On May 16, 2025, Founder & Historian Ryan Sisak awarded a student from a North Texas high school the Student's Award, inspired by the heroic actions of fallen Navy SEAL SO1 Nathan Gage Ingram, USN, who was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic attempt to rescue his Navy SEAL teammate, who also perished, during an operation in which they were interdicting a vessel illegally transporting weapons to the Houthi rebels, off the coast of Somalia, on the night of January 11, 2024.

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest award for non-combat heroism (along with the Soldier's Medal, the U.S. Army equivalent). The Student's Award was given in recognition of selfless, unrelenting service to fellow classmates, without regard for the awardee's own personal time or academic well-being.

The awardee spent countless hours aiding students in their PreCalculus studies, despite enrolling in the school mid-year, and having to maintain his own workload in the course. Often, this student spent the entire work period at the whiteboard instructing his peers (at their request), leaving his own studies and workload to be completed outside of school hours. Nevertheless, this student maintained a level of achievement that can only be characterized as nothing short of excellence.

The Citation

On the 11th of January 2024, while boarding a vessel off the coast of Somalia that was illegally trafficking weapons to the Houthi terrorists who had been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram selflessly jumped in the waters of the Arabian Sea in an attempt to save his comrade, Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Christopher J. Chambers, who had lost his grip and was sinking due to the weight of his equipment. Although Navy Special Warfare Operator Ingram was unable to save his comrade due to also being weighed down by his equipment and insufficient buoyancy compensation, his selfless act reflects unquestionable bravery and an ultimate commitment to his Navy SEAL Team, the mission, and his country. For his courage, that required the ultimate sacrifice, Navy Special Warfare Operator Ingram was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal—the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism.

Despite joining my class and our school in the middle of the year, I have witnessed a fire inside of you that leaves me with no doubt of the kind of person you are, and the selflessness you are capable of. No one in my classroom has given more of themselves to their fellow students than you—quite possibly not even me, their teacher. As a token of inspiration, I hereby present you this cuff, which memorializes Navy Special Warfare Operator Ingram's sacrifice, and was given to me by his father—so that I may pass it on and share the story of this beloved, fallen Navy SEAL, who also called North Texas his home. May you remember his sacrifice throughout your formative years, and never hesitate to continue acting with the same selfless character you have shown us all.