WOODBURY — Many Nonnewaug students know history teacher Michael Sturges will go above and beyond to help out his students. 

“You can ask him anything and he’ll sit down and talk to you about it until you understand it,” said Gwen Scozzafava, one of Sturges’ honors U.S. history students. 

Sturges’ passion and dedication to the teaching of U.S. history enabled him to win the Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History award in February.

“I genuinely didn’t even know I was in the running; it was submitted on my behalf,” said Sturges. “I believe at least one colleague and a bunch of former students had to be interviewed about it.” 

Sturges, who is a Nonnewaug alumnus, took an interest in teaching while attending NHS. However, his original interest was not history. 

“I wanted to be a science teacher because I was naturally good at science,” said Sturges. “I had a couple teachers show me how interesting history was, but I didn’t think I would teach it because of how difficult it was for me.” 

Sturges went from thinking history was a difficult subject to being a teacher whose students describe him as having infinite knowledge about history. 

“He knows everything about history,” said Scozzafava. “He’s put his career towards history and teaching and deserves this award.”

Sturges’ colleagues have also taken note of his limitless history knowledge. 

“There is no one smarter when it comes to U.S. history; he knows everything,” said Rebecca Trzaski, an NHS history teacher. 

While Trzaski admires Sturges’s knowledge of U.S. history, she is even more impressed by the classroom environment he has created. 

“He really tries to make his classroom a place where students will not only learn but they will want to learn,” said Trzaski. “His expectations are very clear and he’s always willing to help students exceed those expectations.”