Speeches & Awards

I assume so based on what many of you wrote in your graduation speeches. You see, parents and friends, we have a custom at Sturgis that every senior writes a graduation speech, and a committee of faculty chooses the two speeches that are most evocative of our Sturgis beliefs and values to be given at graduation; you will hear from Tate Laurie and Maggie Audyatis, shortly. I have had the pleasure of reading all the speeches, and I would like to continue our custom of sharing select passages from these speeches with you today.

When I call your name, please stand while I read your words aloud:

From Eve Plumb: Good afternoon, everyone! Hey, Ms.Gowans - I wasn’t late today!

From Sally Penswick: Thank you for all coming today to celebrate the class of 2025 at Sturgis. Four years ago we all met for the first time, and here we are today all together for one last time before going our separate ways.  I think today is the first day where we have all been together without someone yelling at Kevin to stop talking.

From Tori Brown: I’d like to start out by quoting an academic legend, Benjamin Guibal, who was hopefully being sarcastic when he said “The class of 2025 is the worst”. Granted, he said this to me at the end of freshman year, so maybe he’s changed his mind…but he’s not here to confirm or deny that so maybe we can find a way to get this speech to Germany.

From Simone Sader: The class of 2025 is many things, and I think if I had to describe this class in one word, I would say “comical”. It’s jokes in the hallways, in the bathroom, and even in times when jokes should not be being made. From the moment we all met at orientation, or the first few weeks of school with Camp Burgess, laughs could be heard echoing throughout the halls. There was joy and laughter when we were sent home when East lost power, when the toilets stopped working and when we won two consecutive spirit games in a row.

From Olivia Thomas: Sturgis is full of thinkers, inquirers, risk takers, and let’s be honest, a highly strict phone policy. For those unfamiliar, it went something like, first strike, your phone’s gone for half the day. Strike two, you lose it for the whole day. And strike three, let’s just say I got to know Ms. Gowans at the front desk very well. Five strikes later, here I am. Somehow, every, single, time, Mrs. Kirk would catch me. Those long, hard phoneless weeks still somehow managed to lead me to this moment. And here I am, standing before you today.

From Adelaide Jones: Now if I'm being honest, attending this school was not my idea, or even my choice. I was intimidated by the prospect of a new school, making friends, and above all else: the idea of having to do the IB programme. While it did take time for me to adjust, and almost a full year for me to decide that I actually wanted to stay, I am grateful that I ended up here, at this school and at this graduation with all of the people that I have grown to care so much about.

From Charlie Kramer: That balance between fun and learning is something that Sturgis gets right. It’s not just about passing the test or memorizing facts—it’s about creating a place where students actually want to be. And in my case, that made all the difference. At Sturgis, there are people for everybody. That’s something I realized pretty quickly. There is always a group of people that you will fit in with, it’s just a matter of finding them. And with the size of classes at Sturgis, it makes it easy to find these people. You’re not lost in a sea of hundreds and hundreds of students. You get to know people in your grade, in your classes, and even in other grades. That sense of community is something you feel every day here. Whether it’s through group projects, advisory, sports, or just hanging out after school, you build real connections. And those connections last. Looking back on it now, I realize how fortunate I was to find that kind of welcoming environment. Not every school is like that. Not every school makes room for someone new and treats them like they’ve been there all along. But Sturgis did. From the faculty to the students, from the first day I walked in to my last day of classes, I felt like I belonged.

From Maria Herrera: For the past four years I learned to become an open minded person, I have learned to manage my time, and I was forced to learn how to write research papers. Aside from all the knowledge that Sturgis has to offer, I found I too, had changed. I had grown from a girl to a woman. I have become a leader, a friend, a sister, a daughter, and a person to look up to. I have found passion and purpose in my everyday activities, and have found a place where I know I will always belong. I have become the version of myself that I had always wanted to be. 

From Abigail Crocker: My Sturgis journey, in short, was about discovery. Through Sturgis, I found out more about life, about people, and about myself….

I found belonging, which I never felt so strongly before. I never imagined that a tall nerdy girl, self conscious and anxious, missing a few of her marbles and still stumbling over her long limbs, could belong anywhere. It is a bittersweet feeling, finally finding a home just to leave it. But I know what’s next is going to be [even] better.

