Mariana Aguilar is a Class of 2025 senior at Mission High School in San Francisco and a proud first-generation student. Raised in the Mission District, Mariana has dedicated over 300 hours to community service, with much of her work focused on providing translation services to students and families. She also founded the Mission High Senior Committee to help uplift school spirit and build a stronger, more connected community.

Eager to grow beyond the classroom, Mariana has participated in programs such as Summer Search, CCRI, and Giants CASE, gaining valuable leadership and academic skills. Mariana plans to pursue a double major in accounting and business analytics, with aspirations of becoming an accountant and eventually opening her own accounting firm. With the success of her future business, she hopes to give back by supporting low-income communities, creating a program to help first-generation, low-income students pursue careers in business, and contributing to animal shelters, inspired by her lifelong love for animals.

Maryam Parhizgari is a senior at Galileo High School in San Francisco. She moved to the U.S. from Iran two years ago and is proud to be a first-generation college student. This fall, Maryam will be attending UC Berkeley, where she plans to major in Molecular and Cell Biology. She has always been passionate about science, and her goal is to become a doctor. Maryam wants to help underserved communities and make a positive impact through healthcare. She is really excited for this next chapter and everything she’ll learn along the way.

Amadis Velez is an AVID teacher and college coordinator at Mission High. He was raised in the East Bay to parents from Argentina and Peru. After majoring in psychology and Spanish literature at UC Berkeley, Amadis earned his JD and MA degrees at GW University. He clerked in US immigration courts, was a fellow at the US Embassy in Peru, and then practiced voting rights law at MALDEF.

In 2006, Amadis obtained his teaching credential at SFSU. For 18 years, he has expanded college access opportunities for Mission High students who deserve and demand the right to higher education.

Amadis lives in the Mission District with his wife and 13 year old son. He is a huge fan of Argentinian soccer, the Niners and the Warriors. (these are 27 extra words that you can cut if necessary).

Marlene D. Ligsay is the Assistant Principal at Phillip and Sala Burton High School, with over 30 years of experience in education. Throughout her career, she has served in various roles, including math teacher, department chair, instructional reform facilitator, interim principal, and most importantly, a committed advocate for students.

Marlene completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education in the Philippines before moving to the United States to teach mathematics. She later earned a second master's degree in education with a focus on educational leadership. Firmly believing that education has opened doors to her own success, Marlene is dedicated to providing her students with similar opportunities. In her current role as Assistant Principal for College and Career Support, she works closely with the counseling team, grade-level teams, college advisors, and community partners to guide and support students in developing and achieving their post-secondary plans.

Xochitl Cordero is a Class of 2024 senior from Mission High School in San Francisco. She is a first-generation incoming freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Xochitl grew up in the Mission District in San Francisco, where she learned firsthand the importance of representation in education and narratives of success. Her goal is to use her degree to inspire other first-generation Mexicanas like herself to reach their dreams and aspirations and to see higher education as a real possibility. She hopes to one day create programs for underrepresented youth to explore the world of media arts so they can share their own perspectives and lived experiences in a creative way.

Rocio M. Soto is of Afro-Peruvian descent and has proudly served as a Family Liaison in the renowned SFUSD for 17 years. For 14 years, she has been working closely with the James Denman community and considers it a great privilege.

As a Family Liaison, Rocio engages with diverse communities and provides exceptional services and unwavering support to students and their families. She firmly believes that life’s challenges are opportunities for growth and resilience. Rocio emphasizes to students that pursuing their aspirations and dreams is never too late.

Karen Fraleigh Norman is a seasoned educator with a 19-year tenure dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences of students and families within the San Francisco Unified School District. Holding a Master of Arts in School Counseling from The University of Toledo, she commenced her professional journey as a high school counselor at International Studies Academy.

When she transitioned to a central office administrative role, Karen's emphasis shifted towards effecting systemic change. She has championed the advancement of school counselors, the development of comprehensive school counseling programs, and the implementation of district-wide post-secondary initiatives. In 2017, she was honored with the Pupil Personnel Administrator of the Year award from the Association of California School Administrators. Presently, Karen serves as an Executive Director within the Student and Family Services Division, where she continues to drive impactful initiatives to foster student success and familial engagement within the educational ecosystem.