Colton, CA—On Wednesday night, the #AriStrong Foundation, a local non-profit organization devoted to providing help to individuals in need, took to Facebook Live to present its monthly “Hometown Hero” award to the Class of 2022 from Colton and Grand Terrace High Schools.

Graduating seniors at both high schools received a certificate to commemorate their “resilience, determination, and grit in the face of adversity during two years of distance learning.”

According to Nikki Villalobos, one of the founders of #AriStrong, the “Hometown Hero” award honors “one citizen a month who go above and beyond in community service, or push through tough circumstances.”

The idea to celebrate the entire Class of 2022—approximately 900 seniors—from both Colton and Grand Terrace High Schools came up during a board meeting when it was floated by Ms. Villalobos’s father.

The #AriStrong Foundation was established in 2019 after the passing of the Villalobos’s daughter, Ari, who succumbed to her battle with brain cancer. Ari was a student of both Colton and Grand Terrace, and had friends and family at both. Karissa Escobar, who accepted the award on behalf of Colton High, was Ari’s cousin. Lily Ahrlan, accepting on behalf of Grand Terrace, was Ari’s best friend. 2022 would have been Ari’s graduation year. Grand Terrace High School plans on presenting the family with an honorary diploma.