This month, we proudly celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Wellbeing Internship Program social work interns. These dedicated candidates have demonstrated exceptional diligence, leadership and advocacy—transforming their passion into tangible, meaningful change for students across our partner districts and schools.

Through strategic mini-grant funding made possible by the California Association of School Social Workers (CASSW), these interns have created welcoming spaces, launched critical wellness initiatives and fostered supportive communities that strengthen student relationships and mental health. Their work exemplifies the heart and value of school social work. They represent the future of the profession: professionals who understand that meaningful change begins with listening to student needs and creating spaces where all young people feel valued and supported.

We proudly recognize:

• Esmeralda Amaral (Montebello USD) for reimagining an underutilized wellness room at VHS into a sanctuary for student support, thoughtfully transforming the space with journals, plushies, wall art, LED lighting and colored pens to create a welcoming environment.
• Matthew Tsai (Baldwin Park USD) for launching an ambitious Wellness Center at Sierra Vista Middle School, equipping it with tools designed to help students manage stress and express creativity.
• Karen Garcia (Lynwood USD) for launching a Healthy Relationships campaign that sparked meaningful conversations and created an interactive experience where students explored how to strengthen connections with friends, partners and themselves.
• Precious Padilla (Pomona USD) for supporting the implementation of Roots of Respect, a reflective art initiative at Ganesha High School that promotes cultural humility, inclusion and student wellbeing through a permanent, student-created mural.
• AnaKaren Gonzalez (Inglewood USD) for facilitating a comprehensive six-week student group using the evidence-based FOCUS curriculum, fostering engagement and connection through supportive materials and community-building experiences.

We commend these remarkable interns for their vision, dedication and commitment to student wellness. Congratulations!