Long Beach Unified Honors Most Inspiring Students

The Long Beach Unified School District is proud to announce the 88 winners of the 2025 Most Inspiring Students Awards, recognizing students who embody dedication, empathy, resilience, and creativity, as part of Vision 2035's Graduate Portrait. 

Administered by the Equity, Engagement and Partnerships office, the annual award selects one student from each of the district's schools and alternative education programs as a model of determination and commitment. Each winner receives a medal, plaque, and lawn sign in recognition of their achievement.

Congratulations to the following students!

Elementary Schools and Early Education Programs:

• Marcos Velazquez Amaro – Addams Elementary School – 5th grade
• Deveion Collins – Alvarado Elementary School – 5th grade
• Sophia Romero – Barton Elementary School – 5th grade
• Destiny Lovelette Flores – Birney Elementary School – 4th grade
• Emilio Chavez – Bixby Elementary School – 5th grade
• Shirley Cabrera – Bryant Elementary School – 5th grade
• Roy Levi Vicente – Buffum TLC – Pre Kindergarten
• Jay Gallo – Burbank Elementary School – 3rd grade
• Bella Marie Aguilar – Burcham Elementary School – 2nd grade
• Caleb Dodge – Carver Elementary School – 5th grade
• Daniel Coutelin Johnson – CDC – Pre Kindergarten
• Lilyana Perez – Chavez Elementary School – 5th grade
• Mia Sanchez – Cleveland Elementary School – 3rd grade
• Sylvester McKinley V – Dooley Elementary School – 5th grade
• Zael Hernandez – Edison Elementary School – 5th grade
• Maleek Burkes-  EduCare Los Angeles at Long Beach- Pre Kindergarten
• David Guzman – Emerson Parkside Academy – 4th grade
• Lucy Lira – Fremont Elementary School – 5th grade
• Ethan Ponce De Leon – Gant Elementary School – 5th grade
• Ivan Perez-Gonzalez – Garfield Elementary School – 5th grade
• Alexander Hernandez-Ortiz – Gompers Elementary School
• Aryana Mc Daniels – Grant Elementary School – 4th grade
• Gideon Hubbard – Harte Elementary School – 4th grade
• Tyler Ramirez – Head Start – Pre Kindergarten
• Bobbi Rangel – Henry Elementary School – 5th grade
• Ja'Kobe Johnson – Holmes Elementary School – 5th grade
• Herishamiele Hernandez – Hudson Elementary School – 2nd grade
• Ocean Phillips – King Elementary School – 2nd grade
• Azelie Claude – Lafayette Elementary School – 4th grade
• Luke Ballesteros – Lincoln Elementary School – 5th grade
• Elle Lazatin – Longfellow Elementary School – 1st grade
• Nathaniel Kandapallil – Los Cerritos Elementary School – 5th grade
• Curren Easley – Lowell Elementary School – 2nd grade
• James Huerta – MacArthur Elementary School – 5th grade
• Isaac Castillo – Madison Elementary School – 1st grade
• Liam Cruz Enamorado – Mann Elementary School – 3rd grade
• Nature Slaughter – McKinley Elementary School – 5th grade
• Rosalynn Perez – Naples Elementary School – 5th grade
• Jayden Cruz – Nieto-Herrera Elementary School – 5th grade
• Romina Soto – Oropeza Elementary School – 3rd grade
• Nathan Sanchez – Prisk Elementary School – 5th grade
• Melody Rendon – Riley Elementary School – 5th grade
• Jimena Pineda Castro – Roosevelt Elementary School – 5th grade
• Jolene Rodriguez – Signal Hill Elementary School – 5th grade
• Felix Pena Martinez – Smith Elementary School – 4th grade
• Gustavo Miguel Rodriguez – Stevenson Elementary School – 5th grade
• Brooklyn Marker – Twain Elementary School – 5th grade
• Leonardo Duarte – Webster Elementary School – 4th grade
• Payton Gurley – Whittier Elementary School – 5th grade
• Alessandro Meza – Willard Elementary School – 1st grade

K-8 and Middle Schools:

• Bella Bolter – Bancroft Middle School – 8th grade
• Mia Torres – Cubberley K-8 School – 8th grade
• On'Zayah Miller-  Franklin Classical Middle School- 8th grade
• Grisol Tiscareno – Hamilton Middle School – 8th grade
• Bruno Rodriguez – Hoover Middle School – 8th grade
• Justin Moon – Hughes Middle School – 8th grade
• Katherine Nina Gutierrez – Jefferson Leadership Academy – 8th grade
• Henry Lund – Keller Middle School 
• Anthony Newman, Jr. -  Lindbergh STEM Academy- 8th grade
• Satyamuni Menh-  Lindsey Academy- 8th grade
• Isla Fisher – Marshall Middle School – 8th grade
• Ruben Mackey Pena- Muir Academy- 5th grade
• Iris Martinez – Nelson Academy – 8th grade
• Meyonce Adams – Newcomb K-8 Academy – 8th grade
• Nicholas Williams- Powell K-8 Academy- 2nd grade
• Manuel (Manny) Aquino – Robinson K-8 Academy – 3rd grade
• Kenzie Bryant – Rogers Middle School – 8th grade
• Aiden Quebec – Stanford Middle School – 8th grade
• Andrew Gutierrez – Stephens Middle School – 8th grade
• Adamaris Ortiz Perez – Tincher Preparatory School – 8th grade
• Goodluck Uzoma – Washington Middle School – 8th grade

High School and Alternative Education Programs:

• Alyssa Figueroa – Avalon TK-12 School – 10th grade
• Jaevin Harris- Browning High School- 12th grade
• Kade Collins-Prudholme – Cabrillo High School – 10th grade
• Rithy Money Rich Lay – CAMS (California Academy of Mathematics and Science) – 12th grade
• Jorge Villalobos – EPHS (Educational Partnership High School) – 12th grade
• Joel Gomez-Perez – Jordan High School – 12th grade
• Jennifer Reed – Lakewood High School – 12th grade
• Arthur Mendoza – Long Beach School for Adults – 12th grade
• Marc Medina – McBride High School – 12th grade
• Ky-Lliyah Clardy – Millikan High School – 12th grade
• Aries Washington – PAAL (Poly Academy of Achievers and Learners) – 12th grade
• Aaya McLyn – Polytechnic High School – 12th grade
• Karly Medina – Reid Continuation High School – 12th grade
• Esmeralda Martinez-Jimenez – Renaissance High School for the Arts – 12th grade
• Luke Sylvester – Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science – 12th grade
• Gabby Rubio – Wilson High School – 12th grade