Young Grads Return for Annual Upper School Tradition

Eight alumni returned to Sage Ridge School on Tuesday, Jan. 7 for the annual Young Grads Return event, sharing candid insights with Upper School Scorpions about college applications, life on campus, “adulting,” and everything in between.

The 2025 alumni panel included:

• Ben Browder ‘24 (Emerson College)
• Maddy Dutton ‘23 (Pepperdine University)
• Samantha Kenyherz ‘22 (Boston University)
• Griffin Lovato ‘21 (Washington University in St. Louis)
• Owen Romberg ‘22 (Wellesley College)
• Sophie Schler ‘19 (Northern Arizona University)
• Maggie Soran ‘23 (Tufts University)
• Anne Thompson ‘22 (Middlebury College)

After kicking things off with a surprise rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Dutton—who generously spent her big day with us—Scorpion alums jumped into a lively panel discussion covering everything from academic transitions to dorm survival tips.

How Did Sage Ridge Prepare You for College?

“The workload of college felt a lot easier than what I saw from my friends. I was used to sitting down and studying for a couple of hours, and Sage gave me a big head start. Even though I’m fully STEM, the writing I’ve had to do has been so much easier because of Sage—I can get it done really quickly.”
— Samantha Kenyherz ‘22, Boston University

“While you’re at Sage Ridge, it’s a really good time to find a sense of self. When you go to college, you can explore more—but you come in confident, grounded in your values. Also, the friends you make here are friends you’ll carry with you forever. I spent most of my winter break with Sage Ridge friends.”
— Maddy Dutton ‘23, Pepperdine University

Top College Tips from Recent Grads

• “Account for travel time when signing up for classes.” - Griffin Lovato
• “Finding interests outside of school is equally as important as your college classes.” - Samantha Kenyherz
• “Study abroad. You can travel to a different country every weekend if you go abroad! It is a good way to educate yourself.” - Maddy Dutton
• “It’s up to you to find a system that works for you in order to turn in your work. A lot of it is looking at the syllabus and making sure you’re turning in your assignments and on top of it, because assignments are not going to be written on a whiteboard or on a Compass page every single day. Really up to you to get everything done and keep performing your best at school.” - Maggie Soran

Frequently Asked: Dorms, Daily Life & More

What are college dorms like?
Surprisingly fun! You get used to shared spaces like communal bathrooms. “I made my best friends on my dorm floor,” said Kenyherz. Tip: Get an eye mask!

What does a typical college weekend look like?
It depends on your schedule and involvement, but Kenyherz shared: “I’m usually doing a lot of work—I’ll go to the library or a café with friends to study and catch up.”