Journeys Graduation Special – Class of 2026

CONTENTS

02 The Class of 2026: At a Glance

21 University Matriculation

Ahead and Looking Back: 03 Looking Photo Gallery

23 Class of 2026 College Spotlight

11 High School Awards Assembly

25 Life After SAS: Students Spotlight

Keep In Touch With fellow Alumni The Gap: Talking Freedom and 30 Mind Fresh Starts with Cahdena Butler

@sasalumni

(Class of 2025)

@singaporeamericanschoolalumni

31 Upcoming Alumni Events 2026-27 the Date: 32 Save Alumni Reunion Weekend 2027

sas.edu.sg/alumni

© 2026 Singapore American School All rights reserved.

Graduation Commemorative Special

As the first cohort to navigate their entire high school journey in a post-pandemic world, the Singapore American School class of 2026 brought a refreshed sense of purpose, momentum, and connection to our campus. Free from past restrictions, they fully capitalized on every opportunity—distinguishing themselves in the classroom, on the stage, in athletic arenas, and through impactful service to others. Over the last four years, this remarkable class has championed our core values of compassion, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We wish our Eagles smooth transitions and happy landings as they move on to new adventures, and we know their resilience, warmth, and vibrant energy will carry them far.

Congratulations to the class of 2026!

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The growth we experienced over these four years didn’t come from a single moment, but rather from an accumulation of events. From the late nights studying for that AP Chemistry test to the seminar presentations that made your hands shake; from that Chinese test that you definitely didn’t prepare for well enough to learning how to recover when we didn’t meet our own expectations. Things that would have felt like the end of the world for ninth grade versions of ourselves became things we could tackle and somehow overcome.

Every time we adapted to a new environment, a new standard, a new version of ourselves, we were building up to be the people we are today, sitting in this room. Somewhere between then and now, we’ve become not only more capable, but more aware—not just of the world around us, but of the kind of people we are becoming within it.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER SIDNEY (NOI) JOHNSON-LARRICK (CLASS OF 2026)

The Class Of 2026 At A Glance

304

graduates in the class of 2026

Representing

32 primary passports, including:

When did they join SAS?

Average time spent at SAS (by our newest graduates)

47%

13%

9%

9%

United States

India

Singapore

China

6%

2%

2%

2%

10%

South Korea

Indonesia

Australia

Taiwan

other passports

50%

20%

joined in elementary school

joined in middle school

30% joined in high school

7.9

years

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Looking 3

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Class of 2026

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senior walk

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Class of 2026

and Looking back...

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Commencement

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Winners Honored

english Jay Jenkinson

in Awards Ceremony

mathematics Aiden Liu

Our annual high school awards assembly took place on May 26, 2026.

After summarizing each award’s history and focus, a faculty member explained how each winner embodies the award’s high ideals. Congratulations to all these students on their achievements in academics, arts, leadership, service, and sports!

Physical Education and Health Ryan Bae

Subject Area Awards These seniors were recognized by subject-area departments for their impressive content knowledge and for their demonstrated excellence in our other learning aspirations of character, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and cultural competence.

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quest Jasmeh Singh

SCIENCE Haiying (Dora) Hu

Class of 2026

social studies Jamshed (Jam) Parpia Performing Arts—theater Joshua Hodges Technology, Electives, and Capstone Kashvi Agrawal Performing Arts—band Brian Vo World Languages Isha Krishnan Performing Arts—choir Trinity Leggett VISUAL ARTS Joon Young (Stella) Yuh Performing Arts—STRINGS Dong Keon (DK) Lam Performing Arts—DANCE Reika Taira

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Seal of Biliteracy The Seal of Biliteracy is given to students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. The Seal of Biliteracy may be given by a school, district, or state, and SAS implemented its Seal of Biliteracy program in 2018–19. The SAS-designed seal appears on students’ diplomas.