From Isaac Hall-Reilly: I cannot thank a single one of these teachers enough for everything they have done for me, and I’m sure the same for each and every one of you here graduating, too. Think back over your four years here, and think of a teacher who has helped you, who has supported you, even when you felt you did not deserve it. I imagine five of them have already come to mind, have they not? I’d be surprised if it weren’t the case. This speech, I’ve decided, is a love letter to the teachers of Sturgis, who have managed to transform.. me into a [better] person. Teachers who have poured their hearts and souls, their blood, sweat and tears into making sure all of us have a good future.

Thank you. For everything. I will never forget you. If I don’t get chosen to speak, I want the ones reading this to know that I care about you, that the… kindness you’ve shown me mattered.

From Lillian Miller: What is the right thing to do? This final question is both the simplest and the hardest, because the truth is, the right thing to do rarely looks heroic or dramatic. For me, it was choosing to help a classmate understand trigonometry when my own packet sat neglected. It was staying up late to listen to a friend vent about something I didn’t have a solution for. It was apologizing when I was wrong, even though my pride screamed “no.” The “right thing”, I’ve learned, often looks quiet. The “right thing” looks like empathy when you’re exhausted. Vulnerability when you want to hide. Integrity when no one’s watching. At Sturgis, the expectation wasn’t to be perfect, rather to be principled. The IB Learner Profile wasn’t an imposition, rather a tool for discovery. We were already thinkers, communicators, and risk-takers, and the Sturgis community simply gave us the space to try, to fail, to learn, and to try again. 

And, finally, from Samuel Bartlett: As I look ahead, I carry more than just a diploma; I carry the values I’ve developed over these four unforgettable years. Values like persistence, because I kept going even when I didn’t understand a word of what was on a physics quiz. Integrity, because I learned that shortcuts don’t get you through the IB. And humility, because sometimes, no matter how hard you study, Spanish listening comprehension will get you. But I’ll also carry gratitude for the classmates who became friends, for the teachers who never gave up on us, and for the moments that tested me and shaped me.

I will never forget where I came from, because even though we were all just randomly selected from a lottery, we created something truly rare here. Entropy might scatter us, but the bonds we’ve made, the memories we’ve shared, and the lessons we’ve learned will stay with us wherever we go.

Thank you, Sturgis. We made it.

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To my initial claim: today is a momentous day, I now add the rationale: because today is a culmination of the past four years where we have all chosen to live, think, and gather with great intentionality, care, and reflection. Students, faculty and family have made our collective Sturgis experience momentous, and today is a day to celebrate that accomplishment.

Just as all our seniors are graduating, so, too, are some of our faculty about to embrace their own new opportunities. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the following people for their commitment to our mission and our students:

Zainab Al-Tayyar, John Guptill, Kate Johnson, Justin Torrellas, Tina Urbanivicius, and Sarah Ward, please stand.

Sturgis West class of 2025, congratulations, and thank you for choosing to see the best in each other and for making the most of yourselves. I hope that you always carry Sturgis in your hearts.

I’ll skip down a little bit…hm hm hmmm

Then! The person has an epiphany. The hill is not too steep to climb. Now, they realize: every day is the right day / to climb the hill in their own way. Their hesitation is gone, their doubt. 

Hm, hm..

Okay, stay with me. At the VERY end, there is some seemingly random …chanting.

(I’m sure you’re thinking, Oh! Mmhmm! Chanting! Sounds like a great song).

Anyway, the chanting is a sample from another song, where a bunch of Liverpool footballers repeat, over and over:

Walk on, walk on // With hope in your heart // And you'll never walk alone // You'll never walk alone

And you'll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone.

I’ll leave that for now - but remember that for later. (Foreshadowing!!)

Now, on to how great you all are.

A word comes to mind when I think of you, the Class of 2025: eclectic. You possess so many unique interests and styles and talents and personalities.

A sampling of what I’ve witnessed over the years: In your behavior, small kindnesses, and big kindnesses. In your writing, soul, conviction, compassion. Concern for the world around you and the desire to make it better. Outside the classroom: hilarious Zine articles, accolades in lacrosse or sailing or volleyball, and the incredible talent of the kids in STAGE and IB Music.

Bottom line: you’re funny and fun, and as the years wore on…you drove me less and less crazy.

Speaking of, let’s go backwards a bit. Not long before I met this eclectic Class of 2025, my world got tipped upside down after a scary diagnosis. I found myself at a crossroads: After a decade building a career in marketing, I didn’t want to do that anymore. I thought I’d try being a teacher. And when I told people this, people would tilt their heads and say, Are you sure? 

