Congratulations to these exceptional CSF Sealbearers nominated by their CSF chapter Advisers and selected as Seymour Award Finalists. On April 5th they met in a group interview setting to compete for the North Seymour Recipient Award.

Mikaela Balaban – Chapter 120 Placer High School
Adviser Suzanna Gardetto
Principal Jaime Jackson
Placer Union High School District

She’s been a 3-year member of CSF. Mikaela has found her leadership skills as she served as a treasurer, vice president, and is the president this year. She is a member of the Outdoor Environmental Club that has educated campers in Kayaking, Hiking, and Backpacking. Then she gets her hands dirty while planting trees and native flowers and clearing invasive weeds. In fact, she was well recommended by the Placer County Land Trust as the first ever youth member to join the council along with the 1st ever youth representative for the Auburn Sustainability Advisor Committee. Mikaela belongs to the Debate Team, a member of the Leo Club and Key Club. She plays on the High School Volleyball Team. She has been a Placer High School Scholar all three years and counting. Mikaela received the College Board AP Scholar with Distinction. She was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for Placer County. Well, it looks like she has applied to great colleges like UC Santa Cruz and CalPoly Pomona but would love to attend UC Davis in the fall. She treasures her house plants and has over 70 varieties in her room.

Amanda Carlile – Chapter 595 Montgomery High School
Adviser Susan Farkas
Principal April Santos
Santa Rosa City Schools

She has been involved in CSF all 3 years and currently is planning the end of year field trips for the club. Amanda has a heart to give back to kids with disabilities through organizations and clubs: Common Ground, Best Buddies and Special Olympics. Amanda volunteers at Kamp Kennedy and WaTam. She also leads classes for “Cooking 4 Me” and shares her love for cooking and gives the participants the confidence to become more independent. She has been a member of YAY, Fresh Start, and the STEM Club. She has been a vibrant member of the Soccer team all 4 years. She has been awarded California State Seal of Biliteracy, Champion of Inclusion, and made the North Coast CIF Presidential List. All this while maintaining Class Rank #1. Amanda has been a part of the Purdue Summer STEP program since 2022. USSD GEL, Cal Poly EPIC program and Interned at BFK Engineers. What do all these have in Common you might ask? She is interested in mechanical engineering. She has applied to all UC’s, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Oregon State, University of Arizona, University of Tennessee, Purdue, Georgia Tech, University North Carolina, Cornell and Princeton. When asked what a highlight of the last four years was, she said it was when she volunteered for a racing inclusion camp to allow kids with disabilities the opportunity to experience special moments with race cars.

Devin Cheng – Chapter 168 Chico High School
Adviser Kris Hahn
Principal Erica Sheridan
Chico Unified School District

He is the CSF President and also held the office of Vice President and Secretary. Devin has planned, scheduled and organized the activities with his team. He has been a member of the Key Club, Science Bowl, Teacher’s aide for AP Calculus and Programming Cyber Security. Devin has also been a team member of the AquaJets team and Chico High school Swim Team. Sometimes you will find him playing piano at the Chico’s Women’s Club. He is a part of COSMOS for University of California, Impact Mentoring, North Valley In Tune Music Foundation and repairs computers for the classroom. Devin is recognized as the only high school student on a team of undergrads, grads and PHD university teams. He is the second author for a published paper using Python script. Devin has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service award, Skills USA, and in 2023 USA Computer Olympiad. He is employed by CSU Chico as a research assistant. Devin has applied to most UCs but UC Berkeley or Cornell University is his pick. He will major in electrical engineering and computer science.

Grace Ehnat – Chapter 1403 Woodland Christian High School
Adviser Zak McGaugh
Principal Ryan Devine

Grace has been involved in CSF for all 4 years. She serves for the “Fourth and Hope” foundation that provides essentials for the neighbors that are struggling and has been doing this every year since her freshman year. She’s a member of the Student Government and is this year’s Vice President. She plays on the Soccer Team all four years too. She has played Volleyball, ran for Track and Field, throws Shot Put and Discus. Grace is also the team manager for the high school football team and was given a state ring. She is an All-Academic League recipient and has been awarded Honor Roll all four years. Her CSF advisor wrote, “Grace’s heart is evident not only in school, but also her commitment to community and faith. She is known for her kindness, integrity and her unwavering dependability”. Her favorite player is Iona Mayor who is an USA Rugby player and Favorite book, “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrew. Grace could probably go anywhere she wants to college and that is what she will be doing in the Fall. She will be attending Abilene Christian University in Texas and majoring in Kinesiology and getting closer to becoming an Athletic Trainer.

