Incredible achievement! Our National Honor Society members made a lasting impact on April 10, 2025, packing 640 food boxes for vulnerable seniors throughout Orange County! Students thrived in this energetic, fast-paced volunteer environment while assembling essential food items now being distributed to more than 70 community sites. Beyond service, the event fostered meaningful connections as students formed new friendships and strengthened existing bonds. National Honor Society applications for the upcoming academic year are now open to learners who will be in 10th-12th grade next school-year. Don’t miss this opportunity to join— applications are due May 23. Make your mark through service and leadership!
Associated Student Body (ASB) Applications Now Open!
The iLEAD Associated Student Body (ASB) is now accepting applications for membership for the 2025-2026 school year. ASB is a student organization that represents the interests and voices of the student body,
organizes school events, and helps promote school spirit and community involvement. If you are interested in joining, be sure to submit your application before the deadline on May 23. If you have questions, email the ASB advisor at david.trentine@ileadexploration.org .
8th Graders: Important High School Information
Eighth graders, book an appointment with your High School Academic Counselor to plan your 9th grade schedule. Don’t forget to watch the High School Orientation video prior to your meeting.
Are you a college-bound 10th grader? Get a head start by enrolling in College Explorations for next school year! This A-G approved course is designed for 11th graders and helps prepare you for the college application process—reducing stress during your senior year. You’ll explore careers, holistic admissions, financial aid, standardized testing, and more. In the second semester, we’ll dive into essay writing and begin college applications. Choose from three live Engage sessions. Sign up here .
Clubs Spotlight
Debate Club
The Debate Club is now officially up and running. In our next meeting, we will be debating: Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? We would love to have you join us to debate! Please complete the Club Interest Form if you’re interested in joining, and keep your eyes peeled for an email with more info!
High School CompSci Club
The High School CompSci Club is enjoying a fun, semester-long coding project on the theme of “History.” Members will team up (or go solo) to build websites, games, or anything else they can dream up with code. The goal is to bring history to life in the most code-creative way possible. If it’s fun and coded, it counts!
iLEAD learners had another record-breaking year for college admissions! Our University of California (UC) acceptance rates continue to exceed the in-state average. This year, iLEAD learners achieved:
40% accepted to UC Berkeley
31% accepted to UC Irvine
17% accepted to UCLA
33% accepted to University of Southern California (USC)
Two learners admitted to Cornell University
Check out the full list of Colleges and Universities that accepted iLEAD learners from the Class of 2025!
Counselor Chats
Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent
enrollment courses are a great way to get a head start on college, attempt more rigorous courses, start a career education pathway, or just
take an interesting elective. If you are interested in taking a community college course this summer or in the fall of 2025, the deadline to
submit paperwork for a signature is June 11. Any forms received after this may not be signed until staff returns in August. Follow our Steps for Concurrent Enrollment to get started, or reach out to your counselor for more information.
Transitioning to Adulthood
Graduates, as you step into adulthood, remember—success isn’t just about academics.
Learn to manage your money, cook a few simple meals, do your laundry, and make healthy choices. Time management and handling your own appointments
go a long way toward building confidence and independence. Your school counseling team believes in you—every step of the way!
Interested in finding out options for summer credits? While iLEAD Exploration does not offer summer school, there are options available.
If you would like to take summer classes to recover credit or get ahead, you can take courses with an accredited school that will issue a transcript. Here are some Summer School Options.
Contact your academic counselor with any questions.
High School Spotlight on Hannah R.
Hannah Rehard has been in iLEAD Exploration since third grade, when our program first opened. She is one of seven siblings in iLEAD Exploration and has tackled her work in and out of school with grit and determination. Known for her reliability and perseverance, she developed a deep sense of courage and commitment early on. By the age of eight, she had plunged into the world of FIRST Robotics. Unsure whether she preferred the hard skills of engineering or the soft skills of communication, Hannah committed herself fully to both—and it paid off.
Learning independently at iLEAD Exploration made it possible for Hannah to immerse herself in every aspect of the FIRST Tech Challenge, all while excelling academically in rigorous high school and college courses. Her greatest academic hurdle? Mastering Java programming. Hannah dedicated four intense months of focused study—made possible by her individualized learning plan—and led her team to program one of the most advanced autonomous robots in Southern California. As her technical abilities grew, so did her leadership. She was appointed both team captain and lead programmer, meeting with mentors, spearheading STEM outreach, and mentoring youth in eight countries across six continents.
Thanks to her passion, technical expertise, and leadership, Hannah was named one of just 10 recipients of the prestigious 2024 FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Dean’s List Award—selected from among 100,000 student engineers. Her impressive track record caught the attention of Amazon, earning her both an Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship and a competitive internship. This fall, she will attend California Baptist University, majoring in Computer Science and joining the programming subdivision of the CBU Robotics Team—led by her older brother, Titus.
Hannah is a shining example of a young woman who pours her heart into making a meaningful difference in the world. Her dedication is evident, and we are excited to hear about all that lies ahead for her! Congratulations, Hannah!
Hannah Rehard has been in iLEAD Exploration since third grade, when our program first opened. She is one of seven siblings in iLEAD Exploration and has tackled her work in…
Are you a college-bound 10th grader? Get a head start by enrolling in College Explorations for next school year! This A-G approved course is designed for 11th graders and helps prepare you for the college application process—reducing stress during your senior year. You’ll explore careers, holistic admissions, financial aid, standardized testing, and more. In the second semester, we’ll dive into essay writing and begin college applications. Choose from three live Engage sessions. 
iLEAD learners had another record-breaking year for college admissions! Our University of California (UC) acceptance rates continue to exceed the in-state average. This year, iLEAD learners achieved: 
Hannah Rehard has been in iLEAD Exploration since third grade, when our program first opened. She is one of seven siblings in iLEAD Exploration and has tackled her work in and out of school with grit and determination. Known for her reliability and perseverance, she developed a deep sense of courage and commitment early on. By the age of eight, she had plunged into the world of FIRST Robotics. Unsure whether she preferred the hard skills of engineering or the soft skills of communication, Hannah committed herself fully to both—and it paid off.
Thanks to her passion, technical expertise, and leadership, Hannah was named one of just 10 recipients of the prestigious 2024 FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Dean’s List Award—selected from among 100,000 student engineers. Her impressive track record caught the attention of Amazon, earning her both an Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship and a competitive internship. This fall, she will attend California Baptist University, majoring in Computer Science and joining the programming subdivision of the CBU Robotics Team—led by her older brother, Titus.
