Four outstanding seniors from Mesa Public Schools have received Student Community Service Awards from the Mesa Citizen of the Year Association. Regina Herrera Marquez and Jermalie Jean-Louis of Mountain View High School, along with Sadie Christie and Alexis Grondin of Red Mountain High School, were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of their exceptional dedication to community service.
To qualify, students must complete a minimum of 150 service hours during high school and demonstrate a strong commitment to ongoing community involvement. The Mesa Citizen of the Year Association underscores the significance of honoring the impactful volunteer efforts of Mesa Public Schools students, who actively contribute to city programs, nonprofits, and other vital community initiatives.
Founded in 1935 by Charles and Florence Mitten, the Mesa Citizen of the Year Award honors those who make a lasting difference in the community.
Regina plans to attend Arizona State University and major in political science. She hopes to pursue a career in public policy or government to help drive meaningful social and economic change.
She credits community service as a defining part of her personal growth, shaping her values and broadening her perspective on the world.
“As I’ve taken part in community service projects, I’ve learned the importance of keeping an open mind and understanding that people experience life in very different ways,” she said. “It has also given me opportunities to connect with people I might never have met otherwise — like a single parent committed to their child’s growth by attending daily swimming lessons or an elderly woman who starts each morning among the trees she planted in the park, appreciating the fresh air they provide.”
Jermalie will attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to study finance and pursue a career as a quantitative analyst. She credits her passion for helping others to her mother, who fled Haiti to build a better future for her children. With the support of others, her mother became a homeowner and now gives back to her community, opening her home to help others succeed.
“I want to use my education and service experience in underprivileged communities to contribute to Penn’s Projects for Progress, supporting poverty-stricken areas that lack educational opportunities,” she said.
Sadie will attend Arizona State University, where she plans to major in political science with minors in Spanish and violin performance. She hopes to attend law school to become a prosecutor and, eventually, a judge.
“Through service, I’ve built meaningful connections with people beyond my immediate circle,” she said. “When performing at assisted living facilities, I look forward to speaking with residents afterward and hearing their stories.
“Being involved with the 8 Foundation, a community organization that promotes good fortune and prosperity through programs like the Food Bank and Light of Music, has allowed me to grow as a community member. My service work within the Chinese community has deepened my understanding of cultural values and the importance of empathy. I want to bring this perspective — fostering understanding and eliminating bias — into my professional career, especially in a time of division.”
Alexis will pursue a bachelor’s degree in human biology or exercise science at the University of Miami before continuing to physician assistant school. She is committed to using her education and personal experience with an eating disorder to help others lead healthy, balanced lives and develop positive relationships with themselves, their bodies, and food.
“Community service has opened many doors for me,” she said. “I’ve grown as a person and stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m no longer the shy girl who watches the world pass by. Instead, I take action when I see an opportunity and make sure what I’m doing is meaningful to those around me.”
For more information, visit mpsaz.org.