STATE OF THE ART

The following students participated in the Orange Coast College Fashion Show, celebrating Surf and Skate culture.

Mordecai Mehau (IA, ‘26)
Maggie Moland (ACT, ‘24)
Jules Schuld (CV, ‘24) - Winner, Rising Star category
Siena Stark (ACT, ‘24) - Winner, Rising Star category
Nicole Sun (VA, ‘24)

The Mekjian Family Culinary Arts & Hospitality (CAH) took part in the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2024 CA ProStart Cup presented by Wienerschnitzel – a culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition held at the Long Beach Convention Center. Listed below are the CAH students who participated in the events. Students from First to Fifth Place teams were awarded a variety of scholarships from colleges across the nation.

Culinary Team - 2nd Place, BJ’s Restaurants Culinary Cup
Cooked a three-course meal, featuring seared halibut with sea buckthorn berry sauce, five spice maple duck breast, and chocolate bliss with matcha custard and mango puree
Mia Horiguchi (CAH, ‘26)
Stella Mulholland (CAH, ‘26)
Jaren Tseng (CAH, ‘25)
Trinity Wiideman (CAH, ‘24) - Captain

Management Team - 1st Place, BJ’s Restaurants Management Cup
Conceptualized a college sports-themed restaurant, Teddy’s – serving breakfast all day
Emily Leo (CAH, ‘25)
Max Madsen (CAH, ‘26)
Tira Smith (CAH, ‘24) - Captain
Cynthia Zhou (CAH, ‘26)

Individual - Wienerschnitzel’s “Dress Your Dog” Hot Dog Topping Competition
Camila Acevedo (CAH, ‘27)
Declan Davey (CAH, ‘27)

Individual - Loaded Idaho Baked Potato Competition
Dani Park (CAH, ‘27)
Scarlett Schmitt (CAH, ‘27) - 2nd Place

ProStart Executive Mentor Program Winner
Received a one-year mentorship with a restaurant executive and a scholarship for Blanchard Institute’s Student Self Leadership Training
Jaren Tseng (CAH, ‘25)

Alexandria Cartagena (DM, ‘26) earned her 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo and was invited to teach at the National Taekwondo Academy in Aliso Viejo. Also known as a “5th Dan”, Alexandria’s level in the Korean martial art gave her the ability to mentor other black and brown belt students during the academic year.

Aryan Sharma (CW, ‘27) participated in the 69th Annual Orange County Science and Engineering Fair (OCSEF) hosted at Chapman University. Aryan took home first place in Category 1000 – Botany and was awarded the Dave Walkington Memorial Award for excellence in Botany, in addition to winning the RICOH award for next-generation technology innovation. He was also nominated to represent Orange County in the International Science & Engineering Fair, in which he was a finalist. Aryan spent five days networking and collaborating with other students who attended the event.

Zeen Zhou (IM, ‘29) was awarded a full-tuition merit scholarship for the 2024 Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Arts Camp six-week string program. At the annual Summer Arts Camp students experience all the fun of summer camp – from cabin games and activities to enjoying the sun and exploring the great outdoors – all while practicing, performing, and making art.

Joules Recana (PM, ‘25) received the inaugural Beacon of Hope Award at the Radiant Health Center’s 38th Annual Gala. Proudly representing the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities, Joules was honored with the award for exemplifying resilience and inclusivity.

West Mulholland (ACT, ‘23) attended the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for his role in the upcoming movie “Presence.” He starred alongside actors Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Chris Sullivan, and more. The movie, directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, received a distribution contract from Neon in January.

Logan Bailey (MT, ‘29) and Ian Massimino (MT, ‘29) earned First Place at the Musical Theatre Competition of America 2024 in Anaheim for their vocal duet “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” from “The Book of Mormon.”

Adin Boyer (CV, ‘18) released his sophomore EP, “Regroup,'' available on all streaming platforms. This alternative collection is influenced by the sound of rock groups such as Coldplay, Kensington, and Keane, and the ambiences of groups like Hammock and Bear’s Den.

