Congratulations to Justice Avila, Jhoan Chirinos Pereira and Ana Karen Mendoza Ontiveros who have been named recipients of the 2025 Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards. The award is given to students who have overcome personal adversity to create positive change in their lives. 

The trio serves as an inspiration to other students and represents the very best of Westminster Public Schools.

Any student can be nominated for the award with a selection committee comprised of representatives from the county and local jurisdictions screening all nominees to determine the 20 award winners. They were honored last month at a special ceremony at Westminster City Hall. 

Justice Avila | Metropolitan Arts Academy 

Nominated by Sydnei Slutsky | School Counselor 

“Justice was an easy choice for our nomination for the Metro Mayor's Award this year. She has overcome so much in her time at The Met. She underwent open heart surgery and recovered incredibly quickly with the hopes of being able to continue her soccer season. Justice has been a leader at school for as long as I've known her. She is an active participant in our peer mentoring program, a part of our musical, a leader in dance class and a role model for her peers.”

You may recall that in 2022, the “Dream on 3” charitable organization honored Justice with a special weekend with the Colorado Rapids after learning of her recovery from open heart surgery and determination to continue playing soccer.

Ana Karen Mendoza Ontiveros | Hidden Lake Secondary School 

Nominated by Karen Marler | Mental Health Interventionist

 “Ana Karen embodies what a true Hidden Lake Hero looks like. I nominated her for the Adams County Mayor's Youth Award because she has overcome so many personal hardships in her life at the hands of her family which she says had taught her empathy and caring for others. She is grateful for these painful experiences, saying they made her the person she is today. She volunteers for multiple agencies and has even learned to speak five languages so she can help translate for those people who need a voice. The compassion she has for others is an inspiration for the staff and students at Hidden Lake and we know she will do great things in her future.” 

Jhoan Chirinos Pereira | Westminster High School  

Nominated by Daniela Popich | Spanish Language Teacher

“I nominated student Johan because of his incredible resilience and determination. Despite facing severe challenges throughout his young life, he never complains or seeks sympathy. Instead, he consistently perseveres, attending school on time and giving his best effort to learn, including mastering English. Beyond academics, he shows a deep commitment to helping his family, working after school to support them. His unwavering perseverance, work ethic, and dedication to both his education and his family are truly inspiring.”