Storm King School alumni currently in college and grad school recently returned to the Mountain for the first-ever “What’s Coming Up?” gathering. The event, organized by the SKS Alumni Council, aimed to support young alumni while allowing them to share their newfound wisdom with current students.

Jordan Golding ’20 led the event planning with support from the SKS Alumni Council Outreach and Development Committee, chaired by Lauren Ferrara ’97, and also served as the evening’s emcee. Head of School Lisa Shambaugh welcomed the group of 13 alumni from the classes of 2017-2024 at a Meet-and-Greet in Orr Commons, where the alums reconnected with one another, shared their experiences at SKS, and reflected on what they valued most about their time here.

Elena Centeno ’23, a sophomore at Cornell, highlighted the leadership opportunities at SKS that helped her develop skills she didn’t expect to find elsewhere. “College is where the real work begins,” she explained, stressing the need to pace oneself. Sophia Grausso ’20, a 2024 Fordham graduate, spoke about taking ownership of her education at SKS, noting how the freedom to choose her classes prepared her for college challenges. Camilla Shulman ’22, a nursing student at Case Western Reserve, shared how the friendships and community at SKS helped her build the confidence to pursue her goals—a sentiment echoed by several of the alums. Jordan, a recent graduate of Lycoming College, also reflected on the importance of the close-knit community at SKS, emphasizing how the School provided a platform for students to express their views and have them considered.

After the Meet-and-Greet session, the alumni enjoyed dinner in Henderson Dining Hall, sitting at tables with current students and SKS faculty members. Following dinner, the event continued in Ogden Hall, where students gathered to meet the alumni, listen to their experiences and advice, and ask questions. Jordan kicked off the event with a “Human Scavenger Hunt,” an icebreaker that encouraged mingling and interaction. Lively conversations followed as the alumni spoke about their college experiences, offering advice on handling challenges, making the most of college opportunities, and navigating new communities.

The evening concluded with students engaging in smaller breakout discussions with individual alumni, allowing them to further explore their areas of interest and have their questions answered. The night was well-received by all, with both alumni and students expressing how fulfilling it was to connect, reconnect, and share valuable experiences. Jordan closed the evening by reminding the group that current students and alumni, regardless of age, should remain involved in the SKS community: “This is our community for life.”

Thank you to all of our alumni who supported this event:

Gabriella Quartey ’17
Lehman College, Psychology major, Dance minor

Will Tian ’18
University of California San Diego, Bioinformatics and Biomedical Research; MA in Biostatistics (in progress) at Columbia University

Kolby Braxton ’19
Ana G. Méndez University, BS in Environmental Sciences

Guy-Paul Delisfort ’20
NYU, BA in Fine Arts (BFA), Film and TV

Jordan Golding ’20
Lycoming College, BA in History, Minor in Political Science

Sophia Grausso ’20
Fordham University, BA in English (specialization in Creative Writing); Honors Degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Camilla Shulman ’22
Case Western Reserve University, School of Nursing

Elena Centeno ’23
Cornell University, Sociology major with double minors in Law and Society, and Human Development (interested in Family Law)

Ben Zhang ’23
New York University, Game Design and Economics major

Cedric Zhao ’23
University of California, Irvine, Business Information Management major

Alex Gonzalez ’24
University of Haven, Forensic Science major

Ke Dana Xu ’24
NYU, Film major

Stephanie Li ’24 (starting January ’25)
NYU