The following submission came from SMMUSD. Caption: Patricio-Ramirez at the 2025 at the Santa Monica Sustainability Poster Contest
At John Adams Middle School (JAMS), eighth grader Mia PatricioRamirez is known not just for her academic excellence but for the passion, voice, and sense of purpose she brings to everything she does. From her award-winning artwork to her leadership in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), and most recently, her recognition by a statewide academic organization, Patricio-Ramirez exemplifies what it means to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
In March, Patricio-Ramirez was named one of five recipients in the South Central Region of the Marian Huhn Memorial Award, an honor presented by the California Junior Scholarship Federation to students who demonstrate academic excellence and meaningful service to their school and community. The selection process included a written essay, teacher recommendations and a competitive review by a panel of judges.
“This award extended farther than our own district, with some nominees ranging from Culver City, Malibu, and Solvang,” said Patricio-Ramirez. “I could have never imagined to have come so far to win awards and to participate in an honor as huge as this,” said Patricio-Ramirez.
The award is a significant milestone for Patricio-Ramirez, who began her education in the Los Angeles Unified School District before enrolling at Will Rogers Learning Community in fifth grade. She has attended JAMS for the past three years and will begin high school at Santa Monica High School in the fall.
Throughout her time at JAMS, Patricio-Ramirez has leaned into opportunities that allow her to grow as a student and leader. She joined AVID, a college and career readiness elective, in seventh grade.
“AVID has been a big part of my life,” said Patricio-Ramirez. “It has shown me to take action to give back to the community through community service.”
In addition to strengthening skills like communication, organization and academic tracking, the program gave Patricio-Ramirez opportunities to lead beyond the classroom. She was featured in the JAMS podcast to help explain the value of AVID to families and staff across the school community.
Among those who helped shape Patricio-Ramirez’s journey is her AVID and social studies teacher, Titia Murphy.
“Other than my parents who I look up to, Ms. Murphy has been a central part of my life,” said Patricio-Ramirez. “She has always supported me, asking me personally after college field trips what I thought, and generally asking my opinion on important topics. She has even been there on important milestones like me winning the Marian Huhn Award.”
Patricio-Ramirez also excels in the arts. She is part of the advanced art program at JAMS and has received several recognitions this year, including first place in the PTA Reflections Art Contest, second place at the district level, and the grand prize in the Santa Monica Sustainability Poster Contest for grades six through eight.
“Art is a passionate hobby of mine,” she said. “The recognition of my work has boosted my confidence
and made me proud of my skill.”
Outside of school, Patricio-Ramirez enjoys reading. She enjoys reading about romances, fantasy, sci-fi and mystery books, or “just in general anything that has words in it.”
She also draws strength and pride from her cultural heritage. The daughter of parents from Oaxaca, Mexico, Patricio-Ramirez says her family’s traditions and close-knit values have shaped who she is and how she shows up in the world.
“We have close bonds with our heritage from years of tradition and dances,” said Patricio-Ramirez. As she prepares for high school, Patricio-Ramirez remains openminded about the future.
“I still don’t know what I want to dedicate my life to,” she said. “At the end of the day, my mind is a scrambled mess full of possibilities.”
That sense of possibility is what defines Patricio-Ramirez. Whether she is building skills through AVID, elevating her voice in a podcast or creating award-winning art, Mia shows what is possible when students are encouraged to lead with curiosity, confidence and connection.
