Sundevil News

Awards Ceremony Celebrates Student Achievements

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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.

Winner: Gabby Sauerman ’26

Sandia Prep’s Odyssey Scholars from the class of 2026 are:

Jonah Gutow '26, Oliver Rich-Jackson '26, Anja Stefanovic '26, Madeline Weisler '26, Finnian Forsyth '26 and Benjamin Hanson '26.

Sandia Prep’s Distinguished Scholars Program recognizes those students who embrace

learning on an advanced level. Distinguished Scholars graduate with 28 or more credits

and earn an overall 3.5 GPA or higher. Additionally, they earn a 3.5 GPA or higher in one or

more academic disciplines and meet advanced qualifications in those subject areas. They are:

Peter Archuleta (Math, Science)

Remedios Butcher (Modern Language)

Addy Combs (Science, Visual Arts)

Seth Cordova (Math)

Kindell Custer (Math)

Riley Epstein (Math, Science)

Jonah Gutow (Math)

Sasha Hanson (Science)

Landon Hardcastle (Math, Science)

Sutton Hatchell (Math)

Elizabeth Johnson (Math, Science, Visual Arts)

Skyla Johnson (Math, DMC)

Hannah Leng (Math, Science)

Malcolm McJimsey (Math, Science, DMC)

Sebastian McMullin (History, Math)

Ethan Meade (Math, Science)

Cori Monaghan (DMC)

Nalla Nakigan (Modern Language)

Kassia Ohlsen (Math, Honorary English)

Humdan Qureshi (Math, Science)

Olivia Rack (History, Math, Science)

Isaac Reedy (Math Science)

Noah Rendon (Science)

Oliver Rich-Jackson (Math, DMC)

Maddox Rios Bruner (Math)

Kaylin Rodriguez (Math)

Vivian Roman (Math)

Spencer Rougemont (History, Math)

Duke Sanchez (Math)

Gabby Sauerman (Math, Science)

Ella Schaller (Math, Science)

Eva Silva (Math, Science)

Meredith Staples (Math, Science)

Anja Stefanovic (Visual Arts)

Mila Stefanovic (Visual Arts)

Sabrina Stefanovic (Performing Arts)

Adalyn Thompson (Science)

Ryder Tregembo (Math, Honorary English)

Lucy Tyroler (History, Math, Science)

Cole Updegraff (Math, Science)

John Wegrzynek (Math, Science)

Maddy Weisler (Math, Science, Honorary English)

Lauren Wilkerson (Math, Visual Arts)

Lola Yarrington (Visual Arts, Honorary English)

Prep Robotics Program Rockets to International Success in Just Two Years

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

What began as a new robotics initiative has quickly accelerated into one of Sandia Prep’s fastest-growing success stories, with students earning awards at state, national and international competitions within the program’s first two years.

This summer, Prep’s middle school robotics team will travel to Ontario, Canada, to represent New Mexico in the Canada Cup of Robotics First Lego League International Finals.

Along the way, students are gaining hands-on experience in engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence while learning how technology interacts with the real world.

“By integrating robotics into education, schools prepare students with the skills they need for future careers and an increasingly technology-driven society,” explains Prep teacher and Robotics Coach JennyLou Pangilinan-Riel.

The program’s rapid ascent began when Pangilinan-Riel joined Prep in August 2024 and launched a middle school robotics activity club that also attracted upper school students. In a remarkably short time, the team progressed from simply participating in competitions to hosting events and earning major awards.

Among the highlights:

In fall 2024, students qualified for the international RoboJam All Stars World Finals and finished sixth overall.
By spring 2025, Prep students had earned an Honorable Mention in ExploraVision and multiple awards at the New Mexico Botball Regional Tournament, including Third Place Overall, the KISS Award, Judges Choice, and First Place Double Elimination.
Prep also quickly became a leader within the state robotics community, earning a 50 percent scholarship grant for Botball participation and being selected to host a regional qualifying tournament just months after entering the competition circuit.
In summer 2025, the team won Rookie of the Year at the Globacl Conference on Educational Robotics (GCER) Botball Internationals in Oklahoma.
During the 2025-26 school year, students earned multiple top finishes in the RoboRAVE International Virtual League, including first-, second- and third-place finishes in their division.
Prep’s First Lego League team emerged as one of the strongest programs in the state, winning Robot Design Awards at both qualifying and state competitions, placing fifth overall at state, and qualifying for the international finals in Canada.
Students also found success in combat robotics, earning a first-place overall finish at the 2026 Miner Mayhem Battle Bot competition.
Prep’s upper school team is also one of just 10 schools participating in the New Mexico Artificial Intelligence Academy.

