![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Alex Alkhal pitches the ball. “[I] just let it go and keep practicing so we can focus on our goal for the next game to get better as a team,” Alkhal said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0013-1-1200x929.jpg)
On June 2, Rock Ridge sent out a video via email recognizing freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who received an award for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Students were given awards for various fields, including math, social sciences, English, world language, fine arts, and community service. In total, 263 awards were handed out to students.
Freshman Brian Shi received two awards this year, the first for business and information technology, and the second for 50+ hours of community service. “I think that I’ve contributed to my classes a lot, especially in business and IT,” Shi said. “I do FBLA, I participate in the class, and I do pretty well in what I do, and I’m very passionate about it.”
Teachers in all departments came together and deliberated a list of students in each grade or each class who they believed deserved the award. Each department then selected students from that list who would later receive the awards.
Freshman Emmy Hagler also received two awards, the first being excellence in physical education and the second being the Iron Phoenix Award for the spring season. “I think just staying ahead of my schoolwork allowed me to also be dedicated to soccer and not have to miss [many practices],” Hagler said. “That’s also part of being a student-athlete; you need to be able to balance both, which I think I managed really well for being a freshman.”
Freshman Madison Green received an award for excellence in Algebra 2. “I worked really hard in class, and I’m really glad that my teachers saw my dedication and commitment,” Green said. “I’m really happy [my teachers] thought that I deserved it because I think my work does justify the award.”
In order to get these awards, students did many things in their classes to show their dedication.
According to Shi, there were certain things outside of the classes that he thinks helped him receive these awards. “I think that participating in class a lot [and] participating in the extracurriculars relating [to the class], for example, [for] business, I did FBLA, which tied into both teachers knowing me pretty well,” Shi said. “Then for volunteering, I would say going to an organization, just helping out, and just finding what you can[do].”
“My advice would be to stay ahead of school work, if you are behind it’s just a lot of added stress. Also sleeping is super important because your days are really busy and long,” Hagler said. “ Getting these awards makes me feel like my hard work is paying off so I plan to keep working hard.”
Green shared that her trick to getting the award was showing her dedication to the class.“If I were striving to win one of these awards I would say participate in class, turn in all your work, put your best effort into everything you do and I think that your teachers will recognize it. Even if you think they’re never going to see [your efforts], I think the teachers would actually recognize you because not everyone actually does it, “ Green said. “These awards definitely motivated me in years to come because it’s nice to know that somebody actually recognizes me and recognizes the extra effort that I put in.”
The next award ceremony will be the senior award ceremony on June 10 where seniors will be recognized and receive scholarships for their hard work and dedication throughout their high school careers.
