Queensbury Union Free School District has positions available in both instructional and support staff roles! Queensbury is looking to fill positions for a High School English Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, and Modified Football Coach, as well as Substitute Teachers, Teachers’ Aids, and a School Nurse. Support Staff positions include roles as an IT Support, Typist, Bus Driver, Substitute Bus Driver, and Cleaner.
Queensbury Union Free School District is ranked among the top school districts in the Capital Region for both academics and fiscal efficiency… There are about 3,000 students in grades K-12 that attend school on a single campus! The mission of Queensbury Union Free School district is to empower all students to be lifelong learners, inspired to pursue their dreams and contribute to the global community.
On July 20th, the Warren County Tourism Community will honor “Heroes of Hospitality” at a fundraiser that will benefit the SUNY Adirondack Scholarship Fund. This community event will take place at The Carriage House at Fort Willian Henry from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, and will be followed by fireworks. Tickets are available for purchase.
The Carriage House at Fort William Henry sits on the shores of Lake George, and was fully renovated during the winter of 2022 to 2023. This space has transformed over its many years, having originally been the site of a major battle during the French and Indian war. Its current incarnation is a lake-side venue and destination for cultural tourism. “We are proud to host this event for the second year, this time in our new venue, The Carriage House,” said Sam Luciano, President of the Fort William Henry Corp.
This year’s honorees for the event include a steamboat captain, an environmental advocate, a reading teacher, an entrepreneur, the nation’s longest serving mayor, and a lake steward. The annual event honoring individuals whose work has contributed to the success of tourism and hospitality in Warren County is also a fundraiser for the SUNY Adirondack Scholarship Fund – a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go to a student or students at SUNY Adirondack enrolled in the school’s Hospitality Management Program. The recipient(s) must be residents of Warren County.
Hospitality Management is one of five business degrees offered at SUNY Adirondack, which also offers a one-year certificate in the subject… In addition to general education classes, students in the program take event planning, hotel resort management, and a variety of electives, including marketing and culinary classes, as well as receiving social media training: “Students learn how vast the industry is, and they receive an education they can take anywhere and get a job,” said Dr. Kelli Hatin, a Professor of Business at SUNY Adirondack.
This year’s honorees:
Mayor Bob Blais, who retired this year after 52 years of service as the Mayor of Lake George… The longest-serving mayor in the nation’s history!
The late Bill Dow, owner of the Lake George and New Orleans Steamboat Companies… Mr. Dow was a former member of the Lake George Village Board, the Lake George Planning Board, and a fire and water commissioner. He had served as president of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, and chair of the Lake George Winter Carnival Committee.
The late Frank Dittrich, who with his family owned and managed multiple hospitality businesses in the area; including Marine Village Resort, Sun Castle Resort, Tea Island Resort, the Inn at Erlowest, and the Lake George Marriott. He was also known as a leading advocate for hospitality businesses and hospitality sector employees.
The late Helene Horn – a longtime reading and special education teacher in the Lake George schools, operator with her family of the Around the World miniature golf course, and founder of the Lake George Community Christmas Day Dinner.
The late Jeff Killeen – chair of the Lake George Association, former chair of the Fund for Lake George and a leading advocate for environmental protection of Lake George;
The late Jim Kneeshaw – a native of Bolton, longtime local educator, community volunteer, and 17-year member of the Lake George Park Commission.
The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French & Indian War Society at Lake George will be hosting a joint program entitled “A History of the Lake George Area & the Nations Who Called It Home”. This event will be presented by Heather Bruegl, a nationally recognized historian and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. This free event will take place on July 5th, 2023, at 7:00 PM, and will be held at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center. Attendees will learn about the early Native peoples who lived and sustained themselves in this area, and the policies that removed Indigenous Nations from their homes and ultimately pushed them onto reservations.
This program is the latest in a series being co-sponsored by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French and Indian War Society at Lake George. Their goal is to increase awareness of the region’s early history. Heather Bruegl will share her expertise in the field of history and indigenous people. Heather graduated from Madonna University, with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in U.S. History. Her research includes numerous topics related to American history, legacies of colonization, and Indigeneity. Heather is currently a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she is studying First Nations Education, with a focus on creating inclusive historical narratives for teaching.
