ACSA at 50 | Every Student Succeeding

Association of California School Administrators

An EdCal feature on an ESS student from the first year of the awards program in 1996

January 10, 2022

In addition to ACSA celebrating its 50th anniversary, this year also marks the 25th anniversary of ACSA’s Every Student Succeeding program. Since 1996, each region of ACSA has honored students who have overcome the odds. One state winner is chosen from each region to receive an award, grant, write-up in EdCal and recognition at the annual Leadership Summit. Awards Coordinator Emily Agpoon has overseen the program for the last 16 years.

“Every year, it’s such an honor to be a part of celebrating the students’ strength and resilience,” she said. “They inspire all of us with their courage. We always say bring your Kleenex to the ceremony, and I never fail to need one.”

In 2016, ACSA Multimedia Strategist Michael Kelly approached Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Naj Alikhan with the idea to feature ESS student stories in a new way, by traveling to all 19 regions and filming video stories in each student’s school.

“I knew it would be a massive undertaking, but thankfully everyone was on board,” Kelly said. “If ACSA’s mission is to meet the needs of students, we thought what better way to showcase that than by telling the stories of students who have endured so much with the help of their educators.”

Watch video stories of past ESS winners at youtube.com/acsafans and read archives of all ESS winners since 1996 at www.acsa.org/ess. ESS state winners for 2022 are due to state by March 1. Check with your region for local nomination deadlines.

ESS Student Keannu Linnell watches his ESS video story during the 2019 ESS Luncheon at Leadership Summit.

ACSA at 50

Keep watching for ACSA at 50 features in EdCal each week and find out how you can help celebrate at acsa.org/acsa50.