Tiffany Fan – Chapter 1408 Western Sierra Collegiate Academy
Adviser Mary Buttweiler
Principal Jennifer Hill
Rocklin Academy Family of Schools

Tiffany is a four-year CSF member and started this journey by serving as a liaison between CJSF and CSF bridging the gap between the two. She was a presenter for the CSF Virtual Leadership Workshop and helped to raise her local chapter membership by 150%. She is the President of the ASB, Captain of the JV and Varsity Basketball team and Athletic Trainer for Volleyball and middle school basketball athletes. Tiffany is the president of the Chinese Dragon Lion Dance Club. She has been awarded the Elks Most Valuable Student Award, DAR Good Citizens Award, Distinguished Community Service Hours (1,500 plus). Let’s talk about trash to art. Tiffany is the founder of “RE CREATE” and for over 4 years she has secured $50,000 in donations, giving 40 high school students the opportunity to try art in a different way and saving 60 tons of trash every year. She has participated in research for the Coastal Marine BioLab, Attended Stanford Summer programs that specialized in Neuroscience and for Pre-Collegiate Scholars. Most recently worked as an intern for Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Program. She implemented the “Choose the Right Bin” initiative teaching employees how to save $75 million in waste management. Tiffany has applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley, Colombia, Harvard, St. Mary’s and Cal State Pomona. It looks like she is leaning towards St. Mary’s or Pomona. She will major in Sociology and Pre-Med and become a pediatric surgeon someday.

Paige Ella France-Romero – Chapter 156 Vallejo High School
Adviser Julie Czapiewski
Principal Chris Waldron
Vallejo City Unified School District

Paige is the current CSF President, she stays busy by being involved with planning, fundraisers and events keeping the members involved. She has been awarded the President’s Award all four years. She has been a member of the Film Club, Leo Club, Loma Vista Farm Team, Coastal Cleanup Crew, as well as a dance and music member of the Filipino Club. She is the Senior Class Secretary and has been on the Badminton team all four years. Paige was awarded the AP Dept Awards for US History and Language and Composition and the AP Scholar Award. Her high School advisor said, “Paige showed admirable commitment to community service and preserving culture by taking active roles in festivals and honoring the Filipino heritage.” Paige has applied to UC Davis, UC San Diego, UCLA, Sonoma State, San Jose State and Cal State East Bay. If she had to pick right now it would be UC Davis and will major in Psychology and Animal Science.

Taylor Jo Hands – Chapter 1356 CORE Butte Charter School
Adviser Fawn Ruby
Principal Matt Harvey
CORE Butte Charter

A member of CSF all four years. She has completed her American Sign Language Certificate and is active in 4-H. She became a Dairy Princess and is ranked as the number one student at her high school. I have a feeling she doesn’t like to tell everyone, but her CSF advisor told us she will not only graduate with the infamous High School Diploma but also will receive her AA degree in the Spring. She also says she is a well-rounded individual with academic excellence, leadership and commitment to serving others. Taylor has been known to paint a little. Especially at the elementary schools or even at a local fairground. Taylor had applied to and was accepted at Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco and Sacramento but Chico State has her heart and will attend there in the fall. She will be majoring in Art because whenever she goes, she may be painting a mural on the next free space in the city, county or school.