This school year, Pangilinan-Riel expanded the program by introducing a competitive robotics class for eighth graders, giving students additional time during the school day to prepare for competitions. More students also joined the twice-weekly robotics activity group.

In September, class and club members competed in RoboRAVE International Virtual League 2, which featured 92 participants from 11 countries. The event concluded in December with two Prep students tying for second place overall in the middle school A-Maze-ing Race category, where students use block coding or JavaScript through the RoboSense platform to guide a virtual robot through a maze in the shortest possible time.

In January, the entire robotics class competed in the First Lego League Farmington Qualifier. Students were challenged to develop innovative solutions to problems faced by archaeologists, present their ideas to judges, demonstrate teamwork and professionalism, and code robots capable of completing tasks on a competition table.

The PrepTech Robotics Team was named one of six teams to qualify for the New Mexico First Lego League State Championships and earned the Robot Design Award. The team ultimately finished fifth out of 24 teams and became the New Mexico representative selected to compete in Canada.

Though new to Prep, Pangilinan-Riel has been teaching computer science and robotics since 2008. An active member of the Philippine Robotics Team, she also serves as director of RoboJam Asia and as a consultant for Code Concepts, the developer of the RoboRAVE International virtual competition platform.

Pangilinan-Riel believes the students’ robotics experiences will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

“I hope that the students who are interested in engineering, computer science and robotics have hands-on experience in the field of robotics to help them validate their career pathway,” she says. “I want them to realize that knowledge without real-life and practical experience is not enough for them to see if they would really like to pursue a career in the field of robotics or engineering.”

She also encourages students to challenge themselves in competitive environments “to assess themselves mentally, socially and emotionally so they can see what else they need to learn to do better and be more successful.”

For seventh-grader Sam Repik ’31, learning to design and code autonomous competition robots has been eye-opening. Robots do not always behave as expected. Pieces go missing. Code fails. Progress can be slow. And teamwork takes practice.

“I’ve learned that it’s harder working with a team, but working with a team you can get more done in total, and even though it might be harder, the reward is greater,” he said.

Repik plans to continue robotics next year while also taking advanced upper school computer science courses as an eighth grader. He hopes to pursue engineering and software development in the future.

Pangilinan-Riel has been especially proud of how quickly her students have embraced new challenges.

“All of our past competitions started with just learning about a certain event and how it works, but due to the strong mindset and competitive nature of the team, we always end up winning each one of them,” she said. “I also love how the parent group grew and have always been our backbone and logistics support.”

Looking ahead, students are beginning to form an Upper School Drone Soccer Team with hopes of competing next year.

In addition to this summer’s competition in Canada, Prep’s robotics team has received invitations to events in Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Korea. Pangilinan-Riel envisions Prep eventually becoming a robotics hub in New Mexico and potentially serving as a training center for educators in the field.

In just two years, Prep’s robotics program has grown from a new extracurricular activity into a nationally competitive team earning regional titles, international qualifications and major design awards -- while helping students build resilience, curiosity, collaboration and confidence along the way.

Robotics students working

Robotics student working

Prep Alum Makes Hockey History

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Sandia Prep alum Stanley Hubbard II ’23 recently became the first men’s hockey player developed entirely in New Mexico to commit to an NCAA school at any level.

Hubbard -- a 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward -- announced his commitment to play Division 1 hockey next season at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Penn., near Pittsburgh. Hubbard is an alternate captain for the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Hubbard is also the first New Mexican to compete at the D1 level in hockey.

Hubbard credits Prep with helping him to achieve this milestone. "I am very excited to be playing Division I hockey at Robert Morris University next year,” he said. “I want to thank Mr. Jeffries and the teachers at Sandia Prep for helping me to get there. They were amazingly supportive and went above and beyond to help me stay on track. They wanted to see me succeed as much as anyone."

His brother Ryan Hubbard ’26 has committed to play adaptive hockey at Penn State.

You can read the Albuquerque Journal story here.

Sandia Prep grad Stanley Hubbard II '23 commits to Robert Morris University

Prep Hires New Director of Enrollment

Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

We are happy to introduce Adrian Wallen, Sandia Prep's new Director of Enrollment. Adrian comes to Prep most recently from FEMA. He served as a Claims Navigator, helping people who suffered losses in the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fire.

