Creativity in both visual expression and language was on full display as The Storm King School celebrated its annual Spring Arts Weekend, a talent-filled showcase of student achievement in the arts. Bringing together the Student Art Show and the 10th Annual Poetry Festival, the weekend highlighted the creativity and imagination cultivated across campus over the past year.

Spring Art Show

The festivities began Friday evening with the 2026 Student Art Show and arts awards presentation in Ogden Hall. Families, faculty, and students gathered to experience a broad and colorful exhibition featuring work from all Storm King art classes. The show offered a window into the many forms of artistic expression thriving on campus—from painting, drawing, and ceramics to digital pieces and mixed media creations—each reflecting the unique perspectives and voices of the student artists.

2025-2026 Winners

8th grade

Drawing: Tracy Y.

Painting: Nancy Y.

Digital: Alice Z.

9th grade

Painting: Lorelei D.

Drawing: Jieru L.

Digital: Ronan K.

3-D: Jasmine G.

10th grade

Painting: Ayako Y.

Drawing: Owen G.

Digital Photography: Kristen S.

3-D: Cathy C.

11th grade

Painting: Keiyona J.

Drawing: Gracie H.

Digital: Jenny C.

3-D: Eric W.

12th grade

Painting: Ren T.

Drawing: Eva G.

Digital: Yi D.

3-D: Imani P.

Best in Show: Joya Y.

Most Creative: Arina V.

10^th Annual Poetry Festival

Now in its tenth year, the Storm King School Poetry Festival has become a vibrant and anticipated celebration of student voices, bringing together young poets from high schools across the New York tri-state region and New England. Praised by parents as “transformational in this age of social media” and “a breath of fresh air,” this springtime showcase of creative writing and language arts continues to grow in both reach and reputation each year, offering students a powerful platform to share their work.

The 2026 poetry contest received 200 submissions from 22 schools. Entries were reviewed by published poets Joanna Solfrian and Zoe Ryder White, who served as judges. Over the course of a month, they undertook the difficult task of selecting 20 finalist poems, three standout pieces, and one special category winner from a highly competitive field. Both judges noted that “the level of quality of this year’s poetry was exceptional, which made our jobs very challenging.” The contest culminated in the 10th Annual Storm King Poetry Festival, held on the Storm King School campus on the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Head of School Lisa Shambaugh opened the evening by welcoming poets and their families, and by thanking the English and humanities teachers who encouraged students to write and submit their work. Reflecting on the festival’s impact, she shared, “Over 10 years, the festival has received more than 1,500 poems from over 30 schools—each one represents an act of courage and vulnerability. In poetry, you can’t hide—each word selected, each pause, each sound is chosen for its ability to convey an emotion, an expression, a feeling, or a truth.”

English teacher Sophia Grausso then outlined the festival process, followed by faculty member Djazmina Guerrier, who introduced the judges. The centerpiece of the evening was the judges’ reading and commentary on the 20 finalist poems, offering insight into each piece. This year’s special category was the ghazal, a poetic form that originated in Persian and Urdu traditions. A ghazal is made up of a series of short, self-contained couplets that share a repeating rhyme or refrain, and often explore themes such as love, longing, and loss.

To conclude the ceremony, three standout poems were announced, with each winner receiving a trophy. Among them was Storm King student Jenny C. ’27, who was present to accept her award for the poem “Mother.” The remaining finalists were also called to the stage at the end of the program to receive their awards.

Many thanks go to the finalists and their families who traveled from other schools to attend the event; to the English and humanities teachers who supported and inspired their students; and to all the schools and poets who submitted work this year. The Storm King School looks forward to welcoming many of them back again next spring.

Finalist Poems

When Nature Speaks

“Empty Path”: Felix W. ’28, The Storm King School

“What the Wind Knows”: Shaoheng (Thomas) H., Pomfret School

“Floccinaucinihilipilification”: Charley L., Millbrook School

On Identity and Belonging

“Mango Seed”: Neo P., Piscataway High School

“ADHD”: Ryan E., Millbrook School

“Sweet Expectations”: Gabriel J., Millbrook School

“One Who Walks”: Sanaa S., Rye Country Day School

Maternal Figures

“Grandma Rady”: Eva B., Brimmer and May

“Mother”: Ziming (Jenny) C. ’26, The Storm King School*

“Unleft Hand”: Hana T., Spence School*

Pressure from the Outside

“On History and Scared Children”: Chloe T., Spence School

“My American Dream”: Santiago S. ’26, The Storm King School

“Donald Trump Stole My Ovary!”: Katie R., Ethel Walker School

“Encephalon St.”: Lyle M., Calhoun School

Love and Its Fragility

“All Life Ends Briefly Evil”: Rachel F., Choate Rosemary Hall

“august”: Alexandra S., Rye Country Day School

“I Used to Think Kisses Were Meant to Be Cold”: Mila P., Dana Hall School*

Rethinking and Renewal

“Enjoy the Game”: Patrik P. ’27, The Storm King School

“O’o”: Marvelous A., Millbrook School

“Choosing to Live”: Izah C. ’27, The Storm King School

Special Category Winner: Ghazal

“Hey, You–Yeah, You!”: Adrian H. Y., Harvey School

*stand out poem recognition