Kathryn Flacke-Muncil is a founder of the French & Indian War Society at Lake George, and CEO of the Fort William Henry Corporation: “Fort William Henry has partnered with Heather Bruegl to elevate the interpretation of Indigenous history. Heather’s personal background and extensive knowledge have provided an opportunity to enhance the representation of Indigenous allies’ pivotal roles during 18th Century battles at and around Lake George. It has also expanded the educational narrative surrounding pre-European contact,” Ms. Flacke-Muncil said. “This collaborative program with the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance signifies a significant milestone for Fort William Henry in its commitment to present a more comprehensive and accurate account of Indigenous history. By harnessing Heather Brugel’s expertise, the museum aims to deliver an enriched understanding of the area’s historical context to the public. Heather’s presentation offers the opportunity to the public to hear from this expert ahead of a new exhibit Fort William Henry will soon be opening.”
Jay Levenson is a Trustee of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, and a Native American living historian: “The history of Native Americans in the Lake George region is a complex story of intertribal and European relations during both peace times and war. It is a story that needs to be told,” he said.
Space is limited for this event. Please register in advance at the following email address: info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org.
Although Saturday morning was filled with gray clouds and drizzling rain, that did not dampen the graduation festivities for the Class of 2023 at Glens Falls High School! The Class of 2023 celebrated their successes and challenges, having traversed their high school career while navigating the COVID Pandemic.
Clara Avery, in her Valedictorian address, highlighted the challenges faced by the class of 2023 when school was shuttered for COVID pandemic… She began her speech with the simple advice given to freshmen when they started high school: “Always walk on the right side of the hallway. It seemed simple to follow the established traffic patterns, a linear path to sophomore year,” Clara said. However, the events of the COVID pandemic erased all of the established norms and rules… Her speech highlighted how her class, along with so many others, faced their fears during the pandemic, and adapted to unpredictability and unprecedented change.
Clara highlighted the adaptability of the students, faculty, and staff throughout the pandemic. She thanked the custodial staff – and especially Ms. Mary – for their efforts in keeping the students, staff, and community safe. Ms. Mary, as she is fondly known, can often be found supervising the lunch rooms or along the sideline at sporting events, keeping an eye on all of the students at Glens Falls High School.
This year, Glens Falls High School added more student speakers to the Commencement Ceremony… For the first time, the administration held a commencement speaker contest! Aiden Gormley – one of the two winners of this contest – will be attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in the fall. Aiden’s speech began with childhood lessons, and how his own mistakes had taught him these lessons… The first lesson was never stop being a kid, which was advice from his father; followed by never losing your curiosity or excitement for life.
Aiden highlighted getting the mundane right – the importance of time with friends, family dinners, and the beautiful chaos of life as one long journey. He ended his speech with importance of leaving the world a better place.
Aiden Gormley (Center) with members of the Class of 2023
Aiden’s commencement speech added depth and humor to the ceremony… The commencement speaker contest added an opportunity to hear unique voices from the class of 2023. As the tassels were turned and the graduation ceremony came to a close, cheers rang out in the auditorium, and the members of the class of 2023 took their first steps towards their future.
David Smith Untitled (Home of the Welder), 1946 Gouache on paper 23 x 29 ¼ in. (58.4 x 74.3 cm) The Estate of David Smith, New York
GLENS FALLS, NY – In honor of its sixtieth anniversary, the Hyde Collection is pleased to announce the exhibition Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance. Curated by Dr. Jennifer Field, Executive Director of the Estate of David Smith, this is the first museum exhibition to focus exclusively on the indelible influence of music and dance on Smith’s work in painting, drawing, and sculpture. The exhibition features thirty-five pieces loaned by major private and public collections, including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Harvard Art Museums, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the Estate of David Smith, in addition to archival materials from the Estate and works from the Hyde’s permanent collection. The Hyde aims to draw scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts to celebrate Smith’s legacy as well as the enduring traditions of dance and music in the southern Adirondack region.
David Smith (1906-1965; b. Decatur, IN) is recognized as one of the great sculptors of the twentieth century. Smith began spending summers in Bolton Landing, New York, in the late 1920s and settled there permanently in 1940. “The Adirondack region that encompasses Bolton Landing and Glens Falls was inseparable from Smith’s artistic practice,” says Field. “A dialogue with nature—the mountain landscape, the change of seasons, the flight of birds—is reflected in his artwork in every medium.” In the 1940s, inspired by performances in the region and in New York City, Smith initiated an exploration of dancers and musicians rapt in song.
Jason Ward, Hyde Collection Board of Trustees Chair, notes, “As part of his commitment to the area, Smith became deeply involved with the foundation of The Hyde Collection before his premature death in 1965. Charlotte Hyde, the founder of the Museum, was a friend of David Smith and fond of his artistic creations. David Smith was one of the Collection’s earliest trustees and curated The Hyde’s very first summer exhibition, installing his own sculptures on the lawn. In the spirit of that inaugural event, Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance will feature two graceful, vertical sculptures from later in Smith’s career, measuring up to twelve feet tall that poetically evokes the essence of music, dance, and nature. This intimate association with David Smith,” Ward continues, “is what the museum seeks to highlight with this anniversary exhibition.”
