Student Accomplishments

2023-24 Kinard Middle School band members in a group photo.
2023-24 Kinard Middle School Symphonic Band members who performed at CMEA.

 

Excelling in academics and activities

PSD students exceed in numerous ways in the classroom academically and in extracurricular activities that involve art, music, theater, athletics, and other competitions including science, history, debate, writing and more! 

2024-25 Accomplishments and Recognitions

Timnath Middle-High School student Drake Jenkins was honored by the Denver Health Paramedic Division for his herioc action of quicly assisting in a situation involving an elderly woman who was dragged under her moving car. He brought the car to a stop and assisted the person until help arrived. 

Athletics and Activities

  • The Timnath Middle-High School Girls Cross Country team won the 4A Colorado Cross Country State Championship title!
  • The Fossil Ridge High School Marching Band won their third consecutive 5A championship title at the Colorado Bandmasters Association state championships. 
  • The Fossil Ridge High School Marching Band competed in the Bands of America New Mexico Regional Championships in Las Cruces, New Mexico, earlier this fall. The FRHS Marching Band won their division (AAA) and were the Overall Regional Champions, and overall winner for Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance, and Outstanding General Effect. 

 

Class of 2024

Graduating from high school is a huge accomplishment and milestone. Congratulations to all PSD graduates! The Class of 2024 has excelled academically and earned notable scholarships and  endorsed diplomas.

  • Advanced Placement or Academic Merit endorsed-diplomas - 402 students who fulfilled requirements for an AP-endorsed diploma or received a 3.6 or higher cumulative GPA for academic merit.
  • International Baccalaureate graduates70 graduates are candidates for an IB diploma through Poudre High School's program
  • Seal of Biliteracy diplomas - 370 graduates who are highly proficient in another language and earned the credential of having a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma
  • Other endorsed diplomas - 81 graduates have fulfilled the requirements in a specific area of focus to receive an endorsement on their diploma. Areas may include:
    • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
    • Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
    • Biosciences Career Academy
    • Gifted and Talented Academy
  • Numerous scholarship awards from local organizations like the Rotary and Elks Clubs, Poudre Education Association, PSD Association of Classified Employees and Community Foundation scholarships. Thank you for supporting PSD graduates! 

 

U.S. Academy Appointments and ROTC Scholarships

  • Leo Cole, Fort Collins High School, U.S. Naval Academy
  • Eli Williams, Fossil Ridge High School, U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Orian Hunter, Fossil Ridge High School, U.S. Naval Academy
  • Easton Miller, Fossil Rdge High School, U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Keira Leistikow, Fossil Ridge High School, ROTC scholarship recipient
  • Jack Rickart, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, Navy
  • Josephine DeMaret, Rocky Mountain High School, Army ROTC scholarship, Oregon State University
  • Daniel McBride, Rocky Mountain High School, Air Force ROTC scholarship, Montana State University

 

Daniels Fund Scholarship

Daniels scholars are seniors who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life. Scholars receive funding to attend the college or university of their choice. The scholarship is supplemental to other financial resources available to the student, covering remaining expenses after other financial resources have been applied.

  • Asher Black, Liberty Common High School

 

National Hispanic Scholar

The College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program recognizes about 5,000 of the 250,000 Hispanic/Latino juniors who take college board tests. The recognition is an exceptional academic honor.

  • Citlalic Sanchez Snow, Poudre High School
  • Natalia Mellizo Kroll, Poudre High School
     

National African American Recognition Award

  • Kinsey Myrick, Poudre High School
     

National Merit Scholar Program

National Merit Scholars score in the top 1% academically. Three National Merit Scholarships are awarded: a one-time $2,500 award, a corporate-sponsored achievement scholarship or a college-sponsored merit scholarship. National Merit Scholars earn this elite designation through a two-year testing and application process. 

This list includes National Merit Scholar Finalists, Scholars and Commended Students: National Merit Scholars are selected from the finalists group. It is updated as high schools notify us of students selected.

  • Quinn Blumenthal, Poudre High School
  • Dylan Pallickara, Poudre High School
  • Owen Johnson, Poudre High School
  • Ruth Karan, Poudre High School
  • Kinsey Myrick, Poudre High School

 

Other Notable Scholarships, Recognitions

Information is submitted by schools. If you have questions, please reach out to your school. 

