Watch SAS Alumni Tour with Nicole Banister

"Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle." This adage rings true for many of our alumni, especially for Nicole Banister, a member of the Class of 2009. Banister recently returned to Singapore American School for the first time since her graduation, taking a trip down memory lane and sharing her inspiring journey with current students. From a tour of the school’s updated facilities to speaking engagements and fun interviews with our students, her visit was a heartfelt reminder of the strong community bonds that define SAS. We caught up with Nicole to ask her about her experiences during her visit and her reflections on her time at SAS. Here’s what she had to say:

1. Who is Nicole Banister?
   
   What’s up everybody?! I'm Nicole Banister, though some know me as Nikki Banz. I am an award-winning presenter, international emcee/host, and a social justice champion. I produce and host NIKKI BANZ LIVE, a celebrity interview series featuring 100 guests from 35+ countries. The first two seasons of my social entrepreneurship show Start It Up have garnered 10 million views across the web. I've moderated events in 25 countries across five continents and hosted virtual workshops, classes, and panels for over 20,000 people worldwide. With expertise in cross-cultural capital, social media, strategic global partnerships, and sustainable development, I’m passionate about leveraging media to amplify the voices of the world’s most dynamic changemakers. I do this by unapologetically speaking my truth and creating space for others to do the same. Whether it’s moderating a panel for the U.S. government, interviewing Miss Universe, or leading a CSR workshop for a Fortune 500 company, hand me a microphone, and watch the magic happen! 
   I spent my first two years of high school at SAS from 2005-2007 before moving to Bakersfield, California. I then attended Georgetown University, where I majored in Culture and Politics at the School of Foreign Service. Along with being an SAS Eagle and a Georgetown Hoya, I’m a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (2013-2016), a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Fellow (2017), a StartingBloc Social Innovation Fellow (2018), and a Franklin H. Williams Emerging Leader (2023).
    
2. Describe your visit to campus.
   
   During my visit to SAS in April 2024—my first time back since 2009, when I returned briefly for my class’ graduation—I packed in as much as I could! I kicked things off with a campus tour, checking out new additions like the walk down memory lane outside the Office of Advancement and the vibey new student café, filled with colorful chairs. Next, I was escorted to the hallway outside the gym, where decades of student-athlete photos are displayed. I was so excited to spot images of me and my IASAS-winning varsity volleyball, basketball, and track teams! After that, I headed to the high school, where I guest lectured on public speaking to current high school students. I wrapped up the day with some fun street-style interviews for SAS’s social media, chatting with students on their lunch break. I finished the day with lunch and some thoughtful conversation with Austin Tomlinson, the school’s Chief Advancement Officer.
    

3. How did you feel upon stepping onto the campus grounds again?
   
   Being back on the SAS campus after 17 years felt surreal and nostalgic. While so much of the physical campus had changed and upgraded, the elite academic excellence and the wealth of global cross-cultural opportunities remained ever-present in every person I met and every hall I walked through. Attending SAS is one of the most defining memories I have of moving to Singapore and my first time living full-time outside of the U.S. I was reminded of how the SAS community—from teachers to students to staff—creates an environment that blends excitement and harmony, helping ease the nerves of being in a new school and a new country.
   
   It was truly so amazing to be back, which is something rare I don’t think the average American would say about their high school. But I’m not the average American, and SAS is not your average high school! I was welcomed back with open arms, and I’m already planning my next visit!
    

4. As you strolled around campus, did any particular memories come flooding back to you?
   
   Oh, absolutely! Competing in six IASAS tournaments as a three-sport varsity athlete, starting from my freshman year, is one of my favorite memories from high school. Being back in the gym, where I once stood on a ladder cutting the basketball net after winning the 2006 IASAS Basketball Championship, was priceless! Walking through the athlete’s hall and seeing old photos of my teammates brought back memories of people and team moments that I hadn’t thought about in years.
   
   Another special memory in that gym was reflecting on my career as a TV show host and emcee. Technically, my first time on a microphone was right there, emceeing SAS’s high school pep rallies—thanks to my American Studies teacher, Mr. Burnett. Shoutout to him! He was the first person to encourage me to get on the mic in front of a thousand SAS students, and now I’m on the microphone in front of millions on my TV shows. I think he’d be proud!
   
   Some of my other favorite spots on campus were Mr. Hoe’s, where I used to grab freshly made cashew nut chicken on the first floor of the cafeteria (which has since been converted into a robotics space), and running late to class in the rain, getting sprinkled on in the open-air atrium in the middle of the high school. I also remember getting dropped off by the school bus at the iconic stairs leading up to the high school. Looking back at my 2006 and 2007 yearbooks was another highlight—seeing names and faces I haven’t thought about in decades, and reminiscing on those epic international Interim Semester trips with my peers.
   
   It’s one thing to remember these moments in your head, but it’s a whole other experience to be back where they actually happened. Thanks for the epic memories, SAS!
    
5. Can you share your experience interacting with our current students?
   
   SAS students are among the brightest and most driven in the world, and yet they remain wonderfully authentic high school students at heart! At the end of the day, high school students are still high school students no matter where they are! It was amazing to see the variety in personalities—those who stayed cool and collected, those who responded creatively, and the quiet geniuses with brilliant ideas. Each embodied their unique traits but impressed me with their drive, thoughtful questions, and ability to balance academics, sports, and social life so effortlessly. It’s clear that SAS is not just preparing students for the future but helping them thrive in the present too.
    

Nicole Banister’s visit to SAS not only enriched her own memories but also inspired current students to forge their own paths. As she shared her journey and insights, she reminded everyone that the spirit of SAS lives on in every Eagle no matter where they end up in the world. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!