Breakfast Recognizes Dutchess Honor Students

RHINEBECK – Last Wednesday, Dutchess County BOCES held its annual Dutchess County Honor Student Recognition Breakfast at Brookmeade in Rhinebeck. The Honor’s Breakfast was established in 2018 by Dr. Richard Hooley, former Dutchess BOCES Superintendent. It brought all 13 Dutchess County school districts together to recognize high school seniors who have displayed various levels of accomplishments throughout their high school careers and highlight their post-secondary plans.

The Poughkeepsie High School Color Guard opened the program in regal fashion presenting the United States and State of New York flags, leading all participants in the Pledge of Allegiance. John Jay High School String Quintet (Wappingers Central School District), provided music for the occasion.

PHS 2022 Valedictorian Elijah Johnson and PHS 2022 Salutatorian Constance Pillsbury, accompanied by their parents, were recognized as Poughkeepsie City School District honor students. Elijah, accepted into Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts will study computer science, electrical engineering and business. Constance, accepted into SUNY Geneso will major in biochemistry.

PHS Principal Kelleyann Royce-Giron, Board President Dr. Felicia Watson, and Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, superintendent of schools, were present for the event along with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro as Elijah and Constance were honored.

Keynote speaker Jesse Jackson III, a Hyde Park graduate who is the youngest full-time instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, shared some unexpected advice.

“It’s okay to quit,” he said, describing how a former chef/owner demeaned him.

“I stayed professional, packed up my tools, my recipes, and quit. I left Nantucket and moved to Boston and within two weeks I had a better job making more money.”

Being brave enough to take the risk and quit a prestigious position, allowed him to pivot, move on and achieve so much more.

“If you don’t have a seat at the table,” Jackson said. “Pivot and build your own table.”