In 1926, Smith moved from the Midwest to New York City. There he met artist Dorothy Dehner; they married the following year. Beginning in the mid-1930s, Smith photographed Dehner in dance poses. These images, along with photographs by Barbara Morgan of Martha Graham, spurred Smith’s sustained study of the female figure in motion. Songs of the Horizon features Smith’s sculpture Boaz Dancing School (1945; Private collection)—a stylistically radical interpretation of Franziska Boaz’s Bolton Landing dance studio, and a rare example of Smith explicitly referencing a particular historical and autobiographical moment. This sculpture has been publicly displayed only once since 1947.
Smith cited music as essential to his life and work, particularly classical and jazz from his radio: “I use music as company in the manual labor part of sculpture, of which there is much.” He regularly traveled to New York City to attend concerts and jazz clubs. Locally, he enjoyed the lively summer concert season in Lake George. A trio of drawings depicts a 1946 performance by harpsichordist Sylvia Marlow, reunited here for the first time. These works in turn, engendered an ambitious group of drawings, paintings and sculpture inspired by the two ancient Greek muses of music and dance, represented here by the innovative, abstract sculptures Euterpe and Terpsichore (1946; the Estate of David Smith) and Terpsichore and Euterpe (1947; Harvard Art Museums).
Concurrently, Smith created a series centered on renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, who briefly settled in the Adirondacks in the 1940s. Smith captured the psychological intensity and geometry of the cellist and his instrument in a painting series and in the sculpture Cello Player (1945; Private collection). These works, reunited in the exhibition for the first time in nearly 20 years, are accomplished examples of the complex, abstract direction in which Smith took his paintings and sculptures in the mid-1940s.
Of this exhibition, David Smith’s daughters, Rebecca and Candida Smith, state:
“We are thrilled to see our father’s work back at the Hyde Collection. Our father wanted his sculptures to be experienced in relation to nature, to changing light, weather, and seasons. He always said that an artist is a person of their time. There was a vibrant community of artists and performers in the southern Adirondacks, and our father’s work responded to contemporaneous performing arts and music and was inspired by the wild beauty of the mountains and the lakes.”
– Rebecca and Candida Smith
Additional Information Regarding David Smith
David Smith married artist Dorothy Dehner in 1927. Dehner encouraged Smith to enroll at the Art Students League and introduced him to modern dance. In acknowledgment of the vital role Dehner played in Smith’s early career and his life in the Adirondacks, Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Music, and Dance include a selection of artworks by Dehner. She left the marriage in 1950, returning to New York City. Smith’s works became increasingly large and inventive, his sculptures spreading into the fields of his mountain home.
Accompanying Educational Program Offerings
June 24, 11 AM: Exhibition Tour with Guest Curator Jennifer Field
June 24, 4 PM: Conversation with the Daughters of David Smith
July 2, 6:30 PM: The Sculptor and the Musician: European Baroque Chamber Music
July 20, 5:30-7:30 PM: Adult Workshop: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
July 22, 7:30 PM: “A Tribute to David Smith” with Hub New Music
July 25, 27 & August 1, 3, 10-11:15 AM: Youth Workshop: Earth Movement with Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company
July 27 & 28, 12-4 PM: Youth Workshop: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
July 28, 5:30 PM: Performance: Modern Dance with Ginny Martin & Dana Yager
August 6, 10 AM-5 PM: Community Day
August 17, 6 PM: Lecture: David Smith, Music, Dance and Community with Paula Wisotzki
September 8-10, 9 AM-4 PM: Welding Workshop with Salem Art Works: Inspired by David Smith
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Special thank you to: The Charles R. Wood Foundation and The Hoopes Family Foundation
Leading Sponsors: The Glens Falls Foundation, Anne and George Morris, Francine and Robert Nemer, Franklin and Mary Renz, Charnell H. Thompson, and Jason C. Ward and Heather M. Ward
Major Sponsors: Mr. Mark Behan, Tenée and James Casaccio, The Chateau On The Lake, Ellen-Deane Cummins, D.A. Collins, Carl and Terry DeBrule, Tom and Sally Hoy, The Robert Lehman Foundation, J.M. McDonald Foundation, and Wilmington Trust
Supporting Sponsors: India and Benjamin Adams, Atherton Painting & Renovations, Giorgio and Maureen DeRosa, KEENA Staffing Inc., Mrs. Joan Lapham, Mr. John J. Nigro, Dennis J. Phillips and Patricia Smith Phillips, The Queensbury Hotel, Chelsea and Joshua Silver, StoredTech IT Consulting, Sarah Parker Ward and Chris Ward, Warren County Bar Association, and Domenique and Dmitriy Yermolayev
A SECOND EXHIBITION OPENING
The 1960s: Beyond Op and Pop
The 1960s are understood as the dawn of widespread progressive social views, from the civil rights movement to war protests and the sexual revolution. The visual arts as well experienced the advent of radical styles, including Op Art, Pop Art, and countless new approaches to what it meant to work abstractly.