Cole Frederick (IM, ‘16), Matthew Jarnagin (FTV, ‘15), Matisse Pasillas (FTV, ‘15), Nicholas Stone (IM, ‘15), and Christopher Trimmer (IM, ‘12), also known as pop group Undecided Future, received rave reviews from Virgin Voyage Entertainment Director Jeremy Larochelle for their five Virgin Voyage cruise bookings since 2022. They will sail to Greece for the second time in June 2024 to perform their original songs and some covers.

More information on their group can be found on undecidedfuture.com.

Aaron Chang (CMD, ‘26) was cast as the role of Soup in “DÌDI (弟弟),” written and directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang. Aaron attended the movie’s world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024. “DÌDI (弟弟)” is a coming-of-age dramedy about a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy discovering skating, flirting, how to love your mom, and other aspects of his early-teens. The film will be released in theaters in July 2024.

Sebastian Nunez (CV, ‘24) advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 1776. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in Boy Scouts and is awarded to those who exemplify leadership within their troop and unit. Sebastian currently serves as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and is in the process of becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster.

Bea Main (MT, ‘29) was cast in South Coast Repertory’s “A Christmas Carol” as Tiny Tim Cratchit. Performances took place in December 2023.

Sydney Noelle Haik (PM, ‘24) earned the Performing Arts: Music Scholarship from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). This scholarship is dedicated to those interested in pursuing studies in the performing arts. Sydney was one of three students awarded for their five-minute video performance.

Elena Huang (CV, ‘28) was named first prize winner of the 2023 New York Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition for piano. Winners had the opportunity to be a part of the Winners’ Concert at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in March and July 2024.

The following students were announced as winners in their respective categories for the 20th Annual SoCalPhil Young Artists Competition. First Place winners were invited to perform in select SoCalPhil concerts in Spring 2024.

Cadence Bleakley (CV, ‘28) - Third Place (Protégé Vocal)
William Bolin (CV, ‘24) - Second Place (Artiste Vocal)
Irene Choung (IM, ‘24) - Second Place (Artiste Instrumental)
Celine Curtis (CV, ‘26) - Honorable Mention (Artiste Vocal)
Estella Keyoung (CV, ‘25) - First Place (Artiste Vocal)
Seojin Park (IM, ‘28) - Second Place (Protégé Piano)
Alyssa Snow (IM, ‘25) - First Place (Artiste Piano)
Eliza Tait (CV, ‘25) - First Place (Artiste Vocal)
Sterling Tran (IM, ‘27) - Third Place (Artiste Piano)
Natalie Xu (IM, ‘29) - First Place (Protégé Instrumental)

The following students earned recognition awards for their participation in the 2023 Student Evaluation Program (SEP) hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) - Los Angeles. At the SEP Extravaganza Recital in January, First Place winners in their respective divisions each performed one song of a judge’s choice.

Musical Theatre 3A-1 (Lower HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “Screw Loose”
Asmi Aggarwal (CV, ‘27) - Honorable Mention
Reese Guenther-Clark (CV, ‘27) - 2nd Place
Angelina Pendleton-Mendez (PM, ‘27) - 3rd Place
Leila Woodward (CV, ‘27) - 1st Place

Musical Theatre 4 (HS - Low Voices); Song for Recital: “Funny”
Henry Courtney (CV, ‘26) - Honorable Mention

Classical 3A-2 (Lower HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “Bel piacere”
Amber Bach (CV, ‘26) - 3rd Place
Celine Curtis (CV, ‘26) - 1st Place
Leah Navarro (CV, ‘26) - Honorable Mention
Sydney Sublette (CV, ‘26) - 2nd Place

Musical Theatre 3A-2 (Lower HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “The Girl in 14G”
Sydney Sublette (CV, ‘26) - 1st Place

Classical 3B (Upper HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “Tornami a vagheggiar”
Samara Kohne (CV, ‘24) - Honorable Mention
Chloe Ness (CV, ‘24) - 2nd Place
Viveka Saravana (CV, ‘24) - 1st Place

