (Cayea) Schreiner ’93, Wendy ( Hammer) Kirby ’93, Holly Rothman ’92, and Antonia Ferraro ’94

Jonathan W. R. Lamb

Dear Storm King Community,

The content in this edition of On the Mountain goes a long way to tell the stories that highlight the many facets of our community. As our students continue to be fully invested in the multitude of opportunities the School provides, this issue showcases the concerts, shows, and recitals held this year courtesy of our visual and performing arts departments.

Features include a conversation with this year’s Alumni Art Award recipient, William Close ’88, an “I am SKS” interview with graduating senior Kenzo Sadiku, and a faculty profile to help you get to know our talented and dedicated dance teacher and admissions associate, Jeanette Perk Jacobson.

You will also find accounts of the accomplishments of our Model UN team, two international trips to Italy and Costa Rica held during the spring break holiday, the service activities held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the School’s lively and colorful dual celebration of Earth Day and Global Community Day where our students made lasting memories. In addition, you will

gain a window into this year’s Poetry Contest and Festival, now in its 7th year, which recognized poetry written by 87 young writers from 21 independent schools from Maine to New York, including SKS.

Also in this issue are accounts of an independent study course in Marine Biology by graduating senior Edward Iannuzzi-Sucich ’23 and the authorship of a children’s book by Taylor Moreno ’23, as well as stories about Career Week, the important work of the Alumni Council, and other reflections of the increasing number of Storm King alumni who are supporting the School today. We hope you enjoy this issue and have a wonderful summer!

Jonathan W. R. Lamb, Head of School

Dear OTM,

I am writing to reflect on the recent notice of the passing of Austin Stern, who worked at SKS from 1984-1997. I first met Austin in July of 1984 when I was a young teacher and we became fast friends. Austin, Dee Kolewe, and I played a lot of tennis together that summer and Mr. Kolewe usually won. More importantly, we spent many evenings sharing stories over a beer before students arrived in September when I finally saw Austin “in action.” Austin’s warmth and empathy were readily apparent as a steady stream of students would seek out his council day and night.

Austin saw the potential in every student, nurturing them with a firm yet gentle hand. Students had a safe place to reflect and grow, building on their successes as well as their failures. As a young teacher, I found him inspiring and prophetic. He could see what each student could become, subtly helping them towards simple or lofty goals, and instilling both pride and confidence as they navigated a sometimes bumpy road. He shared his joie de vivre with everyone and his family was a fixture on campus. We sometimes went cross country skiing in Black Rock Forest with their dogs, Lumbo and Rackstraw, who were good friends as well. I am a richer person as well as a better teacher for his friendship and will miss my old friend.

Jason Steiker, SKS Faculty 1983-1994

1867 Society

Austin Stern, Director of Admissions

Dear OTM,

I really enjoyed the article in the Winter 2022 issue about the alumni veterans remembered at Memorial Rock, and that you featured my schoolmates. I knew Jack Rodriguez ’60 and Burrill Olster ’57 very well.

OTM is some magazine now, it’s unbelievable. It used to be just a piece of paper. Now it’s a gorgeous publication.

Richard Epstein ’59

“Being a member of the 1867 Society is important to us because The Storm King School is an important part of helping me become who I am. I’m incredibly proud of my alma mater and want to ensure others have the opportunity to experience the magic of Storm King. By entrusting a portion of our estate, we ensure others will have the same options I did. This is why we included Storm King in our estate plan, and we hope you will consider doing the same.”

— Jodie E. Gerson , Ph.D., Class of 1991

Jason Steiker, SKS Faculty

“I developed this interesting sense of adventure at SKS...I’m not sure why it occurred, but it did.”

– William Close ’88

William Close ’88 at SKS

Senior Superlatives: William and Ava Ross were voted ‘Most Talented’

The Earth Harp transforms the music venue into the instrument itself

HARP An Adventurous

— BY ELIZABETH WILSON TAVILOGLU P’19

For one Storm King alumnus, musician, and artist, the world has become his instrument. Meet William Close, Class of 1988. Creative in nature and adventurous in spirit, William has been redesigning the music experience through his creation of innovative, architectural string instruments for more than 20 years. His most famous musical creation, the Earth Harp, transcends space, geography, and form; transforming his concert venues into multisensory experiences that bring his audiences inside the resonant chamber of the instrument itself. Whether a theater or concert hall, a rugged, cliff-lined valley, or a giant skyscraper, William has the ability to see the instrument in everything. For his audiences around the world, his music is his art, and the venue is his instrument.

William Close ’88 playing the Earth Harp

Country, Culture, Architecture, Sailing

Growing up in Pound Ridge, New York, a small town in Westchester County, William says he was exposed to the best of both worlds – the beauty of the country and a close connection to New York City. “My mother was an architect and my father was a stockbroker. Their influences still play a big part in my work today,” explained William. “My artistic side was prevalent from a young age. Mirroring my mom’s interests, I got into art very early and had a strong design background. The music came later.”

“Another key influence was that I grew up on sailboats. We spent a lot of time on the Long Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, and Martha’s Vineyard. Many pieces I’ve created are based on those experiences– construction, sailboat riggings, sails...I still love to sail and I have a great sailboat in LA which I pretty much live on. I’ve sailed ocean passages; sailed in Mexico to Isla Catalina. The Pacific coast is wild, rugged, powerful, and beautiful, not to mention very cold. These experiences have all influenced my work.”

Adventures on the Mountain

William arrived at Storm King in the middle of his sophomore year after a stint in public school. “I found myself getting lost in public school. We began looking for a more college-like environment that would give me the flexibility to do the things I wanted to do. SKS allowed me the space and mental peace to focus on my art. My father always said that SKS saved me in a lot of ways. It allowed me to come into my own as a person. I am still grateful to my art teacher, Bonnie Cayea (Newman). She really helped me

focus and develop my creative side.” While at SKS, William received the school art award and was dubbed “Most Talented” in his yearbook’s senior superlatives.

“Another important aspect of my time at SKS was my profound connection with nature. Mr. Priest, another great teacher, taught the Mountaineering course. We would all go rock climbing in New Paltz’s Shawangunk Mountains, including my friend, Andrew Cohen ’88. It’s amazing up there. We also spent a lot of time in the woods hiking on the mountain around Storm King. These are some of my most memorable experiences. After graduating from SKS, Andrew and I traveled and lived in Nepal together. In our late 20s, we began working on projects together and have been since then. Both Andrew and I developed this interesting sense of adventure at SKS. I’m not sure why it occurred there, but it did.”

The First Earth Harp

Adventures out in nature were not the only thing Andrew and William shared. The two friends enjoyed jamming out on campus in their own band. “I used to play guitar and percussion and Andrew played guitar. We were just having fun, but I guess you could say that was my start in

William and his classmates on Storm King Mountain

The Earth Harp

music. My musical side really developed while studying at the Art Institute of Chicago, which was a top art and music school at the time.”

Now, fast forward a decade to the turn of the millennium when William invented the first Earth Harp. How did it come about? “I was able to successfully mount four large resonators and a bridge, roughly the size of two grand pianos, to the ground on one side of a valley. Then, I ran the strings almost 1,000 feet across to the other side, creating a giant harp out of the landscape. Actually, I developed over 100 instruments before the first Earth Harp. One thing leads to another. It started with ‘what happens if I run a 20 foot string from my apartment building...Then, learning to play and tune it. It’s like any inventive process. You try different things with a lot of trial and error until it works.”

The World is His Instrument

Since his initial discovery, William has had the honor of installing the Earth Harp all around the world in many different forms including giant festival stages out over the crowds, from the tops of skyscrapers, across canyons and valleys, from mountain peaks and ancient temples, across and into lakes, pools, and beaches–the list is long. Wherever he installs the Earth Harp, William says “it creates a symphonic musical experience that brings focus, awareness, and honor to the places in which it is installed and played.”

William continues to develop “the sonic beauty of the instrument,” always refining and trying new designs. Today, he has designed and built over 50 different bridges and resonating chambers for the Earth Harp and he has 15 of his top designs to pick from when he goes to install a new Earth Harp project. In 2014, he received the Guinness World record for the “longest playable stringed instrument in the world.” This occurred at his first skyscraper installation in Singapore. “The strings of the Earth Harp went 1,000 feet from the plaza stage to the top of a beautiful, new, 1,000 foot skyscraper building,” explained William. “Recently, we had a wonderful show in the cenotes, near Cancun, Mexico. It was spectacular. The Earth Harp has traveled to at least 20 countries and every installation has its own story. This gets back to the adventurous spirit I cultivated at Storm King. Every project is an adventure.”

Celebrating the Earth

Closer to home, William has been using his talents to bring awareness to preserving the natural landscapes of California, especially the redwoods. “I’ve been working on a big film project with the Post Ranch, an environmentally correct, sustainable hotel that has teamed up with an environmental organization there. We did an initial film (the first in a series) to celebrate the Earth and

the different landscapes of California. Having lost my home in Malibu Canyon during the 2007 wildfires, this project is close to my heart. It was upsetting, of course, but it was also a blessing in disguise. Ultimately, I rebuilt all the instruments I lost in the fire, and a new piece of architecture on the same site. I met my partner and our son, Phoenix, now 10, was born in the new house.”

Life Ebbs and Flows

“Today, I have my studio in the Hollywood area, we spend a lot of time on our sailboat, and rent out the Malibu place,” William continued. “Every day is an adventure. My life is a project-based one. Sometimes I’m on for long periods, then off. It ebbs and flows, and I think it all gets back to this adventurousness I have that was born at Storm King. I hope SKS students today can experience the same feeling and pursue their passions as I have. I would encourage them to believe in themselves and go on adventures into the world. It’s the same thing I say to new artists: don’t leave any stone unturned and use your time to explore. A lot of the adventurous aspects of my life – travel, art, music, and sailing – came as a result of my time spent at Storm King, looking over the valley every day, finding myself. I was very lucky to have that experience.”

William Close ’88 is the recipient of the 2023 Alumni Arts Award. The Alumni Arts Award recognizes exceptional artistic contributions and achievements in the visual and performing arts. William’s award was presented at Reunion 2023.

William at SKS and as a child

Students at Rome’s Piazza San Pietro

Costa Rica travelers enjoying a beautiful sunset

ON TWO AMAZING INTERNATIONAL TRIPS STUDENTS TAKE FLIGHT

Spring Break took on a whole new dimension this year for the adventurous Storm King School students who attended the School’s international trips to Italy and Costa Rica. Their excursions took them to interesting and historic locations in both countries where they tried new and sometimes challenging activities, sampled delicious local foods, and experienced the cultures of these two exciting destinations firsthand.

Italy travelers visited Pisa and the famous leaning tower

In Italy, the SKS group set out by exploring the history of Rome before traveling to Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Florence and Pisa. The Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Colosseum were only some of famous sites they visited. For many students, it was their first trip to Italy, and for some, like senior Laurel Papera ’23, it was their first time traveling without family. “I will always remember this trip. Not only was it my first time in Italy, but it was also my first solo trip traveling without family members or meeting up with family members on the other end.”

