Discover your desired story effortlessly: simply select one of the buttons below for instant navigation.

Claremont High School’s Don F. Fruechte Theatre filled with students, families and community partners for an evening devoted to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Desiree Reyes and Director of Human Resources Ann O’Connor served as co-emcees, centering student voice and purpose from the start.

“Empowerment is not a label. It is a practice,” Reyes said. “Leadership is not about a position. It is about using your voice, your effort and your integrity to move something good forward.” She framed the night as both a challenge and an invitation, encouraging students to honor who they are, take courageous first steps, listen for what is right, learn from setbacks and believe more is possible.

O’Connor introduced the student moderators, who shared the women who inspire them and their aspirations before leading the conversation with the panel.

Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez set the tone with a keynote that linked purpose to action, then joined the panel for student-led questions. “What does leadership mean to you?” she asked. “Leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room, it is about inspiring others, embracing challenges and making a positive impact on your community.” Pérez represents California’s 25th Senate District and chairs the Senate Education Committee. Born and raised in Alhambra, she was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning degrees in political science and economics from Cal State Los Angeles. As a student, she led a statewide campaign that secured $97 million to expand college access, work that foreshadowed a public service career spanning local office and statewide policy leadership. During the Q&A, she urged students to act locally. “Organize within your school, show up to City Council or school board meetings, request a meeting with your elected officials,” she said. “You will be heard, and you can move policy.”

Student questions drew candid advice from panelists representing law, higher education, mental health and business. Judge Allison Westfahl Kong pointed to the power of practice. “There is no better activity for communication skills than speech and debate,” she said. “Even if you lose every round, the skills you gain will benefit you in every facet of your life.” A Claremont High School graduate, Westfahl Kong now presides over unlimited civil cases on the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Before her judicial appointment in 2024, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, held multiple leadership posts and clerked for federal judges on the Second Circuit and the Southern District of New York. “Your reputation for fairness and integrity are two of your most important assets,” she added.

Dr. Stephanie Dingwall reframed help-seeking as strength in STEM fields that can feel intimidating. “Asking is not a weakness, it is a strength,” she said. “If you do not see someone like you, be the pioneer. Science is exploration, and it is fun.” Also a Claremont High alumna, Dingwall is divisional dean of student academic affairs in UC Riverside’s College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and an associate professor of teaching in biochemistry. She oversees student advising and success for CNAS and leads research on STEM teaching and learning, earning universitywide honors for excellence in teaching.

Candace Yoder urged students to speak openly about mental health. “Be vocal,” she said. “Stigma has a hard time surviving when people are willing to be vulnerable. You are the mental health generation, and you are making the change permanent.” Yoder is the executive director of the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation and a clinician with Southern California Counseling Center. Since shifting careers in 2013 to focus on prevention, she has trained practitioners and launched “The Loud Silence,” a series that brings athlete mental health conversations to a wider audience.

Kathleen Farris, CEO of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, underscored the value of mentorship and candid feedback. She urged students to connect with the local business community to find mentors who ask open-ended questions, challenge their ideas and help map practical next steps. Farris brings more than 25 years of experience across municipal government, higher education, nonprofits and private consulting, including launching institutes, raising philanthropic support and coaching leaders through organizational change.

The conversation also acknowledged obstacles and how to respond. Westfahl Kong described being underestimated in a profession that often rewards aggressive personas, then offered a simple countermeasure: show up prepared and let results speak. Pérez noted bias she still encounters and said representation matters because it reshapes expectations for everyone watching.

CUSD thanks Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, Judge Allison Westfahl Kong, Dr. Stephanie Dingwall, Candace Yoder, Kathleen Farris, the student moderators, and the staff, families and partners who support student voice. The charge to students is clear: keep asking, keep showing up and keep leading.

