Dragons of Distinction Award
As part of our commitment to celebrating what makes the Flagstaff student body so special, the Board of Directors created a monthly recognition program called Dragons of Distinction. Each month, members of the Flagstaff community including parents, teachers, staff, students, and the administration will nominate an individual student or group of students who have gone above and beyond—whether through academic achievement, athletics, service, leadership, or exemplifying our core values. The Board of Directors will select an award recipient or recipients each month to honor at the beginning of each Board meeting.
Dragons of Distinction Nomination Form
2025 - 2026 Dragons of Distinction Winners
March 2026
"Adahlia recently visited West Pointe Academy in New York, her parents' alma mater, to give a speech highlighting the importance of donating blood. She spoke in front of hundreds of cadets, sharing her story and emphasizing the need to step forward and donate blood. Over the course of a week, she helped work the blood drive where they collected over 300 pints of blood! Adahlia is a resilient, brave, kind, and empathetic individual who fights for the needs of others. We are so proud of all of the hard work and passion she puts in to not only her schoolwork, but all of her interests outside of Flagstaff. A dragon through and through!"
- The 7th Grade Teaching Team
"I’m honored to nominate Vivian Rembusch for Dragons of Distinction. Vivian is a student who consistently stands out through her academic commitment, creativity, and level of motivation that deserves recognition.
One of the most unique examples of Vivian’s dedication is her long-term commitment to learning foreign languages through Duolingo. For nearly two years, Vivian has pursued language learning entirely on her own, never as an assignment, requirement, or expectation from anyone else. She currently has almost 300 consecutive days of practice, which reflects strong discipline, consistency, and personal drive. She has explored multiple languages over time, with a particularly strong focus on Russian, and she stays with it simply because she loves learning and wants to grow.
Vivian also has a genuine fascination with traveling the world, and I see her language journey as one of the ways she is already empowering herself for the bigger world she hopes to explore someday. She has real curiosity about people and cultures, and she is building skills now that can open doors later, whether in school, travel, or future career opportunities.
To add a fun example of her creativity and commitment, Vivian has even learned how to communicate the phrase “67” across multiple languages and formats, including English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Vietnamese, binary code, and American Sign Language. It’s a great example of how she blends focus with curiosity, and how she genuinely enjoys learning while still taking it seriously. She’s on her way to becoming a true polyglot, which is someone who can learn, speak, and work across multiple languages.
In addition to her language learning, Vivian has maintained exceptional grades throughout her educational career. She also shines very brightly in the arts, especially singing, and she continues to challenge herself athletically as well, she completed her first rugby season and is now playing basketball, demonstrating teamwork and perseverance. She has started volunteering at school, which reflects leadership, maturity, and a desire to contribute to the Flagstaff Academy community.
Vivian aspires to study marine biology, potentially at Oregon State University, and I can easily envision how learning languages and communication styles could support those dreams—whether through advanced studies, collaboration, travel, or future research opportunities. I’m also grateful our community offers opportunities like Niwot High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program for students who think globally.
One last detail that makes me proud: Vivian’s self-discipline has had a positive ripple effect at home. Her consistency with Duolingo has encouraged her brother, AJ, to begin learning a foreign language as well, and he already has a 45-day streak. Vivian’s dedication is helping her grow, and it’s inspiring those around her too.
Vivian represents the spirit of Flagstaff Academy through curiosity, discipline, creativity, and service, and I’m proud to nominate her for Dragons of Distinction."
- Josh Rembusch, Parent
February 2026
"Brian & Calvin: This year, I have had the privilege of working with Brian and Calvin in our 2nd grade GT group. Both students are voracious learners with a love for mathematics. I am so proud of their outstanding achievement in the Noetic competition! Both Calvin and Brian show determination, curiosity, and a positive attitude when working through math problems. Being part of the Gifted and Talented program means more than just getting the right answers—it means thinking deeply, asking great questions, and loving to learn. Brian and Calvin show their Dragon pride every day by conducting themselves with integrity and using perseverance to work through daily challenges. Congratulations to Brian and Calvin!
Pranav: I have had the privilege of working with Pranav in the GT program for the last two years. As a member of the Gifted and Talented program, he consistently demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a willingness to take on challenging math concepts. Whether working through complex problems or helping others understand new ideas, he shows dedication, confidence, and a true passion for learning. Pranav is a 4th grader, currently in a 5th grade compacted math class, and he competed at the 5th grade level. Pranav scored higher than all the other 5th grade GT students in the Noetic competition, which is a testament to his mathematics ability and his desire to continue to be challenged. Way to go, Pranav!
