Gianna Fusco

Ridder walks through the field before a lacrosse game, preparing to lead their team. Though being lacrosse captain is one of the many responsibilities they have to navigate, they handle it with ease. “There’s the saying that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Trey is talent that works hard,” Mr. Woodruff said.

Lacrosse captain, student president, and advanced placement student, Stevan “Trey” Ridder is a hard worker who earned their spot as salutatorian this year. From the beginning of their high school journey in 2021, all the way to its end in 2025, they have not only worked hard academically but have also made a lasting impact on the school through sports and friends. 

“He is friendly, gets along easily with people, and likes being active and involved,” Mr. Woodruff, Ridder’s freshman year AP Computer Science Principles teacher, said. Woodruff was one of few teachers who Ridder felt was especially influential in their high school journey.

Ridder described the feeling of relief they felt when they found out they made it to the Top 10. “I was happy that my hard work paid off,” Ridder said.

Making the Top 10 is obviously not easy, and takes many hours of dedicated work and a true understanding of the concepts that you are learning. To achieve such a high ranking, one must take challenging and rigorous classes, such as different advanced placement and dual enrollment classes. These classes are considered college level, making them more abundant with work and faster paced. 

Ridder’s strong work ethic and ability to grasp concepts quickly is one of the many reasons they have achieved such high success. As opposed to topics like language arts or social studies, Ridder takes more interest in STEM related fields and classes. Taking these classes helped Ridder discover their capabilities and strengths.

“I felt like, ‘Nothing can get harder than this,’” they said. “It made every subject under that feel kind of easier.”

This fall, Ridder plans to attend college for a degree in mechanical engineering, going along with their interest in STEM. Colleges recognize their hard work too, with acceptances into multiple colleges. Once they have determined their destination, Ridder will continue their education and begin a new chapter in their life. To achieve this, Ridder not only worked hard for themself, but others as well.

“Trey’s always studying, working on stuff, and helping others,” Joey Gioia, Ridder’s friend, said. 

Ridder admitted that at times his commitment to academics got in the way of his social life. However, he described the struggle as being a blessing in disguise. 

“A lot of my friends weren’t taking the same hard classes I was, so I’d say at first it felt kind of isolating,” Ridder said. “But honestly, I think it was worth it. I met new friends in the hard classes.”

As the lacrosse captain, as well as the senior class president, Ridder had multiple responsibilities to balance. Through their role in the Student Government, they helped plan important school events like Homecoming, spirit days, Prom and pep rallies. As the lacrosse captain, they motivated their team and served as a strong leader who set an example for their teammates. 

“He juggles school, sports, leadership, and fun but handles it all well,” Mr. Woodruff said. “I don’t ever remember excuses from him, he just got things done.”

Ridder had this to say when asked what advice they would give to others who aim for the same success as he achieved.

“I would say to try not to let the stress get the best of you, and it may seem bad, but it really isn’t,” Ridder said. “A lot of kids will stay inside all day and study, but I think if you can have a good balance of doing things you enjoy and studying, everything becomes a lot less stressful.”

With multiple college options, Ridder leaves the school with a bright future in academics and beyond. As a student, they set an example for future Lions, showing that hard work pays off.