Celebrating CNUSD’s Students of the Year

Corona, CA - Some students stand out for their achievements. Others stand out for the lives they hope to change.

This year, four Corona-Norco Unified School District seniors were recognized by the Riverside County Office of Education as 2025–2026 Students of the Year, each earning $2,000 scholarships for their academic excellence, leadership, resilience, and commitment to serving others.

From expanding healthcare access in underserved communities to creating more equitable systems through technology, supporting multilingual learners, and advocating for public health, each student’s journey reflects a deep sense of purpose shaped by personal experiences and service to others.

The recognition marked the culmination of the year-long Student of the Month program, a partnership between RCOE, CNUSD, and the Corona-Norco Council PTA. Each student received a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of their accomplishments and future aspirations.

Representing four different CNUSD high schools, this year’s honorees each carry unique stories shaped by perseverance, compassion, and purpose. From expanding healthcare access and designing more equitable systems to supporting multilingual learners and serving foster youth, these students exemplify the impact young leaders can make in their schools and communities.

Sai Harshita Damodara | Eleanor Roosevelt High School eSTEM Academy

For Sai Harshita Damodara, a deeply personal loss became the foundation for a future devoted to helping others.

That experience shaped her goal of pursuing a career in medicine and public health focused on increasing healthcare access for underserved communities.

“I want to be part of a future where patients are not left without answers simply because of where they live or what resources they have,” Sai shared.

Throughout high school, Sai has dedicated herself to leadership and service. She served in ASB, worked as an eSTEM Ambassador, founded the Hands of Hope service club, volunteered in healthcare settings, and helped organize a medical camp near her family’s village in India.

Sai will attend the University of California, San Diego.

 Portrait of a young woman smiling while standing outdoors in front of a softly blurred mountain landscape. She has long dark wavy hair and is wearing a light gray off-the-shoulder top, black pants, a black belt with a gold buckle, and delicate jewelry. One arm rests casually on a railing, and the natural lighting creates a warm, professional senior-portrait style appearance.

Lara Randhawa | Corona High School

From spelling bee stages to hospital volunteer programs, Lara Randhawa has spent years pursuing excellence while remaining grounded in service to others.

A spelling bee champion since elementary school, Lara advanced to the Scripps National Spelling Bee alongside several of her siblings, reflecting a lifelong dedication to academic achievement and perseverance. At Corona High School, she continued to distinguish herself through Dual Language Immersion, Academic Decathlon, biomedical sciences, golf, and leadership in PTSA.

Lara also dedicated time to serving her community through Kaiser Permanente’s Summer Teen Program and the nonprofit For-Goodness Cakes, where she bakes birthday cakes for foster youth.

In her scholarship essay, Lara reflected on the lessons challenges taught her about resilience and leadership.

“Challenges are not obstacles to avoid, but opportunities to grow,” she wrote.

Those experiences strengthened her commitment to becoming a physician who bridges clinical care with public health while addressing barriers that impact healthcare access and outcomes.

Lara will attend Yale University.

 Portrait of a young woman standing outdoors in front of a softly blurred mountain landscape. She is smiling gently and wearing a sleeveless light-colored dress with lace detailing and a delicate gold necklace. Her long dark hair is styled naturally, and the photo has warm natural lighting with a calm, polished senior-portrait feel.

Nimmer Kaur | Centennial High School

Nimmer Kaur’s experiences as an immigrant helped shape her passion for building systems that are equitable, intentional, and accessible for all people.

As a child, Nimmer learned firsthand how important representation, support, and opportunity can be in helping individuals feel seen and empowered. Those experiences inspired her vision for the future, one where technology is designed with humanity and equity at the center.

Nimmer hopes to create systems that are “not only intelligent, but humane, transparent in their design, accessible in their use, and intentional in the people they serve.”

At Centennial High School, Nimmer completed the International Baccalaureate program while also contributing more than 200 volunteer service hours. She served on the Mayor’s Youth Council and interned with the City of Corona, demonstrating a strong commitment to civic engagement and leadership.

She will attend the University of California, Berkeley to study electrical engineering and computer science.

 A person in a graduation gown holds a FBLA award with a medallion around their neck, standing outdoors on a paved path, with trees and a building in the background.

Elinna Qiu Zhuang | Eleanor Roosevelt High School

Her upbringing taught Elinna Qiu Zhuang how to adapt, persevere, and support others navigating unfamiliar environments.

Elinna balanced school, work, extracurricular activities, and family responsibilities while developing a passion for helping students who may feel uncertain or disconnected, especially English learners and students needing additional support.

“I aim to be a teacher who is understanding, supportive, and inspires students to believe in themselves,” Elinna shared.

At Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Elinna participated in Color Guard and Marching Band, volunteered through CAVA and Kiwanis, and served in the BEST Leadership program supporting English learner students. She also worked part-time at two local restaurants while helping care for her younger siblings.

Elinna will attend the University of California, Irvine to study Education Sciences with plans to become an elementary, ESL, or special education teacher.

As these four students prepare for the next chapter of their educational journeys, they leave behind a lasting impact on their schools and communities. Their stories reflect the values of leadership, compassion, perseverance, and service that continue to define CNUSD students.

 Portrait of a young woman standing outdoors with a mountain landscape softly blurred in the background. She has long reddish-brown hair and is wearing a sleeveless black top with layered necklaces. She faces the camera with a calm expression, and the natural lighting gives the image a warm, professional portrait appearance.