Claremont High School senior Taara Reddy has earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor given by the U.S. Congress for youth achievement. To meet the medal’s standards, she completed more than 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development and 200 hours of physical fitness, and she planned an exploration experience. Her service includes founding the nonprofit Reddy2Strike with her family, launching the Play It Forward club at Claremont High to host and teach golf clinics, leading equipment drives, mentoring young dancers and creating Forever in Our Hearts to honor hospice patients while coordinating activities for local nursing homes. A four-year varsity golfer, Reddy chose classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, for personal development, deepening her connection to her culture. For her exploration, she planned a family trip to Paris for her 16th birthday to honor her mother’s love of art history.

Reflecting on the journey, Reddy says the process reshaped how she tackles big goals. “I’ve also learned time management in a way because in the beginning it was really overwhelming, but once it spreads across a lot of time, it’s able to be managed. You just take things step by step, and not everything has to be done immediately.” She adds that working with young people was a highlight: “I just love working with kids and I love helping others in any way I can. Meeting a lot of kids and helping them develop their passions for golf or dance was really, really cool.” Reddy is applying to colleges this fall with interests in psychology or neuroscience and a possible minor in business. Her story is a model of service, leadership and cultural pride for the Claremont Unified School District community.

Claremont High School’s band and color guard each captured first place in the 4A division at the 30th Annual Moorpark High School Battle of the Bands Field Tournament on Oct. 18, 2025. The event drew thousands of student performers from dozens of Southern California programs, and Claremont’s sweeping results reflect the program’s artistry, precision, and dedication.

With hard work and dedication, current Claremont High School students and proud El Roble alumni Sophia Gonzalez, Vivian Mendoza, Lillian Mandzok, and Alyssa Florio returned to their alma mater in 2025 to celebrate the installation of a new water bottle fountain outside the El Roble Gym. What began as their IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Community Project in 8th grade later grew into their Girl Scout Silver Award Project through Troop #6354, showcasing both their commitment to service and their determination to make a lasting difference.

During the students’ time at El Roble, they noticed that while the south side of campus had two water bottle filling stations, there were none available on the north side near the gym. To address this need, they organized multiple bake sales and raised an impressive $1,200, which was donated to El Roble to fund the project. Their determination and teamwork turned an idea into a meaningful contribution that directly benefits students and staff.

Now installed near the gym, the fountain provides convenient access to water during the school day and athletic practices while also promoting sustainability by encouraging the use of refillable bottles. This thoughtful project is more than just a convenience. It is an investment in student well-being and environmental responsibility. El Roble is proud to celebrate Sophia, Vivian, Lillian, and Alyssa for their leadership and service, which continue to strengthen the Panther community.

Chaparral Elementary fifth graders spent the morning learning from one of their own when alumni John Moffet returned to campus to share how the encouragement he received in fifth grade helped him set goals, practice with purpose, and bounce back from setbacks. Students asked questions about training, nerves, and teamwork. Moffet emphasized habits they can use now in class and on the playground, including listening to mentors, keeping a growth mindset, and celebrating small gains.

To show where those habits can lead, Moffet walked students through his journey: a standout swimmer at Stanford, Class of 1986, the youngest male on the 1980 US Olympic team, bronze medals in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke at the 1982 World Championships, and a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. He also described his second act in film and television, during which he earned three Primetime Emmys for “The Amazing Race” and produced programs such as “Auction Kings,” “The Superstars,” and “Destroyed in Seconds.” Students left the assembly with a clear message: curiosity, resilience, and daily effort can open many paths.

Every morning at 10:15, third graders in Ms. Danielle Flowers’s class spread out for Island Reading. It is a quiet, choose-your-spot routine that turns reading time into a daily highlight. Last year, in Ms. Flowers’s class, the number of students performing below grade level on the district reading benchmark moved from 11 at the start of the year to 4 at year’s end. That improvement came alongside consistent practice, student choice, and targeted support. This year’s third graders are building on that same routine. Students are developing stamina, trying new genres, and often asking for a few more minutes to finish a chapter, Ms. Flowers said. During Island Reading, students also use Rally Reader as one of several tools to build fluency and confidence. Most of all, the class is strengthening reading identities and daily habits that help every student see themselves as readers.

You are signing up for the CUSD Celebrates! mailing list. If you are interested in being featured, please email ekong@cusd.claremont.edu.