Kaitlyn Machado ’27 especially enjoyed the group’s visit to Florence and the surrounding small towns. “The most challenging part of the trip was all of the uphill walking we did. I will always remember standing near Michelangelo’s statue of David when we visited Florence. My favorite part of the trip was eating all the delicious Italian food.”

“I also really enjoyed walking around the small villages in Florence. I especially liked seeing the real leaning tower in Pisa” added Emma Clegg ’27. “We went to so many places and museums, and I learned a lot about Italy.”

The students who traveled to Costa Rica also followed a full itinerary of sightseeing, outdoor activities, and community service. In between exploring San Jose, zip-lining through the jungle, surfing, snorkeling, and getting to know the local culture and food, the group visited the Manuel Antonio School in southern Costa Rica to help out with an important project.

“It was my first time visiting Costa Rica,” explained Jasper Lung ’24. “Visiting there was life-changing and I was able to try a lot of adventurous activities and face some fears. My favorite part of the trip was working at the Manuel Antonio School. We were there, not only to enjoy what Costa Rica has to offer, but also giving back to the community.”

“We worked together along with our local tour leader to fix very old, dilapidated desks at this underserved school,” explained Mrs. Centeno who was a faculty chaperone on the trip. “We cleaned, sanded, and painted 33 desk frames; cut, sanded, and painted nearly 100 pieces of wood, including the desks’ tops, backs, and seats; and completely assembled 13 desks.”

“It was hot and tiring, but the end result was worth it. It was nice seeing the hard work we put in be put to use and appreciated,” said Madison Bishop ’24, reflecting on her experience. Patrick F. ’25 echoed a similar feeling: “I felt very accomplished as a whole during the project, and I learned to work hard to accomplish something great.” Senior Elena Centeno ’23, an avid supporter of good causes at SKS, described the experience as ‘incredible.’ ”It was really heartwarming to receive pictures of the kids’ smiling faces sitting at the desks we repaired and a great way to give back to the people there,” she commented.

Along with their educational value, Storm King’s interna -

Enjoying Costa Rica’s rugged beauty

Restoring chairs at a Costa Rican school

Students learning about sustainably farming practices

tional trips are a good opportunity for students to relax, make new friends, and create lasting memories. “I’ll definitely remember how beautiful the rainforest was, and the warm weather on the beach. I’ll remember the mangrove tour and the zip-lining; and being woken up to the sound of monkeys on the roof. I’ll never forget snorkeling in the ocean and the sunset from on the boat,” continued Madison. “My favorite part of the trip was the friendships that I made, and now I will forever cherish those memories,” continued Laurel. Upon their return to campus, Max Perlman ’27 echoed the feelings of most of the SKS travelers when he was asked “What will you remember the most about your spring break trip?” His answer: “Everything.”

International Travel: An SKS Signature

While they serve to complement the School’s academic curriculum and community service program, international and domestic travel opportunities are an integral part of the Storm King experience and add yet another dimension to Storm King’s already vibrant student life.

In past years, Storm King students have broadened their horizons, experienced different cultures, and learned about the natural world on trips to Peru, Fiji, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, New York City, Boston, the Adirondacks, and many other interesting destinations. All Storm King students are encouraged to take advantage of the exciting, all-inclusive trips offered each year.

Zip-lining in the Costa Rican rainforest

Students getting ready to sample local foods in Costa Rica

Fiji

Galapagos Islands

Cuba

Cuba

Career Night Returns to Campus

BY LYNN CREVLING ’72

Arecord number of alumni returned to campus recently for Career Night 2023 to share their time with our juniors and seniors and talk about choosing a profession, getting into college, tips for success, and providing highlights of their lives after graduating from SKS.

Fourteen alumni spanning graduation years 2017 to 1973 came back to the Mountain, with one alumnus participating via Zoom from San Diego for this year’s Career Night event. In addition, several alumni spoke to SKS classes during the week via Zoom: psychologist Jodie Gerson, Ph.D. ’91, spoke to a Psychology class; retired judge Harold Kennedy ’73 spoke to an Introduction to Law class; and Geoff Merrell ’78 spoke to

Top photo from top L: Scott Cantor ’73, Benjamin Greenwald ’92, David Perez ’02, Cherella Cox Owoyelu ’85, Yasmine Labarca ’95, Simone Bazadona Dominguez ’98, Ken Goldwasser ’78, Johnathan Flores ’12, Emil Daubon ’93, Sara Smith ’17, Jaime Cunningham ’16, Josh Lehman ’92, and Bryan Guglielmi ’03. (Not in photoDr. Jonathan Scharf ’12 who participated by Zoom) Bottom photo: Benjamin Greenwald ’92 speaks to students about a career in criminal law

a Personal Finance and Business class about his career in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the oil and gas industry. In addition, lawyer Dominque Manpel, Esq. ’79 came to campus in person to speak to another session of the Introduction to Law class.

Career Night began with a campus tour led by two sophomore Blue Key Club members, where alums noted the many positive changes on campus since their graduation. Following the tour, alums got acquainted and received an update on the School by Head of School Jonathan Lamb followed by a delicious dinner in Henderson Dining Hall.

For their career sessions, the alums headed across campus to Dyar and Ogden Halls. Every classroom in both buildings was in use with 60 juniors and seniors rotating three times into a new room to hear about careers and topics of their choosing. The juniors and seniors who participated had no shortage of questions for the alumni and had great things to say about their experiences:

Scott Cantor ’73

Athletic Training and Health, Physical Therapy, Entrepreneur “Mr. Cantor was a very fun guy to talk to about Health, PT & Physical Training, and has had a very interesting life and gave me a good insight on life to come.”

– Michael Smith ’23

“Mr. Cantor’s session was really thought-provoking, with an unconventional approach to his work that landed him in places he’d never have expected at earlier points in his life.” – Kenzo Sadiku ’23

Cherella Cox Owoyelu ’85 at Career Night 2023

Painter & Muralist Bryan Guglielmi ’03 with students Jack Grant ’23, Matias Perez ’24 & Madison Bishop ’24

Yasmine, Emil and Josh at Career Night 2023

Cherella Cox Owoyelu ’85

Journalism, Marketing, and Business Reporting

“Ms. Cox talked about some common marketing strategies. By giving specific examples, she gave us an insight of the marketing industry and how social media influences it.” – Ke Xu ’24

“When starting your businesses, don’t worry over taking risks as it’s a learning experience.” – Jaden Crump ’23

Jaime Cunningham ’16

Talent Agent for Gold, Inc.

“In the session with Ms. Cunningham, I was able to learn about the connections a talent agent makes and the other side of the TV programs that I know.” – Sota Kaihara ’24

“Ms. Cunningham‘s job is building communications with companies and social influencers, which is very cool, and communicating is one of most important skills in our lives. – Sandy Chen ’23

Simone Bazadona Dominguez ’98

Fashion, Business/Project Management

“I learned that there are sooo many jobs in the fashion industry and that I’ll have to start from the bottom (getting coffee for people) to get to the top (being a known person in the fashion industry).” –Laura Haban ’23

Johnathan Flores ’12

Criminal Justice, New York State Highway Patrol

“I got an interesting insight to law enforcement, and really enjoyed having Trooper Flores at our dinner table.” – Mac McGrath. ’24

Emil Daubon ’93

Green Beret Medic, Actor, and Video Game Script Writer

“I got a real-life idea of what it means to be in Emergency Trauma Medicine and a better understanding of what it takes to get there. I really enjoyed seeing and hearing about this career. It helped me with knowing what I wanted to do.” – Ciany Conyers ’23

“The session on Video Game script-writing conveyed the importance of being proactive, the new world that opens up through imagination,

Jaime Cunningham ’16 and Ken Goldwasser ’78 at Career Night 2023

Top photo: Sarah Fulton ’09 with Johnathan Flores ’12 at Career Night 2023; Bottom photo: Dominique Manpel ’79 (center) with Law class

and the combination of various fields to create a single work of art.” –Sota Kaihara ’24

Ken Goldwasser ’78

Coordinator for Vehicle, Airplane, Boat Resources -TV and Movie Services for Marvel Studios

“It takes time to find where you fit in to your specific career. You may start out with one thing but end up with something different.” – Rory Russell-Anelli ’24

Benjamin Greenwald ’92

Criminal Law

“My favorite session was Criminal Law with Mr. Greenwald. I got so many tips for what I want to do and so much knowledge.” – Ana Paula Angeles Sanchez ’24

Bryan Guglielmi ’03

Painter and Muralist

“I got a better understanding of how the art world works if you work on art for yourself and not for other people.”

- Jack Grant ’23

Yasmine LaBarca ’95

Forensic Psychology

“Ms. Labarca was extremely hypnotizing with her knowledge and genuine passion for her work in forensic psychology. I could listen to her speak all day.” - Kenzo Sadiku ’23

Dr. Josh Lehman ’92

Integrative Medicine

“Studying medicine is one of my dreams. Dr. Lehman’s path was so interesting. He gave me a lot of motivation. I learned that becoming a doctor is a really hard path, but it is worth it.” – Sadie Kim ’24

David Perez ’02

Private Art Advising and Consultation

“I learned about the glamourous part of the art world from Mr. Perez, which was really interesting.” – Fernando Morales Moreno ’23

Jonathan Scharf Ph.D. ’12

Nano and Electrode Engineering

“I had no idea about engineering, but Dr. Scharf’s talk gave a lot of interesting information about his path and career.” – Sadie Kim ’24

Sara Smith ’17

Social Services and Support for Children and Families

“I really liked the session with Ms. Smith because she gave me good advice about social work and I enjoyed talking with her.” – Joy Lee ’23

If you are interested in participating Career Night 2024, please contact Lynn Crevling at lcrevling@sks.org.

Emil Daubon ’93 at Career Night 2023

-- Community Service -MLK DAY 2023

SKS Celebrates MLK Jr. Day with Learning and Service

Our core values of ‘Truth, Respect, and Responsibility’ came to life as The Storm King School celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, 2023. While most of the nation had the day off, our students spent the day learning about Dr. King’s legacy and participating in multiple service activities.

The program began with half of the student body attending a discus-

sion session 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 discussion and a service activity.

During the discussion sessions, students watched Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ followed by a documentary about the infamous ‘Children’s March’ that took place in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 2, 1963. After watching the videos, the groups answered questions about the events and how they reflect on social justice issues today.

For their half-day of service, students participated in various on and off campus activities. For example, some traveled to the Newburgh Armory to help the staff run a soccer tournament for local children. Other groups withstood chilly temperatures in Black Rock Forest to remove an invasive species, the Japanese Barberry, while volunteers at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum helped with grounds clean-up and construction of new exhibits at the Wildlife Education Center. Other off campus activities included trips to the New Windsor Country Inn, where students visited with senior citizens, and a trip to a local soup kitchen where they helped to organize food prep and storage areas.

On campus, Orr Commons was bustling with activity. In the Smidt Conference Room, the Black Student Union (BSU) held their annual clothing drive, collecting eight 55-gallon bags of clothing throughout the day for donation to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Orange County, New York. In the dining hall, students were busy writing letters of appreciation and making paracord lanyards for active military service members as a part of Operation

Gratitude.