Notwithstanding the allure of novelty, not all artists shunned the “real world”—and the sixties also saw the development of the painting style known as Photorealism. The 1960s: Beyond Op and Pop draws from The Hyde’s permanent collection of 1960s painting, sculpture, and works on paper in a wide range of styles.
About David Smith
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative sculptors of his generation, David Smith (1906-1965) was pioneering in his ability to fuse Surrealist and Cubist influences, redefining what sculpture could be for the modern world. David Smith’s sculptures, paintings, and drawings have been exhibited internationally since the 1950s. Smith represented the United States at La Biennale di Venezia in 1954 and 1958. Numerous solo exhibitions of his work have been mounted in the decades since, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1965, 2011), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1969, 2006); the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1982); Sezon Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan (1994); MNCA, Reina Sofia, Madrid (1996); Tate Modern, London (2006); Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY (1997-99, 2017), and Yorkshire Sculpture Park (2019-20), among many other venues.
About The Hyde Collection
The Hyde is one of the Northeast’s exceptional small art museums with distinguished European and American art collections. The core collection, acquired by Museum founders Louis and Charlotte Hyde, includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, and James McNeill Whistler. The Museum’s Modern and Contemporary art collection features works by artists including Josef Albers, Dorothy Dehner, Sam Gilliam, Adolph Gottlieb, Grace Hartigan, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, George McNeil, Robert Motherwell, Ben Nicholson, Robert Rauschenberg, and Bridget Riley. Today, The Hyde offers significant national and international exhibitions and a packed schedule of events that help visitors experience art in new ways. Visit www.hydecollection.org.
The Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls is in its 98th year of service, having operated since its founding in 1915… In 1989, The Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation was newly incorporated to provide funding for the club’s Youth Civil Leadership Program. Each year, the Foundation awards two four-year scholarships, in honor of two of their members… This year, those honorees were John Doty and Andy Lemery, and this year, the foundation also had sufficient funds to award a runner-up, one-year scholarship in the memory of Tony Palangi… On June 7th, at the Queensbury Hotel, The Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation awarded a total of $21,000 in scholarships!
This year, a four-year scholarship was presented to Nora MacInnis in honor of John Doty… John proudly served our country for 13 years in the US Navy. He joined Kiwanis in 1976, and has been warmly greeting members and guests as they arrive at their luncheon meetings ever since. He is affectionately known as “Mr. Raffle” and “Mr. Perfect Attendance” as a dedicated member of what was once known as the house committee.
Foundation President Craig Seybolt, Honoree John Doty, Scholarship Recipient Nora MacInnis, and Foundation Immediate Past President Larry Weaver
John is also very passionate about model railroading – in addition to being a proud member of the Upstate Model Railroaders Club, for many years, John also chaired The Model Train Show fundraiser. John can often be found at community events, setting up train displays at the YMCA, Armory, and the Queensbury Hotel that have entertained and brought joy to children and families for years within our community!
John and his wife Mary Ann have been married for 61 years! Together, John and Mary Ann owned and operated U Rent All for 27 years – which was located on Glen Street in Queensbury – where they provided equipment for all the Kiwanis events, like LARAC, Americade, Taste of the North Country, and going back to the Adirondack Balloon Festival. They also have two sons and four grandchildren, who will carry on a legacy of faithful service to our country, club and community.
Nora MacInnis was the recipient of the Honorary John Doty Scholarship. She is a senior at Bolton Central School, and is involved in a variety of extracurriculars, including volleyball, drama club, band, and student council. She has been an active member in her school’s Key Club chapter since eighth grade, and served as the president since her junior year; in this position, she facilitates club events, runs weekly meetings, and assists with the school’s backpack program. For the past 3 years, she was appointed by each Youth Governor to assist in advising legislation that impacts our state, and has received awards for most outstanding debate… It has also been her honor to be selected to represent New York State on a national platform as a delegate at the Conference on National Affairs, both last summer and this upcoming summer! She’s also served as a representative of her class since freshman year, and acted as the Student Council President this school year. Beginning in the fall, she will further her education at SUNY Cortland, to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications to become a Public Relations specialist; particularly for non-profit organizations.
