La Mirada High School’s Apple Academy reached new heights this spring, earning a gold medal at the SkillsUSA California State Leadership and Skills Conference in Ontario, California in the highly competitive Community Problem Solving Human Services category.

This category challenges students to identify a real-world issue affecting people in their community and develop a meaningful, solution-based project that creates impact—and LMHS students rose to the occasion.

Representing LMHS, seniors Marcus Salazar, Julissa Romo, and Joshua Martinez captivated judges with their presentation titled “To Courage and Beyond.” Inspired by the world of Toy Story, the team addressed the human need for courage and emotional support, focusing on how individuals can overcome personal challenges and help others do the same.

Blending creativity with purpose, the trio transformed their Toy Story theme into a powerful, solution-driven message—encouraging resilience, connection, and community support. Their project not only demonstrated a deep understanding of human services, but also showed how creative outreach can inspire real change.

Their gold medal performance is a testament to their dedication, innovation, and commitment to making a difference. Marcus, Julissa, and Joshua represented La Mirada High School with pride, proving that when compassion meets creativity, students can truly go “to courage and beyond.”