Chinese and English Hinoka Adachi Alvin Cao Andrew Chan Yueh Shan Chan Yen-Yu Chen Xue-you Chen Winston Choo Victoria Chou Christiana Fraise Danning Fu Lucas John Garcia Nia Gupta Vivaan Gupta Fransiska Hadiwidjaja Matthew Hopkins

Haiying Hu Caroline Huang Tzu-Chi (Lucas) Huang Kate Yinglin Huo Isha Krishnan Christine Lee Shukun Li Raynard Liao Elliot Loh Grace Ma Zichen Mu Mirei Nakahara Yura Oh Kevin Ong Ashley Park

French and English

Lucas Dulat Jay Jenkinson Wonhee Lee Luke Nicholson

SPANISH and English

Kashvi Agrawal Diya Agrawal Diya Chopra Charles Clark Brynn Comes Claire Coppell Joshua Hodges Haiying Hu Vivian Jiang

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Tom Liu Zianya Lobana Zoe McCurry Sohrab Mehra Haven Oravec Vir Rao Pinsong Sun Yirui Wang Bruce Zhang

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Radhika Raturi Pinsong Sun Munira Takalkar Daniel Tong Isabel Therese Valte Lichi Wang Yiyi Wang James Wu Ethan Yang Seungju Yim Jisoo Yoon Doy Yun Bruce Zhang Ella Zhang

Class of 2026

EARCOS Global Citizenship Award The EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools) Global Citizen Award recognizes a junior who displays cultural competence by interacting effectively with people from all walks of life while having a sense of collective responsibility for all who inhabit the globe.

Aditya Mittal “Through his role in the Executive Service Council, he coached social equity service clubs to execute successful projects.”

Outstanding Volunteerism and Service Awards aid and accessibility Zahra Tran Butler educational for all Jayden Choi environmental Kaegan Powell New Service Club Rishabh Modi social equity Veer Sanghavi

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IASAS Scholar Awards The IASAS Scholar Award is celebrated at all six IASAS schools.

Recipients must have participated in at least two of the six IASAS events held during the current school year, must have achieved Scholars List status, and must exhibit exemplary behavior.

First-Year Recipients Anna Bruce-Quark Sam Chang Joli Ching Kaitlyn Choi Brooklynn Chow Christiana Fraise Marcus Han

Matthew Hopkins Hajin Hwang Lucy Johnson Myung-Jun Kang Addison Mendez Kian Naik Sloane Niederberger

Radhika Raturi Siddarth Ray Avi Saha Justin Shu Tegan Stewart Conner Voss Edan Wainwright

Second-Year Recipients Mani May Tirta Pepple Karolina Raba Zahra Tran Butler

Shelby Bretting Alvin Cao Cora Devens Stella Holland

Third-Year Recipients Ryan Bae Isla Niederberger Madeleine Thomson

Fourth-year Recipient Tzu-Chi (Lucas) Huang

Athlete of the Year Awards Each year, the athletic department selects two students who model the Eagle Way, demonstrate athletic excellence and leadership, and have competed in at least two varsity sports in the last two years.

Matthew Hopkins

Isla Niederberger

“A driven mindset, meticulous preparation, and the special ability to lift everyone around him."

“She doesn't just play the sport; she exemplifies the character we expect from our leaders."

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Bob Gross Student of the Year Award This award was established in 2007 in recognition of former superintendent Bob Gross. It recognizes an eleventh-grade student who best exemplifies our core values of compassion, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

mani May “She brings a sense of joy and purpose—a thoughtful, creative head and a warm, caring heart—to every class, every activity, every day.”

Chip Kimball Creativity and Innovation Awards This award, established in 2019 in recognition of former superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball, is given annually to two seniors who use creativity to solve problems, explore new ideas, and challenge existing thinking.

For the arts and humanities Claire Coppell “She sees opportunities to bring humanity into every task and takes risks bravely, fully aware of the cost.”