Shea: I have had the privilege of working with Shea in the GT program for the last two years. Shea is an active and voracious learner who is always looking forward to the next challenge. Shea is always willing to take on more, and does it with a positive attitude and all the energy he can muster! Not only does Shea have exceptional math abilities, but he shows his Dragon Pride persevering through every challenge presented to him and dependability by helping other students when needed. He uses his knowledge and problem solving skills to help other students see patterns they couldn’t recognize on their own. Shea is a 3rd grader in a 4th grade compacted math class. He competed at the 4th grade level of the Noetic competition. Not only did Shea score higher than all the other 4th graders at Flagstaff in the competition, but he scored in the 90th percentile of all gifted students across the nation! His achievement is recognized on the Noetic website, along with only 11 other students in Colorado. Congratulations Shea!"
Pranav: I have had the privilege of working with Pranav in the GT program for the last two years. As a member of the Gifted and Talented program, he consistently demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a willingness to take on challenging math concepts. Whether working through complex problems or helping others understand new ideas, he shows dedication, confidence, and a true passion for learning. Pranav is a 4th grader, currently in a 5th grade compacted math class, and he competed at the 5th grade level. Pranav scored higher than all the other 5th grade GT students in the Noetic competition, which is a testament to his mathematics ability and his desire to continue to be challenged. Way to go, Pranav!
Shea: I have had the privilege of working with Shea in the GT program for the last two years. Shea is an active and voracious learner who is always looking forward to the next challenge. Shea is always willing to take on more, and does it with a positive attitude and all the energy he can muster! Not only does Shea have exceptional math abilities, but he shows his Dragon Pride persevering through every challenge presented to him and dependability by helping other students when needed. He uses his knowledge and problem solving skills to help other students see patterns they couldn’t recognize on their own. Shea is a 3rd grader in a 4th grade compacted math class. He competed at the 4th grade level of the Noetic competition. Not only did Shea score higher than all the other 4th graders at Flagstaff in the competition, but he scored in the 90th percentile of all gifted students across the nation! His achievement is recognized on the Noetic website, along with only 11 other students in Colorado. Congratulations Shea!"
- Nina Lindeke, Gifted and Talented Teacher
January 2026
"I am so proud of Clara's academic achievements this year! Clara has thrived in all subject areas through her focus, attention to detail, and her drive to succeed. Here at Flagstaff, Clara is in the gifted and talented program for reading and math. Clara and her gifted and talented peers recently participated in the national Noetic Math contest. The Noetic Math contest is a "national, semiannual math competition for elementary and middle school students (Grades 2-8) that focuses on creative problem-solving, logical reasoning, and developing strong thinking skills for future STEM success". Clara got the highest score of all the third grade G.T. students at Flagstaff. Even more impressive, she was in the 80th percentile out of all the participants across the country! We are thrilled to have Clara as part of our Flagstaff student body. Well done Clara!"
- Mr. Burns, 4th Grade Teacher
December 2025
"I am proud to nominate these five outstanding students for the Dragons of Distinction Award for their exceptional dedication, musicianship, and representation of Flagstaff Academy at the recent SVVSD Elementary Choral Festival.
These students spent weeks preparing choral music on their own time, demonstrating remarkable initiative and responsibility. They took it upon themselves to learn and refine two challenging pieces in advance, showing not only commitment to musical excellence but also genuine enthusiasm for representing their school with pride. Their preparation went far beyond class expectations.
On the day of the festival, their hard work truly shined. Alongside students from 22 different schools, they learned an entirely new song in just one day, collaborating with a full ensemble for the first time that afternoon. They spent the entire day rehearsing. This level of focus and endurance is impressive for any student, but these five Dragons displayed it with grace, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout a long and demanding day.
Their performance that evening was a true celebration of artistry and perseverance. Before an audience of over 400 people, they performed beautifully in THREE different languages (English, Spanish, and German). Their voices and stage presence reflected both the hard work they invested beforehand and the joy they found in sharing music with others.
What made their accomplishment even more meaningful was how they carried themselves throughout the experience. They represented Flagstaff Academy with maturity, kindness, and pride, collaborating respectfully with peers from many different schools and supporting each other every step of the way. They embodied what it means to be a true Dragon.
Through their efforts, these five students not only achieved musical excellence but also modeled the PRIDE values that make our school community shine. Their willingness to go above and beyond captures the very essence of the Dragons of Distinction Award.
For their exceptional commitment, leadership, and artistry, I wholeheartedly nominate these five remarkable students for this well-deserved recognition."
These students spent weeks preparing choral music on their own time, demonstrating remarkable initiative and responsibility. They took it upon themselves to learn and refine two challenging pieces in advance, showing not only commitment to musical excellence but also genuine enthusiasm for representing their school with pride. Their preparation went far beyond class expectations.
