Aaryan Andreev-Jain

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Middle College High School

I come from a multi-racial background: Asian Indian and Russian. Being the son of two immigrant parents, I frequently took flights back and forth to India, Russia, and the US. At school, I actively participated in Mock Trial in my sophomore and freshman years, competing in the Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial competition twice. My interests also extended to cinematography and photography. I was a competitor in the Student Television Network Competition for filmmaking twice. I was also one of the photographers featured in a gallery exhibit, where all the auction proceeds from my photos went to the Pablove Foundation for pediatric cancer research. During my junior year, I gained an interest in medicine, which led me to start volunteering at the Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Adhirat Ajani 

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Middle College High School

I was born in Nigeria and came to the United States in 2015, and I have lived in Los Angeles since then. My hobbies include softball, listening to music, and trying new restaurants. My extracurricular activities include the LAUSD Superintendent Student Council, America on Tech programs, softball pitcher, being a regional supervisor for a global nonprofit, volunteering at Period Project LA, and being the secretary of both the Nigerian Student Association and the Black Student Union. I am interested in psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, so I plan on going to a private or Ivy League university majoring in cognitive science and then getting my master's in computer science and neuroscience. I want to have my own research company and empathize with the connection between technology and the humanities. I am very excited to be a part of this council and learn about what different people want to bring to Los Angeles County.

Alyssa Kline

District: Bellflower Unified School District

School: Mayfair High School

Hi! My name is Alyssa, and I am a senior at Mayfair High School. I am half-Taiwanese, a matcha enthusiast, and a huge foodie! In the past few years, I have grown to be a dedicated lover of the arts, history, and culture and a passionate advocate for student voice within my community. I proudly serve as 1 of 11 Key Club International Trustees, president of my school's History Club, and the creator of my school district's student cabinet system. Outside of school, I serve on the Holocaust Museum LA's Teen Advisory Council and work with student leaders across Los Angeles County to propel arts advocacy. One of my proudest accomplishments is co-leading a digitization project for my city's archive of historical documents. Beyond my high school journey, I aspire to pursue a career in history/archival work and continue to develop my passions for the community around me; and, someday, I hope to be living in the Japanese countryside with my very own tea farm.

Angad Batra

District: ABC Unified School District

School: Gretchen Whitney High School

I am a junior at Gretchen Whitney High School and my main interests lie in computer science, robotics, and cybersecurity. I enjoy building and designing websites, and I developed an AI algorithm that detects pneumonia in lung CT scans. I love developing my digital knowledge and helping others achieve the same, motivating me to start my own nonprofit, SimplyCS, and teach younger students computational programming and concepts. I have let my artistic passions shine through musical theater for over 11 years, recently winning awards for my roles. I also enjoy songwriting for personal projects and even to combat world issues, receiving recognition from Stanford University's Youth Leadership Conference for writing a song to raise Hepatitis B awareness. I enjoy singing and exploring nature with my family. In the future, I hope to work as a Cybersecurity Analyst at Google after earning a degree in computer science at UC Berkeley.

Angela Yang

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Granada Hills Charter High School

As the Distinguished Young Woman for Los Angeles County, I am immensely devoted to LA and its BIPOC, low-income, or at-risk youth. I have deep interests toward an interdisciplinary college experience between computer science and political science (public policy). My fascination with computing developed after spending 5+ years in robotics and challenging myself with hackathons and competitive programming outside of school. On the other hand, politics and government appeals to my dedication for public service, which has manifested in 2 years of service on the LA Mayor's Youth Council and my current term as a LA City Youth Council Member representing Council District 12. When I can find free time, I love indulging in comedy-crime shows, listening to 90s hip hop (MFDOOM!), making homemade boba, testing my Jeopardy skills, and being around other people, whether it be my younger siblings or close friends.

Ariena Thurairajah

District: Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified District

School: Palos Verdes High School

I am currently a sophomore at Palos Verdes high school and am greatly involved in my school. I am president and founder of ASL club and vice president of South Asian & African Student Heritage Association, and I am also a board member in MUN. I am in SNHS, NEHS, and Spanish national honor society. Outside of school I'm also a board member in Assistance league. In my free time you can find me doing art, volunteering, or spending time with friends. In my future I also hope to be in the medical field.

