Woodland Hills High School hosted the 39th Annual Academic Awards and Scholarship Night on Thursday, May 28 as it honored the Class of 2026 for their outstanding work in the classroom.
In all, 73 students were recognized during the ceremony as either Distinguished Scholars, High Honors Scholars, or as the recipients of a local scholarship. In addition to the awards presented to the scholars during the event, the Woodland Hills High School Class of 2026 has been offered over $19,492, 540 in institutional merit and private scholarships.
Distinguished Scholars are those students who have a cumulative grade point average of at least 4.0 or higher throughout high school. Seventeen students earned that honor in the Class of 2026: Connor Abrams, Jordin Abrams, Caitlin Burke, Rebecca Busch, Robert Felter, Samuel Green, Annabel Johnson, Thomas Ketcham, Brodie Kowal, Colton Matthews, Aubrie Moon, Kyessia Nolden, Shamira Pennell, Livia Rocco, Lloyd Russell, Madison Sheffey, and Logan Summers.
High Honors Scholars are those students who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher throughout high school. Members of the Class of 2026 who earned that honor included Muhammad Abubaker, Kevin Agbodoh, Leo Alfieri, Tatiyana Anderson, Abigail Banks, Caden Beeler, Sabrina Bender, Fletcher Briggs, Domonique Brown-Taylor, Nicolas Colainne, Asatta Cromer-Ware, Leanne Croumbles, Hayden Crum, Antwan Sonny Davis, Addison Ebbitt, Lukas Erbeldinger, Kaylee Filus, Victoria Fine, Payton Frederick, Anelyn Garcia Flores, Kibandou Arsene Gnassingbe, Gavin Gnecco, Taniyah Goodwin, Amira Henderson Thomas, De’raia Jimmerson, Honey Lennon, Amya Littlejohn, Isaac Lott, Cameryn McDaniel, Mackenzie McPherson, Loraine Mendoza, Gianna Montemurro, Arden Randall, Robinson Rea, Maximir Remaley, Noah Rinsema, Lucas Rosen, Abigail Shotles, William Smith, Victoria Starr, Adam Steiner, Makiah Stribling, Kaliya Thomas, Cameron Walter, Jazmere White, Aniya Williams, Travis Wingo, and Durant’e Young.
In addition to the scholars who were recognized for their academic performance, numerous community organizations, alumni, and local benefactors presented scholarships to students who meet specific requirements and who fill out applications. This year, those scholarship recipients include the following:
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers
- Awarded to Logan Summers
- Amber Joy Lillian Women in Business Scholarship
- Awarded to Shamira Pennell
- Anthony DePaulo Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded to Sonny Davis
- First Student Sweet Advice Micro Scholarships
- Awarded to Honey Lennon, Calise Cowans, Jasira Lee, Hayden Crum, and Niyaer Jefferson
- Slava Silan Mohler Scholarship
- Awarded to Payton Frederick and Avee Farrar
- WHEA Future Educator Scholarship
- Awarded to Aubrie Moon and Anelyn Flores
- Amy Hohn Memorial Helping Hands Scholarship
- Awarded to Jordin Abrams
- Woodland Hills Foundation Career and Technical Scholarship
- Awarded to Lindzy Njakwe
- Woodland Hills Foundation Alumni Scholarship
- Awarded to Shamira Pennell
- Woodland Hills Foundation Perseverance Scholarship
- Awarded to Leo Alfieri
- Woodland Hills Foundation Diversity Scholarship
- Awarded to Olivia Davidson
- Woodland Hills Foundation H.U.G.S. Volunteer Scholarship
- Awarded to Aubrie Moon
- Colleen E. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded to Shamira Pennell
- Darcy Lynne Herman Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded to Loraine Mendoza and Taniyah Goodwin
- Patti Fedishen Zollner Scholarship Fund
- Awarded to Leo Alfieri and Anelyn Garcia Flores
- Julia Anne McCool Memorial Scholarship for Arts and Humanities
- Awarded to Livia Rocco
- Rotary Club of Forest Hills “Service Above Self” Tom Nunnally Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded to Jordin Abrams
- Rotary Club of Forest Hills INTERACT Service Scholarship
- Awarded to Jessica Diaz Chavez
- Class of 2000 Unsung Hero Award
- Awarded to Livia Rocco and Shamira Pennell
- Pamela Bergamasco Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded to Aubrie Moon
- JJT Foundation Scholarship
- Awarded to Kevin Agbodoh and Earl Perry
- WolveReader Scholarship
- Awarded to Lauren Hamer
- WHAT – Woodland Hills Aquatic Team Scholarship
- Awarded to Annabel Johnson and Addison Ebbitt
- Vaun Addleman Scholarship
- Awarded to Shamira Pennell and Caitlin Burke
Thomas Ketcham was recognized as the recipient of the national Gates Foundation Scholarship and Hagan Scholarships. As those scholarships are classified as last-dollar scholarships, Ketcham voluntarily removed himself from consideration from other scholarships so that the funds may be available for others. He was recognized for his achievements as part of the ceremony.
The annual event is organized by the Academic Awards and Scholarship Coordinators, which includes Ms. Tracy Weaver, Mr. John Boone, Ms. Jami Heffley, Ms. Takiyah Spivey, Mr. Paul Beard, Mrs. Rebecca Bellows, Ms. Kia Dunn, and Ms. Tammy Blair.
Ms. Weaver, Ms. Hefley, and Ms. Spivey hosted the ceremony, which also included remarks from high school co-principal Mr. Berchman Grinage and assistant to the superintendent Dr. Eddie Willson.
The Class of 2026 will celebrate commencement on Friday, June 5.