For science and mathematics Austin Thompson “He has enjoyed productive struggle, worked consistently, incorporated feedback, and been a constant force of positivity. ”

Taylor Saich Arts and Creativity Award This award, established in memory of Taylor Saich of the SAS class of 1999, is given to a senior who enriches the lives of others through dedication to the arts or other creative pursuits.

Joshua Hodges “His artistry is bold, but his generosity is what truly defines him.”

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David Hevey Award This award honors the late David Hevey and his lasting contributions as an SAS film teacher and educator member by celebrating a student who demonstrates creativity and communication through the photographic arts.

Kai Jie (KJ) Lau “He epitomizes the collaborative, shared joy that feeds the best of the film-making process.”

Burdell-Wood Scholar-Athlete Awards These awards recognize two seniors whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, who are models to others, and who demonstrate outstanding integrity, self-discipline, and courage. Frank Burdell and Kay Wood were SAS parent volunteers and respected members of Singapore’s American community.

Doy Yun “She reminds us that leadership is not defined by titles and team culture, but is built by people who choose others over themselves.”

Tzu-Chi (Lucas) Huang “He embraced being coached, committed himself to improvement, and grew into one of the most respected leaders in our community.”

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Scott Seator Ambassador Award

This award, established in memory of Scott Seator of the class of 1987, goes to the senior who has demonstrated the kind of critical thinking needed to solve our world’s most difficult problems and who has been involved in other cultures and contributed to making the world a better place.

Sidney (Noi) Johnson-Larrick “She reminds us that critical thinking is not simply about being intelligent, it is about using intelligence responsibly, ethically, and in service of others.”

Don Bergman Leadership Award Established in 1999 in recognition of former superintendent Dr. Don Bergman, this award is given to the senior who has demonstrated excellence in one or more facets of communication and collaboration.

Vivaan Gu “He consistently focuses on building others up and creating environments where teams succeed together.”

Outstanding Graduates Two Eagles receive the Outstanding Graduate Award each year. These awards are presented to students who have been at SAS for at least two years, excel academically, and exemplify the highest qualities of both our learning aspirations and our SAS core values.

Andrew Chan “He wants the world to be a better place, and the work he does is meant to achieve that goal.”

Bryce Ford “He does not build community in a grand or performative way—it happens daily with his generosity.”

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Blair Sonnenberg Humanitarian Award Established in memory of Blair Sonnenberg, an SAS student who passed away in 1996, this award is given to the senior who has embraced cultural competence by devoting time, energy, and talent to actively seek understanding and improve the quality of life of others.

Jamshed (Jam) Parpia “He has a rare gift for sitting in difference and just relating to people from any walk of life."

Outstanding Catalyst Award This award honors a senior who has demonstrated exceptional levels of leadership, thinking, and potential with their Catalyst project.

Gunnar Lindhjem “He managed his learning independently, sought out new technical skills, and persisted with a difficult challenge over time.”

SAS Advocate Award This award honors a senior who exemplifies our core values, who has demonstrated a deep commitment to equity and inclusion for all, and whose advocacy and actions have had a significant positive influence on our community.

Joli Ching “She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her peers feel heard, supported, and valued.”

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Cum Laude Recognition The SAS Cum Laude system recognizes students who achieve excellence in their academic pursuits over the course of their high school careers.

Adopted by SAS in 2018, these traditional Latin distinctions encourage rigorous scholarship while giving all students more incentive to work hard, embrace challenges, and explore their interests. Our three honors levels are determined by students’ cumulative high school grade point averages through the fall of senior year. We applaud the 156 graduates of the class of 2026 who graduated cum laude (with honors), magna cum laude (with high honors), or summa cum laude (with highest honors)!

Congratulations to the

74

students who graduated cum laude!

to the

to the

46

students who graduated magna cum laude!

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students who graduated summa cum laude!