Audrey Arutyunyan

District: Burbank Unified District

School: Burbank High School

I am currently a sophomore at Palos Verdes high school and am greatly involved in my school. I am president and founder of ASL club and vice president of South Asian & African Student Heritage Association, and I am also a board member in MUN. I am in SNHS, NEHS, and Spanish national honor society. Outside of school I'm also a board member in Assistance league. In my free time you can find me doing art, volunteering, or spending time with friends. In my future I also hope to be in the medical field.

Bella Holguin

District: LACOE

School: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA)

I grew up in a Hispanic household, that was white washed to fit in. I am now rediscovering myself, and my culture, from all the years it has been hidden to me. I like to act, read, write, and study psychology. I have been in multiples plays, and competed and successfully wining in numerous speech and debate competitions. I hope after I can attend a university, and either follow the acting path, or the become a pediatric psychiatrist.

Bianca Rodriguez Gonzalez

District: Glendora Unified School District

School: Glendora High School

My family originates from Bogota, Colombia. One of the things that I love about my culture is being able to connect with my family members through our native tongue and our music. Some of the activities that I am involved with at Glendora High School is the AVID program, yearbook, CSF, link crew (a program that helps with ninth-grade orientation), HOSA/ROP health careers program, GUSD Student board representative, Latinos Unidos, and English tutor for my family members. This year, I had the opportunity to be able to intern at Assemblywoman Rubio's office due to participating in her young legislator's program last year. Due to my internship, I was able to become a student representative for my high school. Career-wise, I hope to be able to major in public policy with an emphasis in Latinx studies. With this degree, I would like to be able to become a school board representative.

Consuelo Navarro

District: El Monte Union High District

School: El Monte Union High School Community Day

Born in California, I come from a Mexican and Cuban family. I have always been drawn to dance and singing as a means of expressing my emotions. Growing up, I considered a variety of careers, including bus driver, police officer, and doctor. My imagination was wide, and I loved sharing it with kids like me. I experienced plenty of bullying as a child. Although I was raised on friendship, respect, and communication, I didn't know how to tell my mother or teachers. As a result, my mother is my biggest support system. I found comfort in wrestling while carrying the weight of my hardships and environment. In addition to learning martial arts at school for free, I was also introduced to football. I stay motivated and inspired by sports. I have plans with the NCAA and in college would like to major in cognitive science or psychology.

Celeste Contreras

District: Pasadena Unified

School: Blair High School

My name is Celeste! I am a Trans-Latina, attending Blair High School. I love helping others and have been working to find a wider, larger platform. I am apart of LACOE’s Student Advisory Council, and plan to speak for those who can’t and to help my community and help those who don’t understand people like me, to create a lasting effect, in our school districts. Once I do, I plan to keep making an effort to change the world, even after high school, and for the rest of my life. Change, and Equity, are an important part of my life, they’re a necessity, especially because of who I am, and the time we live in. I plan to try, and change all of that, not just for me, but for everyone else like me.

Daniel Perez

District: Paramount Unified District

School: Paramount High School

I love my family. I’m blessed to have two amazing parents and a sister. My interests include playing soccer, golfing and playing video games. I attend Paramount High School. I’ve been involved in Student Government for 2 years and enjoy being involved in my school community. I am also taking classes at Compton College so that I when I graduate high school, I will also have earned an AA. I help with the high school athletics and volunteer at my church. After high school I plan on attending Berkeley and majoring in Aerospace Engineering. I would love the opportunity to play soccer in college.

Deborah Sule-Odu

District: Antelope Valley High School District

School: SOAR High School

I enjoy cooking and reading during my free time. I believe understanding literature is a means to understanding the world and the people who live in it. Additionally, I have an appreciation for food and cooking from all different cultures. I believe in Celebrating each other's cultures whether that may be through indulging in certain ethnic cuisines. Is the start of a more welcoming and Inclusive society. I hope to inspire my school and others to advocate for themselves but also their communities.