Throughout the day, there were also various clean-up activities running in the gym, art center, theater, and Ogden Hall. And, while all this was going on, Mrs. Centeno was busy with the New York Blood Center heading this year’s blood drive in the gymnasium. With the help of the 8th grade, the Spanish Club, and all of the donors who volunteered, 51 pints of blood were collected–enough to save approximately 153 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 an impact,” commented Head of School Jonathan Lamb. That same feeling was shared by all who participated, making this year’s MLK Jr. Day of Service a great success.

ARTS SHOWCASE

The arts are alive and well at The Storm King School and our talented artists, performers, musicians, and singers continue to produce high-quality, award-winning work and gain acceptance at the nation’s most prestigious art schools. The fall and winter were jam-packed with series of events including our Student Art Show, Winter Fashion Show, Dance Recital, and Music Recital that continue to showcase the hard work and talent of our students. Here is a photo account of their accomplishments for you to enjoy.

Student Art Show

The Storm King School Student Art Show was back at 2 Alice’s Coffee Lounge in Newburgh, New York! The show featured outstanding works by our talented AP Studio Art, Advanced Studio Art, and Digital Design students. At the show’s opening, the venue was bustling with faculty, parents, and students who were eager to view the art while they shared coffee and conversation with the student artists. The evening was also highlighted with live music by some of our music and voice students.

Winter Fashion Show

Storm King’s fashion design class continues to set the bar high for creative students interested in an introduction to the fashion industry. This fall, 12 young designers, some who were learning to sew for the first time, were tasked with creating a series of looks that reflected their own personal styles. According to their teacher, Ms. Liggett, the students went above and beyond and were more than ready to celebrate their accomplishments at the School’s fifth annual fashion show.

Winter Music Recital

One evening this winter, the SKS community gathered in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre for another show featuring the talent of Storm King’s music and voice students. The recital showcased the hard work and skills the students achieved during the fall semester with instrumental and vocal performances from many different musical decades and genres. Band ensemble numbers including hits like the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” “After the Storm” by Kali Uchis, and Tame Impala’s upbeat instrumental “The Less I Know” kept the audience clapping.

Next, SKS’ voice students took to the stage for a series of captivating solo performances including an ethereal performance of “Walking on Air” from the animated winter classic, The Snowman, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, and “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own” from Les Miserables among other Broadway show hits. To conclude the evening, the SKS Choir sang “You Must Love Me” from the motion picture Evita and “I Still Believe” from Miss Saigon.

Winter Dance Recital

The Storm King dancers showcased their talents and hard work at an upbeat winter performance. Energy was high as Jeanette Jacobson’s dance class performed numerous solo and group routines choreographed to hits from various musical genres including, “Break My Soul,” “Vitmain C,” “Move Your Body,” “Smooth Criminal,” and many others. The entire class concluded the evening with a show-stopping routine choreographed to Rihanna’s hit “Disturbia.”

SKS Students Receive Ten Scholastic Art Awards

Congratulations to Aiping Charlotte Ji ’23, Fernando Morales Moreno ’23, and Ziqi Linda Li ’23 who were recognized for their outstanding artistic talent at the recent Hudson Valley regional 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Charlotte received three Gold Key awards for her works in the Design category for Pattern Design: Leaves and Flowers, the Sculpture category for The Tree Box, and the Performance category for her video depicting herself titled An Attempt to Conquer My Fear by Displaying Public Awkwardness. Charlotte also received a Silver Key award in the Drawing & Painting category for Struggle. Charlotte will add these four awards to the five Silver Key awards she received as an SKS junior for a total of nine Scholastic Art Awards in two years.

Fernando won five Gold Key awards in the Digital Art category for his works titled Boredom, Hidden, Fear, Motherhood, and Lost. Fernando also won a Gold Medal in the Portfolio Competition for his art portfolio titled The human in what is not human, making him eligible for a Scholastic scholarship.

Together, Charlotte and Fernando have received 10 Hudson Valley regional awards his year, as well as two honorable mentions for Charlotte and Linda –collectively, the most awards Storm King students have received to date. Winning a Scholastic award is a noteworthy achievement and can play an important role while applying for college and future scholarships. Kudos to Charlotte, Fernando, Linda for their excellent work!

Aspiring Young Artists Attend National Portfolio Day

A group of talented student-artists from The Storm King School traveled to Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Convention Center recently to attend National Portfolio Day. The New York City event, organized by the National Portfolio Day Association and hosted by the New York Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), is one of the nation’s largest portfolio days. At the event, representatives from accredited art colleges and universities across the nation and the world were on hand to review the students’ artwork, discuss programs, and answer questions about creative and professional careers.

Aiping Charlotte Ji ’23

Fernando Morales Moreno ’23

Ziqi Linda Li ’23

7th Annual Storm

Festival Highlights Student Work from 11 Independent Schools

Now in its seventh year, the Storm King School Poetry Festival continues to highlight the poetry written by secondary students from independent schools in the New York Tri-State region and throughout New England. Deemed “transformational in this age of social media” and “a breath of fresh air” by parents of participating poets, this springtime celebration of creative writing and language arts has continued to grow in popularity each year.

The 2023 poetry contest received 182 submissions from 87 students at 21 schools from Maine to New York that were reviewed by two published poets, Joanna Solfrian and Zoe Ryder White, who served as the contest’s judges. Over the course of a month, the judges had the difficult task of choosing 20 finalist poems and three standout poems from the dozens of excellent submissions. Both judges agreed that “the level of quality of this year’s poetry was exceptional, which made our jobs very challenging.” The contest culminated at the 7th Annual Storm King Poetry Festival event held on the Storm King School campus on the evening of Saturday, May 6, 2023.

The Festival began with a reception and music in the lobby of SKS’ Walter Reade Jr. Theatre where the poets and their families had the chance to meet the judges and socialize. Head of School Jonathan Lamb kicked off the evening by welcoming the poets and their families, introducing Ms. Solfrian and Ms. Ryder White, and thanking the English and humanities teachers who encouraged their students to write poetry and submit their work. “Spring time at The Storm King School is a season of the arts, as it is at most of the schools represented here on stage. Our Poetry Festival has quickly become one of the

highlights of our spring. As an educator who spent most of my career teaching English, it is always one of my favorite events of the year,” explained Mr. Lamb.

The highlight of the program was the judges’ reading and commentary of the 20 winning poems, calling the poets in the audience onto the stage. Two Storm King poets, Ke Dana Xu ’23 and Richeal Appiah ’24, also read poems they wrote to commemorate Earth Day. All of the finalists received personally signed copies of the judges’ books, and the authors of three standout poems were awarded additional gifts along with a surprise–a complimentary one-year subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine.

Many thanks go out to the finalists and their families from other schools that traveled to The Storm King School to join us for the event; to their English and humanities teachers who encouraged them to participate; and to all of the schools and poets who submitted their work to the contest this year. We hope to see many of them back again next spring!

Finalists

*Standout Poem

Keya Mehta, Emma Willard School

”Joan” *

Will Zelevansky, Millbrook School

”Transience” *

Riley Meyer, Greens Farms Academy

”August” *

Tien Tran, The Storm King School

“The Journey of Belonging”

Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi, Concord Academy

“Overalls”

Quinn Reynolds, Greens Farms Academy

”Robin, Water, Windowsill”

Clara-Eve Landry, Kents Hill School

“Because it Sounds Like Evacuate”

Guanzong Wang, Trinity-Pawling School

”If I Can Go to the Past”

Chloe Han, Groton School

”ERROR: Unknown Variable”

Matias Kanahuati, The Storm King School

”Endless”

Marvelous Adribigbe, Millbrook School

“Inside is Safer Anyways”

Sophie Calgar, Greens Farms Academy

”Nothing in this Poem is True”

Zachary Holt, Lee Academy

”Acrid Apples”

Joaquin Acuna, Avon Old Farms

”DEN-JFK”

Beyza Kalender, Greens Farms Academy

”He looked like young Leo DiCaprio”

Julianna Penna, Greens Farms Academy

“in the wind”

Priscilla Zhu, St. George’s School

”Sissie”

Hannah Coon, Millbrook School

”Amba”

Zana Bajraktari Schwab, Concord Academy

”Softly”

Julia Westfall, Emma Willard School

”As a Horse”

King Poetry

A Model Year for the Model UN Team

2022-2023 was busy for the Storm King School Model UN Team, who participated in two notable Model UN (MUN) conferences in the northeast this year. In the fall, three Storm King delegates traveled to The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, for the 1st annual MasMUN Conference. After the winter holiday, another team of seven delegates traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, to participate in the 2023 Harvard MUN Conference.

MasMUN

At MasMUN, Kaitlin Bou ’23, Regina Ruiz ’23, and Daniel Zhang ’25 represented SKS well with their top-notch research, persuasive writing, and negotiation skills, bringing home three

SKS Delegates:

Kaitlin Bou ’23

Minchae Kang ’25

Vincent

Iannuzzi-Sucich ’24

Daniel Zhang ’25

Hyeonjin Lee ’23

Hongwei Cao ’26

Christine Sung ’25

awards at the end of the day. “Daniel represented China on the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), and Regina and Kaitlin sat on the BREXIT Committee–a special committee where Regina represented the views of a Tory representative, and Kaitlin represented those of a socialist,” explained faculty advisor Lynda Smith.

“We have all worked hard to prepare for this conference,” commented the students, who were charged with researching their topics and countries, looking at past resolutions, and exploring solutions to the current situations at hand. “During the committee sessions, Regina and Kaitlin passed a solution for BREXIT,” explained Daniel. “While in the SOCHUM, I led the bloc in writing our resolution paper which was passed unanimously after merging with the other bloc. It felt great to use my negotiating skills.”

MasMUN was also a very exciting experience for Kaitlin, who received the Most Outstanding Delegate award at her first conference: “I had a very positive first experience! I think this was a great learning opportunity, and I am excited to see where future conferences will take me.” By end of the day, all the delegates agreed that the conference was a lot of fun, a great opportunity to make new friends, and overall, “a very unique experience.”

MasMUN Awards:

Kaitlin Bou ’23: Most Outstanding Delegate

Regina Ruiz ’23: Honorable Mention

Team Award: Most Outstanding Small Delegation

HarvardMUN

After the new year, a team of seven SKS delegates– Kaitlin Bou ’23, Minchae Kang ’25, Vincent Iannuzzi-Sucich ’24, Daniel Zhang ’25, Hyeonjin Lee ’23, Hongwei Cao ’26, and Christine Sung ’25–traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to participate in the 69th Annual Harvard United Nations (HMUN) Conference.

HMUN is one of the oldest model UN conferences in the United States where more than 4,000 students from high schools around the globe converge to discuss realworld problems and share unique perspectives on international affairs. This year, the event had the theme of ‘Bridging Divides.’