Classical 3B (Upper HS - Highest Scoring Junior); Song for Recital: “Mandoline (Debussy)”
Madison Becerra (CV, ‘25) - 1st Place

Musical Theatre 3B (Upper HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “Astonishing”
Madison Becerra (CV, ‘25) - 3rd Place
Tessa Espinola (ACT, ‘25) - Honorable Mention
Chloe Ness (CV, ‘24) - 2nd Place

The following students earned recognition awards for their participation in the 2023 Student Evaluation Program (SEP) hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) - Los Angeles. At the SEP Extravaganza Recital in January, First Place winners in their respective divisions each performed one song of a judge’s choice.

Classical 2A (Youth); Song for Recital: “Chi vuol la zingarella”
Lubaina Habib (CV, ‘28) - Honorable Mention
Beatrice Main (MT, ‘29) - 3rd Place
Julia Zhou (CV, ‘28) - Honorable Mention

Musical Theatre 2B (Youth); Song for Recital: “The Secret of Happiness”
Cadence Bleakley (CV, ‘28) - 3rd Place

Classical 3A-1 (Lower HS - High Voices); Song for Recital: “Italian Street Song”
Reese Guenther-Clark (CV, ‘27) - 1st Place
Leila Woodward (CV, ‘27) - 2nd Place

Commercial B (14 Years & Older); Song for Recital: “Easy On Me”
Angelina Pendleton-Mendez (PM, ‘27) - 1st Place

Classical 4B (Upper HS - Low Voices); Song for Recital: “Ah! quanto è vero”
Sebastian Nunez (CV, ‘24) - Honorable Mention
Jeffrey Yang (CV, ‘24) - 3rd Place

Classical 2B (Youth); Song for Recital: “Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube”
Cadence Bleakley (CV, ‘28) - Honorable Mention
Simran Goyal (CV, ‘28) - Honorable Mention
Liam Posos (CV, ‘28) - Honorable Mention

Musical Theatre 2A (Youth); Song for Recital: “Shy”
Beatrice Main (MT, ‘29) - Honorable Mention

Classical 4A (Lower HS - Low Voices); Song for Recital: “O del mio dolce ardor”
Henry Courtney (CV, ‘26) - 3rd Place
Charlton Tsai (CW, ‘24) - 2nd Place
Jack Wilson (CV, ‘25) - Honorable Mention
William Yu (CV, ‘26) - Honorable Mention

Alyssa Kardos (ACT, ‘17) was awarded the Institute of International Education (IIE)’s Centennial Fellowship to address climate change and textile waste with sustainable fashion enterprise ReMade in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She is one of four fellows selected for the award. As an IIE Centennial Fellow, she will work with her team to establish an upcycling center in Phnom Penh that utilizes textile waste from the rivers, honors local weaving methods, and provides employment opportunities for former sweatshop workers. As part of the grant process, she has been interviewing upcycling project managers and designers across Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina to learn best practices to implement for her center. Alyssa returned to live in Phnom Penh in January to tackle textile waste and promote Cambodian design and art.

Samuel Chung (IM, ‘25) who plays the tenor saxophone, was chosen to perform with the Herbie Hancock Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer Sextet. The sextet is composed of six of the most gifted high school musicians around the country. They had the honor of performing at the Herbie Hancock International Piano Competition in New York City alongside former winner of the Institute’s International Jazz Vocal Competition Lisa Henry and renowned jazz educator JB Dyas.

Avery Mizrahi (IA, ‘24) was a recipient of the Gold Congressional Award, which recognizes youth leaders who complete 400 volunteer hours, 200 personal development hours, and 200 physical fitness hours. This award recognizes Avery’s many achievements, which include being President of the Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association (SCYNA) and other community service organizations, her scientific research, language learning, and preparation for her 2023 dance tour across Europe.

