PUSD Celebrates Class of 2023

Rose City High School’s mascot is a phoenix rising out of ashes, and Valedictorian Aster Silverio says it’s especially apt “because the school was the setting of the arc of my redemption.” After struggling during the pandemic, Aster felt supported at Rose City High School because it had options that fit the way she learns.

PHS Valedictorian Anton Perez would someday like to join the world of academia (our favorite profession) by teaching, conducting research, and eventually obtaining his Ph.D. Although he does not have to declare a major until sophomore year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he plans to study mathematics and potentially double major in math and philosophy.

Noah Kronsburg is headed to an Ivy League university and says Pasadena High School helped him get there. Noah received a merit scholarship to study sociology at Columbia University and he is hoping to earn two bachelor’s degrees simultaneously through Columbia’s Joint Program with List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).

PHS Salutatorian Justin Hong has already learned a significant amount of college-level math, speaks Mandarin at home, has a sky-high GPA, and has been on the varsity swim team since freshman year.

Natalia Vargas has a vibrant future to look forward to as an art major at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A first-generation college student, Natalia is one of 1,000 students to earn the Bruin Success Scholarship, a $10,000 award distributed at $2,500 per year. She joined the Marshall Eagle family in 6th grade following her promotion from Norma Coombs Elementary.

Marshall Fundamental Valedictorian Maia Rosenbaum has covered a lot of territory during her years at PUSD, first at Norma Coombs Elementary and then as a Marshall Eagle.

A senior in the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Pathway Academy at John Muir High School Early College Magnet, Christina Leyva spoke eloquently at the annual State of Schools event on May 18. Christina is a 2023 Posse Scholar, selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from the Posse Los Angeles Foundation. She was also one of eight students in the State of California to earn the Linked Learning Alliance Student of the Year Scholarship.

Celeste Sharp loves the water and the earth, and plans to take an in-depth look at both as an agroecology major at the University of California at Santa Cruz, this fall. Celeste gained experience working at the Muir farm and, in college, hopes to learn more about small-scale sustainable farming, an interest that may have grown out of her mother’s love of gardening.

As salutatorian and a member of Muir’s marching band, percussionist Duncan Addicott is upbeat about his future. Duncan will head to Sonoma State University (SSU) as the recipient of the SSU President’s Scholarship.

Three years ago, William Simpson founded his own non-profit organization. He is an exemplary student and has already earned several college credits through dual enrollment at Pasadena City College (PCC).

Katlyn Ong, Valedictorian, Blair High School Katlyn Ong is headed to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where she will enter the accelerated pre-dental program in which students complete undergraduate and dentistry school in six years instead of the normal eight.

Roman Sailes will head to Cal Poly Pomona to study Computer Science after graduating from CIS Academy next month. Roman made the Principal's Honor Roll in his freshman and sophomore years, won the National Black Scholar Award in junior year, and earned the Academic Excellence Award in senior year.

Lucine Ekizian is a writer and award-winning poet who attended the Armenian Academy at Blair High School. She is a candidate for the Diploma from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.