Student Accomplishments

Excelling in academics and activities

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

Class of 2022

Graduating from high school is a huge accomplishment and milestone. Congratulations to all PSD graduates! 2022 School Lists of Graduates

The Class of 2022 has excelled academically and earned notable scholarships and endorsed diplomas.

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 - 174 students who have taken numerous AP courses and fulfilled the requirements for an AP-endorsed diploma

International Baccalaureate graduates - 66 graduates earned an IB diploma through Poudre High School's IB program

Seal of Biliteracy diplomas - 295 graduates who are highly proficient in another language and earned the credential of having a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma

Other endorsed diplomas - 70+ 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

Prestigious scholarships and appointments:

U.S. Military Academy appointments and ROTC scholarships

Payton Mlakar, Fossil Ridge High School, Army ROTC scholarship at Creighton University
Austin Holt, Fossil Ridge High School, Army ROTC scholarship at University of Wyoming
Mason Smith, Liberty Common High School, West Point, U.S. Military Academy
Rylie DuRant, Rocky Mountain High School, U.S. Merchant Marines Academy
Matthew Kinerson, Rocky Mountain High School, U.S. Air Force Academy

Boettcher Foundation Scholarship

The Boettcher Scholarship, sponsored by the Denver-based Boettcher Foundation, is a merit-based scholarship available to Colorado graduating seniors who provide service to community and school, and are top students in their class, display leadership and demonstrate character. Only 42 scholarship are offered across the state.

Melia Henrichsen, Fort Collins High School
Dylan Lindsey, Rocky Mountain High School

Daniels Fund Scholarship

PSD seniors who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life have been named Daniels Scholars and receive funding to attend the college or university of their choice. The Daniels Scholarship is a supplemental scholarship to all other financial resources, including the family contribution, available to the student.

Ezra Black, Liberty Common High School
Skyler Mayse, Liberty Common High School
Kevin Bruxvoort, Rocky Mountain 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.

Matthew Kinerson, Rocky Mountain High School

National Merit Scholar Program

National Merit Scholars score in the top 1% academically. National Merit Scholars earn this elite designation through a two-year testing and application process. This list includes National Merit Scholar Finalists and Scholars: National Merit Scholars are selected from the finalists group. It is updated as high schools notify us of students selected.

Christina Kim, Fort Collins High School
Lukas Thiemann, Fort Collins High School
Owen Dorlac, Liberty Common High School
Lenoire Lawing, Liberty Common High School
Sydney Reinke, Liberty Common High School
Jeffrey Condell, Poudre High School
Makenna Devore, Poudre High School
Lucy Gregory, Poudre High School
Holden Hall, Poudre High School
Soleia Monser-Gray, Poudre High School
Donovan Myrick, Poudre High School
Roxanne Wessel, Poudre High School
Natalia Bella Hobaugh, Ridgeview Classical Schools
Natalie AmRhein, Rocky Mountain High School
Maxwell Uphoff, Rocky Mountain High School

2021-22 Outstanding Accomplishments

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

2020-21 Outstanding Accomplishments

Preston students win National Science Bowl regionals, securing spot in NSB National Finals.
PSD 2021 Spelling Bee top scorer – Nick Smela, Boltz Middle School
PSD Virtual freshman Maggie Poe wins best in show in Denver photography teen exhibit
PSDV students get big returns in Colorado stock market competition

2020-21 Athletic Champions

Track and Field:
- Rhys Travis, Poudre High, triple jump and high jump Colorado state champion
- Braiden Dishman, Fossil Ridge, shot put and discus Colorado state champion
Softball: Fossil Ridge High School 5A Colorado state champions
Wrestling: Cody Ginther, Fossil Ridge, 160 lb state boys wrestling state champion
Girls swimming state champions:
- 200 yard medley relay - Fossil Ridge: 1) Lucy Bell 2) Rylee O’Neil 3) Mahala Erlandson 4) Renee Gillilan
- 400 yard free relay – Fossil Ridge 1) Lucy Bell 2) Rylee O’Neil 3) Emily Rinker 4) Mahala Erlandson
- 100 yard free - Lucy Bell, Fossil Ridge
- 100 yard butterfly - Lucy Bell, Fossil Ridge

2019-20 Outstanding Accomplishments

2020 Colorado Music Educators Association conference: Outstanding PSD music groups selected to perform at CMEA (this is considered a state honor equivalent to winning a state athletic championship):
- Fossil Ridge HS Vox Femina Choir
- Fossil Ridge HS Wind Symphony
- Boltz Middle School Jazz Band
- Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School Symphonic Band
- Poudre HS Birdland Jazz Combo
- Rocky Mountain HS Symphony Orchestra
- Traut Core Knowledge School Traut Chimes Choir

2020 National Music For All Festival: Outstanding PSD music groups selected to perform at this national festival:
- Fort Collins HS Symphony Orchestra
- LesherMiddle School Advanced Chamber Orchestra

PSD 2020 Spelling Bee winner: Wolfgang Jeckel, Ridgeview Classical Schools

2020 Rocky Mountain Environmental Challenge - Blevins Middle School students took first place with their proposed community awareness event to encourage students and their families to create family emergency plans.
- The RMEC is an annual competition sponsored by Earth Force and FEMA that combines project-based learning with the latest research in STEM education. Student teams from schools across the state submit a project that applies real-life solutions to local natural hazard risks in their community.

2020 National Science Bowl Middle School Champions: Preston Middle School
- This national competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, was held virtually for the first time.

2019-20 Athletic Awards

Winter Sports

Wrestling: Hudson Cropp – Fort Collins HS 152 lb wrestling state champion

Girls swimming:

200 yard IM swim state champion – Lucy Bell, Fossil Ridge
100 yard Free swim state champion – Lucy Bell, Fossil Ridge
100 yard backstroke state champion – Renee Gillilan, Fossil Ridge
100 yard backstroke state champion – Renee Gillilan, Fossil Ridge
200 yard medley relay state champion – Fossil Ridge High School
400 yard Free relay state champion – Fossil Ridge High School