PASADENA, Calif. (April 13, 2023) – The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Association has
selected eight high school seniors as the 2023 ROSE Scholars. This year, the program awarded
$20,000 in scholarships to eight graduating seniors from the Pasadena Unified School District
(PUSD). ROSE Scholars, presented by Citizens Business Bank, is a program designed to help
students in our community thrive and to foster their potential.
2023 ROSE Scholars:
Arleth Angeles –
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Katelyn Castillo–
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Stephanie Barcenas –
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Valeria Hernandez –
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Naomi Blas –
John Muir High School
Amina Malone –
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Giselle Carlos –
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School
Diana Sanchez –
Rose City High School
Arleth Angeles is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is
involved in the National Honor Society, Associated Student Body as the Student Store Manager,
Vice President of the Latino Club and Secretary of the Fashion Club. Arleth has also been involved
in the Screen-Printing Club, Rock the Street Wall Street Financial Literacy Club and the Social
Justice Club. Some of her hobbies include art, hiking, literature and music. Her volunteer
experience includes the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage and a previous internship with the
Huntington Medical Research Institute. Arleth plansto major in psychology and minor in business
at UC Berkeley and hopes to be a business owner one day.
Stephanie Barcenas is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is
currently involved in her school and community with the PUSD Student Think Tank, The Learning
Curve Anthology Editor, Latino Club, Storyteller’s Club, Cal State LA Upward Bound, city of
Pasadena Youth Ambassador, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Teen Council, Chris Holden’s
Young Legislators Program and Day One Youth Advocate. Stephanie has also been involved in the
Girl’s Voices Now 2023 Summer Cohort, College Access Plan, Tournament of Roses Student
Ambassador and the city of Pasadena Department of Transportation Intern. Her hobbies include
museum and gallery browsing, traveling, watching Nora Ephron films and listening to music by
Skegss. Stephanie will be attending Wellesley College, her dream school, and plans to continue
filmmaking with an emphasis on documentary storytelling. She also hopes to study abroad and
gather stories from around the world to bring to light women’s struggles.
Naomi Blas is a graduating senior from John Muir high school. She is involved with the College
Access Plan, Muir’s free college prep program. She is also a Class of 2023 Student Volunteer
whosupports to the senior class and associate student body. Naomi has assisted in football
games, fundraisers and Muir’s senior nights. Naomi has also volunteered with the Volunteers of
America. Her hobbies include hiking, cleaning and spending time with her family.
She is a first-generation student and is, therefore, very passionate about pursuing higher
education and becoming the first in her family to receive a college degree. Naomi plans to attend
California Lutheran University and hopes to pursue a career in psychology.
Giselle Carlos is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. While at
Marshall, she has been involved as Vice President of the National Honor Society, Secretary of the
Latino Club, Secretary of the Photography Club, Vice President of the Financial Literacy for
Women and the Asian Club. She is also the Lifegroup Leader with the Fellowship Church Monrovia
and Book Reviewer for the Pasadena Public Library. Giselle’s hobbies include watching movies,
writing, doing yoga and Pilates, making collages, baking, cooking and drinking coffee. Giselle is
interested in studying film and psychology in college and hopes to enter the filmmaking field.
Katelyn Castillo is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is
currently involved at her school as the President of Girl’s Financial Literacy Club, President of the
Fashion Club, Vice President of the Screen-Print Club and Senior Representative of the Academy
of Creative Industries. Katelyn is also a National Honor Society, Latino Club and Social Justice Club
member. Last summer, she had an internship in which she interviewed senior citizens for a
podcast project about their life stories. Katelyn’s hobbies include playing the piano and all things
music, going on walks or hiking, and anything nature or animal related. She will attend Woodbury
University and plans to study interior design, architecture and marketing. Katelyn’s career goals
include working for an interior design or architecture firm and eventually starting her own
business where she can design houses and buildings worldwide.
