Soboba Tribe Honors 96 Students for Academic Excellence
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians celebrated 96 tribal youth at their Academic Achievement Awards, honoring students from middle school through college with scholarships and community support. Seven students earned perfect 4.0 GPAs or higher as the tribe signed new partnerships with two universities to expand educational opportunities.
When 14-year-old Athena DeHoyos walked across the stage at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center, she joined six other students earning the highest honor possible: a perfect 4.0 GPA or better. But she wasn't alone in her family's success. Her two siblings also earned awards that day, making their mom Jennifer Valenzuella beam with pride.
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians gathered on July 26 to celebrate 96 young tribal members who excelled during the 2025-2026 school year. Students in grades 6 through 12, plus recent high school and college graduates, filled the event center alongside proud parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and tribal elders.
"We really want to recognize our Elders, parents, aunties and uncles and everybody out there supporting our youth through this journey," said Soboba Chairman Isaiah Vivanco. The celebration began with traditional bird singers and dancers performing social songs while families enjoyed a buffet feast.
Each student received a certificate, traditional olla pottery, and scholarship check based on their achievements. Twenty-nine students earned Silver Awards for GPAs between 3.0 and 3.4. Eighteen received Gold Awards for maintaining 3.5 to 3.9 GPAs. Seven students reached Platinum status with perfect 4.0 or higher grades.
The day brought extra excitement as Chairman Vivanco signed partnership agreements with California State University San Bernardino and the University of La Verne. These partnerships will create direct pathways for Soboba youth to access higher education with specialized support and recruitment.
Why This Inspires
Valenzuella credits her children's success to their own hard work and willingness to seek help when needed. "I always encourage them to do their absolute best and never give up; mostly to do better than me, top all of my accomplishments," she said. "The only thing that can really stop them is themselves."
The ceremony ended with a video presentation honoring all students. Its final message captured the tribe's pride: "Congratulations! It is because of you that we are a proud nation!"
As families posed for photos and celebrated together, the event demonstrated something powerful: when an entire community invests in education, young people rise to meet those expectations.
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Based on reporting by Google News - Student Achievement
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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