As California Senator Steven Choi finished the final line of his speech, “The real change starts with people who care,” the room instantly erupted into applause. Educators, state officials, community leaders, and REACH interns collectively put their hands together to celebrate the many Zoom meetings, monthly intern meetings, and unwavering commitment that led to REACH Foundation being recognized as the 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year.
The Nonprofit of Distinction Ceremony was held on Friday, May 30th, at the Placentia Unified School District Office, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Facilitated by the Inside the Speakers program, the event honored the REACH Foundation for being named California Nonprofit of the Year extended by California Senator Steven Choi of District 37. In addition to presenting awards, the ceremony featured a diverse panel of distinguished Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) graduating seniors, who shared valuable insights regarding the college application process with attendees.
Kicking off the night, Senator Steven Choi took the stage to commemorate the nonprofits and their impact toward shaping the lives of many Orange County residents, setting the tone for a night of celebration, service, and inspiration, saying, “This celebration is more than a brief ceremony. It is a reminder of the power of the service, the strength of a community, and the extraordinary impact that these dedicated individuals and organizations can have when they choose to step up and deserve.” Choi then proceeded to present the honored 2025 California nonprofit organizations including: HisOC-Homeless Intervention Services of OC, repersenting the city of Placentia; Fullerton Junior All American, representing the city of Fullerton; Radiant Fututres, repersnting the city of Anaheim; Villa Park Women’s Leauge, repersneitng the city of Villa Park; Goodwill of Orange County, representing the city of Tustin; The Dragon Kim Foundation, representing the city of Irvine; Breast Cancer Solutions, repersnitng the city of Lake Forest; Care Possible Inc., representing the city of Laguna Niguel; OC Sheriff’s Advisory council, repersenitng the city of Laguna Woods; Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation, representing the city of orange; Trellis International, representing the city of Costa Mesa; Laura’s House, representing the city of Aliso Viejo; and the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year the Reach Foundation, representing the city of Yorba Linda.
Starting the “From the Inside Speakers” portion of this event, Natalie Tang, a student at Valencia High School and the inaugural internship president of the REACH Foundation, encouraged students applying to college to reach out to the people around them. Her speech intricately weaved in her accomplishments throughout her high school career, some being the IB diploma candidate and president for Valencia High School’s Girl Up club, with her irreplaceable time in the Reach Foundation. Attending the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall and majoring in business economics, “The college admission process can be isolating,” Natalie Tang (12) states, “I think that a lot of people feel like they can’t talk to their friends about it because they think that their friends are competition, but your friends and your family are great resources. You’re not in this alone. Everybody else is going through exactly what you’re going through, and you don’t have to tell your friends everything, but just to talk to each other a little bit, so you guys have an understanding that it’s all gonna be okay.” Natalie’s message resonated deeply with many audience members, notably fellow REACH intern and Natalie’s brother, who introduced his sister before her speech. Reflecting upon her address as well as admiring his older sister, Nathan Tang (9) shares, “I was just really proud of her because I know what she went through to be able to get to a spot like UCLA, or being able to speak in front of all these people.”
As the ASB vice president, mock trial county champion, National Honor Society vice president, and so much more, Thomas Wu has made his mark on El Dorado High School. Set to further his education at Yale University with a major in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, Thomas focused on encouraging students to get involved in everything and anything they are interested in. He also recounted his experience in rural Belize, where he was a part of a hand-selected group of people for a medical clinic. With five stations specializing in different medical areas, Thomas led the one focusing on taking vitals, including heart rate, blood pressure, height, and weight. When looking back on his mission in Belize, Thomas Wu (12) reveals, “I didn’t know or think about how kind the people are, even though they live in such harsh conditions. It definitely surprised me how kind they were and how accepting they were of our care and our help.” As for college essays, he explains, “Make it personal. Everyone’s experience is different. If you put in the work and truly show who you are on that essay, it’s going to get you where you need to be.”
Creative. Driven. Resilient. The third speaker, Emily Pasillas, embodies these traits that have resulted in her acceptance to Northwestern University as a creative writing major. Throughout her time at Valencia High School, Emily chased the dream of attending Harvard with achievements such as being a Cambridge AICE diploma recipient, the El Tigre Magazine co-editor-in-chief, and the president of the National Honor Society. While this path ended with a waitlist, other doors opened up for her. This wouldn’t be possible without the family Emily keeps around her and the support they provide. She said, “Helping others has been the biggest inspiration for me.” Coincidentally, Emily’s presentation showcased the importance of community in the college application experience. From teachers, peers, and family, many people can help overcome the challenges that come with application season, and with the aid she got, it fueled a sense of responsibility to advise her underclassmen by answering questions about the process and giving tips on classes and exams. Reflecting on her journey and core value of giving back, Emily Pasillas (12) shares, “I think succeeding for yourself isn’t as fun as helping others get to where they want to go.”
Yorba Linda High School senior Lucas Kame had a college application process that many could relate to. As a SEYO basketball team captain, Mustang Crimson-Leveled Scholar, and the Cancer Awareness club president, Lucas’s time at high school was not wasted. Without a true dream school, he applied to in-state and out-of-state schools, hoping for acceptance. When Lucas received the unfortunate rejection email from one university after another, an unexpected acceptance came from a school he had applied to on a whim: the University of Michigan. This blessing in disguise is only proof that the statement, “rejection is redirection,” is true. Life is not always a set path, and that message was heard through Lucas’s speech. Even if life doesn’t go as planned, that doesn’t mean there is no chance to pave a new beginning and find a new trajectory.
Coins. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, these are all things we learn in kindergarten, but for Esperanza High School student Samantha Yokote, the meaning was a bit deeper than a form of currency that people collect in piggy banks. Committed to the University of California, Berkeley, coins have been a continuous symbol throughout her high school career. These “lucky coins” are reminders to take a second and discover the hidden aspects of life. Most people overlook these random coins on the floor, but Samantha encourages people to discover to smaller joys in life. As the Academic Decathlon captain, Interact Club president, and California Scholarship Federation club president, Samantha emphasizes that the whole education journey is not a sprint, but a marathon.
What happens when you have dreamed of going to Stanford since you were a little kid, even making a flag with its logo for an elementary school project, and you get in? This is the experience of Evan Park, a senior at Valencia High School with an impressive resume of being an IB/Val Tech Dual candidate, Valencia Medical Student Association founder, and National Merit Finalist. In his presentation, Evan discussed the importance of generalists and specialists. Now, you might be wondering how biology ties into college and the senior experience. Well, Evan applied the concepts of generalists and specialists to high school life. He suggests being a generalist during the first couple of years in high school. Try new things and expand on prior interests because the world is your oyster; however, during the last years of high school, be a specialist. Narrow down the clubs or extracurriculars to a select few that have the highest importance, whether that be because of personal interest or high merit. As his time in high school comes to a close, Evan Park (12) encourages students, saying, “Every new day is a new place for new memories to be made. Make sure to take all aspects of your life seriously. Even though it may seem difficult, just keep pushing.”
This program wouldn’t be possible without the REACH Foundation, a district-wide internship program established in 2012 that unites high school students from all 34 schools within the district. Its primary purpose is to provide resources and enrichment opportunities across the athletics, arts, and academic fields. The program is dedicated to cultivating leadership, engaging the community, and preparing students for success in higher education and future careers. Gisele Nguyen, President of the REACH Foundation, emphasizes the organization’s vision: “I think the future of REACH is to impact more students, to get more students involved, and to bring more funding to PYLUSD so that we can support even more students.”