The hill, I was told in so many words-–and head tilts-–was too steep to climb. 

Thereafter, I suffered from self-doubt. From hesitation. On a little pad of paper somewhere, I still have it, I wrote down the pros and cons of teaching. Under PROS it says things like “more fulfilling and meaningful!” and “talk about books all day!”

Under CONS of course there were things like, Never going to be a millionaire! and Teenagers are scary! stuff like that – but in the end, I did it. I climbed that hill. And it was steep.

Your freshman year, that fall of 2021 was, as you know, that weird year of masks and then no masks. We were all coming up for air.  It was my first full, continuous year of teaching, ever, after Covid and maternity leave. So, how lucky was I, in addition to hearing my baby crying at all hours of the night, to come in to teach you as freshmen and hearing the oh-so-soothing, unrelenting sounds of certain members of your class. (And it was the oddest thing: no matter if I moved their seats farther and farther away … their voices remained clear as a bell!)

My point is, since 2021, we’ve all come a long way. And we’ve all climbed a steep hill to get here. I mean, at age 14, you struck out for more unknowns than some adults ever subject themselves to. You navigated hardships - mental, emotional, academic. You endured grueling periods of preparation and testing and, as mentioned in 99% of your graduation speeches, something about a rotisserie chicken.

In any case, it was all leading here. To this last day in May. I won’t make you turn awkwardly to the person beside you, but I will ask you to at least think about, and acknowledge, someone under this tent who has helped you go your own way. Because I bet you between the teachers and family and friends out there, someone did.

And so for you, Class of 2025, on the days people tilt their heads in response to your unorthodox ideas and unconventional plans, on the days you feel doubtful, maybe even a little foolish, when all you want is to feel fearless– When all you want is to go your own way–   my hope - is that you do. And that you trust that the hill is NEVER too steep to climb. Every day is the right day to change, to love someone better, to dislike someone less, to open your mind and heart to something that hurls you out of your comfort zone.

I’ll leave you with one final wish. As you go your own way, I implore you to cherish and cultivate and appreciate those types of relationships—-especially friendships. Some are under this tent. Some you’ve yet to meet. They will be the ones who won’t tilt their heads at you, who will be there as you go to climb some very steep hills, which are inevitable in this one precious life we’re lucky to have. 

Okay, remember the chanting? Good.

…And so if you do that, if you cherish and appreciate and foster those kinds of relationships, and (as those Liverpool footballers say): Walk on with hope in your heart, I promise that

You’ll never walk alone.

You will never walk alone.

For me, it will be memories of a pair of students coming in for a quick chat before raiding my desk for candy. Or students trying to earn popsicles by finding that final Ko Mistake. I will miss that friendly daily message of “I love math”. And even being harassed by my own personal group of mean girls. Or my favorite, discussing a class fundraiser for a certain 19 year old’s first tattoo. Hans, did we decide on a Butterfly, or a Skull? 

Personal Experiences

As I look at you today, it’s wild to imagine where you’ll end up. While writing this speech, I reflected on my own graduation to draw inspiration. I don’t really remember much of it, besides a classmate streaking through the crowd - Don’t get any ideas ! But I would never have imagined that someday, I’d be here giving a graduation speech! So who knows where you’ll be? Your future is wide open—full of potential you haven’t even dreamed of yet.

For example, let me tell you about the three Ko’s. You know, because one is not enough. For those who don’t know, we go by Ko — because our last name, Szymeczko, sounds like a sneeze and looks like a Scrabble accident.

I led the way for my younger siblings; studied hard and went to university. However, the next day after my last Final I said bye to my brother and sister, and bolted to London. 22 years old, and with only $1500 to my name, I had no job, no place to live, no friends, & no fear — the IB calls this Learner Profile, Risk Taking. My plan was simple; earn the British Pound and explore Europe. However, almost immediately, I met a girl from Massachusetts, fell hard, and basically spent the next 20 years chasing her across the globe. From Ithaca to Toronto, to Sydney to San Francisco, and finally the Cape. I chased her all around. Man, I used to love that girl. <pause> I still do, but I used to too.

