Student achievement celebrated at annual ceremony

The academic success and campus contributions of more than 100 Citrus College students were recently celebrated during the 63rd annual Achievement Awards ceremony in the Haugh Performing Arts Center.

Family and friends joined Citrus College faculty and staff on May 21 to celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding students.

"The Achievement Awards are one of our most meaningful traditions because they allow us to celebrate students who not only excel academically, but who also enrich the life of our campus in countless ways," said Dr. Greg Schulz, superintendent/president of Citrus College. "These incredible achievers represent dedication, resilience and a commitment to excellence, and they serve as an inspiration to the entire campus community."

Among the recognitions presented during the celebration was the prestigious Key of Knowledge award, which is the college's highest academic honor.

This year's recipients were Eva Acevedo, Jayson Chan, Nicolas Estey, Xiangru Ji, Xinyue Liang, Celeste Medina, Mikayla Muñoz, Benjamin Parker, Mary Rodelo and Gabriella Schwab.

Also awarded during the ceremony were the 2026 Service Leader of the Year honors, which were presented to Mikayla Muñoz and Henoch Perez. The 2026 Female Athlete of the Year was softball player Alivia Martinez, while the two 2026 Male Athlete of the Year recipients were baseball player Cameron Casado and basketball player Leo Ricketts. Finally, Distinguished Student Awards were presented to 100 students whose high academic success in a specific program has placed them at the top of their class.

"To all of our honorees, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations," Superintendent/President Schulz said. "Your achievements reflect not only your individual talent and determination, but also the support of those who have encouraged you along the way. We are proud of you!"

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This article originally appeared in the June 2026 edition of the Citrus View.