Streachek earns Yale Book Award

Posted on: May 3, 2018

Streachek earns Yale Book Award

Samson Streachek takes his studies seriously.
 
“It would feel wrong if I didn’t put 100 percent in on everything,” he said. “To not put in that effort, that’s just not the approach you want to take in life.”
 
That attitude has propelled the junior to the top of his class at Delano High School, and consequently earned him the Yale Book Award for 2018. Streachek was presented the award by high school counselor Susan Farbo and Principal Steve Heil on Wednesday, May 2.
 
“It’s a big honor. It’s nice to see the fruits of your efforts,” Streachek said.
 
The award is given by the Yale Alumni Association of the Northwest.
 
“It is a big deal,” said Farbo. “Yale strives to touch base with students who are the high flyers of high schools. Students who are first in the class are exceptional across the board. They take classes that are challenging -- CIS classes, AP classes. They are in leadership roles. That’s just what comes with being first in the class, the expectation that you’re the cream of the crop.”
 
There is no scholarship or other financial benefit associated with the award, but Farbo said that recognition by “a college organization that is definitely elitist” is an accomplishment that should be celebrated. The Yale association reaches out to Farbo annually to choose a student from Delano who is worthy of the honor, and over about 20 years Farbo has consistently chosen the top student in the class for the reasons mentioned above.
 
This year’s book is “A Little History of the United States,” written by Yale graduate James West Davidson, who holds a Ph.D. in American history. The subject is fitting for Streachek, who said social studies classes are his favorite.
 
“It’s one of those types of classes where you can see the application of it in the real world,” he said. “Social studies just makes sense.”
 
Streachek has not settled on any definite plans beyond high school yet, but said he does intend to aim high.
 
“That’s why I’m just taking as many hard classes as I can now so I’m prepared for the future,” he said.
 
Farbo explained that the top students in the class are determined by weighted grade point average, which factors in the greater difficulty of Advanced Placement and College in the Schools courses.
 
“In my job, I try to encourage students in the top percent to take the most challenging courses they can and apply to multiple schools, to really try to use their gifts to strive for more,” she said.
 
In addition to his classroom work, Streachek also runs cross country and, up until the past year, was a member of the wrestling team. He is also the new treasurer of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and recently completed a service project, along with a fellow student, that raised $1,500 and supplied gift bags to 55 firefighters in Delano and Loretto.
 
He is the son of Scott and Annette Streachek of Watertown.