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, 50 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 ten eligible applicants for the PNMA, and PNMA Selection Day was held in-person on the afternoon of April 11. Seventy-seven GHS club presidents, team captains and ASB officers were part of the selection team.
Here are your five PNMA Finalists:
Erynn Padillo
Erynn Padillo is a senior at Glendale High School and has lived in Glendale her whole life. She is the captain of the girls golf team at GHS and also the president of the California Scholastic Federation on our campus.
Erynn has three siblings and is the second oldest among them. Besides her love for golf, she is a self-taught pianist, who has been practicing her skills since she was a little kid.
Erynn was first introduced to golf by her father at ten years old, and she has been participating in the sport ever since. She has been playing golf with her family for as long as she can remember. She said that playing golf reminds her of her family and her childhood, which is why it’s such a special sport to her.
Written by Karla Ruiz
Ariga Safaryans
Ariga Safaryans is a senior at Glendale High School, and she is the president of the Creative Writing Club. She has been in the club since her sophomore year and has been president since last year. Ariga is also the co-captain of the GHS Dance Team, and she is our current Senior Class President. She loves spending time with her brother and friends and watching movies in her free time.
Ariga initially joined the Creative Writing Club, because her friends started joining it too. But, she also joined the club so she could get tips on how to write better because writing has always been a struggle for her. The club encourages its members to write for enjoyment and express their creativity, instead of following strict prompts or writing guidelines. She said, “It’s just more [about] learning how to love writing for yourself and finding what writing means to you.”
Written by Fatima Alanis
Hasmik Tumasyan
Hasmik Tumasyan is a senior at Glendale High School. She is a captain of the GHS Color Guard. In her free time, she likes to write, play guitar, and procrastinate getting her driver’s license.
Hasmik Tumasyan was selected as one of three winners of the 2024 Young Armenian Poets Awards in honor of Tamar Asadourian. This contest is open to writers worldwide, and it “recognizes and provides a platform for exceptional Armenian writers between the ages of 14 and 18.” Hasmik’s poem, “home is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on lavash bread”, was selected out of thousands of submissions.
Emerson Whiting
Emerson Whiting is a 17-year-old senior at Glendale High School. She is the Origami Club president and the captain of our girls’ varsity volleyball team. During her free time, she usually reads and watches movies, but she usually doesn’t have free time, because she is so focused on sports and other activities here at GHS.
Emerson created the Origami Club two years ago, and it is a place where people can come together and create origami figures. “I wanted to bring a semblance of Japanese culture onto the campus,” she said.
Written by Fatima Alanis
For senior Emerson “Emmi” Whiting, being the captain of the Glendale High School girls volleyball team is more than just a title. It’s a symbol of trust from her teammates.
After being on the team for all four years of her high school career, this season marks Emmi’s first and only year as captain, a role that means the world to her. Though she’s excited for what the future holds, the reality of her final year with the team is bittersweet.
“This team has been with me through thick and thin,” Emmi shared. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m so grateful for it.”
Last year, the girls varsity volleyball team made Glendale history by winning a CIF and state title, which was an unforgettable experience for Emmi and her teammates. But with victory came even higher expectations for the new season. The team knew they couldn’t just pick up from where they left off; they had to reset and rebuild from the ground up. Emmi believes that she and her teammates did a great job adjusting and rising to the challenge.
Written by Emma Torosyan
Layla Whitley
Layla Whitley is a senior at Glendale High School, who loves contributing to the community. She is a natural-born leader!
Layla is the head captain of our track & field team, the ASB Director of Athletics, and the president of the Black Student Union Club. She is extremely active, as she competes in high jump, long jump, and hurdles while also helping her coach. She was also crowned as High Royalty at the Homecoming Game on November 1st. Layla keeps a positive attitude in life, while always trying to make an impact.
Written by Dayanara Lopez
Thank you also to our five PNMA Semi-Finalists: Dvin Badal Hayrapetyan, Breanna Cuellar, Nicole Duarte, Kate Enriquez and Adri Fenyes!
The winner of the 2025 Pat Navolanic Memorial Award will be announced at a double-assembly on May 16th in the Glendale Performing Arts Center!
Stay tuned, Nitros!