Febie Tarpley

District: Long Beach Unified District

School: California Academy of Mathematics and Science

I am a Filipino/Black senior from the California Academy of Mathematics and Science. Born in Long Beach, California, I’ve lived a life of optimism through love and hardship. During my free time, I write and record music, play the guitar and ukulele, create content for my YouTube channel, and spend quality time with my family, which includes my cat, Jambalaya. In school, I am a part of Link Crew, and I’m president of my club, Cosmo Collective; a club that speaks of the importance of our identities, primarily focusing on multi-racial/ethnic backgrounds. I aspire to be a Dermatologist and singer, while (one day) owning a nonprofit to support children in need.

Han Selah

District: Torrance Unified School District

School: Torrance High School

I’m a third generation Korean American. I’m the middle child in between two brothers. My family is super close, my brothers have built me to be the strong, ambitious, tenacious, competitive yet loving and caring person I am today. While I grew up dancing ballet, I now play Varsity Soccer, Track and Volleyball. I am our school’s ASB President, and I’m deeply involved in our Speech and Debate team. In my free time I love to read, drive around with my friends, or bake with my brothers. I’m a foodie, I love to try new things and unfortunately I’m an avid coffee drinker. Looking ahead to the unknown future, given my passion for history and law I hope to study constitutional law and become a federal judge or attorney one day.

Ingrid Vargas

District: Hacienda La Puente Unified School District

School: Los Altos High School

Some future goals I have is to attend a university after high school. Although I’m not quite sure what I want to study, I would love to attend a UC. At my high school’s varsity team, I play golf! I have only began playing this year, but I find playing golf extremely enjoyable. I am also the president of two clubs on campus: Best Buddies, all about creating a welcoming environment for our peers with special needs, and Fashion con Amour, all about fashion. Additionally, I’m in Renaissance: a leadership class with focus on recognizing others and kindness. I’m my free time, I enjoy baking and going-out! I love going on walks or shopping, just being out! Also, my high school offers Dual Enrollment opportunities which have allowed me to complete a number of college classes. Now, I’m a few classes away from being able to receive my associate’s degree!

Jad Abdel Nour

District: Covina-Valley Unified School District

School: South Hills High School

Jad is a first-generation Syrian-American, using his voice to advocate for his school and take advantage of leadership opportunities. As Class of 2024 Vice President for three years, Jad represented over 400 students in the Associated Student Body. Currently, he’s the California Scholarship Federation President, I AM Club (TEDx-inspired conference) President, and Science Club Vice President.

Outside of school, he’s a Co-Director of Writing at CoVisualize, where he co-launched Tangible, a public health journalism site, turning health science literature into shorter, accessible articles. He was also a GripTape Challenger, receiving a $500 grant for his healthcare fair for homeless individuals with care packages and blood pressure and glucose screenings. A hobby of his is cooking and baking for his family and friends, and he can make multiple
Arab dishes.

Jada Yang

District: La Canada Unified School District

School: La Canada High School

Jada Yang is a current senior at La Canada HS and looks forward to studying public policy and political science in college. She is a national speech and debate competitor, President of the Mock Trial Club, Chair of the Assisteens community service organization, and is a part of the Peer Support, College and Career Center Leaders, and ASB programs at her school. Living with Cerebral Palsy, Jada is an advocate for disabled youth and founded Mission for Mobility, a non-profit initiative empowering disabled students where she is a speaker at public health and social justice conferences, a podcast host, and author of the children's book "My Friend Daisy". In her work with advocacy, she is also a representative for the disabled community on her district's Local Planning Committee and FEMA Regional Youth Council, fighting for equitable emergency planning. To learn more about Jada and Mission for Mobility, visit missionformobility.com.

