On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, thirty-two high school seniors who have distinguished themselves in the arts and humanities during their high school careers were honored for their significant achievement. Students from school districts in the Orange-Ulster BOCES region were feted at the Senior Scholar Humanities Honoree Ceremony held at Goshen High School’s Coliseum. The event was coordinated by the Orange-Ulster BOCES Division of Instructional Support. 

The students, their parents, high school principals, superintendents, and BOCES administration were invited to celebrate the students’ outstanding accomplishments in the fine arts, theater, music, fashion and jewelry design. 

The keynote speaker for the event was Aurora Robson, a multi-media artist known predominantly for her meditative work intercepting the plastic waste stream. Her practice is about subjugating negativity and shifting trajectories. She has exhibited her work internationally in museums, galleries and non-traditional spaces since 2002. Robson is also the founding artist of Project Vortex, an international collective of artists, designers and architects who work in innovative ways with plastic debris.

Ms. Robeson spoke about how her art was initially inspired by the landscape of her childhood nightmares. She advised the student artists to follow their bliss, be kind and to let their bliss guide them.

“Having the ability to share your bliss, share your light and make more light is a gift,” Ms. Robson said.

Local honorees include Haley Sullivan and Georgia Camacho of Pine Bush and Daniel Teutul and Katherine Stevens of Valley Central.

Haley Sullivan is currently the president of the mixed select choir in Pine Bush High School. Haley is also first chair in the wind ensemble and a member of the National Honor Society. Throughout high school, Haley has participated in NYSSMA solos, All-County, Area-All State, and Hudson Valley Youth Honors Band. In the fall, Ms. Sullivan will be attending the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with a major in music education on French horn.

This fall, Georgia Camacho will be attending Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. She plans on majoring in romance languages and eventually pursuing a career in a museum or archival field. For the past four years, Ms. Camacho has been a member of her school’s Odyssey of the Mind team, and she is currently a member of the National Honor Society. Throughout her time at Pine Bush High School, she has taken seven art classes and written, performed in and created sets for various skits with her Odyssey of the Mind team.

Daniel Teutul will be attending NYU Tisch School for the Arts this fall in New York City. He plans on majoring in theater education. Mr. Teutul is currently president of the Tri-M Honor Society, and tenor 2 section leader of the Valley Central High School Chamber Choir. During his four years in high school, he has participated in Drama I, II & III, Shakespeare Club, Voxtone’s Acapella Group, and NYSSMA Music Festival. In 2015, as a sixth grader, Daniel made his debut in the high school musical production, Mary Poppins. He was also in the productions of Once Upon A Mattress (2018), Anything Goes (2019) and The Music Man (2020). Daniel is honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Senior Scholar Humanities Award and is grateful for all of the opportunities he’s had at VCHS.

Katherine “Kat” Stevens is currently an AP art student at Valley Central High School, and a member of the National Art Honors Society (NART). Their art has previously been used to promote clubs including the science club and former ASL Club. Kat has completed five elective art classes and participated in the school’s art and literacy magazine. Their most recent NART project involved helping to teach anatomical drawing to other children. Kat will be attending SUNY New Paltz this fall where she will be exploring the fine arts.