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 Luncheon in November, as well as at various regional events.

In 2021, the ESS luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 4 at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco. Due to uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions this coming fall, recognition may be a virtual event. We will post more information as it becomes available.

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 2021 Nomination Form
Check with your region leadership for the region submission deadline.

Regions, send your completed student nomination form (one student recipient per region) to the state ACSA Awards Program coordinator by March 1, 2021:

Attn: Emily Agpoon, ACSA Awards Program
916.329.3833 | eagpoon(at)acsa.org

Region 1

Brandon Thatcher
A 12th grade student at Shasta High School, Shasta Union High School District

Region 2

Maisy Bishop
A 9th grade student at Arete Charter Academy, Pleasant Ridge Union School District

Region 3

Maribel Zaragoza
A 12th grade student at Cesar Chavez Community School, Yolo County Office of Education

Region 4

Victor Peña
A 12th grade student at Santa Rosa High School, Santa Rosa City Schools

Region 5

China Cox
A 12th grade student at Downtown Continuation High School, San Francisco Unified School District

Region 6

Leilah Castle
A 12th grade student at Alhambra High School, Martinez Unified School District

Region 7

Gysselle Bibiano
A 12th grade student at Argonaut High School, Amador County Unified School District

Region 8

Ashley Hernandez Pio
An 8th grade student at Apititud Academy at Goss, Alum Rock Union School District

Region 9

Jesse Franco
A 12th grade student at Kerman High School, Kerman Unified School District

Region 10

Monique Blackwell
A 12th grade student at Seaside High School, Monterey Peninsula School District

Region 11

Americus Campos
A 12th grade student at Granite Hills High School, Porterville Unified School District

Region 12

Joaquin Enriquez
A 12th grade student at Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

Region 13

Angelina Espinosa
An 11th grade student at La Cuesta Continuation High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District

Region 14

Olivia Grace Fernandes
An 11th grade student at Cerritos High School, ABC Unified School District

Region 15

Dani Dominguez
A 12th grade student at Bowman High School, William S. Hart Union High School District

Region 16

Jehoshua Jireh Smart
A 12th grade student at North Hollywood High School, Los Angeles Unified School District

Region 17

Sunjay Guttikonda
A 12th grade student at Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos Unified School District

Region 18

Jaden Heck
An Adult Education student at Poway Adult School, Poway Unified School District

Region 19

Julia Melendez-Hiriart
A 12th grade student at Ramona High School, Riverside Unified School District

Adult Education

Crystal Espinoza
Clovis Adult Education

Logan Robert Hindle
Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center, SCUSD