Maya Takhar – Chapter 239 Sutter High School
Adviser Taylor Ernst
Principal Rick Giovannoni
Sutter Union High School District

Maya knows what she is going to do. She is a four-year member of CSF and is the current Secretary but has also been the Sophomore Representative and Vice President. She is a member of FBLA, took part in the March of Dimes, and the Key Club Vice President since her Freshman Year. She said that when the Paradise Fire broke, she then understood what volunteering through the “Say Love” organization was all about. She has also volunteered for the Yuba City Nagar Kirtan helping with Donations and Food Distribution since 2014. When we talked on the phone, she mentioned her babysitting jobs. She thought of them not as valued, but I reminded her that those are sometimes the most important. Because, as a parent, you’re trusting that caregiver with your most important asset, your children. Maya, never downplay your caregiving. It is so noteworthy and commendable. Her advisor says that Maya is an outstanding young woman who will achieve success in her future. She has perseverance to push through any obstacle she may face. She has applied and been accepted to Yuba College. They will be getting a fantastic student and will be very lucky to get Maya as she pursues her dreams.

Leah Wong – Chapter 1226 Horizon Charter School
Adviser Melora Klusnick
Principal Tabitha Bertram
Western Placer Unified School District

Leah has been an active member for the past three years and if she looks familiar, she was a Presenter for the CSF Webinar. She has been in the Leadership Club for 2 years and is President. She is involved in many clubs, organizations and activities. The Annual Book Fair, she’s a Dojo Volunteer, and has played the piano for 7 years. Oh, and did I mention she is a first-degree black belt? Leah took 4 College Spanish classes and has earned the State Seal of Biliteracy for both Spanish and Chinese. She is ranked #1 and maintains a 4.67 GPA. She works as a Social Media tech for two businesses, Horizon Charter School and Cotton Critterz. Leah has applied and been accepted to several colleges so far, University of Pacific, CalPoly, but UC Davis is her number one choice. She wants to major in Plant Science because she likes to work with plants with scientific application.

Congratulations to these exceptional CSF Sealbearers nominated by their CSF chapter Advisers and selected as Seymour Award Finalists. On March 29th they met in a group interview setting to compete for the South Central Seymour Recipient Award.

Ava G. Adlam – Chapter 203 El Segundo High School
Adviser Judy Munger
Principal Steve Gebhart
El Segundo Unified School District

Ava dived into community service in the seventh grade when she joined the National Charity League. As she explains, she intended “to spread the love” and support she had experienced growing up in the El Segundo community. Whether baking Mickey Mouse cupcakes for a girl in the foster system, encouraging an athlete in the Special Olympics, or enabling an awkward child smile, Ava has been grateful to have the opportunity to serve her community, especially those in need. Entering high school, she joined the Key Club and CSF to continue to reach out to the broader community and her fellow students. Her CSF Adviser, Judy Munger, shares that she “could depend on Ava to be a supportive tutor for anyone [she] paired her with.” Additionally, Judy notes that as co-vice president, Ava and the vice-president have taken over publicity, weekly drop-in peer tutoring, recruitment, and local scholarships.

As a tri-sport athlete, Ava has played varsity volleyball, beach volleyball, and her favorite soccer, which she has played since age five. This year, she was selected as the Best Defender, among other awards on and off the field. With an eye to being a corporate lawyer, Ava plans to major in business management or political science. To that end, she interned last summer at a law firm where the managing partner described her as “extremely intelligent and thoughtful” and “a natural leader” who will add tremendous value to her communities.

Sahasra Anne – Chapter 106 Simi Valley High School
Adviser Shauna Poutre
Principal JC Baxter
Simi Valley Unified School District, Great Oak High School

Don’t let Sahasra’s time on the runway during Fashion Week in Milan cause you to misjudge her. While Sahasra may love fashion, she also loves helping people; in college she plans to major in computer science in order to create programs to advance education and healthcare for the betterment of all people. Lisa Safaeinili, CEO and Executive Director of the Westminster Free Clinic and Community Care Center, where Sahasra has volunteered for seven years, notes that “Sahasra consistently demonstrates a genuine concern for patients, and makes sure each person has a positive experience.” In 2024, the County Board of supervisors recognized her for her contribution to creating access to healthcare in Ventura County. Despite the numerous hours she volunteers at the clinic and Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital, Sahasra co-founded the Book Hoarders Club at Simi High, which raises money to collect and mail books to children in Africa, and co-founded the non-profit organization, Anne Foundation, which advocates for equitable resources for children’s education, and for girls in STEM and sports. In all that Sahasra does, whether it is her work in the medical field, time on the basketball court as a player and a coach, service as treasurer for CSF and NHS, or organizing food and toy drives, she believes that “the smallest acts of kindness can go a long way and changes lives.”

