During the exciting week preceding the School’s 157th Commencement, known as Senior Week, The Storm King School set aside an evening to celebrate the achievements of our students at the 2025 Spring Academic Awards.

To kick off the evening, Head of School Lisa Shambaugh announced a special award recognizing Mr. Raymond Hecht, Assistant Head of School for Finance and CFO at The Storm King School, as a recipient of the prestigious Will Hancock Unsung Hero Award from the National Business Officers Association (NBOA). Mr. Hecht received the award as he retires from 14 years of dedicated service to the School. “Mr. Hecht always keeps students first and his steadfast leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence have helped our school thrive every day—quietly but powerfully shaping our future,” commented Ms. Shambaugh in her opening words.

Continuing with the student awards, Assistant Head of School for Academics Dr. Timothy Lance explained that the Academic Awards, also called the “Book Awards,” are designed to recognize specific students for their accomplishments in academics as well as visual and performing arts. A lasting tradition at Storm King, a student from each class is selected by their teacher and awarded a personally-selected book. Books were awarded for each class by department in Math, Science, English, World Languages, History & Social Sciences, English as a Second Language, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts.

“Each student we recognize tonight is committed to the active pursuit of excellence; each has developed habits and attitudes which will serve them well beyond today,” explained Dr. Lance. “Our faculty members celebrate this opportunity to lift up and emphasize the ideals of scholarship, creativity, perseverance, and character that are so important to our work and our school.”

Following the Book Awards, the ceremony continued with community service recognitions, Junior Class Awards, Cum Laude Society Inductions, and recognition of the School’s four and five-year seniors.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and all of this year’s award winners. Many thanks go out to the faculty and staff for all of their efforts with our students this year.