Valeria Hernandez is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. Her
school and community involvement includes being a member of the Latino Club, Armenian Club
member, Asian Club member, Social Justice Club member, Green Club member, Nursing and
Healthcare Club member, City of Pasadena Youth Ambassador, USA Varsity Regional Cheer
Competitor, ATX Art Center College Scholarship Attendee, Pasadena Flea Market Volunteer, USA
Varsity National Cheer Competitor, CIF-SS Divisional 5 Competitor, and a 3-year Varsity Cheer
member, and a First Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Valeria’s interests include drawing,
listening to music, attending concerts, shopping, fashion, thrifting, watching movies, and
collecting miscellaneous items. She also enjoys sourcing and selling clothing on her e-commerce
store with “Depop,” which she has successfully managed for the last three years. Valeria hopes
to study psychology at either Fordham University or San Francisco State University.
Amina Malone is a graduating senior from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. She is
currently involved at Marshall as President of the National Honor Society, President and Founder
of ACT Club, a student-led community service club, and Film Club. Amina is also Vice President of
the Associated Student Body Government, Social Justice Club and Storytellers Club. She is a
Senior Advocate of Planned Parenthood Peer Advocates of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. She
is a member of the Asian Club, Armenian Club, Drama Club, Academy of Creative Industries (for
Theater) and a Bright Future scholar. She is also the Team Captain of Marshall’s Varsity Swim
Team. In her free time, Amina loves singing, songwriting, playing the piano and ukulele and
writing scores for those instruments. She considers herself a very creative person, being an avid
writer and actor. To satisfy her adventurous side, Amina loves to hike and travel. She is also a
proud cinephile, having a deep love for film, tv shows, and movies, having watched more than
1,300 movies and TV shows. She plans to study creative writing in college.
Diana Sanchezis a graduating senior from Rose City high school. Her school involvement includes
participating in the Student Leadership Board, being a teacher’s assistant with the LEARNS After
School Program, and a member of the College Access Plan. She is also currently interning at the
Hollywood Burbank Airport. Some of Diana’s hobbies include music, drawing, and all things
related to science. She is also involved in helping the NO Boundaries 18 Gallery in which her
artwork has been displayed at the exhibit and for which she received a scholarship. She plans to
attend Pasadena City College for two years and then transfer to either the University of Southern
California, UC San Diego or Stanford University. She plans to major in chemistry and minor in
business administration to become a cosmetic chemist. Eventually, she will create her own
skincare company, as it is through skincare that she practices self-care and self-love.
As part of the application process, students were invited to submit a creative piece that
reflected their future dreams, goals and aspirations. A one-page reflection describing their
thoughts and feelings about the piece was also required, as well as still images of their work
and a video recording describing their inspiration. Instead of a minimum GPA requirement,
applicants were asked to obtain a recommendation from a teacher, coach, counselor or
community member.
David A. Brager, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Business Bank, expressed his
support and enthusiasm for the 2023 Rose Scholars, a program that provides scholarships to
local students in the Pasadena Unified School District. He acknowledged the positive impact of
their ongoing partnership with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association in supporting
education and making a difference in the communities they serve. Through the generosity of
Citizens Business Bank, Brager demonstrates his commitment to supporting education and
creating opportunities for students in the local community.
"Here at the Tournament of Roses, we celebrate creativity and the 2023 Rose Scholars are proof
of that," said Alex Aghajanian, 2024 Tournament of Roses President. "We are thrilled to
recognize these students and provide them with scholarships to further their passions. Thank
you to David Brager and Citizens Business Bank for your partnership and giving the Tournament
of Roses Association the opportunity to uplift these amazing young people."
The Association and the Tournament of Roses Foundation are focused on positively impacting
the Pasadena community with charitable giving, volunteerism and community involvement. As
part of this work, the Association has partnered with Citizens Business Bank for ROSE Scholars
and other signature community programs.
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