Patrick O'Kane - Award Speeches

Gretchen Buntschu: Rowan Wood

Gretchen Buntschuh was a colleague of ours who taught English at Sturgis and influenced students and colleagues with her grace, insight and command of language.  Sadly, Gretchen died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.

The Gretchen Buntschuh Literary Award is presented each year to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a genuine interest in literature and gift for language. In addition to a $500 scholarship, Talin Bookbindery in Yarmouthport will donate a beautifully hand-bound collection of this student's essays written during his four years at Sturgis. Talin hopes to inspire fine young writers to continue writing and to develop an appreciation for book arts and the ancient craft of bookbinding.  

Sturgis East Faculty shared the following remarks about this year’s winner:

• His enthusiastic responses to all assignments is always appreciated. 

• I was never disappointed by what I read, be it a brief journal entry or a full essay

• He is one of those students you will never forget. 

• Because he enjoys putting together a story, and enjoys seeing how other people's stories are put together, it's almost like he was created to be the nearly perfect English student

• When not joining class early or being an overall nice and friendly person, he regularly publishes online articles and will someday win an Oscar for film direction.

As he stands, please join me in congratulating this year’s Gretchen Buntschu Literary Award winner, Rowan Wood!

Spirit Award: Hunter Crossman and Mariana Furner

The School Spirit Award is given to two students who, in the opinion of classmates and faculty, contribute to fostering school spirit through their enthusiasm, positive attitude and concern for others both within and beyond the classroom.

The Sturgis Parents Association generously donates a $500 scholarship to each award recipient.

Our faculty describe our first recipient with the following words:

• He is determined and cheerful - he's always ready to learn and help others.

• He is dependable, responsible, and he cares about his work and commitments.

• He has shown excellent leadership and commitment.  When Covid hit in March 2020, he continued to lead the Improv club online, once a week, until the end of the school year.  

• He continued this school year, leading the group and teaching new members online once a week.  

• He was a staple at Storm Connections, helping younger students stay connected throughout the difficult winter months.  

• He is always cheerful and makes others feel better about themselves.

As he stands, please join me in congratulating our first School Spirit Award winner, Hunter Crossman.

Our faculty describe our second School Spirit Award winner with the following words:  

• She is quite simply a delight and a joy to teach.  In the past four years she has challenged herself to take risks in the classroom and gain self-confidence.  A self-proclaimed "non-performer," she worked her way up to larger performance roles in our IB Theatre class.

•  She consistently comes to class with a smile and a positive attitude, and she always tries her hardest in all of her work and commitments.  She supports and encourages her classmates, and makes an effort to leave every space happier than when she first arrived.

• She is a student who is proud to be a part of Sturgis. She lives and breathes Sturgis which is evident in her commitment to so many different activities, sports and clubs.

• Her kindness shines through in all she does and gives. Her smile will be missed in the halls of Sturgis. 

• Her work ethic and grit is stronger than I have ever witnessed in my 20 years of teaching. 

As she stands, please join me in congratulating our next School Spirit Award winner, Mariana Furner!

William Sturgis Award: Marie-Claire Smith and Andrew Juan

The William Sturgis Award is given to two students who, in the opinion of classmates and faculty, embody the positive attitude and exemplary conduct represented by the Sturgis Code of Conduct and Rules to Live By.  

Like our Spirit Awards, SPA graciously donates a $500 scholarship to each William Sturgis award recipient.

Faculty describe our first William Sturgis Award winner with the following words:

• She is resilient, persevering, confident, compassionate, and empathetic.

• She is involved in many Sturgis clubs and activities, including:

  • Model United Nations

  • Camp Sunshine

  • Multiple Key Club Initiatives

• She has been a competitive swimmer, rower, and sailor.

• She is a true leader. She has been a driving force in Key Club for the last 2 years, always leading by example and with a cheerful attitude.

• She is one of the most caring students I have come across - her generous nature is an asset that will serve her well in whatever field she decides to pursue

As she stands, please join me in congratulating this year’s William Sturgis Award winner, Marie-Claire Smith 

Sturgis Faculty had the following to say about our second William Sturgis Award winner:

• Ever since he arrived as a 9th grader, he’s been involved in every possible way.  

• It has been a joy to watch him mature into a student with the humility to know he has much to learn. I am excited to see where he is 10 - 20 years from now!

• He is a true Renaissance man

• He has been a key leader in the Cape Cod Youth Climate Leadership team for the past 3 years..

• He is passionate and shows endless dedication to causes in which he deeply believes.  In particular, he believes music is an endeavor which uplifts the soul, spreads joy, builds communities, and enhances the mind

• he has given the music room some of the most beautiful--and most horrendous-- renditions of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" 

• I can't wait to see him elected to a political post at the state or federal level!

As he stands, please join me in congratulating our William Sturgis Award winner, Andrew Juan

Deb Hempel - Award Speech

Ryan King Award

• The Ryan King Award is given to the graduating senior who most exhibits perseverance, determination, resolve, and a positive attitude in their academic pursuits at Sturgis. When I first met the student who will be receiving this award, she was a new 9th grader who was coping with a devastating personal loss from earlier that year. In her graduation speech, she described her 9th grade self this way, “She hated school back then, she thought she would have no purpose here, that she couldn’t make great changes or become something great, she had absolutely no confidence in herself whatsoever.” 

• Over the last four years, we have watched her struggle with personal, health, and family challenges and obstacles. We have also seen her pick herself up multiple times and figure out how to move forward. She refused to give up on herself even when it would have been much easier to do so.

• Today the sullen 9th grader we all met in 2017 has matured into a kind, confident, determined, creative, and capable young woman who greets me in the hall with a huge smile on her face (I could see it even with the mask on). She has goals for herself, and she has demonstrated that she has the perseverance and determination to reach those goals. It is my sincere pleasure to present this year’s Ryan King award to Andrea Alonzo.