A conversation with the Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms High School 2025 Valedictorians

All students work hard, but only two high school students in the Morongo Basin can be valedictorians. In advance of June's graduation ceremonies, both Yucca Valley High School and Twentynine Palms High School designate their highest achieving senior student as "Valedictorian," and they are invited to make a speech at their respective school's graduation ceremony. This year, Yucca Valley High School has designated Jaden Cadwising as valedictorian. Twentynine Palms High School has designated Amiel Escoba as valedictorian. Both Escobal and Cadwising joined me at the Z107.7 studio, where they met each other for the first time, to discuss their achievements, their commonalities, and what their future's hold. I asked Jaden what makes for a valedictorian, and he said "Well, I mean, from a technical standpoint, I guess it's just the ‘top student.’ I feel like that's a little bit of an unfair way to define it because there are definitely other students who are exactly my level as well. " How did they feel being named valedictorian? Amiel Escobel, left, Jaden Cadwising. right Amiel said, “When I was announced at my school's last pep rally, it felt like such an honor, truly, because I was really not expecting it. I cried. It was a whole moment. And I kind of felt like I did it for my family, too. A lot of my family is back in the Philippines. So I just immediately thought of them when I won. And I think that's why I cried, too. Because it just felt so like this is for them, not just for me. Jaden said, "Well, it feels great. It's surprising to me. But I'm really proud to be here because my journey felt difficult. So I'm pretty new here as opposed to the other students because I moved from San Jose. So I didn't have the full four years that everyone else did. So it just felt difficult at first trying to make some friends." “And I'd like to bring up that I'm mixed; my dad is Filipino. So his side of the family is also Filipino.. And another fun fact, the salutatorian is Filipino at Yucca Valley High School.” Amiel added, “Go Philippines!” And what's next for these young scholars? Jaden said, "I wanted to continue at CMC for at least a little while until I get my associates, and then transferring to a university to continue what I want to do. I want to be somewhere in environmental biology because I really enjoy that field." Amiel said, “I am attending Cal State Los Angeles in the fall as a pre-nursing major. And one day I hope to become a nurse practitioner. And I could also see myself being a clinical instructor. Actually, because of my CNA course at CMC. My clinical instructor, Ms. Anna Urban. I love her so much. She really inspired me to hopefully one day maybe come back here and give back to the community that served me. I would love to just teach people young who are inspired.”