The role of teachers in shaping our futures

Kwey, kwe’, hello Acadia alumni community. Acadia has been fundamental in shaping the direction of my life. In particular, I credit a number of professors, including Herb Wyile, David Duke, Wanda Campbell, and Anne Quéma, for shaping the ways I think and understand the world. As I begin my term as President of the Acadia Alumni Association, I am celebrating an Acadia alumnus who made an incredible impact on my life. In Grade 12, my Mom and I travelled to Halifax with the purpose of visiting universities along the way that I thought might be a good fit for my undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted a smaller university with a campus full of trees and green space that paired with a solid academic reputation and small class sizes, but also somewhere that could feel like home. My first day back at school following our trip, Mr. Sturk, my favourite supply teacher, was filling in for our homeroom teacher. Loring ‘Bill’ Sturk (’67) taught at North Hastings High School in Bancroft for a number of years, including when my parents and aunts and uncles were in high school. In retirement, he would often return as a supply teacher and, over the years, Sturk and I struck up a friendship. We would banter back and forth, talking about books and people we both knew from my hometown, often sharing stories from his teaching career. Sturk usually had a smile on his face and was always happy to chat.

Bill Sturk (’67)

Knowing I was set to graduate that spring, Sturk asked me about my plans for university. I told him that I had actually just returned from a trip out East and named the schools I had visited. He asked, “Why not Acadia?” My answer: “What’s Acadia?” So he told me about his alma mater, a small university in a really beautiful place; a valley with lots of farms and apple orchards on the Bay of Fundy. He recalled his time there: the friends he made, his classes, what life was like living in Chipman. I went home that night, logged on via dial-up Internet, perused Acadia’s website and told my parents I had found the university I wanted to go to. Two weeks later I received my acceptance letter – and the rest is history. I ran into Mr. Sturk about a year after I graduated from Acadia. I was excited to see him, to let him know I had graduated and how much I appreciated him encouraging me to consider Acadia. We chatted for a bit and then went our separate ways. I always hoped to run into him when I was in Bancroft, but close to 10 years went by before I saw him again. I bumped into Mr. Sturk a little over a year ago in a grocery store. He was in his eighties at that point and a lot of time had passed, but he recognized me immediately. I introduced him to my husband and we talked about all we had been up to over the past 10 years. And I thanked him, because really, so much happiness in my life was because of his guidance. Before we said goodbye, he invited me and my husband over for tea sometime. Sadly, we never had that visit. Bill Sturk passed away on April 20, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. He is deeply missed by many. “Loring” means instructor or teacher, and the word also lends itself to describing the story or reasoning behind occurrences. When Sturk asked me what I was hoping for in a university, he actually listened and gave his most heartfelt advice. He shared his knowledge with me, presenting me with an option to choose my own path. Some of our greatest influences in life are the teachers who guide us with their hearts and minds. In the process, they challenge us to change our trajectories to become the best versions of ourselves. Mr. Sturk was one of those people, someone who undoubtedly changed the lives of many of his students in profound ways. The world is a better place because of him, and I will remain thankful to Sturk for the rest of my days for telling me about his love for Acadia. I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate all the individuals who have had profound impacts on our lives, especially those now with us only in spirit. I am honoured to have this role and responsibility as Alumni Association President and I thank Mr. Sturk for guiding me to this place. On behalf of our alumni community, I will apply with kindness, vigour, and enthusiasm all that I have learned from the many teachers I have met in my life to ensure that all members of our community are valued and heard. As an Association, we will continue to embrace your interests and concerns and work to serve your needs, especially as we look forward to Acadia’s 200th anniversary in 2038. Yours in Acadia spirit,

Christine Luckasavitch (’11) President, Acadia Alumni Association

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