The Honorary Andy Lemery four year scholarship was presented to Aliza DeMattos. Andy graduated from Bentley University in 1955 with a degree in Finance, and was immediately hired as the fourth employee at a newly formed company known as Kamyr. Andy worked at Kamyr and its seven subsidiaries for 38 years in numerous capacities within the finance division, including controller, treasurer and corporate secretary. He joined Kiwanis in 1978 and had many years of perfect attendance. He worked tirelessly for over 20 years, supervising the cash drawer at LARAC and training many Key Clubbers how to count money and serve as a cashier.
Andy and his wife June have been married for 65 years. They have 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Andy and June spent many winters in Florida, but after 29 years, sold their house in Florida and spent this past winter back in Glens Falls. Andy loves to garden and swim, and is an avid bike rider. He is also very patriotic, marching (and now riding in a convertible) with Kiwanis in the Memorial Day Parade; and he hopes you will join him!
Foundation President Craig Seybolt, Scholarship Recipient Aliza DeMattos, Honoree Andy Lemery, Foundation Immediate Past President Larry Weaver
Aliza DeMattos is a graduating Senior from Queensbury High School, who has been a member of the Queensbury Varsity Field Hockey and Lacrosse teams… Aliza has been involved in numerous clubs and organizations, including FBLA, Yearbook, Media Arts Production, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, LEAT, and others. During her tenure at QHS, she has served as the Key Club’s President, and in addition to her school involvement, Aliza has long volunteered for the Double H Ranch, for children ages six to 16 who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Aliza will attend Bentley University – Andy’s alma mater – in the Fall, majoring in Finance and Economics, as well as playing lacrosse for the Falcons! Her ultimate goal is to be heavily entrenched in the business world.
There was also a one-year scholarship given out in memory of Tony Palangi, AKA “Mr. Kiwanis”… His faithful service to the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls, NY, and his commitment to Kiwanis youth will never be forgotten. Tony founded the first Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls-sponsored Key Club at Glens Falls High School in 1976, and went on to serve as the Kiwanis Club’s Youth Service Leadership Chair from 1976 to 2007. During his tenure, the Key Club program grew to 10 clubs in our area high schools, a Builders Club at Glens Falls Middle School, and a Circle K Club at SUNY Adirondack.
Tony Palangi Memorial Scholarship Recipient Jane Trowbridge, and Foundation President Craig Seybolt
Jane Trowbridge was awarded the scholarship in memory of Tony Palangi. She has been an active member of the Bolton Key Club throughout her high school career, and has also enjoyed helping out at her school’s fall carnival, book fairs, and the “Pancakes and Pajamas” event. She has especially loved volunteering as the assistant coach of both the Elementary basketball and softball teams… In the Fall, she will be attending Dutchess Community College, majoring in Aviation Science. Jane is excited to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a pilot!
One of the other ways that Kiwanis International makes a positive impact on the lives of children is through Key Club… Key Club members learn how to lead, and stand for what’s right through service and volunteerism. Through Key Club, high school students are making a difference in their schools and communities.
The mission of Key Club – as an international student-led organization – is to give members opportunities to provide service, build character, and develop leadership. The core values of Key Club are leadership, character building, caring, and inclusiveness… Key Club International has supported the transformation of high school students as they graduate and become the world’s next class of leaders. This aim is achieved with the cooperation of school principals and teachers, to prepare the students to become useful citizens.
Glens Falls Nation has revealed the black bear design for their new mascot! The red and black bear is a culmination of an extensive design process.
The final four choices for the new mascot came down to a choice between the Knights, Wolves, Black Bears and Hawks… The New York State Education Department set a June deadline for schools to remove mascots associated with Native Americans, threatening possible loss of funding and removal of personnel if schools with Native American mascots and imagery did not have a plan to change by the end of the school year.
Funding for these changes has been a concern… The school board was told that the expenses related to the mascot change would be eligible to receive aid. One of the biggest expenses – the changing of the gym floor – would most likely qualify for aid.
As for changing the uniforms, Superintendent Krislynn Dengle said, “A partner company that provides our team uniforms (offered) a $20,000 donation of services.” Communication director Skye Heritage added, “It will be a multi-phase graphic design that would cost the district fifteen to twenty-thousand dollars… They are providing the services for free to any school district in New York State that is affected by the NYS Education Department ruling on Native American mascots.”