“Most of the SKS team represented France while one represented Liberia,” explained Christine. “In my committee, the Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN), we discussed resolutions that involved the reform of sanctions. This put us in a tough spot sometimes as France’s stance was against making reforms while the majority of the room was in favor of reforms. We prepared for the conference by creating a France fact sheet together and researching our own respective topics. Using this work, we prepared our position papers which stated the problem in question, as well as our position as a delegation of our assigned country.”

While practicing valuable skills such as effective negotiating, public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork during the event, the delegates also had the chance to tour the Harvard University campus, join a Cultural Extravaganza, and attend a Delegate Dance on their final evening where they socialized with fellow high school delegates from over 50 nations.

“It was a great conference for gaining experience and confidence, and it was a lot of fun. We also really enjoyed Boston and the Harvard campus! Its beautiful architecture combined with the amount of history on the campus mesmerized me. It reinvigorated my desire to get into an Ivy League college!”

An SKS Senior’s Passion Project

Like other seniors at The Storm King School, Taylor Moreno ’23, from New Windsor, New York, had a very busy schedule as she prepared for graduation in June. When she was not attending classes, you could find Taylor participating in extracurricular activities, playing soccer and tennis, acting in the School’s stage performances, and practicing her dance routines. Recently, Taylor added another accomplishment to her list–she became a published author of a new children’s book.

The picture book titled The Adventures of Taya & B: Worms ! is aimed at preschool children and based on Taylor’s imagination and childhood experiences at home with her pets. According to Taylor’s father, who was her partner on the project, the book was a “passion project that we created together during the early stages of the pandemic and continued on weekends.”

“The characters are based on me, my pets and the real adventures we had in our backyard,” explained Taylor. “As early as I can remember, my dad and I would create these adventures on weekends, and our pets would always be involved. For story time every evening, we would make up stories based on that day’s adventures. That’s what inspired us to create the book.”

“The writing skills I learned at SKS helped me complete this project. For example, in my Introduction to Literature class with Mr. Gillett I learned how to write an adaptation of a literary piece by Edgar Allan Poe. Also, the intensive summer SKS film program with Mr. Kiperman helped hone my creative writing skills,” continued Taylor.

The Adventures of Taya & B: Worms! is available online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookbaby. Congratulations to Taylor for this creative accomplishment!

Fall Season Summary

Girls Varsity Soccer had mixed results but advanced to the HVAL semifinal where they beat Marvelwood, 5-0, giving the Cougars a shot at the championship. Their skill and determination prevailed at the final versus Hoosac where the Cougars edged out their opponent, 2-1, to take the 2022 Championship trophy.

Season Record: 6 W – 7 L; 2022 HVAL Champions

Boys Varsity Soccer enjoyed two shut-outs against NYMA, 10-0, and Marvelwood, 7-0, before the HVAL semifinal match where SKS cruised to resounding win, 9-1, over NYMA. At the final, SKS overcame the Darrow Ducks in a grueling game, 6-3, to take home the trophy.

Season Record: 10 W – 4 L; 2022 HVAL Champions

Girls Cross Country was led by Marisa Chapman ’24 who consistently placed well all season. At the HVAL Championship at Darrow, Evangeline Garcia Darres ’26 placed 9th (29:38.35) to conclude the season.

Boys Cross Country advanced to the HVAL Championship at Darrow hoping for their 6th consectutive win, finishing as the runner-up to Oakwood. At the NEPSAC Division IV 5k race, Edward Iannuzzi-Sucich ’23 placed 9th overall out of 146 runners (18:39).

Season Record: 3 W – 3 L; 2022 HVAL Runner-up

Girls Varsity Volleyball closed their season winning 5-0 over NYMA, then falling 0-3 to Wooster. At the HVAL semifinal, SKS faced NYMA where smart play brought SKS another win, 5-0. At the HVAL Championship, the Cougars faced FCA where left the court with a 0-3 score after a valiant effort.

Season Record: 6 W – 9 L

Winter Season Summary

Girls Varsity Basketball hit the court running with several successful games and scrimmages. After traveling to Washington, D.C. for the She Got Game and Nickerson Classics, 2023 continued with mixed results. To end their season, the Cougars enjoyed a win over the NYMA Knights, 71-44.

Season Record: 11 W - 8 L

Boys Varsity Basketball entered Semester 2 with the #4 ranking in NEPSAC Class C. Coming off a win at December’s Storm King Tournament, the Cougars had mixed results through February. To close out their season, SKS played back-to-back games at NYMA followed by South Kent. Despite three more losses, the Cougars remained positive with their sights set on rebounding next year.

Season Record: 4 W - 14 L

JV Basketball had an exciting season sporting tenacity and grit in true Cougar fashion. The team gave it their all in several nail-biting games and enjoyed some well-earned wins. For their final game, SKS traveled to Woodhall to face the Phoenix, keeping the score close and edging past their opponent, 31-28, at the final buzzer.

Season Record: 5W - 3 L

Wrestling began competition in January with several Cougars enjoying individual wins in their weight classes through February. Winter competition concluded hosting NYMA, Marvelwood, and Woodhall for the HVAL quarterfinals.

Season Record: 0 W - 4 L

-- Faculty Profile -KEEP ON DANCING

Jeanette Jacobson

BY SARAH FULTON ’09

Jeanette Jacobson is one of The Storm King School’s senior and most beloved faculty members, having started at the School 12 years ago as a dance instructor. Hailing from New Windsor, New York, only 10 minutes from campus, Mrs. Jacobson began her lifelong journey with dance at the age of three. Her parents put her in tap and ballet classes because she was always dancing and singing around the house. Once she started formal classes, she could be found practicing her dances at grocery stores, restaurants, and playgrounds; performing for whomever would watch! Today, she remains dedicated to sharing her experience, her passion for dance, and excellent choreography with Storm King students.

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion."

— Martha Graham

Q: What was your life in dance leading up to SKS?

“I auditioned and was accepted into several different college dance programs. I chose Manhattanville College in Westchester County, New York, because they offered a variety of dance styles, while a lot of other programs were just focused on modern and ballet. My degree is in Dance and Theatre with a concentration in Dance. I also have a minor in English with a concentration in Creative and Professional Writing. This allowed me to take dance classes in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, hip hop, modern, lyrical, contemporary, Afro-Caribbean, Flamenco, and Irish while also taking acting, singing, directing, lighting design, set design, and sound design classes.

I was a member of the competitive Dance Troupe for all four years and a captain for two, performed in the school’s Shakespeare productions and musicals, performed in eight dance concerts, and choreographed for two of them.

Since I wasn’t too far from home during my sophomore year of college, I started teaching at a local dance studio, Footworks Dance Center, in New Windsor. Being able to teach dance throughout my college years was such a great experience.

Manhattanville College is also where I met my husband, Kevin Jacobson. Kevin also works at Storm King, and while some people may think it is hard to work with your spouse, we love it! We are in agreement that Storm King reminds us of our college experience–a small, diverse school with a strong sense of community. This is one of the reasons we love it here so much!

Throughout my professional career in dance, I performed with Mooney Cooley Dance Company for four years, and I worked with amazing choreographers such as Bill Hastings, Keith Saunders, Peter Pucci, Hannah Fox, Darrah Carr, Claire Porter, Valerie Pulman, Ara Fitzgerald, Andrei Kisselev, Stephanie Larriere, Bonnie Walker, and Doug Elkins.”

Q: What are some of your best memories at Storm King so far?

“In my 12 years at SKS, I have had a lot of favorite moments. The obvious ones are the dance recitals where I get to highlight students who have never danced before and the ones who have been dancing since they could walk; each receiving wonderful applause and support from the audience. I enjoy the late night rehearsals leading up to the show, when no one is in the audience, yet after each dance there are still loud cheers from their fellow

dancers. I think that speaks to the community that is built in dance class. The dancers support each other and want to see their classmates succeed.

Each year, I choreograph our musical. Some of the best moments are found during the final performances. The audience is always delighted and sometimes surprised by how talented the students are. What the audience doesn’t get to see are the tears and hugs after the last performance. Every year the students are sad the show is over, but they are proud and happy about what they have accomplished. Again, the community that is built over the weeks of rehearsals and preparation for the show is such a wonderful thing to be a part of.

One of my favorite events at Storm King, that has nothing to do with dance or theater, is Senior Service. Giving all of our graduating seniors the opportunity to speak to their classmates, parents, and faculty is such a beautiful thing. Every year I laugh and cry listening to the seniors talk about how much Storm King means to them and thanking their families, friends and teachers for helping them along the way. This night, every year, reminds me why I went into teaching, it shows me why I am happy to be a member of the Storm King community, and it gets me excited for the following school year.”

Q: Are there any personal milestones you would like to share?

“Since joining Storm King in 2011, I got engaged, married, and had my two children, Tyler and Billy. I am so thankful to be able to go to work in such a beautiful, supportive environment. I love my job at The Storm King School and have the ability to pass on my passion to students every day. It is truly a dream come true.”

I Am SKS: Kenzo Sadiku ’23

by Sarah Fulton ’09

People who are just getting to know SKS often wonder, “What are the characteristics of a typical Storm King School student?” If you are searching for someone who reflects our core values and culture, and represents SKS to a ‘T’, meet Kenzo Sadiku, a member of the Class of 2023 with his roots in Nigeria and his future dreams in New York City. From his contributions to our community as a co-president of the Black Student Union (BSU) and manager of the boys basketball team to his support of great causes as a National Honor Society (NHS) member and his talents in theatre and visual arts, Kenzo leads by example. This ‘straight A’ student who is famous for his easygoing, goofy nature and wearing his signature trench coat plans to attend Fordham University in the fall to begin his studies in medicine. Here is what Kenzo has to say about his experience at SKS.

Q: Please tell us about your background.

“I’m from Lagos, Nigeria, but was born in San Diego, California. As I’d imagine for most people, where I’m from is a big part of who I am. My connection to the places that have helped make me who I am, and have influenced how I see life and how I think, will be an ever-evolving part of me. Remembering and understanding the places that have helped shape you, and how they’ve shaped you, is vital to understanding who you are as a person.”

Q: How did you come to The Storm King School?

“Where I’m from, it’s fairly common practice to go abroad for a higher degree of education. Many people go to school in England, Canada, or here in the US. My family and I were already in New York somewhat

“It’s falling and getting right back up that makes us great. The trials and tribulations of life only make us sharper and wiser. It’s pressure that makes a diamond, right?” — Kenzo

Kenzo and his peers writing thank you notes to service members

frequently, so attending a school here just made sense. We came across Storm King and it was everything we were looking for, whether the curriculum, the location, or the community. I still remember my tour of the School and how Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson in the Admissions Office greeted me with big smiles; the way they spoke of this place and the tight-knit community it was; the beauty of campus in the spring, and especially the food. It seemed like a dream to me. Now, looking back only a few weeks away from graduation, it all couldn’t have been more true.”

Q: What has your experience at SKS been like? What challenges have you faced?

