On Thursday, October 10, 2019, alumni from various decades returned to The Storm King School to share information, ideas, and inspiration with our juniors and seniors at Career Night 2019. Ten alumni volunteered their time to talk with our students about choosing a profession, getting into college, tips for success, and provide highlights of their lives after graduating from Storm King.
Career Night 2019 – from left: Jeni Spaeth ’81, Joel Levine ’62, Eric Gatsik ’97, Derek Gordon ’80, Headmaster Jon Lamb, Chandler Zhang ’14, Dominique Manpel ’79, Scott Cantor ’73, Brian Lydell ’91, Seth Leichter ’95, Lynn Crevling ’72, Jeffrey Steiger ’74
This year, many interesting career fields were represented including software engineering, neurobiology, law, interior design, psychotherapy, property management, business administration in the health sector, administration in school athletics, and film scoring and music production for television and film.
“I enjoyed it. Every one of the conversations was interesting.” — Igor ’20
Career Night featured roundtable discussions where groups of students rotated around Henderson Dining Hall to sit at different alumni tables every 20 minutes. This allowed them to get different perspectives and introduce themselves to a variety of career paths. The format provided a personal atmosphere where many alumni were seen laughing along with the students and talking fondly about their time at Storm King. The students relayed that they took away valuable knowledge, advice, and interesting stories from the event. Senior Igor K. had initially said he wasn’t sure that he would be interested in the topics to be presented but was seen smiling during the Career Night sessions and later commented that “I enjoyed it. Every one of the conversations was interesting.”
Alumnus Brian Lydell ’91 speaking with SKS students
Prior to the event on Thursday afternoon, alumnus Joel Levine, Ph.D. ’62, a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, shared his invaluable experience with a special presentation about neurobiology in Stillman Hall. Students in grades 8-12 attended, and several underclassmen engaged Dr. Levine with multiple questions.
Alumnus Joel Levine, Ph.D. ’62, (Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the State University of New York at Stony Brook) speaking with SKS students about his profession.
SKS History & Social Sciences Chair Michael Hauser was present that evening and commented “Few things we do each year rival the impact this has on students. There is something to be said for the impact on our students that can be made by an alumna/alumnae who can talk about life on the hill, in “the shade of Storm King Mountain”, in the dorms, etc. and about life after in the corporate, entertainment, arts, etc. world.”
Alumnus Jeffrey Steiger ’74 speaking with SKS students
Many thanks go out to each one of our alumni who were gracious to donate their time away from their busy schedules, including Steven Bluth ’83, Eric Gatsik ‘97, Derek Gordon ‘80, Seth Leichter ‘95, Dr. Joel Levine, Ph.D. ‘62, Brian Lydell ‘91, Dominique Manpel, Esq. ‘79, Jeni Spaeth ‘81, Jeffrey Allan Steiger, LCSW ‘71, and Chandler Zhang ’14.
Alumnus Chandler Zhang ’14 speaking to SKS students
If you would like to participate as a mentor at Career Night 2020 next fall, please contact Lynn Crevling at lcrevling@sks.org.
To see more pictures from this event:
Alumnus Dominique Manpel ’79 speaking to SKS students