Chef Donnah receives 2023 Women of Distinction Award from Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Lunch has become an event many students look forward to at Glens Falls High School! Much of that is thanks to the hard work the Head Chef for the High School and Middle School, Donnah Dignan-Lewis, and the entire cafeteria staff put into their delicious creations each and every day.
Chef Donnah’s contributions to the community go well beyond the school campus, which is why she is one of the recipients of the 2023 Women of Distinction Award, given out by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.
“For generations, women have made a difference in our communities, often with little recognition or acclaim,” said Assemblywoman Woerner. “These awards are given each year to women who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Chef Donnah has been working in the food industry since 1998, and has been with the Glens Falls City School District since 2020. However, her connections to the Glens Falls community run much deeper. She owned and operated G.G. Mama’s Restaurant for eight years, and currently operates a personal chef and catering business when she isn’t busy making meals for students.
Elementary Art Teacher Suzanne Reed nominated Chef Donnah for the award. In the nomination Reed highlighted how excited and energized the entire school community has been about the food being offered in the cafeteria.
“Donnah has been cooking amazing, restaurant-quality food for school lunches,” said Mrs. Reed. “She has an ethnic flair to her cooking and has been introducing students to amazing new cuisine every day. She cooks healthy, interesting meals – some of them vegetarian. I simply can’t believe how delicious her food looks and how it’s opening the eyes of our students to cuisine from around the world.”
When Chef Doonah is not busy with her catering business or feeding our hungry students, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and working out at ADK Crossfit and Queensbury Hot Yoga.
We are proud to recognize the top students of the GFHS Class of 2023! These students have demonstrated admirable self-discipline, dedication to learning, and unwavering commitment to academic success. Their contributions both within and outside our classrooms deserve high praise, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements!
Valedictorian: Clara Avery Salutatorian: Katherine Lieberth Top Students: Julian Stedman, Claire Seleen, Eloise Duggal, Hilary Burns, Sophie Campopiano, Ryan Healy, Dorothy France-Miller, Fiona Bombard, and Julia Kress
Glens Falls High School 2023 Student Awards:
United States Naval Academy appointment: Aiden Gormley
President’s Award for Educational Excellence: Clara Avery, Ava Lily Bell, Cole Bennett, Fiona Bombard, Hilary Burns, Sophie Campopiano, Rosalie Carlsen, Madison Clifford, Patrick Collins, Kate Crandall, Logan Drino, Eloise Duggal, Dorothy France-Miller, Aiden Gormley, Christopher Haggerty, Aidan Harrington, Ryan Healy, Ciara Hirsch, Julia Kress, Avery Lanfear, Katherine Lieberth, Macey Logan, Charlotte MacPherson, Peyton McClenning, Duvaney Mills, Lily Mulholland, Morrison Northrop, Ava Pirozzolo, Carson Rath, Emylou Richards, Claire Seleen, Julian Stedman, Olivia Teta, Aubrey Versailles, Holly Walton, Lauren Weil, Jillian Wendling, Jason Weng, Vincent Westfall, Cullen Wright, Timothy Zimmerman
NYS Attorney General’s Triple C Awards: Kate Crandall, Aiden Gormley, Duvaney Mills, Lily Mulholland, Sterling Towers, Vincent Westfall, Caiden Wilkinson
O’Brien Insurance Business Scholarship: Cira Sherman
Joseph H. Nudi, Sr. Entrepreneur Scholarship: Galen Dermott, Caiden Wilkinson
Nicholas G. Taylor, Jr. Business and Kindness Scholarship: Lily Mulholland
Red Cross Blood Drive Scholarships: Hilary Burns, Kate Crandall
The Myles Miller “Take a Giant Leap” Scholarship: Galen Dermott
D’ella Auto Group Business Scholarships: Peyton McClenning, Lily Mulholland
Hall Family Entrepreneur Scholarship: Caiden Wilkinson
Spirit of ’76 Scholarship (Sponsored by the Class of 1976): Cole Bennett
N. Harwood Beaty Jr. and Nancy S. Beaty Memorial Award: Sophie Campopiano
E. Leo and Louise F. Spain Scholarship: Dorothy France-Miller, Katherine Lieberth, Julian Stedman
“Big A” Jeff Aurelia Memorial Scholarship: Ciara Hirsch, William “Trey” Patton III, Ava Pirozzolo
Cameron Jace Quartiers Memorial Scholarship: Ciara Hirsch
Edward M. Bartholomew, Jr. Memorial Scholarships: Hilary Burns, Aidan Harrington
Walter H. and Walter T. Robinson Memorial Scholarship: Jason Weng
JWP Champ Scholarship: Cole Bennett
