(L-R) Front Row: Tehilah Favour Ofumbi, Alyssa Yepez, Keilah Yu, Leila Nafarrete. Second Row): Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD Board President; Julianne Reynoso, Ed.D. PUSD Assistant Superintendent, Daniel Limon, Citizens Business Bank Executive VP, Lori Touloumian, Principal of Marshall Fundamental. Back Row: Mark Leavens, TOR President, Jameel Franco, Fletcher Paddock, Andrew Pimentel, David Brager, Citizens Business Bank President and CEO. (Not Pictured: Gael Lemus) (Photo – tournamentofroses.com)
Eight outstanding high school seniors from the Pasadena Unified School District have been selected as 2025 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.
– Jameel Franco – John Muir High School
Jameel Franco is a senior at John Muir High School. He is actively involved in the Altadena Rotary, Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development, and the College Access Plan. He also volunteers with Interwoven Church. Jameel has served as a senior counselor for the Teen Leadership Camp and as a flag bearer for both the Latino Heritage Parade and the Black History Parade.
Jameel plans to attend UC Davis, where he will major in animal science. His goals include shadowing veterinarians over the summer, becoming a veterinarian at a nonprofit that serves unhoused pets and stray animals, and eventually owning a ranch to care for rescued and neglected animals.
– Gael Lemus – John Muir High School
Gael Lemus is a senior at John Muir High School. He is currently involved with the Associated Student Body and Club Water Polo, and serves as a Splash Ball coach at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. He has also been a Tournament of Roses Student Ambassador, an intern at the Armory Center for the Arts, and a member of the varsity track team.
Gael’s hobbies include creating art in various media, skateboarding, playing soccer, biking, and working out. He plans to attend UC San Diego as a cinematic arts major, compete in water polo at the collegiate level, and pursue a career in the film industry—specifically in the props or wardrobe departments.
– Leila Nafarrete – CIS Academy (Center for Independent Study)
Leila Nafarrete is a senior at CIS Academy (Center for Independent Study). She is currently an Eagle Scout candidate and serves as the senior patrol leader of BSA Troop 360. She also holds the position of vice president of administration for Crew 288. Leila is a Los Angeles County Fire Department Explorer and a member of Health Occupations Students of America.
She volunteers with the Pasadena Public Library and serves on its Teen Advisory Board. Her hobbies include backpacking, hiking, art, outdoor activities, and playing cards.
Leila plans to attend UC San Diego as a public health major and aspires to become a physician specializing in international disaster relief.
– Tehilah Favour Ofumbi – Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Tehilah Favour Ofumbi is a senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She serves as president of the Black Student Union, and as vice president and co-founder of the Model United Nations. She is also a member of the Associated Student Body and the National Honor Society.
Tehilah is part of Marshall’s varsity girls’ tennis team, which recently won both the Mission Valley League Championship and the CIF Southern Section Division 5 Championship. Her hobbies include reading, exploring Pinterest, and watching TV shows.
She plans to attend UCLA as a public health major and aspires to attend medical school to become a family medicine doctor.
– Fletcher Paddock – John Muir High School
Fletcher Paddock is a senior at John Muir High School. He is involved with the College Access Plan, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentorship Program. Fletcher is also a three-year captain and catcher for the Muir varsity baseball team.
He previously earned the prestigious Triple Crown award for completing all three Boy Scout high-adventure camps across the United States. His hobbies include baseball, cooking, working out, hiking, backpacking, and woodworking.
Fletcher plans to attend Saddleback Community College as an engineering major, focusing on aerospace or mechanical engineering while continuing to play baseball. He hopes to transfer to a Division I school and aspires to compete at the highest level of baseball while pursuing a career in aerospace.
– Andrew Pimentel – Pasadena High School
Andrew Pimentel is a senior at Pasadena High School. He is currently a college champion with the College Access Plan, where he volunteers to assist his peers with college applications, essays, and other college-related topics. He has also participated in Upward Bound, a program that provides fundamental support for students preparing for college.
Andrew’s hobbies include music and travel. He plans to attend UC Riverside as a music major and hopes to pursue a career as a music producer.
– Alyssa Yepez – Pasadena High School
Alyssa Yepez is a senior at Pasadena High School (PHS), where she is a student in the Creative Arts and Design Academy and serves as the team manager for the baseball team. She works in guest services at the Rose Bowl Stadium and participates in the Students for Summer Enrichment program through Partnership for Success.
Alyssa has previously served as a Tournament of Roses Student Ambassador, interned at The Armory, and tutored freshmen at PHS. She is the club soccer captain for Renegades Football Club and was also captain of the PHS girls’ varsity soccer team.
Alyssa plans to attend UCLA and major in civil engineering, with the goal of becoming a structural engineer.
– Keilah Yu – Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Keilah Yu is a senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is actively involved in her school and community, serving as the vice president of the Associated Student Body, a member of the Pasadena Unified School District Think Tank, a City of Pasadena Youth Ambassador, and the Key Club service coordinator. Additionally, Keilah volunteers at Huntington Hospital. She is co-captain of the Marshall dance team and a member of the varsity girls’ golf and swim teams. Her hobbies include dancing hula, teaching youth karate, crocheting, and scrapbooking.
Keilah aspires to attend UC Berkeley to study cognitive science and plans to pursue medical research, exploring societal, biological, and technological perspectives.
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“This year’s Rose Scholars embody that drive, many of which courageously used art and personal expression to share their experiences during the Eaton fires. We are proud to celebrate these resilient students and support their dreams through this scholarship program,” said Mark Leavens, President of the 2026 Tournament of Roses. “Our deepest appreciation and thanks to David Brager and Citizens Business Bank for their steadfast partnership, which helps us uplift the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”
Job well done!