The Glendale Educational Foundation (GEF) announced its 2025 Diamond Awards honorees. The Diamond Awards are given to distinguished GUSD alumni who have demonstrated significant philanthropic contributions in the local community or notable career achievements in their respective fields. The awards will be presented at GEF’s Diamonds Gala, which will be held at the Chevy Chase Country Club on Friday, April 11 from 6 – 9 p.m.  

The 2025 Diamond Award recipients are:

Bryan Longpre, Crescenta Valley High School, 2005 – Receiving the Premier Rose Diamond Award, recognizing efforts in philanthropy benefiting the community. Longpre is the immediate past president of Ascencia and is currently the senior vice president of The Jewel City Group at Morgan Stanley. He was a professional baseball player with the Toronto Blue Jays for three seasons and was included on the 2019 Forbes Magazine Top Next Gen Advisors list.

Ellina Abovian, Glendale High School, 2004 – Receiving the Distinguished Achievement in the Arts. Abovian is an Emmy Award and LA Press Club nominated general assignment reporter and anchor for KTLA News. She received the 2023 Excellence in Media Award from the Armenian National Committee of America.

Kris Kohlmeier, Hoover High School, 1980 – Receiving the Distinguished Achievement in Health and Wellness. Kohlmeier is a teacher specialist in the Educational Technology and Information Services Dept. of GUSD. He’s a teacher of PE, U.S. history and Skills for Adolescents, as well as ASB advisor at Wilson Middle School. He was the 2023 recipient of the Robert A. Sanchis Award of Excellence.

For more information on the Diamond Awards or GEF’s upcoming gala, contact Executive Director Bethany Harrington at bethany@glened.org or visit the GEF website at glened.org.