Compass Community Collaborative School graduates

  • Total scholarships awarded - $194,000

Fossil Ridge High School graduates

  • PSD ACE scholarships:
    • Chamberline Julian
    • Tyson Danford

Polaris Expeditionary Learning School graduates

  • Soup Cloud - merit-based scholarship
  • Braden Rigg – achievement award
  • Amelia Vidergar – Summit Scholarship
  • Aria Weiner – John F. Oberlin Scholarship

Poudre High School graduates

  • Rotary Student of the Month recognitions: 
    • Cooper Hix
    • Alison Hoodak
    • Chase Streeter
  • AP scholars:
    • Cooper Hix
    • Alison Hoodak
    • Chase Streeter
    • Jackson De la Cerda
    • Dylan Pallickara
  • PSD ACE scholarships:
    • Connor Lewis
    • Mitchelle Vaad

Rocky Mountain High School graduates

  • Jace Holley, Full ride to the University of Colorado Boulder: Women's Soccer 
  • Jack Zamora - Full ride to Arizona State University: Presidential Merit Award
  • PSD ACE scholarships:
    • Mikayla Carter
    • Lennon Huffman Proctor
    • Cooper Lilly
    • Abigail Peebles

Wellington Middle-High School graduates

  • Clint Chambers – special recognition in Agricultural Education
  • Jada Story – special recognition in Agricultural Education

2023-24 Accomplishments

  • Preston Middle School Science Olympiad Team State Champions (April 2024)
  • Lesher Middle School Advanced Chamber Orchestra and Fort Collins High School Symphony Orchestra  performed by invitation at the 2024 National Music Festival for All in Indianapolis. (March 2024)
  • Colorado Music Educator Association performing ensembles (January 2024)
    • Boltz Jazz Band 
    • Kinard Symphonic Band 
    • FRHS Wind Symphony 
    • PHS Impalaphonics Choir 
    • FRHS Tenth Bass  
    • RMHS Syrens  
  • Nikhil Ganta, Traut Elementary School student, District Oral Spelling Bee Champion (February 2024)
  • Fossil Ridge High School Marching Band, Colorado Class 5A State Champions (sixth time in school history - fall 2024)  

Athletics

  • Wrestling 5A State Wrestling Champions: Billy Greenwood (Class 5A 144) and Banks Norby (Class 5A157), (both Poudre High School)
  • Swimming:
    • 200 Free (3A): Cody Monajjem (sophomore, Wellington) - 1:52.69
    • 100 Free (5A): Ella Gaca Thiele (sophomore, Fossil Ridge) - 50.02
    • 50 Free (5A): Ella Gaca Thiele (sophomore, Fossil Ridge) - 22.98
  • Diving 5A: Sydney Ovesen (junior, Fossil Ridge) - 506.45
  • Boys Nordic Ski Individual 5-Kilometer: Cade Shortridge (Poudre High School)15 minutes 36 seconds

 

Class of 2023 Student Accomplishments

Class of 2023 Accomplishments

  • Numerous scholarship awards from local organizations like the Rotary and Elks Clubs, Poudre Education Association, PSD Association of Classified Employees and Community Foundation scholarships. Thank you for supporting PSD graduates! 
  • Advanced Placement endorsed-diplomas - 104 students who have taken numerous AP courses and fulfilled the requirements for an AP-endorsed diploma 
  • International Baccalaureate graduates - 53 graduates are candidates for an IB diploma through Poudre High School's program
  • Seal of Biliteracy diplomas - 234 graduates who are highly proficient in another language and earned the credential of having a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma
  • Other endorsed diplomas - 300+ graduates have fulfilled the requirements in a specific area of focus to receive an endorsement on their diploma. Areas may include:
    • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
    • Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
    • Biosciences Career Academy
    • Gifted and Talented Academy
    • PSD Endorsement of Academic Merit

 

Prestigious scholarships and appointments:

U.S. Academy Appointments and ROTC Scholarships

  • Kitson Cole Broadbelt, Fort Collins High School, ROTC scholarship
  • Alice Canonico, Fossil Ridge High School, ROTC scholarship
  • Bryce Olson, Fossil Ridge High School, U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Grant Samuelson, Fossil Ridge High School, U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Hunter Lipsey, LIberty Common High School, offered U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy appointments
  • B. Spencer Lynch, Liberty Common High School, U.S. Military Academy
  • Jacob Wilde, Liberty Common High School, ROTC Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame 
  • Derek Luther, Rocky Mountain High School, ROTC scholarship
  • Robert Weber, Rocky Mountain High School, ROTC scholarship

 

Boettcher Foundation Scholarship

  • Kerem Gurkan, Fossil Ridge High School

 

Daniels Fund Scholarship

  • Zane Kondratieff, Fossil Ridge High School 
  • Mason Sanfilippo, Liberty Common High School

 

National Hispanic Scholar

  • Benjamin Kosacz, Fossil Ridge High School
  • Kylie Perez, Fossil Ridge High School
  • Liana Rodriguez, Fossil Ridge High School
  • Pietra Colacrai Arikita, Fossil Ridge High School
  • Ana Meschievitz-Roman, Poudre High School
  • Daniel Gutierrez, Poudre High School
  • Pablo Kulisheck-Lopez, Poudre High School
  • Sophia Bennett, Poudre High School
  • Sophia Rose Kirby, Poudre High School
  • Kolbe Alonzo, Rocky Mountain High School  
  • Oneida Lepe, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Caleb Bischof, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Grace Colip, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Benito MacEachran, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Timothy  Fischer, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Robert Fuerte, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Ahnika Torres, Rocky Mountain High School 
  • David Dean Tostes-Ribeiro McLaughlin, Rocky Mountain High School       
  • Jude ODaniel, Rocky Mountain High School
  • Laura Sanchez Unda, Rocky Mountain High School  

