Sam is the son of Ellen Woodhouse and Daniel Pemrick of Greenwich and Dr. David Steinberg and Charlotte Steinberg of Indianapolis, Indiana. Sam has four siblings: Rebecca Pemrick, Mel Steinberg (GCS Class of 2011), Ellis Pemrick (2018) and Ruby Pemrick (2021).

Since he arrived at GCS at the end of eighth grade, Sam has come to embody the ethic of the school motto: Nihil Sine Labore (Nothing Without Effort).  Whether it is in the classroom or in athletic participation, Sam has built a strong reputation for patience, preparation and excellent results.

Sam ranks in the top 10% of his class, with a cumulative Grade point average of 94.7.  He has taken particular advantage of Advanced Placement courses and Project Lead The Way engineering offerings (through Rochester Institute of Technology) at GCS. Teachers note Sam’s commitment, work ethic and talent in the classroom. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has been accepted into the Engineering School at the University of Michigan. U.S. News and World Report ranks UM among the top ten engineering schools in America.

Prior to moving to Greenwich, Sam lived in New Hampshire and Indiana, but Sam likes Greenwich and GCS the best. “People are friendly here and it’s small enough so that people know and care about each other.” GCS is also a place where a young man can realize his dreams. It is well-known in sports that taller athletes tend to develop more slowly and often have to work harder than others to make this happen before high school graduation.

Upon arriving at GCS, Sam immediately prepared to participate in football and basketball. In addition to formal and informal practices, he began a weight lifting program with his grandfather, John Pemrick, and worked out three times a week at 6:00 a.m. for the next four years.  The results were not immediate, but when he broke into this year’s starting lineups in varsity football and basketball, he did so resoundingly.

During the recent football season, Sam was a two-way starter at defensive and offensive end. At 6’6” and with years of strength training, he was a formidable presence on the field and in a rebuilding year, was part of a team effort that competed fiercely and exceeded pre-season
Sam (82) sheds blocker in rainy win vs. Salem

expectations. In varsity basketball, his contribution this season has been even more impressive. He has come from last year’s bench to become the team’s “go-to” player and he has responded with big numbers. The season is young, but already, in wins over Salem and Stillwater, he has had 16 points, 20 rebounds and 27 points, 11 rebounds, respectively. Varsity basketball coach Duke Beck notes: “Years of practice and perseverance has paid off for Sam. He’s now the major force on our team.”

One of the refreshing things about Sam is that success has not “gone to his head.” He is the same, friendly unassuming young man who has delivered Thanksgiving meals to those in need and given up his study hall periods to mentor a middle school student throughout last year.

It is a credit to Sam that in less than four years at GCS, he    Sam cuts for pass in win vs.Stillwater
has flourished and come to project the very best qualities
of our school and community.