Laguna Beach Unified holds semiannual student and staff recognition; dozens honored across arts, athletics and academics

Laguna Beach Unified School District held its semiannual student and staff recognition event, honoring employees of the year, student artists and athletes across elementary, middle and high schools.

The event recognized classified and certificated employees including Top of the World Elementary health clerk Paula Ferino as the district classified employee of the year and June Hosokawa as the LBUSD teacher of the year. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mike Conlin introduced division winners Ellen Exales (LBHS registrar, not present), Oscar Moronez Ramirez (custodial/maintenance) and Dori Bunting (paraprofessional/instructional assistant). Conlin said of Ellen: “She consistently reflects on-site level practice and refines enrollment processes and procedures to be effective and efficient.”

The program highlighted student work across multiple categories. District chair Morgan Lamb told the board there were 109 total Reflections entries across Laguna Beach High School, Thurston Middle School, El Moro and Top of the World, with awards in literature, film production, photography, visual arts, music composition and dance choreography. Several entries advanced to the fourth district level, including photography and film winners noted by district staff.

Elementary and middle school recognitions included winners of the Boo Blast T-shirt design contest, city-sponsored holiday art palette entrants whose work will be displayed around Laguna Beach, and participants in the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association program. At El Moro, the newly formed Sea Lion Senate — student senators elected from 3rd–5th grade classes — was recognized for advocating cafeteria menu items and organizing student activities. Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School students were honored for Model UN participation, essay contests and plein air painting.

Laguna Beach High School athletic director Denise Selby recognized eight student‑athletes, noting achievements such as Dylan Williams scoring 100 goals this season in water polo and Sadie Holmes being named CIF player of the year for volleyball. Selby described Presley Jones and Enzo Casalari as the school’s CIF Athletes of Character, with Presley set to play water polo at UCLA.

Assistant Principal Brian Carlson recognized academic achievers, including junior citizens of the year and National Merit commended scholars and semifinalists. Carlson noted that semifinalists advance to the National Merit competition, where roughly 95% of semifinalists typically become finalists.

The program concluded after a brief intermission and the board resumed regular business later in the meeting.