Senior Spotlight: Arabella Cullen

Bella Cullen has a lot of Sage Ridge memories. She’s a lifer, meaning she started at the earliest entry point, and she can rattle off a lot of interesting and amusing tales going back as far as fifth grade. From Mr. Zahn’s singing bowls, to chess with Mr. Kolb, to playing on the Sage Ridge baseball team, to going to Disney with Mrs. Kuehn, to any number of upper school athletic seasons, Bella can provide an excellent oral history of a student’s progression through Sage Ridge. 

Bella is a versatile athlete. She competed in major karate tournaments for many years, earning accolades such as 2017 Pan Am International Miami Super Fight Champion, 2017 Diamonds Minnesota Diamond Ring recipient for Grand Champion Fighter, and 2018 50th Anniversary Battle of Atlanta Grand Champion Fighter. After having learned how to play volleyball in PE class at Sage Ridge, Bella joined the middle school volleyball team while maintaining her karate practice. Volleyball soon became a new passion, and her passion led to captainship in her junior and senior seasons. After years playing for Sage Ridge and for her club team, Bella is looking to play in college. 

When not playing volleyball, Bella was a major contributor to the girls’ basketball program, ran track and field, joined the swim team, and co-founded the Sting Squad, a pre-Covid booster club that cheered at games and decorated Crossbow before big athletic contests. Bella advises younger Sage Ridge students to “make high school what you want it to be. If you want something, do it yourself to make it happen.” 

In 8th grade, Bella chose a mock trial class as one of her Mini-Session courses (now called Sage Session). She found the skills needed for mock trial naturally,  so joined the mock trial team in the Upper School several years later. This year, Bella’s team competed in the state competition, and she found her experience with mock trial inspiring. For her senior internship, Bella worked for  Washoe County Second Judicial Court Chief Judge, Lynn Simons and hopes to have a summer job running for the court. She’s looking to pursue law as a future career. 

Aside from being a passionate athlete and an enthusiastic debater, Bella is known among peers in all grade levels as a protective and caring friend. Mr. Cvetich, who coached Bella for three years in basketball and taught her for one year in AP Psychology, appreciates Bella’s team approach both on and off the court.  “If Bella perceives a friend is struggling or is being unfairly treated, she will look into and actively seek ways to help them. She is a fierce friend and is always willing to take a stand for what she believes is right and just. Good luck to any future attorney that stands opposite Bella."