It is with great pleasure that I announce the recipients of the 2019-2020 Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) Student Award recipients for the Suffield Public Schools. This year’s honorees are Kati Davis (Grade 12) and Anna Washburn (Grade 8).
Adding to her collection of awards and recognitions, Kati Davis was nominated by the faculty and staff of Suffield High School to receive this year’s recognition. Kati currently serves on Class Council, as treasurer for the class of 2020, and courageously completed back-to-back shifts in the dunk tank during Suffield on the Green. In addition to her efforts in organizing the Dustin Doyon Road Race, she participated in several community cleanups, Readers for Leaders, the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, and was a recipient of the Rochester Young Leaders Award. Most recently, she was recognized as Student of the Month by the Suffield Rotary Club and received the Rotary Youth Leadership Award for her involvement in several community service activities. Kati has been able to find a balance between her academics and volunteer activities. She has maintained honor roll status throughout her high school career and has received multiple academic honors in life education, social studies, and world language. Kati has been a four-year letterman on the varsity women’s soccer team and was also a competitive swimmer for many years. One of her most memorable moments in sports occurred when she earned a crown by swimming into the wall to place in her race. In college, Kati plans to major in medicine and devote her time to ensuring health care is both equitable and affordable to everyone.
As described by her teachers, Anna Washburn is an outstanding student and an inspirational friend to her peers. It is no surprise that she was selected by the faculty and staff of Suffield Middle School for this year’s CAPSS Superintendent Award. As noted by her guidance counselor, Anna shows “compassion, empathy, and support in an unconditional manner.” As a student leader, Anna has been involved with many school and civic organizations. Currently, she serves on the Suffield Middle School Student Council and on the school’s Advisory Leadership Program. In addition, she has been an active member of her local Girl Scout troop since earning her petals as a Girl Scout Daisy many years ago. Anna has a new-found interest in environmental science and conservation efforts, and thinks she may explore a career in this field after she graduates from high school. She and her friends are currently planning a major fundraising effort to support beach and ocean cleanup efforts one penny at a time. She looks forward to introducing “Penny Wars” to her middle school classmates during the 2019-2020 school year. When not competing on the soccer field, you might find her “stuck” on a song by Grammy-Award-winning country superstar Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland.
The CAPSS Student Awards are based on: community service and service to others; academic prowess (relative to ability); and leadership service to the school community. We are very proud of this year’s winners, and we congratulate them on receiving this prestigious recognition. A special ceremony will be held at the Farmington Country Club to honor all of the award winners from area school districts.