A Night Among the Stars
Every year, The Youth Center honors local young volunteers who give their time and talent to make our community brighter. Join us for a formal evening celebrating their light.
Celebrating the stars of our community
A Night Among the Stars is The Youth Center’s annual red-carpet ceremony recognizing outstanding youth volunteers nominated by non-profits, schools, and community groups for the time and talent they pour into others.
Selected honorees and their families are invited to a special formal evening. Each young volunteer receives a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Senate and the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce, and five honorees go home with $500 scholarships.
A tradition that keeps growing
An evening under the stars
A formal red-carpet celebration with savory appetizers, desserts, and drinks as we honor this year’s remarkable young volunteers.
15
exceptional youth volunteers recognized this year
5
honorees will each receive a $500 scholarship
Many
reasons to celebrate the next generation of leaders
A tradition that keeps growing
14
Years celebrating youth service
$20,500+
Awarded in scholarships
5–18
Eligible volunteer ages
15
Honorees in 2026
How it began
Launched in 2013, A Night Among the Stars grew out of Elaine Wissuchek’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, “Working Together.” Since then, The Youth Center has awarded more than $20,500 in scholarships and built a lasting tradition of celebrating young people who give back.
The event is a collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach. Scholarships are generously provided by the Seal Beach Lion’s Club, the Rotary Club, the Rossmoor Women’s Club, and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association partners who believe, like we do, that lifting up young volunteers strengthens the whole community.
Know a youth who’s making a difference?
We invite non-profits, schools, and community members to nominate outstanding young volunteers (ages 5–18) who have dedicated their time and talent to our community. This year we’ll recognize 15 honorees, with five receiving $500 scholarships.
Senate Recognition
Each honoree receives a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Senate and the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce.
A Special Invitation
Honorees and their families are invited as guests of honor to the formal evening celebration.
Scholarship Partners
Awards provided by the Rotary Clubs, S.E.T.H. Foundation, Rossmoor Women’s Club, and Rossmoor Homeowners Association.
Thank you to our sponsors
Their generosity gives our nominated youth volunteers and their families an evening to remember.
Become a sponsor
We’d love to feature your company at the event while helping make this celebration unforgettable for our young honorees.
Meet last year’s stars
By Brooklynn De Shazer
ROTARY AWARD
Adrian Lopez
Started in 2013 from Elaine Wissuchek’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, A Night Among the Stars celebrates youth who serve their communities. Supported by local service clubs and community partners, the event has awarded more than $20,500 in scholarships.
“I’m really glad I’m now part of the group that will be leading our future to success.”
Rossmoor Women’s Club
Kristen Chan
A senior at Los Alamitos High School, Kristen leads the Growing Up in STEM club, bringing hands-on science to elementary students across the district. This past year she organized three major events reaching over 500 young students.
“I hope sharing my passion for science inspires the next generation to lead and give back.”
Rossmoor Women’s Club
Yara Saadeh
A Girl Scout since kindergarten and a Gold Award recipient, Yara created The Youth Center’s “Level Up” program to help kids build confidence in public speaking then started a Level Up club at LAHS so it continues after she graduates.
“The Youth Center nurtured my love for public speaking and let me instill it in so many kids.”
Seal Beach Lions · S.E.T.H.
Josephine Velez
A seven-year Seal Beach Lions Club member with over 2,500 volunteer hours, Josephine has led food drives, performed music at nursing homes, and tutored at-risk students. She’s also a cellist with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra.
“Service is a universal language we can help others no matter our situation or the language we speak.”
Rossmoor Homeowners Association
Era Berani
An LAHS sophomore, Era founded the Bright Hearts Club and a Junior Model UN at Oak Middle School. A Silver Award Girl Scout, she’s collected 300+ toys for CHOC Hospital and served 150+ meals through Christian Outreach in Action.
“Volunteering brings people together to create something meaningful.”
Adrian Lopez
Launched in 2013, A Night Among the Stars grew out of Elaine Wissuchek’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, “Working Together.” Since then, The Youth Center has awarded more than $20,500 in scholarships and built a lasting tradition of celebrating young people who give back.
The event is a collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach. Scholarships are generously provided by the Seal Beach Lion’s Club, the Rotary Club, the Rossmoor Women’s Club, and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association partners who believe, like we do, that lifting up young volunteers strengthens the whole community.
“I’m really glad I’m now part of the group that will be leading our future to success.”
Kristen Chan
A senior at Los Alamitos High School, Kristen leads the Growing Up in STEM club, bringing hands-on science to elementary students across the district. This past year she organized three major events reaching over 500 young students.