Allie Molin (IM, ‘25) was recognized as one of six young female musicians selected for the Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo 2024. The ensemble traveled to Boston in January and participated in a series of activities and performances at Berklee College of Music. They will also be performing at the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival in September. Allie was also selected for the 2024 All-State ensembles for both Jazz and Symphony Orchestra, under the California Band Directors Association (CBDA).

The following students were recognized as 2023 YoungArts Winners by the National YoungArts Foundation for their artistic achievements. YoungArts Award Winners received a monetary award of $250 and those with Distinction are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week and have their work further evaluated for cash awards of up to $10,000. Attendees of National YoungArts Week who meet the eligibility requirements are also considered for nomination to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

YoungArts Award Winners:
Summer Brennan (PM, ‘25) – Voice (Popular & Singer-Songwriter)
Lyla Briggs (CMD, ‘26) – Dance (Ballet)
David Du (FTV, ‘24) – Film (Narrative)
Claire Harmsen (PM, ‘26) – Voice (Popular)
Jaden Kim (IM, ‘25) – Classical Music (Violin)
Olivia Le (CW, ‘25) – Writing (Spoken Word)
Jasmine Lee (CMD, ‘26) – Dance (Hip-Hop)
Allie Molin (IM, ‘25) – Jazz (Trumpet)
Hugo Nguyen (PM, ‘24) – Voice (Jazz)
Arianna Ramirez (BF, ‘26) – Dance (World Dance: Mexican Folkloric)
Viveka Saravanan (CV, ‘24) – Voice (Classical: Soprano)
Bella Silva (IA, ‘26) – Dance (Tap)
Jadon Vo (CMD, ‘25) – Dance (Hip-Hop)
Preston Walker (BCD, ‘26) – Dance (Ballet)
Chloe Woo (IM, ‘27) – Writing (Nonfiction)

YoungArts Award With Distinction Winners:
William Bolin (CV, ‘24) – Voice (Classical Bass)
Asher Hinton (PM, ‘24) – Voice (Popular & Singer-Songwriter)
Jaime Jung (CW, ‘24) – Writing (Spoken Word)
Evee Lee (CMD, 26) – Dance (Modern Contemporary)
Bella Silva (IA, ‘26) – Dance (Tap)

Cole Fredrick (PM, ‘16), Matt Jarnagin (FTV, ‘15), Matisse Pasillas (FTV, ‘15), Nick Stone (PM, ‘15), and Chris Trimmer (IM, ‘12) performed on a Virgin Voyage cruise with their band Undecided Future. Undecided Future is an urban pop band with influences from Earth, Wind & Fire, Justin Timberlake, and Bruno Mars, among others. On Virgin Voyage, they have visited Spain, Italy, France, Ibiza, and many other locations throughout 2023.

Gracie Silberman (ACT, ‘24) starred in a Volkswagen Atlas commercial, titled “Carpool Chaos,” that began airing during the summer. To watch the advertisement, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Nih6aR

Rohan Soni (PM, ‘26) was a finalist in the 2023 Dragon Kim Fellowship Program competition for co-producing a documentary film titled “Dear Me.” The film focuses on chronic illness and mental wellness, which was inspired by his co-producer’s brother’s struggle with kidney disease. In addition, Rohan developed a mobile app that strives to create positivity through the art of journaling. Watch Rohan speak about it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6eFd4UQoXk > https://bit.ly/4a6Wdcw

Lucy Hunter (FTV, ‘26) was featured in a Daily Pilot article about her directorial debut, “You Should Be Dead,” a YouTube horror series that focuses on teens coping with loss and grief. The series is very personal to Lucy as it was inspired by the loss of her own father. Lucy started writing the show at the age of 12 and shared that the scripting has now been completed, which will amount to 44 episodes across four seasons. Two episodes are currently available to view on YouTube. To read the Daily Pilot article, please visit: https://bit.ly/4ac5RL5

Ryan Reithmeier, Director of the Classical Voice Conservatory, performed as a baritone in “American Cabaret: A Continent of Color,” at the Pacific Opera Project (POP) HQ in Highland Park last October. Mr. Reithmeier performed alongside pianist David Clemensen in this recital as a part of POP’s Inaugural Artist Series. The event explored diverse cultures and languages through rare 20th century American songs.

