SHARE

Scarsdale's Jake Berkson Is Harvey School's Valedictorian

KATONAH, N.Y. -- The Rev. Mark Connell, the founder of the San Miguel Academy in the Orange County city of Newburgh and the school’s president, will deliver the keynote address Thursday, at The Harvey School commencement.

The Harvey School commencement is on Thursday.

The Harvey School commencement is on Thursday.

Photo Credit: File

Connell founded San Miguel in 2006 to provide a safe and protected learning environment for middle school-aged boys who come from the city of Newburgh’s poor, high crime neighborhoods. He currently serves as the assistant to the chaplain at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The 62 members of the graduating class will also hear an address from valedictorian Jake Berkson, of Scarsdale. He is Harvey’s top senior scholar and plans to attend Elon University in Elon, N.C.

Keeping with a long tradition, Rabbi David Greenberg of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners will once again give the invocation, while the Rev. Richard Pikse, assistant Minister of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Bedford, will offer the benediction.

The 10 a.m. ceremony in the school’s athletic center will include the awarding of prizes by Upper School Head Philip Lazzaro and Assistant Head Elisabeth Visintainer. Headmaster Barry Fenstermacher and Harvey School Board of Trustees Chair Eileen Walker will share the duties of presenting diplomas to the graduates.

to follow Daily Voice Scarsdale and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE