Last year, the quiz bowl team established an annual award in Drew Austen’s memory. The award is meant to recognize one member of the quiz bowl team who most embodies three qualities that the team admired about Mr. Austen. These qualities are:
- Generosity of time; Drew would stay til 5 pm, or later, if students wanted more practice. He would hold summer sessions with students, and he would take whole weekends to drive kids to extra tournaments across the state.
- Mentorship; Drew held special learning sessions for physics topics not covered in the courses at MW or for underclassmen who hadn’t yet taken them.
- Sense of fun; Drew made up lots of little games during practices, would relentlessly cheer on students, and had so much positive energy.
The inaugural award last year went to Katie Watson, and this year she is joined in the pantheon by senior David Lins (Chesterfield). “David stands as the lone senior who has been committed to the quiz bowl team for four years,” said coach Adam Rotche. “He was our tournament director for GSAC, he is organized and ambitious, and he brings incredible energy to our practices and tournaments. David congratulates his teammates on their successes even when they lose a match, and he is quick to lift up his opponents, whether he wins or loses to them. David is humble, kind, and brilliant.”
We congratulate David!
