Embedded Files
Junior Book Awards
Junior Book Awards
Dartmouth College Book Award: A junior in the top ten percent of the class who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a positive contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.
Harvard University Book Award: An outstanding junior who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields.
Lasell University: A high school junior with at least a 3.0 GPA and involved in extracurricular activities
MIT Book Award: A junior who shows particular achievement in his or her study of science, technology, math, and related subjects. This award is given with the intention to stimulate more students to think seriously about further education in science, math, and related subjects.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: A junior within the top ten percent of the class who excels in advanced math and science courses (chemistry, lab-based physics). Demonstrated potential for success in a challenging academic setting and significant involvement in extracurricular activities.
Smith College Book Award: An outstanding FEMALE junior who exemplifies academic achievement, leadership qualities and concern for others.
St. Michael’s College Book Awards: one MALE and one FEMALE junior combining academic achievement (attains mostly A’s and B’s in honors and AP classes and are inductees of the National Honor Society) and a social conscience evidenced through a commitment to community service, issues of peace and justice and concern for others.
Suffolk University: The Suffolk University Book Award is given to a student who exemplifies a commitment to their education and the school community.
University of Notre Dame Book Award: A junior whose academic record and character are exceptional and who has also made significant personal contributions to his/her school and/or community.
Yale University Book Award: A junior who best exemplifies excellence in scholarship, character, leadership and civic-mindedness.
East Junior Book Award Recipients:
Brynn Dilley - Dartmouth
Dylan Moreno - Harvard
Hogan Anderson - Lasell
Lauren McNamara - MIT
Sydney Faranetta - Rensselaer
Casey Berman - Smith
Benjamin Tardiff - St. Michael's
Audry Costello - St. Michael's
Marina Naoum - Suffolk
Jake Edwards - Notre Dame
Nora Quill - Yale
The Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy
The Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy
The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy is an award that recognizes high school graduates who attain high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and another world language, in recognition of students having studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages.
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy students must meet all graduation requirements, earn a 472 or higher on the grade 10 ELA MCAS, and earn a score equivalent to, or higher than, intermediate high on an approved world language assessment.
Congratulations to the following students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy:
Julia Abercrombie, who has received the MA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.
Luke Ciarletta, who has received the MA State Seal of Biliteracy in French.
Juan Gomez, who has received the MA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.
Jonah Mesple, who has received the MA State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.
Ella Savini, who has received the MA State Seal of Biliteracy in French.
Awards Night
Awards Night
School Spirit Awards
School Spirit Awards
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 has donated a $500 scholarship to each School Spirit Award recipient.
Our first School Spirit Award winner is Jonah Mesple. Jonah, please join me on stage.
Here is what Sturgis Staff say about Jonah:
An endless thirst for knowledge - studying math, music, dance, language, and philosophical concepts—just for fun!
Jonah approaches learning with uninhibited playfulness and intellectual curiosity and inspires others to do the same. Classmates and underclassmen have commented that they are in awe of Jonah's abilities,
A global minded student planning to travel the world next year and study music in India.
Trilingual in Spanish, German, and English, but seizes opportunities to learn and create additional languages.
I will always remember Jonah's spunk and enthusiasm during online classes. Whale most students chose to try to be as invisible as possible while on camera which made teaching especially challenging. Jonah, on the other hand, always participated, offered insightful answers to questions posed, and laughed at my lame attempts at humor.
A skilled vocalist with perfect pitch who is also a proficient pianist, bassist, and drummer, not to mention impressive improvisational and compositional skills.
Jonah is truly a one of a kind human and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Biggest free spirit in the senior class.
Congratulations, Jonah!
Our next school spirit award goes to Izzy Rudy. Izzy, please come on up!
Sturgis Staff had the following to say about Izzy:
She is the definition of an "all arounder". High grades, strong intellect, positive personality, contributes to the school through so many clubs and activities, always nice and good-natured, has interesting things to say about whatever the topic is in class. She's exactly the kind of student any teacher should want to have in class and in the building.