Erica Chen – Chapter 186 Moorpark High School
Adviser Kristin Swenson
Principal Zaid Bakoo
Moorpark Unified School District

Erica describes the time she spent in her parents’ restaurant “surrounded by customers [as] a blessing in disguise” because it was there that she “discovered my superpower: forging connections.” Through customers, the regulars and the drop-ins, she learned “how small acts of kindness can make someone’s day . . . [and] bridge worlds.” She used these lessons and her superpower in her three years as a CSF officer, increasing service opportunities and scholarship funds, on the tennis team supporting her teammates, and as a Junior Sensi at Code Ninjas Simi Valley, where she worked with students building their coding skills. However, beyond her work with the Close the Gap Foundation, Moorpark Teen Council, and Our Minds Matter Club, and her other volunteer work, you will find her teaching young people about personal finances with her Financial Literacy Initiative. Working the cash register at her parents’ restaurant and seeing the role finances have played in her parents’ lives, she made financial stability a goal not just for herself, but for young people in general. After conducting interviews and research, she created a presentation and reached out to local schools with the goal of “[e]mpowering students to see money as a tool that creates security and opportunity,” building stability in the process. In keeping with her interest in financial literacy, Erica plans to major in business or economics so that she may continue working with people.

When not bridging worlds with classmates, teammates, or customers, Erica likes to escape into the world of her favorite movie, Lilo & Stitch.” The ohana or extended family Lilo and Stitch form is emblematic of Erica’s super power of forging connections.

Matthew Thomas De Guzman – Chapter 1389 Golden Valley High School
Adviser Shanna Mann
Principal Sal Frias
William S. Hart Union High School District

Matthew’s CSF Adviser, Shanna Mann, succinctly describes him as a person of deep integrity who is “deeply respected by both his peers and teachers for his empathy, humility, and willingness to help others.” Drawing on the compassion his parents instilled in him, Matthew joined his school’s chapters of the American Red Cross Club, rising to the position of treasurer, and Health Occupations Students of America. With these clubs, he helped organize blood drives, collecting first-aid supplies, teaching, and teaching CPR. Beyond school, he has helped with city clean-ups, and taught children how to make koi fish out of toilet paper rolls and paper mache. In all of his work, whether academic, athletic, or community service, he is guided by “love, compassion, and resiliency,” always seeking to foster mutual understanding of different and at times complex perspectives.

In college, Matthew plans to follow in his parents’ footsteps and enter dentistry, specifically orthodontics. As an orthodontist, he can have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health by aligning their teeth and improving their smiles. When not serving his community and fellow students, Matthew loves to watch the Los Angeles Clippers both on television and in-person at the games.

Jeremy Hyun John – Chapter 890 Village Christian High School
Adviser Marc Sercomb
Principal Doug Berry

Jeremy’s nonprofit Caring Cubing Community developed out of a simple question, “Was it possible to teach seniors to solve it?” The “it,” in question, was the Rubik’s Cube. Motivated to help seniors deal with the social isolation and lack of mental and social stimulation that can develop after retirement, he sought “to build community and care for seniors through my passion for the cube.” Today, seniors and teens share similes and laughter at multiple senior centers.

When not preparing his nonprofit to continue after he leaves for college, he runs varsity cross country, plays the viola for Village Christian Symphonic Orchestra and Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, and maintains a rigorous academic workload. Marc Sercomb, his CSF Adviser shared that “Jeremy excels at problem-solving,” as exemplified in his AP Computer and Biology courses. Accordingly, in college he plans to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering, in which he will combine his love of science, problem-solving, and helping others. Thus far, he has been accepted at the University of California at Berkeley, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, among other prestigious institutions. When not working on solving problems, Jeremy loves hiking locally and in national parks such as Zion National Park in Utah, where he finds breath-taking natural beauty.