“There have been a few little bumps in the road over my three years here, mostly health-wise, but that’s a tale for another day. So many aspects of this place are wonderful, from the weekend trips to somewhere local or New York City, to Chef Andy’s food, Mr. Freeman’s introspective conversations, or the kindness I’ve felt having Mrs. Van Dunk as a teacher. In spite of everything wonderful here, the most significant to me is the relationships I’ve built. I’ve met some of the most interesting, caring, and intelligent people I feel like I’ll ever meet (and I’m not even 18 yet). At SKS, you meet people from all corners of the world, compare mindsets and experiences, and have conversations you’ll never forget.”

Q: What are your goals for the future? Where do you think you’ll be?

I will attend Fordham University. I’ll definitely be in New York City, at least until I have a family. Then, I think I’ll move to California to live life just a little quieter, but that’s getting ahead of myself. New York has become home to me, with the places and experiences having left such an imprint on me, it would feel wrong to leave now. It’s also an amazing location for the field I’d like to go into–medicine. Right now, my plan is to start driving down the lengthy road that leads to medical school, then to become a psychiatrist, but we’ll see what happens. I’m choosing psychiatry, specifically, because I just find us as people so interesting; the way we think and behave, why we do all the things we do, and where all of our mannerisms come from. I also really want to help people through physical hardships, so maybe psychiatry won’t be where I end up, but I’m aiming for medical school right now as a good place to start.”

Q: What would say looking back at your time at SKS?

“How many things am I allowed to say? One thing, I’m so glad I tried as many things as I did here where so many potential interests are within arm’s reach. Where else would I have discovered how much I enjoy acting and learning American Sign Language? In

my years at SKS, I’ve grown so much as a person that I look back at when I got here a mere three years ago and feel like I’m looking back 10 years. I’ve evolved how I think and perceive the world in ways that I can’t imagine I could have in other places. Storm King has helped mold me into who I’m proud to be today. The things I’ve been a part of have made me feel like I’ve made impactful and helpful changes at this place that’s done so much in helping me become who I am.”

Q: What will you remember the most?

“One experience that I hold dear to my heart is all the time I spent volunteering at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center on weekends, especially in my junior year. The memories I made with the children who I helped to teach chemistry, or sometimes gardening, easily bring a smile to my face every time I reminisce. I know that no amount of preparation can truly compose me for the wave of emotion that will overcome me the day I say goodbye to Storm King as a student for the last time. I’ll look back and wish I cherished more of my time here while I had it, like each and every alum I’ve spoken to long after graduation has expressed to me. So here I am, trying to make the most of the little time I have left as a senior, knowing this handful of weeks ahead of me can only be the icing on the wonderful cake Storm King has been.”

A DUEL CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY & THE EARTH

Storm King students from more than 25 nations had a day off from classes recently to celebrate our community’s diversity and do something good for our planet. Spring weather and the natural beauty of our campus and local area served as the backdrop for a day full of activities, food, and fun at the School’s dual celebration of Earth Day and Global Community Day.

The program began with an assembly in the theater featuring presentations and discussions about Earth Day. Head of School Jonathan Lamb kicked off the morning with an introduction about the history of the School and the role of Storm King Mountain and the Scenic Hudson Decision in the birth of the national environmental movement. Other highlights included a presentation about environmentalists Rachel Carson and John Muir by Annie Cosgriff ’24 and Alex Kim ’24, a lesson on making birdhouses by Christine Sung ’25, the reading of Earth Day poetry written by our students, and a presentation by the Spanish Club about environmental activist Nemonte Nenquimo. Before heading outdoors, many students gathered on stage to sing Pete Seeger’s classic “This Land is My Land” in their native languages.

For the rest of the morning, students volunteered for service opportunities on campus and in the surrounding area to commemorate Earth Day. Tree and seed planting, greenhouse cleanup, invasive species removal and trail maintenance in Black Rock Forest, and cleanup of local parks were only some of the green activities students enjoyed.

Upon their return to campus, Global Community Day began with Chef Andrew’s ‘global lunch’ featuring a wide variety of delicious courses from different regions of the world, including beef empanadas, pozole, samosas, falafel, sushi, tempura shrimp, and more. After lunch, students from all the nations represented at SKS waved their national flags proudly in an international flag parade. For the remainder of the day, various cultural activities continued around campus, including Turkish coffee and Tibetan sand mandala-making, Latino dance lessons, henna painting, and more. Global Community Day concluded with a colorful Holi celebration on Ledoux Terrace–the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Many thanks go out to the faculty, staff, and students who worked to make Earth Day and Global Community Day successful this year.

Spotlight on Academics -Independent Study Drives Students to Explore their Passions

“Math is a fascinating and challenging subject for me,” explained Vincent Iannuzzi-Sucich ’24, a Storm King School student who is completing an independent study course in calculus this semester. “I requested independent study because I wanted to work one-on-one with my teacher, ask a lot of questions, and really understand the material.”

Independent study at The Storm King School offers coursework that enables students to explore their burgeoning passions and deepdive into their areas of interest. According to Assistant Head of School for Academics and Math Department Chair Dr. Tim Lance, independent study fits into the School’s curriculum in a number of ways: “It is an avenue for motivated students who want to study in a particular discipline, but the overall schedule doesn’t allow for it; or, for students who excel at a subject and want to take a deeper dive than the introductory class covers. At Storm King, independent study is allowed on a case-by-case basis for students who work well independently and have high academic performance overall.”

Students interested in earning credit toward graduation through independent study take the lead by finding a faculty member to advise the study. Then, the coursework is developed in

collaboration between the student and the teacher to supplement the School’s departmental offerings. For example, in Vincent’s independent study of calculus, “we went beyond what is typically covered in AP Calculus AB, including limits, continuity, differentiation, applications of derivatives, L’Hôpital’s Rule, and methods of integration including u-substitution, parts, and, hopefully, trigonometric integrals, trigonometric substitutions, partial fraction decomposition, and rationalizing substitutions,“ explained Dr. Lance. “I worked with Vincent 2-3 times per week, and we flew through the material. He is a student with great attention to detail, as well as a curiosity, which is serving him very well, particularly with integration.”

Vincent was equally enthusiastic about his independent study of calculus with Dr. Lance: “I think that proficiency in calculus in high school will make it more likely for me to succeed in collegelevel math courses. I enjoy optimization the most because I think it has the most interesting real-world applications.”

Vincent is one of many students who have benefited from independent study in various subjects in recent years. “This year, we have students studying calculus, international relations, and environmental science. In previous years, we have offered independent study in English literature, psychology, stagecraft, music theory, art, and fashion,” continued Dr. Lance. “We hope that even more motivated students will approach us with their desire to pursue independent study in the future.”

“I know that I have benefited from the education I have received at Storm King. Taking an independent study in calculus with Dr. Lance was a privilege. I’m grateful that the School offered me this opportunity. In addition to the value of knowing the material, learning to work hard and be persistent when trying to learn a challenging subject will be useful skills in college and throughout my life,” concluded Vincent.

Winter Academic Awards Celebrate Excellence

Teachers and administrators recognized the efforts and achievements of our students during the 2022 fall semester at the Winter Ac ademic Awards. These awards, also known as the “Book Awards,” are a yearly tradition where a student from each class is selected by their teac her for their outstanding work and given a personally-selected book.

In his opening words, Assistant Head of School for Academics Dr. Timothy Lance explained that the awards “uphold the principles of scholarship, creativity, perseverance, and character” and that “each year, the awards are given to students who are committed to the pursuit of excellence.”

To hand out the awards, Dr. Lance called the department chairs and faculty members of each academic discipline to the stage. The audience cheered as each student approached the podium to receive their books from their teachers. The evening, attended by a full house of parents, students, and faculty, marked another great semester of academic excellence at The Storm King School.

Mathematics:

Algebra Skills: Emma Clegg ’27

Algebra I: Katja Mordan ’26

Geometry: Yusei Suzuki ’25

Algebra II: Alex Gonzalez’24

Precalculus: Maria Bacigalupo ’23

Calculus: Fernando Morales ’23

AP Calculus: Edward Iannuzzi-Sucich ’23

World Languages:

Spanish I: Jasper Lung ’24

Spanish III: Annie Cosgriff ’24

ASL I: Ciany Conyers ’23

ASL III: Nicole Tomasini ’24

History & Social Sciences:

US Studies History: Marina Del Pozo ’25

ESL Global Studies History: Jiann Lee ’26

Honors US Studies History:

Sagan Novesky ’25

Microeconomics: Vincent

Iannuzzi-Sucich ’24

International Relations: Steven Xu ’23

Psychology: Alex Gonzalez ’24

ASP Psychology: Hudson Kaplan ’24

ASP Comparative Government: Evangeline Garcia Darres ’26

Comparative Government:

Aleena Skyers ’23

Science:

Chemistry/Honors Chemistry: Patrick Ferreira ’25

Biology: Isaiah Davis ’24

ASP Chemistry: Max Perlman ’27

ASP Environmental Science: Riley Tippin ’24

AP Biology: Ke Xu ’24

Environmental Science: Regina Ruiz ’23

AP Computer Science A: Joseph Witte ’23

AP Computer Science Principles:

Daniel Zhang ’25

Advanced Chemistry: Richeal Appiah ’24

English:

Middle School English: Kaitlyn Machado ’27

Introduction to Literature:

Katja Mordan ’26

US Studies Literature: Christine Sung ’23

Creative Writing: Nina Gannon ’23

Society & Self in Literature:

Madison Bishop ’24

AP English: Thomas Chou ’23

ESL:

ESL I Intermediate Conversation:

Mykola German ’26

ESL II Intermediate Conversation:

Matrena Mishina ’25

ESL Intermediate/Advanced Conversation:

Sota Kaihara ’24

ESL Advanced/Senior College

Prep: Sadie Kim ’24

Visual Arts:

8th Grade Art: Juliana Diniz ’27

Introduction to Art: Julia Cestone ’26

Drawing & Painting: Milo Miga ’25

Advanced Studio Art: Aitana

Gorrita Lois ’24

AP Studio Art: Fernando Morales ’23

Fashion: Aurora Russell-Anelli ’24

Video Production: Kenzo Sadiku ’23

Perfomring Arts:

Music Theory & Composition:

Isabella Crofts ’23

Music Technology: Amber Lewis ’25

Set Design: Annie Cosgriff ’24

Acting: Andrea Lopez-Moctezuma ’25

Dance: Roberta Canales Obregon ’25

Advanced Dance: Taylor Moreno ’23

National Honor Society: Excellence in Action

The Storm King Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) is living up to the organization’s values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character by going above and beyond to raise funds for an important cause–RecycleKIDS: Chosen Futures of Bogotá, Colombia.

“The project is dedicated to providing a safe and educational environment to the children of the men and women working in the recycling centers of Bogotá, Colombia. ‘RecycleKIDS’ was chosen by the whole SKS community as this year’s fundraising cause. Our goal is to raise between $1,500 and $2,000 to send to RecycleKIDS at the end of the year,” explained NHS President Elena Centeno ’23.

One way NHS raised money is through selling concessions at home athletic games and other campus events. Seniors Laurel Papera ’23 and Kenzo Sadiku ’23 led the effort and their dedication has been a huge part of the group’s success so far.

