Sage Ridge School Unveils E.L. Wiegand Student Activity Center in a Soft Opening With The Scorpion Community

Sage Ridge School opened the doors of the E.L. Wiegand Student Activity Center to the Scorpion community for the first time on November 17, 2023, for a soft opening. Students, parents, grandparents, grandfriends, graduates and donors came to celebrate inside the new space together after a reception in the Webster Building for Sage Ridge School’s annual Grandfriends Day. 

The new 24,000-square-foot Wiegand Student Center includes the 13,000-square-foot Ernest J. Primm Gymnasium with bleacher seating capacity for 875. The facility also features a state-of-the-art fitness center, modern locker rooms including the Joan M. Primm Girls Locker Room, an athletic office, concession stand, concourse, trophy case area and multipurpose academic and social Cory and Deborah Clemetson Lounge and the Primm Family Lounge. 

The soft opening began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, entering the building together as a community for the first time, and remarks from Sage Ridge Head of School Dr. Ginger Hovenic, Annual Fund Chair Sarah Johnson, and AIM Campaign Chair Beth Schuler. Nov. 17 marked the last day of the ambitious "25 Years, 25 Days" Annual Fund campaign. Because of our generous Sage Ridge community, we exceeded our fundraising goal of $250,000!

Sage Ridge Coordinator of Student Life Mrs. Elyse Bozsik led the student portion of the event with student emcee Owen Heaphy ‘27. It included community cheers with the Sage Ridge Sting Squad, student performances, grandfriends recognition, and recognition of Sage Ridge fall and winter athletics, theatre, and clubs. Even the University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack cheerleaders and mascots Alphie and Luna joined in on the celebrations and cheering. 

Student performances included Jasper Chang ‘31 (vocals and keyboard) performing “Faded” by Alan Walker; Ethan Wu ‘24 playing the erhu, a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument; Scarlett Lopiccolo ‘25 (vocals) and Sam Browder ‘26 (keyboard) performing “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel; and Scarlett Lopiccolo ‘25 singing “Feeling Good.” 

Sage Ridge School’s Achieve, Innovate, and Magnify (AIM) Capital Campaign provided funding for the Wiegand Student Center. The AIM Capital Campaign supports the build-out of Sage Ridge’s 40-plus-acre campus to better serve the educational and facility needs of the growing community. Future phases include an Innovation Lab for Robotics and a Performing Arts Theater. 

"The build-out of our campus would not be possible without the generosity of our capital campaign donors who have donated more than $8 million to build this amazing facility for our students," Sage Ridge Head of School Dr. Ginger Hovenic said. “I thank each and every one of you for your continued support. I also want to acknowledge the AIM Steering Committee for its leadership and vision. I am sure you will all be in amazement at this beautiful facility that was only a dream seven years ago.” 

The Wiegand Student Center will be the home to Sage Ridge athletics games, community events, graduate gatherings, youth sports tournaments, academic competitions, special events and more.