Steven Sobel, a junior at Westport’s Staples High School, is one of 30 Connecticut high school juniors chosen out of 150 nominees statewide to be honored as a Governor’s Scholar, school officials announced.
Steven Sobel: one of 30 selected. Contributed photo
With the honor, he will be invited with his parents Richard and Stacey Sobel to a May 16 luncheon with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other state leaders. Staples Principal John Dodig is also scheduled to attend.
Steven was selected by a panel of Connecticut educators based on his class rank, standardized test scores and an essay. To receive the honor students must rank in the top 5 percent of the junior class, and they are required to submit an essay on an assigned topic.
This year, the essay topic asked students to choose three challenges the United States faces. Steven wrote about educational disparity and inequality, preservation of natural resources and the electrical grid.
School officials said the 11th grader also excels on the the soccer field and indoor and outdoor track teams. In addition, he plays cello, and is a member of two Staples community service groups: the Service League of Boys (SLOBS) and the Wreckers in Tune music organization.
“Steven ‘does it right,’” said English teacher Mary Elizabeth Fulco. “If there is a job to be done, I can count on Steven to go above and beyond, to present the most thought-provoking, well-researched and challenging work.”
For his junior research paper, Steven write the power grid, suggesting that power outages can be solved only by computerized systems. When he first presented the idea as his topic for research, Fulco worried it was too dry.
“Steven proved me wrong,” she said. “His thorough research, original arguments and clear and concise writing style helped highlight this topic as a major issue of concern, deserving of attention and action.”
Social studies teacher Jonathan Shepro noted that while “economics is not filled with the most lively material,…Steven has a way of finding humor among the graphs, charts, definitions and interesting characters studied in Advanced Placement Economics.”
“His humorous insights only add to his intellect in the subject,” Shepro said. “He is truly a pleasure to have in class.”
Steven described his selection as a Governor’s Scholar as “cool, and a great honor,” and he praised Staples for the breadth and depth of class offerings.
“Teachers really care about students, and help them in every way possible,” he said, “I’m proud to represent Staples as a Governor’s Scholar.”