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University

Matriculation

University is another step in the lifelong education process valued by the SAS community. Our graduates are impressive young adults who have prepared themselves not only for college but also for life. While the list of colleges and universities attended by our graduates is noteworthy, we recognize that this is only one measure of our success as an academic institution.

The following is the list of colleges and universities that members of the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026 have chosen to attend. We report university matriculation for the last three graduating classes in order to protect student confidentiality and provide the most accurate picture of where SAS students—including those taking gap years and completing National Service—choose to attend university.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Adrian College Arizona State University Babson College Barnard College Bates College Bellevue College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Biola University Boise State University Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brigham Young University Brigham Young University – Idaho Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University The Catholic University of America Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Colby College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Colorado College Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach Emerson College

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Emory University Florida Institute of Technology Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Haverford College Howard University Indiana University Bloomington James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Loyola Marymount University Macalester College Michigan State University Middlebury College Moraine Valley Community College Mount Holyoke College The New School New York University Norfolk State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College The Ohio State University Old Dominion University Oregon State University Oxford College at Emory University Pasadena City College Pennsylvania State University, University Park Pepperdine University Pitzer College Pomona College Pratt Institute Princeton University Purdue University Purdue University Northwest

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Quinnipiac University Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Ringling College of Art and Design Rochester Institute of Technology Rutgers University–New Brunswick Saint Francis University San Diego State University San José State University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Scripps College Smith College Stanford University SUNY Purchase College Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Texas Tech University Tufts University Tulane University United States Naval Academy University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Denver University of Florida University of Hartford University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign University of Maine University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts Amherst

Class of 2026

Class of 2026 graduates' immediate plans, for those who submitted college applications:

84%

7%

3%

6%

USA

UK

Canada

Other

9% University of Miami University of Michigan Ann Arbor University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Nebraska–Lincoln University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Dakota University of Northwestern–St. Paul University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Puget Sound University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin University of the Pacific University of Virginia University of Washington University of West Florida University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University of Wisconsin–Madison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Vermont State University (Castleton University) Virginia Military Institute Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis Wayne State University Wellesley College Wesleyan University Western Washington University Whitman College Yale University

of 2026 graduates going on to National Service

EUROPE

UNITED KINGDOM

Accademia Italiana The American University of Paris Amsterdam University College Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) DigiPen Institute of Technology Europe Bilbao IE University, Madrid IE University, Segovia Leiden University Maastricht University Queen Mary University of London, Malta Campus Radboud University Sciences Po / University of British Columbia Dual Degree Tampere University Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin University of Amsterdam University of Groningen

Imperial College London King's College London London School of Economics and Political Science Loughborough University Northeastern University London University College London University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Edinburgh University of Oxford University of Southampton University of St Andrews University of the Arts London

ASIA Ateneo de Manila University De La Salle University Duke Kunshan University Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Keio University, Shonan Fujisawa Campus Nanyang Technological University National University of Singapore Singapore Management University Sophia University SUNY Korea Temple University, Japan Campus University of Hong Kong Vellore Institute of Technology Waseda University

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CANADA Carleton University Dalhousie University McGill University University of British Columbia, Okanagan University of British Columbia, Vancouver University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Waterloo Western University York University

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Griffith University James Cook University Massey University Monash University University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Newcastle University of Sydney Victoria University of Wellington

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CLASS OF 2026

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College Spotlight

number of countries to which the class of 2026 sent college applications

Matriculated to

111 universities

Other notable class of 2026 results Applied to 83% of seniors applied to at least one school in the US

40

21% of seniors applied to at least one country outside the US

US states

Besides the US, our graduates will attend university in 13 other countries, including France, the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, and Spain Over 25 applications were submitted to Singapore universities

23

Students applied to 40 US states and the District of Columbia

13.5

Students submitted 34 applications to women’s colleges, our most ever

average number of applications submitted per senior

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3,510 number of college applications completed by class of 2026

Most popular universities to apply to Matriculated to

13

Boston University New York University Northeastern University

countries (most ever)

University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego

Most popular universities to attend

University of California, Santa Barbara University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Babson College

University of Michigan

Boston University

University of Southern California

Cornell University

University of Virginia

Lehigh University

University of Washington

New York University

University of Wisconsin–Madison

University College London University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

385

University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Washington

number of unique institutions to which applications were submitted G R A D U A T I O N

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University of Wisconsin–Madison Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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Life

After SAS

Our class of 2026 Eagles are soaring off to new adventures across the world!

