Congratulation, Jillian Fifield! 2024-2025 CSF Seymour Award Central Recipient.
Jillian Fifield – Chapter 1263 El Diamante High School
Adviser Mark Abbott
Principal Kim Nelson
Visalia Unified School District
Jillian Fifield has been an active participant in the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and community service for four years. Her exceptional leadership skills shine through her three-year membership in Key Club, her four years as a varsity Swim Team member, and her role as a Swim Coach for younger swimmers.
Jillian’s dedication extends to academic and literary pursuits as well. She works as an elementary aide, helping 3rd and 4th graders with their lessons, and she founded a Book Club to share her love of reading. Additionally, she volunteers as an intern at the Visalia Library and tutors at the House of Chan in Visalia, specializing in Calculus and Statistics, with occasional tutoring in Biology.
Jillian’s passion for books earned her the title of Senior Superlative Bookworm, as she achieved the incredible feat of reading one million words over the Christmas break. Her favorite book, The Westing Game, holds a special place in her heart—she has read it at least 15 times!
In the fall, Jillian plans to attend Fresno State University or Chico State, where she will major in Communication with the goal of becoming a Speech Pathologist.
The Seymour Award Finalists enjoying some down time at the Central Awards event hosted by Sanger West High School CSF Chapter 1547c. Click for slideshow.
Congratulations to these exceptional CSF Sealbearers nominated by their CSF chapter Advisers and selected as Seymour Award Finalists. On March 15th they met in a group interview setting to compete for the Central Seymour Recipient Award.
Khloe Ackerman – Chapter 260 Edison High School
Adviser David Wisar
Principal Joey Munoz
Fresno Unified School District
Jillian Fifield – Chapter 1263 El Diamante High School
Adviser Mark Abbott
Principal Kim Nelson
Visalia Unified School District
Kaylene Garza – Chapter 512 Redwood High School
Adviser Nicole Vieira
Principal Brandon Gridiron
Visalia Unified School District
Marianne Denise Lababit – Chapter 1379 Sierra Pacific High School
Adviser Brian Dull
Principal Jamie Rogers
Hanford Joint Union High School District
Vida Lew – Chapter 1320 Millennium High School
Adviser Lauren Moore
Principal Carolyn Woods
Tracy Learning Center
Joanna Linette Molina Ambriz – Chapter 1212 Granite Hills High School
Adviser Mariah Ruiz
Principal Jacob Bowker
Porterville Unified School District
Max Pacheco Mendez – Chapter 1100 Duncan Polytechnical High School
Adviser Gabriel Perez
Principal Eric Martinez
Fresno Unified School District
Bethany Ray – Chapter 66 Sanger High School
Adviser Nikki Le Daud
Principal Kristin Coronado
Sanger Unified School District
Steven Sanchez Barrera – Chapter 1547 Sanger West High School
Adviser Karla Bretado
Principal Ryan Osier
Sanger Unified School District
Jetsie Villegas – Chapter 1263 El Diamante High School
Adviser Mark Abbott
Principal Kim Nelson
Visalia Unified School District
Khloe Ackerman – Chapter 260 Edison High School
Adviser David Wisar
Principal Joey Munoz
Fresno Unified School District
Khloe has been an active member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) for three years. She has also thrived in the Kiwanis Key Club, where she currently serves as President, after previously excelling in other leadership roles. Notably, Storyland of Fresno recommended her as a dependable and resourceful individual for organizing volunteers and schedules. Among her favorite high school experiences were participating in toy drives, assisting with the Rose Parade, and serving as Vice President of the “Crochet for a Cause” club.
Since 2018, Khloe has been involved with the Lao Community Cultural Center, showcasing her passion for music and dance. All the while, she has maintained an impressive 4.0 GPA. She holds a deep admiration for her grandparents, often reflecting on the memorable five weeks they spent together visiting family and exploring night markets in Thailand.
Khloe is fortunate to have numerous college options. While her dream is to attend Columbia University, she has also been accepted to Cal State East Bay, Cal Poly Humboldt, Fresno State University, and the University of San Francisco.
