Alumni Profiles


Once a Sundevil, always a Sundevil! With 2,300+ alumni living and working around the globe, we’re excited to share details from our diverse community.

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Uyen-Phuong “U.P.” Nguyen Class of 2015 Software Engineer, Bose Corporation Computer Science B.S., Brown University “Sandia Prep definitely prepared me for the academic rigors of Brown University. I’m thankful to Prep for introducing me to so many wonderful mentors and experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Uyen-Phuong “U.P.” Nguyen Class of 2015 Software Engineer, Bose Corporation Computer Science B.S., Brown University “Sandia Prep definitely prepared me for the academic rigors of Brown University. I’m thankful to Prep for introducing me to so many wonderful mentors and experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Uyen-Phuong “U.P.” Nguyen

Class of 2015

Software Engineer, Bose Corporation
Computer Science B.S., Brown University

“Sandia Prep definitely prepared me for the academic rigors of Brown University. I’m thankful to Prep for introducing me to so many wonderful mentors and experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Shelby Horan Class of 2019 Attending Southern California University of the Health Sciences: Pursuing a Doctorate of Chiropractic  B.S. Kinesiology, San Diego State University "Sandia Prep helped set the foundation for me to succeed in both undergraduate and graduate school. Prep provided me with the tools to succeed in both my academic and personal life. I am grateful for the mentors and resources, especially Mr. Polansky and the fruit flies, from my time at Sandia Prep. My experience at Prep has helped me get to where I am today. P.S. Go Lions!"

Shelby Horan

Class of 2019

Attending Southern California University of the Health Sciences: Pursuing a Doctorate of Chiropractic 
B.S. Kinesiology, San Diego State University

"Sandia Prep helped set the foundation for me to succeed in both undergraduate and graduate school. Prep provided me with the tools to succeed in both my academic and personal life. I am grateful for the mentors and resources, especially Mr. Polansky and the fruit flies, from my time at Sandia Prep. My experience at Prep has helped me get to where I am today. P.S. Go Lions!"

Sevilla Durán Class of 2020 - Currently working as a researcher at Columbia's Zuckerman Mind Brain and Behavior Institute - Captain of the Track and Field team at Columbia - Planning to attend graduate school in the fall prior to applying to medical school BS Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Hispanic Studies, Columbia University “Sandia Prep helped me cultivate a strong work ethic that continues to serve me in college. Through exposure to interdisciplinary experiences, I found my love for science and learned to communicate effectively and compassionately with my professors and peers.”

Sevilla Durán

Class of 2020

- Currently working as a researcher at Columbia's Zuckerman Mind Brain and Behavior Institute
- Captain of the Track and Field team at
Columbia
- Planning to attend graduate school in the fall prior to applying to medical school
BS Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Hispanic Studies, Columbia University

“Sandia Prep helped me cultivate a strong work ethic that continues to serve me in college. Through exposure to interdisciplinary experiences, I found my
love for science and learned to communicate effectively and compassionately with my professors and peers.”

Taylor (Wolff) Stiff Class of 2014 Dental hygienist at a private practice in Albuquerque, NM B.S. Dental Hygiene, Psychology, and Spanish - University of New Mexico "Prep gave me educational opportunities I did not have growing up in Las Vegas, NM. I will always be grateful for the foundation Prep gave me, as well as the lasting relationships I made."

Taylor (Wolff) Stiff

Class of 2014

Dental hygienist at a private practice in Albuquerque, NM
B.S. Dental Hygiene, Psychology, and Spanish - University of New Mexico

"Prep gave me educational opportunities I did not have growing up in Las Vegas, NM. I will always be grateful for the foundation Prep gave me, as well as the lasting relationships I made."

Lawson Stiff Class of 2012 Attorney, in Albuquerque, NM, specializing in civil litigation B.A. History - Colorado State University J.D. University of New Mexico School of Law “Sandia Prep helped me develop the tools necessary to succeed in college and in my career. Prep taught me how to think critically and encouraged me to ask questions about the world around me — skills that I employ each day.”

