Sussex Tech

Principal's Letter June 2012

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It has been an exciting end to our school year. Sussex Tech was the only high school in the state to have every one of its spring sports teams qualify for state tournament action. However, the softball team was the only team to make it to the championship round.

Our Lady Ravens softball team played a nail-biter of a championship game against Caravel in the final round of the Delaware state softball tournament. Sussex Tech was ahead 4-1 when Caravel tied the game with a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, in the top of the seventh, relief runner Cailey Isaacs took a risk and raced for home when a ball bounced away from the Caravel catcher. Isaacs slid safely into home plate with the game-winning run. Caravel didn't bow out quietly, however, when they came to bat in the bottom of the final inning. Our Lady Ravens were not intimidated and freshman second baseman Melissa Joseph turned a double play to take out the second base and first base runners. All that was left to do for Sussex Tech to take home the state title was for right fielder Ashton Tomlinson to catch the line drive that came her way and the celebration began. Senior Kim Smith pitched a complete game in the 5-4 win despite suffering an injury to her pitching hand in the third inning. This is the second state title for Sussex Tech's softball team. The Lady Ravens also beat Caravel for the crown in 2007. Coach John Marvel is to be commended for leading a team that suffered a lot of adversity this year. Plus, all of the players are to be commended for their hard work and grit.

All senior athletes were honored at the annual athletic banquet. Outstanding trophies were presented to: Beau Warrington -- Male Sportsmanship and Male Spring Track; Erin Johnson -- Female Sportsmanship; Shane Marvel -- Male Outstanding Athlete and Baseball; Isabel Wharton -- Female Outstanding Athlete, Female Cross Country, and Female Spring Track; Matt Dopler -- Co-Male Scholar; Maddie Crimmins -- Female Scholar; Frannie Delrosario -- Field Hockey and Girls' Lacrosse; Cody Rust -- Wrestling; Darrin Beckett -- Football and Co-Male Winter Track; Kim Smith -- Softball; Krista Whaley -- Fall Cheerleading; Dustyn Bebee -- Boys' Soccer; Dylan Sharp -- Male Swimming; Rhett Malone -- Co-Male Winter Track; Ryan Fitzgerald, Co-Male Scholar and Male Cross Country; Drew Stewart -- Boys' Lacrosse; Trey Jewell -- Golf; Troy DeShields -- Boys' Basketball; Samantha Hudson -- Volleyball; Sara Bean -- Winter Cheerleading; Payton Shirey -- Female Swimming; and Margaret Lee -- Girls' Soccer.

Congratulations to students who became "royalty" at the annual prom -- Safari Sunset. King and queen are Bobby Robles and Sara Bean. Prince and princess are Nathan Justis and Paige Cook.

Sophomore Bansri Patel followed in her brother, Priyen's footsteps by being a grand award recipient at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pa. She received fourth place in the chemistry category and a $500 prize. Her project focused on obesity and potential contributions of the endocrine disrupting chemical BPA, which is widely used in plastic bottles, dental sealants, canned food linings and more, on the process of fat production. Her entry also won first place at the Delaware Valley Science Fair in April.

Congratulations to senior math students Meghan Elliott and Marissa Leslie who won first place in the Delaware State Math Poster Contest. The theme was "Math in Motion: Exercise and Play." Their poster displayed connections between ballet, math, and physics.

Junior Cuartney Tingle wrote the winning essay in a contest sponsored by Beebe Medical Center in observance of Hospital Nurses Week. The essay expressed Cuartney's thoughts and desires in answer to the question, "Why I am Interested in Health Care?" It was read during Beebe's annual Nursing Excellence Awards Ceremony.

We thank Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn for coming to Sussex Tech to wish good luck to students going to national competitions in HOSA in Orlando, Florida from June 20-23 and in SkillsUSA in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 23-28. The Lieutenant Governor gave a pep talk and stresssed the importance of developing job skills.

Sussex Tech's JROTC Raven Battalion has been busy with community service projects throughout the county. During Memorial Day weekend, the cadets provided help at various military services. On May 26, cadets placed miniature American flags on graves of fallen military personnel in the graveyard at Bethesda Methodist Church. On May 27, cadets provided an Honor Guard at the military monument dedication at the First Baptist Church in Georgetown. The cadets then braved two sunny days on June 2 and 3 to assist the Maryland Retriever Club at their annual dog trials. These young men and women logged hundreds of community service hours each school year. Many will be forfeiting several days of their summer vacations to attend non-commissioned officers school and summer leadership camp. We are very proud to be building the character of tomorrow's leaders.

Of course, the highlight of the school year is graduation. Sussex Tech was blessed to have a beautiful warm spring evening to conduct its commencement exercises. Hundreds of parents, family, and friends came to see members of the Class of 2012 receive their diplomas. The class invited Randy Chambers, State Director for Delmarva Fellowship of Christian Athletes, to be their guest speaker. Accomplishing the rank of class president and valedictorian is Rebecca Southmayd. Salutatorian is Ryan Fitzgerald. I am proud to announce that members of the Class of 2012 received over $2.9 million worth of awards and scholarships. We wish them the best for their future.

The Sussex Tech offices are now operating on their summer hours. We will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and closed on Friday.

Have a safe summer and I look forward to seeing everyone in August.

Dr. John Demby, Principal