Barclay Prize for Philanthropy: Kate Crandall
Maria Morgan Memorial Scholarship: Julia Kress, Owen Kress
Mr. and Mrs. Norman B. Greene, Jr. Vocal Award: Rosalie Carlsen
McClure (“Mac”) Edward Deason Memorial Scholarship: Fiona Bombard, Charlotte MacPherson
Glens Falls Police Benevolent Association Scholarship: Kate Crandall
Alexander S. Gillan Memorial Scholarship: Julian Stedman
Clifford K. Bosworth Memorial Scholarship: Lily Mulholland
Alumni Association Prize for Chemistry: Morrison Northrup
Maurice and Grace Simmonds Memorial Science Award: Jason Weng
Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship: Cullen Wright
Gary Marcantonio Memorial Scholarship: Cole Bennett
Christene Beaudin Memorial Scholarship: Katherine Lieberth
Glens Falls Farmers Market Scholarship, in memory of Rachel Wells: Cira Sherman
Thomas I. Ford Memorial Teaching Scholarship: Olivia Teta
Varsity Swim Team Award: Carson Rath, Claire Seleen
Dave Strader Scholarship: Caleb Ashe
Hilda E. Hayes Award: Holly Walton
Alumni Scholarships: Lillian Haggerty, Jonah Levin, William “Trey” Patton III, Timothy Zimmerman
Betsy K. Austin Memorial Scholarship: Aidan Harrington
Bob and Sue Carty Award: Holly Walton
Feigenbaum Scholarship: Kate Crandall
James Digan Culinary Scholarship: Jillian Hammill
Joe Vogel Memorial Scholarship: Vincent Westfall
Thomas Collins Wingman Strong Memorial Scholarship: Patrick Collins
Adirondack Area School Boards Association Community Service Award: Katherine Lieberth, Julian Stedman
Sally Quinn Homkey Memorial Scholarship: Caleb Delvaux
Robert J. Homkey Memorial Scholarship: Patrick Collins
Graham Easson Scholarship: Christopher Haggerty
Francis Plumeau Memorial Scholarship: Pearl White
Julia Corbett Herlihy Prize: Julian Stedman
John A. and Mary Lou Noone Scholarship: Olivia Teta
Stanley E. Rummel Scholarship: Sterling Towers
Caroline Brown Memorial Scholarship: Hilary Burns, Kate Crandall, Ava Pirozzolo
Susan H. Seaman Memorial Award: Donald Kist, Mia Mosley, Sterling Towers
Dr. James W. Haviland Memorial Scholarship: Katherine Lieberth
Glens Falls City School District Foundation Scholarship: Sherry Malik Awan, Ava Lily Bell, Avishai Berg, Jefferson Brand, Galen Dermott, Nathaniel Donlon, Dorothy France-Miller, Christopher Haggerty, Lillian Haggerty, Jared Hance, Oshun Johansen-Everett, Julia Kress, Avery Lanfear, Macey Loga, Peyton McClenning, Lily Mulholland, Carson Rath, Emylou Richards, Claire Seleen, Aubrey Versailles, Lauren Weil, Jillian Wendling, Cullen Wright, Pearl White
Harry and Myrtle Gardner Scholarships: Ciara Hirsch, Morrison Northrup
Harvey R. Dearstyne III Memorial Scholarship: Amanda Maurer
Hess Scholarship: Joseph Flood
Karl R. McBride, Sr. Scholarship: Tucker Sokol
Richard W. Derby Scholarship: Julian Stedman
Charlotte Pruyn Hyde Award: Jamana Awan
Philip C. Brown Awards: Hilary Burns, Rosalie Carlsen, Kate Crandall, Ciara Hirsch, Julian Stedman, Holly Walton
Award for Excellence in World Languages: Fiona Bombard, Ciara Hirsch
Arts in Education Fund Senior Portfolio Awards First Place: Julian Stedman Second Place: Jillian Wendling Third Place: Julia Kress Honorable Mention: Sherry Malik Awan, Holly Walton Artist Statement: Morrison Northrup, Julian Stedman
Fort Edward Historical Association 2023 Senior Art Show President’s Award, Guild of Adirondack Artists: Jillian Wendling
Saratoga-Warren County Music Educators Award: Ryan Healy
Glens Falls Music Department Scholarship: Rosalie Carlsen
Dr. Bruce Michael Kantrowitz Scholarship: Lillian Haggerty
Marina C. Wallace Memorial Scholarship: Dorothy France-Miller
Freeman Memorial Scholarship: Tucker Sokol
James Morrissey Family Scholarship: Jason Weng
Glens Falls Rotary Club Service Scholarship: Ryan Healy
David Gancher Memorial Scholarship: Owen Kress
Ben and Sharon Aronson Scholarships: Eloise Duggal, Caiden Willkinson
Byron J. Jacobson and Anne J. Jacobson Prize: Clara Avery
Jacqueline Tyner Scholarship: Sophie Capopiano
Crary Fund Foundation Scholarships: Ava Lily Bell, Logan Drino, William “Trey” Patton III, Julian Stedman, Lauren Weil, Jillian Wendling
The Grishkot Foundation recently partnered with The Kiwanis Club to award $77,500 in scholarships for students pursuing careers in nursing, health care, aviation, and aeronautics engineering. These scholarships are payable over four years of college, and are open to graduating high school seniors and college students from Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. These scholarships were presented at a meeting of the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club at The Queensbury Hotel.
