Front row (L–R): Kylie Garcia-Johnston (Rose City HS), Elexis Guerra (John Muir HS), Ellerose Chan (Thurgood Marshall SS).
Second row: Giovanni Benitez (Pasadena HS), Maryn Goodwin (Thurgood Marshall SS), Dr. Helen Hill (PUSD).
Back row: Louden Rangel (Blair HS), Sienna Wei Bonoli (John Muir HS), Terry Madigan (Pasadena TOR Assoc.), Daniel Limon (Citizens Business Bank).
Not pictured: Brianna Miguel (John Muir HS). (Photo – TOR)
Eight Pasadena Unified School District seniors have been selected as the 2026 ROSE Scholars, an honor that celebrates creativity, personal expression, and community potential.
By News Desk
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association announced the recipients, awarding a total of $20,000 in scholarships made possible through the continued support of Citizens Business Bank.
This year’s honorees represent four PUSD schools and a wide range of ambitions, talents, and personal stories:
| 2026 ROSE Scholar | School |
| Giovanni Benitez | Pasadena High School |
| Sienna Wei Bonoli | John Muir High School |
| Ellerose Chan | Thurgood Marshall Secondary School |
| Kylie Garcia – Johnston | Rose City High School |
| Maryn Goodwin | Thurgood Marshall Secondary School |
| Elexis Guerra | John Muir High School |
| Brianna Miguel | John Muir High School |
| Louden Rangel | Blair High School |
The ROSE Scholars program, presented in partnership with Citizens Business Bank, has now awarded $120,000 to PUSD seniors since its inception. Unlike traditional academic scholarships, the program emphasizes imagination and self-reflection. Applicants were asked to submit a creative piece illustrating their dreams and aspirations, accompanied by a personal reflection. Instead of GPA requirements, students secured recommendations from mentors, teachers, coaches, or community leaders.
Community Leaders Celebrate Student Achievement
Daniel Limon, Executive Vice President and Banking Division Manager at Citizens Business Bank, praised the students and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to educational opportunity. He emphasized the value of the bank’s longstanding partnership with the Tournament of Roses and its shared mission to uplift local youth.
Terry Madigan, President of the 2027 Tournament of Roses, highlighted the courage and authenticity shown by this year’s scholars. “Talent and potential show up in different ways,” he said, noting that the students’ creative submissions revealed both vulnerability and vision. Madigan underscored the essential role of the arts in helping young people discover their voices and imagine new futures.
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