Lawson Stiff

Class of 2012

Attorney, in Albuquerque, NM, specializing in civil litigation

B.A. History - Colorado State University
J.D. University of New Mexico School of Law

“Sandia Prep helped me develop the tools necessary to succeed in college and in my career. Prep taught me how to think critically and encouraged me to ask questions about the world around me — skills that I employ each day.”

Brendon Gray Class of 2016 Attending Carnegie Mellon University for Public Policy and Management M.A. Economics B.A. & Political Science B.A. “Above all, Prep made me a strong critical thinker, a skill I’ve applied in every academic or professional responsibility I’ve had since graduating. I found my passion for writing at Prep from my time in the  newspaper class, and I developed a love of reading thanks to a long line of great English teachers.”

Brendon Gray

Class of 2016

Attending Carnegie Mellon University
for Public Policy and Management M.A.
Economics B.A. & Political Science B.A.

“Above all, Prep made me a strong critical thinker, a skill I’ve applied in every academic or professional responsibility I’ve had since graduating. I found my passion for writing at Prep from my time in the  newspaper class, and I developed a love of reading thanks to a long line of great English teachers.”

Joe Martinez Class of 2017 Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Geospatial Science, U.S. Air Force Academy “My time at Sandia Prep greatly influenced my time in college by setting the foundation for me to succeed. Prep teachers not only greatly contributed to helping me in academics but also with learning many life lessons, such as how to professionally interact with others and overcome obstacles.”

Joe Martinez

Class of 2017

Pilot, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
Geospatial Science, U.S. Air Force Academy

“My time at Sandia Prep greatly influenced my time in college by setting the foundation for me to succeed. Prep teachers not only greatly contributed to helping me in academics but also with learning many life lessons, such as how to professionally interact with others and overcome obstacles.”

Rachel Fleddermann Class of 2014 Medical Student, UNM School of Medicine Biology B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison “The leadership skills I learned at Prep are still serving me well today as I navigate medical school.”

Rachel Fleddermann

Class of 2014

Medical Student, UNM School of Medicine
Biology B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

“The leadership skills I learned at Prep are still serving me well today as I navigate medical school.”

Christina Pacheco Class of 2013 Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner B.S. and M.S. in Nursing "The critical thinking and study skills I learned while at Sandia Prep helped me excel academically, but my relationships with my fellow classmates and teachers taught me compassion, empathy, curiosity, and drive."

Christina Pacheco

Class of 2013

Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner
B.S. and M.S. in Nursing

"The critical thinking and study skills I learned while at Sandia Prep helped me excel academically, but my relationships with my fellow classmates and teachers taught me compassion, empathy, curiosity, and drive."

Juhee Patel Class of 2016 Medical student at UNM School of Medicine B.S. in Biology “Sandia Prep gave me the skills of great communication, integrity, and confidence. The safe and nurturing environment of Prep was such a privilege to have as I was growing up.”

Juhee Patel

Class of 2016

Medical student at UNM School of Medicine
B.S. in Biology

“Sandia Prep gave me the skills of great communication, integrity, and confidence. The safe and nurturing environment of Prep was such a privilege to have as I was growing up.”

Samuel Albert Class of 2014 Working for award-winning architecture firms in Finland and Denmark, with a focus on sustainability B.A. in Architecture “As a student at Prep, I was able to try a bit of everything. I’ve taken those experiences into my college education and into my career as a designer and an architect, where I continue to explore my interests in art, engineering, philosophy, and history.”

Samuel Albert

Class of 2014

Working for award-winning architecture firms in Finland and Denmark, with a focus on sustainability
B.A. in Architecture

“As a student at Prep, I was able to try a bit of everything. I’ve taken those experiences into my college education and into my career as a designer and an architect, where I continue to explore my interests in art, engineering, philosophy, and history.”