Khloe embraces the motto, “Always dream big and never let the limits of this world hold you back!”
Kaylene Jade Garza – Chapter 512 Redwood High School
Adviser Nicole Vieira
Principal Brandon Gridiron
Visalia Unified School District
When asked what makes her unique, Kaylene shared her love for Woodshop and Taylor Swift. She is the President of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) at her school and has earned the title of Ranger of the Month not just once, but twice. Alongside her accomplishments, she holds an OSHA-10 certificate and has been on the Yearbook staff.
A consistent achiever, Kaylene has made the Honor Roll every year since her freshman year and has earned the prestigious Student Seal of Biliteracy. While she awaits responses from the California State Universities she has applied to, she has already been accepted to California State University, Monterey Bay, and Fresno State University.
Kaylene’s aspiration to become a pulmonologist is deeply inspired by her grandfather, whose advice continues to guide her: “Become Somebody.” Without a doubt, Kaylene, you are already somebody remarkable, and there are incredible things ahead waiting for you to discover!
Marianne Denise Lababit – Chapter 1379 Sierra Pacific High School
Adviser Brian Dull
Principal Jamie Rogers
Hanford Joint Union High School District
Little did Marianne know that attending her first CJSF meeting would pave the way to all that she has achieved today. As Vice President of her high school’s CSF chapter, Marianne has immersed herself in numerous meaningful activities. She serves on the Economic Brothers Youth Council, contributes to Little Free Libraries, and has created social media blogs and graphic designs.
Her talents and passions extend to the arts and athletics. Marianne is a proud member of the colorguard, band, jazz band, and the tennis team. In her spare time, she enjoys playing a variety of instruments, including the trumpet, clarinet, flute, piano, and ukulele.
Marianne’s hard work and dedication have opened many doors. She has been accepted to Santa Clara University, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State, San Jose State, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, and USC. While all these opportunities are exciting, UC Berkeley is her top choice. Marianne plans to major in Neuroscience and focus on Physical Therapy for Brain Injuries, though she is also considering UC Davis and awaiting decisions from UC Berkeley and UCLA for a potential Engineering major.
Vida Lew – Chapter 1320 Millennium High School
Adviser Lauren Moore
Principal Carolyn Woods
Tracy Learning Center
Vida has been a dedicated member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) for four years, having started her journey as a CJSF member six years ago. With 435 credits completed, she is on track to graduate high school with an Associate of Arts degree. Alongside her academic achievements, Vida has completed over 250 hours of community service.
She is an active member of the Girl Scouts, has spent three years in the marching band, and participates in both the Biology Club and STEM Club—all while maintaining an impressive 4.29 GPA. In her free time, Vida enjoys playing the clarinet and creating digital art.
Vida has applied to several universities, including Cal Poly, California State University of Monterey Bay, Cal State Santa Barbara, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley. Her dream is to major in Environmental Sciences. Notably, Vida combines her passion for the environment with her creative skills by building bee boxes. Her favorite song, fittingly titled “Queen of the Hive,” reflects her enthusiasm for this unique hobby.
Joanna Linette Molina Ambriz – Chapter 1212 Granite Hills High School
Adviser Mariah Ruiz
Principal Jacob Bowker
Porterville Unified School District
Joanna is the President of the California Scholarship Federation chapter at Granite Hills High School in Porterville. She has earned the prestigious President’s Award each of the four years of high school.
Joanna’s commitment to service is evident through her two years of involvement with the Ronald McDonald House and her active participation in Rotary Runs for Cancer and Domestic Violence Vigils. She interned with Qualcomm, Raytheon, and an Animatronic camp, as well as the Porterville Police Department. Additionally, Joanna has served as a tutor and has helped organize the Special Needs Prom.
Joanna channels her creativity into making blankets for the homeless, having donated an impressive 250 blankets and counting. She is also an entrepreneur, running her own business, J’s Dessert, with cupcakes as her signature specialty.
