Tech HS Senior Stephen Highlighted As A Worcester Star Student

WORCESTER, MA — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Bruce Mendelsohn who nominated Stephen of Worcester.

Star local student’s name: Stephen

What grade is your star local student in? 12th

How do you know the star local student? Athletics. I have coached Stephen for three years on the Worcester Public School's Varsity Wildcats Rugby team.

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Stephen has played a critical role in establishing a new rugby program at Worcester Public Schools (the second-largest public school system in Massachusetts). During the Wildcats Rugby team's first two seasons (Spring 22 and Spring 23), Stephen recruited eight players from his school (Worcester Technical HS) enabling us to field a competitive squad. This season (Spring 24) — the team's first as a Varsity program — saw Stephen redouble his recruiting efforts at WTHS and other WPS high schools--even recruiting his younger brother, a first-year student at South HS. While injured during the Wildcat's first month of practices, Stephen spearheaded a project critical to the team's skill building and cohesion: He planned and led the refurbishment of a donated Scrum Machine. (Scrum Machines normally cost thousands of dollars — so his leadership of this "DIY" project enabled our program to invest scarce resources to fulfill other needs, like new rugby balls.) At my suggestion, Stephen eagerly embraced this task. He enlisted a small group of players to help. He determined, planned, and assigned tasks on the critical path: De-rusting, removing rotten wood, priming, painting, soliciting and receiving a donation of new treated wood, researching and recommending replacement pads, assiduously keeping track of costs, and putting the machine back together. Impressively, Stephen kept the project on track even after returning to daily practices. We received a discarded, dilapidated scrum machine in mid-March; Stephen will deliver a completely refurbished product by mid-April. In addition to delivering this vital project on his own time off the field, Stephen is a quiet leader on the field: Almost always first to arrive at practice and last to leave, during practices and matches he influences and inspires teammates through his work ethic, sportsmanship, and respect for opponents. All this while maintaining a high GPA at Worcester's premier public HS. Stephen's contributions on and off the field are instrumental — indeed, vital — to the success of the WPS HS Wildcats Rugby program. He has earned "Star Student" recognition for his dedication to creating a sustainable varsity program at Worcester Public Schools. Thank you for your consideration.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

On and off the pitch, Stephen epitomizes the defining character-building characteristics of rugby: integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Stephen!

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Know an outstanding student who deserves a shout-out? Nominate them here.