Leila Nafarrete (Photo courtesy of Leila Nafarrete)
Leila Nafarrete has been named Valedictorian of the Class of 2025 at the Center for Independent Study (CIS) Academy, capping an extraordinary high school career defined by academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
By Scott Phelps
Leila Nafarrete graduates with an unweighted GPA of 3.9556 and a weighted GPA of 4.2222. She is a 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Scholar and a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. She also earned CIS Academy’s inaugural Dr. Heshmat Shariary Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence and passed her senior defense with distinction.
In addition to her studies at CIS, Nafarrete is enrolled in the Pasadena City College (PCC) Honors Program, where she holds a 4.0 GPA. This semester, she is taking Honors General Biology, Honors Cultural Anthropology, and Human Nutrition. She has been accepted to the University of California at San Diego (UCSD).
A well-rounded student, Nafarrete has been active in Varsity Cheer for three years at both Blair and Marshall high schools, even while attending CIS. She is also a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).
Nafarrete’s dedication extends beyond academics and athletics. She is both an Eagle Scout candidate with Scouting America and a Gold Award Candidate with the Girl Scouts. Her Gold Award project focused on college safety, where she led workshops for teens. In Scouting America, she serves as Vice President of Crew 288 and was elected Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 360.
Her passion for public service includes her role as a Fire Explorer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, training at Station 82 in La Cañada. She regularly participates in 12-hour ride-along shifts, assisting on medical calls. She holds multiple First Aid certifications, including Wilderness First Aid and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
An avid outdoorswoman, Nafarrete spends weekends hiking and backpacking, and serves on the Girl Scout Outdoor Leadership Council. She has volunteered with the Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena Educational Foundation, and previously with the Blair Viking Boosters. She also works part-time as a receptionist at Fitsport Kinetics in Pasadena and is fluent in Spanish.
Congratulations Leila, you are a remarkable and inspiring young g lady! CIS is an excellent school. My daughter spent nearly two years of high school there due to medical hospitalizations. She re-entered graduating from Muir and just graduated college a year early. I can’t say enough positive words about CIS.