On the day of the festival, their hard work truly shined. Alongside students from 22 different schools, they learned an entirely new song in just one day, collaborating with a full ensemble for the first time that afternoon. They spent the entire day rehearsing. This level of focus and endurance is impressive for any student, but these five Dragons displayed it with grace, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout a long and demanding day.
Their performance that evening was a true celebration of artistry and perseverance. Before an audience of over 400 people, they performed beautifully in THREE different languages (English, Spanish, and German). Their voices and stage presence reflected both the hard work they invested beforehand and the joy they found in sharing music with others.
What made their accomplishment even more meaningful was how they carried themselves throughout the experience. They represented Flagstaff Academy with maturity, kindness, and pride, collaborating respectfully with peers from many different schools and supporting each other every step of the way. They embodied what it means to be a true Dragon.
Through their efforts, these five students not only achieved musical excellence but also modeled the PRIDE values that make our school community shine. Their willingness to go above and beyond captures the very essence of the Dragons of Distinction Award.
For their exceptional commitment, leadership, and artistry, I wholeheartedly nominate these five remarkable students for this well-deserved recognition."
- Ms. Pease, Elementary Music Teacher
"Anvi Hebbar has had a truly outstanding cross country career at Flagstaff. This season alone, she set four new Flagstaff records and earned an impressive series of finishes, including a 1st place, two 3rd-place finishes, as well as 7th and 10th place at highly competitive meets.
But this recommendation is about far more than her results. It reflects Anvi’s unwavering perseverance over her three years in middle school—beginning from the very first day she asked how she could become faster. Cross country requires not only physical endurance but remarkable mental strength, and Anvi has demonstrated both with consistency and heart. In addition to her daily school practices, she shows extraordinary dedication by getting up early each morning to add extra miles to her training, a level of commitment rarely seen at this age. During all of her trials and tribulations throughout her cross country career, she did it all with a smile. Her positivity infected everyone on the courses, from her coaches, to parents, to runners from other schools - this rare quality is something that allowed her to push through the pain.
Anvi’s excellence extends well beyond athletics. She continues to shine academically, taking advanced GT math classes in addition to her regular coursework and contributing her talents as a valued member of the CyberPatriots Team. Her ability to balance rigorous academics with high-level athletic training speaks to her time management, self-discipline, and determination to excel in every area she pursues.
Anvi embodies the qualities of a true scholar-athlete: motivated, disciplined, curious, and committed to continuous improvement. She is exceptionally deserving of this distinction."
But this recommendation is about far more than her results. It reflects Anvi’s unwavering perseverance over her three years in middle school—beginning from the very first day she asked how she could become faster. Cross country requires not only physical endurance but remarkable mental strength, and Anvi has demonstrated both with consistency and heart. In addition to her daily school practices, she shows extraordinary dedication by getting up early each morning to add extra miles to her training, a level of commitment rarely seen at this age. During all of her trials and tribulations throughout her cross country career, she did it all with a smile. Her positivity infected everyone on the courses, from her coaches, to parents, to runners from other schools - this rare quality is something that allowed her to push through the pain.
Anvi’s excellence extends well beyond athletics. She continues to shine academically, taking advanced GT math classes in addition to her regular coursework and contributing her talents as a valued member of the CyberPatriots Team. Her ability to balance rigorous academics with high-level athletic training speaks to her time management, self-discipline, and determination to excel in every area she pursues.
Anvi embodies the qualities of a true scholar-athlete: motivated, disciplined, curious, and committed to continuous improvement. She is exceptionally deserving of this distinction."
- Ms. Liedtke, 7th Grade Science Teacher
November 2025
"Flagstaff Academy's Journalism staff won 3rd place for online news at the Colorado Student Media Association conference on October 1st. Over 60 schools were represented, most of which being high schools. Our staff keeps our online newspaper, www.fadragonspectrum.com updated with current news. Congratulations to an incredible team of journalists who continuously show their Dragon PRIDE with their collaboration and leadership."
- Mrs. Youtz, 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher
"James L R Macias is a kind and thoughtful child whose spirit shines brightly. He spends his summer supporting his neighbors by providing valuable landscaping services, like cutting lawns for elderly neighbors and assisting his grandparents and others with deck construction and sprinkler system installation.
With a passion for gardening, James has transformed his home by installing a greenhouse and creating an herb and tomato garden. Thanks to his efforts, fresh tomatoes and herbs have become staples in our meals, fostering a nutrition-conscious home. James generously shares his harvest with friends and family, inspiring several relatives to grow their own herbs, such as mint and basil.