Previous to his federal service, he was the Assistant Director of Admissions at St. John's College in Santa Fe. His duties at St. John’s included overseeing recruitment outreach efforts, advising students and their families, and developing reports to communicate enrollment data. This experience in his 10 years at St. John’s matches the qualities of the Director of Enrollment that we have been searching for. He is enthusiastic about recruiting and has ideas to promote our school to the larger Albuquerque community.

In addition to his previous work experience, Adrian has been teaching and performing improvisational comedy for over 20 years. He has appeared at The Box Performance Space in downtown Albuquerque since the theater opened. He was also the Artistic Director at Santa Fe Improv. These experiences have contributed to his outgoing and gregarious personality.

Join us in welcoming Mr. Wallen to the Prep community!

Adrian Wallen, Sandia Prep's new Director of Enrollment

Prep Student Admitted to Prestigious University of New Mexico's BA-MD program

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Sandia Prep senior Hannah Leng '26 has many achievements. She is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, an accomplished pianist who played at Carnegie Hall, captain of the Sandia Prep Swim Team, and soon she will add the title of "Doctor" to her name. After gaining admission offers from competitive colleges around the country, including the University of Virginia, Georgia Tech, UT-Austin, Case Western Reserve University and others, Hannah received a golden ticket admission offer to the University of New Mexico's BA-MD program. Only 28 students are accepted into this program each year.

The UNM BA-MD program provides a direct pathway for New Mexico high school students to earn a Bachelor's degree and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, offering a reserved seat in the highly-ranked UNM School of Medicine. It focuses on addressing the state's physician shortage by offering mentoring, a unique Health, Medicine & Human Values curriculum, the Last Dollar Scholarship, and guaranteed entry for students committed to serving rural and underserved communities. You can read more about the program here.

Congratulations on this prestigious accomplishment, Hannah!

Senior Hannah Leng '26

Sandia Prep Team Claims First Place at NMSU Innoventure Challenge

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

The Design & Innovation Department at Sandia Prep is built on a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. By bridging different fields of study, we provide students with a "real-world" professional experience—mimicking the dynamics of an engineer working with a programmer or an entrepreneur leading a technical team.

This year, that collaborative spirit reached a new milestone. Students from Arren Buck’s Mechatronics class joined forces with Daniel de León’s Entrepreneurial Studies class to compete in the New Mexico State University Arrowhead Entrepreneurial Center’s Innoventure Challenge. The year-long competition requires teams to engineer a functional prototype for a significant problem and develop a comprehensive business plan to bring that product to market. To reach the finals, Sandia Prep’s three teams had to outperform 33 other high schools from across New Mexico and El Paso through three rigorous rounds of competition.

In a dominant showing, Sandia Prep secured three of the six finalist spots at the main event. This year’s challenge tasked students with designing a prototype to provide cooling and reduce heat stress for humans or animals outdoors. Team Maddox—comprised of Maddox Rios-Bruner '26, Cole Updegraff '26 and Josiah Henderson '27—took home First Place honors. Their winning entry featured a series of wearable cooling prototypes, including a specialized vest and backpack attachment utilizing advanced cooling technology. In addition to the title, each team member was awarded an iPad. This victory marks Sandia Prep’s second appearance in the finals since 2019. We are incredibly proud of all our participants. Congratulations, Team Maddox!

Team Maddox

Prep Alum Signs with Pro Soccer Team

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Sandia Prep alum Miles Merritt ’23 recently signed with the Ventura County Fusion professional soccer team.

Merritt will play with the team for the summer and then return to Michigan State University for his senior season.

Merritt came to Prep as a sixth grader. “Soccer was his life and still is,” said Prep Boys Varsity Soccer Coach Tommy Smith. “He played for me his ninth- and 10th-grade years and was an All State player as a sophomore.”

Prep’s soccer team took state that year, Smith added.

Merritt was “an all around good kid and leader” who was dedicated from Day 1 to soccer and to being a possible college/pro-level player, Smith said.

In his junior and senior years, Merritt was selected to play for the New Mexico United Academy team. At that time, players could not play for anyone else while on the United team, Smith explained.

After graduating from Prep, Merritt played for The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

This year, he played at Michigan State and has one more year of eligibility.