“It has been a combination of food sales including cookies, cupcakes, drinks, and other snacks, as well as use of the School’s hot dog cart,” explained Laurel. “Chef Andy makes us food before each game and he helps us set up and run the hot dog cart,” continued Kenzo.

“The NHS also organizes other events including as movie nights, volleyball tournaments, and game nights to help us raise funds and show the community a good time. We will also have our big event in the spring –The Plunge,” continued Elena.

NHS faculty advisor, Dr. Alexandra Finn-Atkins, is very impressed by the students’ efforts: “The NHS members have all been amazing! They are constantly seeking new and improved ways to raise money, problem-solve, and enhance the SKS community. They are a very fun, creative, and resourceful group, and it has been really fun working with them!”

Laurel

’23: “It’s not a lot of work and I really enjoy it. Chef Andy makes great food for us. I was raised around people in the food industry, so I really like doing this.”

Kenzo Sadiku ’23: “Doing this makes me feel great. I like talking to people, seeing people…our set-up also attracts others, even from the visiting schools. I’m happy to know that our efforts are going to this great cause.”

’23: “We hope that all of our fundraising efforts combined will get us to our goal at the end of the year.”

Elena

Centeno

Papera

Startup Club Inspires the Next Generation of Innovators

Student clubs have always been a highlight of the Storm King experience. This year, two SKS juniors combined their passions for entrepreneurship and innovation to create one of SKS’ most popular clubs. Meet Anton Berning ’24 and Felipe Meira Araujo ’24, the founders of the SKS Startup Club.

Q: What is the objective of Startup Club?

Anton: “We give students the opportunity to learn content from a real startup school such as the online platform Expacer.com. We also wanted to help others understand the process of creating a startup. We promote teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Our main goal is to inspire and enable the next generation of innovators and change-makers.”

Q: Whose idea was it to form this club and what inspired you?

Anton: “I’ve always been passionate about becoming an entrepreneur and I founded my own startup back in Germany. Felipe did a program in the Silicon Valley to learn the process of creating startups. One day we were talking and, spontaneously, we decided to create the club. Now, we meet every Tuesday during common work and we have the pleasure to work with around 10 highly motivated students.”

Q: What projects are you working on?

“Members plan their own businesses from the idea to pitching their vision in front of others. Every session, we provide new tasks and materi-

als to work on. Soon, the owner of a successful startup will present to us. We will also host a pitch contest where students will pitch their idea in front of judges and possibly win prizes.”

Q: What does the club brings to its members?

“It inspires them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, think outside the box, and challenge themselves. Startup Club equips students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to succeed as entrepreneurs and innovators in the current technological world, and to make a positive impact beyond their communities.”

-- SKS Performing Arts -OUR TOWN

Winter Theater Production

For three magical days, the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre transformed into a small New England town for The Storm King School’s winter stage production of Our Town – Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Performed with minimal scenery and props, Our Town depicts daily life in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, in the early 20th century. Three acts, spaced a few years apart, follow the changes in the town and its people. The story centers on two families, the Webbs and the Gibbs, while exploring human relationships, the fleeting nature of life, love, and death.

“Considered experimental when it opened in 1938, Our Town does away with major set pieces and scenery and the cast mimes instead of utilizing traditional props,” explained Performing Arts Chair Anne Fulton. “The play repeatedly breaks the so-called ‘fourth wall’– the imaginary division

between the world of the stage and the audience that nearly all drama respects.”

Throughout the play, the Stage Manager is the omniscient narrator who speaks directly to the audience, while also interacting with the other characters. “The cast has to mime their characters’ daily activities (cooking, cleaning, eating, delivering newspapers and milk) in a manner that is clear to the audience, but not overdone,” continued Mrs. Fulton. “It took a bit of rehearsal to get it right, but the student cast all handled it very well. The multinational cast also enhanced the universal quality of the play, adding freshness to the story of Grover’s Corners as a microcosm of life on earth. We had some very emotional moments in rehearsal as we explored Emily Webb’s realization that she hadn’t appreciated the beauty of her daily life while she lived it.”

According to Mrs. Fulton, and Sarah Fulton ’09 who co-managed the show, Our Town isn’t an easy play to produce, even though it may seem simple on the surface. “Our student cast did a wonderful job as did two faculty members, Patrick Fulton and James Bennett, playing the Stage Manager and Simon Stimson, respectively. We also had a great stage crew and the lighting and sound was some of the best we’ve accomplished.”

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Stage Manager: Patrick Fulton (faculty)

Dr. Gibbs: Mohanad Almashal ’25

Jo Crowell/Si Crowell: Regina Ruiz ’25

Howie Newsome: Anton Berning ’24

Mrs. Gibbs: Taylor Moreno ’23

Mrs. Webb: Madison Bishop ’24

George Gibbs: Jack Grant ’23

Rebecca Gibbs: Jiann Lee ’26

Wally Webb: Kaitlyn Machado ’27

Emily Webb: Andrea Lopez-Moctezuma ’25

Professor Willard/Mrs. Soames: Nina Gannon ’23

Mr. Webb: Kenzo Sadiku ’23

Townswoman/Baseball Player: Matrena Mishina ’25

Angry Woman/Samantha Craig:

Ana Paula Angeles Sanchez ’24

Townswoman/Baseball Player: Eniola Kafidipe ’23

Constable Warren: Fernando Morales ’23

Townswoman: Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24

Simon Stimson: James Bennett (faculty)

Joe Stoddard: Dekai Xu ’23

The Alumni Council

going to camp. I get to play sports, hang out with kids, and give our kids and staff an experience that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. We are building the same kind of family that SKS gave to all of us. It’s pretty magical and full circle! However, there’s always adversity and challenges that we face in our jobs and in life, and it’s these moments that define us. As I have changed careers, most of my time is spent recruiting campers and staff, and learning how to run a successful business and everything it takes to accomplish this. Perhaps many of you sit or have sat where I currently sit! Camp preparation has caused me to miss our reunion weekends, but Scott Cantor ’73, Alumni Council President Emeritus, has stepped in for the Council. Thank you, Scott!

I encourage you to find time to come to an alumni event at SKS. On March 30, 2023, we had 13 alumni up for Career Night, some of whom had not been on campus since graduation...and we had the time of our lives. We ate dinner together; then juniors and seniors chose from the variety of different topics that our alumni had prepared for them and off they went to the alumni sessions. It was the perfect event where “Storm King of old” shares with the “Storm King of new”.

By Steven Bluth

What an absolute pleasure it is to write to our wonderful Storm King alumni. The best parts of being the alumni council president are going to our council meetings, sitting on the Board of Trustees, and most important, meeting so many of you.

Almost to a person, I hear positive stories about your time on the Mountain. Stories about whose head of school was the best (Thad Horton, of course!); what decade had the best athletes or won the most championships; what theater production was most spectacular. At some point, the conversations move to our favorite teacher or coach and these are amazing stories of support and connection. For me, however, I most love hearing your stories about the friendships you made and how we became a family. I hear about how Storm King changed and impacted the course of so many of our lives, whatever your decade/ graduating year. Please come to Alumni Council meetings, come back to campus, and keep your stories coming. These stories connect all of us.

Interestingly, my 30-year career as a high school administrator/coach has come to an end as my dream of owning a summer sleepaway camp, Camp Southwoods in the Adirondack Mountains, became a reality two years ago. I have always felt that there is nothing better than

Especially for those of you who have not been back on the Mountain for a while, I promise that when you are driving north on 9W and you pass the view of West Point, your heart will start to beat a little faster. It happens to me every time. And when you see the Storm King sign it beats even faster still. For me, walking on the baseball field and going to the gym brings me back to some of the most beautiful people I have ever known, both students and faculty...life-long friends.

With so much love, Steven

’83

Head of School Thad Horton with 1983 cup recipients Wendy Rothman, Steve Bluth, and Kelly Cabral Daniels

Welcome New Alumni Council Members

Ross Sober ’92

As a Storm King School alumnus that has been forever transformed by my time on the Mountain, I am sincerely looking forward to sitting on the Alumni Council. To this day, I utilize the lessons and personal growth afforded to me by SKS. I will also use the rapport I’ve maintained with my classmates for the benefit of the School. I still feel gratitude 31 years later. And, it’s this gratitude that leads me to give back.

Lauren FitzHarris ’97

While at SKS, I was afforded many opportunities academically, athletically, and in extracurriculars which helped me to grow and develop into the person I am today. By trade, I am a business transformation consultant for an ‘Insurtech’ company. I am also a mom, youth basketball coach, assistant photographer, backpacker, and an active participant in our local community of Cornwall-on-Hudson where I reside. As a part of the SKS Alumni Council, I will help ensure continuity of the School and support opportunities for current and future students by engaging with alumni and garnering their participation and time.

Richard Bailey ’02

I had the privilege of attending Storm King for only one year and had one of the best experiences of my life. It opened my eyes to so many possibilities. I grew up in New York City, so attending Storm King gave me a different perspective and helped change my mindset. I have always kept a connection with the School through the newsletter, alumni events, and social media to see that it was still thriving, and that

the place I am so fond of is still giving those same opportunities to new generations of Cougars. My love for the School will carry over to my work on the Alumni Council and I am looking forward to giving back a little bit of what was given to me.

Jaime Cunningham ’16

Having graduated only seven years ago, my memories of Storm King are still fresh and my connections to the Mountain are still very strong. I often tell people that my time at SKS changed my life, and I stand by that. The two years I spent there shaped who I have become as an adult in every imaginable way; from the twists and turns my career has taken (my love of entertainment truly blossomed during my junior year, and I now have the good fortune to work in the entertainment industry), to the love and care that I apply to my interpersonal relationships. I grew as a varsity lacrosse captain, a school newspaper editor, a National Honor Society member, and as just a greater person. With that in mind, I am looking forward to concentrating my time and efforts into giving back to the SKS Alumni Council.

Jordan Golding ’20

“I was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, where I attended school before making the transition to Storm King. My experience was absolutely life changing. The campus culture encouraged me to find my best self and I immediately got involved. I served as the president of the Black Student Union, a member of the National Honor Society, played as a 2-year all region Soccer All Star, and graduated with the highest honor, The Storm King Cup. I am currently a junior at Lycoming College, majoring in History with a Political Science minor, where I have tried to build on the work I did at Storm King. It is an absolute honor to be a part of the SKS Alumni Council and contribute to the SKS community in meaningful ways.

New Sculpture Graces the SKS Campus

If you stroll across school grounds through the ‘Enchanted Forest’ toward the Homestead, you will see a new addition to The Storm King School’s growing collection of outdoor art installations. This fall, Mundillo (Little World), a steel sculpture by artist Samantha Holmes, arrived from New York City to find its permanent home on the SKS campus.

Mundillo came to SKS thanks to the generous efforts of alumnus and former trustee Racey Gilbert ’60, who traveled to campus along with the artist, Ms. Holmes, to witness the sculpture’s arrival and celebrate its installation near Mighty Oak – another outdoor sculpture previously donated by Mr. Gilbert.

