Friday, June 13, 2025
YOUNG ACHIEVER—Kiwanis Club President, Donna Smith, presents the Hope of America award to Milana Tirpak of Berylwood Elementary School. Courtesy of Karen Hoyle
The Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley recognized outstanding student leaders across the community, with the recent presentation of scholarships to graduating seniors and the prestigious Hope of America awards to exemplary elementary and middle school students.
The Hope of America award is one of the highest honors the Kiwanis Club can bestow on young people. This year, students from 16 Simi elementary schools, three middle schools and one private school were selected for the distinguished recognition, which touts academic excellence, leadership and commitment to community service. Each recipient received a beautifully engraved medallion to commemorate their achievements.
“These young leaders inspire hope for our future,” said Donna Smith, Kiwanis Club president. “The Hope of America award encourages continued leadership, civic responsibility and service—core values that align with the mission of Kiwanis,” Smith said.
2025 Hope of America Award Recipients:
Arroyo Elementary: Jacob Mull
Atherwood Elementary: Christian Alhorani
Berylwood Elementary: Milana Tirpak
Big Springs Elementary: Zoey Hammersley
Crestview Elementary: Quinn Trowbridge
Garden Grove Elementary: Sofia Tellez
Hollow Hills Elementary: Rohan Pathakamuri
Knolls Elementary: Gwendolyn Sutley
Madera Elementary: Lindsey Letus
Mountain View Elementary: Dean Whitt
Parkview Elementary: MarieElena Lazalde
Santa Susana Elementary: Keidy Santos
Sycamore Elementary: Lincoln Schilder
Township Elementary: Sara Haigler
Vista Elementary: Landon Walter
White Oak Elementary: Khloe DeMaio
Monte Vista Independent Learning Center: David Aguilar
Hillside Middle School: Alyssa Rojas
Sinaloa Middle School: Marie “Bel” Vargas Camacho
Valley View Middle School: Adelaide Reyes
St. Rose of Lima School: James Santti
In addition to the Hope of America awards, the Kiwanis Club presented scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, volunteerism, and leadership both in school and the community. They are as follows:
2025 Kiwanis Scholarship Recipients:
• Royal High School: Miriam Ahmadian, Sophia Cano, Juliana Galbraith, Kyla Janiszewski, Maiya Vallejo
• Simi Valley High School: Amanda Kilmnick, Joshua Nghiem, Kalyssa Ro, Shayna Salerno
•Apollo High School: Michelle Pech
•Moorpark College: Raquel Kamalz, President of CKI (Circle K International) at Moorpark College
“Through these awards, the Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley continues to invest in the development of tomorrow’s leaders and reaffirm its commitment to serving youth and strengthening the community,” the club said in a statement.
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