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SPECIAL GRADUATION EDITION
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Congratulations to the Class of 2017
On Thursday, June 22, forty students graduated from The Summit School. We are delighted to present some of our graduation ceremony highlights and a roundup of senior events.
Graduation Day started like any other school day with seniors arriving at The Summit School by 8:45 a.m. via school bus or public transportation. But that's where the similarity ended. Instead of attending a first period class, a number of special events began to unfold.
We extend our thanks to our senior class event coordinators for their dedication and support, and to all the countless Summit staff members, who make all of these events possible:
Yearbook: Michael Alexander, Carol Falco, and Karen Kenis
Graduation Package, Portraits, and Class Rings: Diane Brevetti
Prom, Senior Class Trip, and Graduation Breakfast: George Garrison,
Linda Hyman, Louisa Kenjesky, and Tobi Thompson
Senior Videos and Presentation: Cindy Berkiw and Gregory Broas
Graduation Day Breakfast, Portraits, Special Moments,
and Getting Ready
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But, thanks to George Garrison, Linda Hyman, and Louisa Kenjesky, it was also one of the most memorable as this year's seniors participated in enjoying this longtime Summit tradition of coming together for one more meal as classmates. Next, it was time to start getting ready with caps and gowns, sharing a few more special moments with Summit staff and friends, and posing for graduation day portraits and a group photo.
Graduation Ceremony
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Jake Hassan, Valedictorian Travis Nair, Salutatorian
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Summit's graduation processional was led by Barzeli Schneider, who carried the U.S. flag and opened the ceremony with the "Pledge of Allegiance." Following Richard Sitman's welcome to over 300 parents, family members, and friends, John Renner shared sage advice with Summit graduates to help guide them in the next part of life's journey.
Deena Perskin, Summit parent of Alexa Perskin, and Dr. Glenn Saxe, Summit parent of Ben Saxe, provided their personal perspectives of their time at Summit, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Before diplomas were conferred, numerous honors were bestowed upon students by selected Summit faculty. The newly established John Renner Commitment to Excellence Award, which was generously endowed this year by Summit parents and alumni to recognize his 32 years of service at The Summit School, was presented for the first time. Additionally, two Summit seniors were awarded the Carmen Montalvo Summit Promise Scholarships, established by Richard Holmes, Summit alumni, in memory of his mother to recognize a student pursuing postsecondary pursuits related to teaching or helping others with disabilities. At Summit, we are pleased to have the ability to present our deserving seniors awards of meaningful recognition and scholarship.
Following the presentation of senior videos, awards, scholarships, and diplomas, graduates received a well-deserved standing ovation from their families and friends. Declaring the Class of 2017 graduated, students moved tassels from right to left. Congratulations, Summit graduates!
After presenting diplomas, one more graduate was called to the dais -- John Renner, Summit's Director who announced in February that this would be his last year at The Summit School after 32 years of service. Joined by Cindy Berkiw, Allison Edwards, and Summit student Jared Smith, John was presented his faculty robe and tasseled velvet tam, a blue sash representing The Summit School and the Class of 2017, a light blue honor cord representing his professional leadership in education, a citron honor cord representing his professional degree in social work, and a Medal of Honor to recognize John's commitment to academic excellence. In faculty robes and honors, John joined the graduates as they turned their tassels and led the graduation recessional. John, we'll miss you greatly. Thank you for the memories and the legacy you have given to The Summit School.
Photographs by Karen Elder, Director Development and Special Projects, and Stephanie Keller, Assistant Art Teacher.
Class of 2017 Ring Ceremony
Seniors who ordered class rings received them at a ring ceremony on May 22.
Rings were presented by Diane Brevetti of Summit's Transition Office. As each student was called, Diane presented an individualized class ring, turned it three times to the right for good luck, and once to the left "to lock it in place" as is Summit's ring-turning tradition. Students personalized their class ring
to feature their specific interests, including a center set stone and seal.
Also in attendance to help students celebrate were Yvonne Bowman, Marian Corbett, Allison Edwards, Larry Litwack, Nancy Morgenroth, John Renner, Tina Rosenbaum, Richard Sitman as well as several teachers and clinical staff.
Photographs by Michael Kunz, Job Coach in Summit's Upper School Transition Office.
Senior Class Trip to Rocking Horse Ranch Resort
Graduating seniors made an early morning departure on June 6 and headed out for Summit's annual overnight senior class trip to the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in upstate New York. From horseback riding to rockclimbing to kayaking and paddle-boating on the resort's mountain lake to roasting marshmallows around the campfire, everyone came home with great memories of fun and friends.
Photographs by Summit Upper School teacher Linda Hyman and Summit graduate Nadia Cianca.
Summit's Prom
Prom, one of the seminal events of a teen's high school career, is one of the last big hurrahs before graduation -- and what a hurrah it was on May 25 when juniors and seniors arrived to attend Summit's Prom held at Douglaston Manor. The dresses, the tuxes and suits, the hair, the limos, the friends, the dates, the photos, and the party, all made it a spectacular evening of music, dining, dancing, and good fun. Here's our night in photos thanks to our roving photographer Summit teacher Carl Miranda.
Graduation Portrait & Class Photography
Parents of graduates can view and/or purchase a variety of photo packages and novelties directly from our professional portrait photographer, Lia Jay Photography. Every graduate was photographed in his or her cap and gown before the graduation ceremony and as part of the Class of 2017 group in front of the The Summit School.
Password: summit123
[or copy and paste the link: www.liajay.com/clients/schools/summit]
If you need assistance, please email the photographer directly -- please do not call the school:
Email: liajayphotos@gmail.com
What's Next?
At Summit, our philosophy is not about just finding yourself, it's about becoming yourself -- developing an understanding of who you are and also about respecting and supporting others around you.
Summit has always celebrated its students' individuality, and the declared majors of the Class of 2017 underscore the wonderfully wide range of interests and pursuits of our graduating students:
acting, astronomy, biology, business administration, communications/media studies, computer science, education, fine arts, fisheries & wildlife, game design, illustration, liberal arts, music production, nursing, physics, psychology, and veterinary technician. This year's graduating class was awarded a combined total of over $454,000 in various merit-based institutional scholarships. Two full scholarships were also awarded to CUNY Macaulay's Honor College and SUNY Stony Brook University.
Congratulations to our graduates as your new journey begins at the following postsecondary programs. Remember our doors are always
open to you, and we hope you'll visit often.
Adelphi University
Bradley University
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
CUNY Guttman Community College
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
CUNY Queensborough Community College
CUNY Queens College
Denison University
Dynamy Internship Year
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Johns Hopkins University
Lynn University
Manhattan College
Manhattanville College
New York Institute of Technology
Parsons School of Design
Quinnipiac University
St. John's University
St. Joseph's College
SUNYCobleskill
SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Nassau Community College
Threshold Program at Lesley University
University of the Arts
Vocational Training/ACCES-VR
The Class of 2017 has left the building.
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