“My overall feeling is that sprinkling fine art through the campus [is] beneficial for the School in lifting the spirits of the community as well as raising the level of aesthetic panache,” Mr. Gilbert explained as his reasoning for donating the sculptures.

According to sculptress Samantha Holmes, Mundillo was created as “a monument to women’s work and the cultural dynamism of New York City.” Its filigreed structure reflects the patterns

of traditional Puerto Rican lacework found in the home and the openings in the sculpture’s surface are designed to “fill with the colors and textures of its surroundings,” thus “weaving the vibrancy of the surrounding community into the very fabric” of the sculpture itself.

Before coming to Storm King, Mundillo was originally commissioned in 2020-2021 for installation at West Farms Square in Bronx, New York as a Community Commission by the New York City Department of Transportation Arts in partnership with the Bronx River Arts Center. In 2021-2022, the sculpture was reinstalled at 97th Street and Amsterdam Ave. by NYC DOT Arts and the Columbus Amsterdam Business Improvement District. When Mr. Gilbert heard about the sculpture’s availability this year, he felt it would make a wonderful addition to the campus of his alma mater; to be placed “on the same green sward” as another piece he donated in previous years, Mighty Oak.

Many thanks go out to Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Holmes for making the arrival and installation of Mundillo possible for the Storm King School community to enjoy for many years to come.

Ms. Holmes and Racey Gilbert ’60

Mundillo (Little World) by Ms. Holmes and donated by Racey Gilbert ’60

Meet our New Trustees

At a recent meeting of The Storm King School Board of Trustees, Chair Robert Ginsburg ’72 announced the appointment of two new members to their ranks. We welcome their unique perspectives and continued contributions as they help guide the School toward an even brighter future.

Johnathan Flores, Class of 2012

After graduating from SKS in 2012, Johnathan Flores attended Pace University and earned his Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology followed by a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College in New York City. After completing his graduate work, Mr. Flores joined the NYC Department of Investigation where he was tasked with investigating fraud, corruption, and other criminal activity that occurred at the New York City Housing Authority. In 2021, Mr. Flores had the tremendous honor of joining the New York State Police.

Mr. Flores has been connected with SKS since his graduation, participating in alumni soccer and basketball games, and attending reunions and events. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame with his wrestling team (he was co-captain with Frank Conti and Harris Ackermann) in June 2017. As an inaugural member of the Alumni Council, Mr. Flores served on the Awards Committee since its inception in 2016 and assumed the role of Chairman in 2021. He also served as First Vice President of the Alumni Council.

“SKS holds a special place in my heart. It is not only the place where I met my wife, Madison, but also where I learned some of the most important life lessons. My experience at SKS helped shape who I am today. SKS has provided me, as well as many others, a place to learn from your mistakes as well as explore and discover your passions.”

Richard Grossman, Class of 1979

With more than four decades of executive level experience in New York City real estate with prominent firms including Brown Harris Stevens, Halstead Property, and Heron Properties, Richard Grossman ’79 most recently joined Avenue 8, a mobile-first brokerage based in San Francisco as president of brokerage for the eastern states, from New York to Florida. Mr. Grossman is a graduate of Syracuse University where he majored in Art History followed by a diploma in Real Estate Analysis from New York University.

Mr. Grossman has remained involved with the School by volunteering for Career Night, serving on the Arts Advisory Subcommittee of the Alumni Council’s Awards Committee, attending and hosting networking events in New York City, and participating in several virtual LGBTQ alumni conversations. This year, he invited Advanced Art students for a full day at the Lisson Gallery and a working artist studio, and hosted a group of SKS students for a conversation about Artificial Intelligence at his Avenue 8 offices. In his personal time, Mr. Grossman is an avid traveler, fitness enthusiast, and collector of contemporary and modern art. He is also a Board Member and was involved in fundraising for the NYC AIDS Memorial located in the West Village.

“I am excited to be engaged with Storm King and honored to be serving on the Board of Trustees. I look back at my time at Storm King with fond memories and I look forward to bringing value to the community.”

WHY I GIVE by Ken Goldwasser ’78

My story begins in the principal’s office on a crisp fall morning in Atlanta in my then senior year of high school. He was recommending that I attend a community college or technical school as a path to a career in the trades. The impetus behind this was simple: staying focused on classwork was a challenge for me. Believing that I had potential beyond the principal’s vision, it was clear that a change was needed.

In less than a week, my parents and I were on the road to visit three boarding schools in New England. When we arrived at SKS, it felt like where I wanted to be as soon as I got out of the car. It was the beauty of the place, the warm welcome I received, and Headmaster Thad Horton and his reassurance that confirmed SKS was right for me.

My two years on the Mountain truly changed my life. I arrived a confused and uncertain teen, but graduated as a grounded young adult with a new framework for living. I developed skills to function independently and to set and achieve personal goals. I went on to Emory University and a career in several industries, building a life that is professionally and personally fulfilling.

I feel a true and significant debt of gratitude to The Storm King School and the great people that were there for me along the way. It is to honor the legacy and memory of those patient and compassionate men and women that made a difference in my life, and for those that continue the tradition of helping young people on their journeys today, I give.

“I feel a true and significant debt of gratitude to The Storm King School and the great people that were there for me along the way.”

— Ken Goldwasser ’78

Ken Goldwasser ’78 at SKS

Advanced Art Students Gain Inspiration at a NYC Studio and Gallery

Autumn is the best season to spend time in New York City, especially as a young, aspiring artist. In October 2022, 11 Storm King students in Mr. Carruthers’ Advanced Studio Art class were invited to visit the Harlem studio of a well-known, international artist and tour one of Chelsea’s most influential contemporary art galleries. Their visit was made possible by Trustee Richard Grossman ’79, a real estate executive, collector, and art enthusiast living in Manhattan.

During a recent visit to SKS, Mr. Grossman was inspired by the students and the art he saw on display in the School’s Vladimir Art Center, as well as the School’s outstanding record in placing students in prestigious art colleges and universities each year including Pratt, Parsons, RISD, Cal Arts, School of Visual Arts, and others.

Accompanied by Visual Arts Chair John Carruthers and Director of Leadership Support and Alumni Relations Lynn Crevling ’72, the students traveled first to Harlem to meet Mr. Grossman at the working studio of artist Ghada Amer. They spent the morning touring her studio, viewing her art, and learning about Ms. Amer’s journey as a professional artist. Born in Cairo, Egypt, and educated in France and the USA, Ms. Amer told the students that her art “celebrates her cultural heritage with a feminist perspective and uses sewing and embroidery–traditional skills learned from her mother

and grandmother.” Now living and working in New York and Paris, her work has been exhibited at biennales in Venice, Sydney, and New York City, as well as the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, among others. The students were interested in Amer’s techniques, how she worked with the massive canvases, and how she got her first breaks in the art world.

After a short trip downtown and a delicious Italian lunch, the group was treated to a private tour at the Lisson Gallery– one of the most influential and longest-running contemporary art galleries in the world that supports and promotes the work of more than 60 international artists. They were met by the gallery’s senior sales director and Richard’s husband, Mr. Adam Sheffer, who brought a wealth of information about the sale of art to the class.

During the visit, the students toured two major Lisson Gallery exhibitions. The first was the work of Jason Martin, a British artist whose paintings use a small selection of colors in similar tones, a few brushes or tools, and a number of square aluminum panels; swirling and dragging thick layers of paint over the aluminum base.

The second was of artist Masaomi Yasunaga’s work which blends traditional Japanese ceramic techniques with the freeform theories behind Sōdeisha, the ‘Crawling Through Mud Association.’ Yasunga’s primary material is glaze, which is buried in sand or kaolin before firing. The students were curious about how the artists got to that level of renown, how the gallery system works, and the prices of the art.

To conclude an afternoon filled with information and inspiration, the students walked back to the subway to Grand Central Terminal via the scenic High Line’s restored railway bed. Back on campus, they sent thank you notes to Ms. Amer, Mr. Sheffer, and Mr. Grossman for a special and individualized glimpse into the international art world.

From left: Kaitlin Bou ’23, Laura Haban ’23, Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24, Sandy Chen ’23, Charlotte Ji ’23, Seven Crofts ’25, Dana Xu ’23, Linda Li ’23, Jack Grant ’23, Fernando Morales ’23, Ben Zhang ’23, Lynn Crevling ’72, and Ghada Amer

Events

Young Alumi visit for a girls basketball game: Nicole Hernandez ’22, Lou Hoinkis ’22, Seth Vieira ’22, RJ Delahaye ’22, Layla Green ’23; West Palm Beach Gathering 1 SKS in West Palm Beach–Jon Lamb, Peter Fox ’77, Gail and Richard Epstein ’59, Denise and Roger Auerbacher ’66, and Tim Richard ’02 with fiance Stephanie Bassan; West Palm Beach Gathering 2 Toni Scherrer, Shannon Judge ’93, and Jon Lamb; Senior Dinner 2023 with Steven Bluth ’83 welcoming new alumni; 2022 Humanitarian Award Recipient 1 David Hartcorn ’73 speaks to SKS students; 2022 Humanitarian Award Recipient 2 David Hartcorn ’73 (center right) and Alumni Council President Emeritus Scott Cantor ’73 (center left) with students after Hartcorn’s presentation at SKS; AI Presentation Richard Grossman ’79 with students at his offices for a presentation on AI

Humanitarian Award Recipient 1

Humanitarian Award Recipient 2

West Palm Beach Gathering 2

AI Presentation

West Palm Beach Gathering 1

Young Alums

Senior Dinner 2023

Class Notes

When Robin and Richard Whiting ’58 planned a trip to the Hudson Valley from their home in Tennessee, Robin was in touch with the alumni office to surprise Richard with a visit to campus. Robin wrote “It was a beautiful day. Everyone who greeted us was so welcoming. We walked through the amazing Orr Commons building and went into the gym lobby to look at pictures in the Sports Hall of Fame. Richard is so glad the School is still going, and loved seeing his old dorm as well as the new growth. At the time of this writing, we are in Philadelphia awaiting boarding for a flight to Zurich for a Rhine River Christmas Market Cruise, returning home from Amsterdam. Richard loves the 150 Years on the Mountain historical book. Thank you for getting us back in touch.”

Mike Klingman ’60 wrote “Four years ago we moved from a two story house in a suburb of Philadelphia to the tallest building in Maryland- 44 stories overlooking the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. Like so many all over the world, our move resulted from the pandemic. My wife and I normally would have spent half of every year traveling abroad. We were on a cruise around the world in 2019 and in China we read in local newspapers about a

virus in Wuhan infecting people. We returned home on a 17 hour flight and there were four people from Wuhan aboard. The week following our return, I felt fatigue and other symptoms of what was probably COVID-19. Fast forward to this year: We are traveling again. The travels include a trip on the Queen Mary II to Southampton, a week in the United Kingdom, the Eurostar to Paris, and a river cruise to Prague and Berlin. In mid-2023 we are going on a ship to the fjords in Norway and the Mediterranean. Two months later, we are taking a cruise from Vancouver across the North Pacific on a circumnavigation of the Japanese archipelago. In early 2024 we are taking the new Queen Anne on a trip to Northern Europe. We will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary on the return voyage. At the end of 2024 we are filling the last bin on our bucket list on a ship from Miami through the Caribbean to the Panama Canal, down the west coast of South America around Cape Horn through Tierra del Fuego to Antarctica, and then to Uruguay and Argentina. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had a life well lived.”

