CHSSA Announces 2025 Student of the Year Finalists: Honoring California’s Top Speech and Debate Leaders

CHSSA 2024 Student of the Year Molly Schinnerer holding her award with her quote “With Speech & Debate, we demand time, we demand attention, & we demand change. This generation will be the one to demand change, not the one to ask and wait for a seat at the table.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Six graduating seniors selected as finalists for CHSSA’s highest individual student honor.

Culver City, CA, March 27, 2025 — The California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) is proud to announce the six extraordinary finalists for the 2025 CHSSA Student of the Year award. This prestigious honor recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding character, leadership, service, and a commitment to using their voices to uplift others and create meaningful change. Chosen from a competitive pool of student nominees across the state, each finalist embodies CHSSA’s core mission: empowering young people through the art of communication to lead with integrity, advocate for justice, and make a difference in their communities.

The 2025 CHSSA Student of the Year Finalists are (in alphabetical order):

  • Inara Cruz-Boone, Valley Oaks Charter School (Kern HSD)
  • Wendy Hernandez Soria, Orosi High School (Cutler-Orosi JUSD)
  • Timothy Leung, Saratoga High School (Los Gatos-Saratoga UHSD)
  • Andrew Park, Archbishop Mitty High School
  • Edna Yeghnanyan, Burbank High School (Burbank USD)
  • Ayleen Zavala, West Torrance High School (Torrance USD)

These students have not only excelled in speech and debate, but have also used their platforms to mentor others, advocate for equity, champion mental health, create space for marginalized voices, and serve their schools and neighborhoods in remarkable ways. From launching nonprofits to supporting immigration rights, from leading campus organizations to mentoring students across the state, each finalist represents the best of what speech and debate can foster in young leaders.

The finalists will be recognized during the CHSSA State Championship Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 5 PM at Culver City High School. One student will be named the CHSSA Student of the Year and will receive a $1,000 honorarium in recognition of their incredible achievements.

CHSSA congratulates these outstanding students, their coaches, and their school communities. We are proud to honor their voices, stories, and leadership—and we look forward to celebrating their impact at the State Championship.

Contact:
Angelique Ronald
Tournament Director and Vice President of Activities, CHSSA
Email: Director@chssa.org

About CHSSA:
The California High School Speech Association is dedicated to promoting speech and debate education and competition throughout California. CHSSA fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and civic engagement among high school students. For over six decades, CHSSA has provided opportunities for students to develop their skills, excel not only in speech and debate competitions but also in their personal and professional lives.