Two ORHS seniors win Brad Sturm scholarships

Posted at 11:43 pm April 20, 2016
By Carolyn Krause Leave a Comment

Sean Badurina, Mel Sturm, and Jade Lesher

Sean Badurina and Jade Lesher are winners of the Brad Sturm Memorial Scholarships established by businessman Mel Sturm (center). (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

Sean Badurina and Jade Lesher, two seniors at Oak Ridge High School, were selected by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge as recipients of the Brad Sturm Memorial Scholarships for 2016.

Sean, who likes to build machines and take them apart to see how they work, said he plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and major in mechanical engineering.

Jade, president of the ORHS drama club with eight years of theater experience and section leader in the marching band, plans to attend UT in Knoxville and major in political science.

To qualify for the scholarships, first established 40 years ago by 92-year-old businessman Mel Sturm, ORHS students this year had to read Larry Arnn’s 2015 book “Churchill’s Trial: Winston Churchill and the Salvation of Free Government.”

Then, they had to write an essay about the book that responded to three questions posed by the Brad Sturm scholarship committee of the Rotary club.

Finally, they had to meet with committee members who interviewed them about the book, which describes Churchill’s views on socialism and capitalism. The committee members are Larry Beeman, Jennifer Enderson, Hal Schmitt, Scott Smith, Barry Stephenson (chair), and Mel Sturm (founder).

In 1976, Mel Sturm set up the scholarship to motivate ORHS students to learn the fundamentals of the business world and understand the positive impacts of businesses on the national economy and globalization.

In 2005 Sturm, a Rotarian, asked his Rotary club to take over the administration of the scholarship fund and the selection of winners.

In 2011, the Sturm endowment was transferred to the East Tennessee Foundation, which manages the investment of the scholarship fund and disburses money to the winners.

Carolyn Krause is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

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