The skills, knowledge, character, and friendships developed at SAS will help them manage new challenges, rise above setbacks, and reach new heights.

Looking back on their school days and forward to fresh opportunities, here’s what some of our newest graduates have to say about what comes next.

Winston Choo An Interdisciplinary Approach to Environmental Problems Next Adventure: Yale University

Eagle Since Ninth Grade Next year, I will attend Yale University, where I plan to study environmental engineering. I chose Yale for its flexible approach toward exploring subjects across disciplines, which is essential for tackling the inherently interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. What I look forward to most is meeting people from all over the world, engaging with diverse perspectives, and diving deep into meaningful research.

SAS taught me the value of exploring a wide range of interests so that you can eventually discover what truly matters to you. Whether it was competing with the VEX and FRC robotics teams or playing on the golf team, I always felt encouraged to explore rather than limit my options too soon. That freedom to roam intellectually was one of the most valuable things SAS provided me.

What I’ll miss the most are my people, both friends and teachers. They’ve taught me so much and these are the relationships I intend to keep nurturing long after graduating. More broadly, SAS gave me the rare opportunity to pursue robotics, golf, and academic challenges all at once, while also constantly exposing myself to a diverse range of people and perspectives.

My advice to younger students is to stay open to new experiences, but also commit deeply to the subjects and activities that genuinely excite you. Through that process, you’ll find your people–and perhaps even your greater purpose. For rising seniors starting college applications: research your schools thoroughly. Find out what exactly they’re looking for, reach out to alumni or faculty, and don’t underestimate the power of social media as a research tool. Most importantly, start early. June or July is the right time to begin brainstorming, before the stress of senior year begins.

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Lucas John Garcia Health Sciences and Blue Eagles in the Philippines Next Adventure: Ateneo de Manila University

Eagle Since First Grade I have chosen to attend Ateneo de Manila University next year. Going to the Philippines for university was always the plan after SAS. It felt odd at first, as everyone around me was applying to schools in North America and Europe, but I had my own plan for my future. I chose Ateneo because of the foundations they set for each student to prepare them for the real world. On top of your degree, Ateneo’s core curriculum takes a holistic approach, capturing theology, philosophy, and humanities to ensure that students become critical and reflective thinkers who can improve the world. And as a side note, Ateneo’s mascot is the Blue Eagle–a nice continuation from SAS! I plan to pursue a bachelor’s of science in the Health Sciences program, which will also serve as a pre-med path to help me follow my dream of becoming a doctor. I really wanted to learn something that can make a huge and genuine impact on others, so I was drawn towards healthcare. Besides looking forward to my studies, I am very excited to return home after 12 years at SAS. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, improving my Tagalog, and being closer to the rest of my family. The Philippines is my home, and it will be nice to be closer to my many Lolos, Lolas, Titos, and Titas!

I got interested in biology after taking General Biology in grade 9. The classes I took after that furthered my interest in healthcare, mainly AP Biology, AT Psychology, and AP Chemistry. This interest didn’t stop in the classroom; I participated in various clubs, such as Medical Union, where I got CPR certified. As a Filipino, I also felt obliged to join a service club to help those back home, which is why I became a part of the Stairway Foundation. Living abroad for 12 years, I inevitably felt disconnected from my roots, so I used every opportunity I had to reconnect, not just to prepare myself for university back home, but also to establish my identity. On top of joining the Stairway Foundation, I took on projects in various classes, from AT Entrepreneurship to AT Psychology, that centered around what it means to be a Filipino.