For my sister, college wasn’t her thing. She tried, but unenrolled after her first year, and pursued odd jobs as a barista. Until she found mining! With her only qualification being a driver’s license for a twin-stick truck, she made mega money, and spent it just as fast. But after 10 years of hauling rocks and driving in circles underground, she ditched it all to become a pastry chef in Europe. She now makes incredible breads and pastries for pennies and is the happiest she’s ever been. Go figure.

Finally, my brother. He did earn a degree; in TV production, and then promptly never used it. After college, he went on a vacation to Asia — and it's still going! 14 years later and counting, 60+ countries, and countless questionable decisions. He’s eaten bugs in Cambodia, raced tuk-tuks across India, guided adventure tours in New Zealand, and rode bumper cars in Chernobyl. He became a minimalist, and funded his next adventure with whatever work he could find.

And like you today, the three Ko’s sat at their graduations, not knowing what led before them. Success wears many faces. Some chase love; some chase dreams; others chase freedom. In the end, happiness isn't found on a straight path, but in the courage to follow your own.

Advice

Now I have learned a couple tips thus far in life that I want to pass on. 

But, just remember who is giving it.

First, and this is coming from real life experience, maybe don’t elope to Vegas with your fiance and get married at the Graceland Chapel. Having an Elvis wedding sounds like fun, but your family may not ever speak to you again. (Whisper) That’s why I never told mine.

Second, never trust anyone with two first names. Finn Hogan, there was a reason why I never turned my back on you, all year. Haha, just kidding mate. Again, never trust anyone with two first names. <Pause> Jenn Kirk.

Third, also, never trust anyone who doesn’t smile. <Pause> John Newcombe. <Pause> Just kidding, you have a cute smile John. <Pause> You usually see it when he is assigning MULT.

Ok, enough with the negative tips so here are some positives.

First; Be happy. Find things that give you joy. Focus on what makes you genuinely happy, not what others expect from you. Make decisions that bring you peace, even if they don’t make sense to everyone else. Coming from a math teacher, if life gives you variables, solve for happiness. Plus, when you are happy you smile, and you won’t have to worry about people not trusting you (look at John).

Second, make connections. School has taught you how to make connections, but they never taught you this. “Interesting people are interested”. “Interesting people are interested”. Basically, when talking to someone, if you ask lots of questions, they actually find you interesting. I don’t understand how it works, but it does. And if you don’t know what to ask, just ask about their favorite subject. Because everyone’s favourite subject is the same. It’s themselves! 

People love talking about themselves. Crazy!

Gratitude

So while making connections will take you far, never forget the foundation that got you here. Everyone here today has seen you grow. You've shown it from your first day at Sturgis, to now. But that journey started long before Sturgis—with the people who raised, guided, and supported you. So Graduates, at some point today, I implore you to take a moment to thank your families, mentors, and loved ones. 

And on behalf of everyone here at Sturgis, to all the parents, guardians, and families—thank you for your support and partnership. We couldn’t have helped these fine students graduate without you.

Call to action

However graduates, it is time for your families to let you go; your teachers too. It is now your time, to be called to action. We challenge you now to use your skills and knowledge to make positive impacts in the world. I encourage you to seek out opportunities to serve your communities and make a difference in the lives of others. 

And most of all, find a way to achieve this by being happy, and accountable.

Be accountable. My brother often speaks to how the world is living in a time of mediocrity. That near enough, is good enough; and it is, because no one is held accountable. So be accountable, and when we all do this, we will be better off. So when you say you will do something, do it. Be accountable. When you have a job to do, do the job. Be accountable. When you have homework, do that homework. Be accountable. When you said you were going to college, see it through. Be accountable. And when you make those plans, to reach your hopes and dreams. Be accountable.

Congratulations

And Graduates, I’ll finish with this. Today you don’t just walk across a stage—you storm it, victorious. You’ve battled deadlines, crushed exams, and conquered chaos with caffeine and courage. Be sure to take a moment to capture today as a memory, being conscious of how special it is. This isn’t just a graduation—it’s your legend’s next chapter. 

And we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thank you!

Huzzah!

I usually tell them that attending Sturgis West is like being in a sitcom, things happen for reasons unknown as if Old Man Sturgis is above pulling the strings: bathrooms flood, the wifi crashes. I truly tried to recall those conversations to help me write this speech but in that process, I actually kept returning to a song. A song that I grew up listening to with my mom and never really understood until I entered my senior year of high school: Watershed by the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls. I think it perfectly encapsulates the emotion of the day and the days to come. It’s a beautifully introspective song and while it might not seem like the most obvious choice for a graduation speech, I believe that it is more relevant than ever. 