Joanna has already been accepted to Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Long Beach but remains open to opportunities from the 12 schools she applied to. She is eagerly awaiting a response from Stanford University, her top choice. Joanna plans to major in Biology and Environmental Health, aligning her aspirations with her passion for making a meaningful impact on the world.
Max Pacheco Mendez – Chapter 1100 Duncan Polytechnical High School
Adviser Gabriel Perez
Principal Eric Martinez
Fresno Unified School District
Max is a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), where he holds the position of President. He has demonstrated his technical skills by developing and maintaining websites for both CSF and the Robotics Team. Currently serving as the lead for the Robotics Team, Max writes code.
Max’s academic excellence is reflected in his impressive 4.5 GPA, as seen on his transcript. Beyond academics, he is a versatile individual who is part of the cross country and soccer teams. He is also an active member of the Interact Club, contributing his time to support numerous fundraisers and campaigns.
Max has applied to several universities, including UC Berkeley, Smittcamp Honors College, Fresno State University, UC Davis, and UCLA. Of these, UC Berkeley is his top choice, where he plans to major in Computer Science. Max likes coding and aspires to delve into the world of artificial intelligence in his future endeavors. His coding repertoire includes languages such as BASIC, JavaScript, and Python—showcasing his dedication to advancing his technical knowledge.
Max’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, and there’s no doubt he will continue to excel in the next chapter of his life!
Bethany Ray – Chapter 66 Sanger High School
Adviser Nikki Le Daud
Principal Kristin Coronado
Sanger Unified School District
Bethany serves as the Treasurer of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) at Sanger High School and has been a dedicated member for four years. Her commitment to leadership and service also shines through her four-year participation in the Principal’s Forum and the Interact Club.
Beyond academics, Bethany’s is a force ot be reckoned with—she has earned the title of Sparring Champion in Taekwondo at both State and National competitions. She is actively involved in Mock Trials, the Engineering Club, the Robotics Team, and Speech and Debate, showcasing her diverse talents and interests.
Bethany’s drive for excellence has also led her to attend two prestigious programs at MIT, further enriching her journey. This fall, she will be attending UC Berkeley to pursue a degree in Engineering. Bethany’s personal motto is “Leave things better than you found them.” Bethany is making everything better along the way.
Steven Sanchez Barrera – Chapter 1547 Sanger West High School
Adviser Karla Bretado
Principal Ryan Osier
Sanger Unified School District
Steven is a leader with a clear vision for his future. A three-year member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), he currently serves as Co-President and is also the Student Body President. Throughout his time in CSF, Steven has actively contributed to various activities and organizations, including the Honey Club Food Pantry. Steven also participated in the Valley Children’s Hospital Shadow Program, furthering his aspirations in the medical field.
Steven has applied to an impressive range of universities, including all the UCs, several state colleges, and prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania, and Brown. However, Columbia University will have the honor of welcoming Steven this fall. They are incredibly fortunate to gain such a talented and driven student as he embarks on his journey to pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon.
Jetsie Villegas – Chapter 1263 El Diamante High School
Adviser Mark Abbott
Principal Kim Nelson
Visalia Unified School District
Jetsie has been an active member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) for the past four years. Throughout her high school journey, she has participated in a wide range of clubs, organizations, and activities. These include The Link Crew, AVID Club, Key Club (for two years), Harvesting Hope, and the Kaweah Delta Shadowing Program.
Her outstanding achievements have been recognized with multiple accolades, such as the Principal’s Award, AP Scholar Award, State Seal of Civic Engagement, State Seal of Biliteracy, and Honor Roll every year—maintaining an exceptional 4.0 GPA.
Jetsie has applied to numerous colleges and eagerly awaits their responses. Stanford University is her top choice, but she is also considering all 10 of California’s UC campuses, ensuring she keeps her options open. She plans to major in Biology and pursue a career in the medical field.
Outside of her studies and extracurriculars, Jetsie enjoys riding her favorite horse around her home area—a pastime that reflects her adventurous and spirited nature. Giddy up, Jetsie, as you ride into a bright future!