Two outstanding student-athletes from Northern California have earned top honors in the 2025-26 Record Searchlight-Redding Rotary-Seamans Family Foundation Scholar-Athlete awards. Mahayla Guevarra of West Valley High School and Bryce Owens of Red Bluff High School were selected as this year's winners, recognized for their exceptional balance of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community involvement.
The prestigious awards—handed out annually since 1983—were announced during a luncheon Thursday, May 7 at Riverview Golf & Country Club in Redding. A distinguished panel of judges from the Record Searchlight, Rotary Club, and Seamans Family Foundation reviewed a competitive pool of 36 applications, featuring 16 girls and 20 boys, before narrowing the field to a dozen finalists.
Guevarra and Owens each received a $2,500 scholarship from the Seamans Family Foundation, while the remaining finalists were awarded $1,800 scholarships. Last year's winners were Bria Tate from Shasta High School and Brooks Andrus from Mount Shasta High School.
Judging criteria focused on three key areas: academic performance, athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular activities including leadership roles and community service. It's a holistic approach that mirrors what we value in sports—hard work, dedication, and teamwork both on and off the field.
Guevarra, a standout on the volleyball court, earned first-team all-section honors as a libero, along with all-league recognition and a co-league championship. She also competes in track and field. In the classroom, she boasts a weighted 4.43 GPA and is considering UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC San Diego to pursue a degree in biochemistry. Her resume includes membership in the Shasta College Honors Society and National Honors Society, volunteer work at Mercy Medical Center, and serving as a counselor for Shasta Youth Leadership Camp and Youth Volleyball Camp. She also earned the West Valley Early College High School Perfect Attendance Award.
"This honor means to me that all the hard work and sacrifice that I've made have been recognized," Guevarra shared, reflecting on the achievement.
Joining Guevarra and Owens as finalists were an impressive group of student-athletes: Audrey Berg and Samantha Johnson from U-Prep, Brooklyn Bivins of Weed, Tea Kaizen of Central Valley, and Renna Shriner of Anderson on the girls' side; and Carson Anderson of Foothill, Garrett Buker of Yreka, Noah Gaddy of U-Prep, Jett Marshall of Weed, and Dylan Taylor of Shasta for the boys.
These scholar-athletes embody the spirit of competition and community that makes high school sports so special. Whether you're hitting the court, the track, or the classroom, the right gear and mindset can help you reach your goals—just like these inspiring seniors.