The week before graduation is an exciting time at The Storm King School, especially for the senior class. Anticipation reaches its pinnacle on the eve of commencement when the graduating class and their families gather at Orr Commons for the traditional Butterfly Ceremony, followed by the Senior Banquet and Senior Service.

The first Butterfly Ceremony was instituted more than a decade ago by former Dean of Students Robert Watson, who, at the time, was in search of ways to make the experience of his students different and more engaging. At the Butterfly Ceremony, a sharply-dressed senior class forms a circle on the lawn in front of Orr Commons. Each senior is given a delicate envelope containing a live Monarch butterfly–a symbol of transformation in many cultures–to release as they make a wish for the future.

Following the Butterfly Ceremony, the seniors and their families enjoy a delicious meal at the Senior Banquet before proceeding to the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre for Senior Service.  Senior Service, another important Storm King tradition, is designed to give members of the graduating class a chance to speak their minds and bid their farewells with family, faculty, and friends as witnesses–a tradition that began during Headmaster Frank Brogan’s tenure (1966-1974) when Storm King held its first open-forum commencement in 1969.

This year’s Senior Service opened with remarks by Science Department Chair Dr. Paul Feffer, followed by a processional of the Class of 2023, who placed candles on the stage while Assistant Head of School Dr. Tim Lance announced each student’s name and the college they will attend in the fall. Next was an inspiring and entertaining speech by faculty member Zhenya Kiperman, who was chosen by the senior class to address them. After his speech, Mr. Kiperman presented the Senior Slide Show.

To conclude the program, seniors who chose to do so came to the podium to give their Senior Speeches about their time at SKS– their cherished memories, relationships, struggles, and triumphs. The last speech of the evening, given by Headmaster’s Cup recipient Yuecheng Cedric Zhao ’23, ended this year’s Senior Service perfectly: “Thank you to everyone who has been so important in my high school life. Now is the time for us to turn night into day and dreams into life.”