A recent AVUHSD graduate is reaching for new heights as she begins her journey into higher education! Photini Nour Qarmout (SOAR ‘25) is one of eleven LA County students who has been honored as a 2025 Milken Scholar and will receive a $10,000 cash prize from the Milken Family Foundation. 

This highly selective award is given to high school seniors who are chosen for their academic performance, community service, leadership, and ability to persevere in the face of personal challenges. Photini will be recognized alongside the other selected Milken Scholars at a ceremony later this month to celebrate the incredible accomplishment.

Read Photini’s biography from the Milken Family Foundation’s press release:

“Photini Nour Qarmout

Claremont McKenna College

An Arab immigrant and the eldest of her siblings, Photini Nour Qarmout is accustomed to carrying several responsibilities on her shoulders while shattering barriers—including being the first in her family to attend college. An advocate for underrepresented, low-income students, Photini helps organize citywide events through IMPACT with the City of Lancaster, earning mayoral scholarships for her community leadership. As a Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) Scholar, she received a grant for inspiring local teens to explore STEM opportunities and careers without barriers. Her initiative grew into the nonprofit STEM Spark Foundation, garnering nationwide support from household brands and offering the first STEM Spark Festival in April 2025 free of charge. 

A graduate of Student On Academic Rise (SOAR) High School, and of Antelope Valley College with three associates degrees, Photini is an Elks Scholar, Antelope Valley College Foundation Scholar and Antelope Valley Press Future Leaders Scholar. At SOAR, Photini led her peers as Associated Student Body board president and Mock Trial/Speech team captain, where she guided an award-winning team and landed Honor Court recognition and two MVP awards. She is founder and president of Future Medical Students Club, hosts blood drives, delivers health presentations, and interned at the AV Neuroscience Medical Group. Currently, she has been engaging in research in the form of literature reviews on neurogenerative diseases and future treatments. In May, she received the AV Medical Auxiliary scholarship to support a future career in medicine. 

Photini is an active volunteer and taught Sunday school at Saint Constantine and Hellenic Greek Orthodox Church. She also works to bridge relationships between law enforcement officers and local youth as vice chair of the Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Committee. 

Photini will study neuroscience and public health policy at Claremont McKenna College and plans a career as a neurosurgeon.”

Congratulations to Photini for this amazing achievement! We wish you luck in your future endeavors and look forward to celebrating your continued success!

This AVUHSD student was featured in the AV Press! Read the article written by a fellow SOAR student here: Rare honor for top AV Student.