Summer Brennan (PM, ‘25) released a single, “Lost in LA,” on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. Inspired by her relationships, insecurities, and self-discovery, the lyrics of this song are very personal and relatable.

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) was featured on KCAL News’ Class Act series. The morning news segment featured what makes OCSA so special – specifically highlighting the Acting, Ballet Folklórico, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Integrated Arts, and Popular Music Conservatories, in addition to showing off OCSA’s talented student artists. To view the video, please visit: https://bit.ly/3NhTd37

Delila George-Taylor (BR, ‘29) took First Place in her age group/category at the California State Games for competitive figure skating, receiving three gold medals. She also earned First Place at the Falling Leaf Classic, First Place at the 58th Arrowhead Open, and Second Place at the Los Angeles 2023 All Year Open. Previously she placed second at the Skate By the Sea 2022 competition in her age group/category. Delila recently passed her United States Figure Skating Novice/Silver Skating Skills test and Pre-Bronze Ice Dance test. Double Lutz is her favorite jump.

Katelyn Hu (BR, ‘24), Bryce Leng (CV, ‘24), and Angel Shen (CV, ‘25) participated in the third annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine. Representing the club they founded, the Chinese American Youth Art Leaders Club (CAYALC), the group performed traditional dance routines and took part in the Chinese Orchestra adding to the event’s cultural vibrancy.

Bryce Leng (CV, ‘24) took part in the 2023 West Coast Parkour Championships. He was a member of the Firestorm Freerunning team and competed against 550 contestants from five different countries within his competition category. After going through several rounds of competition, Bryce advanced to the finals for the Speed and Freestyle categories. Bryce was also featured in an Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) Teen Council video that promotes the benefits of utilizing public transportation. To watch the video, please visit: https://bit.ly/3TfU0W6

Christian Lopez (CAH, ‘23) won the Aaron Sanchez Scholarship through the Emeril Lagasse Foundation. The opportunity includes full tuition to a Culinary Certificate Program at New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), as well as an internship with paid housing, food and travel stipends, and mentorship from Chef Aaron Sanchez and other star chefs.

Members of the OCSA Robotics Team were invited to compete at the One World Showcase Event at University of California, Berkeley. Five teams from OCSA competed against 115 other teams from around the country. One of the five teams, Z Squared, was composed of Olivia Lee (VA, ‘25), Sunny Li (IM, ‘24), and Samantha Park (IA, ‘25), making them one of the less than 5% of teams that were made of all female members. Z Squared placed 7th out of 115 in only their second year of robotics. Below is the full list of the OCSA students who participated in the One World Showcase Event.

Shining Chen (CW, ‘26)
Sumin Cho (IM, ‘25)
Evan Choe (VA, ‘25)
Rhea Dayal (VA, ‘28)
Juneau Foxlin (IM, ‘26)
Justin Hong (IM, ‘25)
Peyton Hsu (AE, ‘27)
Jason Lee (IM, ‘27)
Olivia Lee (VA, ‘25)
Sunny Li (IM, ‘24)
Edward Luna (IM, ‘24)
Danny O’Grady (IM, ‘24)
Samantha Park (IA, ‘25)
Taven Rong (IM, ‘28)
Paul Seo (DM, ‘26)
Kaya Simsek (CAH, ‘26)
Kara Syn (IM, ‘24)
George Weichel (PD, ‘27)
Ryan Yoo (CAH, ‘25)
Beatrice Yu (PM, ‘28)
Jojo Yu (CMD, ‘25)

Chiara Cecconi (PD, ‘28) was cast as Girl About Town in “A Christmas Carol” at the South Coast Repertory Theater.

The following students and their art were featured this summer in the Junior Art Exhibit at the 2023 Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. The festival displays a variety of art exhibits, with categories such as 2D Art, 3D Art, and Film & Animation.