Merritt credits Prep for helping shape him into the student-athlete he is today. “My time at Prep was filled with every teacher invested in me and providing resources in order for me to grow and chase my dream,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough.”

Congratulations, Miles!

Sandia Prep Collaborates with Landmark Musicals on Mary Poppins

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Sandia Prep is once again collaborating with Landmark Musicals on a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" production.

Disney's Mary Poppins begins this weekend and stars numerous Prep students, faculty, parents and alumni.

One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney's Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that, "Anything can happen if you let it."

Disney's Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breath-taking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft.

Showtimes are:

Saturday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, at 2:00 p.m. (Relaxed Performance)*
Friday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 p.m.

*Relaxed performance - The March 22 matinee will be a relaxed performance, intended to be sensitive to, and accepting of, audience members who may benefit from a gentler theater environment. These performances are open to all; however, they are intentionally modified to accommodate patrons with sensory and vestibular sensitivities, anxiety, dementia, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences, or challenges attending the theater.

Purchase tickets here.

Students Discover the Power of Purposeful Design

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

A small piece of furniture helped Sandia Prep students make a big difference for families in need.

During the first semester, students in the Industrial Design class designed and built step stools that were later donated to Saranam, a local organization dedicated to “empowering families to end their homelessness and poverty through housing, education and supportive community.”

Industrial Design is one of Prep’s Impact Classes, part of the school’s Impact Lab -- an innovative hub for community engagement and real-world learning. Open to students in grades 6-12, the program goes beyond traditional community service by teaching leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration through hands-on projects and partnerships with local organizations.

The idea for the stools grew out of teacher Waseem Touma’s connection with Sunny Holmes, community engagement coordinator at Saranam.

“I remembered she mentioned something about the families there having little ones and could use step stools,” he recalled.

Students began by learning how to safely use classroom machinery and how to design, mill, assemble, and finish their pieces with stain or paint. But the project required more than technical skill -- it demanded empathy and thoughtful design.

“They had to take into consideration who it was for, so being for kids, it had to be light enough to lift, no sharp edges, handles to carry, and stable enough for the parent to use as well,” Touma explained. “With all the requirements needed, they still had the opportunity to design it how they wanted, leading to individually designed step stools instead of 15 identical pieces.”

Before building the final versions, students created half-scale models to refine their ideas and techniques. The mini stools were not only practical prototypes -- they were also “really cute!” he proclaimed. After testing and revising their designs, students scaled them up to create full-sized, functional pieces that blended craftsmanship with creativity.

“For me, the key to these impact classes is to give back to the community,” Touma said.

For several students, the experience proved more meaningful than they anticipated.

“I think the project was more meaningful than I expected at the start,” said sophomore Keegan Price ’28. “I’m not always super into hands-on projects, but knowing it had a real purpose made it different.”

Realizing that his step stool could help someone reach a cabinet or make it easier for a child to reach the sink to wash their hands was especially gratifying, Price added.

“It also showed me that impact doesn’t always have to be something big or dramatic -- sometimes it’s just about making something solid, useful, and safe for someone else,” he said.

Senior Addyson Combs ’26 said the project “taught me to think critically and view the designs of the stool from a child's perspective and an adult's at the same time, to ensure that it will be a functional one for families.”

Having a clear purpose kept her motivated throughout the process.

“I hope that as a class we learned about remembering the meaning behind why we made these stools and will keep that in mind for future projects, that no matter the challenges, it will be worth it because we are doing it for a good cause,” she said.

Sophomore Ingrid Hurley ’28 said she valued learning more about Saranam’s mission.

“I hope this project will impact the families by giving them furniture for their houses and also by giving them a little bit of hope through knowing that the community is there for them and wants to help them out in any way possible,” she said.

Hurley also appreciated the opportunity to immediately apply new skills in a meaningful way.

“I am very glad we are using the class to connect the woodworking skills we learned to actually help out the community in need,” she said.

Sandia Prep Partners with Stanford’s Challenge Success to Strengthen Student Well-Being

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Few issues in schools today are more complicated than cell phone use.

They distract students, can serve as conduits for bullying, and may aggravate isolation and mental health struggles. At the same time, they can be important tools for safety, connection, and learning support.

Sandia Prep is one of three schools nationwide selected to partner with Challenge Success, a program from Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, to help develop a toolkit for schools worldwide to create and implement effective cell phone policies.

