Fr. Mark Connell to Deliver Keynote at Harvey School Commencement

Fr. 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, June 4, at The Harvey School 2015 Commencement, officials announced.

Fr. 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 underprivileged, high-crime neighborhoods. Additionally, Fr. Connell also currently serves as the assistant to the chaplain at West Point.

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

• Related: The Harvey School Names Jake Berkson Valedictorian for 2015 Commencement

Keeping with a long tradition, Rabbi David Greenberg of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners will once again give the invocation while Rev. Richard Pike, 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.