Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) congratulates the seven high school seniors chosen by their respective schools to represent specific pillars of leadership: Caring, Citizenship, Courage, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, and Trustworthiness. The Superintendent’s Character Trait Award winners were recognized at the April 21 Board of Education meeting, where they received commemorative certificates.

“The character of these students is not defined by a single achievement, but by the consistent choices they make every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith. “While we recognize these individuals, they represent just a small sample of the many outstanding students across our district. They are leaders in their schools and in our community, reminding us that character truly matters and that our future is in capable hands.”

Join us in congratulating the 2026 Superintendent’s Character Trait Award winners:

Caring: Jillian Kaufman, Corona del Mar (CdM) High School

Jillian Kaufman exemplifies caring through intentional action. As a founding member of the ASB Multicultural Committee, Jillian helped design a yearlong plan to highlight a different culture each month, culminating in a Multicultural Fair that brings the CdM community together in celebration and understanding. 

As president of the Jewish Club, she fosters open conversations about identity and belonging, creating a safe space where students can ask questions and build connections across differences. Jillian’s caring nature also shines as an ASB tour guide; when new and prospective students visit campus, she makes it a priority to personally welcome them, answer candid questions, and share her own experiences so they feel comfortable and confident about joining the CdM community.

When student concerns arise, Jillian respectfully brings student perspectives to the administration, seeking solutions and advice to benefit the well-being of others. Whether through leadership, advocacy, or one-on-one conversations, she consistently acts on her belief that belonging matters.

After graduation, Jillian will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she will continue leading with empathy and purpose.

Citizenship: Shawn Akins, Monte Vista Independent Study

In a school environment that requires strong self-discipline, Shawn models accountability for his peers by arriving each week fully prepared, consistently meeting deadlines, and following all lab procedures with care.

Though naturally reserved, Shawn actively participates in campus enrichment opportunities, including art and ukulele classes, he engages and builds connections rather than remaining on the sidelines. By attending award assemblies with his family, he shows pride in his school community and supports his peers who are being recognized.

Shawn’s citizenship extends beyond academics and his school. He regularly helps his grandmother at home and prioritizes family responsibilities. At Mariners Church, he participates in Bible study, contributing thoughtfully and strengthening his connection to his community.

What truly makes Shawn stand out is how he treats peers and staff with courtesy, listens before speaking, and approaches every situation with integrity. Monte Vista staff said he represents the true spirit of citizenship through his resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to being a good person.

Courage: Cruz Marsella, Newport Harbor High School

Cruz Marsella embodies courage through perseverance in the face of profound loss. After the sudden passing of his older brother, Cruz entered high school carrying immense grief. His grades initially suffered, and the weight of that loss could have defined his experience at Newport Harbor.

Instead, Cruz made a conscious decision to honor his brother’s legacy. He recommitted himself academically, sought support from teachers and coaches, and steadily rebuilt his confidence. On the football field, he demonstrated resilience and leadership and emerged as a team captain. He became someone teammates could lean on, offering encouragement while pushing himself to improve.

Cruz consistently approaches challenges with humility. He does not shy away from hardship, instead meeting it head-on. Turning grief into motivation, he transformed personal tragedy into purpose and helps others around him do the same.

After graduation, Cruz plans to attend community college before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he hopes to continue playing football and carry forward his brother’s legacy.

Fairness: Christianna Todd, Costa Mesa High School

Christianna Todd is known for ensuring that everyone around her feels respected, included, and valued. She brings a deep sense of empathy to her interactions and consistently stands up for equal treatment of others.

On campus, Christianna builds genuine connections across diverse groups of students, intentionally engaging peers from different backgrounds and fostering inclusive conversations. 

On the tennis court, she competes with integrity, demonstrating sportsmanship in both victory and defeat. Her commitment to fairness was previously recognized when she received her team’s Coach’s Award for her positive, inclusive impact.

Through her three-year commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters, she actively promotes fairness by supporting and advocating for others. Every Tuesday, without fail, Christianna meets with her “little sister,” modeling reliability, patience, and encouragement. She reflects thoughtfully on how this long-term mentorship has required her to listen deeply, remain consistent, and ensure her mentee feels heard and supported.

Christianna has applied to several four-year universities and plans to study business management to contribute to her family’s restaurant business in the future.

Respect: Monique Sburlea, Early College High School

Respect defines the way Monique Sburlea leads, listens, and learns. Since her freshman year, she has consistently been recognized for her thoughtfulness toward staff and peers.

Her respect is most evident in her actions. As the student representative on Early College’s School Site Council and a longtime ASB member, she listens carefully to differing viewpoints and responds with care. She is level-headed and soft-spoken, yet confident in expressing ideas with maturity.

As a sophomore, her award-winning entry in the Samueli Holocaust Art & Writing Contest hosted by Chapman University reflected deep compassion and reverence for human dignity. Through powerful imagery and precise language, she demonstrated an understanding of history grounded in empathy and respect for all humankind.

Monique also tutors peers in AVID, SOY, and volunteers at school and community events. Her belief that every individual matters is reflected in a campus mural she created, titled “With You the Puzzle is Complete!”

She has earned multiple college certificates and plans to pursue neuroscience or psychology, with aspirations of attending medical or dental school.

Responsibility: Christopher Garibay Alvarado, Estancia High School

Christopher Garibay Alvarado exemplifies responsibility far beyond the classroom. When his family moved to Arizona last year, Christopher decided to remain in California with his grandparents to continue the academic success and scholarship opportunities he had worked tirelessly to earn. Since then, he has navigated school independently while also taking on additional responsibilities at home. 

Estancia staff have been impressed with Christopher’s innate sense of responsibility since he was in eighth grade; as a student at TeWinkle Middle School, he traveled to Estancia for an Advanced Math II course, earning an A+ in a class of older students. 

A four-year varsity basketball player, Christopher endured two ACL surgeries that ended his senior season. Rather than step away, he honored his commitment to the team by attending practices and games, mentoring teammates, and leading from the sidelines.

Christopher has mentored approximately 50 freshmen as a Link Crew Leader, checking in regularly, offering academic and social-emotional support, and drawing from his own experiences to encourage resilience. 

He plans to attend a four-year university in California to study psychology.

Trustworthiness: Toby Rodriguez, Back Bay High School

In both academic and career technical education settings, Toby Rodriguez consistently demonstrates trustworthiness through his reliability, integrity, and commitment to following through.

In the school’s media production and manufacturing lab, Spyder Lab—part of the  Business Management Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway—Toby develops products for real clients, where quality and deadlines are critical. Teachers regularly entrust him with reviewing peers’ projects, confident he will provide honest, thorough feedback. He also goes the extra mile, arriving early and staying late to ensure work is completed on time.

During a group project in his business leadership class, Toby used his artistic skills to sketch concepts that helped clarify his team’s vision. He demonstrated accountability by organizing the presentation, encouraging quieter group members to contribute, and ensuring the final product reflected a strong team effort.

His consistent integrity has earned him an invitation to return as a Spyder Lab mentor, a testament to the trust he has built with both peers and staff.

Toby plans to pursue a career as a psychologist.

Together, these seven students reflect the values that define Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Through their actions, both large and small, they demonstrate how character, leadership, and compassion shape strong school communities. NMUSD is proud to recognize these outstanding seniors and celebrate the positive example they set for younger students across the district.