Izzy represents the best qualities we hope for in our student athletes.
On the volleyball court, she was universally respected by her coaches and teammates for her work ethic and attitude.
Izzy was always a positive contributor to class discussion, always responded well to feedback and always did her best on every assignment.
Izzy is a pure asset to any community she is part of.
She worked tirelessly to create a 2023 year book we would cherish and be proud of.
Aside from her dedication to her academics and our entire school community, she has the best fashion sense.
Congratulations, Izzy
William Sturgis Awards
William Sturgis Awards
Our final set of awards are the William Sturgis Awards.
The William Sturgis Award is given to two 12th grade 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.
It is considered the most prestigious Sturgis award.
Like the School Spirit Award, the Sturgis Parents Association has generously donated a $500 scholarship to each award winner.
(Disclaimer: After presenting those spirit awards, I feel like I’m not doing enough in my life. Looking over my next set of comments, I fear this trend will continue….)
Our first William Sturgis Award winner is Maeve Pappas. Come on up, Maeve!
Sturgis faculty and staff had this to say about Maeve:
Maeve has always been a grounded, mature person.
Words that come to mind: Compassion, sympathy, empathy. Always wanting to help the people around her.
Maeve is a person that builds others up. Any college, club, group that has her in it will be a much better institution.
With just the sheer mention of her name an instant happiness is created. One of the most socially aware students I have had the privilege of working with, that is a support for all of our community.
Maeve Pappas exhibits Sturgis ideals and the IB Learner Profile traits, because these are genuine aspects of her character. She is a person of integrity, she is kind, polite, and caring at all times. Not only does she stop by teachers desks' to say hello and ask after them, but she is inherently kind and caring to everyone she meets.
When our costumes crew was struggling to work together during one production, Maeve took the time out of a rehearsal to take the group aside, mediate between disagreeing students, and led them in some team-building and mindfulness exercises to help the group bond and work through their challenges - with they did, and it was one of the most cohesive and beautifully costumed productions we've ever had!
On numerous occasions she has taken the time to compliment a complete stranger on their dress, earrings, style choice. You can see how much you can make another person’s day with that little gesture. (Fashion….again!)
Congratulations, Maeve!
Our second William Sturgis Award winner is Kayden Murphy! Come on up, Kayden!
Some comments about Kayden:
Kayden is one of the strongest and most talented students to have ever attended Sturgis Charter High School. He is just .01 away from the highest GPA possible.
I think that means he only once dropped below the A+ level in any class
A mature and impressive conversationalist, Kayden approaches learning with an eagerness to likes that I have never seen before.
He created a Spanish youtube channel where he speaks on topics that he is passionate about entirely in the language - some videos up to 30 minutes long. His Spanish teacher reports he is one of the strongest Spanish students he has ever worked with.
In tenth grade covid hybrid learning time, during Spirit Week on costume day, while at home just attending class on camera, he dressed in a dark business suit, at his desk, as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper from the television show Twin Peaks.
Kayden is a student who puts a smile on everyone's face - if I mention his name to another teacher, they smile - if he comes into a room, people in the room feel a little lift.
Kayden was always willing to share, always willing to listen, and his kind and considerate actions always made our classroom a better place.
Whether is was weekend highlights of baking, birdwatching or creating a hilarious video of political maneuvering in Fascist Italy, Kayden always made our classroom a warmer, smarter place.
During Covid, in a class where every student was a black box with their name, you could count on Kayden to be smiling at you with his camera on. Kayden definitely made a challenging year and a challenging experience for his teachers and classmates a little sunnier with his presence.
Kayden has been an enthusiastic member of the school’s chess club since he was a freshman. Practicing at lunch, the club would set up competitive chess tournaments afterschool with other nearby high schools. Kayden helps with recruiting for the club, especially while the school was remote during Covid-19 to keep the club thriving.
Compiling everything there is to say about Kayden onto one page is impossible. I know if you were able to meet him, you would feel the same.
Congratulations, Kayden!
Page updated
Report abuse