2025 Award Recipients
Mylie Tejada
This year's female recipient, Mylie, is a key member of Pioneer's Sideline and Competitive cheer. Last year, Mylie's mother passed away just before the team competed at the US Nationals, but she insisted on staying with the team, saying, “This is where my mom wants me to be.” Mylie's perseverance paid off, driving Pioneer's Competition Team to two CCS Championships and two National Championships. She is more than just an athlete, she is a symbol of resilience, passion, and the power of perseverance. Congratulations Mylie! Watch Mylie's story!
Carson Hedlund
This year's boy's recipient, Carson, is a member of the cross country and track team and is the most accomplished runner in the history of Pioneer High School. Carson holds the school record in the 1500, 1600 and the mile, is 2nd in the 800, 3rd in the 3200 and 4th in the 400. In just his sophomore year, he finished 2nd at CCS and 10th in the State of California. In his junior year, Carson placed 1st at CCS. In April of 2024, Carson was ranked 2nd in California in the mile, but he suffered a catastrophic injury to his foot. Carson persevered, spending countless hours in physical therapy and doctor appointments, and ended up finishing the season ranked 6th in California in the mile. He will remain a legend at Pioneer as future athletes attempt to break his records. Congratulations, Carson!
Tianna Pham
This year’s ‘General Award’ recipient, Tianna grew up in a family fractured by divorce. Facing significant obstacles, Tianna threw herself into her school work. After her sophomore year, she was accepted into UC Berkeley’s prestigious Pre-College Academy. She woke up at 6am every day to make it from San Jose to Berkeley on time. After her junior year, she applied to an Earth & Planetary Science class at UC Berkeley through the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). This perseverance ultimately landed her with an acceptance into the prestigious university, as a member of the Class of 2029. Tianna reminds us that perseverance matters and that hard work does pay off. We all look forward to watching your journey and we can’t wait to see the person that you will become. Congratulations, Tianna!
