EUREKA (March 5, 2025) – HCOE hosted an Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, March 5 to recognize and celebrate 30 outstanding students as the 2025 Academic Achievement Team and announced the 2025 Stellar Student Awards. Roughly $8,000 in scholarships are presented, and each nominee received a scholarship.
The Academic Achievement program honors the top-performing students who achieve beyond their school community with monetary scholarships, community recognition, and validation of the young scholars’ successes. The following students where recognized.
- Alder Grove Charter School
- Morgan Chittenden
- Eureka High School
- Brianna Anderson
- Kenyon Bauer
- Giselle Salas
- Greg Pronovost-Carlson
- Kees E. Van Dissel
- Valenie Lee
- David Hostler
- Ferndale High School
- Holden Smith
- Fortuna High School
- Stella Lewis
- Samantha Camacho
- Rocklin Austrus
- Academy of the Redwoods
- Tanayah Keisling-Limberg
- Lachlan Lewis
- Hoopa High School
- Millenia McKindley
- Arcata High School
- Ohsoo Kwon
- Lillian Afridi
- Arpita Panta*
- Mason Blair
- McKinleyville High School
- Tatum Fisher
- Gabrielle Watson
- Rylee Collart
- Six Rivers Charter
- Willow Talbott
- Austin Mitchell
- Northern United Charter School
- Tess M Taylor
- Pacific View
- Aizlin Bluntzer
- Redwood Coast Montessori
- Lila Woodworth
- South Fork High School
- Wesley Way
- St. Bernard’s Academy
- Claire Shin*
- North Coast Prep
- Ayla Weiss
Two of these students, Arpita Panta of Arcata High and Claire Shin from St. Bernard’s Academy, were selected as this year’s “Stellar Students.”
Right to Left: Arpita Panta, Claire Shin, and County Office Superintendent Michael Davies-Hughes
For the last 18 years, the Academic Achievement program has recognized approximately 20-30 outstanding high school seniors. Each fall, Humboldt County administrators are asked to nominate their top senior (s) based on their exceptional academic records, demonstrating application of their academic skills, and noteworthy involvement in leadership and community activities.
Each candidate has demonstrated a commitment to learning and involvement both inside and outside the classroom. In their community they are volunteers, leaders, and change agents.
All the nominees are invited to complete an application, submit essays, and be interviewed to determine which student (or students) have achieved the exceptional designation of “Stellar Student.”