Five Indio high school seniors among Riverside County academic honorees

Recipients from Amistad High School (top left), Indio High School (right) and Shadow Hills High School (bottom) receive their academic awards.

Five seniors from Indio were among the 166 students celebrated last week at the 20th Annual Student Academic Awards, a milestone event recognizing the highest achieving graduates in the Class of 2026.

The ceremony, hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education last week, featured 11 honorees from the Desert Sands Unified School District. The regional event drew representatives from 86 high schools across the county to acknowledge academic perseverance and success among the top tier of the graduating class.

Jolina Munoz represented Amistad High School at the ceremony. Indio High School saw two seniors, Lorena Magaña and Flor Perez-Mendoza, receive honors for their scholastic records. Shadow Hills High School was represented by Emma Aguilar and Lorenzo Uriarte.

The Riverside County Office of Education established the awards two decades ago to highlight students who demonstrate academic dedication. Selection for the honors is restricted to the top graduates within the county public high school system, serving as a benchmark for academic achievement in the region.

“These students are living proof of the Riverside County Office of Education pledge that ensures our graduates are prepared for college, the workforce, and civic responsibility,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez. “These top scholars and leaders are a shining example of why the future is bright for our region, state, and nation.”