From fighting peer pressure on campus to raising awareness about mental health and reducing waste impact, students across Kern County are proving that young voices can create powerful change when given the opportunity to lead.
This week, those students were recognized at the second annual Student Voice Ambassador Program (SVAP) Award Ceremony, where participants received the California State Seal of Civic Engagement or Pathway to Civic Engagement Award.
The ceremony celebrated students who transformed their ideas into action through year-long civic engagement and community improvement projects.
High school students in grades 10 –12 earned the California State Seal of Civic Engagement by actively participating in leadership opportunities, student voice initiatives, and service projects aimed at improving their schools and communities.
Award recipients received blue and gold honor cords, symbolizing integrity, responsibility, excellence, and achievement. Seniors will also receive the official State Seal of Civic Engagement gold emblem on their diplomas in recognition of their work throughout the school year.
Middle school students participating in SVAP were recognized with the Pathway to Civic Engagement Award. Although they are not yet eligible for the state seal, students were recognized with red, white, and blue honor cords symbolizing patriotism and civic responsibility. These students have spent the year advocating for their peers and leading projects on campus and in the community.
At the ceremony, students also presented their projects to one another, sharing what they learned throughout the year and reflecting on their work. Many also discussed outreach improvements and ideas for strengthening next year’s projects.
Allyson Baptiste, Program Coordinator for Homeless and Foster Youth Services at KCSOS, praised the dedication and perseverance shown by students throughout the year.
“SVAP students are unique in that many of them have overcome some kind of adversity, and they are now shining stars in our communities and schools,” she said.
Baptiste also emphasized the resilience many students have demonstrated through the program.
“The students truly lead the SVAP work — including deciding their own change project topics, and then taking ownership over every step in the implementation and evaluation of the projects,” Baptiste added.
For many students, the experience was deeply personal.
Ashlyn Climmons, a Senior from Ridgeview High School, said the program helped her discover self-confidence and leadership skills she had within.
“I learned a lot through this program, like how to lead and help others,” Climmons said. “I was already very involved on campus, but I had never stepped into a leadership role. This program taught me how to be confident in myself and the choices I make.”
According to Zack Safi, a coordinator with KCSOS, the program continues to expand its impact across Kern County, now serving more than 1,000 students through the Pathway to Civic Engagement for grades 6–9 and the State Seal of Civic Engagement for grades 10–12.
“Through their civic action projects, SVAP students are transforming knowledge into action to create meaningful, lasting change in their communities,” Safi said.
Student Voice Ambassador Program (SVAP) Award Recipients & Program Advisors
El Tejon Middle School: Working to Combat Drug and Vape Use in Student Body
Aaron Robles
Alana Villalpando
Angel Vasquez
Issac Hernandez
Izaiah Monteon
Lia Pele
Natalie Rodriguez
Reign Dalit
Rylee Holcomb
Wesley Wilkerson
William Livesey
Cory Hansen
Jessica Brown
Rachelle Roldan
Katie Gonzalez
Frazier Mountain High School: Prevent Substance Abuse
Gabriella Jimenez
Josue Lopez
Brycen Braz
Daniel Hernandez
Juan Meza
Noah Marr
Akira Lawrence
Marco Pinon
Damian Burdreaux
Sara Haflich
Jackie Ryan
Dr. Sandles
McKee Middle School: Standing up to Bullying and Supporting Mental Health
Gregorio Aguilar
Ziyonee Dillard
Ivan Hernandez
Damarion Pillado
Alexander Martinez
Christian Dominguez
Zonya Bradford Matthews
Jacobsen Middle School: Anti-bullying/Anti-Fighting
Genesis Gonzalez
Ashley Gonzalez Cantu
Deleyzha “Camila” Alvarez Baez
Daniel Aleman
Kenia Perez-Pacheco
Jesus Burgos-Carranza
Hunter Garcia
Samuel Burkett
Tony Daviro
Jose Martinez-Perez
Joseph Davirro
Karina Martinez Perez
Tadd Garcia
Cary Colby
Brian Baptiste
Kim Goldstein
Cynthia Reynolds
David Adamson
Leon H. Ollivier Middle School: Youth Mental Health
Oliveah Valdez
Ashton Roberson
Natalia Illescas
Angela Sanchez
Chance Castillo
Angel Moreno
Diana Zuniga
Mountain View Middle School: Student Voice: Breaking the Silence Empowering Students to End Bullying and Safely Report
Evolet Rodriguez
Jesus Rodriguez
Nevaeh Mendez
Arianna Perez
Pablo Vega
Alexis Bazan
Gael Valera
Gabriel Rodriguez
Haley Alcala
Josilyn Parra
Aracely Ramirez
Antonio Aguilera
Ridgeview High School: Peer Pressure
Francisco Zeferino
Ashlyn Climmons
Jayden Gomez
Bree O’Toole
Lauren Figueroa
Bobby Lizarraga
Rosamond High Early College Campus: Trash Pickup/Educating People about Trash
Natalie Casico
Christopher Posada Munoz
Ethan Hayes Campbell
Karly Montalban
Rowan Romar
Yeny Argueta
Grayson Dardon
Lauri Lytle
Alicia Cambiliza
Tania Pena
Amaris Guitron
Isabel Taylor
Garibay Beltran
By Erin Pruitt
Erin Pruitt joined the Kern County Superintendent of Schools as a Communications Specialist in 2025. Before this role, Pruitt served as an Assistant Producer for KETN's Do the Math program since 2017, where she first discovered her passion for storytelling and community engagement in the field of communications.