The top two achieving students in fifth through 12th grade at each public and private school in Council District 14 were honored Saturday at a luncheon at the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels. I founded the Adelante Awards five years ago as president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Awardees were nominated by their school administrators and teachers, and they were selected for academic achievement and leadership in the classroom and their communities. Adelante is Spanish for “onward,” and I thought it was a fitting phrase for what I hope this award will do: encourage young people to continue to pursue their education and their goals so they can make a difference in their communities. Nearly 300 teachers, principals and parents were there to honor their students. To the award winners, I say ADELANTE!
