The Pat Navolanic Memorial Award is the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed upon a Glendale High School senior. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA, leadership experience, 30 hours of community service, a varsity letter in one sport or competitive team, and participation in student activities.
The PNMA is sponsored by the Glendale High School chapter of the National Honor Society, whose advisor is Ms. Holly Ciotti.
This year there were nineteen eligible applicants for the PNMA, which is the largest number of applicants in the history of the award. PNMA Selection Day was held in-person on the afternoon of April 5, and 78 GHS club presidents, team captains and ASB officers were part of the selection team.
Here are your five PNMA Finalists:
Lilit Arakelyan
Lilit is a three-year member, and varsity co-captain of the girls tennis team. She has served as a youth board member for Learning Mission Armenia, as president and publicity manager for the Armenian Club, and as publicity manager for the Chemistry Club. Lilit was a member of the 2024 Scholastic Bowl team, and she has volunteered for Letters for Rose, Armenian Club, WE Club and the GHS Library. She also authored an article that was published in the International Journal of High School Research.
Edna Cardona
Edna is a four-year member, and varsity co-captain, of the girls lacrosse team. She co-wrote and directed the cinematography capstone project for two straight years, and she is the vice president of Key Club and the co-founder and president of Slime Club. Edna has volunteered for Key Club, Save the Seas Club and Verdugo Lacrosse.
Maya Hamo
Maya is a member of our girls varsity volleyball team, and she has been named a scholar athlete four years in a row. She is the founding president of the GHS California Scholarship Federation, the vice president of the Letters for Rose Club and treasurer for the Armenian Club. Maya has volunteered for CSF, Letters for Rose, Armenian Club and Key Club.
Cayden Mailed
Cayden is a member of the boys varsity basketball team, the social media and events planner for the American Cancer Society Club and the former president of the Nitro Esports Club. He has volunteered at Club Maple and Incarnation Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, where he serves as Cadet Master Sergeant.
Jeanne Padillo
Jeanne is a four-year member of the girls varsity golf team, where she was a two-time Pacific League Champion, the 2023 Player of the Year and a two-time CIF Semi-finalist. She is co-founder and president of the Slime Club and vice president of the California Scholarship Federation. Jeanne has volunteered for Letters for Rose and the Incarnation Catholic Church.
Thank you also to our nine PNMA Semi-Finalists: Carmen Avedian, Camila Muela Callorda, Gerardo Contreras, Aniyah Dumas, Nelin Gharpetian, Hasmik Grigoryan, Yunona Grigoryan, Koko Haboian, Danica Martinez, Garine Melkonian, Stella Minasyan, Freddie Rios Barrientos, Anna Tunyan and Arianna Vargas!
The winner of the 2024 Pat Navolanic Memorial Award will be announced at a double-assembly on May 24th in the Glendale Performing Arts Center!
Stay tuned, Nitros!