Jocelyn Montejano

District: Covina-Valley Unified School District

School: South Hills High School

I am part of a family of five. We are always together, to this day. We grew up in LA in a community called El Sereno when I was 13, and moved to Covina a year later. Our favorite things to do as a family are go to the mall and host parties. As for myself, moving from one place to another was hard but I adjusted well. I became well involved at South Hills as I am a part of ASB, tennis, softball, various clubs, Vice-president of the Spanish club, and I am currently in the IB Full Diploma Program. I hope to study at UC Davis to become a veterinarian and open my own practice. Apart from school, I love to paint, draw, and bake. It has been a tradition to make my famous coffee cake
for Thanksgiving.

Joshua Chae

District: Arcadia Unified School District

School: Arcadia High School

I was born in Arcadia, California, and raised by parents who immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea when they were teenagers; they're devoted to my education and health to help me reach my fullest potential. I plan to pursue a dual degree major in pre-health major and performance in viola. Since I was 5 years old, I found my greatest passion for violin and viola and now play in advanced orchestras and honor chamber group with the Colburn School. Leading many different chambers and orchestra groups led to my desire to also lead beyond music: Student Council Apache Commission, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Junior Ambassador, Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts of America, and mentor of the Back to Bach Project. I would like to utilize these experiences to help people and make a positive impact on community issues.

Joy An

District: Norwalk La Mirada Unified

School: La Mirada High School

I am a high achiever and play soccer, flag football, and run track and field. I love to exercise and study at cafes. I tutor kids as a volunteer and I am also the class director for the scholar association at my school. My goals after high school are to pursue a higher education; first university, then graduate school or law school. I want to be a lawyer when I grow up.

Julien Chen

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Larchmont Charter School

My name is Julien Chen, and I am Japanese and Taiwanese-American. I was born in Santa Monica and have lived in LA all my life. Coming from an immigrant and single-mother household, I strive to help others through projects focusing on social service and education. In light of this, I have founded several social service and education organizations and clubs at my school. These include, but are not limited to CBI (Community Beautification Initiative), SASI (Selma Academic Support Initiative), Coding Crew, and LFP NAMI. Other than that, I've worked at the California Science Center since last year. I'm in the Education Department, and my position is Floor Presenter. That means I lead the various educational shows and demonstrations at all the STEM-focused exhibits in the science center. Lastly, I am incredibly passionate about Software Development and its power to impact society, so I plan
to major in CS in college.

Kadish Shayna

District: Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District

School: Santa Monica High School

I have grown up surrounded by educators, and now education is one of my main interests. My mom, grandma, and aunt are all teachers and I have learned so much from them. I love how education and teaching can have such an impact on everyone and connects to all aspects of life, including my main hobby, music. I play flute and piccolo in marching band, orchestra, theatre orchestra, and concert band in school. After graduating high school, I want to major in human development or education to eventually work in some job capacity with children.

Kaitlyn Alejandre

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Hilda L. Solis Learning Academy

I enjoy many things, such as painting, writing, and organizing new activities to promote student involvement in education. At my school, I am the ASB President, Senior Class President, Yearbook Editor in Chief, and Bible Club President. I work on multiple school boards to represent the student body, creating a learning environment that benefits everyone. To create a safe environment, I helped start the Gender & Sexuality Alliance and the mural club at my school. Through both clubs, I've been able to help students express themselves freely via art and writing. Student-led murals all over the campus promote mental health, kindness, unity, and school spirit. When I graduate, I plan to become a robotic engineer finding cures and better accommodations for mental and physical disabilities. Through robots, I'll continue to facilitate advocacy to create safer and more equitable areas for everyone.

Kaitlyn Cao

District: Alhambra Unified School District

School: Mark Keppel High School

Growing up, I was constantly faced with racism during my primary education until an older classmate stood up for me. From her kindness, I felt inspired to stand up for those who felt alone like me. Thus, I began a journey of advocacy to close the communication gap and improve my school's environment for unheard students. My goal is to expand my voice outside of my school district's (AUSD) position as the first Student Board Member Alternate on this far-reaching platform of the Los Angeles County Superintendent's Advisory Council. I hope to meet with like-minded advocates to grasp the extensive needs of the county and devise effective, equitable, and tangible solutions to support students with special needs, promote awareness of mental health issues, and cultivate cultural and LGBTQIA+ consciousness in our community. After high school, I hope to make my mark on the world as a
social worker.

