Scholarship Awards
At the annual Mepham Awards Assembly, usually in late May, the Mepham Alumni Association is one of the organizations that presents awards to Mepham High School’s deserving students. These awards are made possible by the generous donations of our alumni. Some awards were created by endowments and expire when their endowment funds have expired (marked with *). The others are supported by membership donations in our general fund.
The awards and their recipients are listed yearly in the Mepham Alumni Association’s publication, Scuttlebutt.
Occasionally, there are specific one-year awards, and they are not included in this list:
2024 Awards
George Pritchard Memorial Award* – $750 In memory of Mepham’s first band director. Awarded to a band member of at least 2 years, planning a career in music.
Nick Sabetto Award* – $1,000 to the student with outstanding sportsmanship and initiative and at least a “B” average.
School Spirit Award – Two $750 awards to students showing the most “school spirit” while maintaining high scholastic standards.
Gangel Family Memorial Award* – $1,000 each to a graduating boy and girl entering a science-related career.
One Diverse Community Award – Two $750 awards given to seniors who contributed most to the school’s understanding and acceptance of diversity.
Dr. Frederick H. Stunt Leadership Award – $750 to the student showing outstanding leadership.
Alumni Wrestlers Scholar Award* – $1,000 to a wrestler who demonstrated teamwork, scholarship, and a dedication to wrestling.
Hunte Memorial Award* – $500 each for a graduating wrestler and a graduating soccer player. (In memory of Ken Hunte, coach for wrestling and soccer).
Mepham Pride Award – $750 given in memory of our founder Richard Wilgenkamp, to a student who has exhibited pride in Mepham, its values and traditions.
J. Denny Ryan ’59 Memorial Award – $750 given in memory of Denny Ryan to a student of integrity who has given outstanding service to Mepham and the community.
Sanford H. Calhoun Memorial Award – $750 to the person of integrity who exhibits hard work and the courage to hold on to principles and inspires others to do their best.
George L. Pritchard Award – $1,000 award in tribute to Mepham’s first band director.
Jacob Gunther Memorial Award – $750 to “most choir-spirited” student.
H. Walton Alderfer Award – $750 given to a student intending to pursue a choral career.
Vietnam Era Veterans Award – $750 award in memory of a student who passed away during the Vietnam War to a “student with strong convictions, whatever they may be.”
Matthew F. Warkala ’80 Memorial Award* – $500 to a male or female member of the Cross-Country and/or Track and Field team who has demonstrated the most improvement or best spirit for his/her senior year.
Additional awards are made in various years from one-time donations.
| Year | Gifts |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | $15,000 |
| 2021 | $15,000 |
| 2020 | $15,000 |
| 2019 | $15,000 |
| 2018 | $15,000 |
| 2017 | $18,000 |
| 2016 | $20,000 |
| 2015 | $25,500 |
| 2014 | $28,000 |
| 2013 | $21,960 |
| 2012 | $16,500 |
| 2011 | $18,200 |
| 2010 | $21,750 |
| 2009 | $18,850 |
| 2008 | $16,400 |
| 2007 | $15,800 |
| 2006 | $15,800 |
| 2005 | $15,800 |
| 2004 | $14,800 |
| 2003 | $13,200 |
| 2002 | $12,800 |
| 2001 | $13,200 |
| 2000 | $11,000 |
| 1999 | $9,000 |
| 1998 | $8,000 |
| 1997 | $7,500 |
| 1996 | $7,000 |
| 1995 | $7,500 |
| 1994 | $6,300 |
| 1993 | $4,300 |
| 1992 | $4,300 |
| 1991 | $4,300 |
| 1990 | $5,000 |
| 1989 | $4,000 |
| 1988 | $3,950 |
| 1987 | $4,200 |
| 1986 | $650 |
| 1985 | $1,750 |
| 1984 | $600 |
| 1983 | $550 |
| 1982 | $300 |
| 1981 | $700 |
| 1980 | $500 |
