About SAGE Scholars
We’re the nation’s oldest and largest private college preparation and funding organization — bridging the gap between ambitious students and colleges that guarantee real tuition discounts.
We bring students & colleges together
SAGE Scholars is proud to be the nation’s oldest and largest private college preparation and funding organization. Our goal is to bridge the gap between students who want an affordable private college education with colleges that will guarantee tuition discounts for member families — all at no cost to the student, family or college.
Through our Tuition Rewards program, SAGE Scholars has been helping families secure the best possible private college education for over a quarter of a century.
SAGE Scholars was formed in 1995 with the purpose of promoting the values and affordability of private higher education. Founded by visionary leaders with higher education experience — including the former head of admissions and financial aid at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania — SAGE Scholars brings together families, colleges & universities, and benefit providers to create college funding solutions.
His answer: Tuition Rewards. Families who conscientiously save and plan for college accumulate Tuition Rewards Points redeemable for guaranteed minimum discounts off the “sticker price” of tuition at a group of private colleges seeking qualified students. For families and participating colleges, it’s a true win-win: families earn guaranteed, non-need based discounts of up to 25% off full tuition, while colleges recruit quality students.
It took six years to assemble a core group of colleges. In 2001, when 100 private colleges and universities joined the consortium, SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards was launched. Today, over 440 private colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii use Tuition Rewards. And, those students are good — SAGE Scholars good!
The SAGE Scholars Team
Dr. Johnston is the founder and architect of SAGE Scholars, Inc. A visionary leader in the field of higher education, he works closely with the leaders of private collegiate institutions to make their values-oriented educational programs more available and more affordable to families and their children. He developed Tuition Rewards, a college savings plan, in partnership with member institutions and benefit providers.
Dr. Johnston began his career as a professor in the Business Department at Spring Garden College, becoming the first Dean of their Business Management Division. He then became Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he served for four years. In 1976, he founded Educational Advisory Services, International — the predecessor to SAGE Scholars — while serving as Secretary of the Fund for Pennsylvania’s State Commission of Higher Education.
Dr. Johnston received his B.A. in Political Science from Bucknell University and his M.B.A. and Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on several boards of philanthropic and educational institutions and chaired the first of two national conferences on 529 plans.
In 2020, the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education awarded Dr. Johnston the “Penn GSE Educator of the Year” honor, recognizing outstanding commitment to identifying and helping resolve current issues in education.
Michael Hall is the CEO of SAGE Scholars and an expert in higher educational tax credits. Michael received his Master’s in Taxation from Villanova Law School and his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Temple University.
Steve Logan is the Chief Technology Officer for SAGE Scholars, responsible for technology strategy, information security, partner integrations, IT planning, procurement, and deployment. Steve leads a growing team of software developers.
Prior to joining SAGE Scholars in 2001, Steve was involved for thirteen years with a Philadelphia-based technology company where he helped launch one of the earliest independently owned Internet Service Providers in the Philadelphia region. He brings over thirty years of experience in technology, Internet, database, and programming sectors.
Aimee Royles is the Creative Director for SAGE Scholars and a dedicated advocate for accessible higher education. She leads brand standards development and oversees marketing and creative strategies for SAGE Scholars’ products and services.
Aimee joined SAGE Scholars in 2016 and led the rebranding of SAGE Scholars and its Tuition Rewards program. She has been instrumental in launching numerous initiatives including FastTrak, SAGE Prime, Ready Set College, Market Cap & Gown, the SAGE Scholars Newsroom, and the SAGE Scholars Educational Foundation.
Aimee holds an MFA from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia and a BFA from the State University of New York at Potsdam.
AJ Healy is the Director of Corporate Marketing for SAGE Scholars. In this role, AJ acts as the main point of contact for new business deals and has introduced the Tuition Rewards program to several top-tier companies, successfully rolling it out to hundreds of thousands of their customers. AJ received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Richmond.
John Varady brings decades of experience developing secure applications and databases to the SAGE Scholars team. He holds a B.S. in Software Engineering Technology from Spring Garden College in Philadelphia. Over the years John has developed online stores for large eCommerce brands, clinical trial and drug sample tracking applications for the pharmaceutical industry, and order entry and delivery applications for the then-emerging handheld market.
Mark Thompson works closely with private colleges and universities to introduce the benefits of the SAGE Scholars College Consortium and encourage institutions to join the national network. Having served as both Director and Dean of Admissions at SAGE Scholars member institutions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Mark brings deep higher education experience to the role.
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Mark has helped bring several dozen colleges and universities into the Consortium. A strong believer in the SAGE Scholars mission, Mark and his family are active program participants — his twin daughter and son are enrolled at member campuses in Indiana and Iowa.
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Ian Highsmith leads relationship management and program support for partner institutions at SAGE Scholars. Since joining in 2018, Ian has worked to optimize communication, enhance database engagement, and ensure successful program implementation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from West Virginia University and coding credentials from Launch Academy.
Ian partners closely with member colleges to provide strategic guidance and deliver customized solutions that strengthen student recruitment and outreach. Based in Philadelphia, he is committed to fostering strong partnerships and delivering meaningful value to the institutions SAGE Scholars serves.
Nathan Bird is the Office Manager at SAGE Scholars, maintaining office services and serving as the primary customer service representative. He supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and ensuring satisfaction with SAGE Scholars’ products, services, and features. Nate earned his Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from Montgomery County Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication from Chestnut Hill College.