Kash 

District: LACOE

School: Juvenile Court School

My name is Kash. I have three dogs and one cat. The names of my dogs are Roscoe, Draco and Cota and the name of my cat is Baby Wolf or Beawo for short. I moved to California when I was 5 . I started playing flag football when I was 8 and started tackle football when I was 9 and have been playing ever since. I love everything about it. My goal is to graduate high school, get a job, go to college and go into the sciences. I want to one day work for NASA/Space X as an engineer or otherwise.

Ky’Mani Thompson

District: South Pasadena Unified School District

School: South Pasadena Senior High School

I’m from Pasadena and moved to South Pasadena in middle school. I’m currently on the Biomedical pathway, as I aim to enter the medical field. I am also a track athlete, and have been awarded the almost improved athlete of the year and plan to break 12 this season!

LaRon 

District: LACOE

School: Juvenile Court School

My background is Black/Asian. Uhm the story behind it is long in a way. My interest I got a lot. My favorite hobbies are going out with friends, playing games, spending time with family, and studying business and watching football, and volleyball.

Larry 

District: LACOE

School: Juvenile Court School

My name is Larry. One of my main goals is to be able to graduate high school and go to junior college. My ultimate goal is to be able to open my own barbershop. One of my favorites authors are Ashley and Jaquavis Coleman from The Cartel series of books as they have great storylines and keep the reader engaged. My greatest passion is to travel around the world and do those things I have never done before. I play basketball, read, and run track in my spare time and this is how I stay active.I also enjoy spending time with my family, my mom, brother and sister. I want to go to a transfer to a university once I am done with junior college. I also want to learn a new language. My family supports me in my decisions and whatever I choose to do.

Lauren Hsu

District: LACOE

School: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA)

My parents were both born in Taiwan, a country off the coast of China, and met each other in Boston, but they moved back to California. I like reading online books, listening to music, and thinking about life, and I am currently playing cello, dancing ballet, teaching at a lab, and other hobbies. Currently, I want to get into a good college, and earn enough money to live a happy life with food and a nice house.

Leah Traylor

District: Long Beach Unified School District

School: Jordan High School

I grew up in Long Beach California with my mom, dad, and older brother. Throughout my life, I have been granted so many opportunities to create change in my community and I plan to do my best and do just that. I am so very grateful for my family because without them my accomplishments would not be possible. Along with this Student Student Advisory Council, I am also a part of a program called California For Justice where we fight for racial justice and equity in our schools.

Lilit Melkumyan

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Ulysses S. Grant High School

I am Lilit and I am a rising senior and a returning member of the advisory council. I was born and raised in Armenia and I moved to the United States a few years ago with my family. I encountered and overcame the language barrier as English was not my first language, after which I started to explore educational opportunities that were available to me as a student. This experience explains my determination towards the council as I am committed to advocating for educational equity and equality for my peers, administrators and staff in our community. Most importantly, I want to raise all unheard voices and support those who lack the appropriate resources to ensure their outstanding academic performance leading to success. In addition, after graduating from high school, I aspire to attend a four-year university with the aim of pursuing a career in cardiology as I advance in my studies.

Madison Eva Castro

District: LACOE

School: International Polytechnic High School

My cultural roots are a part of who I am and what inspires me to help others. My family comes from Mexico. Thanks to my parents, I have been exposed to many experiences in politics and higher education. My mother has taught me the value of an education, and how education helps Latinas grow and become important in our society. My father shows me the importance of getting involved politically and fighting for people who cannot advocate for themselves. I like to spend my time with friends and my sisters, especially my sister Sofia who has Down Syndrome. I want to make sure that she has the best life possible. Sofia has taught me so much about myself, especially being patient and fighting for others. My future plans include attending college after high school and either going into higher education like my mom or into politics like my father.

