Aquarium Accolades Spring 2025
Read about Aquarium honorees from our community.
Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Robin Riggs
April 7, 2025
Festival of Human Abilities
Theresa May de Vera was honored at the Aquarium’s Festival of Human Abilities in January 2025.
May de Vera is an advocate for disabled rights and issues at local, state, and federal levels. She evaluates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance of different establishments as the commissioner on the Disability Access Board of the Department of Building and Safety. She also serves as the chairperson of the Access Services Board of Directors in Los Angeles. Her work has received international recognition.
The 23rd annual African American Festival at Aquarium of the Pacific on February 22, 2025 in Long Beach, California.
African American Festival
The SIX was the honoree at the Aquarium’s African American Festival in February 2025.
The SIX is committed to improving the community and providing resources throughout the City of Long Beach through collaboration. Their activities include youth financial literacy workshops held at Long Beach City College, hosting the only candidates forum in central Long Beach during the mayoral race, and a Thanksgiving Giveaway, which provides full groceries to over two hundred community members each year.
International Children’s Festival
Camellia Zahiri was honored at the Aquarium’s International Children’s Festival in March 2025.
The seventeen-year-old is a community leader dedicated to education, child welfare, multiculturalism, and animal life. Zahiri has shown a passion for sharing cultural diversity and has been volunteering with Heal the Bay in a five-year commitment. She is the president of her high school’s United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Club. Zahiri’s dedication to the community led to her receiving the Presidential Service Award and the Congressional Service Award.