David Du (FTV, ‘24): “Life of a Mayfly”
Jordan Held (FTV, ‘23): “Ovaryacting”
Emily Wen (VA, ‘26): “Go Bananas”
Melody Wu (VA, ‘24): “Don’t Be Koi”
Charlotte Yoh (VA, ‘26): “The Dragonfly”
Cindy Zhang (VA, ‘24): “Self Portrait”

Lex Ishimoto (CMD) performed with award-winning ballet dancer and director Tiler Peck in the dance programme “Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends.” After its sold-out premiere in New York, the show had its West Coast premiere at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Lauren Gee (VA, ‘27) was granted a summer internship with the Singapore Wildcat Action Group as an illustrator. She worked on several different campaigns creating flyers and posters that support the group’s mission to protect endangered species, restore rainforests, and much more.

The following student musicians, as part of the OCSA’s Ambassador Jazz Orchestra (AJO), had the opportunity to work and perform with the Juilliard Jazz sextet and their director Aaron Flagg. They were also able to sit with Aaron Flagg for a Q&A session.

Emmet Althoen (IM, ‘28)
Samuel Chung (IM, ‘25)
Mateo Tomas Cruz (IM, ‘24)
James Dechary (IM, ‘24)
Nicholas Doan (IM, ‘24)
Pedro Fregoso (IM, ‘27)
Grace Gillen (IM, ‘25)
Miri Izenberg (IM, ‘26)
Kilan Lam (IM, ‘29)
Danny Lee (IM, ‘24)
Allison Molin (IM, ‘25)
Darren Qiu (IM, ‘24)
Owen Ramos (IM, ‘27)
Ian Shin (IM, ‘24)
Katherine Shinogi (IM, ‘25)
Oliver Shiwota (IM, ‘27)
Nathan Tatsuta (IM, ‘24)
Luke Toner (IM, ‘24)
Emily Vu (IM, ‘24)
Kaylie Wise (IM, ‘24)

Katia Miyamoto (CW, ‘24) published her first book, “The Undertow of Healing,” through Atmosphere Press. The book tells the story of one town’s grief and the choices made after a tragic loss. To read more about the book, please visit: https://bit.ly/3t5EeT7

Tane Kim (IM, ‘24) was published in The Oncologist as a co-author for the paper “Real-World Outcomes of Latinx Versus Non-Latinx Patients Treated with First-Line Immunotherapy for Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma,” in collaboration with UCLA and City of Hope oncologists.

Julia Zhou (CV, ‘28) received Honorable Mention at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Student Evaluation Program (SEP). NATS SEP is a great opportunity for student singers to perform before a panel of NATS adjudicators in a positive and constructive format.

Julie Mejer (IA, ‘29) won First Place in her age group for piano at the LA Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. She also won Third Place at the Charleston 19th Century Music Competition and a Special Mention in her age group for the London International Music Competition.

The following students were honored at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) State Competitions, where musicians from California are offered the chance to advance nationally within their instrumental category. John Hallberg, saxophone instructor, produced winners in both the Junior and Senior Woodwind categories of the competition.

Hannah Cho (IM): Winner; California Senior Performance Woodwind (Oboe)
Rubi Lee (IM, ‘25): Honorable Mention; California Senior Performance String (Violin)
Darren Qiu (IM, ‘24): Alternate; California Senior Performance Woodwind (Saxophone)
Natalie Xu (IM, ‘29): Honorable Mention; California Junior Performance String (Violin)

Ballet, Pilates, & Yoga instructor Lauren Farris was accepted into the American Ballet Theater (ABT)’s invite-only Teaching Training Intensive at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. In the program, Ms. Farris will learn the theory and principles of the National Training Curriculum within the five levels of ballet.

Logan Bailey (MT, ‘29) voiced the role of Pandy Paws in Dreamworks’ animated series “Gabby’s Dollhouse.” Logan became the new voice of the character starting in season 8 of the Netflix series.