I would advise younger students that at SAS, there is always something more to learn, so keep working at it—but also enjoy the process, because time flies quickly. Over time, the workload builds up, the number of hours of sleep decreases, the stress piles up, and burn out is inevitable. I learned that I have to enjoy the whole process–the process of learning, but also the whole process of school.

I feel that my 12 years at SAS flew by quickly. Enjoy your time with the people you meet throughout the years, because among all the stress of learning and academics, they’re the ones you’ll connect with the most. Work on time management, a crucial skill, and, rising seniors, get your work done as soon as possible. Remember that you’re on your own path, so stick to it, and don’t compare yourself to those around you, because they’re on a different path.

Senior year Interim is my favorite memory from SAS. Twenty students with two teachers flew to Morocco and explored four cities in a week. From the blue walls of Chefchaouen to the Medina of Fez, each day was an unforgettable experience. What will I miss most about SAS? My friends— whether I met them in elementary, middle, or high school, they made the SAS experience an enjoyable journey for me. SAS isn’t bound by the walls of a classroom. It’s a culmination of people, cultures, beliefs, thoughts, and ideas. There’s something for everyone, and you can always find a community of people who share the same passion. Salamat, SAS.

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Isha Krishnan Public Health and Music in the Research Triangle Next Adventure: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Eagle Since Fourth Grade I will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall, and I plan to study public health and music while working toward my goal of becoming a doctor. I am particularly drawn to improving healthcare accessibility for individuals with limited English proficiency, a passion that shaped both my high school experience and my college search. I chose UNC Chapel Hill for its location in the Research Triangle and the opportunity to engage with people from diverse socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds. I am excited to explore these interests through research and community work while also soaking in campus life, attending games, joining new communities, and spending time on the area's beautiful trails.

My path toward medicine and accessibility started in SAS classrooms. Dr. Price's AP Biology and AP Chemistry classes sparked my love for science, while Mrs. Summerton's AT Psychology course opened my eyes to the intersection of health and accessibility. Dr. Harper encouraged me to explore collaborative fusion works in music, and Ms. Chen offered support in developing my language skills. All of these experiences shaped how I think about connecting with diverse communities.

Beyond academics, I poured myself into service through Youth Aiding China Singapore, Chinese Honor Society, Frontline SG, and Science National Honor Society. These experiences taught me that giving back to the community that shaped you is what is most important, and it is something I plan to carry forward at Chapel Hill and beyond.

My favorite SAS memories are not the big moments. They are the everyday ones: November concerts and Winter Collages, where we collaborated with so many talented artists. International Fair, where our club could share our message with the wider community. Friday Night Lights, where we struggled to get the slushie machines working only to watch them sell out in minutes once we finally did. What I will miss most is this sense of community, the way SAS brings together people from so many backgrounds and encourages us to learn from one another, whether in the classroom, on stage, or behind a slushie machine.

I would advise students coming after us to live in the moment and advocate for yourself.

Find your people. Learn from everyone around you, and never hesitate to ask questions.

It makes all the difference. To rising seniors, I would say that the college application process is really just a reflection of who you are. Treat it as an opportunity to understand yourself, your values, and the kind of community you want to be part of for the next four years.

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Aahan Talwar Business Studies in a Challenging Environment Next Adventure: The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Eagle Since Seventh Grade This fall, I will attend the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. UPenn was my top choice because, since middle school, I’ve known that I wanted to pursue business and finance. I’ve familiarized myself with trading, accounting, macroeconomics, entrepreneurship, and corporate finance, and I felt that Wharton would be the ideal environment to challenge myself while rigorously exploring all the different areas of business.

While my major is fixed, Wharton students can specialize in focused areas of study, and my current plan is to concentrate in finance and perhaps add a second concentration as well.

