Hendrick Hudson High School

Hendrick Hudson High School, nicknamed Hen Hud, is a public high school in Montrose, New York. It draws its students from the neighboring towns of Verplanck, Buchanan, Cortlandt Manor, Montrose, Crugers, the village of Croton-on-Hudson, and the city of Peekskill.

There are approximately 900 students in Hendrick Hudson, averaging about 225 students per grade.

Administration

The principal of Hendrick Hudson is James L. Mackin, Jr. The assistant principals are Tina Yu and.^[1]

Academics

In the 2007 - 2008 school year, Hendrick Hudson High School offered 50 sections of 12 Advanced Placement courses in eight different subject areas. It also began offering a three-year science research course sequence to tenth graders through the State University of New York at Albany in the High School program. There are two college level language classes offered through Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA), in Italian and French. In 2010, Hendrick Hudson High School introduced a new four-year engineering program through Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Starting for the 2011-2012 school year, a second four-year Project Lead the Way program will also be offered in the biomedical sciences.^[2] Hendrick Hudson High School also offers a multi-year science research program, motivating students to pursue independent research.

Arts

Chorus

The award-winning choral program, under the direction of Erica Denler, comprises three choruses: Concert Choir, an SATB group open to all Hen Hud students, Hen Hud Harmonizers, an audition-based SATB group, and a Treble Chorus, also known as the Treble Makers, an audition-based women's treble chorus. The Treble Makers won Best Overall Choir and Best Women's Chorus at the Music in the Parks festival in May 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The Treble Chorus was invited to sing at the celebration in May 2009 commemorating the Aaron Copland House (which is located within the Hen Hud district^[3]) as a National Historic Landmark.^[4][5] The Treble Makers have recently been collaborating with British rock violinist Daisy Jopling, having performed with her and her band at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY,^[6] as well as the Peter Norton Symphony Space in Manhattan.^[7] In 2011, the Treble Makers worked with Daisy and many prominent world musicians, including Chaka Ngwenya, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Kymani Marley on her project, Music 4 Orphans, a charity aimed to bring music to orphaned children around the world.

At the 2010 NYSSMA Majors Festival, both the Treble Chorus and the Concert Choir (a select SATB group) achieved Gold with Distinction ratings on their performances.

In 2010, a fourth chorus joined the choral program—the all-male, after-school group, the Acafellas. The group is said to have been created after a demonstration of protest in favor of an all-male group, when many Chorus and Concert Choir males signed up to audition for Treble Chorus.

Hen Hud's student-run a cappella group, Singchronized, was started in 2011, and sings at various concerts and events.

Drama

The Hendrick Hudson Starboard Stars Drama Club puts on two productions each year—one straight play and one musical—under the co-direction of English teacher Suzanne Schneider and former art teacher Paula Correale, and musical direction of chorus teacher Erica Denler. The trio is affectionately known as "Shnoreallenler" by cast and crew. In 2010, the Starboard Stars' production of Grease was nominated for six Metro Awards, and won for Outstanding Orchestra.^[8] Out of the five members of the orchestra, four were Hen Hud students, playing guitar, bass, drums, and saxophone.

Band

In 2005, 2007, and 2009 the Hendrick Hudson Wind Ensemble scored a Gold Rating in the annual NYSSMA majors festival under the direction of Joe Stamboni. Both the Concert Band and the Wind Ensemble are now directed by Benjamin Acrish. Along with these two bands, there is also an after-school Jazz Band which is considered "one of the best times to play great songs with your friends."

Orchestra

Since 1986, the Orchestra under the direction of Michael J Ambruster has sent students to Intermediate All-County, Area All-State Orchestra, Conference All-State Orchestra and even All Eastern Orchestra. The Hendrick Hudson Orchestra is an original member of a Four District Orchestra Festival that started during the 1960s and ending in 2005. Each year, 200 students from four school districts would combine their string and symphony orchestras to create an outstanding concert for the love of music without competition. The parents of Hendrick Hudson HS did hold the record for the most parents attending each year, no matter where the Festival's location was held. During all the years of this Festival,only two years the Festival had to be canceled due to snow:1985 and 1990. Students who have performed in the Hendrick Hudson Orchestra or were taught by Michael J Ambruster have gone on to major in music and now serve as Orchestra Director at Ossining High School and The Harvey School.

Sports

In 2006, the Hendrick Hudson Varsity volleyball team made school history when they won the Class A New York State championship.^[9] One of their captains, Jessica Harris, was one of the 2006 Wendy's High School Heisman Award National Finalists.^[10] Lindsey Hock, a fellow co-captain on the varsity volleyball team, was named Journal News Player of the Year and was also named as a Con Edison Scholar Athlete. The team also won the 2007 and 2008 Class B state championships.^[11][12] In 2009, the volleyball team went to the State Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, and lost in the finals.

Honors and awards

The choral department sent student musicians to the highly competitive NYSSMA All-State Convention in Rochester, NY where they participated in either the Mixed or Women's Chorus. In 2009, three students were selected, in 2010, one student, and in 2011, three students.^[13] All students were members of the award-winning Treble Makers. The Hendrick Hudson Speech and Debate team annually hosts the Malcolm A. Bump Memorial Tournament, one of the largest debate tournaments in New York state. In 2005, the team was rated 13th overall in the country.^[14] Hendrick Hudson Science Research students have received numerous awards over the tenure of the program, including top prizes at state and regional competitions. Hendrick Hudson students Dylan Gambardella, Jayme Green, Kyle Monk, and Maia Silber competed in the 2012-2013 season of MSG Varsity's popular televised trivia show for high school students, The Challenge. ^[15]

Notable alumni

• Movie producer/director Andrew Jenks graduated from the school in 2004
• Head of International Strategy at Twitter, Katie Jacobs Stanton, graduated in 1987. She is Forbes' #56 most powerful woman in the world.
• Actor Evan Handler attended the school.
• Television writer Lauren Caltagirone (American Dad, Family Guy, Guys With Kids) graduated from the school in 1999.
• 2008 Academy Award-winner Cynthia Wade attended the school.
• Band Making April - lead singer Sean Scanlon is now lead singer of indie-pop band Smallpools
• Former Pittsburgh Steeler Mark Catano attended the school.
• Radio Personality Jed Taylor graduated from the school in 1978
• Screenwriter Joseph Tropiano (Big Night) graduated in 1982 and his brother, Stephen Tropiano, author and editor of The Journal of Film & Video, graduated in 1980
• Nationally Syndicated Radio Personality and Host of Dance Mix America and President of Chuck Bennett Media Solutions Chuck Bennett (Charlie Leverich) graduated from the school in 1971

References

External links

• Hendrick Hudson High School official website