Awards Ceremony Celebrates Student Achievements

May 20th, 2026

Sandia Prep held its 2026 awards ceremony last Friday and celebrated the accomplishments of an impressive number of students. Here is a rundown of the award winners.

The College Board’s National Recognition Program is designed to recognize high school students who score in the top 10 percent of the junior PSAT/NMSQT test takers in their school or are first-generation test takers.

The Class of 2026 Scholars are:

Madelyn Biddle ’26
Humdan Qureshi ’26
Jonah Gutow ’26
Isaac Reedy ’26
Hannah Leng ’26
Noah Rendon ’26
Josiah Lieb ’26
Adalyn Thompson ’26
Jonas Mahboub ’26
Lucy Tyroler ’26
Malcolm McJimsey ’26
John Wegrzynek ’26
Ethan Meade ’26
Madeline Weisler ’26

The Class of 2027 Scholars are:

Roman Castro ’27
Josiah Henderson ’27
Love Laing Chavez ’27
Logan Lemons ’27
Marley Crump ’27
Matilda Scobee ’27
Brazill Dornburg ’27
Eliot Treme ’27
Linden Groves ’27
Zara Trafton-Holley ’27

Merit Scholars: Becoming a National Merit Scholarship Finalist means the student's PSAT scores are in the top 1% of the nation’s test takers. Only approximately 15,000 students across the entire United States achieve this status. In the Class of 2026, Sandia Prep has five National Merit Scholarship Finalists. They are

Jonah Gutow ’26
Hannah Leng ’26
Malcolm McJimsey ’26
Humdan Qureshi ’26
Lucy Tyroler ’26

Among the five students, one student was chosen to receive a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship award. That student is:

Hannah Leng ’26

The Manuel Lujan Excellence in Education Award winner recognizes graduating seniors from high schools in central New Mexico. The recipient receives a $500 per year scholarship over four years for use at any university or college in New Mexico.

Winner: Michael Romero ’26

The Ellen Ann Ryan Scholarship was established by multiple donors in memory of Ellen Ann Lembke Ryan ’41, a beloved alum of the original Sandia School and a founding leader of Sandia Prep. The scholarship honors her legacy of academic excellence, leadership and community service by supporting students who embody those same values. Ellen Ann’s impact continues to inspire generations of Prep students.

Winner: Stella Lucero ’30

The Durán Family Trust Scholarships of $1,500 for three graduating seniors reflects the Durán family’s lasting commitment to Sandia Prep and its students. As parents of alumni Sevilla ’20, Tatianna ’07 and Bronson ’10, the Duráns have remained active in our community even after their children graduated, continuing to show their belief in the value of a Prep education. Through their generosity, this scholarship supports graduating seniors as they take their next step toward college. We are grateful for the Durán family’s continued connection, commitment and meaningful investment in our students.

Winners: Remedios Butcher ’26, Sebastian McMullin ’26 and Eva Silva ’26

The Kenyon College Presidential Book Award is presented to a junior who embodies the highest level of intellectual engagement, creativity and commitment to community. The winner of this award receives a year-long subscription to The Kenyon Review, one of the most prestigious literary journals in the world.

Winner: Marley Crump ’27

English Awards

The English Department chose two students--an eighth grader and a senior--who approach the curriculum with intellectual independence. These students engage passionately in literary discourse, read inquisitively, and write with enthusiasm and purpose.

Middle School Award Winner: Liam Yarrington ’30
Upper School Award Winner: Ryder Tregembo ’26

The Bausch & Lomb Award: The Bausch & Lomb Corporation of Rochester, New York, recognizes a junior for “outstanding academic achievement and superior intellectual promise in the field of science.” Recipients of this award will receive up to $20,000 total scholarship over four years at The University of Rochester.

Winner: Elsa Garcia-Wesley ’27

The Rensselaer Medal, first presented in 1916, recognizes a junior who has demonstrated strong academic achievement in math and science. The winner is eligible for a $40,000 per year scholarship at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Winner: Linden Groves ’27

The Osuna Nursery Science & Math Award, generously funded by Osuna Nursery, is a cash award recognizing two students with great potential in both math and science. Each student will receive $250.

Upper School Award Winner: John Wegrzynek ’26
Middle School Award Winner: Aida Hubenthal ’30

The Osuna Nursery Science & Math Award includes a science or math faculty member.