“I hope sharing my passion for science inspires the next generation to lead and give back.”
Yara Saadeh
A Girl Scout since kindergarten and a Gold Award recipient, Yara created The Youth Center’s “Level Up” program to help kids build confidence in public speaking then started a Level Up club at LAHS so it continues after she graduates.
“The Youth Center nurtured my love for public speaking and let me instill it in so many kids.”
Josephine Velez
A seven-year Seal Beach Lions Club member with over 2,500 volunteer hours, Josephine has led food drives, performed music at nursing homes, and tutored at-risk students. She’s also a cellist with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra.
“Service is a universal language we can help others no matter our situation or the language we speak.”
Era Berani
An LAHS sophomore, Era founded the Bright Hearts Club and a Junior Model UN at Oak Middle School. A Silver Award Girl Scout, she’s collected 300+ toys for CHOC Hospital and served 150+ meals through Christian Outreach in Action.
“Volunteering brings people together to create something meaningful.”
Past scholarship winners
More than a decade of remarkable young volunteers, each recognized for the difference they’ve made.
Phoebe Grimshaw – LAHS Interact Club · Rotary Award
Danika Mei – Drones4Kids · RWC Award
Reyna Rivera – The Youth Center · RWC Award
Nicholas Webster – National League of Young Men · S.E.T.H. Award
Michael Wu – LAHS Interact Club · RHA Award
Kristen Chan – LAHS Growing Up STEM · RWC Award
Yara Saadeh – Girl Scouts OC & The Youth Center · RWC Award
Era Berani – Rotary Club · RHA Award
Josephine Velez – Seal Beach VBA LEO · S.E.T.H. Award
Adrian Lopez – Rotary Club of Los Al, Cypress & Seal Beach · Rotary Award
Ellie Sutherland – Girl Scouts · RWC Award
Austin Hsiung – City of Los Alamitos · RWC Award
Skyler McClain – The Youth Center · RHA Award
Kyan Whiten – Seal Beach Lions Club · S.E.T.H. Award
Lwam Kibrom – Rotary International · Rotary Award
Una O’Farrell – Camp S.H.A.R.K. · RWC Award
Hayley Dunn – Casa Youth Shelter · RWC Award
Lexi Blankenstein – LAEF · RHA Award
Sarah Saadeh – The Youth Center · Rotary Award
Katie Velez – VBA Leos Academy · S.E.T.H. Award
Katelyn Loh – LAEF · Rotary Award
Ally Hatakeyama – The Youth Center · Emerging Leaders · RWC Award
Amelia Drukker – Girl Scouts of OC · RWC Award
Kirsten Okamoto – Girl Scouts of OC · S.E.T.H. Award
Evert Lukas – Grateful Hearts · The Youth Center Award
Katie Recker – LAUSD · Rotary Award
Davis Taylor – Seal Beach Leos · The Youth Center Award
Darren Deutsch – Los Alamitos HS · The Youth Center Award
Rebecca Gomez – Seal Beach Leo Club · The Youth Center Award
Viviana Ramirez – Grateful Hearts · Rotary Award
Rory Lowdermilk – Girl Scouts · The Youth Center Award
Daniel Hayase – VBA Seal Beach Leo Club · The Youth Center Award
Lindsey Torgerson – Los Alamitos HS · The Youth Center Award
Tanner Webb – Summer Harvest · The Youth Center Award
Cody Tanner – Seal Beach Leo Club · Rotary Award
Morgan Cheng – The Youth Center Award
Bryan Elapano – Grateful Hearts · Rotary Award
Riley Rojas – Precious Life Shelter · The Youth Center Award
Anita Maksymchuk – Los Alamitos HS · The Youth Center Award
Brielle Johnson – Grateful Hearts · The Youth Center Award
Max Russell – The Friendship Circle · Rotary Award
Josie Pearce – Los Alamitos School District · The Youth Center Award
Andrew Turner – Los Alamitos HS · The Youth Center Award
Jennifer Lang – Seal Beach Lions Foundation · The Youth Center Award
Janine Kim – Los Alamitos USD · The Youth Center Award
Laura Munley – The Youth Center · The Youth Center Award
Cullen Fitzgibbons – Grateful Hearts · The Youth Center Award
Evan Jenkins – Seal Beach Lions Club · The Youth Center Award
Help us celebrate the stars of our community
Sponsor the evening, nominate a young volunteer, or support youth programs year-round. Every gesture helps a young leader shine.