Terry Proctor ’63 wrote “Greetings from the other side of the country. While our home is in Seattle, my wife Kathy and I travel back and forth between Seattle and San Francisco nearly every month to spend time with our daughter’s family and our (only) grandchild. I spend much of my time in retirement facilitating support groups for those, who like us, have an adult child; our son, who lives with serious mental illness.

My wife and I have found yoga and meditation help-

Richard Whiting ’58

Mike Klingman ’60 and his wife Judy

ful as we navigate life in our 70s and approach 80. I have warm memories of my year on the Mountain and send best wishes to those from our class who made it back for our 60th. Stay well.”

Steven Sims ’69 wrote “Dear SKS Mountaineers, I was under the impression that I had retired some years ago. WRONG! Today, I find myself on the Board of Hope South Florida, an organization working with homeless families and service veterans, and have been for the last six years. As I have gotten older, I work hard to live by the saying “To those to whom much is given, much is required.” Some folks realized that was not enough, I was sought out and have for years, worked on minority business development projects, including training, provision of technical assistance and project development and funding in growing said companies. I helped form an organization, The Capital Region Innovation Cluster Consortium (CRICC), whose mission is to support and empower minority business owners in expanding their businesses and creating family wealth for people of color. Lastly, I aspire to once again spend time with my daughter, Alexandra, who is my heart and soul and lives in Southwest London, England, and who I have not seen in three years, because of COVID and her now working full time. Those of you who have children know the transition of finding time to hang with them to them finding time for you.

Finally, I want to send special greetings to Richard

Lt. J. Paul Vance ’71 announced that he and Meg’s second granddaughter “is headed to University of Tampa in the fall and our first granddaughter will be starting her sophomore year at Fairfield University. Our oldest son, who is senior partner in his law firm, is being sworn in to add the ability to practice law in front of the Supreme Court. Meg and I have been married 50 years this past December! I guess that means time is marching on, but we are getting better, NOT OLDER, CORRECT? Hope everyone is well.”

Chris Cushman ’72 attended his 50th reunion in 2022 and provided this update:

“In the fall of 2003 I was divorced when I met Marcia. I had been in recovery for less than two years, had closed a business I had been a partner in, and I wasn’t work-

“Dick” Broughton ’54, still going strong. Love and Peace to The Storm King School.”

Steven Sims ’69

A piece by Chris Cushman ’72

Terry Proctor ’63

ing. Life had seemed to be on hold. Dating Marcia started a new chapter for me, including when, early on in our relationship, she told me that I should get a hobby. I went to a bookstore, found a book on wood turning, and bought a small lathe and tools. I gave my early wood creations to family members and they liked them, even though they were pretty bad. But, I found I really enjoyed turning and I signed up for a course at a local craft center. My skills improved and I bought a much larger lathe. Marcia is a very fine potter and we began a collaboration. Before long, I was being asked to put my work in galleries and people actually paid for my hobby, which had become a passion, as well as my therapy. Marcia and I now show our individual and joint works with great success. Be open to new things in life and enjoy your journey!”

Curtis Warren ’74 wrote “The Storm King School (SKS) and A Better Chance Scholars Program (ABC) provided the solid foundation that I needed as a young student to begin my successful educational and professional journey into the fields of education and human services. As a youth coming from inner-city Chicago, I was truly blessed by these opportunities! My successful career as an educator and social worker spans over 40 years, which also included teaching, coaching, and dormitory supervision at SKS very early in my career. Words simply

cannot express the deep gratitude and love that I have for my Storm King School experience! I am currently semi-retired, and have been living in St. Louis for two years near my son and his family. I have two beautiful grandsons. Unfortunately, I lost my wife to cancer four years ago. Since moving to St. Louis, I have been doing some part-time, contractual academic tutoring with teenage students battling cancer.”

Chris Cushman ’72

Curtis Warren ’74

Curtis Warren ’74

Sandy Huang ’10 wrote “It’s been quite some time since I graduated from The Storm King School. After finishing high school, I went on to study at Boston University, majoring in B.B.A with a double concentration in marketing and finance. Once I completed my undergraduate studies, I returned to my home country, Taiwan, and joined my family business. As a leading clothing manufacturing company, my main job was to explore new business opportunities and bring on more clients in the apparel market. I had the pleasure of working with companies such as Roots Canada, Gap, and Target which helped diversify our client portfolio.

I have since embarked on a new career path and joined my husband’s startup, which specializes in cancer diagnosis. This change brought me back to NYC this year, where I had the opportunity to revisit SKS and reminisce on the fond memories of my time there. From Mr. Hunt’s engaging math classes to the exhilarating volleyball tournaments against nearby high schools, SKS has undoubtedly played an instrumental role in shaping who I am today and I’m grateful for the experiences and friendships I gained there.”

Amanda Flom ’12 wrote “Hey! I’m currently living in South Carolina and running my own business. I’m a pet sitter and a writer, having written nine books that are published on Amazon. I have also been published on the Vocal and Thought Catalogue many times.” Amanda also reports that she is working on a degree in Human Services. “My hope is to share my story and use my degree to help others.”

Dennis Kim ’14 wrote “After I graduated from SKS and started school at Pennsylvania State University, I came across an Army recruiter and it really excited me to join and serve the nation. I had become a naturalized US citizen a few years before. After serving in the Army, I am

back in school for a career in the financial field. I have an internship with JPMorgan Chase & Co. this summer, and I hope that I will be offered a full-time job afterward. I miss everyone from our school. It was definitely some of the best times I’ve had in my life as a student at SKS.”

Wexin “Will” Tian ’18 recently wrote “I am glad to hear from SKS! I graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. degree in Bioinformatics in March, and will continue pursuing an MS degree in Biostatistics at Columbia University this September. At SKS, Science Dept. Chair Dr. Feffer truly inspired me to pursue a career in science.”

Jack Besterman ’18 received the University at Albany Theatre Program’s 2023 Burian Award. This award is given to a graduating theatre major who has taken 90 credits and earned the highest grade point average in all classes. For recent UA productions, Jack has been working behind the scenes as either a stage manager or a dramaturg. The photo is from a production of The Piano Lesson that he stage managed last semester.

To submit a Class Note, please contact Lynn Crevling at lcrevling@sks.org.

Sandy Huang ’10 and Sarah Fulton ’09 Wexin “Will” Tian ’18

Jack Besterman ’18

On the afternoon of Friday, January 13, 2023, Sharon Schoonmaker, a longtime employee of The Storm King School, passed away at the age of 78. The loss of Sharon marks a very sad time for our school. There are few individuals who have served Storm King so faithfully for so long.

Sharon was hired on May 14, 1991. During her 32 years of service in the Business Office, and a decade-long stint helping to run the Mom’s Store, Sharon was best known for her quiet and calm demeanor, her hard-working nature, and her dedication to both her work and her responsibilities at home.

At the School’s 153rd commencement in 2021, Sharon was awarded the Riley Cup, commemorating her 30th year at SKS. The Riley Cup was established in 2004 to honor in perpetuity an outstanding member of the staff and an outstanding student who have contributed to the School’s community ethos in practical and creative ways. Jonathan Lamb announced the award stating “Sharon has served the School under five Heads. Over those years, she has gotten to know every student and family, and every faculty and staff member-at least through their school accounts. Sharon is one of nicest people you will ever meet; she is always gracious,

she has impeccable character, and just enough ‘salt’ to make her point when she needs to.”

During her tenure, Sharon came to know many of her coworkers and students on a personal level and established close relationships with her supervisors in the Business Office. Many past and present faculty, staff, and alumni hold fond memories of her. Her long time coworker in the Business Office, Kathy Syvertsen, wrote “Twenty-five years ago, I joined what would turn into basically a two person office. Like Thelma and Louise, Lucy and Ethel, there was Sharon and Kathy. We went from coworkers to friends to confidants. She kept me in line and I brought her lunch. She taught me about patience. We should never have been more than office mates, but we were so very much more. I am honored to have called her friend.”

CFO/Assistant Head of School for Finance Ray Hecht wrote “When I first started at SKS, the former CFO introduced me to Sharon and Kathy as their new boss. They were both very professional and nice. As I walked away, I heard Sharon mutter under her breath “Oh great, now I have to break in another new CFO!” I let her know that I heard her and then laughed out loud. She was so right. With all of my years of experience, I still had so much to learn. She always made sure I knew what I was doing , even to this day.”

Former CFO/Trustee/Treasurer Jack D’Angelo reflected “It is such a great loss for all of us in the SKS community. Sharon was quiet and, I’d say shy as well, but she was fiercely determined to help both students and staff. I had the pleasure of her friendship from May 1995 to my retirement in 2013. I choose to think that she worked with me and not for me. I could not have done my job without her. Sharon became the glue that made the Business Office fulfill its mission.”

The School remembers Sharon with a decorative garden bench in her name on a spot that overlooks the campus near Orr Commons where she spent so much time over the years. There, the bench will provide a place to rest, reflect, and observe the generations of students and staff members who arrive in the years ahead, much like Sharon did; and a place to remember not only Sharon, but others who have passed through before.

Marge Kovacs and Sharon Schoonmaker

Remembering Sharon Schoonmaker

In Memoriam

SKS is saddened by the passing of the following members of our community. As is our custom, were remembered on Reunion Weekend 2023.

1963

Jeffrey Lance Patchen

November 17, 2022

1966

William “Bill” Comly Koch

November 1, 2022

1973

Gerald Washington

January 4, 2023

Kirby Moore

November 9, 2022

1982

James P. Murphy

March 20, 2023

Faculty & Staff

1979-1997

Austin Stern, Director of Admissions

December 14, 2022

2003-2004

Frank Cargill Woodruff, Math Teacher

November 30, 2022

1991-2023

Sharon Schoonmaker, Business Office

January 13, 2023

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SKS : Skills, Knowledge, Success!

For 155 years, The Storm King School has prided itself on its mission to meet students where they are – to help them to dream big, to translate those dreams into goals, and to attain those goals using the tools and methods that are best suited to each individual. We firmly believe that Storm King is the first stepping stone to a world full of opportunities, challenges, and achievements for which they will be well-equipped.

At Storm King, our goal is to:

• Provide skills with real-world experience through mentorship from our alumni body, community service, and leadership opportunities

• Give students the power of knowledge through a personalized, challenging academic curriculum and a variety of programs in arts and athletics

Set them up for success in their life after Storm King

As Storm King looks toward the future, our strategic goals require critically important financial investments. We seek to build our Annual Fund to ensure that we are prepared to provide the resources needed to maintain a comprehensive and individualized education for each student.

On behalf of Storm King's students and dedicated faculty, Thank You for your thoughtful consideration and generosity to this year's Storm King Fund.

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

On the Mountain