Each recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship for the 2023-24 college year, with some recipients receiving continued annual scholarships for up to three additional years, provided the recipient remains in the program of study and in good academic standing.
This year’s recipients of The Joan Grishkot Memorial Scholarships for careers in nursing and related health care fields were:
Samantha Rocco, a graduating senior at Mechanicville High School, who will attend Union College in the fall as a pre-med student majoring in biology.
Sydney Keenan, a graduating senior at Hudson Falls, who will attend Vassar College in the fall as a pre-med student majoring in neuroscience.
Jacqueline Hogan, a Glens Falls High School graduate, who is a medical student at SUNY Upstate at Syracuse.
Garrett Lamouree, a Queensbury High School graduate, who is currently enrolled at Binghamton University and will soon be enrolling at Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate at Syracuse.
Honorable Mentions:
Norah Niesz, a graduating senior at Greenwich High School, who will major in biomedical science at St. Lawrence University in the fall.
Sophia Herzog, a graduating Saratoga Springs senior, who will attend SUNY Upstate at Syracuse in the fall to study for a career as a physician/scientist.
Shauna Mower, a graduating senior at Queensbury High School, who will enroll at Connell School of Nursing at Boston in the fall.
Matthew Shakow, a graduating senior at Saratoga Springs High School, who will study for a career as a dermatologist.
This year’s recipients of The Walter Grishkot Memorial Scholarships for careers in aviation, aeronautics engineering, and related healthcare careers:
Ishan Swali, a graduating senior at Shen High School, who will enroll at Georgia Institute of Technology in the fall to study aerospace engineering and artificial intelligence.
Andrew Hope, a graduating senior at Saratoga Springs, who will enroll at University of Michigan in the fall, with majors in physics and aerospace engineering.
Sahil Swali, a Shen High School graduate, who is studying aerospace engineering at the University of Toronto.
Honorable Mention:
Kara Davenport, a graduating senior at Ballston Spa High School, who will study to become a corporate pilot.
The Grishkot Foundation, which was founded in 2009, this year partnered with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation to administer the scholarship application and review process. The Grishkot Foundation made the final decision on the recipients of the awards: “With 65 applicants, it was a time-consuming process, which the Kiwanis Foundation handled efficiently and expertly,” said Maury Thompson, president of The Grishkot Foundation. “The Kiwanis Foundation developed a scoring system which applied a holistic approach to the review process, factoring in leadership as well as academics.” This scholarship distribution is the foundation’s largest since its founding in 2009.
The foundation added the Joan Grishkot Memorial scholarship program this year. Joan Grishkot – the foundation’s co-founder – passed away on July 8th, 2021. She spent her 31-year career as Warren County Director of Public Health… As a volunteer, Joan served on the boards of 28 regional health care organizations and charitable groups: “Joan recognized the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, and endowed this scholarship fund to invest in the career development of local students for decades to come,” Thompson said. Prior to her death, Joan Grishkot was instrumental in the funding, application process, and awarding of the annual Walter Grishkot Memorial Scholarship program.
Joan throughout her life maintained relationships with the recipients of the scholarships: “Joan’s interest in scholarship recipients didn’t stop with awarding the scholarships. She stayed in touch with scholars or their families and delighted to share their academic progress with others,” Thompson said.
Joan and her husband Walter were best known locally as co-founders and long-time organizers of The Adirondack Balloon Festival, which was first launched in 1973. This event was developed in response to a request for an event that would increase tourism in the area during the fall season.
A volunteer board manages the foundation’s investments and operates scholarship programs in collaboration with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club Foundation. Information about the foundation and about the legacy of Walter and Joan Grishkot can be found at grishkotfoundation.org.