Samantha Kinnison Smith – Chapter 203 El Segundo High
School Adviser Judy Munger
Principal Steve Gebhart
El Segundo Unified School District

Sammi’s love of community service began at the ripe old age of six, when she helped at her elementary school’s carnival. As she explains, the experience “opened the door for me to experience the value of service.” While in elementary school her contributions often remained behind the scenes, a place she enjoys; in high school, she moved onto the field in band. There she knew immediately that she wanted “to be a part of the student leadership when [she] was an upperclassman.” Serving as Woodwind Captain and Flute Section Leader, she would be given the opportunity not only to teach new section mates how to play, march, and perform, more importantly, she would be able to expand her role and “to train the next generation of leaders within the band.”

Sophomore year, Sammi’s love of service and concern for her fellow students motivated her to apply for the newly created student position on her school’s Parent Teacher Association’s Executive Board. There she joined committees and joined leadership boards to ensure that students had a voice. By her junior year, she was chairing committees, making reports to faculty, and overall helping to put the “S” in what became the Parent, Teacher, Student Association, the PTSA. Reflecting on her work with the PTSA, she notes, “When a student speaks up and can clearly articulate an argument with logic and reason, this is when I feel we have our greatest power and voice.”

Looking to her future, Sammi wants to study Computer Science in preparation for entering the video-game industry and to continue to pursue her love of travel. Having traveled Europe, South America and Antarctica, and grown up in the United States, she is already more than halfway to her goal of stepping foot on all seven continents!

Thuy Vu Lam Anh Nguyen – Chapter 729 Ernest Righetti High School
Adviser Jennifer Dolan
Principal Ted Lyon
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

Thuy discovered her calling to be a NICU nurse when she volunteered at Marian Regional Medical Center during her sophomore and junior years. She experienced immense joy engaging with patients and their families and assisting medical staff. However, she found her calling as she witnessed the nurses caring for premature newborns, preparing “baby packs,” and supporting parents with final reminders as their babies were discharged; in those moments, she came to understand “how nurses form close connections with patients and their families.” Seeing those relationships inspired her to enroll in such rigorous courses as AP chemistry, biology, and physics to prepare to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Volunteering at the hospital constituted only one part of Thuy’s community work. As the treasurer for the Key Club, she manages the budget and assists with fundraising; for Ability Service Training Responsibility and Achievement Club (ASTRA), she has worked on literacy campaigns and the annual Festival of Trees fundraiser; and with the National Honor Society with her peers, she helped raised almost $5,000 for local unhoused community programs. Through service to her school and the broader community, Thuy has demonstrated her belief in helping others and serving her community, principles her parents instilled in her at a young age. To decompress from school and her volunteer work, Thuy likes to jam to music, solve Rubik’s cubes, and bake, especially strawberry-custard croissants.

Eden Amaka Oje – Chapter 480 Saint Mary’s Academy
Adviser Molly Fruland
Principal Brandi Odom Lucas
Archdiocese of Los Angeles – OLA Region

In nominating Eden, Molly Fruland, her CSF Adviser, described Eden as “a beacon of inspiration within our school community.” She not only praised Eden’s “commitment to service, leadership, and academic excellence,” she also noted that Eden “empowers her peers not only to succeed academically but also to embrace the value of service to others.” Eden’s work flows from her senses that “leadership is rooted in service.” In addition to expanding her CSF chapter’s peer tutoring program, Eden hosted speaker panels for her fellow students on academic issues, skill-building, and career discernment. Outside the classroom, Eden is a multi-sport athlete, competing in flag football, basketball, varsity cross country, and rowing. Understanding the physical challenges of athletics and wanting to serve her fellow athletes, she took the initiative to become her school’s only student trainer for all of her fellow athletes. Consequently, Eden is committed to attending Cornell University, where she will study human health in pursuit of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, specializing in sports medicine. Whether as a student, member of her CSF executive board, an older sister, or an athlete, Eden believes, “[A]ll I learn can provide a foundation for others to build upon, creating a rippling legacy of achievement.” When not working to create ripples, Eden indulges her love of ceramics, hoping to have her own wheel and kiln.

Lea Vegh – Chapter 701 Bishop Montgomery High School
Adviser John Hong
Principal Michele Starkey
Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Lea’s CSF Adviser, John Hong, succinctly describes her when he states, “She is one of those rare students that is gifted with intelligence, concern for others, and is willing to share her talents with others.”Lea’s “desire to create positive change” in her community and people’s lives serves as more than aspirational rhetoric. She lives out these values with humility in many different ways from running community service events to tutoring to volunteering with environmental organizations to founding a dance summer camp. As a member and co-president of Bishop Montgomery High School’s Concordia Service Club, she has supported food, toiletry, and gift basket drives for Sister Margaret’s Covenant House in Hollywood, an orphanage in Tijuana, and the residents and caregivers of Del Amo Gardens Care Center.