Mark Vasquez

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Vaughn Internatrional Studies Academy

I play volleyball and run cross country for my school. A little bit about my family is my father’s an immigrant and my mothers first generation from Mexico. I work on weekends and have an hour-long commute to and from my school everyday. I really love history. I got into history when I was young exploring my family history and the histories of the countries they come from but I now have a much broader range of interests in historical topics. I enjoy learning about all sorts of historical topics. They captivate me. I’m very passionate about going to college and earning a PHD in history so I can broaden my horizons and equip myself with the skills that I need to be able to spend my life doing research and continuing to further my education for my whole life.

Nathaniel Reyes

District: San Diego Riverside Online (SDRO)

School: Mission Academy

My mother, sister, and I relocated to California from Puerto Rico in 2015. Every time my father visits from Puerto Rico he brings us candy and food we are unable to find in Los Angeles. Since the pandemic, I have been studying online and decided not to return to traditional school. I decided to join a fencing club a few months ago and am, hopefully, going to compete in my first tournament on October 22, 2023. After high school, I am going to enroll in a four-year college and major either in experimental psychology or criminal justice. I am interested in becoming a criminal psychologist or a forensic scientist. I really enjoy playing the video game Faith: The Unholy Trinity and have an unneeded amount of knowledge of the narrative.

Noel Hardy

District: Los Angeles Unified School District

School: Palisades Charter High School

Noelle Hardy is a Junior in high school from the westside of Los Angeles who attends Palisades Charter High School. She is active in civic engagement having previously served as the Federal Mobilizations Director of Generation Ratify, the youth-led movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Additionally, she advocates for civil discourse as a part of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Youth Council. Additionally, she is a national champion baton twirler and competes in pairs twirling with her twin sister Grace. She enjoys participating in her school’s choir program in the chamber group and encourages greater funding across the county in music education and the arts. In the future, she hopes to continue my tenure in education as a college professor. She most looks forward to serving on the council this year and fighting for students rights.

Patrick Cruse

District: Inglewood Unified School District

School: City Honors International Preparatory

Hey! My name is Patrick Cruse, and I'm very interested in student leadership and letting the Student Body of Inglewood be heard. As a leader, it is very important that my fellow peers of the IUSD be understood and their questions, comments, and concerns be taken into consideration. A little about myself: I'm a current 9th grader at City Honors International Preparatory. I'm currently on the Site & District Advisory Council where we discuss how to solve academic problems within our community. I also recently graduated from Wilders Preparatory Academy Charter School where I was the first and ever Student Principal, Student Lead Representative Of Middle School, Site Council Member, and Student Council Representative. I firmly believe that students should have the opportunity to express how they feel to teachers, administrators, and to other peers without feeling pressure. That being said, through this 23-24 academic year, I look forward to helping others and aiding my peers to let their voice me heard!

Seishoi Litwinczuk

District: Culver City Unified School District

School: Culver City High School

I am a Japanese-American with a twin brother. My father migrated from a little town in New Hampshire with dreams of Hollywood. My mother immigrated from Japan to escape her unambitious surroundings. I grew up with no religion, only vague hints of my mother's Japanese culture. I was practically an average student, with an uncritical mind before I finally found enjoyment in books and learning for it's own sake. The confidence in my self-education, gives me the dignity to experience only what I want to. I have participated in little extracurricular activities(finding distractions before, but now genuine indifference). I have not found any enticing college paths nor a like for a general education environment. Thus, I am planning a gap year to gain experience outside of my currently isolated life. Which is why my interest for this program is not for anything other than a unique and genuine interest.

Sydney Park

District: Long Beach Unified School District

School: California Academy of Mathematics and Science

As a second-generation Korean-American citizen, I was the first in my family to experience the American public education system from start to end, and much of my interests were fueled by the classes I took in school or by the passions of my peers. Due to the mixture of so many different influences including culture, friends, teachers, media, and mentors, I find myself to have a “super mixture” identity which includes, but is not limited to, figure skating, marine biology, piano, neuroscience, art, and a plethora of music. With my passions and self-motivation, I hope to make an impact in different communities in my different fields of interest. Though I would like to pursue medicine/neuroscience in college, I hope to explore my interests in graphic design and marine biology as well and learn more about who I am.