Every Student Succeeding

ACSA believes every student deserves equal opportunities to succeed. On every school day throughout California, dedicated educators and courageous students overcome tremendous obstacles to reach their goals of academic excellence.

Their success is our success; their powerful stories are our inspiration.

Each year, ACSA recognizes 19 pre-K-adult students, one from each geographic region, as well as two California adult education students, for overcoming the odds and achieving success.

Recognition

Students are honored at ACSA's Leadership Summit Every Student Succeeding Ceremony in November, as well as at various regional events.

In 2025, the ESS presentation is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6 in San Francisco.

ACSA will actively publicize award recipients through the news media, and ACSA's website, publications and social media channels.

Purpose and Eligibility

Purpose. The purpose of this award is to honor students at all grade levels (pre-K to adult education) who have succeeded against all odds, beyond expectations or simply won the hearts of the administrators and other educators who helped them achieve their goals. One student from each region will be honored.

Eligibility. Nominees should be students who have made a special effort to succeed and have overcome obstacles such as:

• Returning to school
• Leaving a gang
• Improving their attendance
• Changing their attitude
• Overcoming physical and mental barriers

They should also be active in:

• After school programs
• Community service
• Student conflict resolution
• Cross-age tutoring
• Peer mediation
• Peer tutoring

Nominees can come from programs such as:

• Alternative Education
• At-risk
• Bilingual
• Continuation School

Nominations

Nominations must be sent directly to the nominee's region. Each region will select one winner and honor them at region events throughout the year.

Download Nomination Form

Check with your region leadership for the region submission deadline and process.

**All nominations must be submitted to your region or charter leadership.**

REGION LEADERS ONLY:

Send your completed student winner's nomination form (one student recipient per region) to the state ACSA Awards Program coordinator by March 3, 2025: Emily Agpoon, ACSA Awards Program
916.329.3833 | eagpoon(at)acsa.org

Archives

• View a PDF archive of all student honorees since 1996
• Read student stories since 1996

Region 1

Tanner Via-Root
Arcata High School, Northern Humboldt Union HSD

Region 2

Haley Hull
Placer School for Adults, Placer Union HSD

Region 3

Gabriela Bernal Ramirez
Kinney Continuation High, Folsom Cordova USD

Region 4

Lilian Gesell
Jesse Bethel High School, Vallejo City USD

Region 5

Eduardo Galindo Aguilar
Mills High School, San Mateo Union HSD

Region 6

Adam Tobar
James Madison Elementary, San Leandro USD

Region 7

Aidan Flores-Lerman
Ustach Middle School, Sylvan Union SD

Region 8

Johnathan Spencer
Gilroy High School, Gilroy USD

Region 9

Mariah Mask-Johnson
Sequoia Middle School, Fresno USD

Region 10

Mariana Cortes-Ceja
Spring Grove School, North County Joint Union SD

Region 11

Leonor Quiroz
Mission Oak High School, Tulare Joint Union HSD

Region 12

Julio Garcia-Gil
Cobalt Institute of Math & Science, Victor Valley Union HSD

Region 13

Miguel Rivera
Dos Puertas Juvenile Court School, Santa Barbara CEO

Region 14

Gennalyn Torres
Cerritos High School, ABC USD

Region 15

Yasdeli Chavez Chilel
Blair High School, Pasadena USD

Region 16

Jay Martinez
Walt Whitman High School, Los Angeles USD

Region 17

Matthew Franco
Anaheim High School ILC, Anaheim Union HSD

Region 18

Elliott Turner
Vista High School, Vista USD

Region 19

Adult Education

Jazzmyn Williams
Visalia Adult School

Stephen Hughes
Norwalk La Mirada Adult School