I’m excited to take interesting courses in the humanities, such as philosophy, and to explore AI and its growing role in business. More than anything, I am looking forward to being in an environment where people are passionate about what they do and constantly challenge one another to learn, innovate, and grow together!

One specific, important lesson I learned in Entrepreneurship Club is that leadership requires being hands-on in order for real progress to be made. I learned this lesson during the Junior Achievement “Company of the Year” Competition. In the cycle where I was elected as the team's CEO, our product was upcycled directly from e-waste. For meeting after meeting, we discussed how we would source the e-waste and spoke about many great ideas in theory, but as the competition deadline approached, we remained empty-handed. Finally our sponsor, Ms. Poluan, simply walked us all down to the Makerspace at SAS and asked if they had spare e-waste parts. We came back with buckets of source material, and I realized that meaningful change only happens when you go after something yourself. SAS taught me that the people who make the greatest impact are not necessarily the ones with the best ideas, but the people willing to take ownership, take action, and turn ideas into reality.

Despite all the challenging classes, clubs, and chaos of a busy high school experience, the moments that brought me joy weren’t really significant things. Rather, they were the in-between moments that would populate the day and make things feel just a little brighter.

Spending lunchtime talking and joking with friends or catching up with someone during the five-minute passing times—these small in-between moments helped me find community.

I would advise younger students to be as open as you can—to different clubs, to new friends, to difficult classes, and to new experiences. Everything is an opportunity for you to grow, and high school is the time for you to try new things, do well, or mess up and fail, since the whole point is that you learn and grow from your experiences. Even for rising seniors beginning the college application process, colleges don’t care if you’ve had failures or setbacks—they care about what you made of the experiences. Be as personal and genuine as you can, and early on in the process, reflect on what your story is.

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Class of 2026

Mary Villaruz Global Affairs and Service to Others Next Adventure: The University of Notre Dame

Eagle Since Ninth Grade I was looking for a school that had service as a core aspect of their curriculum, and the University of Notre Dame’s mission of having every one of its students be a “force for good” made it stand out among the other schools I was considering. Moving to Singapore for high school from Indiana has inspired me to study global affairs. Mr. Coppell’s AT Geography class sparked an interest in learning about human development and helping marginalized communities. This interest was furthered by my Quest partnership with the World Bank, when I researched Ni-Vanuatu youth.

SAS helped me grow by teaching me how to advocate for myself. Whether it was visiting math help every day during my junior year or sharing drafts with my English teachers for feedback, I learned to believe that I could be successful as long as I put in the work. My advisor, Mr. Mejia, inspired me most at SAS. In the crazy world that is high school, he constantly reminded us to be happy and not get caught up in the small stuff. Once, I got a C on a math test and was feeling really disappointed in myself. He reminded me that a C was just room to grow and wouldn’t matter in the long run. He constantly challenged us to prioritize "eulogy traits" over "résumé traits," a lesson that will stay with me.

I was deeply involved in Hoops for Change and the Dance Club throughout high school. Noticing that routine basketball sessions could get tiresome, I collaborated with Hoops for Change members and the National Dance Honor Society to create a safe space where specially-abled athletes could express themselves through dance. Teaching these athletes and middle school dancers in different settings taught me the true importance of inclusion and sparked a lifelong passion for teaching. I will miss the dance community the most. Getting to choreograph a 20-minute piece with my friends allowed me to grow as an artist, and I was very proud of the effort and the final product. The constant support of Ms. V and Ms. Cherry meant the world to us. I will deeply miss the experience of producing dance shows and being part of such a wonderful program.

Interim Semester, a unique and special opportunity, is one of my favorite things about SAS. During my junior year, I traveled to Bhutan, where I had the privilege of working alongside local teenagers. It was a beautiful reminder that no matter the culture, teenagers are the same at heart. My senior year took me to Kenya on a trip where I don't think I have ever laughed so much. Not only did it push me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible, but I also made some wonderful new friends in my final semester. I will never forget watching them rappel down waterfalls and listening to the distant sounds of baboons in the night.

