June 20, 2023
Each year, City Academy awards the Martin Mathews Award to sixth grade students who reflect Mr. Mathews’ values and have demonstrated exceptional citizenship and academic integrity.
Mr. Mathews was a visionary civic leader who had a profound impact on City Academy and the city of St. Louis. He led by example and spent his life serving others, especially area youth.
Audrey White
“Someone once said, ‘You can never give a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.'”
These words are fitting for our first recipient of the Martin Mathews Award. She has spent her years as a City Academy student fulfilling her love for reading in the number of books and words she has read. It is quite evident that this scholar is not only an avid reader but also a reflective student. You can always find her going over and beyond the expectations set before her. Devoted and persistent, this scholar is as motivated as she is curious. She is an exemplary member of the class and has always taken great pride in her work. She possesses the talent and tenacity necessary to accomplish any task she sets her mind to. Her strong sense of determination moves her toward higher levels of achievement, but her warmth and compassion keeps her grounded and a good friend to her classmates. Eager to take on new challenges, she is meticulous and puts great effort into preparing for academic tasks, whether large or small.
She can light up any room with her positive energy and contagious smile. When this scholar walks through our doors, she immediately embodies the school pledge each day. She is resilient and takes pride in herself by doing her best in everything she encounters. This student may not realize this yet, but she has not only served as a guide and leader on how to thrive as a City Academy student for her immediate peers, but also for those that will come after her.
As a leader, she has been involved in many facets in the life of the school community. She has had the opportunity to serve as a math tutor for our younger students during our Extended Day Program. This student has also been a part of 6th Grade Newsletter-(The Graduate Gazette), and most recently, she helped lead the Upper School Spring Concert. Her leadership, poise and mindset are attributes that will serve her well during the next chapter of her educational journey. This student is wise beyond her years and destined for greatness. We look forward to hearing about this scholar’s future achievements. Please welcome to the stage Audrey White.
Noah Payne
Mr. Mathews lived by the virtues of the three Rs – respect, restraint, and responsibility. All three of these qualities are evident in our first Martin Mathews Award recipient.
This student has shown respect for himself, his teachers, and his peers since the moment he walked through the doors of City Academy in Junior Kindergarten. He is especially conscientious and kind. His sensitivity to how the people around him are feeling is matched by his outstanding academic accomplishments. He is wise beyond his years – demonstrated by his ability to comprehend complex fictional characters, analyze complicated situations, and his willingness to consider how to improve multiple iterations of rovers, landers, and robots. Despite his academic prowess, this student exhibited restraint daily – allowing others to share their thoughts and ideas as often as he shared his own.
Our graduate takes great pride and responsibility in his ability to prepare for any task at hand – schoolwork or athletic endeavors. Extremely detail oriented, he is sure to be not only well-prepared, but quite possibly over-prepared for whatever comes his way. He is not merely competent at cataloging facts; he frequently demonstrates an understanding that is as deep as it is wide.
He loves reading, long conversations, and organizing his thoughts to put them in writing- all next in line to the love he has for his family and friends. This student has been known as a fierce competitor, a cuddly teddy bear, and an eager learner.
Additionally, Mr. Mathews was always known for exhibiting a quiet joy when surrounded by young people and watching them reach their fullest potential. This student demonstrates the same passion for those younger than him. The joy that our graduate exudes when around young people, including his younger sister and brother who are also City Academy students, and their peers is palpable. Our graduate has created bonds with students much younger than him and it comes easily due to his magnetic smile that brings others inward and creates lasting bonds.
A wonderful student and an even better person, please welcome to the stage Noah Payne.