At the March Sand Springs Board of Education meeting, the board honored several students with the Sandite Spirit Award.
Boys High School Wrestling
The board presented the Sandite Spirit Award to Sandite Boys Wrestlers Zander Grigsby (not pictured), Mason Harris, and Jaxon “Scout” Trotter.
Grigsby (12th grade) finished his high school wrestling career as a three-time state qualifier and 2024 state runner-up, leading the team in wins with 38. Harris (12th grade) finishes his career as a four-time state qualifier and two-time state placer. Trotter (11th grade) finished his junior season as a three-time state qualifier and in fourth place at the 2024 state tournament.
Girls Wrestling - Junior High and High School Divisions
The board presented the Sandite Spirit Award to five athletes from the Sandite Girls Wrestling teams: Ambrielle Chambers, Bailey Copeland (not pictured), Kenzie Johnson, Laila Mirza, and Kelsi Hilton. The awards were in recognition of their recent outstanding performances at the state level.
Chambers (9th grade) finished the season as the first ever Junior High Girls State Champion in SSPS history. She was also a 2024 state qualifier for the Lady Sandites. Copeland (9th grade) and Johnson (8th grade) placed second in the Junior High Division.
Mirza (12th grade) finished her high school wrestling career as a 2024 state qualifier AND the first girls wrestling state placer in school history. Hilton (12th grade) was a Lady Sandites state qualifier.
Copeland, Chambers, Mirza, and Hilton were the first four Lady Sandites to qualify for the state tournament. They led the Lady Sandite Wrestling team to a 7-2 overall dual record. They were champions of the Diamond State Girls Tournament, team runner-up at the Cleveland Tournament, and team runner-up at the Ray Murphy Tournament.
Kenzi Cloud - Eighth Grader at Clyde Boyd Middle School
The board recognized eighth grader Kenzi Cloud with the Sandite Spirit Award. Cloud is an Eagle Scout, and she selected the CBMS Special Olympics as the focus of her Eagle Scout project this year. Her goal was to add cornhole as one of the events for the team’s area and state competitions.
Cloud raised funds to purchase two sets of cornhole boards and bags, as well as team shirts. She also recruited a CBMS to coach the team.
Special Services Director Carrie Schlehuber nominated Cloud for the Sandite Spirit Award. In her nomination form, Schlehuber writes, “This initiative, drive, and passion to serve students with disabilities are intrinsic character traits that Kenzi has demonstrated since she became a Special Olympics partner at 8 years old… I hope we have the chance to hire her as a Special Education staff [member] in a few years!”
Kenzi Cloud, Owen Phillips and Ruby Wentzel - Eighth Graders at Clyde Boyd Middle School
Owen Phillips (not pictured) and Ruby Wentzel received the Sandite Spirit Award in honor of their help communicating the recent bond proposals. Nominated by Communications Director Lissa Chidester, these journalism students provided their insights, creativity, and hard work to make a video from a student perspective exploring potential changes to CBMS. Phillips and Wentzel shared how the current facilities impact their day-to-day lives and how the bond would change those experiences.
In her second recognition of the evening, Kenzi Cloud was recognized for her contributions to the district's bond election video. With CBMS serving as a centerpiece project in the bond proposals, Cloud provided her point of view on camera as a CBMS student. In her nomination form, Chidester writes, “She was articulate, thoughtful, and eager to help however she could.”
Chidester goes on to write, “These students showed great generosity in volunteering their time and efforts… I truly enjoyed working with them, and I am grateful for all their help.”