Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Awards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Indio High hands out named awards; ASB and Renaissance gain national recognition
Summary
Commencement recognized scholarship and service award winners, including Ed White Achievement Award recipients, Kennedy Leadership Award recipients and school leadership honors. The ASB chapter earned a Gold Council of Excellence award and a student was recognized as California's sole representative on the National Student Council.
Indio High School’s commencement included presentation of multiple named awards and recognitions for student leadership, service and athletics.
Two students received the Ed White Achievement Award, which honors scholar-athletes who combine academic excellence and leadership. Avery Kruslak, who plans to attend UCLA and major in political science, was recognized for academic honors and leadership in swim and water polo. Zachariah Lopez, a multi-sport athlete who will play water polo collegiately, was also honored for athletic and academic leadership.
The ceremony presented other longstanding campus awards: Jacqueline Zamora and Adeline Patino Ortiz received the Eisenhower Citizenship Award; Aidan Chavez and Ashley Beltran were named recipients of the Kennedy Leadership Award; Leonel Huerta received the Alex Alexander Award; Gabriela Valdez Venegas received the Katherine Hughes Award. The senior-selected Most Inspirational honor went to Heaven Ortiz Castro. Senior service awards were presented to Andrea Perez, Andrea Ochoa Magana and Oakley McPhee.
Student leadership programs earned institutional recognition: the Indio High ASB chapter was announced as the county’s—and reportedly the state’s—only chapter this year to receive the 2025 Gold Council of Excellence Award. Renaissance president Julian Cansino noted that he served as California’s sole representative on the National Student Council and that Indio’s leadership programs traveled to national conferences.
Presenters emphasized the link between service and future plans: the award citations listed recipient achievements such as AP and dual-enrollment coursework, volunteer hours, internships with local elected officials, and leadership roles in clubs and athletics. Event organizers urged accuracy in names and noted that several graduates have offers to attend four-year universities or continue competitive athletics.
The awards segment was part of a longer program that included musical performances, student speeches and the formal diploma presentation.