Winner: Ernie Polansky

The Degenhardt Award

Paula Degenhardt taught science at Sandia Prep for 22 years, from the school’s founding in 1966 until 1988. She is remembered as a passionate, dedicated educator who held exceptionally high standards for her students, a teacher who was tough, but fair and fun. The Degenhardt Award, named in her honor, recognizes a student with deep passion and high achievement in science. The recipient receives a $500 award.

Winner: Maddy Weisler ’26

The Joe and Margaret Michael Science Award is presented to honor a senior who has shown excellence in the academic areas of science or engineering, and will continue their studies in this area in college.

Winner: Isaac Reedy ’26

Visual Arts Awards

Middle School Award Winner: Reily Neubrand ’30
Upper School Award Winner: Marley Crump ’27

Modern Language

The Sandia Prep Seal of Biliteracy honors students who have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in two or more languages through our Modern Language Department. This prestigious recognition celebrates linguistic achievement and cross-cultural competence.

Recipients: Remedios Butcher ’26, Nalla Nakigan ’26, Hanna Leng ’26 and Maddy Weisler ’26

Music Awards

Middle School Music Award Winner: Gillian DeVries ’31
Upper School Music Award Winner: Gabe Lucero ’27

Performing Arts Awards

Middle School Award Winner: Sophia Quintana ’30
Upper School Award Winner: Sabrina Stefanovic ’26

The Nancy and Laverne Miller Art Award is presented in their memory by their grandchildren who are both Sandia Prep graduates. This award is given to an outstanding senior who will be studying visual arts or graphic design in college.

Winner: Mary Otero ’26

Digital Media and Communications Awards

Middle School Award Winner: Nadia Ruetschilling ’30
Upper School Award Winner: Skyla Johnson ’26

PE Award

Winner: Ada Davis ’30

Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) Awards

The Outdoor Leadership Program’s bronze medals acknowledge seniors who have been in OLP the last four years. The gold medals are for seniors who have completed 10 or more OLP trips. Each medal includes the senior's name as well as their Camping Associate (CA) number, which indicates how many CAs have come before them in the program. The senior CA with the most trips will have an asterisk on their medal and receive an REI gift card for being the top CA of their class. That honor went to Augustine Jackson Miller ’26.

The other gold medallion winners were:

Michael Romero ’26

Lauren Wilkerson ’26

Ella Schaller ’26

Nalla Nakigan ’26

The bronze medallion winners were:

Meredith Staples ’26

Sasha Hanson ’26

Ryder Tregembo ’26

Madeline Weisler ’26

Addyson Combs ’26

History Department Awards

The Ron Briley Award for excellence in history is awarded to a senior who exemplifies the qualities of scholarship, academic curiosity, and commitment to the study of history, all with a sense of joy and humor.

Winner: Spencer Rougemont ’26

Kinetic Kares Scholarship

Sandia Prep is proud to recognize the recipients of the Kinetic Kares Scholarship, an award established by alumni Ali Hashemian '01 and Betsey Hume '01 through their nonprofit organization, Kinetic Kares. Each current scholar received a $5,000 award last year to support their interest in finance and small business.These scholars are once again being granted this award. We are grateful for Ali and Betsey’s investment in the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

Recipients: Jane English ’27, Ozzibella Rockey ’28, Ingrid Hurley ’28 and Madeliene Holler ’29

Bridges Faculty Award

The Bridges Faculty Award, endowed by the Bridges family, recognizes a faculty member for excellence in classroom teaching, contribution to the school community, and dedication to working with students.

Winner: Mary Nakigan

The Kwak Award honors the life of Aaron Kwak who attended Prep as a middle school student. His class, the Class of 1996, dedicated a plaque in his memory. You can find it in the grove of trees between Labs 7 and 8. The Kwak Award honors a mid-school student who shares Aaron’s spirit of compassion and sense of humor.

Winner: Gracy Garcia ’30

The Middle School Award is a distinguished recognition that celebrates a middle school student, chosen by the faculty, who embodies the qualities of scholarship, service and spirit.

Winner: Liam Yarrington ’30

The Felicia Ellis Memorial Award celebrates an upper school student, chosen by the faculty, for exceptional contributions to the life and leadership of Sandia Prep.

Winner: Addyson Combs ’26

The Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms Award

Each year, the upper school students vote for the Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms Award given to an upper school student who represents Sandia Prep’s ideal student in three areas: academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Winner: Ryder Tregembo ’26

The Head of School Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated passion, purpose, initiative and steadfast motivation to achieve success. This student also demonstrates the qualities of integrity, kindness and positive support of fellow students.