Watershed is quiet. It’s contemplative. The song is truly chock-full of lyrical metaphors and imagery but if I were to quote every impactful lyric then I would end up just singing the song, and trust me you don’t want to hear that. So I encourage you to listen to it on your own time. But the most standout lyric, the one that has truly stuck with me, the lyric that truly encapsulates the entire can be found in the chorus: 

“Standing at the fork in the road // You can stand there and agonize // ‘Til your agony is your heaviest load.”

The “fork in the road” embodies the decision-making process—whether to move forward, take action, or remain stagnant as you contemplate your choices. The watershed, where water flows in two different directions depending on the choice we make, underscores the weight of our decisions. The song reminds me often that the real burden is not the choice itself—but the agonizing over it. 

The concept has resonated with me during my final year of high school—especially when faced with the intimidating task of figuring out what comes next. I have come to learn in my time at Sturgis: that large life decisions do not just arrive all at once.  It is the everyday incremental choices that we take that quietly build our futures. The truth is, we can’t always know the consequences of our decisions. We can live in the comfort that every choice we make–big or small–is progress rather than remaining idle. So while it’s easy to get caught up in the fear of making the wrong choice. Wrong choices will eventually lead to the right choice.

“But how will I know if this is the right choice?”, a question that I have asked a plethora of times during my time at Sturgis. I questioned what was keeping me at Sturgis. Was it freshman Latin where Ms. Miligan tried to convince my class that she was a vampire. Or was it in sophomore English when Doctor Orbison fell to the ground out of horror as I answered a question about The Great Gatsby wrong. To that end, I say “Yes and,” because it was all that and more. It was Pags pointing at my jorts and exclaiming “Hey! I have that same pair at home!”. Pags, we never did get to twin, maybe in the future we will. It was winning Spirit Games and beating out the seniors our Junior year, and running it back again to win two years in a row! It was all the tiny, miniscule choices that have been made on my path through Sturgis and to have left would’ve meant leaving and giving up those choices. 

Sturgis gave us the freedom to make choices—sometimes small, sometimes big—that allowed all of us to grow. It’s a place where I have been encouraged to take risks and make mistakes. Through those decisions, I learned what kind of person I want to be. Whether it was my decision to join STAGE or the decision to yell out the wrong answer in HL History, I was given the space to make those choices without fear of failure. It’s what should be the pinnacle of a high school experience: every decision, even the uncertain ones, contributes to the person you become. It has not always been about knowing exactly what I want, but about putting that trust in myself to keep moving forward, no matter which direction I choose.

If I had an ample amount of time and words, I would personally thank each and every person who has helped me get to this podium today. A huge thank you to all staff members, your care, dedication, and passion for us as students has shown through over our past four years here and I thank you for your commitment to us. Special thanks to Ms. Allen, for teaching me much more than just biology, but for teaching me how to be a better human being. Ms. Murphy, for teaching me how to pursue new knowledge while also teaching me when I should question that knowledge. Ms. Barrell, for continuing to push me to my greatest potential in a class that has challenged my idea of the world. Mrs. Botsford and Mr. D, thank you both for giving me the confidence and skills that not only apply to onstage but throughout my life. And of course, I would like to abundantly thank my parents, who have offered me nothing but nurturement, support, and love. 

So here we are—each standing at our own personal watersheds. Whether you’ve been standing at your watershed for moments, or months. It’s monumental, not because this moment is loud or dramatic, but because it’s undeniable. And while we’re here, it’s important to remember that we don’t need all the answers right now. We never did, and we never will. The pressure to have everything figured out by the end of this ceremony is a myth. What we need is the willingness to keep choosing—to care, to try, to show up, even when the road ahead seems unclear. 

So graduates, and everyone gathered here today, if you find yourself standing at a fork in the road, and the choices feel too heavy, remember this: standing still is a choice too. But it’s rarely the one that leads to progress. So take that step, even if it’s the wrong one. There’s no such thing as a perfect choice, and sometimes the wrong step teaches you more than the right one ever could. The important thing is to move forward. So what I implore of you all, not just the graduate behind me, but all of you is to a.) take a listen to Watershed (or don’t, it’s your choice) b.) be mindful of those decisions ahead of you and do not be afraid to face those watersheds and choose. Good luck class of 2025!! Thank you!!

