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SPECIAL EDITION | JUNE 27, 2017
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Summit's Annual Career Assembly
On June 2, The Summit School held its Work-Based Learning Program Career Assembly. This year the annual assembly, which marks the end of this school year's work program, was held in the auditorium at the Museum of Jewish Heritage located in Manhattan's Battery Park City. Over 300 people attended, including students, faculty, parents, and business partners who participate in the program. A warm welcome was extended by Marian Corbett, Director of Summit's Work-Based Learning Programs, and Robert "Bill" Donohue, President of Summit's WBLP Business Advisory Board, who, while unable to attend, provided a video greeting.
Highlights included:
A special tribute was made to honor the memory of John
Obraitis, Summit's former Athletics Director, who passed away in January 2017 (photos below). Recognition was coordinated by Ryan Lepper, a Summit student, who invited students and coaches in Summit's sports teams at the assembly to join him on stage.
A commemorative plaque was presented to John's daughter, Sarah Obraitis, her husband Hugue Dufour, and John's granddaughter Crystal (photo below, lower right). Sarah and Hugue own and operate two restaurants in Long Island City: M. Wells Dinette and M. Wells Steakhouse. Both restaurants have hosted Summit students in the work program and remain active in Summit's business partnership.
This year's theme was "Do More. Be More."
Students from Summit's Graphic Communications class (photo below), who captured our theme in their designs, were invited on stage as part of the announcement for the winning t-shirt design, which this year went to Jack Rubin (far right in photo below).
This year, an award for Volunteer of the Year was presented by Marian Corbett to senior student Joe Serpico (photos below) in recognition of Joe's tireless work on behalf of animal rescue and adoption causes. Joe introduced our featured speaker and entertainer, Meredith O'Connor, who spoke about her personal experiences with bullying (photos below). Meredith works with audiences nationally and internationally to deliver her message of inspiration to those who, like her, have been bullied. Meredith is also an impressive singer/songwriter. She performed two original songs, The Game and Just the Thing, which can be viewed on her YouTube channel (click here).
The Employer of the Year Award (photos below) was presented to the international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, which has been a business partner for four years. To date, Skadden has hosted sixteen students in its mailroom and audio visual departments. Accepting the award on behalf of the firm was Vaughn Burke, Skadden's Director of Human Resources (photo below, right).
This year's Employees of the Year were seniors Brandon Schoemaker, Michael Cummings, Gabriela Krulish, and Nadia Cianca (photos below, left to right). Employee of the Year status is given to deserving seniors who best exemplify the goals of the work program throughout all four years of participation.
This year's closing speaker was Ryan Levy, Summit Alumni (Class of 2003) who thanked John Renner, Summit's Director, for giving him guidance and helping him to accept his learning difficulties (photos below). Ryan shared with the audience the many ways that Mr. Renner had aided him in high school and befriended him in adulthood. Now a successful businessman, Ryan's tribute to Mr. Renner was very heartfelt and fitting in light of the fact that Mr. Renner will be retiring at the end of this school year after 32 years of service to The Summit School. It was the perfect ending to the program.
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