Cadet Foreman accepts his award alongside members of the Orange County Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean, and his teacher, Elizabeth Wilson. 
Cadet Juarez accepts his award alongside members of the Orange County Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean, and his teacher, Elizabeth Wilson. 
Connections student Savannah accepts her award alongside members of the Orange County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean. 
Connections student Bryan accepts his award alongside members of the Orange County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean. 
The first place art project in the Connections art category. 
The second place art project in the Connections art category. 
The third place art project in the Connections art category. 
Cadet Foreman was accompanied by his teacher Elizabeth Wilson while reading his Memorial Day reflection. 
Connections student Savannah read her Memorial Day essay alongside her teacher Dave Van Sutphin and Chief of Connections Analee Kredel.
Quick look: Top student entries in the annual Jack R. Hammett Memorial Day Essay and Art Contest were honored at the Orange County Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 6.
For many, Memorial Day simply represents an extra day off — a day for barbecues in the park, picnics on the beach and time spent with family and friends. But for Cadet Titus Foreman of Sunburst Youth Academy, the holiday has a more personal meaning.
“For a long time, this day was defined by the living specifically, by my grandfather,” Titus wrote in his first-place essay, “Beyond the Uniform.” But since he passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021, the holiday has shifted from a celebration of his stories to a quiet meditation on his absence.”
In the essay that earned him top honors in this year’s Jack R. Hammett Memorial Day Essay and Art Contest, Titus reflected on how his grandfather’s influence as a veteran has only deepened since his passing. Now a cadet himself, Titus said he better understands the meaning behind service, duty and sacrifice.
“My grandfather taught me that service isn’t just about a uniform; it’s about a commitment to something bigger than yourself,” he said. “As I look toward graduation and my own future, I think about the weight of that.”
The annual contest invites students from OCDE’s ACCESS and Connections programs to share what Memorial Day means to them through essays and art work. Sponsored by the Orange County Board of Education and coordinated by OCDE, the contest honors the legacy of Jack R. Hammett, a decorated World War II veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor and Costa Mesa civic leader.
“To read what has been written by these students that we have in our classrooms throughout Orange County is quite eventful, quite meaningful,” said board trustee Dr. Ken Williams.
Winners were presented with certificates of achievement and cash prizes during the Orange County Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 6.
This year’s second-place ACCESS essay winner, Cadet Armando Juarez of Sunburst Youth Academy, reflected on the true cost of freedom and what it means to honor sacrifices he has never personally experienced, but respects through the stories and service of war-tested veterans.
“In the end, Memorial Day isn’t just about remembering the past,” Armando wrote. “It’s about understanding how those sacrifices still affect us today and will continue to in the future.”
Third-place winner Rylie Garcia of Harbor Learning Center South reflected on the importance of remembering fallen service members not simply as soldiers, but as individuals with hopes, fears and emotions much like her own.
“When I think about the soldiers we honor on this day, I don’t just see uniforms or headlines,” Rylie wrote. “I think about real people who had favorite songs, nervous habits, and dreams for a future they never got to see.”
Students in OCDE’s Connections program were also recognized for essays and artwork exploring themes of remembrance, gratitude and service.
The first-place Connections essay award went to Savannah Henry of Connections at Harbor Learning Center South. Emmelie Echeverria and Phelo Hanna, both from the Connections program at University High School’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, earned second and third place honors, respectively.
In the Connections art category, first place went to Angelica Pulido’s student group project from Connections at Hillview High School. Students contributing to the collaborative piece included Redvine, Nicholas, Miguel, Rashi, An and Amin.
Bryan Vera of Connections at Golden West College earned second place in the art competition, while An Dinh of Connections at Hillview High School received third place honors.
OCDE’s ACCESS program — short for Alternative, Community and Correctional Education Schools and Services — supports students in nontraditional learning environments, including youth recovering credits or navigating significant life challenges.
OCDE’s Connections program serves students with significant disabilities and specialized learning needs referred by Orange County school districts, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs.