Celebrating Excellence: Awards & Recognitions at Sage Ridge School

It has been an extraordinary start to spring, filled with student honors and recognition at Sage Ridge School. From a record-breaking Speech & Debate season and a Mock Trial team that represented Sage Ridge in the State Championships, to national academic distinctions for presidential-level honors, award-winning writing, visual arts achievements, and a county spelling bee championship, Scorpions are earning accolades that reflect both individual excellence and the collective strength of the Sage Ridge academic program. Across divisions and disciplines, students are rising to the highest levels of achievement.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

In addition to the 21 awards Sage Ridge students garnered in the 2025 Scholastic Art Competition, two students were recognized for their Scholastic Writing submissions.

Emma Sapp (‘26) earned two Silver Keys for her critical essays, “Jay Gatsby: Romantic Hero or Obsessive Loser?” and “Invisible Man: Ralph Ellison and Assimilation.” Amelia Litschke (‘29) received a Silver Key for her short story, “Butterflies from You.”

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious programs recognizing creative teens. These honors reflect not only artistic and literary talent, but also analytical depth, originality, and disciplined thinking.

Sage Ridge School Celebrates Five National Merit Scholarship Finalists 

Help us celebrate a truly monumental accomplishment: all five of our National Merit Semifinalists have advanced to become National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Congratulations to Sam Browder (‘26), Aiden Charles (‘26), Saatvik Gaur (‘26), Emma Sapp (‘26), and Andrew Zhang (‘26) on this exceptional achievement.

These students initially qualified as Semifinalists based on their outstanding junior-year PSAT scores, placing them among the highest scorers in the nation. In the fall, they completed a rigorous application process, and each has now earned Finalist standing, an honor awarded to fewer than one percent of U.S. high school graduating seniors.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, founded in 1955, is one of the most prestigious academic competitions in the country. Each year, approximately 1.5 million students enter the competition. Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in late spring.

We are incredibly proud of Sam, Aiden, Saatvik, Emma, and Andrew for this remarkable milestone and look forward to celebrating the next chapter of their success.

Six Scorpions Named U.S. Presidential Scholarship Candidates 

Six Sage Ridge seniors — Aiden Charles (‘26), Saatvik Gaur (‘26), Tyler Jensen-Eykamp (‘26), Emma Sapp (‘26), Bryce Stormo (‘26), and Andrew Zhang (‘26) — have been named candidates for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program by the U.S. Department of Education, one of the nation’s highest honors for graduating high school seniors. Candidacy is based on exceptional SAT or ACT performance and is extended to only a small number of students per state.

Nevada typically produces two Presidential Scholars per year from a statewide candidate pool of approximately 40 to 55 students. Having six candidates from a single school of Sage Ridge’s size is an exceptional result and speaks to the strength of our academic program and the caliber of our students.

Scholars are announced in the spring and honored with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., culminating in a White House medallion ceremony in June.

Congratulations to Emmy Bracha, Washoe County 5th Grade Spelling Bee Champion

After winning the Lower School division of our Sage Ridge School Spelling Bee, Emmy Bracha (‘33) went on to compete in the Washoe County Regional Spelling Bee this past Saturday, February 21. We are proud of our regional champion. Emmy won with the word “vendetta.” She will advance to the state competition on March 28 in Las Vegas.

From creative writing to national academic distinction to presidential-level candidacy to spelling mastery, these recognitions represent the breadth and strength of a Sage Ridge education. When high expectations are paired with meaningful support, students rise to meet the moment. We are proud of each of these Scorpions and the example they set for our entire community.