The cell phone conversation is part of a broader effort to examine how Prep and its families can better promote student well-being and engagement. Alongside two California schools -- La Cañada High School in Flintridge and Legacy Magnet Academy in Tustin -- Prep is working with Challenge Success to analyze school systems, survey students, provide parent education, and explore changes that foster balance and fulfillment in students’ lives.

The team is studying topics such as schedule and time demands, motivation, assessment, school climate, anxiety, and learning conditions -- and how these factors influence student health and well-being.

“Challenge Success is about creating a world where teachers and students feel heard and supported in their daily lives,” explains Prep sophomore Jill Barrett ’28, who attended a fall conference at Stanford with fellow students and faculty.

Student Leadership and Collaboration

Prep’s student team -- selected through an essay process -- includes Linden Groves ’27, Elizabeth Lewis ’27, Jill Barrett ’28, Elle Gordon ’29, and Landon Maestas ’30. Faculty and staff participants include Dean of Student Life Brian Tregembo, Assistant Head of School for Middle School Susi Hochrein, School Psychologist Dr. Amber L. Hayes, and history teacher Tom Gentry-Funk.

At Stanford, the group worked with a coach to develop strategies for gathering student voice and attended workshops on high-achiever stress, academic and athletic burnout, and increasing belonging.

Barrett is optimistic about the initiative’s impact. “I think it will change Prep for the better by creating a more welcoming environment where people aren’t afraid to ask for help when they’re struggling, and also to give Prep a more student voice,” she said.

Eighth grader Landon Maestas ’30 said he felt personally connected to the work. “I know how stressful school can be with grades, expectations, or just fitting in,” he says.

For junior Linden Groves ’27, the focus on sleep deprivation stood out. “I believe this program provides the opportunity for our community to more easily make data-driven and customized decisions to benefit our school,” he added.

What the Data Revealed

In November, upper school students completed the Challenge Success–Stanford Survey of School Experiences. Results highlighted both strengths and challenges:

82% of Prep students reported at least one stress-related health symptom in the previous month, such as exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, headaches, or stomach problems.
Only 9% reported feeling “very confident” in their ability to cope with stress.
Students averaged seven hours of sleep per night, and 79% sleep with their phone in their room.
79% reported a trusted connection with an adult at school; 91% reported a trusted connection with at least one other student.
89% reported being fully engaged behaviorally, cognitively, and affectively, meaning they put a lot of effort into their schoolwork, find it to be meaningful, and enjoy what they are doing.
Students listed major stressors as grades, tests, workload, homework, and procrastination/time management.
48.8% check grades online daily.
65% report “too much” homework, and 60.9% believe reducing the homework load would improve the student experience.

Turning Insight into Action

As part of the Challenge Success program, students have launched several initiatives.

Upper school students Elizabeth Lewis ’27, Jill Barrett ’28, and Elle Gordon ’29 introduced the “I Wish” campaign, inviting students to anonymously share messages with teachers, coaches, and trusted adults. Examples included:
“I wish my teachers knew that I only get five hours of sleep a night.”
“I wish my teachers knew that I am trying my hardest.”
“I wish my teachers knew just how long and stressful my days are.”

The team decorated mailboxes and distributed “I Wish” slips to collect responses.

Linden Groves ’27 and Landon Maestas ’30 are also working with Dr. Charles Becknell (father of Silas ’27 and Averie ’31) to host “listening-in” sessions with affinity groups, including the Black Student Union (BSU), Hispanic Heritage Club, and Native American Sandia Prep Alliance (NASPA).

Prep has continued collaborating with its two cohort schools to share ideas and support one another. In January, the school hosted Challenge Success School Partnership Coach Dr. Brandon Wiley to explore how the partnership can further support student engagement, belonging, mental health, and academic success.

Cell Phones and Community

Research continues to link adolescent cell phone use -- particularly among middle school students -- to mental health challenges.

In July, Sandia Prep communicated updated electronics policies to families. “We believe that it’s crucial for our students to be able to engage with their learning without the distraction that comes from cell phone notifications,” Head of School Heather B. Mock said in an email. “We also want to be sure our students and faculty have ample time and space to engage face-to-face, developing important connections. After all, strong relationships are at the heart of a Sandia Prep education.”

Prep’s policy will continue to evolve as the school finds new ways to help students and families manage screen time, she added.

To learn more about Challenge Success and its mission to help students lead healthy, purposeful, balanced lives, visit challengesuccess.org.