On May 2, Jessica Lipton and Matthew Suckling were among the 34 high school seniors to be honored for their achievements in the arts and humanities during the first annual Senior Scholar Humanities Breakfast, coordinated by the Orange-Ulster B.O.C.E.S. Division of Instructional Support.
Lipton was unable to attend the breakfast, but Suckling was joined by his parents, as well as Cornwall High School principal Lynn Imperato and superintendent Neal Miller.
The breakfast was held at The Palacio, in Goshen. The keynote speaker was Lindsay Nery, a 2003 graduate of Port Jervis High School and former Graphic Design student at the Orange-Ulster B.O.C.E.S. Career and Technical Education Center. Nery is an artist and illustrator of children’s books.
Following the speaker, each attending student was called on stage to receive a certificate and trophy which was about a foot high.
“I was pretty excited,” Suckling said when he learned he was named the school’s top male scholar artist. “I hadn’t heard of it before, but it seemed like a really nice honor to have received. It was pretty cool.”
Suckling is an accomplished trumpeter. His musical portfolio includes performances in the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band, New York State School Musical Association (NYSSMA) Area All-State Symphonic Band, several NYSSMA all-county ensembles, the Hudson Valley Youth Wind Ensemble, and the NYSSMA All-State Jazz Ensemble, and most recently the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-National Honor Jazz Ensemble.
“I was surprised,” said Lipton, who was called to the main office and informed of the news by Imperato. “I didn’t really think my art was in need of acknowledgment.”
Lipton has been interested in art since she was a child and enjoys abstract painting with acrylics because of its free-form style. Earlier this year she exhibited between 15 and 20 pieces of her artwork in the high school gallery. The display included still life drawings of skulls, pots and things of various texture, as well as paintings of two screaming heads.
In order to be named a scholar artist, the students not only have to excel musically or artistically, but in the classroom as well.
“School has always been a primary focus for me,” Lipton said. “Grades always come first. I probably spend more time studying than the average person, but less than average in the classes I’m taking.”
Lipton said there’s a separation, among her classmates, between arts and academics. She said there aren’t many students taking art who are also in advanced placement classes.
In an average week, Lipton said she doesn’t spend much time studying, but sees homework as an opportunity to study for exams. She said homework can take a long time to complete.
Suckling said he sometimes finds it difficult to balance his time between music and his studies.
“A lot of times I have had to make some sacrifices with hanging out with friends to get things done. I think overall it’s been worth it.”
Suckling spends about an hour or two a day practicing the trumpet, even though he says he should be spending more time with the instrument, and a few hours each night on homework. Studying for tests doesn’t require a lot of time.
“I need to pay attention in class and it sticks with me. I’ll look over my notes a little before a test.”
Following graduation, Lipton will be attending Boston College to study psychology. She plans on minoring in art and perhaps pursuing art therapy as well.
Suckling will be attending the Eastman School of Music where he will study trumpet performance.
