Rise STEM & Sandersville Come Out on Top

Academic teams from Rise STEM Academy for Girls and Sandersville Elementary won the 2025 Superintendent’s Cup, earning students a head start on college!

Rise winners of Morehead State University scholarships (primary division):

• Biyanca Bhandari
• Subasna Bhandari
• Kathyrn Campbell
• Journee Dunn
• Alondra Guillen
• Elliot Schwartz

Sandersville winners of Midway University scholarships (intermediate division):

• Faidat Adeyeye
• Genevieve Beaty
• Ella Buckler
• Dayan Ebondo
• Sanam Shrestha
• Idris Walton

Academic Challenge (for grades 2-3 and grades 4-5) is an Urban League of Lexington initiative in partnership with Fayette County Public Schools, Kentucky colleges, and community sponsors. Eligible schools can field multiple teams of four to six students who work together to answer a series of questions in various subject areas. Whoever provides the most correct answers wins the contest. 

“I’m truly impressed with the more than 500 students who competed (this spring),” Assistant Superintendent Bill Bradford said at the March 26 finale. “We’re incredibly proud of your work and dedication.” 

The regional winners advanced to the Superintendent’s Cup at the John D. Price Administration Building. Glendover was runner-up and Deep Springs placed third in the primary group. In the older students’ showdown, Arlington edged Glendover after a two-question tiebreaker.

A dozen individual students who entered the separate writing competition were rewarded as well.

Winners of a One Community, One Voice scholarship from Bluegrass Community & Technical College: 

• Jonah Jones - William Wells Brown Elementary
• Kaitlyn Kelleher - Julius Marks Elementary
• Bradley Kimball - William Wells Brown Elementary 
• Leena Mohammad - Julius Marks Elementary 
• Abielah Niyera - Coventry Oak Elementary
• Janice Sualla - Rise STEM Academy 

Winners of a 529 College Savings Plan courtesy of Zaxby’s:

• Rebekah Barber - Northern Elementary
• Ezequiel Machado Perez - James Lane Allen Elementary
• Joel Machado Perez - James Lane Allen Elementary
• Denise Martinez Salcedo - William Wells Brown Elementary
• Anuj Pokharel - Brenda Cowan Elementary
• Drishtanta Tiwari - Brenda Cowan Elementary

For questions, please reach out to Carolyn Ford, district liaison in Family & Community Engagement.