TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Three North County educators have been named 2025 San Diego County Teachers of the Year: Corina Martinez of Pioneer Elementary in the Escondido Union School District, Greg Hinchliff of Bonsall High School in the Bonsall Unified School District, and Allison Schmitt of Solana Pacific Elementary in the Solana Beach School District.
COLLEGE GRADUATES
The following students graduated from their respective colleges and universities: Argerey Stapakis of Rancho Santa Fe from Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences; Sydney Bourassa of San Diego from Emmanuel College in Massachusetts; Tiffany Wang of Oceanside and Ryan Craig of San Marcos from The Citadel in South Carolina; and Liliana Amato of San Diego, Brian Chander of Rancho Santa Fe and Isabelle Montez of Oceanside from Emerson College in Massachusetts.
PRESIDENT’S LIST
Lisa Dinh of San Diego was named to the spring president’s list at James Madison University in Virginia.
DEAN’S LIST
The following students made the spring dean’s list at their respective colleges and universities: Madie Hamblin of Oceanside at Abilene Christian University in Texas; Jenna Voegtly of San Diego at Midway University in Kentucky; Hannah Budelsky of Solana Beach at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania; Emma Velchek of Carlsbad and Zane Goldman of Vista at Pacific University in Oregon; Joshua Cox of Encinitas and Zoey Ronco of San Diego at Missouri State University; and Henry Blom of San Diego and Adam Walker of Oceanside at Ohio Wesleyan University.
CAPSTONE RESEARCH
Simon Scott, a 2025 graduate majoring in computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, recently completed a senior thesis required of all graduating seniors. Simon’s project was titled, “AI-Driven Gameplay Footage Generation.”
SENIOR ATHLETES
Two senior athletes at The Grauer School in Encinitas were recognized by Athletic Director Trevor Olson during an informal signing ceremony, celebrating their intent to attend college and participate in their sport of choice at two NCAA Division III institutions. Samara Diggs signed to Swarthmore College for women’s basketball, and Gavin Parker signed to California Lutheran University for football.
CONSTRUCTION STUDENTS
Students in San Pasqual High School’s Construction and Wood Innovation program and Escondido High School’s Woods Career Technical Education pathways were honored with Career Connection certificates on May 19, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward careers in the skilled trades. Mike La Bruno of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters presented the certificates to the students.
NEW SHOES
Approximately 630 students from Escondido’s Pioneer Elementary School were presented with brand new athletic shoes in May as part of a donation made to Shoes That Fit, a national nonprofit that provides shoes to children in need.
CARLSBAD SCHOLARSHIPS
The Aron Gunner Memorial Scholarship Foundation presented 15 scholarships worth $1,600 each to deserving Carlsbad High School seniors on May 27. To date, the foundation has awarded 250 scholarships totaling over $280,000 while honoring the memory of Aron Gunner, a 2007 CHS graduate who died in a car accident in 2012.
IVEY RANCH
Ivey Ranch Park Association was named a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for District 74 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies. Since 1981, the association has served children and adults with disabilities. Each week, the association supports over 300 individuals, more than two-thirds of whom have moderate to severe disabilities, including behavioral disorders, genetic disorders, and disabilities caused by accident or trauma.
CARLSBAD EDUCATION
The Carlsbad Educational Foundation raised $300,000 in support of district-wide programs for the Carlsbad Unified School District at its May 17 gala at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. Nearly 500 guests attended the gala.
GARDEN AWARD
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance received the Garden Excellence Award by the American Public Gardens Association for the botanic gardens at both the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park and the Safari Park in Escondido.
VOLUNTEER AWARD
Kimberly Thorner, general manager of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, received the Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award by Water for People, an international non-profit organization, for her efforts on American Water Works Association’s California-Nevada Section’s Water for People San Diego Committee. The award recognizes volunteers who support water and sanitation in developing countries.