Noelani Pese (MT, ‘26) was named Miss California Jr. Teen 2023-2024 and was the first person of Samoan heritage crowned in the pageant’s history.

Olivia Le (CW, ‘25) won the AutoEthnographer Student Scholarship for her collection of poems, “Born from Boat People.” She received a monetary award, publication, and was offered many other opportunities, such as participation in the AutoEthnographer podcast and the chance to help develop a column/feature for their magazine. Olivia was also the recipient of the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize offered by Beyond Baroque. This prize is open to high school students of color in California and awarded based on poetry/essay submissions that align with Amanda Gormon’s commitment to social change. Lastly, Olivia was asked by Get Lit to record a poem she wrote for the Women’s Journey Foundation at Load Bearing Studios in Santa Ana. This poem will be sent out to at-risk girls nationwide.

Ella He (IM, ‘27), Sydney Lee (IM, ‘26), and Xander Shah (IM, ‘28) participated and performed at the Cal State LA Harp Pedagogy Mini-Conference, an annual event that features a variety of presentations and recitals focused on this graceful instrument.

Jordan Held (FTV, ‘23) was awarded the Outstanding Young Filmmaker Short at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival for her film “Ovaryacting.” She also won the Young Filmmakers Competition at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. Jordan was featured in an article by KVUE, Austin’s ABC affiliate, alongside Caleb Malis (IA, ‘23), who was the lead actor in the film. To read the article, please visit: https://bit.ly/46LHjWf

Richard Arlo Kinsey, an instructor in the El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory who is also an illustrator, recently had the characters he created and fondly named “Purdee & Pals” adapted into a short animated film called “Baby Bee’s Boots," produced by Eden Films LTD in London. In addition, the film won Best Animation Short at the London Independent Film Awards.

Max Zazik (ACT, ‘29) was cast as Turkey Boy in South Coast Repertory’s “A Christmas Carol” in Costa Mesa.

Jovie Leigh Ugerio (ACT, ‘27) received the Best Young Actress Award at the 3rd Annual iHollywood Film Festival for her role in the independent feature film “Free Lunch.” Jovie performed the role of Sadie, the mischievous new transfer that influences the main character, Sam, to step outside of his comfort zone.

Grace Lam (IM, ‘29) won a Gold Medal at the 2023 Southern California Junior Bach Festival Complete Works Auditions at Cal State University, Long Beach. The award qualified her to perform at the Complete Works Audition Awards Concert where all first place winners performed.

Adrienne Morrow (MT, ‘25) was cast as Louisa in “The Sound of Music” at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, presented by Musical Theatre West.

The following students performed in the children’s choir that was featured in the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” presented by McCoy Rigby Entertainment at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Cameron Avery (ACT, ‘27)
Jasmine Melwani (IA, ‘25)
Adrienne Morrow (MT, ‘25)
Angelina Pendleton-Mendez (PM, ‘27)
Sydney Sublette (CV, ‘26)
Erin Tardibuono (MT, ‘25)
Ava Villacorta (MT, ‘27)
Emma Woodward (CV, ‘27)

Janice Lee (ACT, ‘29) starred in a Hershey Company commercial featuring Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Kit Kat for the Halloween season. The commercial originally aired in 2022 and was later renewed for 2023. To watch the commercial, please visit: https://bit.ly/472e0it

Creative Writing Conservatory instructor Megan Friess had her teaching narrative, titled “Teaching Rhetoric Without a License,” published in a collection called “Threshold Conscripts: Rhetoric and Composition Teaching Assistantships.” The collection explores the diversity and complexity of universities through the lens of teaching assistants (TA) and how different collegiate programs help shape TA identities and practices.

Anthony Arreola (BF, ‘24) was offered the opportunity to be a dance instructor at Relámpago del Cielo Grupo Folklórico. Relámpago del Cielo, which means “Lightning from the Sky,” focuses on “bringing the thunder” through intricate performances based on the traditions of the folkloric dance of Mexico.