Lea began her service of others in the sixth grade as a tutor and has continued it in high school, where she is a sought out tutor for “her ability to clearly communicate and explain the subject matter,” whether it is biology, math, or English. Lea has applied her love of teaching to her work as an intern at Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, as a Learning and Engagement Specialist at South Coast Botanic Garden’s Butterfly Pavilion, and as a volunteer at the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. In addition to her love of the environment, Lea has a love for dance, which she began studying just five years ago. Acting on her passion, she co-founded “Dance Camp Capitola” for beginner dancers aged five and older. In college, Lea plans to grow her knowledge of the environment and major in environmental science.

Congratulations to these exceptional CSF Sealbearers nominated by their CSF chapter Advisers and selected as Seymour Award Finalists. On March 22nd they met in a group interview setting to compete for the South Seymour Recipient Award.

Eliza Bourne – Chapter 1411 San Juan Hills High School
Adviser Colleen Magana
Principal Cina Abedzade
Capistrano Unified School District

This young woman has a heart of gold and a voice to match.  Eliza has used her voice to speak up for others and worked to make them feel welcome and heard. She has been in CSF since her freshman year and has served as the vice president and president her Junior and Senior years, coordinating service-oriented projects including clothing and hygiene drives for underserved communities. She has provided translation to facilitate communication in her clubs, her school, and at church for years. She is a highly engaged student involved in leadership and active participation in clubs such as the Pink Ribbon Club, the National Honor Society, and JustServe, a club she co-founded where she has coordinated monthly service events that included distributing food to unhoused individuals and individuals with food insecurities, among others.

Talking one-on-one with the people she has served has made her grateful for these experiences, because she cannot help but see herself in the humanity of those she has gotten to know personally. She is inspired to make a difference in the lives of others and may pursue nursing as a career as she heads off to BYU Provo in the fall. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a variety of photography accolades along with her academic recognitions such as the National Ben Carson Award and VFW essay and speech contests.  She pursues other activities beyond academics, performing in choir in addition to theater events throughout the community and on campus.  She is active in her church, a student-athlete in track, and in Scouts of America.  She has even started her own small business selling honey through her efforts as a beekeeper! 

Eliza will certainly be a force of positive change in the world as she moves forward into her post-secondary education.

Matthew Gonzalez – Chapter 1293 Great Oak High School
Adviser Diana Arban
Principal Amber Lane
Temecula Valley Unified School District

This student is simply amazing.  As the youngest in his family, he always wanted to be a “big brother” and becoming involved in UNICEF gave him this chance to form friendships with young people with special needs. He feels that this work most defines him, and this has given him a special connection to the people in the program, as he thoroughly enjoyed his time volunteering to work with UNICEF, making those personal connections with others, and seeing the excitement and joy they have in their participation in the programs. Under his leadership, UNICEF has conducted a recycling program for the past three years.

Matthew is also active in leadership in CSF, serving as treasurer (11th) and president (12th) of the club. He was a Science Olympiad serving as president for both his junior and senior years, where he also was a medalist in competition for 2 consecutive years. His love for science and research was solidified with his opportunity to work as a biomedical researcher with Indiana University during this past summer and has inspired him to major in biochemistry or molecular biology with ambition to go into medicine or research after studying at a top university, such as Santa Clara.

Hopefully, he will be able to continue his interest in karaoke (and having fun) sharing that interest with others as he did when he started the Karaoke Club at his campus, Great Oak High School.

Seowon Han – Chapter 667 Sunny Hills High School
Adviser Hera Kwon
Principal Craig Weinrich
Fullerton Joint Union High School District

Seowan is a student that has grown and thrived in amazing ways throughout her personal and  educational journeys.  Many of her experiences, especially through CSF, where she took over leadership in her last few years to begin a recycling program at Sunny Hills High School, have informed her dream to work at the intersection of health and human services with an emphasis on environmental concerns.  She is interested in pursuing research in renewable energies in the future and attending a UC campus.

