(L-R) Mark Leavens, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association Executive Vice President; 2024 ROSE Scholars: Trinity Dela Cruz, Jasmine Sov, Carolina Castillejos, Andrea Ibarra, Lauren Gray, Eloheem Mahone; Dr. Helen Hill, PUSD Chief Academic Officer; David Brager, Citizens Business Bank President and CEO. Inserts: Worthy Teems and Alique Tufenkjian (Photos – tournamentofroses.com, Marshall Fundamental photography)
Eight outstanding high school seniors from the Pasadena Unified School District have been selected as 2024 Rose Scholars by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
By News Desk
The program awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eight students who submitted creative pieces that reflect their future dreams, goals, and aspirations.
– Carolina Castillejos, Rose City High School
Carolina Castillejos is a graduating senior at Rose City High School. She is currently the Vice President of the Student Leadership Board. She has also volunteered with the No Boundaries Art Night Exhibition and LEARNS, a Pasadena Unified after-school program for elementary school students. Carolina’s hobbies include drawing, writing poems, reading, and making music playlists. Carolina will attend Pasadena City College majoring in law, public policy, and society. She intends to become a private criminal investigator.
– Trinity Dela Cruz, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Trinity Dela Cruz is a senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. Her school involvement includes being a drum major of the Mighty Eagle Marching Band and participation in clubs such as the Asian Club, Black Student Union, Armenian Club and Student Environmental Awareness Club. Trinity also served as a member of the 2024 Rose Court. Additionally, she is a part of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and National Honor Society. Trinity will attend the University of California, Los Angeles as a music performance major (classical voice), with the goal of becoming a professional musician and/or choir director for film industry soundtracks.
– Lauren Gray, John Muir High School Early College Magnet
Lauren Gray is a senior at John Muir High School. She is the president for the graduating class of 2024, alumni commissioner for the Associated Student Body, member of the Pasadena Unified School District think tank, pre-college scholar for UCLA Vice-Provost initiative, youth ambassador for the city of Pasadena, student ambassador for John Muir High School, intern for Altadena Town Council, activities commissioner for Black Student Union and cheer captain of John Muir Prep Squad. Some of her hobbies include gardening, pottery, dancing and sewing. Lauren is still deciding on college with the choice of University of California, Los Angeles or Berkeley majoring in public policy with a minor in legal studies and education.
– Andrea Ibarra, Pasadena High School
Andrea Ibarra is a senior at Pasadena High School. She is a member of the Law and Public Service Academy, president of Puente Club, president of SHIELD Club, juror of Teen Court, youth ambassador for the city of Pasadena, an advocate of Planned Parenthood of Pasadena and a peer advocate for San Gabriel Valley. Andrea’s hobbies include reading, listening to podcasts and music, painting and sewing. As a first-gen student who is bilingual in English and Spanish, she plans to attend college as a sociology and pre-law student and later law school to develop a career as an immigration lawyer. Andrea would also like to work in the non-profit sector to advocate for immigration rights during her undergraduate years.
– Eloheem Mahone, John Muir High School Early College Magnet
Eloheem Mahone is a senior from John Muir High School. On campus, he is a member of the Black Student Union and Mentoring & Partnership for Youth Development, editor for the high school newspaper, The Blaze, and district representative for Pasadena Unified School District’s think tank, College Access Plan. He is co-captain of the John Muir High School varsity baseball team and a student representative for Leadership of Change. Some of his hobbies include coding, anime, software development, graphic design, watching movies and cooking. Eloheem plans to attend Loyola Marymount University with major in Psychology or Business Finance. He says that his goal is to be a pitcher for Major League Baseball, and later a career focused in sports psychology.
– Jasmine Sov, Pasadena High School
Jasmine Sov is a senior at Pasadena High School. She is the founder and president of the Creative Writing Club, editor and writer for the PHS School Newspaper, and the social spirit manager for the PHS Band and Orchestra Club. She is on the Teen Advisory Board for Pasadena Public Library Youth Services, board member and 1st round judge for the Omega Sci-Fi Project, annual newsletter intern for the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, intern for A Noise Within Theatre, Chamber singer and Apprentice Choir mentor at the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, and a volunteer with the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Jasmine will attend the University of California, Los Angeles as a double major in Cognitive Science and English. Her plans include pursuing user experience design and someday to be able to write for a living.
– Worthy Teems, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Worthy Teems is a senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is the house manager for the school musical, secretary of Proud and Empowered, past intern at Color Me Mine, and finalist for Posse. She is a volunteer at Kids Space and at the Armory Center. She is a volunteer leader at her church. She was also previously involved in the junior varsity volleyball and dance teams. Her hobbies include photography, visual art, design, production, history, crafting, advocacy, songwriting and traveling. Worthy will be attending Belmont University, in Tennessee, and is interested in studying studio art with the goal of becoming a production designer or an art director.
– Alique Tufenkjian, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Alique Tufenkjian is a senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. At Marshall, she is ASB vice president, NHS vice president, president of Photography Club and Armenian Club, and treasurer of GirlsBuild LA Club. Alique has also served as a Tournament of Roses student ambassador and is a Gold Awardee of the Girl Scouts. She is also a part of the varsity girls golf team, MVP and Scholar Student Athlete. Alique is a published author/photographer of “Girls to Girl, Unfiltered,” a book about teenage girls’ negative body image. She co-directed and produced “Limitless: A Documentary About Women in STEM,” which was awarded the Best Documentary at the YellowHammer Film Festival. Alique will pursue a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in Human Biology and Society at UCLA for a career in cinematography, biology, or cognitive science research.
Edited by Ann Hunnewell
CONGRATULATIONS 🎊🎈