His enthusiasm for making the world a better place is truly contagious. James has developed a safety plan for our home and created one for our family in Puebla, Mexico, where earthquakes are a concern. His dedication to our family's safety stems from his experience in the Safety Patrol, where he devised a personalized warning system using speakers he found at his favorite store, Restore, and his Amazon system. He conducts lockdown and fire drills monthly, training us in essential safety recommendations and protocols that we consistently implement.
James is a remarkable person who goes above and beyond to ensure that his loved ones and friends feel safe and secure. It is a pleasure to nominate him for the Dragons of Distinction Award. He embodies joy, kindness, and passion, dedicating his time to creating plans and ideas that prioritize the safety and health of those around him. He truly exemplifies Dragon Pride and continues to showcase it at home."
With a passion for gardening, James has transformed his home by installing a greenhouse and creating an herb and tomato garden. Thanks to his efforts, fresh tomatoes and herbs have become staples in our meals, fostering a nutrition-conscious home. James generously shares his harvest with friends and family, inspiring several relatives to grow their own herbs, such as mint and basil.
His enthusiasm for making the world a better place is truly contagious. James has developed a safety plan for our home and created one for our family in Puebla, Mexico, where earthquakes are a concern. His dedication to our family's safety stems from his experience in the Safety Patrol, where he devised a personalized warning system using speakers he found at his favorite store, Restore, and his Amazon system. He conducts lockdown and fire drills monthly, training us in essential safety recommendations and protocols that we consistently implement.
James is a remarkable person who goes above and beyond to ensure that his loved ones and friends feel safe and secure. It is a pleasure to nominate him for the Dragons of Distinction Award. He embodies joy, kindness, and passion, dedicating his time to creating plans and ideas that prioritize the safety and health of those around him. He truly exemplifies Dragon Pride and continues to showcase it at home."
- Jackie and Jimmy Macias, Parents
October 2025
"This group of girls are the Flagstaff Academy's students that are a part of Girl Scout Troop 78557. This September, they finally wrapped up their Bronze Award Project, a community service project of their design. The girls had multiple meetings to brainstorm community need, possible partners, and project ideas. On Thursday, September 25, the girls unveiled a food pantry at The Hope for Longmont Center. This pantry helps to supplement food needs for those with hunger, food insecurities, and to assist with the mission of The Hope for Longmont Center."
- Ms. Pearce, 4th Grade Teacher
September 2025
"Lilly Cabell has become an instant greenhouse champion. Several times she has shown a special interest in a veggie we have harvested and tasted. Lillian has asked, then taken home greenhouse/garden vegetables, prepared a family recipe at home, then brought the food back to school with ingredients listed to share with her entire class. Delicious and what a delicious way of showing Dragon Pride."
- Ms. Cole, Greenhouse Teacher
"On Thursday, at about 11am, Kavitha (my wife) developed seizures and passed out. I was at work and Aakansh was at home. He called 911 first, explained them calmly and systematically. While talking to 911, Aakansh put the phone on speaker and conducted CPR on his mom.
The teaching done in the safety patrol was put in use completely. Long story short - Kavitha had suffered a sudden brain Hemorrhage and Brain Stroke. She ended up having a brain surgery and the last 72 hours has been quite an ordeal for us. Good news is .. she is alive, out of danger .. though still waiting on few medical reports.
But Aakansh's timely call to 911 and his ability to use the learnings from safety patrol, to do CPR on his mom -- is why kavitha's life was saved."
- Aakansh Sharma, Father
"Ava James began her silver project, bundles of birthdays (B.O.B.) for foster children at the start of the summer. A silver project is the highest award she can earn with girl scouts at her grade level. She has spent many hours gathering donations for the project and even had 2 articles written about it, one in the Longmont Leader and the other in Longmont Times-Call. Once the project went live, the community responded like wildfire and has fully funded all of the materials she needed allowing her to go above her original goal of 50 to 75 boxes that she'll get to give to the foster children. Ava is an amazing kid, doing amazing things and is always willing to lend a hand. We are so proud of her accomplishments and who she is as a person."
- Alisha James, Mother
"This group of Flagstaff students exemplified not only high academic achievement this summer but also preserved through hard times, working together as a team to come out on top! They competed in the Destination Imagination Technical Challenge this year and after not qualifying in regionals they were feeling quite defeated. But they didn’t give up! They ended up being chosen as the most deserving team for the wild card spot to the States competition and went on to place second there and go all the way to Globals where they Placed 5th in the World (they were also a 3rd grade team competing against teams through 5th grade). The Pinball Ninjas were the highest scoring U.S. team in the technical challenge and the highest scoring U.S. team in the instant challenge! They worked hard, preserved, and showed great Dragon values in strength and doing their best!"
- Eidelheid Pacifici, Mother
