Desert Town Hall's 2025 Youth Ambassador Scholarship Recipients

Desert Town Hall is one of the pre-eminent speaker series in the nation, providing world-class speakers, intellectual enrichment, and youth education to the Coachella Valley. The series offers four programs each year, from January to April. Youth Town Hall is the student part of the event, providing opportunities for up to 600 students from more than 20 high schools in the Coachella Valley.

“We are proud of our scholarship recipients and their accomplishments,” said Board President Tim Pyne. “These students embody the spirit of Youth Town Hall, representing hope, ambition, and the drive to create a better world. We are excited to see how they will continue to grow and contribute to their communities and beyond."

Desert Town Hall and Youth Town Hall are produced by Desert Forum, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. The presenting sponsor is the H. N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. Sponsors include the City of Indian Wells; Foster-Gardner, Inc.; Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa; Roemer & Harnik, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors at Law; Sunrise Company/Toscana Country Club/Andalusia; 111 Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley/Valentine-Dougherty-Clark; and West Coast Turf.

Meet the 12 accomplished scholarship recipients: Abeer Singh is in the 11th grade at La Quinta High School and is interested in civil engineering and business development. Mitch Albom was Abeer’s favorite speaker, saying, “It made me think deeper about the kind of footprint I want to leave behind. We often chase success thinking it’s about achievements, but real success might actually be about how many people you helped stand when they were falling.”

Ayden Chavez graduated this year from Indio High School. He aspires to be a cardiovascular surgeon. Ayden says, “Being a resident of the Coachella Valley and observing the healthcare disparities firsthand drove me to want to become part of an advocating and healing profession. Caring for my grandfather and witnessing the devotion of my mother as an ER secretary showed me the life-changing difference of compassionate care. As a surgeon, I would like to not only heal patients but also advance health equity for underserved populations.”

Liya Kakar, a sophomore at Palm Desert High School, says, “I would love to attend a top 20 university, study business and finance, and potentially explore the field of consulting. I hope to become the CEO of a large corporation and build a strong reputation as a female leader and business owner.”

Andrew Franco-Rodriguez graduated from Coachella Valley High School this year and wants to pursue a career in education. Andrew said, “I have always been passionate about education (and the arts), knowing that it is a powerful tool for transformation, healing, and connection. I hope to create an inclusive space where everyone feels valued, regardless of their background or identity.”

Juliann Brinson, a junior at Palm Desert High School, dreams of a career in sports journalism. She is currently a news reporter and main anchor for PDHS Aztec Studios. On Youth Town Hall, Juliann adds, “The lessons and information you learn from the speakers are priceless. The opportunities for networking are endless—I was able to get hired and made a connection in the career I wish to pursue.”

Frida Pinedo is a junior at Desert Christian Academy. This year was her first time attending Youth Town Hall. She said, “Youth Town Hall is full of a brilliant and diverse community. I can share my opinions and hear others’ perspectives, and it contributes to my growth as a human and who God has called me to be.” Frida hopes to be a teacher one day.

Cameron Lund, a junior at La Quinta High School, said Youth Town Hall allowed her “to gain the knowledge of being open-minded, knowing it's okay to disagree with others’ opinions if you’re respectful, and having compassion and providing service to others.”

Henry MacLean is a sophomore at Palm Desert High School. He had the honor of introducing the first speaker, Dan Buettner. Henry also had the opportunity to be on television. He said, “I promoted Youth Town Hall and all that it has to offer local high school students during an interview with Fred Roggin on our local NBC station.”

Viviana Terriquez, a junior at Xavier College Prep, plans to pursue a career in social services. On what she gained this season, she said, “Being a Youth Ambassador helps boost your social and public speaking skills. It is a great program for our community's youth to learn about current events and issues in our world and community.”

Savannah Vela, a Shadow Hills High School graduate, plans to major in political science. When asked what she enjoyed most this season, she said, “Youth Town Hall provided a space where I could listen to diverse and even conflicting opinions while still forming meaningful connections with others.”

Bella Barone is a junior at Palm Desert High School. She plans to major in business and finance. Bella took away important lessons from this season, saying, “Stand up for your beliefs. Have a purpose. Listen. Learn. Advocate for what you believe in.”

Brisa Zepeda, a graduate of Indio High School, aspires to be a lawyer. Her advice to future Youth Ambassadors is, “Don’t be afraid to try something new. I know many might not feel comfortable speaking to large groups, but Youth Town Hall helps us develop important communication and social skills that are so valuable to our future.”