Seowon has won numerous awards and recognitions in diverse areas of art, journalism and writing, music/flute, as well as academic or leadership awards that include the Rotary Youth Leadership and a silver medal for the Science Olympiad.  Her volunteer work through Kaiser Permanente serving in the Emergency Department has been a highlight for her during her high school career as she has truly enjoyed helping others in this high energy environment. She is especially proud of her work as editor of the school news magazine and online platform and her work with the LA Times High School Insider Student Advisory Board where she was involved in podcast production where she worked in a variety of roles from producer to host to content manager. 

Seowon is voicing the concerns of her generation as she takes her talents to the next level.

Ethan Hsu -Chapter 667 Sunny Hills High School
Adviser Hera Kwon
Principal Craig Weinrich
Fullerton Joint Union High School District

This is a young man who has overcome educational and personal challenges to find his voice and purpose through service to the community. Ethan is the current vice president of his Sunny Hills High School CSF chapter, as well as the CSF Volunteer Commissioner in his junior year, where Ethan organized student volunteer opportunities with over 20 local senior care facilities. CSF members connected with residents through a letter and card writing campaign. 

Ethan has been an active member serving the community as a Link Crew Leader at his high school, helping freshmen connect to the high school community. He has been active in or provided leadership in many on-campus clubs including Chess Club, Chinese Club, and the Coding Club. He has served the community teaching in the Science for Kids program, worked on-site at the local Good Sam Pantry supporting unhoused or food insecure residents, and even provided service at the American Red Cross working with donors like himself.  He is also a competitor in the Sunny Hills Science Olympiad, competing in more than 11 tournaments this year.  Having won multiple awards, including Elk’s Student of the Month Quarterfinalist,

Ethan is really proud of his work and recognition through his Boeing Internship where his Integrated Product Team took first place in August of 2024. His top choice for college is UC Berkeley where he wants to major in biomedical engineering, eventually going into research in the future. One thing he is most grateful for is the opportunity he has had through CSF to witness first-hand the appreciation people have when they receive some type of help or service. This experience guarantees his continuing work with the community into the future.

Bryce Jacobsen – Chapter 1079 Temecula Valley High School
Adviser Gustavo Rodriguez Rios
Principal Donna Lione
Temecula Valley Unified School District

Bryce Jacobsen is an excellent scholar and all-around great citizen who “shows up” for his community at Temecula Valley High School, as well as the wider community. His current goal is to study some form of political science or related field in hopes to eventually attend law school after graduating from a prestigious university such as Brigham Young University.  With that in mind, he has been a Legal Aid volunteer but is keeping his options open as he has led many other clubs at school including Pre-Med, Sports Medicine, Interact-Rotary, and served in student government in several capacities over the years. 

An avid student athlete, Bryce has honed his teamwork skills in basketball, football, track and golf. He has attained the Eagle Scout designation with Scouts of America and leaned into other service opportunities including Special Olympics, Helping Hands and many others. He is an accomplished musician and one of his favorite service commitments was playing his cello for retirement home audiences, bringing a smile to residents’ faces and some music to their daily lives. These performances were some of his favorite service memories because he loved seeing the light and joy that these performances brought to the residents and how much pleasure and gratitude they had as audience members. 

Bryce is a true scholar and a gentleman, and he is guaranteed to walk a path of service and scholarship into his future.

Jayden Lee – Chapter 1293 Great Oak High School
Adviser Diana Arban
Principal Amber Lane
Temecula Valley Unified School District

This is a student “gardener” who is sowing the seeds of success as he works toward his goals. Jayden has been a patient and focused scholar who uses the metaphor of gardening to provide illumination for how he sees life – the act of cultivating plants provides an important lesson that nurturing seeds is a small, incremental task that can eventually lead to a flowering future. 

Jayden has amassed a variety of experiences that have led directly to his goal of going to medical school to become a pediatrician after graduating from Duke with a biology degree. Supporting this goal, he was a Science Olympiad and participated in Guatemala Health Outreach in 2023 where he spent time in rural villages supporting free cataract surgeries for residents and education on hygiene and other health outcomes.  He also attended UCSD summer enrichment in math and science (COSMOS) in 2023 and was awarded an internship with Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills this past summer.

