Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

At The Storm King School’s 149th Commencement, keynote speaker and NASA astronaut Col. Timothy Kopra highlighted this year’s ceremony as 43 seniors from the United States and 13 other nations were awarded their diplomas. The event was held Saturday, June 3, on the lawn in front of Orr Commons and attended by families, faculty, and friends from all over the world.

As 10 chimes of the Storm King Bell Tower rang out and the sound of bagpipes filled the crisp morning air, the processional of faculty led by Headmaster Jonathan Lamb, Dean of Academics Harold Heno, and Col. Timothy Kopra entered the venue to begin this year’s graduation ceremony. They were followed by the smiling Storm King senior class of 2017—43 bright and promising young adults from the United States and five continents.

 

 

After all were seated, Mr. Lamb welcomed the seniors and international audience as “a global community of teachers and learners from many countries.” Adhering to Storm King tradition, students representing the 14 nations making up the senior class greeted the audience in their native languages, followed by a moving rendition of “America the Beautiful” by the SKS Chorus.

“It has been another tremendous school year, thanks to the hard work of the faculty and staff and all of our students,” said Mr. Lamb, as he conveyed his final thoughts to the senior class. “Whether you have been at Storm King for one year or five, you have had the opportunity to live in one of the most spectacular places imaginable,” he said. “The Hudson River Valley has inspired writers, architects, inventors, historians, and artists for generations. You have had a chance to learn, to create, to play, and to grow on this plain overlooking the river, nestled below the shoulder of Storm King Mountain, and immersed in the rugged and sublime beauty that is the Hudson Valley.”

 

 

Mr. Lamb continued his uplifting remarks by reminding the seniors that in just a few more years, they will be handed the “keys to our planet”; “It will be your responsibility to take care of the Earth and the people on it well into the next half-century,” he said. “As students at Storm King, you have had the opportunity to learn with fellow citizens from all corners of the globe, as few young people have. As we approach our 150th anniversary as a school, our mantras of ‘truth, respect, responsibility’ and ‘caring for one another’ will carry beyond this place and into the great world communities that each of you will inhabit. You are leaving Storm King, not just prepared for college, but with a global and an emotional IQ that makes you ready for the responsibility of your lifetime.”

Following an emotional rendering of “Counting Stars” by graduating senior from France Miss Victoire Alfieri, Mr. Lamb introduced Col. Kopra and recalled his own childhood fascination with space exploration. He presented Col. Kopra as “someone who took similar dreams and turned them into reality”; “At Storm King, we often ask you to dream big,” said Mr. Lamb. “It is my great honor to introduce one of 600 people who have been in space, and certainly one who dreamed big, and who followed those dreams right to the stars.”

 

 

After a brief explanation of Col. Kopra’s exemplary background and service in the military and NASA, including 244 hours in space, Mr. Lamb gave him the podium to address the senior class. During his speech, Col. Kopra stressed the importance of character and asked the seniors to always adhere to Storm King’s motto of “truth, respect, and responsibility”—principles that he himself holds dear.

“My career is centered around flying machines,” said Col. Kopra. “I’ve spent time on the space stations, the shuttle, and worked with a lot of amazing hardware. But the most important elements are still the people and the teams. A mission’s success requires implicit trust and the good character of the people and their ability to work with one another. I attribute success to good character and how that character influences goals,” he said.

Following a hearty round of applause by the audience and the senior class, Col. Kopra’s speech was followed by an a cappella performance of “From a Distance” by graduating senior from the USA, Ms. Olivia deBree. The ceremony continued with the presentation of the 2017 Academic Awards by Mr. Heno, First Vice Chair of the Storm King Board of Trustees Michele DeFreece P’14, Mr. Lamb, and Col. Kopra.

 

 

After the awards, Mr. Lamb asked the underclassman in the audience to stand for their official promotion to their next class year. Following the Class Promotions, diplomas were presented to the senior class by Ms. DeFreece, and the seniors were congratulated by Mr. Heno, Mr. Lamb, and Col. Kopra. As Assistant Headmaster for Student and Residential Life Alan Lewis carried out the important duty of flipping the tassels on their caps from right to left, the Class of 2017 completed their high school careers and their lives on the Mountain. To round out the ceremony, all stood to sing the Alma Mater. Then, once again to the sound of bagpipes, all exited the lawn in the path of the faculty and student recessional to conclude the 149th commencement at The Storm King School.

 

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2017 STORM KING ACADEMIC AWARDS

The 2017 Storm King Academic Awards were handed out as follows:

STORM KING SCHOLARS

The Storm King Scholar Award is granted to those students who have consistently achieved at the highest academic levels and who have contributed significantly to other areas of campus life.

• Derya Akbaba ‘17
• Peng Xiang Zhou ‘17
• Pengcheng Liu ‘17
• Filippo Semenza ‘17

THE RILEY CUP

The Riley Cup is given in recognition of former Headmaster Philip Riley “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”:

• Alan Lewis
• Catherine Pomeroy ‘17

THE SPY ROCK CUP

The Spy Rock Cup is awarded annually to that senior whose performance and contributions to our school have fostered its best interests and traditions.

• Cierra Martin ‘17

THE HEADMASTER’S CUP

The Headmaster’s Cup is a gift of Mrs. Anson Barker, whose husband was the headmaster of The Storm King School for 19 years. Since 1938, the Headmaster’s Cup, inscribed “for cheerfulness of spirit and enthusiasm,” is annually awarded to that senior whose love for the School is profound.

• Jutta Appiah ‘17

THE STORM KING CUP

The Storm King Cup is the highest commencement award and an enduring tradition at the School whose recipient is chosen by a vote of the faculty, staff, and students. Since 1915 it has been won “by students who have distinguished themselves by their personal qualities and their accomplishments. What other positive traits they have manifested, they have shared the traits of idealism, quiet courage, and a vision of the School as it could be.”

• Yunqui Liu ‘17

 

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