 

National Merit Scholar Program

  • Jack Carpenter, Fort Collins High School
  • Rahul Ghosh, Fossil Ridge High School
  • Henry Johnston, Poudre High School
  • Annika Beighey, Poudre High School 
  • Auden Fremstad, Poudre High School 
  • Theo Kuehn, Poudre High School 
  • Parker Volesky, Poudre High School 
  • Alden Vieira, Rocky Mountain High School

 

More Notable Scholarships By School

  • Centennial High School graduates: 
    • Amris Fernandez, Poudre Association of School Executives Scholarship
    • Lizbeth Fuentes Zamora, Poudre Retired School Employees Association and Poudre Association of School Executives Scholarship
    • Ramon Hernandez, Poudre Retired School Employees Association and Poudre Association of School Executives Scholarships
    • Christian Lopez, Poudre Retired School Employees Association Scholarship
    • Reagan Richardson, Elks Vocational Scholarship
  • Fort Collins High School graduates: 
    • Bryn Erickson, Quest Bridge Scholarship
  • Fossil Ridge High School graduates:
    • Sophie Wang, Coca Cola Scholarship
  • Poudre High School graduates:
    • Bianka Kodrich Saavedra, Amazon Future Engineer Scholar 
    • Kira Osborne, Poudre High School, National Indigenous Award
    • Phoenix Wall, Poudre High School, National Indigenous Award
  • Rocky Mountain High School graduates (scholarships for academics, arts, leadership or service):
    • Owen Geiss, full-tuition scholarship
    • Zoe Glenn, full-tuition scholarship
    • Morgan Roscoe, full-tuition scholarship
    • Arya Shaffe, full-tuition scholarship
    • Riley Stone, full-tuition scholarship

 

Additional 2022-23 Outstanding Accomplishments

  • 2022 Boys Individual Class 5A Cross Country State Champion - Christian Groendyk, Fort Collins High School 
  • 2023 5A Golf State Champions - Fossil Ridge High School Boys Golf Team (Austin Barry, Landon Houska, Grant Samuelson, Kaden Davenport)
  • 2022-23 Esports Colorado Champions:
    • Super Smash Bros Ultimate – Rocky Mountain High School
    • Mario Kart – Rocky Mountain High School
  • 2023 Colorado Science Olympiad Middle School Champions - Preston Middle School
  • ThesCon Mainstage Selection for their performance of Chicago – Fort Collins High School Theater Club 
  • Poudre High School Thespians received a superior rating for their individual performance/presentation and qualification to present at the International Thespian Festival in June. PHS students honored: Noura Benessa (costume design), Shannya Knudsen (costume design), Erin Hayhow (scenic design)  

    More Student Accomplishments

    2021-22 Outstanding Accomplishments

    • Fossil Ridge High School wins state Knowledge Bowl
    • Fossil Ridge High School and Preston Middle School win state Science Olympiad
    • Nine PSD Odyssey of the Mind teams to compete at world finals
    • Rocky Mountain High School won the Rocket League Colorado Esports state championship in December 2021. Rocky also earned the Super Smash Brothers Colorado Esports state championship title.(Winter 2022)
    • Top PSD spellers move on to state bee (January 2022)
    • PSD music ensembles selected to perform for the Colorado Music Educators Association 2022 conference (Board of Education video under "February")

     

    2021-22 Athletic Champions and Awards

    • Track and Field -  Individual state champions

      Brooke Naughton (FCHS)
      Long Jump
      Triple Jump
      High Jumpp

      Rhys Travis (PHS)
      Triple Jump

      Dontay Johnson (FCHS)
      Long Jump

      Kevin Buxvoort (RMHS)
      Discus

      Laura Davis (FCHS)
      Shot Put

    • Boys Swim & Dive -  Individual state champions

      Jack Ballard (FCHS)
      500 Freestyle
      200 Freestyle

      Carter Ruthven (FRHS)
      100 Butterfly

    • Poudre High School girls tennis team presented the "Sportsmanship" award at the end of the state tournament in May 2022

    • Fossil Ridge High School girls swim athletes state champions
      • 5A 400 Yd Free Relay - Renee Gillilan, Sydnee O'Neil,  Kenadie Glasgow, Lucy Bell 
      • 5A 100 Yd Free - Lucy Bell 
      • 5A 100 Yd Butterfly - Renee Gillilan 
      • 5A 200 Yd IM - Lucy Bell 
    • RMHS Freshman Jake McDill, Colorado state champion in the freshman mountain biking finals in Durango

    Contact Information

    PSD Communications
    Debra Hooker | 970.490.3549 | dhooker@psdschools.org