For one, teachers here are unlike any you’ll find at your ordinary high school. They actually care, not just because it’s their job, but because they are passionate about what they are doing. They actually see students for who they are, and they encourage us to tap into our full potential. Not just in the classroom, but in life. They eat lunch with us, stop us in the hallway to chat, and even throw a flash mob every field day, even when absolutely no one told them they had to do that. The teachers at this school trust us and see us as equals. They don’t weaponize that they know more than us, they instead get curious about us. Through Sturgis, I’ve gained confidence in myself to take the resources that are given to me and to explore all sides of a problem.The teachers here listen. I learned here that I can use my voice when I need to. I also learned how to silence our all-grade group chat, which was really rewarding for me. 

Sturgis offers a unique opportunity with their “IB of all” mantra. The International Baccalaureate program helped me develop a lot of valuable skills. I learned what it really means to be an inquirer, how to ask the important questions like: why did we put a stage in the middle of the courtyard? And is the rotisserie chicken rumor real? And how old is Pags? These questions still remain unanswered, and I think only a place as singular as Sturgis would foster such unwavering curiosity and strive for knowledge. 

Sturgis also offers an untraditional experience for students, which I think a lot of us were excited for when we came here. We had the space to do a lot of special things. I never knew I wanted to slam a fake gavel down until Mr. Houston made us do a real-life simulation of The Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Mr Magnant gave us the opportunity to organize and perform our own concerts in IB music, and only in Ms. V’s class we played very intense games of mathketball, where true dynasties were made. I think this attitude Sturgis has about approaching life in and outside of the classroom with steadfast creativity and wonder is something that all schools should strive for. We often take for granted how lucky we are to be at a school where every student has actual guidance to become their best self. Sturgis was a chance for me to find like-minded people, challenge myself academically, and grow as a person. Now, looking back, I can say I did that. Also, my parents made me go, but that’s not the point. 

Now, as a whole grade, I want to highlight some of the feats we’ve been through together. Our senior year, we prevailed through the struggle of the new phone policy, and suffered the loss of five minutes to our lunch time. As an IB learner I am on the search for knowledge when I propose this question: Why couldn’t Ms. Kirk make that a problem for the class of 2026? Seriously, we had one year to go. Another thing I’d like to congratulate our grade for is winning spirit games for two years in a row. That, by proxy, makes us better than everyone else. 

In any case, it’s going to be weird saying goodbye to a place that has shaped our lives for the past 4 years, but it’s procedure, and it has to happen. We have to say goodbye to that strange tasting fountain water and those teacher vs student tug of war games. I don’t know which one of those left a weirder taste in my mouth… but both added to Sturgis’s character, and for that I’m appreciative. I want to end this by saying thank you to the parents and guardians here today. Wherever you might’ve heard of this school first, you knew it would be a place where your kid would thrive, and I’d like to think most of us have. Sturgis has always been the underdog, especially in sports, but we’ve always had the most spirit, character, and drive. And to be a part of that environment for the past 4 years has been very fulfilling. Thank you for your time, and congratulations to the class of 2025. 

As Ms. Cullinan shared, Panchei has “thrived… with determination and grace,” embracing leadership roles and community service — whether refereeing soccer games, working as a camp counselor, or supporting her peers with a smile that, truly, lights up any room she walks into.

Ms. Mecca reflected on Panchei’s “unwavering determination” in the classroom: “No matter the obstacles she faced, she showed up with a smile and a strong will to succeed.” 

And when challenges arose, Panchei didn’t back down— she grew. Ms. Locascio described the growth she observed in Panchei. She faced a difficult junior year, but came back with renewed focus and an unshakable work ethic. She approached her work “with sincerity, diligence, and integrity.”

Ms. Curran recalled, during a Chemistry lesson on lipids, they imagined an oxygen atom with muscles. That little sketch has become a lasting symbol — because, like that strong oxygen atom, Panchei brings strength, but also connection — helping things (and people!) stick together. “She is a strong person whose positivity brings people together.”

Ms. McCloreyTimoh described her as “mature beyond her years, positive, and empathetic,” someone who learns from every experience and “holds herself and others accountable when necessary.” Her resilience runs deep — beneath her sweet, bubbly personality is a quiet fire that guides her forward and brings light to others.

Panchei, you embody the very spirit of this award. Congratulations!

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