Gardening Club at Great Oaks High School will be one of his favorite memories and is where he has learned the importance of cultivation and patience working with his tennis team and environmental science teacher to rejuvenate and beautify an area of campus that had been neglected.  He cherishes these and all of the memories and lessons learned during his high school career and will utilize these lessons to enhance his life moving forward

Alessandra Pimentel – Chapter 1167 Paloma Valley High School
Adviser Michelle Allen
Principal Julie Mendoza-Blied
Perris Union High School District

This is a student who is reaching for the stars – literally.  Alessandra hopes to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a fighter pilot or an astronaut, whether through attending her dream school of the Air Force Academy or Cal Poly or a UC campus that offers mechanical or aerospace engineering degrees. To this end, she has earned accolades such as a scholarship for the Aim High Flight Academy, completed the US NAval Academy Summer Seminar, and gained an appointment from Ken Calvert, her California congressman for District 41. 

Alessandra sees her biggest strength as her ambition and grit – these qualities have nothing to do with competing with others, but in pushing herself to her own limits.  She has amassed strong leadership skills and community involvement through her many clubs, including Engineering Club where she was team captain, the Paloma Press as assistant editor, and as a volunteer with the March Field Air Museum. She is especially proud of the Youth Leaders of Menifee where she was able to interact with so many amazing people and feel the gratitude personally from the many participants. She has also won awards for her creative writing and poetry, in addition to many Paloma Valley High School academic and citizenship awards, demonstrating the diversity of her academic, community outreach, and leadership skills.

This young lady will be forging a new path forward – to infinity and beyond.

Michelle Quinonez – Chapter 1173 Santiago High School
Adviser Kathy Zeeb
Principal Kenny Torres
Corona-Norco Unified School District

Michelle has used her experience to inform her message – and has used this to share ideas about innovation and having a positive outlook through her two Santiago TedX talks.  Having this positive mindset is one reason that she aspires to a career in medicine as she navigates a biology major at UC Irvine on the road to becoming a pediatrician. She doesn’t wish simply to be a medical professional, but to be the type of doctor who shares empathy for her patients and their humanity by acknowledging the limits of science and the power and warmth of human compassion.

She has shown this type of leadership and compassion at Santiago High School and beyond,  as a Kaiser Summer Youth Volunteer, Corona’s Mayor Youth Council and clubs such as Partners in Health, Speech/Debate, and French Club, all of which she held leadership positions.   As CSF secretary in her junior year and president in her senior year, Michelle was instrumental in club rush, fundraising, campus beautification efforts and many activities that supported college admissions for all students.

Michelle is proud of her work with the speech and debate club, which was a step outside of her comfort zone, but led to her successful TedX talks and an increasing strength in public and interpersonal speaking and communication. She will definitely be a strong advocate for others moving into the future.

Santiago Emilio Valle – Chapter 999 Ocean View High School
Adviser Robert Gonzalez
Principal Rob Rasmussen
Huntington Beach Union High School District

Santiago believes that leadership and compassion go hand in hand, and he has embodied caring leadership with his chosen experiences. He hopes that his leadership has inspired others, as he sees true leadership as a form of empowerment rather than of “power.” He has honed his leadership through his work with Model United Nations, where he won Best Delegate in 2022, and continues to combine his version of service through Scouts of America, where his connection to conservation has had a chance to thrive through the Urban Forest and Shipley Nature Center where he has volunteered his time. He is on track to earn his Eagle Scout this year and is working on building a coffee cart that will fund student needs at his high school from coffee sales to district and school site employees. 

Santiago interned with Boeing this past summer that had an 8-person team working to design a Solar Weather and Irradiance Measurement System. In addition, he has served as president of the Robotics team for two years and has been an active member since his freshman year. In his limited spare time, he was able to earn a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and started the Balsamic Vinegar Aficionados club on campus at Ocean View High School. 

Matthew plans to attend Montana State or Johns Hopkins and major in some form of genetic or bioengineering.  His tenacity is sure to propel him toward his goals, wherever those may lead.

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!