Every year the Brentwood Community Council honors local students who have excelled in serving their community. Below are this year’s recipients. Congratulations to all.
Palisades Charter High School: Lilith Ferreira
Lilith Ferreira is vice president of Latino Student Union, secretary of Human Rights Watch and a cheerleader. She helped organize an event to inform voters on Proposition 57, which helped rehabilitate non-violent inmates and help prevent overcrowding in jails. On campus, she was instrumental in executing a school-wide refugee campaign, humanizing their plights. She is currently working on a Deferred Action for Childhood Immigrants (DACA) campaign on campus to invite Dreamers to share their own stories. As a vegetarian, she helped create the Animal Rights Club on campus and last summer took a class to prepare to be a veterinarian.
University High School: Steven Pineda
Steven Pineda embodies the Uni spirit. He is the last of many siblings and cousins that have attended Uni and is proud to be a Wildcat. He has been involved in leadership since his Freshman year and this year holds the position of ASB President. He has held positions on the Superintendent Student Advisory Council and the Mayor’s Youth Council in addition to many other leadership positions on campus. Early in his junior year Steven founded Bridge the Gap, a mentorship program that matches Freshmen and Sophomores with upperclassmen to help guide and support them. They provide academic tutoring as well as helping students adjust to their new environment.
Archer School for Girls: Maya Wernick
Senior Maya Wernick is beginning her fourth year working at Our Space LA, a Sunday school class for Jewish toddlers, teens, and adults with special needs. Through the program, she does art, music and community service with her students. She has been so inspired by the program that she now wants to become a special education teacher. She is also presenting her work to the Upper School in the hopes of gathering additional volunteers for the program. In addition to her work outside of school, Maya is an active member of the student council, constantly working to better our school community.
Brentwood School: Caitlin Cohen
Senior Caitlin Cohen is a four-year member of the Benefacta Service Honor Society and a senior leader this year on our Benefacta Civic Leadership Board, which plans service events for the student body. Caitlin has dedicated nearly 800 hours of service to both the school and local community during her high school years. While she has volunteered with numerous organizations throughout Los Angeles, her work with underserved and developmentally disabled children and young adults has distinguished her most. She has volunteered countless hours as a tutor and mentor to Henry, a teen with autism, and with children at the Beverly Hills Tutoring Program, Special Olympics and the Westwood Transitional Village, to name a few.