If younger students asked for my advice, I would tell them to try anything that sparks their interest. I tried out for JV soccer in ninth grade, and while soccer didn’t turn out to be my passion, I made some incredible friends. Later, I tried dance and was able to make the IASAS team in my junior and senior years.

You can never truly fail when you try something new in high school, because at the very least, you learn something valuable about yourself. I would also tell students to ask for help when they are struggling.

Teachers and adults here want to see you succeed!

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MIND T HE G A P:

TALKING FREEDOM AND FRESH STARTS WITH CAHDENA BUTLER (CLASS OF 2025)

One year. Endless possibilities. An alumna shares how a gap year has opened doors to travel, work, personal growth, and a clearer vision for the road ahead.

What are the pros and cons of a gap year?

You get a lot of freedom. I can travel, get a job with flexible hours, and meet up with friends when I want.

On the other hand, it’s a big change. I was so used to meeting up with friends who lived in Singapore, but so many friends have moved away. If you want to do a gap year, you have to be ready to be a bit isolated, but it gets easier.

What made you decide to do it?

I knew that I wanted to go to college, but I wanted to set myself up for success. I've heard a lot of stories of students not being ready, and then going into college and dropping out or the school not being right for them. I wanted to make sure that I was ready, and I knew that I wasn't at the end of my senior year. So, in the end, I decided to do a gap year.

How’s it going?

So far, my gap year has been very good. I've been able to travel a lot.

I'm able to meet up with friends in other countries, have a job, and learn how to "adult." I'm learning a lot about what my life may look like after college, which has been very good to experience early on, and has set me up better for college.

Any future plans to share?

My parents had an agreement with me: I would only be able to do one gap year, so I would be going to college as soon as my gap year is over. I'm planning to go to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and I will be majoring in environmental science. But other than that, it's more just seeing where the future takes me and being able to take what I've learned from my gap year in these experiences and apply it to my future and see what happens.

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NEW!

Seattle

Chicago Boston New York San Francisco

2026–27

NEW!

Seoul Singapore

Join us throughout the year for a series of alumni events happening around the world. Whether you’re reconnecting with your classmates or meeting fellow Eagles in your city, these gatherings are a wonderful way to celebrate the long-lasting SAS connections!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SaS Through the ages: 70th Anniversary Trivia Nights THURSDAY

24

San Francisco

SUNDAY

SEP 2026 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

27 Chicago SEP 2026

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SAS ALumni Tours FRIDAY

20 Boston NOV 2026

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

28 New York 17 Singapore NOV 2026

New Cities Added!

Spring SEattle 2027 And Seoul 31

THURSDAY

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DEC 2026

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dates may be subject to change. Scan to keep an eye out for more information about our upcoming alumni events. www.sas.edu.sg/alumni/upcoming-events

SAVE THE DATE

2027 August 20–22

Mark your calendars for August 20–22, 2027 for another special Alumni Reunion Weekend! More information about the schedule, registration, and everything we’re planning will be added here. www.sas.edu.sg/alumni/alumni-reunion-weekend-at-sas 32

Connect.

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the SAS ALumni Store

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Serve as a mentor or be mentored

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Learn about internships and jobs

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Promote your business

Based in Akron, Ohio, the SAS Alumni Store offers official SAS apparel and merchandise to alumni, parents, educators, and friends.

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Join affinity groups

Proceeds support the SAS Interim Semester Scholarship Fund, which helps students with financial need select the Interim Semester trip of their choice.

We ship globally so the entire SAS community can show their Eagle pride!

Contact alumni@sas.edu.sg for more information.

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All alumni, former parents, and former educators are invited to join!

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COVER ART BY KAI ADKISON (CLASS OF 2026)

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