Rachel R. Carey Award '20

It is Suffield Academy’s honor and privilege to announce the Rachel R. Carey Spirit Award. This is the 18th year Suffield Academy has given out the award. As time passes by there are more and more people in the room who do not know the legacy of Rachel Carey. As a junior day student from Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Rachel was killed in a car crash a mile from campus on January 6, 2003 as she drove back to Suffield after winter break.

This award is given to a junior girl and boy who personify the word spirit. Rachel Carey was an impressive young lady who exemplified the phrase, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Rachel was a gifted softball pitcher, but worked equally as hard on the field hockey field as a goalie and in the classroom as an honor roll student. More importantly, she was a sister and daughter and granddaughter, a friend, and an inspiration. Beyond athletics, she was involved in student council, spirit committee, and the school's Leadership Program.

The word spirit embodies many things and one of the most important qualities with this award is how you treat people. Rachel was everyone’s friend. She was always there for her friends and teammates and never sat in judgment. Rachel was unselfish and while she received a lot of press because of her pitching (the Softball team was 31 – 2 with two Western New England Championships with Rachel as pitcher), she was humble and put the team first. Rachel was ultra competitive but respectful of opponents and officials. She was the kind of student-athlete that made you happy to be a coach and educator. This award goes to three students who give everything they have to Suffield Athletics, while being both a good person and a true teammate.

Suffield Academy is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Rachel R. Carey Spirit Award: Katharine Brosseau, Sophie Pirondini, and Joe Rusnock.